Chapter 415: Threat, Fury

"Uh..."

"From Liang State, He Pingsheng has defeated Xiao Xuan from Qi State!"

"He Pingsheng, do you wish to continue competing tomorrow, or withdraw?"

The host stared at the guy, barely at Golden Core Stage 6, disbelief written all over his face—he even stammered as he spoke.

He Pingsheng said: "Let's continue!"

He has half an incense stick's time to rest.

A single drop of Ice Plain Divine Dew or two sips of 【Golden Bee Sacred Nectar】 can fully replenish his dantian.

The battle against Xiao Xuan was grueling—he nearly exhausted three of his five dantians just to drain Xiao Xuan's spiritual energy completely.

Xiao Xuan was truly absurdly strong.

"Sorry..." Master Longyuan stood up and bowed to the host. "Today, our Qi State has already fought ten matches, and it's getting late—we've decided to resume tomorrow!"

In a grand competition between two states, conventionally only one match per day is held.

Even though He Pingsheng agreed to continue, if Longyuan refused, the match couldn't proceed.

Fine, then tomorrow it is.

He Pingsheng nodded: "Alright!"

"Then it's settled!" the host could only say. "Everyone, return to your quarters and rest well!"

Everyone dispersed.

Back at the guest villa, Elder Zhenyu was overjoyed. He looked at He Pingsheng and said: "Excellent! The hardest opponent for Qi State was Xiao Xuan—you've already defeated him; the rest shouldn't be a problem!"

"Yes!" Liang Huaiqiu beamed with delight.

Elder Zhenyu added: "But don't let your guard down—this competition's stakes are enormous: an entire prefecture's sovereignty is on the line!"

"So we can't rule out any underhanded tactics from them!"

"In the upcoming matches, prioritize caution above all!"

"Understood?"

Elder Zhenyu fixed his gaze on He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng replied: "Yes... Rest assured, Elder, I'm steady as a rock."

"Good!" Elder Zhenyu waved his hand. "Go rest now!"

He Pingsheng returned to his small pavilion.

Liang Huaiqiu followed him inside.

He Pingsheng: "Don't you have your own quarters? Why are you following me? I need to rest..."

"Pfft!" Liang Huaiqiu said. "I'm your principal concubine!"

"What's wrong with that?"

She gazed at him with a smug smile, her proud face slightly flushed with embarrassment, her beauty radiating confidence.

He Pingsheng ignored her, tossing out a pink meditation cushion and sitting cross-legged on it.

"Huh... this cushion is kinda cute!" Liang Huaiqiu said. "Let me sit on it too..."

"Why does a man like you have a pink one?"

"How amusing... hehehe..."

He Pingsheng rolled his eyes. "My wife gave it to me. Is that a problem?"

"Hmph!" Liang Huaiqiu jumped up as if burned, her bottom suddenly recoiling. "He Pingsheng, you're ridiculous!"

"I'm not talking to you anymore..."

Liang Huaiqiu stormed off in a huff.

He Pingsheng exhaled in relief, then layered his cultivation barrier and swallowed a Gathering Essence Pill whole.

Cultivation!

Can't afford to delay!

But as soon as he sat down, a disturbance erupted outside.

Wang Dun's voice called out: "Brother, open up quickly..."

His tone sounded urgent.

He Pingsheng opened the door. "Senior Brother Wang, what's wrong?"

Wang Dun hurriedly said: "Close the formation first, then talk!"

He Pingsheng quickly sealed the formation. Wang Dun then pulled out a jade box.

His face was grim. "Just now... a Qi State cultivator delivered this to me to pass on to you..."

"Brother, you'd better brace yourself..."

"Look..."

Click!

Wang Dun opened the foot-long jade box.

Inside lay a pale, bluish-white arm.

"Sssss..." He Pingsheng's pupils contracted slightly. "What does this mean?"

"I don't know!" Wang Dun said. "The person who delivered it said you should examine it carefully—see if you recognize whose arm this is!"

He Pingsheng's heart sank—he sensed something terrible.

Whose arm is this?

Damn it—could they have found my wife, Qiao Huizhu?

Nervously, he approached, scrutinizing the arm with intense focus.

He picked it up and examined it closely.

He Pingsheng exhaled in relief.

This was not his wife Qiao Huizhu's arm.

He couldn't identify whose arm it was, but faint traces of spiritual residue still clung to it.

He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.

The stench of blood was overwhelming.

But cultivators' spiritual senses and memories far surpass ordinary humans—amid the thick blood odor, He Pingsheng detected a familiar scent.

His face turned ashen.

His entire body trembled uncontrollably.

"Younger brother, what's wrong?" Wang Dun asked. "Who... whose arm is this?"

He Pingsheng closed his eyes, took two deep breaths, then placed the arm carefully back into the jade box. "It's... a senior sister from Tai Xu Sect."

"Tai Xu Sect?" Wang Dun shuddered. "From your Xiuzhu Peak?"

"Yes," He Pingsheng nodded. "A senior sister surnamed Zhao. I haven't seen her in sixty years—I sent people to search for her, but found nothing."

"I never imagined she'd been captured by the Qi royal family!"

"Damn it!"

He Pingsheng's mind raced further.

If Zhao Ling'er is in the hands of the Qi royal family, what about Master Yu Ning?

What about Senior Yu Xuan?

And Xu Kunlun, Tian Xiaoqing...

Where are they?

Could they all have been captured?

Why did the Qi send me this?

……

"What?"

In the grand hall, Elder Zhenyu stared in shock. "You want to go confront Longyuan of Qi?"

"Yes," He Pingsheng said. "Something's happened—I need to ask him for answers."

"I can't wait a moment longer!"

"But Elder, rest assured—I will never betray Liang State's interests, nor will I ever make any concessions to them in the Nine States Grand Competition!"

He Pingsheng's gaze burned with resolve.

He wanted to confront Longyuan, but he had to inform Elder Zhenyu first.

Otherwise, Zhenyu might suspect collusion with Qi.

"Fine," Zhenyu said. "I'll go with you."

"No need," He Pingsheng waved him off. "Don't trouble yourself, Elder—my senior brother will accompany me."

"It's just old history."

"Longyuan won't dare do anything to me."

"True," Zhenyu said. "After all, this is Sacred Mountain!"

"If Longyuan dares lay a hand on you, I'll crush every single Qi person with one slap!"

"Go ahead!"

With Zhenyu's permission, He Pingsheng and Wang Dun stepped together into the Qi State guest villa.

Fifth watch delivered—ladies, show your love with some electricity!