Chapter 353: Battle Nascent Soul

After leaving the Red Moon Trading Association, He Pingsheng walked straight out of Hongshi City.

After passing through the city gate, he pulled out the Eight Treasures Boat.

He activated it to its maximum state.

This was a top-grade magic treasure.

He Pingsheng's current cultivation base had reached Golden Core, so he could naturally unleash its full power.

With a whoosh, the Eight Treasures Boat shot into the sky.

Its speed was more than five times what it had been during his Foundation Establishment stage.

Previously, traveling from Hongshi City to Xiao Yao Immortal Sect took five or six days; now, with this boat, he could reach it in a single day.

He Pingsheng piloted the flying vessel, his mood light.

He would soon see Sister Qiao.

Hmm…

Thinking of Sister Qiao, He Pingsheng couldn't help recalling Su Zhen's figure in the Five Dragon Gully Secret Realm.

At that thought, he longed to fly instantly to Xiao Yao Immortal Sect to see Sister Qiao.

But after flying less than half a stick of incense, he saw a massive sword light slicing straight down from the heavens ahead.

"Fuck…"

He Pingsheng couldn't help cursing.

That sword light was aimed directly at his flying boat.

If he didn't dodge in time, he would die for sure.

This attack was several times stronger than a normal Golden Core strike.

There was no time to retract the Eight Treasures Boat; a flash of golden light appeared beneath his feet, and the Golden Pattern Cloud-Stepping Boots granted him fivefold speed.

Simultaneously, He Pingsheng shifted his wood-element magic power and activated the 【Three Thousand Thundering Law】.

The 【Three Thousand Thundering Law】 also granted fivefold speed.

Fivefold plus fivefold was tenfold, not twenty-fivefold through stacking.

Even tenfold was enough.

In an instant, He Pingsheng's body shifted laterally dozens of zhang away.

Boom…

The emerald sword light, like a river of light, slammed into the Eight Treasures Boat.

The Eight Treasures Boat had defensive capabilities, but its defense was limited; this blow instantly cracked it open.

Damned.

He Pingsheng's face turned ashen.

He waved his hand and pulled out a talisman.

It was a fourth-rank talisman: Heavenly Fire Condensed Armor.

This could withstand a single strike from a peak Nascent Soul cultivator; against a normal Nascent Soul, it would take dozens of attacks to break through.

Activated at a critical moment, it could save his life even against a Nascent Soul!

At that moment, a streak of light descended and halted in midair a hundred zhang from He Pingsheng.

Old enemy.

One of the senior Nascent Souls from Hongshi City's Lord's Mansion: Elder Jingxin.

Seeing it was Jingxin, He Pingsheng instantly relaxed.

After all, she was only a Nascent Soul Level One.

I wonder if she's broken through yet… take a look…

Hummm…

He Pingsheng unleashed his vast spiritual sense, sweeping over Jingxin.

She was still only Level One.

Then it was manageable.

"You're truly shameless," He Pingsheng said, standing in midair as he tucked the Eight Treasures Boat into his storage pouch, his tone cool as he gazed at Jingxin afar: "A Nascent Soul attacking a Golden Core—and using ambush tactics?"

"Impressive!" Jingxin stood a hundred zhang away, staring at He Pingsheng with shock: "He Pingsheng, you truly are extraordinary—I just ambushed you, and you still dodged!"

"I must say, you're strong!"

"And it proves my decision to lie in wait and ambush you was correct!"

Jingxin held her sword, gazing calmly at He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng knew she had been watching him all along.

She waited until he left the city, then followed, aiming for a killing blow.

But his dodge had ruined her ambush.

"Shameless is shameless," He Pingsheng said. "Why pretend to be righteous?"

"Jingxin, I want to know—I've done nothing to you. Why do you keep targeting me?"

This had always puzzled him.

Jingxin, across from him, sneered coldly: "True, we have no grudge."

"But why would a Nascent Soul need a reason to kill a mere ant?"

"I merely seek inner peace!"

Hearing this, even He Pingsheng's steady composure nearly shattered.

Damn it!

Kill someone without even a pretext—just because you feel uneasy if you don't?

Fucking bastard!

This confirmed his earlier suspicion: she was killing him out of misplaced rage.

"I understand…" He Pingsheng said no more. He extended his hand, summoning a black spear.

Bang…

The next instant, the black divine spear stretched to three zhang long.

Tian Que Divine Spear.

This was currently He Pingsheng's strongest weapon.

It bore nineteen layers of sealing, all fully subjugated during his ten-year seclusion.

"Heh… still resisting?"

Jingxin looked at He Pingsheng with contempt: "Just an ant!"

"Even if you've reached Golden Core Level One, what does it matter?"

"To me, you're merely a slightly larger ant!"

He Pingsheng said nothing.

His right hand held the divine spear; his left gripped the talisman.

At this moment, he had many ways to escape.

For instance, he still had two 【Instant Teleport Talismans】; activating them would instantly transport him a million li away to solid ground.

Instant escape.

But He Pingsheng didn't want to flee.

He felt Jingxin might not be able to kill him.

With the 【Three Thousand Thundering Law】 and his boots, he could risk a fight.

Crucially, now that he was Golden Core, his Seven-Clasp Sharp Metal Armor had improved.

One clasp could withstand a Golden Core strike.

All seven clasps together could block a Nascent Soul's single blow.

As long as you, Jingxin, can't kill me with one strike, I'll activate the talisman later when I'm truly cornered.

Snap…

He Pingsheng pulled out another Meteor Talisman and stuck it to his leg.

Speed increased by one fold!

Every bit helped.

What about spiritual sense attacks?

He wouldn't use them.

Even after swallowing the Twin Divine Pills, his spiritual sense barely reached twenty thousand zhang.

One strike would drain it completely, leaving it unusable for a long time.

If he failed to kill Jingxin, he'd be in deep trouble.

So spiritual sense attacks must not be used lightly.

After all, last time he used an equal-strength spiritual sense attack on Jingxin, she didn't die.

Of course, He Pingsheng didn't know Jingxin's spiritual sense defense treasure had been destroyed; if he knew, he'd have used the 【Formless Northern Dipper Nail】 to kill her immediately.

"What?" Jingxin sneered. "You still plan to resist?"

"Hehehe…"

"Resist all you want—let you see the unbridgeable gap between Golden Core and Nascent Soul!"

"Cut..."

Jingxin made no pretense; with a casual swing of her green longsword, a powerful sword qi sliced through the air toward He Pingsheng.