Chapter 337: I

After reinforcing the black-and-white lotus root, He Pingsheng did not leave the cave.

He decided to seclude himself inside instead.

Even though there was less than ten days left, it was not worth wasting.

He took out the Five Elements Poison-Repelling Pearl and began refining it.

The Five Elements Poison-Repelling Pearl had twelve layers of seals; He Pingsheng had already refined eleven, leaving only the final one—leaving it unrefined made him uneasy.

Of course, without Twin-Soul Pills, his refinement speed was extremely slow.

Put simply, it would take two full months before he could fully refine it.

At the same time, He Pingsheng took out five top-grade Twin-Soul Pills and placed them inside the Treasure Basin for reinforcement.

He had originally possessed twelve supreme Twin-Soul Pills and five top-grade ones.

His original plan was to use all twelve supreme ones himself.

The five top-grade ones were meant for sale.

Now, nearly all twelve supreme ones had been used up.

In total, he had already consumed seven or eight, leaving only four.

They were no longer enough.

The remaining ones should be reinforced too.

The five top-grade pills were enhanced into five supreme ones.

Why not ten? Because these were items previously reinforced with double effect—they could not stack double reinforcement.

……

On the fourth day, sudden noises erupted outside the cave.

He Pingsheng, who was in seclusion, extended his spiritual sense beyond the cave entrance and immediately smirked: "This woman is quite formidable!"

"She actually found this place?"

He waved his hand, and the several layers of seals outside roared open.

Su Zhenzhen stepped in, clad in a blue Daoist robe.

As the beauty entered, the cave instantly filled with a faint, lingering fragrance.

"Su Daoist, you're truly impressive… how did you find this place?"

He Pingsheng couldn't help but raise his estimation of this woman.

Su Zhenzhen smiled faintly on her fair face: "Do you think I was truly smitten with you before?"

"I was merely leaving behind your aura!"

"Hmm." He Pingsheng nodded.

Then he waved his hand and produced a small piece of ten-thousand-year ice marrow.

The ten-thousand-year ice marrow floated in midair, about the size of an ordinary cucumber.

"Is this much enough?" He Pingsheng asked Su Zhenzhen.

Su Zhenzhen replied: "More than enough. Thank you, Brother Xu!"

He Pingsheng shook his head: "No need to thank me. If you want this, you must offer something of equal value—I won't give it to you for free!"

Although he had obtained this item alongside Su Zhenzhen originally, her presence had provided zero assistance in his treasure acquisition.

Su Zhenzhen herself was well aware of this.

"Hmm…" Su Zhenzhen nodded and said: "Brother Xu, don't you want to ask who I'm preparing this Ice Soul Pill for?"

He Pingsheng shook his head: "It's none of my business."

Yet Su Zhenzhen did not produce any item; instead, she sighed softly: "I am a single Wood Spirit Root cultivator, yet my fortune is abysmal!"

"My cultivation partner was poisoned by fire toxicity while securing celestial opportunities for me!"

"He is at the Golden Core realm, still alive but on the brink of death!"

"That's why I risked coming here—to find ice marrow for him!"

He Pingsheng nodded: "You don't need to tell me your love story—it won't earn you sympathy from me!"

"Su Daoist, produce your treasure."

"Hmm."

Su Zhenzhen's jade hand revealed a jade slip: "Brother Xu, this is my most precious possession—a spiritual technique."

"It's only the outline."

"Brother Xu, take a look—could this exchange for one ten-thousand-year ice marrow?"

"I believe its value is more than sufficient!"

"Here!"

She tossed the green jade slip to He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng did not hesitate; he took the jade slip and pressed it to his forehead, extending his spiritual sense into it.

He was not worried Su Zhenzhen would attack.

At this moment, he wore the Seven-Clasp Sharp Metal Armor—any ambush would be perfectly defended against.

After reading the outline, He Pingsheng was genuinely surprised.

It was a spiritual technique.

Precisely, a technique concerning movement.

When He Pingsheng had teamed up with Su Zhenzhen before, her movement technique had matched his own speed—proof of its exceptional power.

The evidence confirmed it.

Because this technique's rank was as high as Earth-Class Upper Tier.

Just barely short of Heaven-Class.

In pure value terms, exchanging this for one ten-thousand-year ice marrow was more than fair.

If sold at a trading guild, it would spark fierce competition.

Yet for He Pingsheng, this Earth-Class Upper Tier technique was somewhat useless.

Why?

Because he had the Treasure Basin.

He could simply buy a basic movement technique from any guild, reinforce it in the Treasure Basin, and obtain a Heaven-Class technique.

Isn't that better?

A basic technique's price was extremely low.

There was no comparison.

So after reviewing it, He Pingsheng shook his head: "This is indeed extremely valuable, but I'm sorry—it's not what I want."

He returned the jade slip to Su Zhenzhen.

Su Zhenzhen smiled gently: "Perhaps Brother Xu should look again—you might notice something different."

"This isn't merely Earth-Class!"

"Oh?" He Pingsheng frowned and extended his spiritual sense deeper into the technique.

He skimmed through it again.

But unfortunately, there was nothing unusual.

"I'm sorry, your technique—" He Pingsheng's words cut off abruptly.

Because as he removed the jade slip from his forehead, his gaze fell upon Su Zhenzhen—her clothing completely stripped away, her body as plump and pale as a freshly peeled water chestnut, dazzling to behold.

He Pingsheng's breath hitched slightly.

He quickly took a deep breath: "Su Daoist, what are you doing?"

Su Zhenzhen did not look up; she kept her head down as her black hair cascaded like a waterfall: "Brother Xu, take the technique—and accept me as well."

"C-can this exchange for one ice marrow?"

He Pingsheng said coolly: "You have a cultivation partner—this act disrespects your bond."

Su Zhenzhen snapped her head up: "Brother Xu judges by deeds; I judge by heart!"

"Deeds and heart—everyone sees differently!"

"You think I dishonor our bond; I think I do not."

He Pingsheng said nothing. He stared at Su Zhenzhen for three breaths, then casually swept his hand, pushing the floating ten-thousand-year ice marrow toward her: "Take the ice marrow. Keep the technique."

"And… put your clothes back on."

Su Zhenzhen froze in shock: "Do you find me repulsive?"

He Pingsheng shook his head: "No."

"I'm simply not interested in other people's women."

"Fine—let's say your love story moved me."

"Now go. Before I change my mind."