Chapter 48: Qi Refining Sixth Layer

Everyone dispersed!

He Pingsheng returned to his room.

He had originally planned to strengthen this array using the Treasure Basin, but now he dared not.

Why?

Because if the strengthened array became too high a level, someone might recognize it at a glance—and that would be trouble.

Let’s make do with it for now.

So He Pingsheng spent an entire day completing the array setup.

In fact, setting up such a low-level array is very simple, with no complex details.

Just place all the array flags and array discs in their proper positions.

Finally, insert spirit stones to provide energy, then activate it.

“Open…” He Pingsheng murmured softly.

Hummm… hummm… hummm…

Instantly, a pale yellow array barrier rose up, enveloping He Pingsheng’s room and half the courtyard.

“Close!” He swept the array brush once, and the array shut immediately.

Once inside the array, he would sweep the array talisman again: “Open!”

The array roared open again.

This device draws energy from spirit stones.

One lower-grade spirit stone can sustain the array for about two months.

The consumption is moderate—every inner sect disciple can afford it.

Stepping into the array, He Pingsheng pulled out a supreme-grade Qi-Condensing Pill.

Instantly, a familiar, rich fragrance filled the air.

He Pingsheng even went outside the array to test it—sure enough, not a trace of fragrance could be detected outside.

Perfect!

Now he no longer had to worry about others recognizing he was cultivating with supreme-grade pills.

Then let him cultivate in peace.

One day, two days, three days!

For the next three months, He Pingsheng spent his time swallowing pills and cultivating.

Each month, he set aside some time to refine elixirs and deliver them to Zhao Linger; how she distributed them was none of his concern.

Of course, the materials for refining were provided by the sect.

Each time, five batches of elixirs were refined, with fifty portions of materials provided.

He Pingsheng wasted not a single portion.

He gave the successfully refined pills to the sect; the failed ones he strengthened into supreme-grade Qi-Condensing Pills for his own consumption.

One day, three months later, a faint pop echoed from He Pingsheng’s room.

He had broken through.

Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

Because when he first became a disciple, he had already told his master Yu Ning he would break through, so this advancement did not seem sudden.

But after this, he must be careful.

He Pingsheng took out the [True Cultivation Miscellany] and flipped through it again.

Soon, he found the information he needed: in the cultivation world, cultivation speed depends on a cultivator’s talent; single-element cultivators typically advance one layer per year during mid- and late Qi Refining; ordinary two- or three-element cultivators require two years or more.

Huh…

He Pingsheng exhaled deeply: two years.

We’re five-element cultivators—even with pill absorption, we must not advance faster than two years per layer.

One layer every two years—others might not suspect.

But we absolutely cannot go any faster.

Then another question arose.

He Pingsheng normally absorbed supreme-grade pills, which could let him break through in as little as half a year.

What to do with the remaining time?

“Cultivate the spirit!” He Pingsheng gave himself an excuse: “Besides spirit cultivation, I can also cultivate the Wood-element dantian and raise its cultivation base too!”

If the speed is still too fast, I’ll continue developing other dantians—cultivate the Metal, Water, and Earth-element dantians as well.

Then it won’t seem suspicious.

Spring passed, winter came!

In the blink of an eye, another season of snowflakes drifted down.

He Pingsheng’s cultivation had reached Qi Refining Sixth Layer—not just one dantian, but both the Fire-element and Wood-element dantians had reached Sixth Layer.

Of course, no one else could tell.

His [Mystic Quiet Mind True Scripture] had also reached Sixth Layer.

There was nothing more to cultivate.

The problem was, only a little over a year had passed.

He still had over a year left before his self-imposed next breakthrough deadline!

What to do?

Could he really waste his time?

He Pingsheng stood in his room, looking at the spirit stones in his hand: only seven left.

These spirit stones would barely last the array for a year.

It was time to go out and see.

He planned to visit the Mount Matou marketplace to sell some items and exchange for spirit stones.

But before leaving, He Pingsheng directly dismantled the array.

He tossed all four components—the array disc, array flags, array talisman, and array diagram—into the [Treasure Basin].

After one night, the strengthening was complete.

He had strengthened one set of [Sealed Array] materials into two sets, and the level had also risen.

Previously, this was a lower-grade Sealed Array; now, it could construct a supreme-grade [Sealed Array].

What’s the difference?

First, defensive capability improved.

Second, the coverage range expanded—from a ten-zhang radius to a hundred-zhang radius.

Not only could it cover He Pingsheng’s small courtyard, but if fully deployed, it could envelop several surrounding courtyards.

Of course, a supreme-grade array has its flexibility—it can cover a hundred-zhang radius, or contract to cover only ten zhang.

“I wonder how much this could sell for?”

He Pingsheng stored everything in his dantian, then went out to visit his senior sister Zhao Linger.

“You’re going down the mountain?” Zhao Linger looked at him in surprise. “How long?”

He Pingsheng said: “Just going down to handle some business—about… one day.”

“Oh!” Zhao Linger nodded. “If it’s only one day, you don’t need to inform Master. But if you’re away for more than three days, you must tell Master!”

“Understood!”

He Pingsheng nodded and descended the mountain.

At a secluded spot, he activated the [Paper Crane], which shot into the sky with a whoosh and flew toward Mount Matou.

This was He Pingsheng’s third visit to the Mount Matou marketplace.

The first time, he went with Wang Dun to sell [Sunfire Flower] pollen.

The second time, he sneaked off alone to sell [Sunfire Flower] pollen.

This time, He Pingsheng’s main goal was to sell off his magic treasures one by one.

If possible, he’d buy a storage pouch.

Not having a storage pouch was truly inconvenient.

Riding the Yellow Crane, He Pingsheng took out each item from his dantian and placed them into the Hundred Treasures Bag.

One supreme-grade magic treasure flying sword!

One supreme-grade magic treasure [Vine Shield]!

One supreme-grade magic treasure [Elixir Refining Furnace]!

One complete set of supreme-grade array materials for the [Sealed Array]!

Since these items would be inconvenient to retrieve from the Treasure Basin once at the marketplace, he prepared them in advance to avoid unnecessary trouble.

As for how much these items could sell for?

He Pingsheng didn’t know.

One step at a time—first get an appraisal, then decide after.

After finishing this, He Pingsheng changed clothes, swapping his inner sect disciple robe for an ordinary, unmarked Daoist robe.

Why?

To avoid encountering fellow sect members.

Shhh…

More than an hour later, He Pingsheng landed on the doorstep of Mount Matou Marketplace atop a paper crane.

With a wave of his hand, the paper crane returned to his grip.