Chapter 280: Shattering the Bottleneck, Endless Blood Spitting

"Can this place… work?"

Right behind the alchemy shop.

Qiao Huizhu looked at the room, her face flushed: "Won't this… be unsafe?"

She looked at He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng said: "Relax!"

"I've set up several arrays here—all third-rank great arrays!"

Though the room is small, the outside is layered with multiple great arrays set by He Pingsheng.

Defense array, Spirit-Blocking array, Alert array, and more.

A Jin Dan cultivator's spiritual sense cannot penetrate inside.

If a Nascent Soul cultivator's spiritual sense tries to enter, the alarm triggers instantly.

From alarm trigger to a Nascent Soul cultivator's spiritual sense bypassing the arrays and reaching inside, it takes over a dozen breaths.

More than enough time to get dressed.

Besides, He Pingsheng's meditation cushions are made of heavenly silkworm silk.

"Alright!"

Qiao Huizhu nodded.

He Pingsheng waved his hand, and the arrays gradually concealed themselves.

…

Outside the small courtyard was the alchemy shop.

Behind the shop counter sat a Foundation Establishment cultivator—Cheng Laobai, Cheng Daocai.

Cheng Daocai now looked considerably younger.

Glancing at the backyard, Cheng Daocai's lips curled into a faint smile: "Heh… youth is truly wonderful…"

Of course, Cheng Daocai only sighed inwardly.

Soon, his attention returned to his book.

At this moment, Cheng Daocai was studying the 【Fire Shield Technique】.

Watching the shop didn't interfere with his technique comprehension.

Yet, barely half an hour into his study, a customer entered the shop.

"Hello!" Cheng Daocai quickly stowed his technique and stepped forward: "May I help you with any elixirs?"

The customer was none other than Wuqiong Dao Ren of the Free Immortal Sect.

He had brought ample spirit stones, all to save Zhang Qi.

"I'm not buying elixirs!" Wuqiong said coolly. "I'm here to see your shop owner, Xu Kunlun!"

"Is he here?"

Wuqiong stared at Cheng Daocai.

Cheng Daocai was an honest man who never lied—he nodded: "Our young master is here, in the backyard!"

"Good!" Wuqiong said. "Summon your master at once!"

"I have urgent business with him!"

Cheng Daocai smiled: "Honored guest, please don't rush. Wait a while—our young master should emerge soon… at most one or two days."

"What?"

Wuqiong said: "I have to wait one or two days?"

"No—I truly have urgent matters. Please notify him immediately!"

"Impossible!" Cheng Daocai shook his head. "Our young master is currently occupied with vital matters—he cannot be disturbed!"

"Honored guest, just wait a bit longer. If you're lucky, our young master may emerge in half an hour!"

No matter how Wuqiong pleaded, threatened, or bribed, Cheng Daocai remained unmoved.

Though Cheng Daocai knew little about cultivation,

he understood this much well.

Disturbing him now?

Don't you want to live?

In the end, Wuqiong Dao Ren had no choice but to concede—he sat down inside the shop to wait.

He waited—three full days.

Three days later, He Pingsheng emerged from the room, holding Qiao Huizhu's hand, walking into the front shop.

"This…"

"Qiao… Qiao shimei?"

Seeing Qiao Huizhu and He Pingsheng walk out together, intimately, Wuqiong Dao Ren felt as if his soul had been drained.

He was utterly shattered.

My goddess!

My holy maiden!

Yet… Jingran …

Of course, he knew Qiao Huizhu and He Pingsheng were betrothed.

But to witness his goddess spending days alone with another man—this sight made him feel like vomiting blood.

Anyone with half a brain could guess what happened!

Wuqiong's blood dripped.

His gaze sharpened like a blade, fixed on He Pingsheng.

Looking at He Pingsheng's ordinary face, Wuqiong recalled how this man had once been seen reading a 【Harmony Technique】 behind the counter.

In that moment, Wuqiong nearly fainted from rage.

"Oh?" He Pingsheng smiled brightly: "Wuqiong, what's wrong with you?"

"Why is your face so pale?"

Qiao Huizhu's cheeks flushed red as she bowed: "Qiao Huizhu of Biyun Peak, greetings, Brother Wuqiong!"

Qiao Huizhu's spirits were high.

After three days of joint cultivation, both had shattered their respective bottlenecks.

He Pingsheng was now at Foundation Establishment Level 11.

She had reached Foundation Establishment Level 12.

Just one step away from entering the Jin Dan realm.

"Huh… huh… huh…"

Wuqiong Dao Ren took three deep breaths, barely steadying his emotions.

He looked at Qiao Huizhu: "Qiao shimei, is this your betrothed?"

Wuqiong pointed at He Pingsheng.

"Mm…" Qiao Huizhu nodded seriously, gripping He Pingsheng's arm tighter: "Yes—it's him!"

Huh…

Hearing Qiao Huizhu confirm it, Wuqiong took another deep breath, then said coldly: "Cultivators don't treat marriage as a joke!"

"One must follow the Master's guidance and choose a match of equal standing!"

"Otherwise, how can two walk the immortal path together through the mortal world?"

Qiao Huizhu blinked her big eyes: "This isn't a joke—my marriage contract was arranged by our elders and family!"

This…

Arranged by family?

Wuqiong felt even worse.

"And!" Qiao Huizhu continued: "I must correct you—Xu Kunlun isn't my betrothed—he's my husband!"

"We've already become Dao companions!"

"My Master has long known of this!"

"Brother Wuqiong, what business do you have?"

Wuqiong felt as if needles pierced his heart—he cursed himself for meeting Qiao Huizhu too late.

He closed his eyes, steadied his emotions once more, then opened them and smiled: "I understand. Congratulations, Qiao shimei!"

"I wish you happiness!"

"Xu Dao you… here are six hundred middle-grade spirit stones…" Wuqiong Dao Ren said. "Please check if they're correct."

He Pingsheng was in an excellent mood—he didn't argue, took the spirit stones, and said: "Correct—exactly six million."

With the spirit stones secured, there was no need to continue antagonizing the Free Immortal Sect.

It wasn't that He Pingsheng was magnanimous—he simply knew his wife, Qiao Huizhu, was also a disciple of the Free Immortal Sect. There was no point in making things harder for her.

Otherwise, his wife would suffer.

He Pingsheng issued a compensation certificate.

Then Wuqiong took the certificate and left.

…

After Wuqiong left, He Pingsheng looked at Qiao Huizhu and said: "Sister, what are your plans now?"

After reaching Foundation Establishment Level Twelve, there are two choices.

First, consume the Chaoyuan Pill and condense a Golden Core.

Second, forgo consuming elixirs, relying solely on one's own cultivation base and perseverance, spending thirty years to slowly condense it—from False Core to Golden Core, like Wuqiong Daoist.