Chapter 878

"Comrade He!"

"Young Master!"

"Master!"

The four individuals bowed to He Pingsheng.

Hu Chen, Feng Wu, Luo Bingyao, and the Wood Clone.

He Pingsheng strolled slowly into the counter area, then sat down just as slowly, and asked: "How's the inventory going at the merchant association?"

"It's all done!" Hu Chen said. "The merchant association was originally owned by the Imperial Palace—belonging to the Divine Thunder Demon Emperor!"

"There were still quite a few valuable items inside!"

"Now we've fully taken it over!"

"But…" Hu Chen frowned. "Even though we can now ensure the merchant association operates normally, the problem is that after this batch of goods sells out, sourcing the next supply will be difficult!"

The merchant association can be taken over, and purchases can be made.

But how do we source goods?

He Pingsheng could cultivate elixirs, but the merchant association isn't just about elixirs.

It also sells all kinds of heavenly treasures, magic treasures, spirit treasures, arrays, talismans, and cultivation scriptures.

You could say it's a wide variety.

He Pingsheng cannot provide these items.

"So we still need to find someone skilled in this field—but after that fight, almost everyone in the merchant association ran away, and now we can't find such a person!"

He Pingsheng swept his wide sleeves: "Handle this yourself. Don't rush—take your time!"

"I'm sure you'll manage it."

"Alright!" Hu Chen said. "Then from now on, I'm the chief shopkeeper of the Shanquan Merchant Association!"

He Pingsheng asked: "I found two main ingredients for the Great Transformation Elixir in Tian Yuan's storage ring: Purple Gold Immortal Eggplant and Emperor Pine Dew. Take a look—can these make up for your shortages?"

He Pingsheng pulled out two enhanced herbs.

Hu Chen immediately beamed. "Perfect! I was missing exactly these two—especially the Emperor Pine Dew. Thank you, Comrade He!"

"But even so, we're still missing one more ingredient: the Ten-Thousand-Year Red Spirit Tangerine."

Only one left.

The Ten-Thousand-Year Red Spirit Tangerine is special—it must grow for five thousand years to mature.

After maturing, it cannot be used immediately to brew the Great Transformation Elixir; instead, it must be buried underground, fermented by special methods, and left to age for another five thousand years, transforming into a red citrus fruit before becoming a main ingredient.

Two five-thousand-year cycles—exactly ten thousand years.

That's how the Ten-Thousand-Year Red Spirit Tangerine got its name.

"Does the merchant association have none?" He Pingsheng asked. "Either the main ingredient or the finished Great Transformation Elixir?"

"None!" Hu Chen said. "If we had any, we'd have sold it already!"

"Alright!" He Pingsheng handed the materials to Hu Chen. "Go find out more. Once you've gathered everything, let me know—I'll brew the elixir."

After the Great Transformation Elixir is brewed, not only can Hu Chen consume it.

The Array Fool Liu Molin can also instantly ascend to the Mahayana Emperor Realm.

Then, on the Lei Huang Continent, there will be two Mahayana cultivators among the human race.

Hu Chen left!

He Pingsheng pulled out a small purple sphere and placed it in his palm, extending it toward his disciple Luo Bingyao: "Bingyao!"

"This is for you!"

Luo Bingyao asked: "Master, what is this?"

He Pingsheng said: "A supreme Emperor weapon—Mystic Thunder Purifying Pearl!"

"Of course, its greatest function is that after assimilation, it defends against spiritual sense attacks!"

"Ah?" Luo Bingyao said. "Another supreme Emperor weapon… oh my…"

"Master, this is too precious—I can't accept it!"

He Pingsheng said: "I gave it to you—take it."

"Yes!" Luo Bingyao joyfully took the Mystic Thunder Purifying Pearl, then stepped behind He Pingsheng and began massaging his shoulders: "Master… you're so kind…"

"Hehehe…" He Pingsheng chuckled, then reached out and pulled out the Emperor weapon Thousand Lock Thunder Dragon, handing it to the Wood Clone: "Assimilate this. Keep it for yourself from now on!"

"It's thunder-affiliated—perfectly complementary to your wood affinity!"

The clone accepted without hesitation.

After all, he needed protective treasures and methods.

Besides these, He Pingsheng also had two Space-Time Golden Banners.

But he did not give them to the Wood Clone.

"This is the Xiao Ling World!" He Pingsheng pulled out another purple bead and placed it before the Wood Clone. "You're a wood-affiliated clone—you should excel at understanding the principles of wood and plants. Take the Xiao Ling World. Use it to cultivate all kinds of heavenly treasures."

The Xiao Ling World contains the same laws of nature and spirit veins as the Spirit Realm.

It can cultivate spirit herbs up to eighth or even ninth rank.

"Good!" The clone took the bead and immediately went to assimilate it.

In the following time, He Pingsheng cultivated elixirs, managed the shop, and meditated on the Heavenly Talisman Dao Treasury.

Time passed slowly.

One day, he suddenly had a wild idea: he tossed his internal Divine Thunder of the Capital into the Treasure Basin.

To see if the Treasure Basin could strengthen this true substance.

The result surprised He Pingsheng.

The Divine Thunder of the Capital was indeed strengthened—and split into two.

Each one was thicker, as if its rank had reached supreme level.

"Excellent!" He Pingsheng stored one away.

He gave the other to the Wood Clone.

Having more than one was useless—giving it to the clone gave him an extra layer of protection.

Before he knew it, another year had passed.

The shop's business grew better and better; He Pingsheng spent each day dealing with an endless stream of customers!

Some came to buy elixirs; others were curious, wanting to meet He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng never turned anyone away—at least he spoke a few words to each person.

Some went further: a woman pulled out a jade slip and insisted He Pingsheng leave a trace of his aura.

After He Pingsheng refused, she demanded he leave his name.

With no choice, He Pingsheng signed it.

…

"Master! Master! Master!"

Luo Bingyao walked up to the counter, her hair streaked in vivid colors, and said: "An old man wants to see you!"

He Pingsheng's gaze shifted from Luo Bingyao's delicate face to her multicolored hair. "Those little braids on your head—over a hundred?"

"Hehehe…" Luo Bingyao said. "Master, not nearly that many—only thirty-six!"

"Do they look good?"

He Pingsheng asked: "Don't you find it tiring to make so many?"

"Enough. Who wants to see me?"

Luo Bingyao said: "You won't believe it—it's someone from the Imperial Palace. Will you see them?"

"If you won't, I'll throw him out myself!"

He Pingsheng said: "Let him in."

Then an old man entered He Pingsheng's shop and placed a jade slip before him: "Venerable He, this is an invitation from our Divine Thunder Demon Emperor—requesting you come to the Imperial Palace for a meeting!"

"He says it's to settle an old grievance!"

"Please arrive punctually!"

Added bonus chapter: a note about bonus chapters is attached after this chapter in the Author's Note—please all check it out.