Chapter 584: Dud Pills, a Promise

Days passed one by one.

He He Pingsheng took out a Heartbond Talisman and stared at it.

This was the talisman left to him by Liu Prince Haoran.

If this talisman ignited before he departed, there would still be a chance to get close to the 【Sacred Essence Pill】.

If Liu Prince Haoran did not send him a message before he left, He He Pingsheng would simply depart.

Once he reached the Zhu Que Imperial Domain, even if Liu Prince Haoran sent a message, He He Pingsheng could never receive it.

Because the distance was too great—even high-grade Heartbond Talismans could not span imperial domain-level distances.

Fortunately, three days before the great ship set sail, the Heartbond Talisman before He He Pingsheng suddenly glowed.

He He Pingsheng activated and opened the Heartbond Talisman.

Liu Prince Haoran sent a message: "Brother Long Zhe, I reside at the Shangyong Pavilion in the Imperial City. Come quickly—I have urgent matters to discuss!"

He He Pingsheng's eyes lit up.

Urgent matters to discuss?

That must be about pill refining!

Fine… I'll go take a look.

If that kid has other sixth-rank materials for me to test, and I can successfully refine a low-grade pill, I'll consider attempting the Sacred Essence Pill.

If the test fails, I'll just abandon it.

That's all.

He He Pingsheng stood up: "Hao Cang, wait here. I'm going out—I'll likely return within half a day!"

Hao Cang asked no questions, only bowed: "Yes!"

He He Pingsheng left the Immortal Ship Plaza and hired a random beast-drawn cart to head toward the Shangyong Pavilion.

According to the beast driver, the Shangyong Pavilion was a palace used by the Tian Peng Beast Emperor to host friends and guests—all its residents were his esteemed visitors.

After half an hour, they arrived at the Shangyong Pavilion.

Upon arriving, He He Pingsheng sent another message through the Heartbond Talisman, and the talisman spontaneously ignited.

Liu Prince Haoran appeared at the entrance at just the right moment.

"Brother Long Zhe… come in, come in… follow me!" Liu Prince Haoran's face was grim, but upon seeing He He Pingsheng, he forced a faint smile.

The two entered the Shangyong Pavilion and arrived at Liu Prince Haoran's temporary cultivation hall, seating themselves with host and guest positions.

He He Pingsheng asked: "Prince Prince Haoran, is this about pill refining?"

"Yes!" Liu Prince Haoran exhaled deeply. "Yesterday, I found Master Master Tianji and asked him to refine pills for me!"

"What?"

He He Pingsheng felt a wave of disappointment.

He already got someone else to refine them—why come to me now?

Liu Prince Haoran continued: "I assumed Master Master Tianji, the Imperial City's top pill master, would give me at least a mid-grade pill?"

"But can you guess what happened?"

Liu Prince Haoran stared at He He Pingsheng.

He He Pingsheng said: "Were they all low-grade?"

"Bullshit…" Liu Prince Haoran's face turned livid. "They're all duds!"

"Look!"

Liu Prince Haoran tossed a pill vial onto the table before He He Pingsheng, furious: "This is a sixth-rank pill!"

"I went through immense trouble to gather these materials—not just exhausting myself, but spending a fortune!"

"Yet now—the Imperial City's top pill master failed to refine a sixth-rank pill?"

"I suspect he's been embezzling my ingredients!"

"Brother Long Zhe!" Liu Prince Haoran looked at He He Pingsheng again. "Check these twelve duds for me—can you tell if they're duds from the Sacred Essence Pill? I fear that old bastard switched them out!"

He He Pingsheng smiled, opened the vial, and placed all twelve duds before him.

Although He He Pingsheng's current skill level was unlikely to refine a sixth-rank pill,

judging whether these duds were genuine was not difficult for him.

"Boom…"

He He Pingsheng's spiritual sense surged forth, splitting into countless fine threads that penetrated the duds, examining them closely.

After about half a stick of incense, He He Pingsheng said: "Prince Prince Haoran, I can say with near certainty that Master Master Tianji did not deceive you—these twelve pills are indeed duds from the Sacred Essence Pill."

"I can't say for sure whether they came from your specific batch of ingredients, though."

"What?" Liu Prince Haoran stared in shock. "They're really Sacred Essence Pill duds?"

"Yes… I'm certain," He He Pingsheng nodded solemnly again.

Liu Prince Haoran slumped, nearly collapsing into his chair.

He He Pingsheng, however, smiled as he carefully collected each of the twelve duds. "Prince Prince Haoran, these twelve duds are useless to you—may I take them for study?"

Liu Prince Haoran instantly jumped up from his seat: "What? You can turn these twelve duds back into 【finished pills】?"

He He Pingsheng smirked, saying nothing.

"Fine…" Liu Prince Haoran realized how absurd his own words sounded. "Then… take them!"

He He Pingsheng said: "I've never refined a sixth-rank pill before. I hope to gain insight from these Sacred Essence Pill duds and study them."

"I won't let you lose out."

"Tell me—how much time remains in your mother's lifespan?"

He looked at Liu Prince Haoran.

Liu Prince Haoran replied: "My mother is human, a Void Refinement cultivator. Human Void Refinement cultivators live five thousand years. She has only two hundred years left."

"I can't say the exact number."

"Good," He He Pingsheng nodded. "Within a hundred years, I can likely give you a supreme-grade 【Sacred Essence Pill】."

He He Pingsheng did not make a firm promise.

If he advanced to Soul Transformation, giving him a supreme-grade pill would be certain—he could simply strengthen these duds.

But could he reach Soul Transformation within a hundred years?

He planned to enter the 【Yinming Imperial Palace】, and he could not yet enter Soul Transformation.

Because one condition for entering the Yinming Imperial Palace is being at or below Nascent Soul realm.

The key point is—the Yinming Imperial Palace lies within the Zhu Que Imperial Domain!

Who knows when it will open?

What if it doesn't open within a hundred years? What then?

All of this remains uncertain.

"Really?" Liu Prince Haoran's eyes brightened.

He He Pingsheng said: "Prince Prince Haoran, you didn't hear me clearly—I said 'perhaps,' not 'certainly.'"

"Alright, alright…" Even a glimmer of hope was better than none.

"But how will I contact you later?" Prince Prince Haoran asked.

He He Pingsheng thought for a moment, then replied honestly: "I plan to enter the Zhu Que Imperial Domain to explore the 【Yinming Imperial Palace】. I won't leave the Zhu Que Imperial Domain anytime soon."

"If you wish to find me, go near the exit of the Yinming Imperial Palace in the Zhu Que Imperial Domain—you'll likely find me there."

"Good!" Liu Prince Haoran pulled out another Heartbond Talisman and handed it to He He Pingsheng. "Brother Long Zhe, when I reach the Zhu Que Imperial Domain, I'll use this Heartbond Talisman to contact you—it'll be much easier!"

"Keep it safe."

"Alright," He He Pingsheng accepted the Heartbond Talisman, bid farewell to Liu Prince Haoran, and headed back toward the Immortal Ship Plaza.