Chapter 117

“You are my personal disciple!”

“This trip to the Ice Pole Immortal Sect for the competition represents not only the face of Grand Void Gate, but also the face of my Xiuzhu Peak!”

“Take this storage bag—leave your hundred-treasure bag at home!”

Yu Ning waved his hand and tossed over a storage bag.

He Pingsheng picked it up and glanced at it—it was only a low-grade one.

This…

To be honest, he found it somewhat contemptible.

But for his master to go this far, it was already quite good.

“Thank you, Master!” He Pingsheng bowed to Yu Ning, then turned to Master Chongyang: “Ancestor, I’ll return to my quarters to prepare, and be back shortly!”

“Go!” Chongyang waved his hand. “Once you’re ready, I’ll personally take you there.”

He Pingsheng returned to his small hut.

He removed all his hidden storage bags, dug a hole, and buried them inside.

Then he filled the hole back in and covered it with floor tiles.

Perfectly sealed.

Why do this?

Because He Pingsheng wasn’t sure whether a Nascent Soul cultivator could see through his hidden storage bags.

If someone spotted them, it would be extremely dangerous.

Who knows if any Nascent Soul elders will show up during the competition?

Fortunately, Master just gave me a storage bag—I’ll just use this one.

Inside the bag, He Pingsheng didn’t dare put much: some herbs, a few jade slips, two top-grade magic treasure flying swords, and a shield.

That’s all.

Of course, he also brought a few spirit stones.

Once everything was done, He Pingsheng boarded the flying boat summoned by Master Chongyang.

The flying boat was small—only one zhang long, perfect for two or three people, its entire body a green hue.

It looked as if it had been carved from some kind of spiritual wood.

“Jiujioo… jiujioo…”

As He Pingsheng soared into the sky, the two snow pengs followed, spreading their wings.

“Big White, Little White…” He Pingsheng waved his hands. “Go back! I’ll return in a while!”

“Wait for me at home!”

But the two snow pengs ignored him, trailing far behind the flying boat.

The boat accelerated rapidly, and in an instant, the two snow-white pengs behind became tiny silhouettes.

They flew through white clouds, their wings flashing in the morning sun like two dark shadows, fluttering rhythmically.

The Ice Pole Sect was very close to Grand Void Gate.

When they had gone to the secret realm before, they had passed Mount Ice Pole.

Master Chongyang’s flying boat moved extremely fast.

It could cover several li in a single breath.

Different regions had different weather—in one hour, He Pingsheng saw storms, lightning, clear skies, and snowfall.

Some places crackled with thunder, others whispered with gentle breezes.

Finally, the flying boat flew into the peak of a vast ice mountain.

Like a dream.

“See that!” Master Chongyang pointed far off. “That tallest peak is the main peak of the Ice Pole Sect!”

He Pingsheng gazed into the sunlight—the sight before him was blindingly white.

Among countless endless snow-capped mountains, thousands of peaks stood tall.

Farther away, one peak towered especially high, exuding swirling mist, adorned with evergreen five-colored flora, vivid and colorful.

Without a doubt, that was the Ice Pole Sect.

The Ice Pole Immortal Sect was the largest sect in the Daoxuan Alliance.

“The Ice Pole Immortal Sect!” Master Chongyang said coolly. “Like us, their Supreme Elders are Nascent Soul cultivators—but while Grand Void Gate has only one, they have three!”

“So this is a sect we cannot afford to provoke!”

“He Pingsheng, remember this well!”

“If your strength is inferior, fight to the death—but as long as you don’t lose too disgracefully, Grand Void Gate won’t lose face!”

“After all, he’s a genius—you’re just an ordinary talent!”

He Pingsheng stared blankly.

The Ancestor paid no heed to his feelings and continued: “But… if you truly have the strength, don’t kill him—not even seriously injure him!”

“Remember…”

“Kill him, and Grand Void Gate will face endless troubles!”

“Hurt him, and we’ll be unable to bear the consequences—he’s their precious treasure!”

“Of the Ice Pole Sect’s three Nascent Soul Elders, two share the surname Xiao!”

He Pingsheng looked grim.

This was truly a difficult task.

He couldn’t lose too badly, yet couldn’t win too easily.

And he couldn’t injure him too severely!

This…

“Remember?” Master Chongyang added.

He Pingsheng said: “Disciple remembers!”

“Good.”

Master Chongyang said no more, simply piloting the flying boat forward.

After a dozen breaths, the boat landed atop the highest peak.

From afar, the peak had looked like a sword—but now standing on it, it felt as level as flat ground.

Clearly, this peak was not only tall, but enormous.

“Grand Void Gate’s Elder Chongyang has arrived…”

With a loud cry, He Pingsheng and Chongyang were led into a vast plaza.

Calling it a plaza was misleading—it was more like a garden.

Around the plaza, exotic flowers and rare herbs grew everywhere.

The blooms were vivid, the spring breeze gentle—no hint of being on a snowfield.

What a wonderful place.

Ice Pole Sect—a paradise of heaven and earth.

He Pingsheng sighed as he entered the plaza, where a massive array occupied the center.

The array’s glowing barrier stretched about a hundred zhang wide—no doubt, this was the competition arena.

On one side of the array, many people were already seated.

Far off, He Pingsheng spotted Qiao Huizhu.

Whoosh…

As He Pingsheng and Master Chongyang arrived, nearly every gaze turned toward them.

Not just Qiao Huizhu, but also cultivators dressed in robes of different sects.

Clearly, the Ice Pole Sect was extremely confident—they’d invited so many guests to witness this!

“Hahaha…” A middle-aged man in a bright red robe laughed loudly. “Elder Chongyang, we’ve waited and waited—finally you’ve arrived!”

“Come quickly—the guests are here, let’s begin!”

Then He Pingsheng felt as if icy blades had scraped over his body—dozens of spiritual senses swept coldly over him.

“Huh… this kid’s already at Qi Refining tenth layer!”

“He really made it to the tenth layer!”

“They say he’s a Five Element Spirit Root—true or not?”

“He broke two layers in three years—Grand Void Gate really went all out this time!”

“Good. They probably don’t want to lose too badly.”

Before He Pingsheng even sat down, he heard murmurs all around him.

“Pingsheng… come sit here!” Qiao Huizhu stood up, took his hand, and pulled him to sit beside her.

Every young genius nearby glared in fury.

“Why him?”

“This guy’s so ugly—why does Sister Qiao like him?”

“I heard he’s mediocre in talent—I thought he’d at least be good-looking, but his looks are just as plain!”

“Hehe… let him enjoy himself now—the more he gloats, the harder Brother Xiao will beat him later.”