Chapter 116

“Nephew, have you chosen your spell?”

In the Scripture Hall of Jade Dragon Peak, the gray-robed elder regarded He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng returned all twenty-odd spell scrolls, then shook his head. “I couldn’t find a single suitable one.”

The gray-robed elder’s face fell. “Then… perhaps you should go look at others again?”

“Fine!” He Pingsheng walked over and pretended to browse again, then shook his head. “Too trashy—even the spells I bought at the stall on Mount Matou are better!”

With that, He Pingsheng strode out.

The gray-robed elder gaped.

Outside?

Mount Matou?

And a damn stall at that?

You bought good spells there?

…

“Younger brother… Qiao Sister from Heaven Talisman Mountain sent someone to bring you a batch of [Qi-Condensing Pills]…”

“Take them!”

Zhao Linger handed He Pingsheng a porcelain vial.

He Pingsheng opened it and glanced inside—indeed, Qi-Condensing Pills.

And all were top-grade.

No wonder they sent someone specially.

If they were ordinary low- or mid-grade, they wouldn’t have been treated so seriously.

So Qiao Sister does care about me!

He Pingsheng smiled. “Thank you, Sister Zhao.”

“Why thank me?” Zhao Linger said. “Thank your wife!”

“I’m off!”

Zhao Linger left.

He Pingsheng walked into his courtyard and hung a sign reading [In Seclusion] on the gate.

Then he returned to his bedroom, activated a Grade-One defensive array, and began his seclusion.

On one hand, he cultivated the Sacred Wood Poison Dragon Art; on the other, he swallowed supreme elixirs and practiced the True Fire Method.

Two tasks at once.

One month later, he had advanced the [Sacred Wood Poison Dragon Art] to Minor Perfection.

“Open!”

In the courtyard, He Pingsheng uttered a soft command.

Suddenly, without warning, a green thorn vine erupted from the ground ten zhang away.

In a flash, it shot two zhang into the air.

Seven thorn tips sprouted from the vine, each striking in a different direction.

Each thorn tip carried deadly poison.

When He Pingsheng cultivated the [Nine Poisons Golden Body], he absorbed vast quantities of poison into his body—he was now immune to all toxins, yet brimming with them.

Previously, he had no method to wield poison.

Now, with the [Sacred Wood Poison Dragon Art], his internal poison had an outlet.

If used unexpectedly, it would surely surprise his opponent.

Of course, this poison art could be cast anywhere within the range of He Pingsheng’s spiritual sense.

His current spiritual sense spanned roughly eighty zhang.

Far beyond that of peers at his level, even approaching that of Foundation Establishment disciples.

In other words, he could cast it within eighty zhang.

He dismissed the technique and returned to his courtyard.

Keep cultivating.

Day after day!

Every one or two months, He Pingsheng received various supplements from Heaven Talisman Mountain.

Most of them were [Qi-Condensing Pills].

And every batch was top-grade.

He Pingsheng’s heart warmed.

He didn’t know about others, but Qiao Sister’s actions—he saw them clearly.

Six months later, He Pingsheng’s cultivation reached Qi Refining Level Nine.

Yet he did not leave seclusion, so no one knew of his breakthrough.

He didn’t rush to break through the flesh barrier of Level Ten; instead, he followed his usual method—directly cultivating the remaining four dantians: Metal, Water, Wood, and Earth.

Once one dantian broke its flesh barrier, the others advanced much faster.

Typically, one or two months sufficed to catch up.

Cultivation knows no time!

In a flash, two years passed.

He Pingsheng’s cultivation had, as desired, reached Qi Refining Level Ten.

And all five dantians had reached Level Ten.

After reaching Level Ten, his spiritual sense strengthened greatly!

Now, when his spiritual sense surged forth, it could effortlessly scan a hundred zhang around his body.

A hundred zhang was now his casting range.

“Open…” He Pingsheng murmured softly, seated in his room.

Around him, nine fire crows coalesced.

This technique could summon at most nine fire crows at once—he had now perfected it.

His Fire-element dantian could now sustain the simultaneous operation of all nine.

The nine fire crows, their flames contained, circled his body; under his spiritual sense, they glided effortlessly even through bed curtains and gauze windows.

Because their fire was contained, they did not ignite anything.

“Retreat!”

The next moment, He Pingsheng uttered another soft command—the nine fire crows dissolved, their fire essence returning to his dantians.

“Huh…” He Pingsheng exhaled deeply.

After two years of nonstop seclusion, he had finally reached Level Ten.

Of course, he hadn’t rushed—it was merely normal cultivation speed.

After all five dantians reached Level Ten, He Pingsheng attempted to advance further, climbing toward Level Eleven.

Then, the awkwardness arrived.

He swallowed a supreme Qi-Condensing Pill, yet his cultivation didn’t increase by even the tiniest amount.

He Pingsheng knew—his bottleneck had arrived, as expected.

There was a bottleneck at Level Ten.

That meant Level Eleven and Twelve would also have bottlenecks.

According to the [Miscellaneous Records of Cultivation], this pattern would repeat at Level Ten, Eleven, and Twelve in Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul realms.

It was deeply despairing.

The Water Spirit Apricot could push him from Level Ten to Eleven—but what then?

“Huh…” He Pingsheng exhaled again.

Forget it—deal with later problems later.

When the boat reaches the bridge, it will find a way.

First, solve the immediate issue.

He Pingsheng didn’t rush to leave seclusion; instead, he took out the [Nine Poisons Golden Body] method and began cultivation.

Spiritual refinement would wait.

He felt his current hundred-zhang spiritual sense was sufficient.

First, refine the body.

If time remained after body refinement, he’d return to spiritual refinement.

In a flash, another year passed.

He Pingsheng’s five dantians, spiritual refinement, and body refinement all reached Level Ten.

He emerged from seclusion.

“You’ve reached Qi Refining Level Ten—I’m truly pleased!”

In Yuning Palace, Elder Chongyang smiled, stroking his beard. “Your cultivation has caught up—this first trial is passed!”

“Whether you can win afterward—that’s the second trial!”

“Come!” Elder Chongyang waved his sleeve. “By now, half a day remains until the three-year deadline!”

"Let's go!" Master Chongyang waved his sleeve and said, "Counting the days, there's only half a day left until the three-year deadline!"

"Your match will take place at noon today!"

"I hear the Ice Pole Sect has already invited many fellow disciples from the Daoxuan Alliance; it's time we went over too!"

"He Pingsheng, tell me first—how much confidence do you have?"

"I must also prepare myself!"

He Pingsheng thought for a moment and said, "Ancestor, rest assured—I won't lose too badly!"

I have five dantians; if I lose any worse than that, I might as well give up altogether.