Chapter 423: Fourth-Rank Array

"Boom… boom… boom…"

The golden airship rose into the sky and flew toward the Liang Kingdom.

When they arrived, there were twelve contestants on board, including substitutes.

When they left, only He Pingsheng and Liang Huaqiu remained.

The other ten had all departed on their own.

The great ship was nearly empty.

Yet, a Soul Transformation elder still remained aboard, so its safety was unquestioned.

After several days, the great ship safely arrived at the capital of the Liang Kingdom.

"He Pingsheng…" Before leaving, Zhen Yu pulled out a storage bag and handed it to He Pingsheng: "Inside are a few 【Greedy-Anger Fruits】. Take them—use them yourself, or give them to friends and family!"

He Pingsheng accepted the bag without hesitation and bowed to Zhen Yu in thanks.

Zhen Yu added: "Your contribution this time was immense—the Imperial Court's reward will surely be more than this!"

"Mm… Once the Liang Kingdom takes control of Shangdang Commandery, there will be further rewards!"

"Also, you may request one item from the Imperial Court—anything they possess, as long as it doesn't violate ancestral rules."

He Pingsheng smiled and said: "Um… Elder Zhen Yu, would it be possible for me to learn the 【Liang Di Tian Gang】?"

"No!" Zhen Yu chuckled. "That violates ancestral regulations!"

"Alright," He Pingsheng said. "Then thank you, Elder… Should I ever need something in the future, I'll come back to ask you."

"No need to thank me!" Zhen Yu also handed He Pingsheng a golden token: "Hold onto this—it's my token. With it, you may visit the Imperial Palace anytime to see me."

"Yes, thank you, Elder!"

After receiving the golden token, He Pingsheng returned directly to his Grand Void Merchant Association.

After ten years, the association had changed considerably.

"Young Master!"

"Young Master is back!"

"Master!"

Upon hearing He Pingsheng had returned, Ling Zhiwang, Xiaohe, Huang Shen, and Old Cheng all rushed out.

He Pingsheng looked at the four and asked: "Has my Master arrived?"

All four looked bewildered.

He Pingsheng added: "My Master is from the Qi Kingdom. Her name is Yu Ning. Has she come to the association looking for you in the past ten years? Or have you heard any news of her?"

Everyone shook their heads.

He Pingsheng's face darkened.

But he couldn't give up, so he asked again: "What about Zhao Linger, Xu Changan, Tian Xiaoqing, and the others? Have any of them come to the association?"

Again, everyone shook their heads.

He Pingsheng closed his eyes, pondered for several breaths, then nodded calmly and said: "I understand… Alright, you may all go now."

"Ling Dao you, stay behind."

"Yes, Young Master!" Ling Zhiwang had also changed how he addressed He Pingsheng.

"How has the association's business been over the past decade?" The two sat down.

He Pingsheng's spiritual sense had already scanned the entire association—its inventory and goods had grown far beyond what they were before.

Ling Zhiwang smiled: "Young Master, the association's operations are now fully on track. Though we can't compare to the top-tier associations in the capital, we're at the pinnacle among second-tier ones!"

"Good," He Pingsheng nodded. "You've worked hard… How about it? Still think of returning to your homeland?"

"Return? Why bother?" Ling Zhiwang laughed heartily. "Young Master, why don't you just use your spiritual sense to check my cultivation base?"

Cultivation base?

What does that mean?

Aren't you still Qi Deviation?

Curious, He Pingsheng scanned Ling Zhiwang with his spiritual sense.

Hmm… Layer Two.

When did this guy become Foundation Establishment Layer Two?

"Aren't you still Qi Deviation?" He Pingsheng stared in shock.

Ling Zhiwang bowed happily to He Pingsheng: "Yes, I was Qi Deviation before—but thanks to you, my fortune has returned, and I can cultivate again!"

"Holy shit…"

Hearing this, He Pingsheng blurted out a curse in astonishment.

Why?

Why else? Clearly, his fortune had changed—but why had his fortune changed?

He Pingsheng knew the answer all too well.

He hadn't expected one person's fortune could determine so much.

"Good," He Pingsheng said. "Congratulations."

"Hehehe, Young Master, I won't dare leave again!"

"What if I become Qi Deviation again after leaving?"

"My fortune is entirely thanks to riding on your coattails—I won't leave even if you kick me out!"

Ling Zhiwang laughed joyfully.

He Pingsheng pulled out a jade slip: "Check if the association has these materials. If not, gather them for me as soon as possible!"

"Alright!" Ling Zhiwang took the slip: "These are… fourth-rank array materials?"

He Pingsheng said: "Yes."

"Good," Ling Zhiwang said. "We have some in stock, but only enough for two arrays. I'll immediately arrange to procure the rest from other associations!"

Half a stick of incense later, He Pingsheng received two sets of fourth-rank array materials.

He could now begin crafting the array plates.

He had assumed Long Yuan would release his Master.

But he hadn't. Relying on others was clearly unreliable.

To rescue his Master and Senior Sister, he must rely on himself.

Hmm…

No more waiting.

Once the fourth-rank array is complete, he would travel to the Qi Kingdom to gather information.

In the following time, He Pingsheng studied arrays and also refined some elixirs.

After all… Old Cheng and Xiaohe and the others needed cultivation resources.

Six months later…

Boom… boom… boom…

A fourth-rank array unfolded in the courtyard behind He Pingsheng's Grand Void Merchant Association!

The array enveloped the entire courtyard and the front merchant building.

Fourth-rank… Spirit-Sealing Array!

This was the array He Pingsheng had spent six months crafting.

It could block the spiritual sense of Nascent Soul cultivators.

He Pingsheng did not stop!

After completing the Spirit-Sealing Array, he spent another three months crafting a second great array.

Fourth-rank… Alert Array!

With these two great arrays, he no longer needed to worry.

If a Nascent Soul cultivator tried to spy, they could not break through the Spirit-Sealing Array.

If a Soul Transformation cultivator tried to spy, they could break the Spirit-Sealing Array—but would trigger the Alert Array within.

Outside He Pingsheng's main hall stood two third-rank Alert Arrays and Spirit-Sealing Arrays.

Under this layered array defense, even a Soul Transformation cultivator's spiritual sense would take dozens of breaths to penetrate into He Pingsheng's main hall.

Those dozen breaths were more than enough to hide the Treasure Basin—or even to pull up his pants again.

"Hehehe…"

After finishing everything, the first thing He Pingsheng did was take out the Treasure Basin and toss the 【Death-Substitution Talisman】 given to him by Wang Dun into it, beginning its enhancement.