Chapter 67: Provocation

Clearly, Hou Muxian did not want to take them along.

In Hou Muxian’s eyes, He Pingsheng was nothing but a burden.

“Xiao Xuejian, you go!” Yu Ning, unwilling to pressure his eldest disciple, turned his gaze to the second disciple.

Xiao Xuejian’s face darkened: “Master, I’m in the same situation—I still need to follow Senior Brother’s footsteps!”

Then, Third Sister Cheng Siyu, Fourth Brother Yang Qingyun, and Fifth Brother Wu Zhengyang all bowed to Yu Ning.

“Master, we wish to follow Senior Brother into the secret realm!”

Behind them, Zhao Linger, Xu Kunlun, Tian Xiaoqing, and He Pingsheng each looked more miserable than the last.

Damn, we’ve been rejected.

“Sigh…” Yu Ning let out a deep breath. “Enough. Each has his own fate. I won’t force you. Do as you please!”

“Linger, Xiaoqing, Kunlun, and Ninth—you four will form a team for now. Once inside the secret realm, don’t go too deep, and don’t provoke others!”

“Opportunities mean nothing if you’re dead. Don’t force it!”

“Understood?”

He Pingsheng and the others bowed to Yu Ning: “Thank you, Master, for your teachings!”

Then Yu Ning pulled out nine white jade tablets and handed them out one by one. “These are the credentials to enter the Alliance’s secret realm—and your guarantee of safety!”

“If you encounter danger, crush the tablet, and it will teleport you out of the realm!”

“But remember: this tablet is fundamentally a formation!”

“Once crushed, the formation activates—but the process from activation to teleportation is not instantaneous. It requires time to cast!”

“Um… roughly three breaths.”

Hearing this, He Pingsheng’s heart jolted.

Three breaths!

For escaping, three breaths is far too long.

If an enemy is right before you, this thing is useless.

Three breaths is enough for them to kill you ten times over.

To escape safely, you must have ample time—that must be guaranteed.

He Pingsheng tucked the white jade tablet away, memorizing it well.

Yu Ning said: “By custom, I will not accompany you into this secret realm!”

“Our Grand Void Gate has two hundred seventy-six disciples participating. All will be led by Grand Elder Xuan Yang of the Internal Affairs Hall!”

“Grand Elder Xuan Yang is a ninth-layer Golden Core cultivator—his cultivation is supreme, and his discipline is strict. He is the second Golden Core in our entire Grand Void Gate!”

“You must show him respect!”

“Go!”

Yu Ning swept his sleeves, and the disciples filed out one by one.

Return to your quarters, gather your belongings, take your Hundred Treasures Bags, and assemble at the Teleportation Plaza.

He Pingsheng did the same.

He returned first and retrieved his pre-packed items.

There wasn’t much.

His main talismans, magic treasures, and such were already stored in his storage bag.

Inside this Hundred Treasures Bag were only ordinary items and several sets of moon-white robes.

Master had said all Grand Void Gate disciples must wear moon-white Daoist robes.

In addition, He Pingsheng’s Hundred Treasures Bag held a woman’s outfit.

Not for any other reason—only to swap identities at a critical moment.

If danger strikes, I disguise myself as a woman and alter my appearance—who could recognize me?

Once everything was ready, He Pingsheng, like the others, slung his Hundred Treasures Bag and arrived at the Teleportation Plaza on Xiuzhu Peak.

Many disciples were already there.

He Pingsheng and his senior and junior siblings—nine in total—along with disciples of Masters Yu De and Yu Xuan.

Altogether, about thirty to forty people.

He Pingsheng spotted someone he deeply hated: Linglong.

His grudge with Linglong ran deep.

Not only the debt from Hao Yun’s death, but also the blood feud over his parents.

And the time she nearly tricked him into death.

Yet when he met Linglong, though he longed to tear her apart, his face remained utterly calm, showing not a trace of hatred.

Linglong saw him too, and sneered: “Oh? He Shi-di has reached Qi Refining seventh layer… hehe… Good you’ve earned the right to join the trial. But I fear this ‘good fortune’ turns bad—if you die in the secret realm, it’ll be a waste!”

He Pingsheng said nothing.

But beside him, Xu Kunlun, Zhao Linger, and Tian Xiaoqing all glared at Linglong with fury.

Hou Muxian’s eyes narrowed. “Linglong Shi-mei, isn’t that a bit too harsh?”

“Senior Brother Hou, I’m not cruel!” Linglong replied. “Everyone knows I speak bluntly but mean well—I’m just giving He Shi-di good advice!”

“Don’t believe me? Look!”

Linglong stepped forward and, in a flash, slapped He Pingsheng’s face.

Everyone gasped in shock.

He Pingsheng dodged instantly.

But that slap was a feint—by the time he reacted, her jade hand had already seized his Hundred Treasures Bag.

With a slight tug, everything inside spilled out with a rustle.

Just ordinary items.

Dozens of spirit stones, a few garments, a couple of magic treasures.

What stunned everyone was that his bag contained a woman’s outfit.

Linglong burst into loud laughter: “He Shi-di, I never thought you’d be like this—carrying women’s clothes! Hahaha… Do you have some disgusting fetish?”

Others cast strange, curious glances.

He Pingsheng said nothing, showed no discomfort.

He calmly knelt, picked up the scattered clothes and items, and returned them to his Hundred Treasures Bag.

Then he stood, and glanced at Linglong with indifference.

“Linglong, stop this nonsense!” A woman stepped forward and pulled Linglong away.

He Pingsheng’s gaze lingered on the woman for two breaths.

He had seen her before—when he was still a laborer, beaten by Zhang Da, and it was this woman who gave him two low-grade Golden Bone Pills.

Master Yu De had said her name was Luoyu.

“Time’s running out. Let’s go…” Hou Muxian looked back at his junior siblings. “Head to the Grand Void Hall!”

Everyone stepped onto the teleportation array and vanished in a flash from Xiuzhu Peak.

When they opened their eyes, they stood before the Grand Void Hall.

The Grand Void Hall was the largest palace in the sect.

Legend said it was where the sect’s Supreme Elder, the Ancestor, cultivated.

And the Ancestor was the only Nascent Soul in the entire Grand Void Gate.

Neither He Pingsheng nor Hou Muxian had ever seen him.

Even their own Master, Yu Ning, might never have seen the Ancestor’s true face.