Chapter 153: Seeking the Scripture

The Grand Void Gate is huge!

It has about ten peaks!

From front to back, left to right, it spans nearly a hundred li.

The Grand Void Gate is only a hundred li wide, but the Ancestor's spiritual sense spans three hundred li.

Just imagining this concept made He Pingsheng's body go numb.

Moreover, this Cultivation Miscellany says that a Nascent Soul cultivator's spiritual sense can not only scan great distances but also silently penetrate arrays, walls, and more.

One glance from them, and you remain completely unaware.

The more He Pingsheng thought about it, the more his heart raced: I wonder if the Ancestor sneaked a peek when I used the Treasure Basin to reinforce items before.

Forget it!

Whether or not the Ancestor spied on me before, from now on, I will never use the Treasure Basin to reinforce any item again.

Unless the Ancestor passes away.

Besides…

How can I escape?

With my current sword-flight speed, can I cover two thousand li in an hour?

Three thousand li?

He Pingsheng didn't know the exact number.

But no matter what, leaving the Grand Void Gate requires flying for a very long time.

That time is more than enough for the Ancestor to crush me ten times over.

The Cultivation Miscellany clearly states that once a cultivator reaches Nascent Soul, their elemental root can evolve into a Dao root, connecting with heaven and earth to comprehend the laws of nature.

In the space of a single thought, they teleport ten thousand zhang.

You fly for half a day, and they catch up with you in an instant.

How do you run?

Disguise?

He Pingsheng still had one reinforced Disguise Talisman.

But even if a Nascent Soul cultivator couldn't see through it, whether a Foundation Establishment cultivator could be fooled was still uncertain.

"If only I had an Invisibility Talisman!"

He Pingsheng dwelled on this thought, then a flash of inspiration struck him.

He first pulled out the massive gourd, poured out two portions of Golden Bee Sacred Juice—no more than two drops per portion.

It was repayment for Xu Kunlun and Zhao Linger's tireless and dangerous efforts to find the Red Essence Ginseng for him.

With a whoosh, he flew out from Yulong Peak, where the Grand Void Temple stood, and landed on Xiuzhu Peak after a dozen breaths.

"Thank you, younger brother!"

"Thank you, younger brother!"

Both of them were overjoyed upon receiving the items.

"I've got good news!" Zhao Linger smiled. "Tian Xiaoqing has broken through to Foundation Establishment!"

"Now we're all Foundation Establishment!"

"Younger Brother Nine, when are you planning to break through?"

He Pingsheng thought for a moment and said, "Soon!"

"Sister, I have a favor to ask you," he pleaded, looking at Zhao Linger.

Zhao Linger laughed. "Between us, what's the need for 'favor'? Speak up, younger brother—what is it?"

"Hmm," He Pingsheng said, thinking. "You know I've been confined by the Ancestor—I can't leave the Grand Void Gate!"

"So… could you run a errand to Tianfu Mountain for me?"

"Hehe…" Zhao Linger chuckled, revealing a row of white teeth, teasingly: "So my little brother is thinking of his bride… hehehe… growing up?"

As she spoke, her gaze slowly drifted down from his face.

He Pingsheng, embarrassed, said, "Sister, don't be like that… I have urgent business!"

"I know, urgent business!" Zhao Linger said. "What is it? Tell me."

He Pingsheng said, "When you reach Tianfu Mountain, find Sister Qiao and tell her I've been confined by the Ancestor. Then… ask her if she has any talismans that can conceal one's presence or mask one's spiritual aura."

"Of course, the higher the rank, the better!"

"Have her try to get me one first!"

"I'll thank her later!"

Zhao Linger said, "That's it?"

He Pingsheng nodded. "That's it."

"Alright," Zhao Linger said. "I get it—keep it secret, right?"

Zhao Linger went on He Pingsheng's behalf.

The result was disappointing.

Nothing.

Qiao Huizhu said: There is a third-rank 【Hundred Conceal Talisman】 that can mask one's spiritual aura—even a Golden Core cultivator cannot detect it!

But such talismans can only be drawn by Golden Core cultivators.

That wasn't the main issue—the real problem was that the talisman required an extremely rare heavenly treasure, and this treasure couldn't be obtained anytime soon.

She said she would carefully gather materials, and once she succeeded in drawing it, she would send it immediately!

He Pingsheng exhaled in relief.

The good news: there was hope.

If it can fool a Golden Core cultivator, then after I reinforce it, it should easily fool a Nascent Soul cultivator.

The bad news: I still don't know how long I'll have to wait!

Forget it!

First, break through!

Worrying all day won't help.

He Pingsheng pulled out the Red Essence Ginseng.

He didn't reinforce it—just washed it, then swallowed it whole.

A torrent of potent energy surged from his lower abdomen into his dantian, then, guided by his cultivation method, flowed from the dantian into his meridians.

As the energy raced wildly through his meridians, it transformed into a vast force, like a river crashing into the sea.

A hidden, intangible barrier within He Pingsheng's body shattered open.

Qi Refining Stage Twelve—achieved!

Qi Refining Stage Twelve—achieved!

Next came the breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.

Simple—he had top-grade Foundation Establishment Pills.

These two top-grade Foundation Establishment Pills were enhanced before he became a disciple of the Grand Void Gate.

Yet he dared not consume them.

Not yet!

Unless absolutely desperate, he would never use these two pills.

First, cultivate other things.

The first task: raise the other four dantians.

The old man already knew—no need to hide it.

Also, cultivate the spirit and body!

So for He Pingsheng, Foundation Establishment was no longer urgent.

Time passed slowly, and the Grand Void Ancestor remained silent.

He Pingsheng usually trained in the Grand Void side hall, visiting the Grand Void Temple every few days to listen to teachings and study arrays.

After about a year,

He Pingsheng could now craft first-rank array discs.

"Good talent!" the Grand Void Ancestor said. "In one year, you've made a first-rank array—better than I did!"

He Pingsheng quickly paid homage: "It's all thanks to your wise teaching, Master!"

"Don't flatter me… come on, ahead—someone's arrived!" He pointed toward the Grand Void Temple.

The two entered the hall through the spirit plant garden.

One by one, the arrays before the hall activated.

A familiar figure walked in.

He Pingsheng had seen this man before—he was the Ancestor who led them to the secret realm for trials, Golden Core Xuan Yang.

"Greetings, Master!" Xuan Yang bowed to the Ancestor.

The Ancestor nodded. "So today, what do you want?"

Over the past year, nearly every disciple had come—either for a magic treasure, a scripture, or spirit stones.

Everyone assumed the Ancestor wouldn't live much longer, and each wanted to claim as much as possible.

Only the Grand Elder Wuwei had not returned since that time.

"Hehe..." Xuan Yang chuckled and said, "Disciple wishes to ask Younger Brother for something."

"Oh?" Tai Xu asked, "What is it?"

Xuan Yang looked at He Pingsheng: "Younger Brother... could I borrow your cultivation method for refining the spirit? I... cough cough cough... I too wish to strengthen my spiritual sense!"

He Pingsheng was startled: So he's come to ask me for a scripture?