Chapter 256: High-Rank Array

"Younger brother… how did you get out?"

"Is it over already?"

Ling Zhiwang asked He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng said: "It's not over, but I've already won the shop I needed!"

"Oh?" Ling Zhiwang immediately beamed and said: "Congratulations, congratulations! Where is it?"

He Pingsheng said: "I don't know exactly, they said it's in the Jiazi District, close to the Magistrate's Mansion—I'd guess it's not far from your Red Moon Society!"

"Good good good, that's wonderful!" Ling Zhiwang escorted He Pingsheng out of the society, then solemnly said: "Younger brother, remember: you can only sell elixirs in your shop. Anything unrelated to elixirs, absolutely do not touch—otherwise, if the Magistrate's Mansion finds out, they'll seize your shop!"

He Pingsheng had been warned about this countless times already.

"And also… and also…" Ling Zhiwang said: "Younger brother, tonight I've arranged a gathering—let's drink spiritual tea and exchange cultivation insights. Come, it's not far from our society!"

He Pingsheng had no interest in such things and shook his head: "I won't come."

"Don't say that!" Ling Zhiwang said: "Don't refuse—you must come!"

"Um… cough cough…"

"Younger brother, it's called tea, but really it's a private exchange gathering—only insiders, people we know!"

Exchange gathering?

He Pingsheng couldn't help but feel a surge of interest.

But since it was organized by Ling Zhiwang himself, not by the society, he still felt uneasy.

Afraid of being tricked.

"Cough cough…" Ling Zhiwang lowered his voice: "Younger brother, I didn't plan to invite you, but one of my friends wants to sell a set of array scriptures!"

"The high-level kind!"

"My friend comes from an array family!"

"I thought—you're also an array master—maybe you'd be interested in this!"

"Of course, if you're not interested, just forget I mentioned it!"

He Pingsheng immediately became interested.

Arrays—he was certainly interested.

Back then, the old man had said arrays were among the most crucial aspects of cultivation, sometimes even more important than elixir refining.

He Pingsheng could now set up third-rank arrays.

But beyond that, he couldn't go further.

Because he had no relevant scriptures.

The knowledge in his 【Third-Rank Array】 and 【Ten Thousand Array Treasury】 only went up to third-rank.

"Alright…" He Pingsheng said: "I'll go check the shop first, then come find you tonight!"

…

The shop was indeed not far from the Red Moon Society.

On the same street, directly across from the Magistrate's Mansion.

No spiritual energy.

After the woman opened the door, He Pingsheng looked inside—it was indeed about one zhang in length.

What surprised him was that behind the shop was a small courtyard.

The courtyard was roughly the same size as his previous one, except it had no spiritual energy.

"Is this courtyard included?" He Pingsheng asked.

"No," the woman said: "Every shop has a small courtyard behind it—that's the rule of Hongshi City. No matter which shop you win, it's always like this!"

"I see!"

He Pingsheng suddenly understood.

He hadn't known this detail before.

"Senior brother!" the woman asked after showing him around for a while: "What kind of items will you sell in this shop? We need to report it!"

He Pingsheng said: "Elixirs."

"Elixirs?" the woman nodded: "Alright, Senior Brother—what grades and qualities of elixirs will your shop sell?"

He Pingsheng said: "So far, only first to third grade."

"What?" the woman was slightly startled: "Senior Brother… you… you… you can refine third-grade elixirs?"

He Pingsheng smiled: "I can't—but my master can."

"Oh oh oh…" the woman's startled expression faded after hearing this.

"Is there anything else?" He Pingsheng asked.

The woman said: "Yes yes yes—there's one final thing: what's the name of your shop? Tell me, we'll make the sign and hang it up—you don't have to do it yourself!"

He Pingsheng said: "I'll write it down for you."

He picked up a brush and wrote six characters on the paper: 【Qiao Xiaoqiao's Elixir Shop】.

This name had been carefully chosen by He Pingsheng and Qiao Huizhu long ago.

The name seemed ordinary.

But anyone who knew Qiao Xiaoqiao—or Qiao Xiaoqiao herself—would surely come in to take a look.

Once they came in, wouldn't they be found?

"Alright!" the woman gathered all the information and left.

He Pingsheng stayed behind to tidy up the shop.

He wiped clean the shelves and cleared out the clutter from the courtyard behind.

The courtyard could be used for living in the future.

Of course, He Pingsheng would never personally watch the shop.

Back in Dingxiang City, he'd seen Xuan Yuan hire a disciple to manage his shop—he wanted to do the same, to take on a student.

But that could wait.

First, he needed to open the shop.

Open a shop. Sell elixirs.

Mainly the three staple consumable elixirs for Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, and Golden Core cultivators: 【Qi Gathering Elixir】, 【Spirit Gathering Elixir】, and 【Primordial Gathering Elixir】.

He gave it a quick tidy-up!

When dusk fell, He Pingsheng locked the shop and went to the Red Moon Society.

Ling Zhiwang had been waiting a long time.

"Hehehe… Xu Younger Brother, you're the last one!" Ling Zhiwang grabbed He Pingsheng's sleeve: "Come on, come on, they're all waiting!"

He Pingsheng wasn't afraid.

His spiritual sense was now immensely powerful, rivaling a Golden Core cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment, and he carried the 【Crushing Thunder Talisman】.

Even if he encountered a Golden Core cultivator, he could guarantee a safe escape—let alone mere Foundation Establishment cultivators.

After following Ling Zhiwang through several nearby streets, they arrived at a small courtyard.

Around the courtyard were several second-rank arrays for concealment.

He Pingsheng had been here before—it was Ling Zhiwang's Dao hall.

The second-rank arrays above were even arranged by him for Ling Zhiwang.

With that, there was even less danger.

"Please."

He Pingsheng entered the room.

The room was brightly lit.

Around a round table sat four cultivators.

He Pingsheng glanced over—two men, two women.

His spiritual sense swept over them, revealing their cultivation levels.

One female cultivator at Foundation Establishment third layer, one at ninth layer.

The two male cultivators were higher—one at eleventh layer, one at twelfth.

All Foundation Establishment.

With such levels, He Pingsheng could crush them with a flick of his hand—he had no reservations.

He sat down casually at his seat.

"Ladies and gentlemen… thank you all for coming!" Ling Zhiwang shut the door and sat down with a smile: "Among cultivators, beyond cultivation, the most important thing is exchanging what we lack!"

"Let me introduce you all!"