Chapter 124: We

He Pingsheng returned to his small courtyard from Yuning Palace.

He Pingsheng did not disturb anyone; instead, he shut his small gate and hung a sign reading “In Seclusion” on the door.

The sign was already worn and faded.

It had been hung for many years.

Hmm… I should make a new one when I have time.

He Pingsheng activated his array, then entered his bedroom and sat cross-legged on the ground.

First, he meditated for one full cycle to calm his mind and dispel distractions.

Then he would ponder his cultivation issues.

A practical problem now lay before He Pingsheng.

He had hit a bottleneck; swallowing pills alone could not break through.

Absorbing spiritual energy from heaven and earth was equally ineffective.

There were only two ways to break through.

The first was to devour various heavenly treasures and earthly rarities.

For example, the Water Elemental Spirit Apricot.

Of course, heavenly treasures capable of breaking the Qi Refining bottleneck were far more than just the Water Elemental Spirit Apricot—rumor says there are over a dozen!

The second method was to break through the bottleneck without any heavenly treasures, relying instead on opportunity.

Such as sudden enlightenment!

Breaking through in the midst of battle when facing certain death!

Breaking through after encountering some pivotal event and achieving clarity of heart.

Or comprehending some profound truth of cultivation.

Etc.

All of this could be called awakening, or simply opportunity.

But opportunity is something you can only hope for, not seek.

Most people’s only choice is the first: to seek heavenly treasures.

If you can’t find one, you don’t break through—after all, heaven set the bottleneck to gently tell you: Stop cultivating. This is your limit.

He Pingsheng took out the only remaining [Water Elemental Spirit Apricot] from his storage pouch, pondered for a long while, then decided to hold off on eating it for now.

Store it away for now.

Then he took out several other items.

A small green shield—the supreme spiritual artifact [Holy Wood Shield]—with eight layers of sealing runes.

A small golden bell—the supreme spiritual artifact [Soul-Extinction Bell]—with eight layers of sealing runes.

A small black flag—the supreme spiritual artifact [Nine Radiant Dragon-Slaying Flag]—with eight layers of sealing runes.

These items were all enhanced by He Pingsheng six years ago using the Treasure Gathering Basin after emerging from the secret realm.

But he had never had time to assimilate them.

Now was the time.

So he wouldn’t be caught off-guard when facing a powerful enemy.

Once assimilated, these three treasures would provide offense, defense, and spiritual sense attacks.

They would greatly increase He Pingsheng’s combat power.

With these three in hand, plus his five dantians and several heavenly-grade spells, he could easily dominate peers of his realm.

Hmm… I’ll start with the [Holy Wood Shield]—defense is the way.

…

Several days later, in Yuning Palace.

Zhao Linger knelt respectfully on the ground: “Disciple has not disappointed Master’s expectations—today, I have reached full Qi Refining!”

“Good, good, good!” Yuning rejoiced. “Excellent! All of you are excellent!”

“My disciples are truly all outstanding!”

On Xiuzhu Peak, Hongde Courtyard had once been the strongest.

Then came Elder Brother Yu Xuan Palace, second in strength.

Her Yuning Palace had been the weakest.

But now, after only a few short years, the order had reversed.

Her Yuning Palace had surged ahead, leaping to first place.

Because several years ago, her eldest disciple Hou Muxian broke through to Foundation Establishment.

Now even Zhao Linger had reached Level Twelve.

Zhao Linger had originally been at Level Nine!

After emerging from the secret realm, she spent six years raising her cultivation from Level Nine to Level Eleven.

At Level Eleven, she hit a bottleneck.

No problem—Zhao Linger still had one [Water Elemental Spirit Apricot]; after swallowing it, her cultivation instantly broke through to Qi Refining Level Twelve.

“Come here!” Yuning called her disciple forward. “At Qi Refining Level Twelve, everyone receives one Foundation Establishment Pill!”

“Here… take this!”

Yuning waved her hand; two faint hums echoed, and a storage pouch materialized. She gently opened it and pulled out a jade vial, handing it to Zhao Linger: “Inside is a mid-grade Foundation Establishment Pill.”

“Thank you, Master!”

Zhao Linger took the pill and stared curiously at the storage pouch: “Master, how does your storage pouch vanish like that?”

“Hehehe…” At the mention of the pouch, Yuning beamed. “It’s a supreme storage pouch—supreme storage pouches are invisible; once merged with flesh and blood, even Nascent Soul experts can’t see it!”

“Wow!” Zhao Linger said. “That’s incredible!”

“Right?” Yuning tilted her chin proudly. “Your little brother, the ninth, won it during the Bingji Sect competition and gave it to me first thing!”

“I told him not to, but he insisted!”

“Even when Qiao Huizhu asked for it, he refused—he saved it just for me, hehe… such a good boy!”

“Heh…”

Zhao Linger, hearing this, bowed her head in solemn respect: “Master, your disciple is so filial!”

“Isn’t that true?” Yuning said. “By the way, that brat told me not to tell anyone—keep this secret, alright?”

“Don’t tell anyone!”

“Don’t worry, Master—I won’t tell a soul,” Zhao Linger said, tucking away the pill. “I’ll return to my quarters now to enter seclusion and attempt Foundation Establishment!”

“Go,” Yuning said. “If one Foundation Establishment Pill isn’t enough, you’ll have to find another yourself afterward!”

“Mm!”

Zhao Linger left Yuning Palace and rushed straight to Tian Xiaoqing’s courtyard.

“Xiaoqing! Xiaoqing!”

Tian Xiaoqing opened the door.

The two entered the room.

Tian Xiaoqing was currently at Qi Refining Level Ten.

But she had not yet swallowed the Water Elemental Spirit Apricot.

Because after reaching Level Ten, she hadn’t hit a bottleneck either.

She only needed to break through to Level Eleven—then she could instantly leap to Level Twelve.

“What’s up?” Tian Xiaoqing asked. “Did you get the Foundation Establishment Pill?”

“Got it!” Zhao Linger waved the pill. “Mid-grade. Hurry up and break through—then ask Master for another. She might still have a mid-grade left!”

“If you wait too long, they’ll be gone!”

“Mm, mm, mm…” Tian Xiaoqing said. “I’ll need no more than half a year.”

“By the way!” Zhao Linger said. “Master has a supreme storage pouch—given to her by your little brother!”

“Hey… your brother went to the Bingji Sect competition, won the match, received a supreme storage pouch as a prize, refused to give it to Qiao Huizhu, and brought it straight to Master as a gift!”

“What?” Tian Xiaoqing gasped. “Then isn’t Sister Qiao heartbroken?”

“Exactly!” Zhao Linger said. “Master said not to tell anyone—keep this quiet!”

“Mm, mm, mm…” Tian Xiaoqing nodded. “Don’t worry—we’re family, not outsiders!”

“Still, He Brother really is generous—worth befriending.”

Zhao Linger said: “Who could disagree?”