Chapter 868

He Pingsheng never expected that the power of this technique was no weaker than Wanmie Guiyuan or the Heaven's Mechanism Thirteen Staves.

It was even stronger.

Yet this technique still had flaws.

First, He Pingsheng had only grasped its surface; he had not further refined it.

If he could streamline it toward perfection, its power could increase further.

Second, the cost was too high.

This single strike drained all five of He Pingsheng's dantians—absurd as it was.

Fortunately, He Pingsheng possessed the spiritual liquid 【Seven-Colored Holy Lotus Tea】, which could replenish his dantians at will, so this second issue could be avoided.

"Huh…" He Pingsheng took a deep breath and murmured to himself: "I'll study it slowly when I have time, and strive to perfect this technique!"

"For now, I'll call it 【Two True Merged Dragon Fist】!"

"If I ever gain the opportunity to fuse it with the other three primal energies—True Water, True Metal, and Thick Earth—it will become vastly more powerful!"

As he spoke, He Pingsheng stepped out of the magic treasure space, then left the small house and entered the shop ahead.

"My Lord!"

"Young Master!"

"Comrade!"

The wood-attribute avatar, Feng Wu, and Hu Chen all bowed to He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng asked Hu Chen: "Hu Comrade, has the annual auction of the Mountain Spring Guild passed?"

"Not yet!" Hu Chen replied: "It will be held in ten days!"

He Pingsheng asked: "Has the auction list been released?"

"Not yet!" Hu Chen said: "By their usual practice, they announce the items three days in advance. Since this is the annual auction, there will surely be many valuable items—I'm hoping to gather the main ingredients for the Great Destiny Pill, so I've been keeping watch."

He Pingsheng nodded, then looked at the wood-attribute avatar: "Go into my magic treasure space and cultivate. If this auction has any wood- or thunder-attribute techniques, our breakthroughs won't be far off."

The wood-attribute avatar could comprehend both thunder and wood Dao methods equally.

After all, thunder is a variant attribute of wood.

If I were to give this True Heavenly Thunder to the avatar for comprehension, it would be fine.

The avatar could certainly break through.

But the problem is… I've already comprehended it, and during its fusion, I shattered a bottleneck and Dao barrier—under these circumstances, the avatar should not attempt comprehension.

The reason is overlap.

If the master and avatar comprehend too many identical Dao methods, it will hinder Dao Union.

Dao Union is the process in which, at the peak of Void Refinement, the master and avatar mutually verify and exchange their Dao methods to break through together into Body Integration.

If both comprehend identical Dao methods, neither can gain new insights from the other—it becomes meaningless.

Dao Union would fail.

That is why He Pingsheng did not give the True Heavenly Thunder to the avatar for comprehension.

After the wood-attribute avatar entered the magic treasure space, He Pingsheng slowly made his way to the Mountain Spring Guild.

A woman greeted him; her cultivation base was at Body Integration sixth layer.

Very strong.

"My Dao title is 【Peach Blossom】. You may call me Elder Peach Blossom, or Peach Blossom Immortaless…" The woman, clad in a pink Dao robe, smiled at He Pingsheng: "I know you, Daoist Tai Xu. You're the famed alchemist of the Imperial City. I've heard you, despite being only Void Refinement, can brew top-grade and even Jipin seventh-grade pills."

"Remarkable!"

He Pingsheng smiled: "It's all the kindness and exaggeration of others. I can brew beyond my level, but I cannot yet produce Jipin."

"Hehe…" Peach Blossom Immortaless said: "Don't be modest. I know you're close to Elder Dong—but alas, he has perished."

"I've been managing this place for some time now."

"I hope you'll give us more support in the future."

He Pingsheng said: "Naturally. I've come today to ask, Immortaless, could I see the auction list in advance?"

"No!" Peach Blossom Immortaless first replied sternly, then smiled brightly: "That's for others! But you, Daoist Tai Xu, are a distinguished guest—you may certainly see it… Wait a moment…"

Then Peach Blossom Immortaless retrieved the auction list and handed it to He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng glanced at it, then shook his head: "Thank you, Elder, but… none of the items on this list interest me."

"Oh?" Peach Blossom Immortaless asked: "What item are you seeking, Daoist Tai Xu?"

"Just because it's not on the auction list doesn't mean our Guild doesn't have it!"

He Pingsheng said: "I need a wood-attribute primal essence, at least sixth-grade."

"Wood primal essence?" Peach Blossom Immortaless studied He Pingsheng curiously: "Are you a wood-attribute spiritual root? Oh… forgive my memory—you're such a skilled alchemist, you must have a wood-attribute spiritual root…"

"But we don't have any wood-attribute primal essence here."

"However, we do have one thunder-attribute essence. Would you like to see it?"

He Pingsheng's heart leapt: "What grade is it?"

Peach Blossom Immortaless did not answer, but instead withdrew a silver thunderball from one of her space magic treasures.

Lightning crackled across the sphere.

It was a thunder primal essence.

He Pingsheng's spiritual sense scanned it and found the essence was seventh-grade.

Very high.

If given to the avatar, this would be perfect.

"Excellent!" He Pingsheng said: "This item suits me perfectly. Elder, what is your price?"

"Hehehe…" Peach Blossom waved her hand, sending the thunder essence to He Pingsheng: "My condition is simple: all pills you brew must be sold exclusively through the Mountain Spring Guild."

"And your prices must be reduced by ten percent."

"You must close your little shop."

"Hehehe…" He Pingsheng smiled: "I… won't agree to that."

Are you joking?

This seventh-grade essence, though precious, has limited value.

You want me to shut down my alchemy and hand over every pill I make?

Do you think I brew pills just to make money?

Making money is one thing—but more importantly, I cultivate through interaction with the mortal world.

"If you truly wish to sell, name your price. If not, I'll take my leave."

He Pingsheng bowed and turned to depart.

But Peach Blossom Immortaless said: "Wait… take the essence first. Come with me—the owner of the essence is behind. You may speak with him directly."

"Very well!" He Pingsheng, confident in his skill, feared no treachery, and followed Peach Blossom Immortaless into a private chamber at the back of the shop.

Inside sat a middle-aged man.

A veil of aura cloaked him, obscuring his cultivation level.

Before He Pingsheng could speak, the man said: "Don't bother. You, a Void Refinement cultivator, cannot see through my realm."