Chapter 316: Five-Element Poison-Averting Pearl

"Friend, don't go too far!"

"You haven't lost anything—you've gained three grade-three talismans for free. What more do you want?"

"That item of mine for warding off poison? I absolutely won't give it to you!"

This thing is a lifesaver.

How could the Ninth Prince give it to someone else?

"Oh…" He Pingsheng said, "Would you like to try?"

He pulled out the Soul-Annihilating Bell.

"You dare?" the Ninth Prince said. "If you kill me, a mark will appear on your head!"

"Then you won't escape this secret realm—countless imperial princes' disciples will cut you down!"

"Is that so?" He Pingsheng shook the bell in his hand. "Your Highness, this is a spiritual-sense attack artifact—when shaken, it only targets the opponent's soul-nuance."

"If this thing shatters your soul-sea!"

"Hehehe… then would you be dead—or still alive?"

He Pingsheng stared coldly at the Ninth Prince.

The Ninth Prince's face turned ghastly.

That's right!

If the soul-sea is shattered, consciousness is lost—but bodily functions remain.

The heart still beats. The lungs still breathe.

Is that death?

A living corpse—is it dead or alive?

That's not the point.

The point is: if he becomes a living corpse, will the spiritual seal inside him activate?

If it activates, a mark will appear on my head. But what if the seal judges the host still alive—and doesn't trigger?

"Fortune favors the bold!" He Pingsheng shook the small bell. "Your Highness, don't force me to gamble with fate!"

"Fine!"

Under He Pingsheng's coercion, the Ninth Prince finally yielded. "Alright… I'll give it to you!"

"But you must agree to one condition!"

"Speak," He Pingsheng said.

If the condition isn't excessive, agreeing won't hurt.

The Ninth Prince said: "My first condition is simple: in this secret realm, you must not oppose me again."

He Pingsheng thought for a moment. "Agreed."

"What else?"

Not opposing the Ninth Prince meant the bastard wouldn't oppose him either.

Perfect—he'd get peace and quiet.

The Ninth Prince continued: "Second condition: you must never speak of today's events to anyone. Otherwise… it damages my prestige and reputation!"

This condition surprised He Pingsheng.

But after thinking, he understood.

A prince, after all.

Protecting one's honor and reputation is natural—if this gets out, he'll never become Crown Prince.

He'd become a target for mockery.

Worse, the Emperor might despise him, thinking his son a fool.

"Fine!" He Pingsheng said. "No problem—just these two conditions!"

"Good!" The Ninth Prince took a deep breath, then suddenly opened his mouth.

Hummm…

A translucent green pearl spat out from his mouth.

It was coated in sticky mucus.

Uh…

Seeing this, He Pingsheng nearly vomited.

Damn, it's that disgusting?

Splash…

He Pingsheng extended his hand; a water-element spiritual force surged forth, forming a column that washed the filth off the pearl. Only then did he take it into his palm.

He probed it with his spiritual sense.

Name: Poison-Averting Pearl.

Rank: Mid-grade magic treasure, with ten sealing layers.

Effect: When absorbed into the body, it grants immunity to all grade-three toxins.

Meaning: It can neutralize even Jin Dan-level poison.

Impressive.

Extremely powerful.

Such an item exists?

Later, if I strengthen it to Jipin, won't its poison-resistance improve further?

"Alright, honorable Ninth Prince, you may leave," He Pingsheng waved his hand.

But the Ninth Prince stood on the prow, not leaving immediately—he swallowed a grade-four soul-repairing elixir in one gulp.

He Pingsheng's heart surged with envy.

The bastard even has a grade-four soul-recovery elixir.

Too bad—it's only low-grade.

"I have one more question for you," he said to He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng replied: "Your Highness, speak—I shall answer fully."

"Pfft…" The Ninth Prince sneered. "Why did that beast attack only me and not you?"

"Did you… defeat it earlier?"

He Pingsheng stared at the Ninth Prince, silent for three breaths, then asked: "Do you think I could defeat a Jin Dan?"

"Guess it was just my illusion," the Ninth Prince shook his head. "I thought so too."

"I'm leaving!"

Whoosh…

The Ninth Prince moved his foot—and vanished in an instant, swallowed by the black night sky.

Indeed, it was already midnight.

He Pingsheng looked up. The sky, half-swallowed by the cliffs on either side, revealed only a narrow sliver—studded with countless stars, bright as pearls.

He took out what he had gained today.

One Poison-Averting Pearl, three grade-three talismans—and he tossed them all into the Treasure Basin.

Strengthen them slowly.

Nighttime wasn't suitable for seeking heavenly treasures, so He Pingsheng Landezheteng, lay down on the Eight-Treasure Boat, silently reciting the 【Mystic Gate Stillness Sutra】, and began restoring his spiritual sense.

Simultaneously, his metal-element magic power surged wildly, flowing toward the 【Seven-Clasp Sharp-Metal Armor】.

The armor had been shattered by the giant dragon's strike—it was time to reassemble it.

One night passed!

He Pingsheng's spiritual sense, defense, dantian—all restored to peak condition.

He gazed inward at his storage pouch.

Inside the pouch, the items in the Treasure Basin had changed.

The three talismans remained unchanged—but the Poison-Averting Pearl had split into two.

One green, one red.

He Pingsheng took out the green pearl.

He unleashed his spiritual sense—the pearl's information surfaced in his mind.

Name: Heaven-Averting Pearl

Rank: Jipin magic treasure

Effect: When absorbed into the body, it grants immunity to all grade-three toxins, repels all poisons, and also dispels malevolent energy, yin energy, and curses.

Excellent item!

After strengthening, it not only wards off poison but also dispels malevolent, yin, and cursed energies.

Perfect!

But its rank is still too low.

He took out the second, red pearl.

Information surfaced.

Name: Five-Element Poison-Averting Pearl

Rank: Jipin magic treasure

Function: By incorporating this item into the body, it can expel all third-rank toxins, rendering one immune to all poisons, and also repel intrusions of the Five Elements' energies.

This one is different—it can not only dispel toxins but also expel certain Five Elements' energies.

What are the Five Elements' energies?

Very simple!

For example, metal energy, wood energy, fire energy, water energy, earth energy.

Sometimes, these can also serve as deadly weapons.

In other words, this item can repel fire, repel water, and so on.

This function is immensely powerful.