Chapter 849

He Pingsheng was overjoyed!

After mastering this technique, he could instantly snatch the souls of opponents up to two major realms above him.

So even if a Mahayana Emperor died, his soul couldn't escape?

Amazing!

He Pingsheng couldn't help but laugh out loud.

If I'd had this technique back then, the Kongkong Demon Emperor would have been dead for sure.

Too bad I didn't know then!

Next, He Pingsheng immediately closed himself off to cultivate the 【Huangquan Soul-Grabbing Rope】 technique.

The cultivation process wasn't complicated at all—he mastered it in half a year.

After mastering it, he turned to pill refining, since the shop's entire stock of elixirs had nearly sold out over those six months.

Restock quickly!

He refined pills while simultaneously strengthening them.

It took him a full month.

Next, he turned to comprehending the second technique.

The second technique was called 【Six Paths Soul-Seizing Art】.

He might never use it in his life, but since he had it, he had to master it.

Another half year passed, and He Pingsheng finally brought the Six Paths Soul-Seizing Art to perfect mastery.

Next came exiting seclusion, managing the shop, and refining pills.

He trained amidst the mortal world, striving to break through his current bottleneck as soon as possible.

As for his disciple Luo Bingyao, the girl couldn't sit still—she'd gone out on her own adventures.

She possessed extraordinary skills, a magic treasure bestowed by He Pingsheng, and the ability to fight above her realm—under normal circumstances, she wouldn't face any danger.

After all, she had an eighth-rank fortune!

"Elder Dong, what brings you here?" One day, He Pingsheng was reclining on a chair, eyes closed, meditating on the 【Heavenly Talisman Scripture】's teachings on talisman crafting, when a figure entered the shop.

At first, he thought it was just an ordinary customer—but it turned out to be Elder Dong.

Elder Dong was the chief elder of the largest merchant guild in Divine Thunder Emperor City, the 【Shanquan Merchant Guild】.

He represented not just the guild, but the Demon Emperor himself!

After all, the Shanquan Merchant Guild was the Demon Emperor's own enterprise.

"Hehehe… Master Taixu, long time no see!" Elder Dong said. "I never expected you to actually be a pill master!"

He Pingsheng smiled. "Just adequate. What elixir do you need?"

Elder Dong stepped closer. "Actually, I don't need any elixir. Our auction house is preparing a major annual auction, and the more high-grade and diverse the items, the better!"

"I've come to ask if you could provide a few treasures for our auction?"

He Pingsheng's expression darkened instantly. "Sorry… my Emperor-grade weapon, the Silver River Flying Shuttle, I already gave to my disciple!"

"I can't give it to you!"

"Ah…" Elder Dong looked disappointed. "I see. Well, no Emperor-grade weapon is fine—I heard you once refined an Jipin 【Pure Karma Pill】. How many do you still have?"

"Could I beg for one?"

He Pingsheng said: "I do have some, but… I'm not interested in spirit stones. As a pill master, I'll never lack spirit stones!"

Come on!

A sixth-rank Pure Karma Pill—and Jipin at that.

First, Pure Karma Pills are extremely rare—so rare you could say they're virtually nonexistent, let alone Jipin ones.

Auctions here are priced in spirit stones.

Take it to an auction?

Sell for spirit stones?

I'm not insane!

I keep them in my shop—anyone who wants one must bring sufficient heavenly treasures to trade with me!

"Hehehe…" Elder Dong chuckled. "You misunderstand… this auction is different—it doesn't use spirit stones."

"It's a barter exchange!"

"Do you understand now?"

He Pingsheng suddenly understood. "I get it, I get it!"

Elder Dong continued: "Place your Pure Karma Pill in our auction. We'll invite you over. Whatever item you want, we'll arrange the exchange."

"And we charge no transaction fees!"

"Your pill is just a draw to boost the auction's appeal!"

"Hehehe… Is that acceptable?"

He Pingsheng now understood. He nodded. "Fine…"

"Here's one 【Pure Karma Pill】. Take it…"

He handed one to Elder Dong.

Elder Dong bowed repeatedly in thanks before leaving.

Next, He Pingsheng continued meditating on talisman crafting.

Of course, he still refined pills.

The number of people coming to request his pill refining grew daily.

Eventually, his shop had to post a purchase limit: only four batches of common elixirs sold per day!

Normally, He Pingsheng refined two batches in the morning, then strengthened them in the Treasure Basin—making four batches total.

If someone came specifically for rare elixirs, that was a separate matter.

In any case, He Pingsheng reserved at least half a day each day to meditate on the 【Heavenly Talisman Scripture】.

After two years, his understanding of the Heavenly Talisman Scripture deepened—he could now effortlessly craft fourth-rank talismans.

Of course, mastering fourth-rank talismans in two years wasn't due to innate talent; it was simply because his cultivation base was high, his comprehension sharp, and his spiritual sense powerful—all supporting the result.

One day, a short, white-haired old man arrived at the counter.

"You're the owner of this shop, Taixu?"

The old man stared at He Pingsheng.

His spiritual sense swept over him without restraint.

He Pingsheng, naturally, didn't hold back—he shot out his own spiritual sense, scanning the old man in return.

The old man's cultivation was high.

Body Integration, Level Eleven.

Just one level away from the peak of Body Integration.

"So you're a senior!" He Pingsheng bowed quickly and stood up. "What do you need, Senior?"

"Don't call me senior. I've inquired around Dinglu Street—I know your abilities are extraordinary!" the old man said. "I'm Elder Cangqiong. From now on, address me as 'Dao Friend.'"

Elder Cangqiong had clearly granted He Pingsheng great respect.

He Pingsheng smiled, not refusing. "Since Dao Friend Cangqiong is so generous, I won't be formal."

"No problem," said Cangqiong. "I came to ask you to refine a special elixir for me."

"A special elixir?" He Pingsheng asked. "What kind?"

Cangqiong said: "I have a formidable opponent—a terrifying lightning cultivator. Every time we fight, I lose. So I've come to ask you to refine a batch of 【Lightning-Avoiding Pills】. When I swallow them during battle, they'll reduce his attacks by thirty percent!"

"Hahahaha… Then I'll win!"

"But… I have one requirement: the quality of these Lightning-Avoiding Pills must be at least high-grade."

He Pingsheng smiled. "Senior, you're putting me to the test. 【Lightning-Avoiding Pills】 are seventh-rank elixirs—beyond my current realm to refine."

"And you want high-grade from a realm-overstepping refinement?"

"That… seems a bit excessive."