Chapter 863

"Come back with me!"

He Pingsheng turned into a streak of light and left the valley, heading toward the Divine Thunder Emperor Domain.

He did not tear open space, because each use of the technique to open a spatial passage consumed too much spatial Dao law, requiring slow replenishment.

Only after several days could he tear open space again.

Shhh…

Hu Chen also transformed into a streak of light, following behind He Pingsheng.

Several days later, the two had moved far beyond the Five-Needle Pine where the Divine Thunder of Du Tian hid; only then did He Pingsheng wave his hand and tear open space once more, returning near the imperial city of the Divine Thunder Emperor Domain.

He then spent another hour returning to his own shop.

"This is the technique for tearing open space, called 【Space Wormhole】…" He Pingsheng placed a jade slip before himself.

"But… you must swear a Heavenly Oath before I can give you this technique!"

He Pingsheng looked at Hu Chen.

Hu Chen said: "I understand, I understand… I won't tell anyone about your acquisition of the Divine Thunder!"

"That's only one of them!" He Pingsheng said: "First, you must swear you won't tell anyone about my living Du Tian Divine Thunder; second, you must swear that after learning the technique I teach you, you won't pass it on to any other being!"

"Neither of these two can be missing!"

"Fine!" Hu Chen was overjoyed.

He had given up all hope that He Pingsheng would teach him a technique, yet the man had actually offered it.

"I, Hu Chen, hereby swear a Heavenly Oath…"

As soon as Hu Chen swore the Heavenly Oath, He Pingsheng gave him the jade slip without further trouble: "Once you've learned it, destroy the jade slip immediately!"

Hu Chen played a crucial role in He Pingsheng's acquisition of the Du Tian Divine Thunder; without him, it would have been impossible to obtain it so easily.

A mere mediocre technique—give it to him, it's no loss.

"Cough cough… uh, Brother Wang…" Hu Chen's face was shamelessly eager: "Look, we're both human, and I've nowhere else to go. You see, I'm already at Level Eleven of Body Integration—once I break through this bottleneck, I'll soon reach Mahayana Emperor Realm!"

"Can I join your shop?"

"From now on, I'll be your subordinate—do with me as you please!"

As he spoke, his eyes darted constantly, terrified He Pingsheng would refuse.

He knew he had encountered a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity.

For over two thousand years, he had been unable to break through his Body Integration bottleneck; today, meeting He Pingsheng, he felt his chance to break through might lie right here with this man.

Such an opportunity must not be missed.

"Oh?" He Pingsheng looked at Hu Chen: "My shop is small—you won't have any work to do if you join!"

"Besides, you're not trying to freeload my elixirs, are you?"

"Hehehe…" Hu Chen chuckled awkwardly: "No way—I'm a Body Integration cultivator, and honestly, I've accumulated quite a bit over the years."

"Back at the Five-Needle Pine, my original body perished and my ring was lost!"

"This time, I went back and retrieved my original body's ring… though it may not match your wealth, Brother Wang, I won't freeload your elixirs!"

"Fine!" He Pingsheng nodded: "But I have no place for you to stay—you'll have to find your own."

"Just come by when you're free to help me watch the shop, gather herbs, that sort of thing."

"Ah…" Hu Chen was overjoyed and dashed out of the shop in a flash.

He Pingsheng returned to the back and activated layer upon layer of arrays.

He pulled out two jade slips.

The Thunder-Binding Spell, after enhancement, had split into two.

First!

Name: Sixfold Transforming Thunder Art.

Rank: Heavenly Grade!

Function: After cultivation, it accelerates the assimilation of thunder's primordial source and thunder's cosmic rules.

Second!

Name: Capturing the Dragon Method.

Function: After cultivation, it allows complete control over thunder energy.

Rank: Heavenly Grade!

He Pingsheng studied them for a while.

The first, Sixfold Transforming Thunder Art, was meant solely for assimilating thunder's primordial source and cosmic rules.

It could accelerate the process.

By the same logic, this technique would also accelerate the assimilation of the Du Tian Divine Thunder.

This Sixfold Transforming Thunder Art must be cultivated.

The second enhanced control over thunder energy.

That too was necessary.

Though one was called an "Art" and the other a "Method," both were in fact techniques.

Hmm…

Better start with Sixfold Transforming Thunder Art first.

After all, with this, he could rapidly assimilate the Du Tian Divine Thunder.

He recalled how agonizing it had been to assimilate the Nine Heavens Mystic Fire—over a hundred years spent in torment, pain beyond ordinary comprehension.

So this technique would certainly be of great use to him.

He Pingsheng adjusted his state slightly, then put everything away and picked up the ring he had taken from Prince Qing Qi.

The ring opened!

Its contents spilled out.

A trident—an S-class Heaven-Piercing Magic Treasure!

Four thunder orbs—actually not orbs, but transparent beads, each of Lower Grade Heaven-Piercing Magic Treasure rank.

Besides these, Prince Qing Qi's ring contained numerous heavenly treasures and earthly rarities, many Grade Seven and even Grade Eight materials.

Countless spirit stones, all of Superior Grade.

Prince Qing Qi was indeed immensely wealthy.

Yet despite his wealth, very few of his possessions truly interested He Pingsheng.

For instance, this S-class Heaven-Piercing Magic Treasure—he didn't want it.

After all, the Heaven-Frost Sword he had once gifted to Zhou Qingmei was also an S-class Heaven-Piercing Magic Treasure.

It hadn't even reached Emperor Weapon rank.

Hummm…

The next moment, He Pingsheng released Prince Qing Qi's soul.

"Let's talk," He Pingsheng tossed the ring aside; "I've seen your treasures… frankly, they're trash—I'm not interested."

"Hmm," Prince Qing Qi nodded: "Brother Wang Dun, let me reiterate—I will never serve anyone, nor will I ever surrender a Heavenly Slave Seal!"

"If you intend to force me into that, kill me now."

He Pingsheng looked at Qing Qi: "Fine, I won't make you my slave."

Prince Qing Qi's combat power was indeed strong, but He Pingsheng had no need for it.

Because right now, He Pingsheng feared only Mahayana Emperor Realm.

Below that, he was invincible.

Even if he took Qing Qi as a slave, he still couldn't defeat a Mahayana Emperor.

Taking Qing Qi wouldn't increase his combat power.

"How about this!" He Pingsheng said: "Swear an oath—after I release you, you'll serve as my mount for a thousand years."

Prince Qing Qi's face darkened: "Impossible… becoming your mount would shatter my Dao heart!"

"Just kill me instead!"

"Heh!" He Pingsheng said: "You think I won't kill you?"

Prince Qing Qi said: "If you merely crave the prestige of having a Qilin as your mount, I can give you another one later—why must it be me?"

"I'll give you an S-class Emperor Weapon instead."