Chapter 730: Goodbye, Su Zhenzhen

"He Daoyou, why don't you be our team leader?"

Nan Qiqi turned her gaze toward He Pingsheng.

Almost everyone around also looked at He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng's face twisted in distress: "That won't do… I think it's best if Senior Nan Jingci takes the role of leader!"

Nan Jingci was a Body Integration cultivator of the Zhu Que clan and the guardian of Nan Qiqi and Nan Qing on this journey.

When the Heavenly Fire Divine Emperor came to Gusong Mountain to trouble He Pingsheng, Nan Jingci and five other Zhu Que appeared and scared off the Heavenly Fire Divine Emperor.

Back then, they claimed they were just there to watch the show!

"No, no, no!" Nan Jingci quickly waved his hands: "I'm only at the eighth layer of Body Integration—my cultivation is too low. I think… perhaps this Dao friend should be the leader!"

"Her cultivation is even higher than mine!"

Nan Jingci's gaze turned to Zi Qing.

Zi Qing's cultivation was indeed slightly higher—she was at the tenth layer of Body Integration.

But Zi Qing shook her head and said: "I won't lead. I'm from the Kong Que clan; our Dalun Kong Que already have someone participating in the contest, so I cannot serve as your Zhu Que clan's leader. My apologies!"

"Then!" He Pingsheng said, "Senior Nan, you must lead!"

Aside from Zi Qing, Nan Jingci had the highest cultivation.

"Fine!" Nan Jingci accepted without hesitation: "Technically, at such a grand gathering, each Imperial Domain should be led by a Mahayana Emperor. Unfortunately, our Zhu Que Imperial Domain's sole Emperor, Baiyun Emperor, has just dropped in realm. So I'll reluctantly take on the role!"

"Sigh… no choice—you're forcing me into this!"

"Come on, lads, follow me to Shitai Mountain!"

Nan Jingci waved his hand, summoning a massive immortal warship. One by one, they boarded it, and Nan Jingci personally piloted it toward the immortal mountain.

In half a stick of incense, the immortal warship arrived near Shitai Mountain.

As they drew closer, the Heavenly Staircase appeared even more awe-inspiring.

The Heavenly Staircase stood atop a mountain peak!

Around the peak were countless other mountains.

On the summits of these mountains, a flat expanse had been carved out, where a small city had been built: Shitai City.

At this moment, prodigies from all Imperial Domains were slowly converging here.

"Good heavens, the Heavenly Staircase is made of stone?"

Someone exclaimed in shock.

He Pingsheng's gaze and spiritual sense also turned toward the Heavenly Staircase.

The closer they got, the more immense it seemed—a colossal stone shaped like a giant sword, its peak invisible, terrifyingly tall; even from midair, it felt as if the monstrous structure would topple down and crush them.

"It's not stone," Nan Jingci said, standing at the bow and gazing at the majestic staircase: "It's a special material—I don't even know what it is! Above it, celestial beings have infused Heavenly Gang energy, making it nearly impossible for ordinary cultivators to climb."

"They'll be crushed by the Heavenly Gang pressure!"

"Perhaps this is why it's called the Heavenly Gang Imperial Domain!"

"After the Shitai Gathering, the top thirty performers will be allowed to climb the Heavenly Staircase."

"Those who reach a certain height can inscribe their names upon it."

"Over countless years and countless Shitai Gatherings, countless living or deceased prodigies have left their names upon this staircase."

"Each name is immortal."

"He Pingsheng..." Here, Nan Jingci turned to look at He Pingsheng: "In my opinion, among all the Zhu Que Imperial Domain's prodigies, you're the only one with a chance to climb the Heavenly Staircase. You should learn more about it—and test the nature of the Heavenly Gang energy!"

"But…" Nan Jingci's brow furrowed slightly.

Nan Qiqi asked: "Uncle, but what?"

Nan Jingci said: "Every climber must find a Mahayana Emperor as a 'Wall-Breaker'—someone who can absorb part of the Heavenly Gang pressure, allowing you to climb higher."

Our team doesn't have a Wall-Breaker... I'm afraid...

"In that case, you'll have to rely on yourself!"

He Pingsheng nodded.

As they spoke, the massive immortal warship landed on a vast square within Shitai City.

There were many other Imperial Domains' immortal warships here too.

Of course, others didn't fly here directly—they, like the Zhu Que Imperial Domain, first opened a void portal to teleport near Shitai City, then took an immortal warship the rest of the way.

Seventy or eighty people slowly disembarked from the warship.

A beautiful female cultivator in black Dao robes approached, respectfully waiting below the vessel. When she saw Nan Jingci, she bowed deeply: "Senior, are you from the Zhu Que Imperial Domain?"

Nan Jingci said: "Yes."

"Senior, please follow me. The Shitai Gathering hasn't begun yet—I'll take you to your quarters."

"Please, all prodigies, rest well during this time and prepare for the upcoming trials!"

The black-robed woman led them across the vast square to a palace.

The palace was enormous, with over a hundred grand halls.

The woman said: "This entire palace complex is your Zhu Que Imperial Domain's resting quarters. For the duration of the Shitai Gathering, it will serve as your temporary cultivation ground."

"Please, enter!"

"Wait!" Nan Jingci called out to the departing woman: "Madam, has the list of trials for the Shitai Gathering been announced?"

"Not yet," she replied. "The Emperors are still deliberating—they'll announce it before the trials begin. No need to worry."

With that, she left.

"Alright!" Nan Jingci said: "Choose any hall you like within this palace!"

Selection was primarily based on the prodigies.

Each of the ten prodigies claimed one grand hall; the guardians resided in nearby side halls.

This entire palace complex used less than one-tenth of its space.

"Good news, Young Master!" He Pingsheng had barely settled when Zhou Qingmei rushed into his hall: "My clone has arrived!"

"Ah?" He Pingsheng's eyes sparkled with delight.

Zhou Qingmei's clone had arrived?

Previously, he had sent Zhou Qingmei's clone to the Imperishable Imperial Domain to find Su Zhen and bring both Su Zhen and He Tianya here.

Excellent.

She'd completed the mission.

"Huh…" Thinking of not having seen Su Zhen in centuries, He Pingsheng felt his heart surge with emotion.

He was looking forward to it.

Su Zhen's flavor was truly unforgettable.

Of course, more importantly, there was his son, He Tianya—he hadn't seen him in years; he wondered how his son had grown.