Chapter 366: Seclusion to Comprehend Dao

One day later, He Pingsheng arrived at the Mi family on Mount Tianqiang.

Mi Cangyuan still wore a pristine white Dao robe, yet it clashed oddly with his facial features and overall appearance.

"Young brother?"

Seeing He Pingsheng, Mi Cangyuan was delighted: "I heard you broke through to the Golden Core realm years ago—what joy!"

"Hehe… come, let me see how your cultivation has progressed."

As Mi Cangyuan invited He Pingsheng into the main hall, he swept his spiritual sense over him.

He Pingsheng likewise scanned Mi Cangyuan in return.

Mi Cangyuan exclaimed in shock: "Young brother, you've reached Golden Core Stage Two? Impressive, truly impressive—your spiritual sense is absurdly strong!"

When He Pingsheng had just scanned Mi Cangyuan, Mi Cangyuan had sensed his spiritual sense.

That's why he said He Pingsheng's spiritual sense was absurdly strong.

He Pingsheng smiled: "You flatter me, Master Mi."

Mi Cangyuan was now a Great Cultivator of the Nascent Soul realm, Stage One.

The two chatted merrily as they sat down in the main hall.

Qi Suyin stepped out to brew tea and boil water for them.

He Pingsheng did not scan her with his spiritual sense—she was a woman of the household—so he asked directly: "Has Madam Mi's cultivation recovered?"

"Hahaha…" Mi Cangyuan laughed heartily: "Recovered! Just a few days ago, she reached the peak of Foundation Establishment. I plan to let her attempt Core Formation in another year or so!"

He Pingsheng promptly produced a top-grade 【Chaoyuan Pill】: "Perfect—I happen to have this pill for Madam."

Seeing it was a top-grade Chaoyuan Pill, Mi Cangyuan, who needed it himself, accepted it at once and thanked him profusely.

After drinking a few cups of tea, Qi Suyin gracefully withdrew.

Only He Pingsheng and Mi Cangyuan remained in the main hall.

"How is it, young brother?" Mi Cangyuan asked. "I heard you endured the Triple Nine Heavenly Tribulation outside the Five Dragon Gorge. Though it was called Triple Nine, its intensity was unparalleled—even stronger than the Eight-Nine Tribulation."

"Is this true?"

He Pingsheng nodded: "Yes, it's true."

Mi Cangyuan asked: "Why?"

He Pingsheng grimaced: "I don't know why myself. That's why I've come—to seek your guidance."

"Oh!" Mi Cangyuan wisely dropped the subject of the tribulation: "Tell me then."

He Pingsheng said: "Master Mi, after entering the Golden Core realm, I've begun to comprehend Dao principles."

"Oh?" Mi Cangyuan was surprised, then laughed heartily: "Good, good, good—then the Dao-Grinding Stone I gave you finally has purpose!"

"Indeed," He Pingsheng said. "The key is insight. I've now gained a basic understanding of Wood, Fire, and Water Dao. But I've made no progress at all with Metal and Earth."

"And I don't know any Nascent Soul cultivators."

"So I came to ask you—could you…"

"Share some insights on Metal and Wood Dao?"

"Of course, I won't ask for this freely."

As he spoke, He Pingsheng produced three vials.

Each vial contained a 【Dao-Consolidating Pill】: one Ice, one Wood, one Fire.

"I can trade them."

He Pingsheng placed the three vials on the table and looked at Mi Cangyuan.

Mi Cangyuan frowned: "In the cultivation world, Dao principles are the hardest to obtain."

"They're either found where the Five Elements' primordial sources surface, or they emerge from the Nascent Soul of a deceased cultivator."

"So they're exceedingly difficult to acquire."

"To be honest, my main cultivation is Metal Dao."

"Over the years, I've gained Dao principles solely through empty-space meditation."

"There's no other way."

"But!" Mi Cangyuan added. "Now that I'm a Nascent Soul cultivator, the Daoists of Liang Country treat me with respect—I've entered their circle."

"If a Nascent Soul cultivator gathering ever occurs, I'll invite you along."

"But such events are unpredictable."

"Sometimes, they don't invite me once in decades."

He Pingsheng's purpose had been exactly this; now that Mi Cangyuan had agreed, he was reassured: "Thank you, Master Mi. Please notify me when it happens—I'm at the Pill Shop."

Mi Cangyuan said: "That's no trouble. Rest easy."

…

Back at the Pill Shop!

He Pingsheng asked Cheng Daocai: "Is there a basement in our courtyard?"

"Yes," Cheng Daocai replied. "It's useless, so we never used it—it's been empty."

"I've stored all the porcelain and jade vials we bought there, using it as a temporary storage room."

"What's wrong, Young Master?" Cheng Daocai was surprised.

Why ask about the basement?

He Pingsheng smiled: "Master Cheng, clear out the basement for me—I'm going to seal myself inside to cultivate Dao."

"Huh?" Cheng Daocai was utterly stunned: Seal himself?

In the basement?

Of course, though puzzled, Cheng Daocai asked no further questions and immediately went to clear the basement.

To comprehend the Five Elements Dao, one must seek places rich in elemental rules.

Though elemental rules permeate all of heaven and earth, patterns exist.

For example, where earthfire emerges, Fire rules are abundant.

In rivers, lakes, and seas, Water rules are abundant.

In forests, Wood rules are abundant!

And so on.

To comprehend Metal rules, He Pingsheng needed a place rich in Metal—but he couldn't find one, so he sought a place where Earth rules were relatively abundant.

Where were Earth rules most abundant?

Naturally, underground.

That was why He Pingsheng had asked Cheng Daocai to clear the basement.

After the basement was cleared, He Pingsheng modified the array to cover the underground space, then entered and began his seclusion to cultivate Dao.

He sat cross-legged, waved his hand, and two vials flew out.

First vial: 【Dao-Consolidating Pill】!

Swallowing it enhanced cultivation base.

Cultivating Dao and increasing cultivation base were not contradictory.

Moreover, He Pingsheng was in the Golden Core realm—no Dao barrier, only physical barriers—so breakthroughs weren't difficult.

The second vial, naturally, contained the 【Mingwu Pill】.

He first swallowed a single Dao-Consolidating Pill.

His internal 【Five Elements Merged Heaven Scripture】 activated automatically, refining the vast spiritual energy within the pill.

At the same time, he swallowed a top-grade 【Mingwu Pill】.

Boom…

After swallowing the Mingwu Pill, countless Dao-root tendrils erupted from his mindsea, linking with the earth beyond his body—some roots even plunged deep into the ground.