Chapter 239: Heading to Skull Mountain

Tian Que Divine Spear!

This is a non-elemental magic treasure.

That means any cultivator, regardless of their primary element, can use it.

"Perfect!" He Pingsheng murmured, and the small spear in his hand instantly elongated into a black divine spear one zhang long.

Boom…

He gently thrust the divine spear forward, and an unmatched fire spiritual force surged out from the black spear.

Back then, after enhancing the Zhuang Family Thirteen Spears, he gained two techniques.

The first: Great Flag Rolling Thunder Technique.

This is also the technique He Pingsheng uses most often, paired with the Nine Radiance Dragon-Slaying Flag—it's extremely powerful.

Even now, using this technique alone is enough to fight a Foundation Establishment peak disciple.

Unfortunately, the Nine Radiance Dragon-Slaying Flag is too low-grade, with only eight sealing layers—it's merely a supreme-grade spiritual artifact.

The second: Holy Fire Cloud Spear Technique.

He Pingsheng has never cultivated the Holy Fire Cloud Spear Technique.

But once cultivated, this technique is best used with a spear—one thrust releases a burst of fire clouds.

Its power is unmatched.

But cultivating it now is too late.

"Retract…" He waved his hand and sealed away the Tian Que Divine Spear.

He deactivated the formation and walked slowly downstairs.

Over five months.

It's time to head to Skull Mountain.

Since the Skull Mountain Grand Exchange still has several days before it begins.

The Skull Mountain Grand Exchange lasts half a month—fifteen days.

"Husband…"

Perhaps hearing He Pingsheng's movements, Qiao Huizhu deactivated the formation on the first floor, revealing a round little head, making a face at him.

He Pingsheng instantly swept his spiritual sense over.

He saw through Qiao Huizhu's cultivation base at a glance.

"You… reached Qi Refining eighth level?" He Pingsheng was surprised.

In five months? That's too fast.

"Yes…" Qiao Huizhu said, "I'm about to reach ninth level… In another half year, I can establish my Foundation!"

"Then I'll just cultivate in seclusion for another year—I'll reach Foundation Establishment sixth level!"

Before her qi dispersion, Qiao Huizhu's cultivation was already Foundation Establishment sixth level.

"Hmm…" He Pingsheng nodded, then leaned closer to Qiao Huizhu, saying, "Senior Sister… hmm…"

His face turned red.

Half a year apart—longing like blood.

"Stupid junior brother…" Qiao Huizhu extended her snow-white hand and tapped his forehead hard. "Come in…"

…

Two days later!

He Pingsheng packed everything and left the city with Qiao Huizhu.

This trip was to attend the Skull Mountain Grand Exchange.

After exiting Nanmen of Hongshi City, He Pingsheng unfurled his flying boat and took Qiao Huizhu with him toward Skull Mountain.

Although Qiao Huizhu's spiritual sense was at Foundation Establishment level and she could briefly fly on a sword, her spiritual power was far too weak.

Her sword flight was much slower than He Pingsheng's flying boat.

Half a day later, the flying boat arrived at Skull Mountain, tens of thousands of li away.

From afar, Skull Mountain was enormous.

It was a massive peak.

On its cliffs and precipices, countless giant skull heads had been carved by human hands.

No one knew if this was the origin of the mountain's name.

He Pingsheng landed the flying boat atop the peak; he increasingly felt he needed to replace it.

This flying boat was still the one he obtained after killing the Black Wind Trio—even after enhancement, it was merely a supreme-grade magic artifact.

Now, its speed was too slow for him.

"So lively…"

Qiao Huizhu glanced ahead—crowds upon crowds, shoulders brushing, elbows jostling.

He Pingsheng looked up too.

The mountaintop was filled with pavilions, terraces, towers, and halls.

Among these pavilions stood a massive mountain gate.

Above the gate hung a giant stone slab, carved with three enormous characters: Skull Mountain.

Before the gate, a dozen or so cultivators in black Daoist robes, embroidered with skull emblems, checked every passerby's token.

Qiao Huizhu added, "I wonder if we'll run into Xiaoqiao here…"

He Pingsheng said, "Hope so!"

When they first came to Liang State, Qiao Huizhu feared three of them would draw too much attention, so she sent Xiaoqiao ahead into Liang State.

Half a year has passed, and there's been no word of Xiaoqiao.

"Didn't you leave her a Twin Heart Talisman?" He Pingsheng asked Qiao Huizhu.

Qiao Huizhu said, "Of course I did—but Twin Heart Talismans only work within a limited range!"

"Too far away, and they're useless!"

"I tried using it to contact my sister…"

"But there was no response!"

Think about it—Redstone City to Skull Mountain is tens of thousands of li.

That distance already exceeds the Twin Heart Talisman's communication range.

"Let's go take a look…"

He Pingsheng took Qiao Huizhu's hand and walked toward the mountain gate.

When they reached the gate's side, he pulled out the black skull token.

The black-robed cultivator stepped forward, respectfully inspected it, and said, "Elder, please enter!"

"But everyone must pay one hundred spirit stones!"

One hundred!

He Pingsheng didn't care, but for ordinary Qi Refining disciples, this was a substantial fortune.

He paid two hundred spirit stones and entered the gate with Qiao Huizhu.

Inside the gate were also various exquisite pavilions and halls.

But no one had time to admire the scenery—everyone followed the line ahead, moving forward.

He Pingsheng was no exception.

As he walked, he casually swept his spiritual sense around, observing the surrounding cultivators.

The majority here were Qi Refining disciples.

Qi Refining disciples made up about seventy percent.

Foundation Establishment disciples made up thirty percent.

Of course, there might be Jin Dan cultivators too, but He Pingsheng saw none.

After passing through these exquisite surroundings, He Pingsheng saw a vast square.

Extremely large!

Estimated, it was a thousand zhang wide and a thousand zhang long.

What does a thousand zhang mean?

That's fully six or seven li!

Although the Skull Mountain Grand Exchange officially begins tomorrow, some cultivators had already impatiently claimed spots on the wide ground and set up stalls.

He Pingsheng didn't look at the stalls—he looked around.

Along the edges of the square stood hundreds of grand halls.

Each hall was a small shop.

So not only individuals set up stalls—major merchants wouldn't miss this opportunity either.

Behind the shops were many houses.

No need to guess—these were accommodations for visiting cultivators.

After all, many had lodging needs.

"Let's go…" He Pingsheng held Qiao Huizhu's hand. "We'll rent a small house first—the exchange lasts fifteen days!"