Chapter 432

He Pingsheng stared at the raised jade arm holding the jade slip, stunned.

Agreed?

Committed?

"Not…," He Pingsheng said, "who came to you?"

Qiao Huizhu said, "Princess Qinghe!"

He Pingsheng frowned: "Put on your clothes and get up!"

The two hastily arranged their robes, washed up, then sat behind a large window in Qiao Huizhu's Qingyu Palace.

The curtain was drawn back, sunlight streaming in, bright and clear.

At a small wooden table, He Pingsheng and Qiao Huizhu sat facing each other.

"When did Liang Huaqiu approach you?" He Pingsheng asked, serious.

Qiao Huizhu said, "A few days ago, she told me the whole story. I knew you'd want this Liang Emperor's Heavenly Gang—my husband loves me; how could I be so selfish?"

"Even if I gave up my position as principal wife to her, I'd have no regrets!"

"Don't talk nonsense!" He Pingsheng reached out and took the golden jade slip. "You can't make decisions like this on your own again!"

As he spoke, he plunged his spiritual sense into the jade slip.

It really was the Liang Emperor's Heavenly Gang.

And it bore a seal—anyone who read it would cause the content to instantly vanish.

So it was certain Qiao Huizhu had not seen its contents.

He Pingsheng read it from start to finish, then the jade slip cracked and shattered.

The deed was done; refusing the deal was no longer possible.

"Husband, did you memorize it?" Qiao Huizhu asked, looking up.

He Pingsheng nodded.

Qiao Huizhu then pulled out a Heartbond Talisman and crushed it instantly. Within a few breaths, Princess Liang Huaqiu appeared in the hall.

"You're still here?"

He Pingsheng was startled again.

"Hmph…" Liang Huaqiu snorted, pulled her skirt down, and sat beside them. "Why can't I be here?"

"The Liang Emperor's Heavenly Gang is our imperial family's secret art—I must watch closely, or you'll break the rules!"

"You've memorized it, right?"

He Pingsheng nodded. "Memorized."

"Then…" Liang Huaqiu said, "Swear an oath—you will never pass this on to anyone else!"

"Fine!" He Pingsheng raised his hand and swore.

Heavenly Oaths have no binding power over ordinary Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, or Qi Refining cultivators.

Usually, disciples at these three stages have not yet comprehended the Dao.

Without Dao comprehension, they are not bound by Heavenly Oaths.

But He Pingsheng is different—he has connected his Golden Core to the Dao, so the oath holds.

After swearing the Heavenly Oath, He Pingsheng pulled out a white jade slip and tossed it to Liang Huaqiu. "This is the Grand Void Great Mystery Scripture—take and read it."

"But this technique may only be passed to disciples with Five Element Spirit Roots!"

"Don't forget our first two agreements!"

"And one more thing!" He Pingsheng looked at Liang Huaqiu. "This technique is extremely ruthless—if a non-Five Element Spirit Root cultivator uses it, they must devour another's Five Element Spirit Root. Once you have it, you must not pass it on again!"

"Unless you later find a royal disciple with Five Element Spirit Roots!"

"Fine!" Liang Huaqiu said. "I swear to uphold all these conditions!"

Liang Huaqiu then swore the Heavenly Oath before He Pingsheng's eyes.

Thus, their exchange was complete.

"My dear husband!" Liang Huaqiu tucked away the items and smiled. "I'll wait for you in the capital… come back soon and consummate our marriage…"

Right before Qiao Huizhu's eyes, this left He Pingsheng deeply embarrassed.

After Liang Huaqiu left, Qiao Huizhu asked him: "Husband, what are your plans now?"

He Pingsheng waved his hand and pulled out a Greed-Anger Fruit. "I'll first raise my cultivation level. Once I reach Level Eleven, I'll go to Qi State to rescue my master."

"I'm coming too!" Qiao Huizhu stood up.

He Pingsheng said, "No, too dangerous."

"No!" Qiao Huizhu said. "When we reach Qi State, you go to rescue him—I want to visit the Cultivation Alliance. You know I'm already a Great Nascent Soul, and my spiritual sense can crush any Nascent Soul cultivator!"

"Don't worry about my safety—I'll just go take a look."

He Pingsheng thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright…"

Qiao Huizhu wasn't just strong in spiritual sense—she also possessed top-grade magic treasures and the Heaven-Class technique, Nine Heavens Ice Dragon.

This technique was no less powerful than He Pingsheng's own Heavenly Snow Lock Realm.

Once unleashed, even a Nascent Soul peak cultivator couldn't gain the upper hand against her.

In the following days, He Pingsheng entered seclusion.

First, he swallowed a Greed-Anger Fruit.

To break through his bottleneck.

Next, he re-carved the Liang Emperor's Heavenly Gang onto a new jade slip and placed it inside the Treasure Basin.

Strengthen!

The next day, it was strengthened into two copies.

First one.

Name: Heavenly Gang Three Transformations

Rank: Heaven-Class Technique.

Effect: Using Heavenly Gang energy to unlock one's physical potential: First Transformation increases combat power by fifty percent; Second Transformation doubles it; Third Transformation triples it.

Second one.

Name: Liang Emperor Possession Technique.

Rank: Heaven-Class Technique.

Effect: Summon the spirit of the founding Liang Emperor to possess the body, granting immense combat power for half an hour. After use, the body suffers moderate damage.

He Pingsheng's eyes narrowed slightly.

Both techniques had pros and cons.

The first, Heavenly Gang Three Transformations, unlocked inner potential to boost combat power.

But it was difficult to cultivate.

The second, direct Liang Emperor Possession, was straightforward—could grant the emperor's power in an instant.

But the flaw was obvious: bodily damage.

Also, the Liang Emperor's cultivation level was unknown, but as a cultivator of this world, he could not have surpassed Soul Transformation.

So the technique's power had a ceiling.

A low ceiling.

Which one to cultivate?

He Pingsheng chose both.

If needed later, he could pick one depending on the situation.

But cultivating both would take considerable time—right now, he could only choose one.

"Hmm… I'll start with Heavenly Gang Three Transformations. After all, this technique looks properly righteous!"

Thus, He Pingsheng began his cultivation.

Three months later, he reached minor accomplishment in Heavenly Gang Three Transformations.

He could barely achieve First Transformation—fifty percent combat power increase.

Perhaps… it's enough.

This rescue mission to Qi State relies on wit.

Raw strength—even full Third Transformation—couldn't defeat Qi State's Soul Transformation experts.

So it's completely unnecessary.