Chapter 277: Just Change Your Dao Title Already

What is a false golden core?

When cultivating, advancing from Foundation Establishment Layer 12 to Golden Core does not necessarily require the use of 【Chaoyuan Elixir】.

You can use it.

You can also forgo it.

If you forgo it, you must rely on your own cultivation, willpower, fortune, and other combined factors to condense the breath of heaven and earth for half a century before forming a Golden Core.

The principle is the same as using the Chaoyuan Elixir.

But cultivators who form a false golden core through their own efforts, without the Chaoyuan Elixir, possess far greater combat power after achieving the Golden Core.

Their Golden Core can store more spiritual power.

A false golden core cultivator is precisely such a cultivator who seeks to form a core through personal effort, without the Chaoyuan Elixir.

When the Golden Core has not yet fully formed but already shows a faint, shadowy image, it is called a 【false golden core】.

The combat power of a false golden core cultivator lies between the early Golden Core stage and the peak of Foundation Establishment.

Very strong.

Put it this way: any false golden core cultivator can effortlessly crush an ordinary Foundation Establishment Layer 12.

Such cultivators are rare.

Among a hundred peak Foundation Establishment cultivators, perhaps not one can reach the false golden core realm.

"Then…" He Pingsheng said, "what kind of elixir are you looking for?"

The false golden core cultivator shook his head and smiled: "I'm not buying elixirs!"

"My Dao title is 【Wuqiong】, from the Free and Easy Immortal Sect!"

After speaking, the Infinite Daoist smiled and stared at He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng's expression changed.

Free and Easy Immortal Sect?

Are they here to cause trouble?

He Pingsheng walked back behind the counter and lazily regarded Wuqiong.

Wuqiong said: "I, the—"

"Stop!" He Pingsheng raised his hand in a stopping gesture: "Don't keep saying 'I, the' in front of me—you have no right to use those words here!"

Wuqiong immediately looked embarrassed.

Correct: according to the rules of the cultivation world, referring to oneself as "I, the" in another's presence is an implicit claim of higher status.

In his sect, Wuqiong was arrogant and always called himself "I, the" before his junior brothers.

His fellow disciples flattered him, so no one objected.

He had grown used to this habit, so he never changed it when coming to He Pingsheng's place.

Now that He Pingsheng called him out, it was no wonder Wuqiong was embarrassed.

"Cough, cough, cough…" He cleared his throat, took a deep breath to steady himself, and said: "You are Master Xu, correct? I am Wuqiong, the eldest disciple of Jade Tree Peak, Free and Easy Immortal Sect!"

"Recently, my junior brother Zhang Qi was rude here and was arrested by the City Lord's Office!"

"I come to apologize and make amends on his behalf!"

He Pingsheng said: "No need for apologies—have him come here himself to compensate me."

"Uh…" Wuqiong rubbed his forehead: "Master Xu, you don't understand—my junior brother is still imprisoned in the City Lord's Office!"

Wuqiong had made several trips already, even bringing out a Golden Core Elder from his sect.

But they still refused to release him!

There was nothing to be done.

After all, the City Lord's Office represents the Liang Kingdom.

In Hongshi County, the Free and Easy Immortal Sect is far stronger than the City Lord's Office.

But across the entire Liang Kingdom, they are no different from ants.

The City Lord's Office insisted that to protect merchants' interests, compensation must be paid.

The Free and Easy Immortal Sect must compensate He Pingsheng.

Once compensation is settled, He Pingsheng must provide proof of settlement; only then will the City Lord's Office impose a fine and release the prisoner.

Wuqiong came this time specifically to resolve this matter.

"I'm not in a hurry!" He Pingsheng said. "Let him come after he's out—he can pay me then."

Wuqiong wanted to cry.

If he could get out, do you think I'd come back here to pay you?

"Um… Master Xu…" Wuqiong stared at He Pingsheng, growing more and more annoyed.

Honestly, his junior brother Zhang Qi came to harass He Pingsheng entirely because of him.

Ever since seeing Qiao Huizhu, this Wuqiong had been obsessed, determined to win over the new junior sister.

He had even publicly declared his intentions.

But he accidentally learned that Qiao Huizhu already had a husband.

How could this Wuqiong tolerate it?

Wuqiong was one of the Free and Easy Immortal Sect's top talents.

The number one Foundation Establishment cultivator on Jade Tree Peak.

He was famous throughout the sect.

Once he'd declared it publicly, could he take it back?

So he secretly sent his junior brother Zhang Qi to test He Pingsheng's strength.

So he could decide what to do.

Result!

He didn't test He Pingsheng's depth—he lost his junior brother.

Wuqiong felt like vomiting.

"Hehehe…" Wuqiong forced a smile: "Master Xu… tell me, exactly how much damage was done?"

"How many spirit stones are you demanding?"

"I'll pay for Zhang Qi!"

"Is that acceptable?"

"Fine!" He Pingsheng said. "If someone's willing to pay, that's perfect!"

"Come, take a look…"

He Pingsheng pulled out a porcelain bottle.

Inside were nothing but shattered elixirs.

"Two batches of high-grade 【Juyuan Elixir】, twenty-four pills total!"

He Pingsheng began listing: "One bottle of high-grade 【Chaoyuan Elixir】 destroyed—twelve pills!"

"Since you're from the Free and Easy Immortal Sect, I'll waive the cost of the damaged shelves!"

"Just compensate me with three bottles of elixirs!"

"You've disrupted my business for two days—pay accordingly!"

Upon hearing He Pingsheng's demands, Wuqiong's mouth twitched violently.

High-grade?

All third-grade elixirs?

And a total of thirty-six pills?

Sssss…

Wuqiong sucked in several sharp breaths.

This was no small fortune!

"Then… how many spirit stones?" Wuqiong asked.

He Pingsheng said: "Each bottle of high-grade 【Juyuan Elixir】 is worth one million eight hundred thousand spirit stones. As for Chaoyuan Elixir, it's even higher—give me two million per bottle!"

"Total: six million lower-grade spirit stones!"

"You've wasted my business for several days—add a little extra. Six million lower-grade spirit stones total!"

"Here!" He Pingsheng extended his hand.

Wuqiong's face turned black.

Six million?

Sell me, and I still wouldn't have six million.

"Master Xu!" Wuqiong said. "That's far too much!"

"Too much?" He Pingsheng looked at Wuqiong. "You were just calling yourself 'I, the'—surely you're not saying you can't afford—"

"You're a core disciple of the Free and Easy Immortal Sect, aren't you?"

"A full-fledged false golden core cultivator—and you're this stingy?"

"I think you should change your Dao title," He Pingsheng said coolly. "Drop the 'Wu' from Wuqiong."

"You—"

"Y-you—you—"

Wuqiong, humiliated by He Pingsheng's taunts, nearly spat blood.

Especially that last line—it was a devastating blow.

He trembled all over, raising a shaking finger toward He Pingsheng.

If they weren't in the city, he would have slapped He Pingsheng dead right there.

Too bad they were in the city.

He Pingsheng glared at him, then pulled a book from behind the counter and began reading: "If you've got no money, get out and don't waste my time cultivating!"

"You—" Wuqiongqi gritted his teeth and stormed out of He Pingsheng's shop.

Not…

That book the bastard just read…

Hehuan Gong?