Chapter 388

"I dare not openly inquire; I've merely quietly investigated the surrounding areas!"

"After ten years of covert inquiry, I saw none of the people you mentioned—only learned they vanished shortly after the Grand Void Gate was wiped out!"

"Later, I went to Dingxiang City and inquired there for a while, but still found no trace!"

Hearing Cheng Daocai's words, He Pingsheng fell silent.

Indeed.

In such a vast Dingxiang Commandery, in the entire Qi Kingdom, searching for the whereabouts of my Master and the others is like finding a needle in a sea.

But one thing is certain: my Master, Master Wang, Senior Brother, and Senior Sister—they were together.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have vanished entirely without a trace.

Perhaps they joined another sect?

"Young Master, there's another major matter!" Cheng Daocai said, looking at He Pingsheng. "A peerless genius has emerged in Dingxiang Commandery!"

"A peerless genius?" He Pingsheng's thoughts snapped back. "Who is it?"

Cheng Daocai said: "His name is Xiao Xuan. He's said to come from a sect called the Ice Pole Immortal Sect. This man is immensely powerful!"

"Over forty years ago, he broke through to the Golden Core realm. Now he's at Golden Core Level Ten, and reportedly, when he broke through to Golden Core, his Golden Core Channel opened!"

"He is invincible in the Golden Core realm—even once escaped unscathed from an Nascent Soul cultivator!"

Xiao Xuan?

He Pingsheng thought for a moment, and finally remembered who this person was.

Void Linggen!

No wonder he's taken over forty years to reach Golden Core.

Carefully calculating, He Pingsheng's participation in the 【Divine General Mountain】 trial was already forty-five years ago.

Back then, he was at Foundation Establishment Level Two, while Xiao Xuan was at Foundation Establishment Level Eleven.

The key point: Xiao Xuan had a Void Linggen—Void Linggen has no bottlenecks!

He simply advances straight ahead.

So it's no surprise Xiao Xuan's Golden Core Channel opened after his Tribulation Crossing.

Even if Xiao Xuan has now broken through to Nascent Soul, He Pingsheng wouldn't be surprised.

After all, that's a Void Linggen—one in a hundred million.

Across the entire world, among the nine nations, he's likely the only one.

"What level of heavenly tribulation did Xiao Xuan face when crossing into Golden Core?" He Pingsheng asked curiously. "How many nines?"

Void Linggen only means his talent is exceptional.

It doesn't guarantee good fortune.

Fortune and talent often don't go together.

Of course, generally speaking, someone with such extraordinary talent wouldn't have abysmal fortune—otherwise, Xiao Xuan would never have gained access to cultivation methods.

"This…" Cheng Daocai looked fearful. "It's my fault—I forgot to ask about this!"

He Pingsheng nodded: "It's fine, it's fine!"

"Not your fault!"

After all, Xiao Xuan's Golden Core Tribulation was over forty years ago—if the Ice Pole Sect deliberately concealed it, Cheng Daocai not knowing is normal.

"Alright, thank you for your hard work!" He Pingsheng added. "You've traveled for ten years—go and close yourself off to cultivate now!"

"Otherwise, you'll fall behind Xiaohe!"

Xiaohe is already at Golden Core Level One.

Before Old Cheng could even close off, someone else arrived.

Huang Shen.

He was the assistant He Pingsheng had previously recruited to accompany Ling Zhi in establishing a trading house in the Imperial Capital.

"Elder…" Huang Shen saw He Pingsheng and bowed respectfully.

He Pingsheng asked: "Has everything in the Imperial Capital been prepared?"

Huang Shen said: "The trading house is now running smoothly. Though our goods are still few, they're gradually increasing!"

"I came primarily to invite you, Elder, to visit the Imperial Capital and give your feedback on our trading house."

"Hmm." He Pingsheng nodded.

Huang Shen added: "Also… the Crown Prince asked me to deliver a message: the Nine Nations Grand Competition's preliminary selection is about to begin. He urges you to arrive early to prepare."

"Huh?"

He Pingsheng paused. "Is the Nine Nations Grand Competition about to begin?"

Carefully calculating—he realized it was true. Only a year remained until the official start.

Before the Nine Nations Grand Competition, Liang Kingdom would naturally hold its own selection.

"Since things are stable there!" He Pingsheng glanced around. "There's no need to stay in Hongshi City!"

"We'll all relocate together."

"You all have no objections, right?"

He Pingsheng looked at Cheng Daocai and Xiaohe.

Both had no objections.

Then let's move.

He Pingsheng told Xiaohe and Old Cheng to pack their belongings, return their house and shop to the City Lord's Mansion, while he personally went to the Free and Easy Immortal Sect.

Before heading to the Imperial Capital, he must bid farewell to Qiao Huizhu.

"Hehehe…"

"So adorable!"

Qiao Huizhu's slender, pale fingers reached out and poked several times at Tingtong's fluffy belly.

The more she poked, the more addicted she became.

"Husband, this little thing is too adorable… its name is Tingtong, right?"

"What kind of spirit beast is it?"

"I want one too!"

He Pingsheng grimaced: …………

"This…" he thought, then said, "I found it in the mountains. I still don't know what kind of spirit beast it is—once it grows up, we'll be able to tell."

He Pingsheng didn't want to tell Qiao Huizhu now.

Otherwise, he'd have to explain.

Like: Didn't you hand the Phoenix Egg over to the imperial family? How do you still have one?

Since it was hard to explain, better not say anything.

Hearing she was "found in the mountains," little Tingtong immediately gave He Pingsheng a look of disdain.

But she obeyed—she understood why he was hiding it, so she stayed silent.

"Stay here and cultivate in peace!" He Pingsheng sealed Tingtong away. "I'll return to see you after I complete the Nine Nations Grand Competition."

Qiao Huizhu's cultivation had also advanced rapidly—she was now at Golden Core Level Four.

Only slightly behind He Pingsheng.

"It's fine!" Qiao Huizhu said. "I believe I'll reach Nascent Soul soon—then I'll be free!"

She was under house arrest.

Free and Easy Master had said: no Nascent Soul, no leaving her seclusion.

He Pingsheng then took out a pile of items from his storage ring.

Two supreme magic treasures: an Ice-element flying sword!

One supreme magic treasure shield: the Divine Ice Shield!

And a jade slip containing a divine technique: Nine Heavens Ice Dragon.

These items were strengthened using Ruo Kai's treasures and techniques.

Perfect—Qiao Huizhu also had an Ice Linggen; they suited her perfectly.

"Husband… so many?"

Qiao Huizhu was astonished.

He Pingsheng said: "I killed a Nascent Soul cultivator a few years ago—hahaha… take them!"

The two spent several more days together before He Pingsheng departed the Free and Easy Immortal Sect with Tingtong.

Meanwhile, Old Cheng, Xiaohe, and Huang Shen had already prepared everything. He Pingsheng had Huang Shen lead the way to the Immortal Ship Plaza, and they boarded an Immortal Ship bound for the Imperial Capital.