Chapter 616: Exchange, Elixir Brewing

Coming from the Fourth Zone to the Fifth Zone was unusual.

Nine people sat on nine stone steles, working in unison to cross over.

To leave this place, nine people must likewise open the barrier to return to the Fourth Zone.

Now, He Pingsheng would not leave.

Without nine people, the others could not depart either; to leave, they could only wait until He Pingsheng completed his enlightenment or until the Imperial Palace closed.

Everyone had their own choice; no one could blame He Pingsheng!

After all, staying behind was normal.

"Since the secret realm opened, roughly thirty-seven years have passed!"

The Tianhu clan's Bai Yuyu said: "Sixty-three years remain until the Imperial Palace closes!"

"But I personally don't mind—if I can witness someone entering the Sixth Zone, waiting sixty-three years is no trouble."

"Fine!" Prince Jin Xi stepped forward and said: "We—given we're Soul Transformation cultivators, sixty-three years mean nothing!"

"Let me say something blunt: who among us hasn't shattered three or four layers of Dao barriers entering this Yinming Imperial Palace? Yet now all our cultivation bases are stuck around Soul Transformation Second Layer—perfect time to cultivate and break through the flesh barrier!"

"The spiritual energy here is also thick!"

Prince Jin Xi had nearly been poisoned to death, and He Pingsheng had saved him; naturally, he now defended He Pingsheng.

"Alright!" Nan Li nodded: "Then we'll wait for Dragon Daoist!"

He Pingsheng bowed: "Apologies, thank you all!"

"In that case… I have one of the main ingredients for the fifth-rank elixir 【Ning Shen Dan】—Yun Shen Ku Xing. I'd like to trade for some 【Sheng Xian Zi】 to brew elixirs. Does anyone have 【Sheng Xian Zi】 to exchange?"

Both are fifth-rank materials, both used in Ning Shen Dan. One Yun Shen Ku Xing for one Sheng Xian Zi—is that unreasonable?

"Lucky me—I have some!"

"Hehe… I have some too!"

Not only did people have Sheng Xian Zi, but more than one person did.

Not surprising—Sheng Xian Zi is a main ingredient for Ning Shen Dan, and Ning Shen Dan is the most commonly used elixir among Soul Transformation cultivators.

For something with such high demand, someone in the Spirit Realm must surely cultivate it.

Thus, while Sheng Xian Zi is precious, it is not rare.

He Pingsheng produced two Yun Shen Ku Xing and traded them for two portions of Sheng Xian Zi.

"Dragon Daoist… you can still brew fifth-rank elixirs? Impressive!" Bai Yutang of the Tianhu clan raised his thumb: "I happen to have five portions of Ning Shen Dan ingredients—could you brew a batch for me?"

He Pingsheng smiled: "Of course."

"But I can't guarantee the quality of the finished elixirs!"

"Hehe… no problem!" Bai Yutang waved his hand: "As long as they're mid-grade, that's fine!"

His standard was actually not low.

He Pingsheng smiled, then set up a formation on the open ground: the fifth-rank 【Shuang Shen Formation】.

It was a composite formation combining a Spirit-Blocking Formation and a Warning Formation.

It could block the spiritual sense of Soul Transformation cultivators.

He Pingsheng entered the formation and began brewing.

His cultivation had reached Soul Transformation, his spiritual sense had expanded further, and over recent years, while cultivating the Dao, he had always liked to simultaneously comprehend the techniques of elixir brewing.

So his elixir-brewing skill was certainly better now.

But no rush!

First, strengthen the materials!

Take one portion of raw material and strengthen it into two.

Then begin brewing!

First batch!

Finished!

All twelve were mid-grade!

Second batch, finished!

Two high-grade, ten mid-grade!

Only these two batches were brewed.

That night, both batches were placed inside the Treasure Basin for strengthening.

A total of forty-eight elixirs were all strengthened to supreme-grade.

Why were they all strengthened to supreme-grade?

Because later, he would consume supreme-grade himself, and give others mid-grade—that would be hard to justify.

Give them!

All supreme-grade.

Once I exit this secret realm, I'll change my appearance and leave Zhu Que Imperial Domain entirely—you'll never find me!

"Hehehe…"

He wasn't afraid of exposing his brewing technique.

Besides, even if exposed, it might not be a bad thing.

Several days later, He Pingsheng handed a porcelain bottle to Bai Yutang.

Bai Yutang opened the bottle and stared in utter shock: "This… this… all supreme-grade?"

"What?"

"What did you just say, Bai Yutang?"

"Supreme-grade?"

"Impossible… absolutely impossible!"

"Sssss…"

Those who had just shouted "impossible" each drew a sharp breath upon extending their spiritual sense into Bai Yutang's bottle, then fell silent.

Supreme-grade!

Everyone now looked at He Pingsheng with new respect.

"Damn…"

"Who knew Dragon Daoist not only had fierce combat prowess but also such talent in elixir brewing?"

"Impressive!"

"Impressive—no one can refuse to admire!"

"Uh, Dragon Daoist… I also have five portions of elixir ingredients!"

"I have some too!"

"Brew me a bottle as well!"

The remaining six great demons each pulled out materials, asking He Pingsheng to brew for them.

He Pingsheng did not refuse.

He accepted all materials, then entered the formation and continued brewing.

About half a month later, He Pingsheng emerged from the formation again.

He gave each person a bottle containing twelve supreme-grade 【Ning Shen Dan】.

How many bottles he kept for himself, only he knew.

"Thank you, Dragon Daoist!"

"Dragon Daoist is truly astonishing!"

Compliments poured in endlessly.

He Pingsheng waved his hand: "Friends, excuse me—I must enter to contemplate the Poison Dao's principles!"

"If you want elixirs brewed, wait until I return from the passage!"

"Agreed!" Nan Li nodded: "We'll wait for you… Dragon Daoist, once you return from the passage, let's organize a small exchange gathering among ourselves!"

"Exchange what we have!"

"Trading items among us is a fine thing!"

Bai Yuyu of the Tianhu clan said: "Good idea!"

"Alright!"

"Then we'll wait for you!"

He Pingsheng bowed to the group.

His standing among them had risen another level.

"Sister, come inside!"

He Pingsheng called Qiao Huizhu into the Shuang Shen Formation he had set up: "I'm about to enter and contemplate the Poison Dao's principles—you cannot comprehend them, so just cultivate here."

He gave Qiao Huizhu two bottles of supreme-grade elixirs.

"Yes, husband!" Qiao Huizhu nodded: "Give me some of your unused fifth-rank talisman paper and talisman ink!"

"I plan to cultivate while also studying those two talisman scriptures!"

"See if I can draw fifth-rank talismans!"

The two talisman scriptures Qiao Huizhu carried had been given to her by He Pingsheng earlier.

One was titled 【Zeng Shan Fu Lu】, the other 【Shi Wan Tian Fu Jing】.

"Good!" He Pingsheng indeed still had some talismans and talisman ink, all of which he pulled out and gave to Qiao Huizhu.

After finishing everything, He Pingsheng took a deep breath and re-entered the toxic passage.