Chapter 590: Fair and Stern, Finally Entering the Emperor

"Swoosh…"

As He He Pingsheng was pondering, a streak of light suddenly shot up and landed before the red-clad woman.

He He Pingsheng's eyes flickered, fixing on it.

Countless pairs of eyes turned toward it as well.

To step forward means you have a token.

If you have a token, why the hell did you wait until now?

But soon, He He Pingsheng understood: this man had no token.

Because he pulled out a ring: "Elder… my token is inside this ring. Please, Elder, inspect it!"

"Impudent!" The red-clad woman flew into a rage, seemingly not even glancing at the ring before slapping the man with an open palm.

Boom…

The man was blasted backward and landed on the plaza.

This sight startled He He Pingsheng.

Because the red-clad woman's aura had been overwhelmingly grand.

Yet strangely, the man, though knocked to the ground, was unharmed.

That made sense: the Void Refinement woman had merely feinted—she never intended to injure him.

That's interesting.

Holding back?

What does that imply?

Two possibilities.

First, the woman is compassionate, a soft-hearted soul.

Second, though she didn't care for the man's offering, she couldn't strike too hard—otherwise, who would dare approach?

He He Pingsheng, having cultivated for millennia, didn't believe this woman was soft-hearted.

But… let's wait and see.

"Shiiii…"

"Shiiii… shiiii…"

Soon after, two other cultivators soared into the sky, pulling out rings for the woman to inspect.

The woman extended her hand again, striking both men down in turn.

She even spoke harshly: "I know what you're thinking—some of you use rings to bribe me, hehehe…"

"No need!"

"Don't bother with such petty tricks!"

"Or I won't hold back next time!"

Yet strangely, though she claimed she wouldn't hold back, the two men who'd just been struck landed unharmed.

Hmm…

It must be… the gift wasn't valuable enough.

The Void Refinement cultivator wasn't impressed.

He He Pingsheng felt a flicker of interest.

He pulled out a ring and slipped a weapon inside it.

"Hao Cang," He He Pingsheng said, looking at Hao Cang, "stay right here. Don't go anywhere."

"If I enter the secret realm, you must not leave this place!"

"Cultivate diligently here… and strive to perfect it within this century—also, forge me the 【Formless North Star Nail】!"

"You're my servant, not a decorative vase, understood?"

"Yes!" Hao Cang gritted his teeth: "Master has shown me such grace—if I fail this task, when you return, I'll take my own life!"

He He Pingsheng patted his shoulder, then shot forward in a streak of light, landing before the woman.

The red-clad woman sat cross-legged before the black vortex, sensing He He Pingsheng's approach, and opened her eyes.

He He Pingsheng quickly presented the ring: "Elder… my token is here. Please inspect it!"

This time, the woman didn't glare as before; she spoke coolly: "If it's a token, why hide it in a ring?"

"Present it openly before me—otherwise, won't that tarnish my reputation?"

"Go."

"Take out the token so all can see. Only then will I let you pass."

With that, she raised her jade hand and slammed it against He He Pingsheng with a sharp *pop*.

He He Pingsheng grimaced: So I pulled this out, and she still isn't impressed?

Boom…

The next instant, He He Pingsheng was slammed to the ground.

Of course, unharmed.

But unlike the previous three, who landed among the crowd, He He Pingsheng was struck directly into a corner of the entrance plaza.

"Senior brother!"

"Senior brother, are you alright?"

As soon as He He Pingsheng hit the ground, another red-clad woman approached, helping him up while whispering to him: "Don't speak, follow me…"

The woman pulled He He Pingsheng away!

Then, secretly, she handed him a ring.

He He Pingsheng was puzzled—until he extended his spiritual sense into the ring and saw a black token inside.

This…

"Hehe…" the woman smiled. "Give me your ring."

He He Pingsheng instantly understood.

This woman was in cahoots with the one above.

The Void Refinement woman above clearly wanted my 【Southern Bright Square Heaven Spear】, but deliberately knocked me here—then…

Brilliant.

At this moment, He He Pingsheng couldn't help but admire the red-clad woman's scheme.

He He Pingsheng smiled inwardly and handed the Southern Bright Square Heaven Spear to the woman beside him.

One thing for another.

As for the Southern Bright Square Heaven Spear?

Was it truly precious?

But for He He Pingsheng, its use had dwindled.

He'd never paired it with a matching spiritual art when he used it.

Now that he had the supreme spear art 【Ten Thousand Extinctions Return to Origin】, combined with the 【Heaven-Defect Divine Spear】, it was more than enough—the Southern Bright Square Heaven Spear had become superfluous.

Best given to a Void Refinement cultivator.

He worried that if he offered something lesser, the Void Refinement adept might not even notice.

Besides, ancient treasures are theoretically suited for Soul Transformation cultivators.

His future pursuit would be magic treasures, Profound Heaven magic treasures, and Heaven-Piercing magic treasures.

A mere Southern Bright Square Heaven Spear? Irrelevant!

"Swoosh…" He He Pingsheng became a streak of light again, returning before the woman. "Elder, my earlier actions were rude!"

"Here is my token!"

He pulled out the ring and personally removed the token from within.

Indeed—it was the Nether Immortal Token!

"I always act with fairness and justice," the red-clad woman said, her expression solemn as she gazed at the countless cultivators below. "No token, no entry into the Emperor's Palace. But if you possess a token, and your cultivation base has not surpassed Nascent Soul, you may enter—anyone."

He He Pingsheng bowed appropriately: "Elder, your wisdom is unmatched!"

Below, countless cultivators bowed: "Elder, your wisdom is unmatched!"

"Hmm." The Void Refinement woman nodded. "You may enter… Young man, let me warn you."

"You are currently at Nascent Soul Level Twelve. Once you break through to Soul Transformation, do not leave."

"If you leave, you cannot re-enter."

"Also, this Emperor's Palace is a vast world, boundless in scale!"

"You… proceed with caution."

With that, she waved her hand.

He He Pingsheng bowed again: "Thank you for the warning, Elder. I'm off!"

He shot into the black vortex.

In truth, He He Pingsheng had paid a heavy price to enter the 【Nether Emperor's Palace】.

But at last, he was inside.

"Huh…" As He He Pingsheng gazed at the world before him—nearly identical to the Spirit Realm—he murmured: "I hope the Huang Quan energy still lingers…"