Chapter 438: Stealing Heaven, Replacing the Sun

The black divine spear pierced Long Yuan's chest at blinding speed.

He had no time to defend himself at all.

That's how strong it was.

A tiny, palm-sized glass infant leapt out from the shattered body.

It was Long Yuan's Nascent Soul.

He made no plea for mercy, nor uttered any venomous words.

"It's all my fault—I was but a hound, and long knew this day would come!"

"He Pingsheng, I do not ask you to spare me; even if you kill me now, I bear no resentment!"

"But… punish not my wife and children!"

"I beg you, after killing me, do not seek out my wife and children!"

He Pingsheng said coolly: "Well spoken—punish not the family. But let me ask you, Lord Long Yuan: what crime did my Master commit?"

"What crime did my Senior Sister and Senior Brother commit?"

Long Yuan said: "It's all my fault, but they're still alive!"

"They're now safely imprisoned in the Imperial Heavenly Prison!"

"Let me, Long Yuan, bear all blame—is that acceptable?"

"Fine!" He Pingsheng shook his head. "I won't touch your wife and children."

"As long as they don't come after me for revenge!"

"But one condition: I must rescue my Master and Senior Sister!"

"If even one soul from my sect dies in your Qi Kingdom, every last one of your family will join you in Huang Quan!"

Boom…

As he spoke, He Pingsheng waved his hand and unfurled a banner.

The Ten Thousand Souls Banner!

Countless sinister energies surged forth from it.

"Absorb…" He Pingsheng's magic power poured endlessly from his body, instantly sucking Long Yuan's soul inside.

In the void, only a palm-sized, mindless glass infant remained.

He Pingsheng sealed away the glass infant and the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, exhaling slowly.

At least, this first step was complete.

Then he exited the Great Freedom Pearl and arrived at Long Yuan's cultivation grounds.

Now, he still wore Long Yuan's appearance.

Wait!

Wait until tomorrow—success or failure hinges on this one move.

A night of torment!

But dawn finally came.

He Pingsheng took a deep breath, circled his cultivation technique twice, and outside, a voice sounded.

"Master… it's time to teach the Young Masters!"

"Hmm!" He Pingsheng mimicked Long Yuan's voice, then stepped out of the hall!

Outside the hall stood an old servant and five or six female maids.

"Master, please change your robes!"

Before He Pingsheng could speak, the maids rushed forward, dressing him in layer upon layer of garments.

From within the Great Freedom Pearl, Jiang Lan's voice came: "These are court robes—wear them, then ride to the palace gates!"

Indeed!

After dressing and tidying up, the old servant said: "Master… you may board the carriage!"

A large carriage was pushed before He Pingsheng.

Without hesitation, He Pingsheng boarded the vehicle; the old servant drove a monstrous beast he had never seen before, leaving the mansion and heading toward the palace.

First checkpoint passed—the second is coming.

The palace.

"Don't be afraid!" Jiang Lan's voice echoed: "I'll guide you—nothing will go wrong!"

Soon they reached the palace gates; the carriage halted.

The rest of the way, he must walk alone.

The palace gates were heavily guarded.

Jiang Lan said: "You're the Grand Tutor—ignore these guards. Whether they bow or kneel, say nothing—just walk past."

At critical moments, Jiang Lan was still invaluable.

Without him, He Pingsheng might not have passed this checkpoint.

Indeed, as soon as he reached the gate, the guards all bowed to Long Yuan.

He Pingsheng ignored them, strolling calmly with hands behind his back, entering the palace.

Following Jiang Lan's directions through the palace's side gates, he encountered no issues.

"The maids ahead will bow—ignore them!"

"Further ahead, turn left!"

"Don't walk the center path—stay to the side!"

"Don't raise your head—look straight ahead!"

"Withdraw your spiritual sense—the palace has countless spiritual-sense alert arrays; do not probe without cause!"

Jiang Lan explained each rule in turn.

Her own spiritual sense barely extended, merely tracing the path—no problem.

"Ahead, that eunuch is Eunuch Lu—he holds high rank; you must bow and greet him!"

"Say it after me!"

Soon, a eunuch arrived seated on a four-man palanquin.

He Pingsheng bowed to him: "Eunuch Lu."

Neither humble nor arrogant—his expression perfectly calibrated.

"Hehehe…" Eunuch Lu, still seated, chuckled at Long Yuan: "Grand Tutor… yesterday, the Seventeenth Prince angered His Majesty and received three strikes of the cane."

He Pingsheng didn't know how to respond.

At that moment, Jiang Lan's voice came again: "Say: 'The Seventeenth Prince is gifted, merely mischievous—I'll speak with His Majesty and ensure the Consort Shu isn't troubled!'"

Brilliant!

He Pingsheng took a deep breath and repeated: "The Seventeenth Prince is gifted, merely mischievous—I'll speak with His Majesty and ensure the Consort Shu isn't troubled!"

"Good, good, good!" Eunuch Lu chuckled. "Then I thank you, Grand Tutor. I'll take my leave!"

After seeing off Eunuch Lu, He Pingsheng exhaled again.

The Lecture Hall was drawing nearer.

After passing several more halls, He Pingsheng finally saw the Lecture Hall's gates.

The vermilion doors bore nine rows of golden door nails.

Impressive.

Seeing He Pingsheng approach, the guards at the gate bowed—he ignored them and walked past.

From the courtyard, he entered the main hall.

Inside, over a dozen men and women of varying heights and builds rose and bowed to him: "Greetings, Grand Tutor!"

He Pingsheng's spiritual sense flickered out, sweeping over them.

Their cultivation bases were all low.

The highest was Sixth Layer Golden Core; most were Foundation Establishment, some even Qi Refining.

Twenty-one in total.

Seventeen boys, four girls.

No need to say—they were all Imperial Princes and Princesses.

The youngest prince was the Seventeenth, barely under ten years old.

"Sit down!"

He Pingsheng waved his sleeve.

His heart pounded.

The princes were all here—perfect.

If he could capture all these brats at once, he could threaten the imperial family.

But the problem: the Lecture Hall was open, not enclosed.

People could enter from any side at any moment.

And around it stood a hundred or more guards.

All of them were Golden Core cultivators.

To seize every prince at once required careful strategy.

How could he control them all in an instant?

"Grand Tutor!" a prince rose and asked, "Which classic text are we studying today? Will Father Emperor be coming later?"