Chapter 426: Tianji Deadland

A distance of ten thousand li is too far for even a Jin Dan cultivator to return in a short while.

Ling Zhi has not returned, but the massive energy fluctuations here have drawn the attention of outsiders.

Many people have gathered at the entrance of the Grand Void Trade Association.

After about half a stick of incense had burned, two more individuals walked directly into the trade association.

"He Pingsheng…"

"Come out!"

A familiar voice came.

He Pingsheng, who had just dismantled the teleportation array, turned his head and saw Princess Qinghe and the Ninth Imperial Prince Liang Zhili.

"Your Highness, Crown Prince!"

In front of the crowd, He Pingsheng remained polite—after all, many eyes were watching!

"No need for formalities!" The Ninth Imperial Prince was growing ever more regal.

He strode quickly into the back courtyard of the Grand Void Trade Association.

The three found a cool pavilion and sat down.

Those around them were naturally driven far away—no one would disturb them in this courtyard now.

"Long time no see, He Pingsheng!" No sooner had they sat than Liang Huaqiu gave him a complex look.

He Pingsheng's spiritual sense swept over Liang Huaqiu—this woman was not only a Nascent Soul cultivator, but already at Nascent Soul Second Layer.

As for the Ninth Imperial Prince beside her, his progress had slowed—he had not yet caught up to He Pingsheng, remaining only at Jin Dan Eighth Layer.

But even this pace was quite impressive.

"Congratulations, Your Highness!" He Pingsheng meant it sincerely.

After all, reaching the Nascent Soul realm meant becoming one of the most powerful beings in the world, with lifespan extended dramatically to over a thousand years.

"Thank you!" Liang Huaqiu smiled happily, then added: "But as usual, I must ask—what caused that intense energy surge just now?"

"No spells or divine arts are permitted within the imperial capital!"

"Did you get into a fight?"

"Or…" Liang Huaqiu said, "I saw that column of light—it looked exactly like the energy burst from a long-range teleportation array. Don't tell me this tiny Grand Void Trade Association has a long-range teleportation array?"

He Pingsheng smiled and said: "Yes… I was just testing a teleportation array."

There was no need to hide it.

It would leak out eventually anyway.

"What?" Liang Huaqiu was stunned, at a loss for words: "You actually built a Grade Four teleportation array?"

"Mm." He Pingsheng said: "During my enlightenment on Sacred Mountain, I comprehended the spatial law. Now I can construct long-range teleportation arrays!"

"Is there a problem?"

"Of course there is!" The Ninth Imperial Prince said: "We don't care about short-range arrays that teleport within ten thousand li."

"But long-range arrays beyond ten thousand li are strictly controlled by the Liang imperial family… no one may operate them privately!"

Teleportation arrays, especially long-range ones, are a security threat to the state.

They must be controlled by the state.

He Pingsheng smiled and said: "I know. Don't worry—I won't operate it privately or set one up. I've already dismantled it. I was only testing."

Liang Zhili said: "Good."

"Alright, since it was just a test, I won't press the matter." Liang Huaqiu glanced at He Pingsheng: "Jin Dan Tenth Layer… not bad. But… have you hit a bottleneck?"

He Pingsheng gave a bitter laugh: "Yes… you have one bottleneck. I have two."

Damn it!

"Then you're in trouble!" Liang Huaqiu said: "With this, when will you ever break through to Nascent Soul?"

The Greed-Anger Fruit might break one bottleneck, but what about the second?

As Liang Huaqiu said, who knew when?

But He Pingsheng wasn't clueless—he had some ideas.

For example… dual cultivation!

Back when he was at Foundation Establishment, he broke through a bottleneck by practicing the 【Union Joy Sutra】 together with Sister Qiao.

If it worked at Foundation Establishment, could it work at Jin Dan?

If so, calling Sister Qiao again would be two birds with one stone.

Of course, whether it could work…

He Pingsheng had no certainty.

Maybe this scripture could only break one bottleneck? After all, in the cultivation world, one-time encounters were everywhere.

"Heh…" Liang Huaqiu shifted her round little buttocks closer to He Pingsheng, pressing against his body, and whispered: "What are your plans next?"

"I want to visit the Tianji Deadland. Want to come along?"

"Maybe you'll find a chance for breakthrough inside Tianji Deadland?"

"If you break through your bottleneck, wouldn't Nascent Soul be within reach?"

As she spoke, she blinked at him.

A faint, intoxicating feminine scent filled his nostrils.

He Pingsheng rubbed his nose and said: "No thanks. I want to visit my wife…"

It was true—he hadn't seen Sister Qiao in a long time.

He wanted to see if he could break through his bottleneck.

If sleeping could break a bottleneck, why go to any Deadland?

Are you insane?

Beside him, Liang Huaqiu gave a cold laugh, revealing two rows of pale white teeth: "Heh… heh… heh…"

Her round little buttocks shifted away again, putting distance between her and He Pingsheng.

"Yes, you really should go see her," the Ninth Imperial Prince quickly intervened: "Three years ago, I remember the Xiao Yao Immortal Sect applied to the court for one 【Greed-Anger Fruit】 to help Qiao Huizhu break her bottleneck—I handled that case!"

"To show our friendship, I approved ten for them."

He Pingsheng: …………

Fuck…

Ten?

Would having more of these even help?

Liang Huaqiu beside him also looked stunned.

Yet the Ninth Imperial Prince raised his head proudly: "One is too few—I thought it looked cheap!"

Fine.

"Also!" Liang Zhili continued: "I received word—about a year ago, your wife successfully formed her Nascent Soul. She is now a Nascent Soul First Layer cultivator!"

"And it was the Eight-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, no doubt."

He Pingsheng was even more shocked: Sister Qiao had formed her Nascent Soul?

Of course, it made sense.

After all, little Xiaohe, this rising star, was already at Jin Dan Tenth Layer.

Both were single-element roots, both heavenly prodigies, and Qiao Huizhu had the Eight-Nine Heavenly Tribulation.

It wasn't surprising she formed her Nascent Soul within decades.

After all, He Pingsheng himself was already over one hundred and ten years old.

By that reckoning, Sister Qiao was one hundred and twenty.

One hundred and twenty-year-old Nascent Soul cultivators were rare, but among heavenly prodigies, perfectly normal.

At this moment, He Pingsheng felt an even stronger urge to find Sister Qiao: I haven't slept with a Nascent Soul yet!

After a while, Liang Huaqiu suddenly smiled, her smile carrying a chilling, murderous edge: "He Pingsheng… our ancestor Zhenyu asked me to ask you—do you want the Qinghe County we offered you?"

He Pingsheng shuddered: "No!"