Chapter 924: Sacred Ground, Ancestral Saint

“You’re only at the eighth layer of Body Integration, same as me—how dare you speak so boldly!”

“This is an eighth-rank defensive formation—can you even break it?”

The woman seemed not to understand He Pingsheng’s words and sneered at him.

He Pingsheng wasted no more words; he pulled out the Primordial Purple Gold Rod once more, and it instantly transformed into a black divine spear a thousand zhang long.

Man and spear as one!

Ten Thousand Annihilations Return to Origin!

He thrust the spear straight down onto the defensive light membrane.

Boom…

Vast energy exploded at that moment.

The glow on the formation suddenly dimmed, and the entire formation began to shake uncontrollably!

Though He Pingsheng’s strike did not shatter the eighth-rank formation, he had nearly destroyed its defensive power.

“Hehehe…” He Pingsheng stopped, chuckled, then pointed toward the distant Tianwei Empress and said, “This is my companion—she’s at the peak of Mahayana Emperor realm. If we combine forces, how many more times could your formation hold?”

The woman inside the formation turned ashen, hesitating.

He Pingsheng added, “You must know well—your world is merely a small spiritual realm. Every so often, cultivators from the greater outside world come here seeking treasures!”

“Otherwise, why would you all have retreated into this illusionary formation?”

The woman nodded and said, “You’re right. And then?”

He Pingsheng said, “And then? The number of us who entered this place totals over four hundred!”

“If you keep dawdling, others will find this place—and they won’t be as gentle as I am!”

“They might just smash your formation open and drag each of you out for interrogation!”

“Open your formation and let me in—or come out and answer a few of our questions!”

“I swear I won’t harm you!”

With that, He Pingsheng simply gazed calmly at the woman.

After about half a stick of incense passed, the woman finally nodded and said, “Fine… I’ll come out.”

She waved her hand, opening a passage through the formation, and stepped out.

Seeing He Pingsheng made no move to attack, she waved again, and another illusionary formation unfolded outside.

The illusionary formation He Pingsheng had shattered was merely an illusion—the formation itself remained intact.

Now it could be reactivated!

As the illusionary formation opened, the sect’s mountain peaks vanished, revealing a valley that looked utterly ordinary from outside.

Even if a Mahayana Emperor passed through the void and swept his spiritual sense over it, he might still fail to detect it.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please follow me!"

The woman became a streak of light, leaving the sect and flying deep into the primordial forest among the mountains, soon landing atop a peak.

He Pingsheng and the Tianwei Empress followed closely, landing on the same peak.

Hummm…

The Tianwei Empress kindly flicked out a speck of light, which expanded into a white barrier.

This way, their qi signatures wouldn’t leak out.

“May I ask your cultivation titles?” the woman bowed to the two.

He Pingsheng said, “I am of the He clan—call me Brother He…”

After all, the Tianwei Empress was beside him—he couldn’t use a false name.

The Tianwei Empress said, “My cultivation title is Tianwei…”

“Tianwei Elder!” the woman bowed again: “I am known as Diebian…”

“Whatever questions you have, ask freely—I will answer all I know!”

“Good!” Tianwei nodded. “Brother He, you ask.”

“Hmm.” He Pingsheng looked at the woman. “Diebian Immortal, let me explain: we came to this realm to retrieve the Ten True Poisons belonging to our spiritual realm’s Western Extreme Continent.”

“Beyond that, we have no desire for any other heavenly treasures or artifacts!”

“Nor do we seek anything from your clan!”

“Please understand.”

Diebian exhaled in relief. “Thank you!”

“You’re welcome,” He Pingsheng said. “But after searching thoroughly, and reviewing the accumulated experiences of countless predecessors who entered your world, no one has ever seen the Ten True Poisons.”

“I’d like to ask—do you know anything about them?”

Diebian Immortal said, “We know the purpose of all who come to our world.”

“To be honest, you’re not the first to find our sect.”

“Many others have come before you.”

“As for the Ten Primordial True Poisons, I know they exist somewhere in this realm—but I have never seen them myself.”

“But if you truly wish to search, I know one place where they might be.”

He Pingsheng’s body trembled slightly. “Please enlighten me.”

“Enlightenment is too much to say,” the woman replied. “That place is thick with poisons—even a Mahayana Emperor who goes there risks death.”

“It is our world’s Sacred Ground.”

“The Sacred Ground lies in this direction,” Diebian pointed. “But I must warn you: throughout history, many outsiders like you have gone there.”

“And many have died there.”

“I have a map—I leave it to you to decide whether to go or not.”

“Few of our people ever approach that region.”

“That Sacred Ground is also called the Abyss of Death.”

With that, the woman pulled out a jade slip and handed it to He Pingsheng.

“That’s all I can do for you two.”

“I can offer no further help.”

“Farewell.”

She flew into the void, preparing to leave.

But He Pingsheng held up the jade slip and called out: “Diebian, wait.”

Diebian halted in midair and turned to him. “What is it, Brother He?”

He Pingsheng reached out and tossed a porcelain vial. “Inside this vial is a supreme-grade Great Transformation Pill. When you reach Body Integration Level Twelve, it will help you break through to Mahayana Emperor realm.”

Diebian took the vial, examined it, then looked at him with deep gratitude. “I never expected you to be so righteous!”

“Very well—if so, I’ll give you one final piece of advice.”

She paused. “Brother He… don’t go to the Sacred Ground.”

“Don’t go, under any circumstances.”

He Pingsheng asked, “Why?”

Diebian Immortal said, “The Sacred Ground does contain the Ten True Poisons—not just one, but several, perhaps all ten.”

“But according to observations by beings in our realm, these poisons are all under control.”

“In other words, someone commands them.”

“Go, and you will die.”

“Please consider carefully.”

With that, Diebian turned and vanished in a streak of light.

He Pingsheng frowned.