Chapter 435: Jiang Lan

The one-eyed Jin Dan cultivator's pupil shrank slightly, his eye narrowing.

"May I ask, honored guest, where are you from?"

As the Jin Dan third-layer cultivator spoke, his spiritual sense swept over He Pingsheng.

He naturally could not probe He Pingsheng's cultivation base.

He Pingsheng picked up his brush and wrote another character on the notebook: He.

"Give this to your master—she'll know what to do when she sees it!" He Pingsheng tore the paper with a rip and shoved it into the Jin Dan cultivator's hand.

"Please wait a moment!" The shopkeeper bowed deeply to He Pingsheng, stepped out from behind the counter, closed the front door, and hung up a "Closed for Business" sign.

After finishing, he took the two sheets of paper and walked slowly toward the back of the alchemy shop.

After half a stick of incense had burned, the one-eyed Jin Dan returned from the rear.

"Honored guest…" His tone was now far more respectful; after bowing to He Pingsheng, he whispered: "Our master is not here!"

"Come with me!"

He Pingsheng followed the Jin Dan cultivator out of the shop.

The Jin Dan closed the door, then summoned a large carriage; both boarded it and raced through the capital of Qi, weaving through several circuits before casually entering a narrow alley.

At the alley's end stood a low, small gate.

As they stepped through, the world inside made He Pingsheng's eyes brighten.

Though the courtyard was small, its layout was exquisitely refined.

Pavilions, terraces, towers—all were present.

The yard was planted with numerous spiritual plants, their dense immortal qi permeating the air.

He Pingsheng's spiritual sense swept through the courtyard and found it entirely covered by arrays.

There were not only defensive arrays, but also spirit-gathering arrays, spirit-suppressing arrays, and alert arrays.

Impressive!

They'd hidden themselves well.

"Honored guest, follow me…" The one-eyed Jin Dan led He Pingsheng past the elegant courtyard to the back garden, where another entrance lay.

As they passed through the entrance, He Pingsheng felt as if he had stepped into another world.

The sensation was much like when he had once entered the 【Black Market】 in Tiannan City to trade with Su Zhen.

Without doubt, he had now entered yet another space treasure resembling a Black Market.

As soon as they entered, Jiang Lan, dressed in brocade robes, stepped forward with a smile and bowed slightly to He Pingsheng: "He Daofriend… it's been a long time!"

Jiang Lan was not tall, but petite and delicate, with refined features and an unmistakable noble bearing.

"Please come in…"

"Lai Bo, you may go now!"

Jiang Lan nodded to the one-eyed Jin Dan.

"Yes, Miss!" The one-eyed Jin Dan bowed deeply and left immediately.

The door closed, and He Pingsheng's sense of being severed from the outside world intensified.

"He Daofriend, don't worry," Jiang Lan said. "Because of my special status, I dare not reside in ordinary courtyards; here, in this celestial realm, escape is much easier—hahaha…"

"Come, sit down!"

The two walked side by side into Jiang Lan's cultivation hall and took their seats, master and guest.

"He Daofriend… you didn't come just to return my robe, did you?" Jiang Lan said as she poured tea.

He Pingsheng replied: "Of course not. I've come to ask for your help."

"Hahaha… no need for formalities—if I can help, I will!" Jiang Lan placed a cup of spiritual tea before He Pingsheng. "I've heard of your performance at the Nine Kingdoms Competition—truly impressive. It seems I didn't misjudge you back then, nor did I entrust my hopes to the wrong person!"

Though it sounded like praise, He Pingsheng understood it was a warning.

She was reminding him not to forget their original agreement.

"Jiang Daofriend, rest assured—you saved my life. I will fulfill what I promised you," He Pingsheng said, taking a deep breath and meeting her gaze. "I've come now to ask for your help with one matter."

"You should know that many of my sect members were captured by Long Yuan and brought to the Qi capital. I've come to rescue them."

"Rescue?" Jiang Lan stared at He Pingsheng in astonishment. "Are you joking, Daofriend?"

"You may be powerful, but Qi is no mere puppet state!"

"Not to mention the at least one Soul Transformation elder guarding the imperial palace—let alone the countless Nascent Souls within the royal family!"

"I don't believe you can rescue anyone while surrounded by them!"

He Pingsheng said: "I have my own method."

"Jiang Daofriend, just tell me where Long Yuan's family is."

"Hahaha…" Jiang Lan's red lips curled into a smile as she set down her cup of spiritual tea. "He Daofriend, you plan to take their family hostage and force Long Yuan to release your sect members?"

He Pingsheng nodded.

"You underestimate Qi," she shook her head. "Let me tell you plainly—your master, senior brothers, and senior sisters are imprisoned in Qi's Heavenly Prison."

"Even if you killed Long Yuan or seized his family, Qi would not release them."

"This matter is no longer under Long Yuan's control."

"Besides…" Jiang Lan smiled. "Long Yuan moved his entire family over twenty years ago—no one knows where they are now."

He Pingsheng's vision darkened.

Impressive—Long Yuan had prepared long ago.

"Actually…" Jiang Lan said, "this isn't difficult. Tell me your plan—I might help you refine it."

"You should know I'm sworn enemies with the current Emperor—deadly, irreconcilable foes!"

"Even if I can't help you, I'll never help them."

Jiang Lan spoke with righteous fury.

The situation had reached a dead end—without her help, he could not proceed further.

And wasn't it just a teleportation array?

There was no harm in revealing it—it wasn't a top-secret matter.

After careful thought, He Pingsheng nodded: "Fine, I'll tell you."

He laid out his plan in full.

Jiang Lan's beautiful eyes sparkled with delight: "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant… hahaha…"

"Good… He Pingsheng, I'll help you!"

"But I have a condition."

He Pingsheng said: "Speak."

Jiang Lan produced a map of the capital. "I must participate in this—you alone won't succeed."

"Let me help you. We'll surely rescue your master."

"Look… here is the Jingyan Hall!" The map she produced was of the imperial palace.

Such maps were unobtainable by ordinary people.

"The Jingyan Hall is where imperial princes receive their lessons," Jiang Lan whispered. "If you can infiltrate it and capture all the princes… hahaha…"

"All the princes become your hostages!"

"Tell me—would the Qi Emperor then respectfully deliver your master into your hands?"