Chapter 209

Research my ass!

This is outright robbery!

He Pingsheng had no choice.

Known as cutting off an arm to save the body, to avoid soul-searching and provide a plausible excuse, he could only produce his cultivation technique.

But it didn't matter anyway.

Because he had already given this technique to many others before.

Xuan Yang, Chong Yang, Master Yu Ning, and others.

Because it only contained three sections—from Qi Refining to Golden Core.

If He Pingsheng simply left, it would seem suspicious, so he bowed again, his face filled with fearful sincerity: "Elder, this is a family heirloom passed down through six or seven generations—how can I let it vanish under my watch?"

"Please, Elder, return it to me!"

"Don't worry, I'll give it back," said the white-haired cultivator, waving his hand. "Take him out first!"

He Pingsheng was taken outside.

Surrounded by a heavy guard detail, he sat on the steps outside the palace.

After about half an hour, he was called back in.

The white-haired cultivator returned the technique to him and said: "We've studied it thoroughly—you have no connection to Wang Dun… Here is your cultivation method for refining the primordial spirit. Take it!"

"But you cannot leave the Lord's mansion for now—stay here."

"If we get any new information, we'll question you again."

It was effectively house arrest.

He Pingsheng was taken to a room inside the Lord's mansion and lodged there.

He took a deep breath and pulled out a talisman: the Invisibility Talisman.

This was his last resort.

If they truly intended to kill him, he would rely on this talisman to escape.

But now was not the time.

…

Before he knew it, over ten days had passed!

He Pingsheng was summoned again before the white-haired cultivator.

The white-haired cultivator smiled cheerfully: "I've got good news for you… Wang Dun has been captured!"

"Hahaha…"

"Clearly, this matter has nothing to do with you!"

"We set sail for Shensheng Mountain this afternoon!"

"You may board normally now!"

He Pingsheng exhaled deeply: "Thank you, Elder, for your keen insight!"

The white-haired cultivator smiled, then shook his head. "Go on. I'll be waiting for you on the great ship this afternoon."

Keen insight?

Pfft, what keen insight!

It was just that everything no longer mattered now.

After all, the one with great fortune had already been caught. Whether this boy had ties to Wang Dun or not—none of it mattered anymore.

…

He Pingsheng was free!

He left the Lord's mansion and headed straight for the Coral Trading Society.

The white-haired cultivator said he'd wait for He Pingsheng on the great ship this afternoon—how could He Pingsheng dare not go?

He guessed that although he was temporarily free, the Lord's mansion guards were surely watching him.

So he had no choice but to go to Shensheng Mountain.

Before heading to Shensheng Mountain, he needed to buy something: the Disguise Talisman.

Because he was about to board the ship—if the Beast Taming Sect or the Ice Pole Sect spotted him, he'd be surrounded by enemies, making his future path far harder.

Better to avoid trouble where possible.

"Friend…"

As soon as he entered, he saw a woman in a blue Dao robe with an explosive figure.

The woman was none other than Jin Lan, who had hosted the auction before.

Jin Lan confidently stepped forward, chest thrust out: "Young brother, what are you looking for?"

She smiled at He Pingsheng—clearly, she recognized him.

After all, he had not only attended the auction but also the subsequent Jiaoyi Society, and even produced ten drops of spiritual fluid and a top-grade spiritual-nerve attack magic treasure.

Hard to forget.

He Pingsheng said: "Second-grade talismans!"

Jin Lan said: "Follow me!"

She pulled him to the talisman section.

At the Mount Matou marketplace, the trading society sold second-grade talismans, but in limited quantity and variety.

But the Coral Trading Society was different—they didn't openly sell items above third-grade, yet their second-grade stock was abundant.

At a glance, all kinds of talismans were there.

Offensive, defensive, supportive.

Everything you could want!

"Little brother, what talisman do you need?" Jin Lan nearly leaned against He Pingsheng, her voice sweet and syrupy, making him shiver.

He Pingsheng took a deep breath: "Two Stonefall Talismans, two Flameburst Talismans… and the second-grade Disguise Talisman—give me three of those!"

Seven talismans total.

"Alright!" Jin Lan happily fetched the seven talismans he needed. "Twenty thousand spirit stones."

"Each Stonefall and Flameburst is two thousand, but the Disguise Talismans are pricier—four thousand each. Total: twenty thousand."

"Fine!" He Pingsheng handed her two mid-grade spirit stones.

Jin Lan took the stones and shot him a flirtatious glance. "Brother… do you still have any of that Golden Bee Sacred Juice? Can you give me one drop?"

"Just one drop… I'll do anything for you!"

"Anything you want!"

As she spoke, she twisted her body, nearly pressing against him.

The pressure made him freeze—he fled the Coral Trading Society in utter panic, tail between his legs.

Phew…

Half a stick of incense after leaving the shop, he finally took a deep breath and cleared away all the negative emotions.

When the Lord's mansion began boarding, He Pingsheng found a secluded spot, slapped a second-grade 【Disguise Talisman】 onto his body, and altered his appearance.

He became a middle-aged man again.

A second-grade talisman, without enhancement, could fool only Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Above that level, it was instantly seen through.

But its duration was longer than a first-grade talisman—one lasted two hours, this one lasted a full day.

Outside the southern gate of the Lord's mansion, on the square between the Phoenix Banner and the Dragon Chant Banner, sat a massive flying vessel.

The vessel was two hundred zhang long and fifty zhang wide.

Majestic and imposing.

On top of this enormous vessel stood nine levels of buildings, their rooms packed tightly like a beehive.

It made one's scalp tingle.

"Board now! Hold onto your tokens—get on board! Once aboard, exchange your tokens for Life-and-Death Plaques!"

Four to five thousand people boarded in sequence.

He Pingsheng also presented his black token for inspection, boarded the great ship, and immediately encountered the white-haired cultivator sitting on the deck.

The white-haired cultivator instantly saw through He Pingsheng's disguise. "Why disguise yourself again?"

"Are you being hunted?"

"Tell me who it is—I'll kill him for you!"

He Pingsheng shuddered: If I tell you, you'll just go ask others about my origins.

He quickly smiled and said: "No… I'm a pill alchemist. I fear people will pester me to make pills for them!"

"Oh…" The white-haired cultivator nodded. "I've prepared a good cabin for you—the first and largest one at the bow. Go."