Chapter 785: A Brilliant Plan

"What?"

"Tainted Dao heart?"

"What happened?"

"How could this happen?"

Inside the grand hall, several Phoenix Clan demon emperors were thrown into panic.

This was Feng Wanxi—Feng Wanxi, the top prodigy of the Phoenix Clan, the future of the Phoenix Clan, the eight-rank half spiritual fortune, the hope upon which the Phoenix Clan stood atop the entire continent.

If Feng Wanxi had problems, the entire Phoenix Clan would have problems.

"Huh…" The Seventh Elder exhaled deeply. "I understand… This matter is likely tied to today's alchemy trial!"

During the alchemy trial, He Pingsheng and Feng Wanxi competed fiercely; though He Pingsheng never swore a Heavenly Oath, Feng Wanxi's cheating in the second trial became common knowledge.

No one tore off her pants, but everyone knew exactly what was inside them.

It's impossible for such a thing not to taint the Dao heart.

Thus, Feng Wanxi's Dao heart became tainted.

Once the Dao heart is tainted, a cultivator can no longer comprehend Dao principles or break through Dao barriers.

In other words, they cannot advance their cultivation base.

"Thirteenth sister, go check again—carefully examine whether Feng Wanxi truly has a tainted Dao heart. Don't make a mistake…"

"Yes!" A woman in green robes bowed and departed.

After a stick of incense burned, the green-robed demon empress returned to the grand hall and said to the Seventh Elder: "I've checked thoroughly—it's nothing serious, merely a tainted Dao heart."

"Good!" The Seventh Elder sighed in relief. "A tainted Dao heart doesn't affect the upcoming trials—only the ability to comprehend Dao."

"After this trial ends and we return to the Divine Clan, we can cleanse the dust from his Dao heart with supreme heavenly treasures. As long as the Dao heart isn't shattered, it's fine!"

Exactly!

Worse than a tainted Dao heart is a shattered Dao heart.

If the Dao heart shatters, the invisible, formless Dao root within the body breaks—then no heavenly treasures can repair it.

"Enough on this matter!" The Seventh Elder continued. "Next, Seventeenth brother, tell us about He Pingsheng and Wang Dun."

"Alright!" An old demon emperor said. "I've sent people to investigate thoroughly. Wang Dun is indeed outstanding, but compared to He Pingsheng, he lacks leadership and stability. In terms of threat to our Divine Clan, He Pingsheng is far greater—much greater!"

"Correct!" Another demon emperor said. "He Pingsheng ranked first in the first trial. In the second trial, Dao comprehension—he held back. Had he not held back, his rank would've matched Wang Dun's, or perhaps even surpassed it with a Dao vortex exceeding six hundred zhang!"

"Who can break through three realms during Dao comprehension?"

All nodded.

The old man continued: "So Wang Dun is secondary—the key is He Pingsheng. He's so steady it's terrifying. In the alchemy trial, I estimate that given enough time, he could surpass Zhu Xuanlun. Zhu Xuanlun's results are good, but they're built entirely on time and vast resources provided by Zhu Zhengyan—no comparison!"

"True!" The Seventh Elder admitted. "Zhu Xuanlun's alchemy yields wildly inconsistent pill quality—sometimes high, sometimes low."

"But He Pingsheng is different. At first his pill quality was low, but as he kept refining, his quality kept rising, rising higher and higher—his control over alchemy is terrifying!"

"This man not only has an immensely powerful spiritual sense, but his Dao heart is as unshakable as a rock!"

"Even facing Zhao Xiangdu's composure under pressure—I admit, even I felt fear!"

"Yet his combat strength is extremely formidable. If ordinary disciples face him, they won't stand a chance!"

"This is troublesome!"

The green-robed Thirteenth Sister said: "Actually, the fourth trial is the best opportunity to kill He Pingsheng—because before Zhao Xiangdu died, he stuck a 【Soul-Chain Curse Talisman】 onto him. Kill his main body, and all his clones vanish too!"

"The opportunity is excellent, but his Dao partner is worrying—she's too powerful!"

"If she comes to attack our Phoenix Clan, I'm afraid..."

Thirteenth Sister hesitated, words unspoken.

She knew the Phoenix Clan had no Mahayana Emperor who could match Qiao Huizhu.

As for Transcendent Immortals?

Transcendent Immortals normally cannot intervene.

"No need to worry!" The Seventh Elder said. "I've received word—Qiao Huizhu ascended to the Immortal Realm two days ago at the Heavenly King Mountain Ascension Platform!"

"What?" Thirteenth Sister said. "She ascended?"

"That's perfect! Now we can kill He Pingsheng without any reservations!"

"Actually, we've already investigated He Pingsheng," said the white-haired elder of the Phoenix Clan. "This investigation began long before the hundred-year Dao comprehension!"

"He is indeed extraordinary, but according to our findings, his combat strength is significantly stronger than ordinary prodigies—yet not on the level of a truly supernatural force. His defense and escape abilities, however, far exceed those of ordinary prodigies!"

"There are two main reasons!"

"First—he possesses a blood-red turtle shell. We don't know its rank, but it's extraordinarily powerful. He survived Zhao Xiangdu's three-tenths attack strength primarily because of it!"

All the emperors nodded.

They had seen it themselves.

"Second—He Pingsheng has a teleportation technique that moves him ten thousand zhang in an instant. This technique's spatial rules are so strong that even Body Integration cultivator Tian Jinpeng couldn't stop him!"

"So to eliminate He Pingsheng, we must overcome these two points!"

"The first is simple!" The Seventh Elder said. "We can alter the rules of this trial—no one entering may use magic artifacts or bring in any magic treasures!"

"Then He Pingsheng's turtle shell won't be allowed in either!"

"As for the second!" The Seventh Elder thought a moment. "Also simple… Kongkong the Demon Emperor understands spatial Dao best. He possesses an Emperor artifact capable of sealing space. We'll secretly bring it in and use it at the critical moment to lock down He Pingsheng's teleportation!"

"Then, with dozens of prodigies surrounding him—do you really think He Pingsheng can survive?"

"Good… Let's do it!"

…

On the other side!

In He Pingsheng's temporary Dao hall.

Nan Qiqi said with a bitter expression: "I'm sorry, He Dao friend—I've brought you trouble. If not for your quick thinking, we'd have been finished!"

Nan Qiqi was referring to the drop of 【Nanke Immortal Spring】 she had given him for cheating.

Fortunately, He Pingsheng never used it.

"No problem!" He Pingsheng smiled. "That drop of Nanke Immortal Spring was useful to me—I won't return it to you…"

"Naturally!" Nan Qiqi said. "I gave it to you—I won't take it back!"

"Now, let's talk about the fourth trial!"