Chapter 281: Arena Provocation

In theory, those who naturally form their Golden Core are stronger.

But there's one prerequisite: not everyone has the qualification to walk this path.

Moreover, merely gathering a single Golden Core takes thirty years.

Faced with this choice, Qiao Huizhu furrowed her delicate brows.

How should I choose?

If possible, choosing the second path is correct.

"I'll give it a try!" Qiao Huizhu took a deep breath: "Let me see if I can walk this second path!"

Whether I can form a Golden Core without using Chaoyuan Elixir will be clear once I try.

If I can, I can; if I can't, I can't!

"Fine!" He Pingsheng said: "Try it. If you can walk this second path, all the better; if not, I still have enough Chaoyuan Elixir to help you break through!"

Qiao Huizhu said: "Then I'll go to our small courtyard to enter seclusion for a while!"

That place is quiet, and crucially, its arrays are fully intact.

He Pingsheng said: "I'll accompany you."

The two set off together toward the small courtyard.

Upon arriving, Qiao Huizhu entered the first floor, while He Pingsheng went to the third floor.

Cultivate!

He Pingsheng's current cultivation base has reached Foundation Establishment Level 11, but after Level 11 lies the bottleneck of Level 12.

Today, he just broke through one bottleneck by practicing the Hehuan Jiji Scripture.

But its effect is limited—it can only break one bottleneck, not the second.

That means He Pingsheng's second bottleneck still requires rare treasures and spiritual materials.

Just wait patiently for an opportunity.

"Too difficult!"

He Pingsheng shook his head, steadied his mind, and took out the Tianyue Divine Array again to study it.

As he studied the array, he swallowed a supreme-grade Spirit Gathering Elixir in one gulp.

Now that his Fire dantian has broken through, the other four dantians can't stay idle—they must catch up.

……

On the other side, Wuqiong Dao Ren carried He Pingsheng's compensation proof to the City Lord's Mansion.

After paying another sum of spirit stones to the City Lord's Mansion, he retrieved Zhang Qi and the other disciples.

"Senior Brother!"

"Senior Brother!"

"Senior Brother…"

The group bowed to Wuqiong, their faces flushed with shame.

Wuqiong nodded: "Glad you're out. Think before you act next time!"

"I'm talking to you!" He glared at Zhang Qi.

Zhang Qi said: "Senior Brother, it's my fault—I accept guilt and punishment!"

Wuqiong didn't dwell on the past incident but said: "Master said our handling of this matter was disgraceful—it brought shame to Jade Tree Peak!"

"We of Jade Tree Peak cannot act like this!"

"At the very least, we can't let the women of Biyun Peak look down on us!"

Wuqiong's gaze swept over them and settled on Zhang Qi: "Zhang Shidi, as I understand, there's a fighting platform in the City Lord's Mansion."

"With your skill and strength, if you fight Xu Kunlun fairly, you shouldn't lose, right?"

"Senior Brother, rest assured!" Zhang Qi gritted his teeth: "Last time I was tricked by that bastard—if we fight fairly with real skill, I'll beat him into shit!"

Wuqiong flicked his sleeve: "Don't kill him—just cripple him."

For Wuqiong, crippling He Pingsheng would be best.

Once crippled, Qiao Huizhu would have no reason to stay with him, right?

Even if she's a woman who's been used, she still has her looks—later, as a concubine, I, Wuqiong, could barely accept her.

Hmm…

That's settled.

With this thought, Wuqiong turned and walked straight toward the City Lord's Mansion.

The Xiaoyao Immortal Sect's fighting platform has been set up.

The City Lord's Mansion holds duels on its platform every day.

So initially, no one paid attention to Zhang Qi's challenge against He Pingsheng.

But after days of failing to find him, the Xiaoyao Immortal Sect even posted their challenge scrolls at the entrance of Tai Xu Elixir Shop—this sent Old Cheng into a panic.

But panic was useless.

Cheng Dao Cai didn't know where He Pingsheng and Qiao Huizhu's small courtyard was.

Several more days passed until the matter became the talk of the city, when then Elder Ling Zhiwang of the Red Moon Trading Association rushed over in a frenzy.

"Old Cheng, where's your Young Master?" Ling Zhiwang asked Cheng Dao Cai.

Cheng Dao Cai gave a bitter smile: "I don't know—I've searched everywhere and can't find him!"

"I know he has another courtyard in this city, but I don't know where it is, and I don't have his Heart Bond Talisman!"

"What should I do?"

Ling Zhiwang said: "Don't panic—I'll find him."

He knew where He Pingsheng's small courtyard was.

So half a day later, Ling Zhiwang delivered the Xiaoyao Immortal Sect's challenge scroll to He Pingsheng's doorstep.

Qiao Huizhu's face turned dark: "They're too disrespectful!"

"It's pure nonsense!"

"Husband, we should ignore them!"

"Ignoring them isn't a problem," Ling Zhiwang said: "But I fear they'll keep harassing you."

"It's bad for your shop."

Hearing Ling Zhiwang's words, He Pingsheng smiled coldly: "I'm just an elixir seller—if I don't fight them, what can they do to me?"

"But I'm worried that back in the Xiaoyao Immortal Sect, my sister won't be able to hold her head up."

Perhaps the Jade Tree Peak disciples can't touch Qiao Huizhu.

But her own Biyun Peak peers might gossip.

"Fine, I'll go," He Pingsheng said—he wasn't afraid of Zhang Qi.

We're both Level 11—do you think I can't beat you?

"You…" Ling Zhiwang said: "You really plan to go?"

He was surprised.

After all, the opponent is a Xiaoyao Immortal Sect disciple!

Anyone who steps onto the platform is no weakling—they're surely among their sect's elite.

After all, the Xiaoyao Immortal Sect isn't stupid, right?

But He Pingsheng looked unconcerned: "No problem. Let's go, Ling Dao you—come along, and watch the show?"

The three left and headed straight for the City Lord's Mansion.

Inside the City Lord's Mansion were seven massive fighting platforms.

Each platform was wrapped in an array barrier capable of withstanding the shockwaves of peak Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"Oh?" Seeing He Pingsheng appear, Zhang Qi laughed: "I thought you'd turned into a coward hiding in his shell?"

"Hehe… I didn't expect you'd dare to show up?"

"Hey… your cultivation reached Level 11?" Zhang Qi was surprised: "You don't think that gives you the right to challenge me, do you?"

He sneered.

He Pingsheng said: "Then… shall I leave?"

At these words, Wuqiong Dao Ren's face darkened—he wanted to slap Zhang Qi across the face: What the hell is all this nonsense?

Finally he showed up—would you scare him off? I'll kill you!

Wuqiong glared fiercely at Zhang Qi.

Zhang Qi quickly said: "No no no… don't worry, even for Qiao Shijie's sake, I'll hold back!"

"Come up—let's just fight to a draw!"