By the time He Yiming returned to He Family Village, dawn was just breaking. He Family Village was quite renowned in the vicinity.

The Old Village Master, He Wude, was a master who had cultivated his Inner Strength to the peak of the tenth level, placing him among the most preeminent figures within a radius of several hundred li. He Wude had three sons, and although their cultivation methods possessed different elemental attributes, every son held a minimum cultivation base of the eighth level of Inner Strength.

The eldest, He Quanxin, had already advanced to the ninth level long ago. As for the third generation, He Yitian, the eldest grandson, though only twenty-one this year, had already cultivated his Inner Strength to the seventh layer, making him, by any measure, the foremost individual among his peers.

The other children, while not blessed with the genius to break through to the seventh layer, were still considered exceptional for their current ages, which explained why the prestige of He Family Village was truly at its zenith. The rules of the He family were strict.

Every morning, all third-generation disciples who had not yet broken through to the sixth level were required to attend the morning drills. When He Yiming rushed back from the lake, the sounds of vigorous shouts were already echoing across the practice grounds of the estate.

He Yiming glanced up at the sky, inwardly letting out a soft sigh. Ignoring the fact that he was soaked to the bone, he headed directly to the training ground.

At that moment, five third-generation disciples were undergoing the most fundamental training on the grounds. They were all disciples who had not yet reached the sixth level: three boys and two girls, and He Yitao was among them.

At the entrance to the grounds stood a tall, broad man, his hands clasped behind his back. He stood there on the earth as if he were an immovable Vajra, radiating an immense pressure.

He Yiming quickly approached and stood beside the man, whispering softly, "Third Uncle." The large man was none other than He Yiming’s Third Uncle, He Quanyi. He turned his head, and the anger faintly visible in his eyes momentarily froze when he saw He Yiming’s disheveled state.

He asked, "Why are you only arriving now? And why are you soaking wet?" He Yiming’s face flushed slightly, and he said in a low voice, "Third Uncle, I practiced Horse Stance on the mountainside all night.

When I came down, my clothes got dirty, and I accidentally fell into the lake while washing them by the shore." The angry expression on He Quanyi’s face gradually dissipated. He said, "Yiming, I know you work hard, but it’s best not to go out at night." "Yes." He Quanyi waved his hand.

"Go back, change your clothes, and then catch up on some sleep." He Yiming bowed slightly and swiftly retreated to his room. In a flash, he changed into a new set of training robes, then rushed to the training ground in the back courtyard to join the group of brothers.

He Quanyi watched He Yiming’s stubborn gaze, shook his head slightly, and let out a sigh. Starting from daybreak, a full three hours passed before the youths finally concluded their cultivation practice.

After He Quanyi called a halt and offered a few more words of instruction, he turned and departed. As soon as he was a distance away, the youngsters simultaneously sank onto the ground, the two girls no exception.

He Yiming’s gaze swept over his siblings, and just like before, he turned to leave. "Yiming, when will you break through to the fifth level?" a languid voice drifted out from the center of the group.

He Yiming didn't even need to look back to know that the question came from He Yizhang, who was two years his senior. In the clan, the Eldest Uncle, He Quanxin, had four sons: the eldest grandson, He Yitian; the second son, He Yihai; the fifth son, He Yizhang; and the seventh son, He Yiyu.

His father, He Quanming, had two sons and one daughter: the third-generation disciple He Yixuan, the sixth-ranked He Yiming, and the eighth sister, He Yilong. As for Third Uncle He Quanyi, he had one son and one daughter: the fourth sister, He Yiling, and the youngest brother, He Yitao.

Although they were all members of one large family, there were degrees of closeness among the siblings. The four sons of the Eldest Uncle always acted in concert, especially the eldest grandson, He Yitian, whose talent was extraordinary; having successfully broken through to the seventh layer of Inner Strength at only twenty, he was universally highly regarded by the clan.

The relationship between the second and third branches was slightly closer, but generally, the interactions among the many siblings were quite harmonious. Currently, among the nine members of the third generation, He Yitian, He Yihai, and He Yixuan had all successfully reached the sixth level of Inner Strength or above, thereby exempting them from the mandatory daily morning drills.

The one who had just spoken was He Yizhang, ranked fifth among all third-generation disciples. He Yiming halted his steps, let out a slight snort, and retorted, "Not yet broken through.

Perhaps Fifth Brother, you are about to break through?" He Yizhang chuckled wryly, "It has only been a year since I advanced to the fifth level; how could I break through so quickly? But Sixth Brother, you have been stuck at this layer for a full four years.

Back then, you were entering the fifth level around the same time as Second Brother and Third Brother, yet now they have advanced, and you are still treading water. Heh, you really need to work harder." He Yiming’s brow lifted slightly, his heart pounding violently, but he did not turn around.

He merely said coldly, "Thank you for your concern, Fifth Brother. I understand." With that, he strode away with long steps toward the front.

