Chapter 974: Piaomiao Mountain Opens

“Roar…”

The great dragon glided through the void for a few breaths, then exploded into a boundless surge of energy.

In that moment, the sky turned dark.

He Pingsheng lifted his head and saw the void torn open by his own hand—a hole a hundred li across.

Countless chaotic energies surged in from beyond the spiritual realm’s barrier.

The next instant, a violent storm of energy crashed down from above, then swept horizontally across the ground in all directions.

Around Gusu Mountain, a visible, colossal ripple surged outward with unstoppable force.

Wherever it passed, mountains shattered, all things turned to dust.

The sky brightened again!

For the void barrier had sealed itself once more.

He Pingsheng was slightly astonished.

He had not expected that this technique, born from his insight into the Five True Elements, possessed such devastating power.

If this punch struck a Mahayana Emperor, death was certain.

But what if it hit a Transcendent Immortal?

While still stunned by the force of his own strike, he suddenly sensed a subtle change within his body.

The long-stagnant bottleneck at the tenth layer of Mahayana Emperor realm finally shattered open.

Broken!

He Pingsheng’s cultivation base ascended to the eleventh layer of Mahayana Emperor realm.

“This…” This outcome took He Pingsheng completely by surprise.

He stood frozen for several breaths, then murmured thoughtfully: “Could it be… because I’ve just awakened this [Five True Dragon Fist], that the bottleneck broke?”

After another three or five breaths, the void trembled slightly.

A figure in crimson robes landed beside He Pingsheng.

Seeing the crimson robes, He Pingsheng was startled again.

Hongluo Woman!

The mortal avatar left behind by the Queen of the Netherworld, a Transcendent Immortal and ancestral elder of humanity.

“Greetings, Elder!” He Pingsheng bowed to Hongluo Woman, his expression deeply respectful.

After all, she had once saved his life!

“Hmm!” Hongluo Woman nodded, then asked: “That immense energy surge just now made even me in the Xuanbing Continent uneasy—I sensed its origin here, so I came to investigate!”

“Did you cause it?”

Hongluo Woman fixed her gaze on He Pingsheng.

He had nothing to hide and answered directly: “Yes… Disciple just now awakened a new technique, and in my excitement, I lost composure. Fortunately, no great disaster occurred!”

“Oh?” Hongluo Woman’s surprise deepened: “You… awakened this technique yourself?”

“Really?”

He Pingsheng said: “It’s true. I even used this breakthrough to shatter another bottleneck!”

“So that’s it!” Hongluo Woman drew a deep breath and looked at He Pingsheng: “Impressive… Humanity has produced a talent like you?”

“You and Wang Dun are both outstanding!”

“Is your technique Heaven-ranked?”

He Pingsheng said: “I suppose so… It’s a technique based on the Five True Elements, activated through their fusion.”

“Excellent!” Hongluo Woman said: “To gather and merge the Five True Elements requires a Five Element Spirit Root. Ordinary cultivators lack both the opportunity and the foundation. Among all cultivators, those who achieve Dao Fruit with a Five Element Spirit Root are few indeed!”

“And to obtain the Five True Elements demands immense fortune and destiny!”

“Even if you’ve awakened this technique, passing it on will likely be impossible.”

As she spoke, Hongluo Woman’s gaze shifted to the golden array membrane behind He Pingsheng.

She furrowed her brow, extending a jade finger toward it: “What is this for?”

“He Pingsheng… why do I sense you’re doing something wicked?”

“It seems… something is devouring the celestial fortune and spiritual energy of this spiritual realm?”

He Pingsheng’s brow twitched: Damn.

No wonder she’s a Transcendent Immortal!

She can sense this too?

Honestly, even He Pingsheng, standing outside the array, couldn’t perceive it.

This meant Hongluo Woman’s spiritual sense was stronger than his.

“Uh…” He Pingsheng took a deep breath and quickly explained: “In answer to your question, Elder, I am indeed drawing in celestial fortune—I’m doing it to resurrect Zhou Qingmei!”

“Rest assured, Elder, after three thousand years, I will return all this fortune to the heavens and earth!”

“Moreover, I require only a small amount—this will not significantly disrupt the balance of this realm!”

Hongluo Woman swept her arms behind her, the wide sleeves of her crimson robe fluttering, making her stand out vividly against the endless snowfall.

“That’s true,” Hongluo Woman said, “but this act still violates the natural order. Proceed with caution.”

“Also, avoid accumulating too much karmic debt.”

He Pingsheng said: “Understood. Thank you for the warning, Elder.”

“I trust you,” Hongluo Woman said after a pause. “There’s another matter I meant to ask you about.”

“The Jiazi Heavenly Blindness is about to begin, and the [Piaomiao Mountain] is soon to emerge. Will you go?”

Hongluo Woman looked at He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng thought for a moment, then said: “I will go… I still have one matter unfinished.”

“Good!” Hongluo Woman nodded. “I’m going too… I may encounter a few old acquaintances there. Those Transcendent Immortals can destroy worlds at will—be careful!”

“When Piaomiao Mountain opens, I’ll wait for you at its base.”

With that, Hongluo Woman waved her hand—the void rippled like water, and her crimson-robed figure slowly vanished into the ripples.

He Pingsheng watched this with deep envy: This method of parting the void was far more refined than his own.

And far more elegant.

“Hummm…”

He Pingsheng closed his eyes and, using spatial laws, mimicked Hongluo Woman’s motion, brushing his hand across the void.

The space rippled in response.

But…

He could not enter it.

Nor could he freely traverse space.

It seemed Hongluo Woman’s technique for parting space was a true divine art.

Or perhaps, a unique ability of Transcendent Immortals.

He Pingsheng, bored, resumed guarding Gusu Mountain.

Two years passed. One day, He Pingsheng clearly sensed that the laws of heaven and earth had suddenly shifted.

Though he had reached Mahayana Emperor realm, the primal fear triggered by this change still made him leap to his feet as if facing the end of the world.

A faint, almost imperceptible aura—like that of the Immortal Realm—blew in from all directions.

“This…” He Pingsheng stared in shock toward a direction in the spiritual realm.

In the void, a faint shadow appeared in the sky.

A mountain.

A divine mountain.

Upon it, nine-colored immortal light enveloped the peak; misty qi swirled; immortal laws manifested; celestial music echoed.

“Has Piaomiao Mountain opened?” He Pingsheng frowned and instantly extended his spiritual sense.

Though he saw the mountain’s reflection in the void, that direction was not the true location of Piaomiao Mountain.

He needed to sense its actual position.

“Master…” At that moment, his disciple Luo Bingyao arrived: “Master… Piaomiao Mountain has opened!”

“Hurry there—I’ll guard the array for you!”