Chapter 540: Awakening, Breakthrough

Boom… boom… boom…

The Soul-Nourishing Banner unfurled.

A massive flag drifted out, spewing forth yin energy.

Fortunately, He He Pingsheng's spiritual sense was strong enough to block the yin and malevolent qi emanating from the banner.

Within the Soul-Nourishing Banner was another soul.

That was Qiao Qiao Huizhu.

Now, Qiao Qiao Huizhu's soul had solidified to its utmost limit; she lay still within the banner, eyes closed, motionless and silent.

Yet, as He He Pingsheng watched, he suddenly noticed Qiao Qiao Huizhu's soul had twitched slightly.

"This…"

He He Pingsheng immediately grew excited, his whole body tensing: Did I just imagine that?

She really moved just now.

Then, Qiao Qiao Huizhu's soul raised one hand abruptly.

She really moved.

Then, from lying flat, she sat up, and her eyes opened.

"Big Sister Qiao…" He He Pingsheng wept uncontrollably: "You… have you finally awakened?"

Within the banner, Qiao Qiao Huizhu's soul looked confused; she glanced at herself, then at He He Pingsheng: "Who are you?"

He He Pingsheng's heart felt as if struck by something heavy—a dull, crushing pain.

The agony was indescribable.

Fortunately, after only about two breaths, light gradually gathered in Qiao Qiao Huizhu's eyes, and many memories returned to her.

"Husband… is it you?" Qiao Qiao Huizhu finally remembered; her face twisted in pain, as if trying to weep.

But souls have no tears.

"What happened to me?"

"How did I…"

"Am I dead?"

She looked at herself in alarm, then at He He Pingsheng.

He He Pingsheng closed his eyes, took a deep, deep breath, then opened them, forcing a gentle smile: "Wife… where did your memory break off?"

Qiao Qiao Huizhu said: "Memory?"

"I remember!"

She furrowed her brow slightly: "Back then, we went our separate ways—you went to Qi State to save someone, and I wanted to visit Tianfu Mountain—but halfway there, I met an old man!"

"You know him—he's the one who sold you the jade slips back at Skull Mountain, claiming his sect had collapsed!"

He He Pingsheng nodded: "That was Ti Shan's Ti Wen."

"Yes!" Qiao Qiao Huizhu said: "Later, I learned he was Elder Ti Wen."

"Elder Ti Wen took me to Shengshan, saying he wanted to comprehend the essence of space and time to repair the heavenly ascension pathways."

"So I followed him to Ti Wen's Ni Mountain."

"He brought me straight to an underground plaza, where many others were meditating on the origin of space and time."

"So I sat down and meditated too."

"Then… then…"

"My memory ended right there!"

He He Pingsheng nodded: "Ti Wen never intended for you to comprehend space and time—he lured you all to Shengshan, then used a vile array to drain your fortunes, converting them into his own longevity."

"For a thousand years, countless beings of great fortune have perished this way."

"What?" Qiao Qiao Huizhu widened her eyes in disbelief: "This… could the Holy Lord really do such a heinous thing?"

He He Pingsheng said: "I wouldn't lie to you—otherwise, why are you in this state now?"

"Had we cultivators no means to defy fate, my wife, you would have already entered the Six Realms of Rebirth!"

Qiao Qiao Huizhu fell silent.

After a long while, she asked: "Husband… did you save me?"

He He Pingsheng nodded.

Qiao Qiao Huizhu asked again: "Where are we now? Will that old devil capture me again? You must be careful… we can't defeat him. You… you you you…"

"Husband…"

"What's going on?"

"Why is your cultivation only at Foundation Establishment Level Ten?"

Though now a soul, Qiao Qiao Huizhu's spirit was fully restored and her spiritual sense immensely powerful.

A single glance revealed He He Pingsheng's cultivation level.

He He Pingsheng gave a bitter smile: "It's a long story."

He then told Qiao Qiao Huizhu how he rescued her, how he broke through his cultivation, how they jointly slew Ti Wen and Ni, and how he ascended to the Spirit Realm.

"Good heavens!" Qiao Qiao Huizhu stared at He He Pingsheng in shock: "Husband… you mean I was captured by Ti Wen in the Cultivation Alliance over one hundred and twenty-one years ago?"

"I've been asleep this long?"

"Yes!" He He Pingsheng nodded: "So you needn't worry about me."

"Though my current cultivation is low, I recover quickly—I'll regain Nascent Soul Level Ten in just a few years."

"And you—"

"I've found a way to heal you."

"Once I obtain the materials, you can be reborn."

He He Pingsheng spoke lightly, but it wasn't truly easy.

The materials for the Ten-Union Pill were attainable.

With the Divine Artifact Treasure Basin, brewing this pill shouldn't be especially difficult.

But the problem was: after brewing the Ten-Union Pill, how would Qiao Qiao Huizhu integrate with it?

With her original body?

But her original body had already been frozen by He He Pingsheng using 【Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Marrow】.

Though the corpse was still hers, after all these years, could it still be used?

What if it couldn't?

These were all problems.

But there was no choice.

One step at a time.

"You've gone to so much trouble, Husband," Qiao Qiao Huizhu said: "How is my younger sister?"

He He Pingsheng said: "Before I ascended, she was fine—I left her some resources; I'm sure she'll ascend without issue."

"Good," Qiao Qiao Huizhu said: "Husband, I'm in soul form now—I can't speak much, or I'll exhaust my soul energy and fall back into slumber."

"Alright," He He Pingsheng said: "Then lie down in the Soul-Nourishing Banner."

Saying this, He He Pingsheng retracted the banner and stored it within his body to nurture.

The longer it was nurtured, the more it could upgrade.

Qiao Qiao Huizhu had awakened—this was, Wulunruhe, a good thing.

He He Pingsheng felt considerably lighter inside.

Next…

Hmm…

Break through!

He opened his mouth and swallowed a supreme-grade Qi-Condensing Pill.

Under the operation of the Five Elements Merged Heaven Scripture, countless spiritual energies flowed into his dantian.

Three days later: Qi Refining Level Eleven.

Several days after that: Qi Refining Level Twelve, fully perfected.

Now, he stood just one step away from Foundation Establishment.

If He He Pingsheng wished, it would take only a few days.

But not now—he must preserve his Qi Refining cultivation to participate in the upcoming Seven Families Competition.

For the following days, with little to do, He He Pingsheng didn't idle—he took out his alchemy furnace and brewed some basic Qi-Consolidating Pills.

He wouldn't use them now, but once he reached Golden Core, they'd swiftly replenish his energy and cultivation.

At the same time, he took out the 【Taiqing Golden Elixir Scripture】 and began reading.

To see if any suitable spirit liquids could be brewed.

Even studying it was beneficial.

Thus, over the next dozen days, Mu Mu Ruolin finally came to knock on his door.

"Brother He… it's time to depart!"