Chapter 399

"I don't believe you!"

Liang Huaqiu, clad in a pale moon-white Daoist robe, shook her head, her pearl-like teeth biting into her full, elastic lips, looking utterly wounded.

He Pingsheng said: "If you don't believe me, what can I do?"

Saying this, he quickened his pace and left.

He had no feelings whatsoever toward this woman, Liang Huaqiu.

Though she was beautiful.

"Wait for me… why are you walking so fast?"

By the time Liang Huaqiu caught up, He Pingsheng had already stepped into his large carriage.

"What does the Princess have to say?" He Pingsheng stopped the carriage and pulled back the curtain to look at the Clear River Princess outside.

The Clear River Princess's expression shifted—from wounded to proud—saying: "You'll have to come tomorrow anyway. I'll give you a chance… come to the Princess's mansion early in the morning to pick me up!"

"Understood?"

"Hmph…"

Before He Pingsheng could answer, she let out a haughty snort and turned away.

"This…" Ling Zhiwang said: "Brother He… this…"

He Pingsheng said: "Ignore her. Let's head back—we still have much to do!"

He Pingsheng rode in his carriage and soon returned to the Merchant Guild.

With nothing else to do, let's brew a batch of Wood-element 【Judo Dan】!

If this appeared at an auction, Nascent Soul cultivators would fight to the death for it.

After the alchemy is complete, strengthen it inside the Treasure Basin.

Though less than a day remains, He Pingsheng still didn't want to waste it, and casually pulled out the 【Heavenly Moon Divine Array Technique】 to study.

His cultivation had just broken through to Golden Core sixth layer, yet his array skills remained stuck at Foundation Establishment level.

To this day, he could still only set up third-rank great arrays.

It was time to raise his array proficiency.

In fact, over these years, while cultivating, He Pingsheng had never ceased studying the Heavenly Moon Divine Array Technique.

Though he hasn't broken through yet, he felt it was nearly imminent.

The next morning!

He Pingsheng washed up briefly and left the Dao Hall.

Ling Zhiwang asked cautiously: "Yesterday, the Clear River Princess said we should go pick her up…"

"No," He Pingsheng shook his head. "She has legs—why should I go pick her up?"

Just as he stepped outside, the carriage was blocked by the Clear River Princess, dressed in a black Daoist robe.

Today she wore a different robe, making her skin appear even whiter than jade.

"Didn't I tell you to come pick me up?" the Clear River Princess said. "He Pingsheng, what are you playing at?"

He Pingsheng was stunned, then glanced back at Ling Zhiwang.

Ling Zhiwang hurriedly said: "Oh… yes, yes… we were about to go pick up the Princess, but didn't expect you to arrive early!"

"That's right!" He Pingsheng followed along: "We were just about to go pick you up!"

"You…!" The Clear River Princess's face flushed with anger; the curse nearly slipped out, but she swallowed half of it, saying: "Hmph… hahaha… lying… keep lying!"

"The road to the Princess's mansion turns right when you leave—why are you going left?"

"Let me tell you the truth—I knew you wouldn't come pick me up, so I've been waiting here since early morning!"

"Of course… hahaha…"

A sullen smile crept across the Clear River Princess's face.

He Pingsheng rubbed his face—he was never good at lying, and now he had no idea how to respond. Then he spotted the rabbit pulling the carriage and suddenly had an idea: he reached out and threw a green, thorny whip, snapping it sharply against the rabbit's back.

"You stupid rabbit—why did you turn left when I told you to turn right?"

The rabbit winced, shuddered, turned its head, and gazed at He Pingsheng with innocent eyes.

"Enough!" The Clear River Princess climbed into He Pingsheng's carriage herself. "I won't hold it against you—stop picking on a poor rabbit!"

"Hmph…"

"Let's go… Longtai!"

He Pingsheng exhaled in relief.

Ling Zhiwang carefully climbed out of the carriage and went to drive the rabbit.

"Ah…" The Clear River Princess extended a finger and poked He Pingsheng's arm. "I'm your senior concubine—you'll have to help me later!"

He Pingsheng wore an awkward smile and asked: "How?"

The Clear River Princess said: "Look—among these ten Longtai, I'm the weakest!"

"Who knows what powerful people will show up these days? They'll see me as an easy target and all come after my Ninth Longtai!"

"What if I get knocked off?"

"You can help me take it back!"

The Clear River Princess looked at He Pingsheng, her face so close his, her eyes like flowing water, her fragrance like a breeze.

He Pingsheng frowned: "Can you even do that?"

"Of course!" The Clear River Princess smiled, whispering: "If someone challenges my platform, I'll take yours!"

"Then you go knock that bully off his!"

He Pingsheng was stunned: "You can do that?"

"But… what if I knock him off, and he goes straight to challenge you on the Tenth Longtai?"

The Clear River Princess said nothing.

Outside, Ling Zhiwang couldn't help but say: "That's simple—just cripple him!"

He Pingsheng: ………………

The rest of the journey passed in silence.

Soon, the two arrived at the Longtai Plaza.

The crowd was still thick.

He Pingsheng and the Clear River Princess stepped down from the carriage one after the other.

Many eyes turned toward them.

After all, the Clear River Princess's beauty and status were too striking.

And He Pingsheng had just earned the right to challenge the Tenth Longtai yesterday—he was now officially challenging the Stonekeeper.

It was no surprise he drew attention.

He Pingsheng's gaze swept across the scene.

Ten Longtai.

Aside from the Clear River Princess, all other Stonekeepers were present.

On Platform One stood a young man in white robes, named Tian Jiashen.

On Platform Two stood a short, gray-robed old man—He Pingsheng knew this was the True Person of Austerities.

His gaze passed over them one by one.

Legend said that from the first, Tian Jiashen, to the ninth, the Clear River Princess, all were Golden Core Channelers.

Only the one on the Tenth Longtai had no Golden Core Channel.

"According to the rules… the challenge should begin with the Tenth Longtai!"

"You go first!" The Clear River Princess walked beside him. "Don't underestimate the Stonekeeper of the Tenth Longtai—he's called Dan Tai Qi. Though he has no Golden Core Channel, his spiritual powers are truly extraordinary!"

"When he first challenged me, I was caught completely off guard!"

"I even lost to him and fell off the Longtai!"

"The good news is, I later reclaimed it!"

"Mm." He Pingsheng nodded.

As they spoke, they arrived beside the Tenth Longtai.

On the Tenth Longtai stood a young man dressed in black.

Tall and imposing, his aura was astonishing.