Chapter 699: Seventh-Grade Protective Mountain Array

He Pingsheng did not create just five clones.

He created a full eight!

Two sets of materials, after being strengthened, became four.

These four sets of materials were forged into four bodies; after the clones were formed and then strengthened, they became eight.

Five of them were fused with the Liuliying and forged into true clones; the remaining three bodies were kept as backups.

After all, no one can guarantee these five clones will survive until Body Integration.

If one perishes, it's not too late to condense a Nascent Soul and forge a new clone later.

"Enough!" He Pingsheng handed out the items, then looked at the five clones and said: "Now, leave on your own. When I need to merge with the Dao, return to find me."

The five Shen Transformation, Layer Twelve beings each slipped away from Solitary Pine Mountain secretly.

He Pingsheng also stepped out of the grand hall.

"Hao Cang, Zhou Qingmei, come here!"

After He Pingsheng's voice carried out, Hao Cang and Zhou Qingmei arrived before him.

"Young Master!" Both bowed quickly.

He Pingsheng then pulled out a Spirit Vein Soul and handed it to Hao Cang: "This is a top-grade Spirit Vein Dragon. Plant it beneath Solitary Pine Mountain—soon, our Solitary Pine Mountain will become a top-tier Immortal Realm!"

"What?" Hao Cang gasped: "This… this is actually a top-grade Spirit Vein Soul?"

Zhou Qingmei also beamed: "Originally, by the time I reached Body Integration, the spiritual energy on Solitary Pine Mountain would barely suffice for me. Now, if we plant a top-grade Spirit Vein Soul, it will be perfect!"

Years ago, after He Pingsheng obtained the Spirit Vein Soul, he strengthened it into two upper-grade ones.

One of them was planted by Hao Cang beneath Solitary Pine Mountain.

Now, with his cultivation base elevated, he could already strengthen ordinary spirit stones into top-grade ones; he tried strengthening the Spirit Vein Soul—and succeeded.

The upper-grade Spirit Vein Soul became top-grade.

But only one.

"Young Master… this old servant has a word, though I'm not sure if I should speak it!" Hao Cang, after a moment of joy, wore a look of deep worry.

He Pingsheng asked: "What is it? Just say it."

"Yes!" Hao Cang said: "This top-grade Spirit Vein Soul is certainly excellent… but once planted, Solitary Pine Mountain will become the absolute top-tier Immortal Realm on the entire Heavenfire Continent. Not only will the number of disciples seeking to join our sect surge, but some top-tier factions will surely covet our Immortal Realm!"

What Hao Cang said was no idle fear.

Previously, Solitary Pine Mountain had been attacked several times, but the attackers were always minor factions.

What would happen now, if we had a top-grade Spirit Vein?

Hard to imagine.

Wouldn't many top-tier races come to fight over it?

Zhou Qingmei is Body Integration Layer One, true—but what if a high-layer Body Integration cultivator arrives?

These are real problems.

"That is indeed a problem," He Pingsheng nodded.

Beside him, Zhou Qingmei said: "That's not a problem…"

"Oh?" He Pingsheng turned to look at Zhou Qingmei: "You have a plan?"

"Young Master," Zhou Qingmei smiled: "During the hundred years you spent in seclusion absorbing the Nine Heavens Mystic Fire, I didn't idle. Though my cultivation didn't advance, nor did I break through the Dao barrier, I spent these hundred years studying arrays—and I can now set up a seventh-grade protective mountain array!"

"What?" He Pingsheng was instantly thrilled: "You… you… you can already set up a seventh-grade protective mountain array?"

A seventh-grade array!

He Pingsheng himself could barely set up a fifth-grade array right now.

A seventh-grade array could withstand a full-force strike from a Body Integration cultivator.

As long as spiritual energy flowed continuously, the defense would never break.

Unless an enemy of Mahayana Emperor realm arrived.

But that's unlikely.

This is Zhu Que Emperor Domain; Zhu Que, the Emperor Demon, just ascended—so the domain has a ten-thousand-year protection period.

Within these ten thousand years, no Mahayana Emperor can cause trouble within Zhu Que Emperor Domain.

Besides, anyone who reached Mahayana Emperor realm surely already has a top-grade Immortal Realm.

So there's no need to fear Mahayana Emperor enemies.

Only Body Integration cultivators need concern us.

"Young Master, look—this is my seventh-grade array disc!" Zhou Qingmei placed a disc, roughly the size of a millstone, before He Pingsheng: "Though this seventh-grade disc is only low-grade, it can still form the array!"

He Pingsheng asked: "What array is this? What functions does it have?"

Zhou Qingmei replied: "This array is called the Eight Wilderness, Four Poles Array. It combines offense and defense—it can withstand a Body Integration strike, and if operated by several Void Refinement cultivators, it can even unleash a Body Integration strike to counter enemies!"

Eight Wilderness, Four Poles Array?

Excellent name!

He Pingsheng nodded: "Good."

"Um…" Zhou Qingmei said: "It's only low-grade…"

"No matter!" He Pingsheng said: "Actually, I have a top-grade seventh-grade array disc. I'll give it to you later—use mine to set up the array!"

"Really?" Zhou Qingmei drew in a sharp breath: "Young Master already has a top-grade array disc?"

"Yes," He Pingsheng said seriously: "Hmm… go prepare first. Survey the terrain around Solitary Pine Mountain. Come back tomorrow. And I'll study this disc of yours."

"Alright!" Zhou Qingmei left without hesitation.

The next day, Zhou Qingmei returned to He Pingsheng's cultivation hall.

He Pingsheng immediately pulled out two array discs.

The first was Zhou Qingmei's original disc; the second was a top-grade disc!

The second disc was, of course, the one He Pingsheng had strengthened using the Treasure Basin.

"This array," He Pingsheng explained slowly, "is called the Nine Radiance, Return to Origin, Celestial Constellation Array… a top-grade seventh-grade array, far superior to yours. But it's extremely difficult to set up, and I have only this one disc—no corresponding array diagram."

"You must figure out how to set it up yourself!"

No diagram wasn't a problem—many array diagrams were embedded within the disc itself. By studying the disc, one could reconstruct the diagram and the method of array formation.

"Fine!" Zhou Qingmei said: "No problem—I'll unravel it within a month!"

"Good!" He Pingsheng said: "I have some top-grade spirit stones here—if you need them during array setup, just tell me."

During this time, besides strengthening items, He Pingsheng had strengthened the most spirit stones.

Each and every one had been turned into top-grade spirit stones.

And top-grade spirit stones have another trait: they naturally absorb spiritual energy from the heavens to replenish themselves—so using them to set up arrays eliminates any concern about energy supply.