Chapter 260: The News of Xiaoqiao

"Wait…"

He Pingsheng called out to the male cultivator: "You… aren't you Uncle Cheng?"

"Huh?"

The male cultivator turned around and looked at He Pingsheng.

Then he rubbed his eyes hard, stared at He Pingsheng for several breaths, and shook his head: "I don't know you!"

He Pingsheng smiled: "You don't recognize me, but I know you—your granddaughter's name is Xiaohe, right?"

Uncle Cheng nodded: "That's right!"

He Pingsheng shook his head with a bitter smile: "Heh… the Dao is impartial—this world's immortal affinity is truly astonishing."

Back then, he had lived in Uncle Cheng's home, pretending to be Uncle Cheng's son to evade the Qi royal family's search.

Before leaving, he discovered Xiaohe had a single Fire Spirit Root, so he left Uncle Cheng the Qi Refining section of the 【True Method of Departing Flame】.

He asked Uncle Cheng to teach Xiaohe.

And yet…

Uncle Cheng himself reached Qi Refining Stage Eleven?

Can you believe that?

Back then, he had merely tested Xiaohe's spirit root casually and found her to be a single Fire Spirit Root—who could have imagined that a sixty- or seventy-year-old man also had a spirit root?

And this old man, because of He Pingsheng, had somehow stumbled onto the path of cultivation.

This scene filled He Pingsheng with deep emotion.

Immortal affinity—some beg for it in vain, others step onto the path in their twilight years.

Truly speechless.

"Uncle Cheng, let me ask you," He Pingsheng said: "What's your spirit root?"

Uncle Cheng still hadn't recognized He Pingsheng, for back then, He Pingsheng had never shown his true face in their home.

Uncle Cheng had never seen He Pingsheng's current appearance.

"This… the old man can't say!"

Uncle Cheng looked troubled.

He Pingsheng said: "Don't you recognize me? I stayed in your home for over a month—your granddaughter's and your cultivation techniques were both given to you by me…"

"I've just changed my appearance!"

"Huh?" Uncle Cheng was stunned: "You… you…"

He was too moved to speak.

After a long while, he said: "So it's you… Heh… my benefactor—I've actually met you today… Benefactor, I I I I…"

Uncle Cheng was so excited he could barely speak.

He Pingsheng watched him with a gentle smile.

After a while, he remembered He Pingsheng's question and said: "Benefactor… my spirit root is exactly the same as my granddaughter's—single Fire Spirit Root!"

He Pingsheng whistled.

But thinking about it, he understood.

If he weren't a single spirit root, how could he have risen from a mortal to Qi Refining Stage Twelve in twelve years?

Impossible.

"Where's Xiaohe?" He Pingsheng asked.

Uncle Cheng said: "Xiaohe came with me—wait, my great benefactor, just a moment, I'll go find Xiaohe!"

About an hour later, Uncle Cheng led Xiaohe in through the door.

"Xiaohe… I wouldn't lie to you!"

"Look!"

After pulling Xiaohe over, the old man pointed at He Pingsheng.

But Xiaohe's expression was blank.

"No… this isn't… isn't Father…"

He Pingsheng smiled: "Xiaohe, when I was in your home, I was disguised to evade enemies."

"So it's normal you didn't recognize me."

"Listen to my voice!"

"When I left, I showed you your spirit root, gave your grandfather some mid-grade spirit stones, a flying sword, a cultivation technique, and the fire crow technique!"

"Remember now?"

Hearing this, Xiaohe nodded.

Then she burst into tears: "Father… I've finally found you…"

He Pingsheng was instantly embarrassed.

Uncle Cheng beside him was equally embarrassed.

"Cough cough cough…" Uncle Cheng pulled his granddaughter aside: "Child, this isn't your father—he was disguised back then!"

Xiaohe said: "I know!"

"But I feel he's Father—I just feel Father's still alive!"

He Pingsheng said: "Enough crying—sit down."

"Tell me—how have you cultivated these years? How did you end up in Liang's Hongshi City?"

The three sat down, and Xiaohe began telling He Pingsheng their cultivation story.

After receiving He Pingsheng's technique, the old man started cultivating first.

Because Xiaohe couldn't understand speech at first.

Impossible to explain.

Only after two or three years of study could Xiaohe barely comprehend human speech, and by the fourth year, she could grasp the difficult cultivation methods.

So Xiaohe began cultivating six or seven years after Uncle Cheng.

Later, the two cultivated at home, eating ordinary food when hungry—luckily, He Pingsheng had left them many mid-grade spirit stones before departing.

While cultivating, they could directly draw energy from these spirit stones.

Besides spirit stones, there were also some Qi- Gathering Pills.

Over the years, the old man's cultivation advanced, and Xiaohe's cultivation gradually rose too.

Eventually, their cultivation resources were nearly exhausted, so they descended the mountain and headed to 【Jixi City】.

Because of the Qi royal family's troubles, Jixi City was unstable, so last year they joined a merchant caravan and traveled from Qi to Liang, finally settling in Hongshi City.

Their cultivation progress was slow and uneventful, with no dramatic stories.

He Pingsheng scanned her—Xiaohe's cultivation was low, only Qi Refining Stage Six.

That was understandable—she had cultivated for a much shorter time.

"Alright," He Pingsheng looked at Xiaohe and said: "From now on, don't call me Father. Your skills and cultivation are all from me—henceforth, call me Master."

Hearing this, Xiaohe beamed, knelt before He Pingsheng, and bowed her head: "Yes, Master!"

Uncle Cheng beside him looked pained: "If that's the case, my skills are also from you—shouldn't I also become your disciple? But if I do, won't I be the same generation as my granddaughter? No, no, no—what should I do?"

He Pingsheng chuckled: "No need… Uncle Cheng, you're my elder from now on."

"You have no place to settle—why not stay at my alchemy shop? Help me manage it, and you'll gain cultivation resources."

"What do you say?"

Uncle Cheng said: "That's wonderful!"

The Cheng family grandfather and granddaughter were now settled.

He Pingsheng had originally planned to recruit two Qi Refining disciples to guard the shop—now, one stroke, two benefits.

He got the people he needed, and Xiaohe and her grandfather had a place to stay.

…

"Master… look, this is a list!"

A few days later, Cheng Xiaohe suddenly placed a jade slip before He Pingsheng.

These days, He Pingsheng had given her a new task: organize the jade slips.

He Pingsheng had killed many over the years and accumulated many jade slips, most unopened—perfect for Xiaohe to sort through: what to sell, what to keep.

"List?" He Pingsheng frowned, then pressed the jade slip to his forehead.

A line of text appeared: List of New Disciples of the Free Immortal Sect.

Below it, hundreds of names filled the page densely.

He Pingsheng's spiritual sense swept over it—and suddenly, he saw a name: Qiao Xiaoqiao.