Chapter 408: Substitute Death, Rebirth

He Pingsheng was like a stone, his heart unmoved as an old dog.

Xiao Xuan, however, was left reeling from his three words.

Fortunately, both were cultivators; though Xiao Xuan spat blood, he recovered quickly.

He smiled: "Sixth layer of Golden Core… not bad. You actually scraped by to Golden Core by riding on Qiao Sister's fortune—but I don't understand. Why are you here, a mere sixth-layer Golden Core?"

"Did you come here to join the Nine Nations Grand Competition?"

He Pingsheng said: "Why not?"

"Hehehehe…" Xiao Xuan said: "Then you're a substitute?"

"No… even as a substitute, you're far too weak… Looks like the Liang State really has no one left!"

"Don't worry—if we meet on the arena later, I'll make you understand that I'm now a being beyond your reach."

"Do you know what the Eight-Nine Heavenly Tribulation is?"

"Do you know what a person of great fortune is?"

He Pingsheng listened quietly, saying not a word in rebuttal.

Just as Xiao Xuan was growing heated, another figure walked in.

Wang Dun.

"He Brother…" Wang Dun ran over, glanced at Xiao Xuan, and said: "Is this your friend?"

"Friend?" Before He Pingsheng could speak, Xiao Xuan cut in: "Someone like this trash deserves to be my friend?"

"Hmph…" He flicked his sleeve: "He Pingsheng, wait till we meet on the arena—I'll knock you down!"

"Fine!" Wang Dun said: "I'll remember. When we meet on the arena, Grandpa will knock you down in five rounds!"

After speaking, Wang Dun raised his right fist.

"Blowing wind!" Xiao Xuan said: "I'll remember you—see who falls on the arena!"

With that, Xiao Xuan turned and left.

Only He Pingsheng and Wang Dun remained.

"Wang Senior Brother!" He Pingsheng said: "Long time no see!"

Wang Dun said: "Yes… since we parted in Dingxiang City, nearly fifty years have passed!"

"Come!" He Pingsheng said: "Let's go inside—I've got some good wine!"

Inside the small pavilion, the two sat down, host and guest.

He Pingsheng brought out a jar of 【Century Immortal Wine】 from Chunyu Workshop; they talked and drank.

"Heh… this immortal wine is good…" Wang Dun said: "It's making me flush all over—excellent stuff, hehehe… Little brother, you've learned to play this game too… hehehe… Got more? Give me some!"

"I'll need it later."

He Pingsheng waved his hand and gave Wang Dun ten jars.

"Last time I heard you were captured, but you escaped a few days later… how did you get away?" He Pingsheng asked Wang Dun.

Wang Dun smiled: "Brother has his own methods—don't ask. Just remember: no one in this world can catch me!"

"Even if they catch me, I'll slip away like smoke!"

"Hehehe…"

"You're so carefree!" He Pingsheng said: "You ran off so well—those people couldn't find you, so they chased me instead. I nearly died in Qi State several times!"

"Ah…" Wang Dun's face turned awkward: "Little brother… I didn't mean to harm you. But those Qi State bastards were just too cruel!"

"Well then…"

"Brother will give you something to make up for it!"

"Wait a moment…"

Wang Dun looked up at the sky, his right hand tracing patterns in the air, then reached into his robe and pulled out a purple-gold talisman.

"Little brother… this is my life's treasure—I only had two…"

"Heh… I'll give you one!"

He Pingsheng didn't refuse—he reached out and took the purple-gold talisman.

The talisman's texture was intense; at once, He Pingsheng knew it was no ordinary item.

Boom…

His spiritual sense immediately enveloped the talisman.

Yet for a moment, he could not identify its nature.

"Shhh…" Wang Dun placed a finger to his lips and whispered: "Little brother, keep this talisman safe…"

"It's a fourth-rank Immortal Talisman!"

"When activated and pressed against your body, it forms a faint, ethereal shield over your soul!"

"Once activated, this shield will exist forever—never fade!"

"When you die in danger, the talisman will instantly snatch your soul and use its energy to forge you a new body, identical to your old one!"

"Treasure it deeply!"

He Pingsheng had thought Wang Dun was joking—but seeing his serious expression, his heart pounded wildly.

He hadn't felt such emotion in many years.

Too powerful.

No—it was outright heavenly.

It could be called a 【Substitute Death Talisman】 or a 【Rebirth Talisman】.

It only activates at the moment of death.

This thing!

"Thank you… Wang Senior Brother… this is truly priceless!" He Pingsheng took a deep breath.

"Mm…" Wang Dun said: "I only had two. One is already used—attached to my soul. But note: this talisman is only fourth-rank. If one day your cultivation surpasses 【Nascent Soul】, it will lose its power!"

"It can revive you up to Nascent Soul twelfth layer—remember this, remember this!"

"Understood!" He Pingsheng was deeply moved. He nodded and pulled out two vials of supreme Enlightenment Pills: "I don't have much to offer, but these two vials of supreme Enlightenment Pills might help you later."

"And this… it's a supreme magic treasure called the Flame Crescent Blade—perfect for you!"

"Also, I have one 【Teleport Talisman】. When activated, it instantly transports you a million miles away—and always lands you on solid ground. A lifesaver!"

He Pingsheng laid out three treasures at once.

Yet he felt their value still fell short of the talisman Wang Dun had given him.

"Alright, little brother, I won't be polite!" Wang Dun took the three gifts: "I actually need these!"

"Wang Senior Brother!" After both had received their gifts, He Pingsheng asked: "This talisman is so heavenly—who forged it?"

"Hehehe…" Wang Dun said: "Don't even think about it. This isn't forged… it's… hehehe…"

"Brother can't say more. Just know: this thing doesn't exist in our cultivation world!"

"Understood?"

"I understand." He Pingsheng nodded.

He knew Wang Senior Brother, like himself, carried great secrets.

If so, no need to ask further.

Perhaps Wang Senior Brother also possessed a Treasure Basin capable of enhancing such items.