Chapter 701

"Fine!"

He Pingsheng said: "You're right. Feuds are better resolved than prolonged. I have no desire to fight a Body Integration Divine Emperor!"

"Since the Heavenly Fire Divine Emperor is so sincere, I'll give him a chance!"

"Hehehe… Brother He, you're magnanimous. I thank you on behalf of the Divine Emperor!" The messenger was delighted: "State your demands—so long as they're not excessive, the Heavenly Fire Divine Emperor will agree!"

He hadn't expected He Pingsheng to agree to peace talks so readily.

He'd assumed He Pingsheng was afraid of the Heavenly Fire Divine Emperor, which was why he agreed to peace.

"First!" He Pingsheng held up one finger: "I saved Tian Yao—that's fact. I'm sure you know it well!"

"Later, Tian Yao repaid my kindness by ordering a woman named 【Bing Yi】 to kill me!"

"If I hadn't possessed a substitute-death talisman back then, I'd already be dead!"

"That's my first loss: a substitute-death item—and an S-rank one at that!"

"This…" The messenger frowned slightly.

He hadn't expected He Pingsheng's first demand to be so difficult.

A substitute-death item?

And S-rank?

Such items do exist in this world—but if it's S-rank, even the Heavenly Fire Divine Emperor might not possess one.

"Second: I saved Tian Yao's life, yet she repaid me with betrayal. My demand is simple!"

"I saved this person—I can also kill this person!"

"Bring me Princess Tian Yao. Let me deal with her as I see fit!"

"This… this this this…" The messenger had just thought He Pingsheng truly sought peace—but now, hearing this demand, he knew the man had no intention of reconciliation.

Hand over Tian Yao?

Never mind that Tian Yao is the daughter of the Heavenly Fire Divine Emperor's favorite concubine—even an ordinary princess, he would never surrender.

Would a Divine Emperor, of all people, lose face like that?

"Third!" He Pingsheng raised his third finger: "Besides that, Bing Yi ambushed me a second time—and a century ago, Tian Jinpeng sent four people to kill me!"

"These two ambushes demand compensation!"

"How much? Go ask your Divine Emperor!"

"Fourth!" He Pingsheng raised his fourth finger.

The messenger was sweating: There's a fourth?

"Fourth!" He Pingsheng repeated: "The Li family of Doumi Mountain saved my life—wasn't it you who exterminated them?"

"For every Li family member killed, send me a Tian family disciple to pay the price!"

"Simple. Just these four demands."

"If you accept these four, I'll agree to peace—and swear a Heavenly Dao oath!" He Pingsheng stood from his seat: "You have… hmm… three days to decide!"

"After three days, the price won't be this!"

"Go!"

He Pingsheng waved dismissively at the Void Refinement messenger.

Beside him stood Zhou Qingmei.

So though the messenger was Void Refinement ninth layer, he dared not boast—only said: "Your demands are unbearable. I beg you, consider we are both human—let us negotiate reasonably!"

He Pingsheng said nothing, only waved again.

The messenger sighed and left.

"Long Yue!" After the messenger departed, He Pingsheng glanced at Long Yue: "From this moment, no one may enter or leave the sect's formation!"

"Yes!" Long Yue didn't ask why—she turned and left immediately.

In the hall, besides He Pingsheng, there were Zhou Qingmei, Hao Cang, Qiao Huizhu, and others.

He Pingsheng frowned slightly: "I suspect the Heavenly Fire Divine Emperor has already arrived in our Zhu Que Imperial Domain—perhaps even waits in Zhu Que Imperial City for news!"

"Or…"

He Pingsheng's gaze swept the void, toward the outside: "Or he's already here—watching beyond our formation!"

"So everyone, proceed at once to the formation's nine nodes—guard them, prepare for battle!"

"Yes…"

The Nine Radiance Return Origin Star Array has nine nodes.

Nine Void Refinement cultivators are needed to guard them.

Qiao Huizhu, Hao Cang, and Long Yue, each with their three clones, guard six nodes total.

He Pingsheng guards one node; Zhou Qingmei and her clone guard two.

Thus, all nine nodes are guarded.

With all nine working in unison, they can control the Nine Radiance Return Origin Star Array.

Qiao Huizhu's clones are only at Nascent Soul peak—but it doesn't matter; beside her stands a phoenix.

Ting Tong!

Ting Tong has also reached Void Refinement and can assist Qiao Huizhu in controlling the array.

Ten beams of light left the hall, racing toward the array's nine nodes.

Yet in the next instant, a sigh echoed: "Stop wasting effort!"

"Your formation cannot stop me!"

He Pingsheng's heart jolted.

All ten looked up toward the sound's source.

The void rippled—and a middle-aged cultivator in black Dao robes slowly materialized.

He was tall and broad, with neat black hair and a golden crown atop his head. His face was gentle, almost saintly; his three-flowing green beard made him seem like a celestial immortal.

At first glance, he inspired warmth and goodwill.

"Who are you, daring to enter our Gusu Mountain formation?"

Zhou Qingmei instantly drew her 【Heavenly Ice Sword】 and pointed it at the middle-aged man.

Simultaneously, she whispered to He Pingsheng: "Young Master, trouble—he's beyond my perception. His cultivation must far exceed mine!"

Zhou Qingmei was currently Body Integration first layer.

He Pingsheng had not taught her the 【Xuanmen Jingxin Zhenjue】's spirit-refining method, so she could not perceive cultivators even slightly above her.

Hearing this, He Pingsheng narrowed his eyes and activated his divine ability: 【Tianmu Kan Yu Zhenjie】.

Golden light flickered in his gaze as he fixed it on the man.

But to his shock—he couldn't perceive it either.

Damn…

He Pingsheng shivered: Could he be a Mahayana Emperor?

"Stop probing with spiritual sense!" The middle-aged man in the void calmly waved his sleeve: "I am the Heavenly Fire Divine Emperor, Tian Jinpeng…"

"Body Integration eighth layer!"

Hiss… hiss… hiss…

Hearing this cultivation level, He Pingsheng sucked in a sharp breath.

As for how the man had entered the sect's protective formation, He Pingsheng didn't ponder it.

A Body Integration powerhouse had countless ways to enter—if the formation was open.

And if it was open…

It was clear: had Tian Jinpeng struck just now, He Pingsheng might already be dead.