Chapter 210

This room was indeed large enough.

Three zhang wide, three zhang long!

In the center stood several tables and a massive cabinet.

The ceiling was embedded with one hundred and eight precious night pearls, like stars.

One could imagine how bright these pearls would glow at night.

Sitting cross-legged on the ground, He Pingsheng's spiritual sense surged out, enveloping all the rooms on the ninth floor.

Cultivators were still boarding the vessel; some rooms were empty, others already filled with arrays.

He Pingsheng noticed that most people's rooms were one zhang wide and one zhang long—only his room measured three zhang across.

It seemed the white-haired cultivator hadn't lied—this truly was the largest room.

He Pingsheng tried to locate Qiao Hui Zhu, but failed; across the ship, array barriers began glowing in each room, and within less than half an incense stick's time, nearly all rooms became invisible.

He Pingsheng also pulled out an array disc and concealed his room.

A defense array!

A spirit-suppressing array!

Plus a warning array.

These were only meant to deter other Foundation Establishment disciples from spying—likely useless against the white-haired cultivator.

Though He Pingsheng didn't know his cultivation level, he could guess: either peak Golden Core, or already Nascent Soul.

Night fell!

Above He Pingsheng, the one hundred and eight night pearls began emitting a faint glow.

He Pingsheng didn't care whether these pearls had spying functions—he didn't care at all, since he had no intention of doing anything.

He simply lay down to rest, ordinary and uneventful.

Boom… boom… boom…

At some moment, the great vessel shook violently.

Sounds from the ship reached every room.

"Greetings, fellow cultivators, I am Jin Lan!" A familiar voice suddenly came, startling He Pingsheng.

Fuck…

Jin Lan? That woman from the Coral Trading Society?

Why did she show up on this ship again?

Jin Lan continued: "Our airship has taken off and is heading toward Shenzhjiang Mountain in Shangdang Commandery. This journey will last approximately two days—you will arrive at Shenzhjiang Mountain in two days!"

"This is a one-way trip. After exploring Shenzhjiang Mountain, you must return on your own!"

He Pingsheng listened to the voice and could hardly believe his ears—previously, Jin Lan had always felt seductive, in speech and action alike. But now, her tone was formal, serious, and full of authority.

If you hadn't seen her in person, you'd think she was a pure, innocent maiden.

Yet Jin Lan was anything but innocent.

Jin Lan continued her briefing.

After explaining the route and schedule, she began detailing information about Shenzhjiang Mountain.

According to her, Shenzhjiang Mountain was a vast mountain range, dotted with countless peaks, and threaded through by immense spiritual veins. Above it all lay a massive array, its origin unknown.

This array concealed the entire Shenzhjiang Mountain.

Foundation Establishment cultivators could enter to seek treasures and contemplate spear intent.

Previously, He Pingsheng had heard from Xuan Yuan Changgeng that Shenzhjiang Mountain held many second-rank heavenly treasures, and some third-rank.

Now, according to Jin Lan, it held not just third-rank items—someone had once discovered a fourth-rank spiritual plant.

Moreover, Shenzhjiang Mountain had another advantage: the great array could automatically detect demonic beasts within.

If any demonic beast reached Golden Core level, the array would instantly kill it.

Foundation Establishment cultivators need not fear Golden Core demonic beasts inside.

Likewise!

Cultivators of Golden Core level or higher could not enter—otherwise, the array would identify them as demonic beasts and annihilate them.

Even if you concealed your cultivation level, it wouldn't help.

"So there is one very important thing I must tell you all!" Jin Lan spoke with grave seriousness: "Hold onto your Life-Death Talismans… If you feel an imminent breakthrough, remember—do NOT break through to Golden Core inside!"

"Activate the teleportation!"

"Otherwise, you will be annihilated by the array!"

He Pingsheng understood.

He picked up a white jade tablet.

This had been exchanged for his black boarding token upon boarding—called the Life-Death Talisman.

What did "Life-Death Talisman" mean?

Exactly like the one used in the Cuiping Mountain secret realm—crush it, and you could teleport out at any time.

Many cultivators entering Shenzhjiang Mountain were Foundation Establishment Level Twelve.

Foundation Establishment Level Twelve cultivators didn't need to consume the 【Chaoyuan Elixir】 to break through!

Not at all!

Sometimes, sudden breakthroughs occurred during life-or-death enlightenment, or in the heat of extreme combat.

If such a situation arose, don't hesitate—teleport out immediately.

Otherwise, the array will annihilate you!

Two days later, at dawn, the great vessel finally arrived at Shenzhjiang Mountain and landed at the entrance of its array.

Under the white-haired cultivator's lead, everyone disembarked.

They reached the square before the Shenzhjiang Mountain entrance.

He Pingsheng looked around—the square was vast, a thousand zhang across.

Besides the cultivators from Dingxiang Commandery, many others had come from different commanderies.

But those from other commanderies were far fewer—three hundred at most, one hundred at least.

A commandery sending four thousand cultivators at once, like Dingxiang, was truly rare.

He Pingsheng's eyes narrowed slightly—what did this mean?

It meant Dingxiang's test was an impromptu addition, not a unified action across major commanderies. Someone had learned of Dingxiang's situation and rushed here immediately to test it.

How had they found out?

He Pingsheng's heart trembled violently: I escaped this time—but next time, if they use the same method, won't they still find me and Wang Dun?

No…

After this Shenzhjiang Mountain expedition, I must find an excuse to leave Qi State.

Go somewhere beyond Qi State.

The sun rose slowly, and the entrance to Shenzhjiang Mountain's array opened.

An elder guarding the array shouted: "Each commandery, enter in order! Dingxiang Commandery has the most people—Dingxiang enters first!"

Whoosh!

Over four thousand from Dingxiang Commandery marched toward the array entrance.

"Go," the white-haired cultivator waved his hand.

The crowd surged forward eagerly.

He Pingsheng, ever the one to avoid standing out, hunched his shoulders and didn't enter immediately—instead, he paused at the entrance to observe.

At that moment, he suddenly heard the white-haired cultivator cry out behind him: "What?"

"Wang Dun ran away?"

Whoosh…

He Pingsheng spun around sharply.

He saw a red-robed female cultivator reporting something to the white-haired cultivator.

"He Kunlun… come here quickly—don't enter…" The white-haired cultivator waved his hand, and a crushing pressure slammed toward He Pingsheng.

Yet beneath He Pingsheng's feet, a burst of golden light erupted—he shot into the array in a flash.