Chapter 406: The Pillar of the Daughter Kingdom

A golden immortal vessel crossed the void.

Its speed was swift.

He Pingsheng stood on the deck, looking down, where mountains, rivers, and lands lay fully exposed.

White clouds drifted lazily; the weather shifted constantly with the journey.

Sometimes the sky was clear and boundless, then moments later, dark clouds gathered, thunder and lightning crackled, and snow drifted wildly—all beneath his feet.

The speed of immortals—how wondrous indeed.

"What are you thinking about?" Liang Huaqiu walked over to He Pingsheng's side.

He Pingsheng said: "Nothing much. Just looking at the scenery below. I wonder how long it'll take to reach Tainian Mountain, the Sacred Ground of the Xuan Gate?"

Liang Huaqiu said: "Soon… about seven or eight days."

"Hmm!" He Pingsheng nodded: "With that much time, I'll go back and enter seclusion."

Before Liang Huaqiu could respond, he stepped forward and vanished.

"You…" Liang Huaqiu watched He Pingsheng avoiding her like this, her face darkening with anger.

Back in his room, He Pingsheng casually activated layer upon layer of the room's array.

Then he lay on the meditation cushion, continuing to contemplate the Tianyue Divine Array, while swallowing a supreme-grade Juyuan Pill—his Five Elements Heaven Scripture automatically activated within him.

Whenever he had time, he cultivated.

It was a good habit.

Nine days later, the golden flying vessel finally arrived at a vast mountain range.

Other cultivators traveling with them stepped out of their rooms and onto the deck, their gazes and spiritual senses projecting downward.

He Pingsheng was no exception.

For it was said that Tainian Mountain had arrived.

Far off, he saw the massive silhouette of Tainian Mountain.

The mountain resembled a blue lotus blossom.

At the center of the vast range stood a circular platform—a mountain whose peak had been sheared off.

Like a lotus pedestal.

Around this lotus pedestal rose one hundred and eight towering peaks of varying sizes and heights, all piercing the clouds and leaning precisely toward the lotus platform.

From afar, they looked like one hundred and eight lotus petals.

Mist drifted between the peaks.

The sun's rays refracted through the haze, scattering countless beams of light into swirling, colorful vapors, making the lotus-shaped mountain range appear even more humble, elusive, and mysteriously sacred.

"What a beautiful place—is this Tainian Mountain?"

Someone asked.

"Yes!" Behind them, the Shen Transformation elder Zhenyu Laozu approached, smiling warmly: "Ahead lies our Xuan Gate's foremost sacred ground—Tainian Mountain!"

"Bathed in the holy light and aura, one's entire being transforms. I was fortunate enough to visit twice in my youth—hahaha… you'll understand when you go."

"As I've said before: this is a sacred cultivation ground. True Person Tainian and True Person Tiwen are extraordinary immortals—do not act rashly!"

"Otherwise, even our Liang State cannot protect you!"

"Yes!" Everyone bowed to Zhenyu Laozu.

All were Jin Dan cultivators; even the youngest had lived nearly a century, and none were reckless children.

The elder's repeated warnings revealed just how exalted the status of Tainian and Tiwen was in the cultivation world.

After a dozen breaths, the massive golden dragon vessel slowly drifted into the lotus-shaped mountains, like a speck of dust settling upon the lotus pedestal.

The vessel halted on a vast, pure-white jade plaza.

Before even disembarking, He Pingsheng sensed the air thick with the most concentrated spiritual energy.

A distant bell tolled, resonating for ten thousand li.

The sound was grand, vast, yet profound and delicate.

It seemed to contain a Dao art capable of healing the heart—bathed in it, one truly felt reborn.

Zhenyu Laozu had spoken truly.

"Truly a supreme immortal paradise…" Liang Huaqiu said: "I'd gladly spend my whole life cultivating here."

He Pingsheng pointed ahead: "Let's go down and take a look."

Disembarking from the golden dragon vessel, He Pingsheng glanced around—the plaza was enormous, clearly designed for docking dragon vessels.

There were nine docking spots.

At this moment, three were occupied.

Several disciples in black Dao robes approached the golden dragon vessel.

"Greetings, Elder Zhenyu!" A female cultivator bowed to Zhenyu: "Elder, please follow me—your accommodations have been arranged."

"Very well!" Zhenyu said: "Lead the way."

He Pingsheng couldn't help gently scanning the female cultivator's cultivation base with his spiritual sense—and was stunned to find nothing.

That meant her cultivation level was at least above Nascent Soul Sixth Layer.

Too powerful.

Following the Nascent Soul cultivator for about half a stick of incense, they arrived at a villa complex.

It contained many small pavilions.

And was divided into distinct zones.

Each zone bore the name of a nation.

Such as Liang State, Qi State, and so on…

Clearly, this was built for cultivators participating in the Nine States Grand Competition.

"Here we are…" The female Nascent Soul pointed to the villa behind her: "Elder Zhenyu, this hall is for you; the twenty small pavilions behind it—each disciple may choose one as a temporary resting place!"

"During the competition, no changes allowed!"

"Good!" Zhenyu nodded: "Thank you for your trouble."

"No need to thank me," the female Nascent Soul added: "The competition begins in three days—I'll bring you the full rules and schedule then. For now, rest."

With that, she bowed to Zhenyu again and departed.

Before He Pingsheng even entered the villa, he saw another Nascent Soul cultivator arriving with another group.

"Hahaha…" Zhenyu chuckled: "If it isn't our friend from Shinv State—Qingyi Daoist, long time no see!"

Everyone turned to look at the Shinv State participants—and saw a group of women.

No…

More precisely, their leader was a woman, also a Shen Transformation elder, since Zhenyu Laozu had addressed her as "Daoist."

Besides this female leader, twelve competitors followed behind her.

Of those twelve, only the first was a male cultivator—the rest were all women.

In other words, among all of Shinv State's delegates, there was only one man.

He Pingsheng's gaze fell upon the man—and his shock was immediate.

Wang Dun!

Damn…

When did this bastard join Shinv State?

Holy shit… he's become the pillar of this daughter kingdom.

He Pingsheng looked at Wang Dun; Wang Dun saw him too.

"Hey…" Wang Dun's face lit up with delight: "Brother He! Brother He!"

He shouted, waving his arms enthusiastically toward He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng's face darkened: Damn… does this bastard have no sense of decorum?

Couldn't you wait a bit? Couldn't you recognize me later?

To do it so openly… you bastard Wang Dun…