Chapter 202

Start refining pills!

The first batch exploded!

It exploded unexpectedly, before even reaching the final melting stage.

He Pingsheng was not discouraged.

Better that it exploded.

If it explodes now, next time I'll have experience.

Then, the second batch exploded too.

Keep going!

The third batch exploded!

The fourth batch failed!

Though it failed, twelve dud pills were successfully produced.

"Huh…" He Pingsheng exhaled a long, heavy breath.

After two straight days of pill refining, he finally produced one batch.

For He Pingsheng, dud pills were as good as successful ones!

He did not continue refining immediately; instead, he meditated for two days, summarizing his gains and losses, before resuming.

From the fifth batch onward to the tenth, none exploded again.

All were duds—thoroughly, stably, and predictably dud.

From ten sets of materials, he obtained seven batches of dud pills.

Next came enhancement.

He Pingsheng enhanced only one batch.

Twelve ineffective pills were upgraded into twenty-four supreme Juyuan Pills.

The remaining six batches remained as dud pills; He Pingsheng did not enhance them further, since this pill was meant only for Jin Dan cultivators, and he himself could not use it yet.

After gaining a general understanding of his pill-refining skills, He Pingsheng returned to a calm state.

Over the past year, he spent half a year refining his clothes and shoes, another half refining his spiritual sense and body, plus prior participation in auctions and trade fairs, and the expedition with Xuan Yuan to refine the Divine Pills—his travels were sufficient.

He could resume cultivation.

He Pingsheng did not attempt to break through to the third layer of Foundation Establishment; instead, he planned to raise the other four dantians first, since all four were still at Foundation Establishment Layer One.

Yet, before he could begin, he was interrupted.

The visitor was White Dragon Daoist.

"Brother He… I heard you can now refine third-rank pills…" White Dragon looked at He Pingsheng, his gaze growing ever more reverent.

He Pingsheng said: "You know about this?"

"Heh…" White Dragon said: "That's a good thing!"

He Pingsheng shook his head: "Not that good. Last time I managed third-rank pills only because I swallowed two 【Shuangshen Pills】."

"Still impressive!" White Dragon said: "Brother He is nearly ready to truly refine third-rank pills!"

"Oh… right, right…"

White Dragon suddenly slapped his own head: "I was so caught up talking about pills, I nearly forgot the main matter!"

"Brother He, will you go to Divine General Mountain?"

"Divine General Mountain?" He Pingsheng frowned slightly: "Wasn't it already opened?"

He remembered they said it would open in a year—over a year had passed, and it still hadn't opened?

"Not yet!" White Dragon said: "Another half-month… Brother He, good news—the rules for entering Divine General Mountain have changed!"

He Pingsheng was slightly startled: "Changed?"

"Exactly!" White Dragon nodded: "Previously, only the top one hundred on the Dragon Roar List had entry rights—even if each brought one companion, that's only two hundred people!"

"These past few days, the rules suddenly changed!"

"Now, the top three hundred on the Dragon Roar List may enter, and each may bring one companion!"

"Additionally, any Foundation Establishment cultivator from Dingxiang Commandery who passes the Governor's Office test may also enter!"

"This news has spread throughout every corner of Dingxiang Commandery—even distant sect disciples are rushing in!"

He Pingsheng's pupils narrowed slightly: no wonder the streets had suddenly filled with more people.

So many sect disciples from outside had come.

"May I ask, Brother Bai," He Pingsheng said, "what exactly does the Governor's Office test assess?"

White Dragon said: "Still unknown… but rumors say it tests comprehension."

"Not combat ability."

"Zixian's sister is a powerful Foundation Establishment Layer Twelve cultivator; she suggested we form a team to enter Divine General Mountain together, for mutual support!"

"Brother He, what do you think?"

He Pingsheng neither accepted nor refused.

From his perspective, he certainly did not wish to enter.

After all, aside from spear intent, the place held no extraordinary treasures—only ordinary relics.

Even if there were some third-rank heavenly treasures, they held no appeal for him.

If I can buy it with money, why risk my life?

But now that he heard many sects from Dingxiang Commandery had arrived in Dingxiang City, He Pingsheng wanted to go see for himself.

First, go to the Governor's Office for the test—could he spot any Grand Void Gate cultivators?

If he did, he could ask how things were going there.

And Qiao Huizhu.

At least he should try to send her a message.

"Alright…" He Pingsheng thought for a moment, then nodded: "Whether I join or not doesn't matter—I'll go to the Governor's Office first."

"Hehe…" White Dragon chuckled: "Good, good! Zixian and Zilan are just near the Governor's Office—let's go join them!"

The two left the small courtyard and headed toward the Governor's Office.

At the Governor's Office gate, there were many people.

Crowded, jostling, shoulder to shoulder.

He Pingsheng unleashed his spiritual sense, not scanning others' cultivation levels, but sweeping the five-hundred-zhang area, hoping to spot Qiao Huizhu or Xu Kunlun.

He searched for a long time but saw no one—except Zixian and Zilan standing in a corner.

He and White Dragon approached them.

"He… Brother He…" Seeing He Pingsheng, Zilan's eyes suddenly brightened with delight: "I was worried you wouldn't come!"

He Pingsheng bowed quickly: "Greetings, both of you!"

"No need for formalities!" Zilan said: "You saved me once!"

He Pingsheng said: "It wasn't much—you two, have you taken the test yet?"

"Not yet!" Zilan said: "The Governor's Office hasn't started testing; everyone's waiting. Word is it begins tomorrow, but they'll open the gates soon so everyone can enter and wait inside."

"By the way, He… uh… Brother He!" Zilan asked again: "We still don't know your name!"

At this, Zixian and White Dragon also turned to He Pingsheng.

Even Xuan Yuan Changgeng knew He Pingsheng's surname, but no one knew his true name.

He Pingsheng did not hesitate, bowed, and said: "I am He Kunlun…"

Borrowing Xu Kunlun's name.

No choice—he dared not use his real name.

Before, he wouldn't have cared; but now, with so many sects pouring into Dingxiang City, who knew if any Beast Tamer Immortal Sect members were here? If they heard his name, it would be disastrous.

He Pingsheng thought the Beast Tamer Immortal Sect might not hunt down a mere Foundation Establishment disciple; but they might—after all, he was the last disciple of Grand Void Patriarch.