He Yizhang let out a long breath and spoke in a tone of mockery, "Sixth Brother, in my view, you should try practicing a different cultivation method. Perhaps you could reach the sixth level in one go." He Yiming’s pace did not falter in the slightest, as if he had not heard the words at all, and he departed.

The five remaining individuals exchanged glances. He Yitao suddenly sprang up and swiftly chased after the direction his sixth brother had taken.

Sisters He Yiling and He Yilong glared at He Yizhang before turning away hand-in-hand. The seventh brother, He Yiyu, remained, his face creased with worry.

"Fifth Brother, why did you have to provoke Sixth Brother again? If Father and Eldest Brother find out, you’ll surely be scolded again, and perhaps I’ll be dragged into it too." He Yizhang glared back at his brother.

"You’re becoming more timid by the day. Hmph, so what if I spoke to him?

As long as I can enter the sixth level before him, no one can say a word against me." He Yiyu mumbled a few words, in a voice so low even he could barely hear it, "Aren't you just jealous that Sixth Brother reached the fifth level before you?" Fortunately, He Yizhang did not hear his own younger brother’s remark, or he surely would have been infuriated on the spot. "Seventh, you need to work hard too," He Yizhang said seriously.

"Strive to break through to the sixth level sooner, so our family branch can pull far ahead." He Yiyu’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Fifth Brother, you’ve been at the fifth level for a year, and I only succeeded last month!

Are you expecting me to break through immediately?" He Yizhang snorted angrily. "Yes, I expect you to double your efforts and look up to Eldest Brother, Second Brother..." He paused, hesitating for a moment before finally concluding, "...and Third Brother—didn't they all successfully break through to the sixth level?" He Yiyu rolled his eyes heavenward.

"Fifth Brother, Second Brother and Third Brother are five or six years older than me, and it only took them a mere year to break through to the sixth level." He Yizhang’s face flushed red. "Alright, Seventh, you’ve learned to talk back now!

Are you asking for a beating?" He Yiyu immediately subsided. "Fifth Brother, I didn't mean to!

I’ll practice, won’t I? Don't be so listless now!" He Yiyu: "..." He thought to himself: Is this really my own brother?

※※※※ He Yiming quickly left the training ground, his heart filled with anger that had no outlet. He knew that engaging in a physical altercation over such a squabble would certainly invite punishment from his father.

Suddenly, he heard gasping sounds behind him. His heart warmed, and he stopped walking.

Sure enough, He Yitao’s voice rang out immediately: "Sixth Brother, don't listen to Fifth Brother. He’s just jealous because you reached the fifth level of Inner Strength a few years before him." He Yiming smiled faintly, patted his shoulder, and said, "I understand.

Hurry back and attend your literacy lessons, or Third Uncle will start nagging you again and search the whole village to treat you to Stir-fried Pork Slices with Bamboo Shoots." He Yitao jolted, looked around wildly, clapped his hands over his backside, and his face displayed an expression of terror. Seeing that his father was nowhere in sight, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He hesitated, "Sixth Brother, actually, what Fifth Brother said does have some merit. Why don't you try switching cultivation methods?" He Yiming’s expression tightened for a moment, then he smiled, "I have my own plans.

Thank you." He Yitao acknowledged this, then quickly turned and left. It seemed the threat of Stir-fried Pork Slices with Bamboo Shoots still held great sway over him.

Watching his little brother depart, He Yiming let out a long sigh, the smile instantly vanishing from his face. He slowly turned, and his eyes suddenly caught sight of a figure.

His heart trembled, and with a slight exertion of his feet, he fluidly retreated several zhang in reverse. Just as he adopted a posture ready for both offense and defense, He Yiming immediately laughed bitterly and straightened up.

"Third Uncle, why would you joke with your nephew like that?" A faint smile touched He Quanyi's stern face. "Yiming, your reaction was quite good." "Thank you for the compliment, Third Uncle." "Yiming," He Quanyi began abruptly, "your father and I have discussed this.

If you wish to change your cultivation method, you can go directly to your Eldest Uncle. The books stored in the clan’s library are all available for you to choose from." He Yiming’s heart trembled slightly.

"Thank you, Third Uncle." He Quanyi nodded, then walked in the direction where He Yitao had gone. As he left, he added, "I'm going to check on Yitao.

If he doesn't concentrate on his literacy, he'll definitely get extra help." Watching his Third Uncle's retreating back, He Yiming tilted his head back to gaze at the sky, finally letting out a helpless sigh. He hadn't expected that even his father and the others had specifically conferred about his situation.

It seemed persisting in his own view was no longer an option. Ps: Looking at the recommendation list, Bai He’s heart is warmed.

It seems with just over two thousand more votes, I can make the list. I wonder if my brothers and sisters can give Bai He a boost?

Bai He asks all of you for your support ^_^