Chapter 881: Solitary Pride

What do you mean?

Seeing He Pingsheng grasp the ten-thousand-year Red Spirit Citrus, the female Mahayana instantly changed expression.

Her face, already cold as frost, grew even colder.

"A mere Body Integration Level One, dare you rob this Emperor?"

The Empress's gaze was sharp.

He Pingsheng's face darkened: Damn, she only saw me holding the ten-thousand-year Red Spirit Citrus—she didn't hear a word I said.

This woman…

Sigh!

He Pingsheng gently released the ten-thousand-year Red Spirit Citrus and said, "My apologies—our guild never does such foolish things!"

"If you feel we've offended you, feel free to leave!"

"Hmph…" The woman snorted but did not reclaim the ten-thousand-year Red Spirit Citrus; instead, she sat back down and said, "You just said there's another way?"

"Tell me what it is!"

He Pingsheng said, "So you heard that, then…"

The woman crossed her legs: "No nonsense."

"Fine!" He Pingsheng asked, "If I'm not mistaken, you have a close person whose soul is lost—or rather, whose soul has already entered the Six Realms of Rebirth!"

"That's obvious!" the woman said. "If it weren't so, why would I be frantically seeking the Soul-Returning Nether Pill?"

"It's my son!"

"During a battle, his sea of consciousness was shattered by a soul-attack magic treasure; now his soul has entered the Six Realms, and he's become a living corpse!"

"That's why I've been racing everywhere to find the Soul-Returning Nether Pill!"

"Ah!" He Pingsheng said. "So that's it!"

"Look at this—could it be worth as much as a top-grade Soul-Returning Nether Pill?"

As he spoke, He Pingsheng placed a jade slip before the woman: "This is the master outline of a divine art."

The woman picked up the outline and glanced at it.

After ten breaths, she asked in shock: "Could such a miraculous technique truly exist—one that can retrieve a soul from the Six Realms?"

What He Pingsheng gave the woman was naturally the divine art named 【Six Realms Soul Snatching Art】.

Earlier, Luo Bingyao had given He Pingsheng a set of her family's techniques, which he strengthened into two.

One was the Six Realms Soul Snatching Art!

The other was the 【Huang Quan Soul Hooking Chain】, which He Pingsheng frequently used.

"I have the complete version of this divine art on me!" He Pingsheng smiled.

"Hand it over!" The woman extended her jade hand, commanding He Pingsheng in an imperious tone.

He Pingsheng remained unmoved, smiled, picked up the cup of tea before him, and sipped slowly: "I'll give it to you, of course—I showed you the outline precisely because I intend to give you the full content."

"But besides giving me the ten-thousand-year Red Spirit Citrus, you must agree to one condition!"

The woman said, "Speak."

He Pingsheng said, "Once you've learned this technique, you must not pass it on."

"Swear a Heavenly Oath—if you swear, I'll give you the art."

"I accept!" the Ice Xuan Empress said. "I won't teach it to a third person. Take the ten-thousand-year Red Spirit Citrus. Why bother with an oath?"

"In my entire life, I have never sworn a Heavenly Oath."

Heavenly Oaths can sometimes be shackles.

Sometimes, they have little impact—for instance, this time, merely swearing not to pass it on would suffice.

Yet Ice Xuan Empress still refused.

"Then I'm sorry…" He Pingsheng smiled. "If Your Majesty refuses to swear, we cannot do this business."

"You…" Ice Xuan, fiercely dominant, said, "What do you mean?"

"I've heard the Demon Emperor of this Divine Thunder Realm has left—this land is now ownerless, meaning your guild has no Mahayana Emperor as backing!"

"Boy, don't you fear I'll crush you with one palm?"

At these words, Hu Chen stepped back in fear.

He Pingsheng's expression remained unchanged, showing no fear.

Ice Xuan smiled: "Scared?"

Seeing Hu Chen frightened, she assumed He Pingsheng was too.

He Pingsheng waved his hand and produced the Hong Meng Purple Gold Rod: "You may choose to fight here—or outside."

"Choose."

He Pingsheng stared coldly at Ice Xuan.

He might not defeat her, but he would never yield.

Yet this aura of He Pingsheng's stunned Ice Xuan.

What does this mean?

You're merely Body Integration Level One—how dare you challenge a Mahayana Emperor?

Boom…

Without another word, Ice Xuan 's vast spiritual sense surged like a gale toward He Pingsheng.

Of course, she was only testing—seeing whether he was truly powerful or just bluffing.

Hummm… hummm… hummm…

The next instant, before the spiritual sense attack struck, nine solid shields bloomed around He Pingsheng's body.

Divine Art: Nine Shields of the Purple Mansion.

These shields could form not only within the sea of consciousness but also outside it.

The incoming spiritual sense attack vanished instantly.

"Such strong spiritual sense?" Ice Xuan stared at He Pingsheng in surprise.

He Pingsheng retracted his spiritual sense and said, "You have a poor memory—I already told you: my spiritual sense is powerful enough to refine pills across realms. Don't test me on it!"

"Lastly, let me give you one more piece of advice!"

"Because of your rudeness, you will pay a price."

"To obtain my Six Realms Soul Snatching Art, the price you offered before is no longer enough!"

"You must add something more."

"Think it over, then come back to me."

"Think carefully."

He Pingsheng stood, waved his hand, and left.

Ice Xuan was utterly stunned: What the hell is this?

A mere Body Integration Level One, and yet so arrogant?

And now he's raising the price?

"Do you think…"

She wanted to say she'd smash his shop to rubble—but after thinking, she held her tongue.

No cultivator who reaches Body Integration or Mahayana is a fool; if he dares speak this way, he must have backing.

Forget it—I'll first investigate his background.

"Hmph…" Ice Xuan snorted and instantly teleported away from the Mountain Spring Guild!

After leaving, she remained within the Imperial City.

The sunlight was blinding!

On both sides of the wide street, shops lined the way.

The woman entered a weaponsmith's shop and sat down.

The owner was a Soul Transformation cultivator; though skilled at forging magic treasures, he could only craft those of fifth rank or lower.

Unable to discern the woman's cultivation, the Soul Transformation cultivator hurriedly bowed: "Elder…"

Ice Xuan sneered: "I'm not here to have weapons forged—I'm here to ask you something!"

"If you lie, you die instantly."

Hiss… hiss… hiss…

The Soul Transformation cultivator felt as if plunged into an icy abyss—he felt frozen all over.

Combined with her earlier use of "This Emperor," he trembled uncontrollably.

With a thud, he collapsed to his knees before Ice Xuan.

"Good!" Ice Xuan stepped into the weaponsmith's shop and said, "I want to ask about someone… do you know a Body Integration cultivator named He Pingsheng?"

"Oh yes—he's Body Integration Level One!"

Upon hearing this, the Soul Transformation cultivator's eyes rolled back, and he fainted dead on the floor.