Chapter 372

The flying vessel skimmed through the void, moving at an unmatched speed.

Mountains and rivers rushed past in a roar; the sky above shifted endlessly—sometimes blazing sun overhead, sometimes thunder and rain lashing down, sometimes howling gales, sometimes drifting snowflakes.

The vessel covered a thousand li in an instant, often revealing entirely different weather conditions in the blink of an eye.

He Pingsheng had long grown accustomed to such scenes.

The journey was smooth, and three days later, the two arrived safely at Mount Zhongnan.

Mount Zhongnan was a towering, vast mountain range.

Only at its highest peak did an exceptional spiritual vein emerge.

There, where snow lay year-round, bloomed a world of crimson flowers and willow greens—a desert oasis, a celestial paradise.

As soon as they landed, a thick surge of immortal spiritual energy washed over them.

The two landed at the mountain gate; Mi Cangyuan waved his hand and dismissed the flying vessel.

At the gate stood a disciple of Foundation Establishment third layer, who respectfully took Mi Cangyuan's token and said, "The token is valid, Elder, please enter—you may bring one other inside!"

He Pingsheng looked up at the mountain gate above.

Above it, a massive stone bore four large characters: Zhongnan Immortal Sect.

So this was a sect?

Astonishing.

"This Dao Discussion Assembly was organized by the ancestral master of Mount Zhongnan, so it being held within the Zhongnan Immortal Sect is no surprise!"

"The grand assembly is still a few days away—let's follow this disciple to the temporary gathering hall!"

Mi Cangyuan explained as they walked.

The two followed a Foundation Establishment disciple through the sect, arriving at a peak at its farthest end.

On the peak stood numerous buildings.

Each person was assigned a separate small pavilion.

Including He Pingsheng.

Since He Pingsheng had come with Mi Cangyuan, his pavilion was placed beside Mi Cangyuan's.

Though the grand assembly was still days away, the cultivators who had arrived were invited into a spacious golden hall to sit together and exchange pleasantries.

In the great hall, He Pingsheng's gaze flickered—he suddenly spotted an acquaintance.

The man was tall, with white hair and beard, yet his skin was as soft and tender as an infant's.

White-haired, childlike-faced—that was him.

He Pingsheng recognized him: about fifteen or sixteen years ago, this man had entered his elixir shop and commissioned him to refine a batch of mid-grade 【Mingwu Elixir】.

It was Ruokai True Person.

Beside Ruokai Ancestor stood two young attendants.

Whether they were the same two attendants from back then, He Pingsheng didn't know—he hadn't paid attention to them at the time.

At that moment, He Pingsheng recalled what Master Lu had mentioned about the 【Ruokai Mountain Range】.

No wonder the name felt familiar!

So the root was here all along!

"Is that you?"

He Pingsheng recognized Ruokai Ancestor, and Ruokai Ancestor, in turn, recognized He Pingsheng—his pupils narrowed slightly, then he smiled warmly and approached: "Young friend, long time no see…"

His face beamed with benevolence.

He Pingsheng felt no fear and smiled back: "I'm well. I trust Elder Ruokai is also in good health?"

"Hmm!"

Ruokai Ancestor nodded, then, feigning casualness but with ulterior motives, said: "I recall you possess the primal laws of ice and fire, hehe… With your presence, this Zhongnan Dao Discussion Assembly will surely be anything but dull!"

His words instantly drew the attention of over a dozen Nascent Soul elders in the hall.

Everyone here had come for primal laws!

Water and fire were among the most commonly cultivated elemental laws in the cultivation world, especially fire.

Demand for them was enormous.

"Hmph…" Mi Cangyuan snorted.

Ruokai Ancestor's words had just exposed another's secret—a grave breach of etiquette in the cultivation world.

So Mi Cangyuan couldn't hold back: "This fellow has no sense of propriety at all. Didn't your master ever teach you to respect others?"

*Shu!

All eyes turned to Ruokai Ancestor.

Indeed, while everyone had been distracted by He Pingsheng's primal laws, now they realized Ruokai Ancestor had been extremely impolite.

Ruokai Ancestor's face darkened like stormwater.

Bei Yezi, the host of this Dao Discussion Assembly and a Nascent Soul elder of the Zhongnan Immortal Sect, quickly stepped forward to defuse the tension: "Gentlemen, gentlemen… this is an unusual occasion—let's not be too harsh."

"This is a trading assembly, hehe… revealing such things is no great offense!"

"After all, we'll be trading soon enough!"

"Let's not let such minor matters spoil our harmony!"

His words were accepted with good grace.

Both Mi Cangyuan and Ruokai Ancestor bowed slightly to him.

The matter was set aside—for now.

"Gentlemen…" Bei Yezi said, "This Nascent Soul Assembly was convened by me, and all of you are prominent figures of the Red Stone Prefecture, so I must clarify some rules."

"I invited twenty-three individuals, plus myself makes twenty-four. At least ten or so have yet to arrive!"

"So the first rule: before the official trading begins, no private transactions are permitted!"

"Please abide by this rule—anyone who violates it will be barred from future Dao Discussion Assemblies in Red Stone Prefecture!"

In plain terms: no private trading allowed.

Violators lose future participation rights.

They won't punish you outright—you're a sect's ancestral master, after all.

"Agreed!"

"No problem!"

Everyone assured Bei Yezi.

Bei Yezi said: "Excellent! Then, gentlemen, please take your seats and enjoy dinner!"

"We cultivators usually subsist on wind and dew, untouched by mortal fare—but once in a while, tasting such earthly delicacies brings a unique delight!"

No one resisted; all sat down to savor the meal.

He Pingsheng ate a little.

To be honest, it was truly delicious.

But as a cultivator, He Pingsheng ate very little.

After the banquet ended, He Pingsheng returned directly to his pavilion.

It was a standalone pavilion.

With nothing to do for the next few days, he took out his array plate and, after a flurry of adjustments, erected two arrays outside the pavilion.

One was the Spirit-Blocking Array!

The other was the Alert Array.

Both were third-rank.

As for a defensive array?

Unnecessary—he believed no one would dare openly attack his pavilion here.

But some always work in shadows—like spying with spiritual sense.

That had to be guarded against.

Now, with the arrays in place, he no longer feared any suspicious observers.

Thus, even if he used the Treasure Basin to enhance something, he needn't worry about being seen.