Within He Family Village, on the evenings of the first and the fifteenth of every month, Old Master He Wude would preside over dinner in the main hall. These specific evenings were reserved for the entire family to dine together.

With the exception of He Quanming, who had to remain in the city managing the shops and could not return, every other direct descendant was required to attend. This gathering was also the sole occasion when He Quanxin ever left the confines of the Scripture Pavilion courtyard.

By the time He Yiming followed his elder uncle into the main hall, everyone else was already seated.

Two tables were set up in the hall, with only five seats designated for the high table.

Seated at the head of the main table was the elder statesman who had established He Family Village single-handedly, He Wude. To his left was an empty space, reserved for He Quanxin’s seat; to his right sat Third Uncle He Quanyi, and next to him sat a young, handsome man radiating refinement—none other than the eldest son and grandson, He Yitian, who had broken through to the Seventh Layer of Inner Strength at the mere age of twenty.

In He Family Village, He Yitian was the only third-generation disciple permitted to share a table with the elders.

The higher one progressed in Inner Strength cultivation, the more arduous the path became. Breaking through to the Sixth Layer before the age of twenty was already considered an excellent achievement. Among the third generation, the second son, He Yihai, and the third son, He Yixuan, had both reached the Sixth Layer around seventeen or eighteen. However, all the elders firmly believed that without another decade or two of strenuous training, they were unlikely to advance further.

But the eldest, He Yitian, had reached the Sixth Layer at fourteen. Six subsequent years of relentless effort had seen him break through to the Seventh Layer before turning twenty, marking him as the future cornerstone of the clan.

As for He Yiming, when he advanced to the Fifth Layer at nine, the family had placed immense expectations on him, even paying him more attention than they had shown He Yitian. Yet, this very over-attentiveness created enormous pressure, causing his Inner Strength cultivation to stagnate. Now, his standing within the family was far surpassed by that of the eldest grandson, He Yitian.

At the secondary table, every third-generation disciple was present except for He Quanming. Even He Yihai and He Yixuan, who had been deep in seclusion striving to elevate their cultivation, attended punctually.

He Wude, seated at the head of the primary table, possessed a broad forehead and thick eyebrows. A pair of somewhat deep-set eyes concealed an understanding wisdom. He looked up and smiled faintly, "Quanxin, you are late today."

He Quanxin hurriedly bowed, his face beaming. "Father, though your son arrives late, I bring you excellent news."

A flicker of surprise crossed He Wude’s eyes. "What good news is that?"

"Father, Yiming came to the Scripture Pavilion today." He Quanxin paused, then reached out and pulled He Yiming to his side. "Yiming is now qualified to learn martial techniques."

The main hall immediately fell silent. He Quanyi stood up abruptly, asking with pleasant shock, "Yiming, have you broken through to the Sixth Layer?"

He Yiming nodded firmly. "Yes."

The expressions among the third-generation disciples at the secondary table varied wildly. Those close to He Yiming exchanged glances filled with unconcealed joy; if the elders weren't present, they would surely have erupted in cheers.

He Yizhang, whose relationship with Yiming was less amicable, showed a slight change in complexion, a flicker of confusion crossing his gaze.

He Yihai and He Yixuan, the two third-generation disciples already at the Sixth Layer, exchanged a look that was profoundly complex. Beneath their strong sense of pleasure, there was an undeniable shadow of despondency and envy.

They then turned and noticed Zhang’s expression. They could not help but sigh softly, genuinely puzzled as to why the fifth and sixth sons exhibited such hostility toward each other; they were truly the oddities of the family.

He Yitian, at the high table, also stood. As the eldest grandson of the clan, he certainly possessed privileges that the other third-generation disciples lacked, allowing him a few words even on this occasion.

"Sixth Brother, you are truly remarkable. You advanced to the Sixth Layer a year faster than I did."

He Yiming rubbed the back of his neck and managed a couple of awkward chuckles, keeping his mouth tightly shut. His advancement process had been far too bizarre, leaving him too afraid to elaborate.

A look of immense happiness finally broke through the stern façade of He Wude’s face. "Yiming, you are indeed excellent. Attendants! Send word to the city to summon Quanming back so he may rejoice as well."

The old Master’s command was instantly obeyed by servants; it was not a task for the direct members of the family to worry about.

He Wude rose from his seat, covering the distance across the table in a few strides, until he stood before He Yiming. He extended his open palm in front of his grandson.

A trace of helpless, wry amusement crossed He Quanxin’s face; it seemed the elder would not rest until he verified it himself.

He Yiming did not hesitate, placing his palm against his grandfather's. The Primal Force of the Sixth Layer surged forth like a tide. This time, He Yiming was experienced: after a full burst, he immediately withdrew his inner energy. Yet, this single, concentrated exertion clearly and unmistakably revealed his foundation to He Wude.

The smile on the elder’s face grew wider, culminating in an unrestrained roar of laughter. "Good, excellent! Our He Family has gained another master of the Sixth Layer Inner Strength under the age of fifteen." His unrestrained joy echoed through the room. "Quanxin, you will accompany Yiming later. Let him select his martial technique manuals in the Scripture Pavilion, and ensure you tell him everything that needs to be said."

"Yes," He Quanxin replied with a smile.

He Yiming glanced at his elders, his heart filled with profound suspicion.

The Sixth Layer of Inner Strength didn't seem like such an earth-shattering event, did it? In his memory, when Second Brother Yihai and Third Brother Yixuan broke through to the Sixth Layer, his grandfather had been pleased, certainly, but nowhere near the level of... ecstasy displayed today.

Indeed, it wasn't just his grandfather; his elder uncle and third uncle also exhibited extreme joy. This reaction was distinctly different from when his second and third brothers achieved the same breakthrough.

He discreetly glanced at He Yitian, noticing his elder brother wink at him twice. However, He Yiming vaguely sensed that amidst his elder brother's happiness, there was also a sliver of jealousy.

A sudden realization struck him. He seemed capable of reading the intentions behind the elders' and his elder brother's gazes. What was happening? When had his own perception become so sharp?

He Wude called out loudly, "Yiming, when exactly did you break through?"

He Yiming quickly composed himself and replied with gravity, "Grandfather, your grandson broke through today."

He Quanyi asked quizzically, "Yiming, didn't you spend last night practicing Yixuan’s Ripple Art? Why did you break through with Primal Force today?"

He Yiming inwardly groaned, but he had already resolved that the miraculous occurrences concerning him would never be shared with anyone.

His heart tightened. His gaze dropped, landing on the wrinkles of his robe. In a flash of desperation, he improvised, "Third Uncle, after my morning exercises today, I went up the mountain to continue conditioning my body. Unexpectedly, I encountered a Fox Bear."

"A Fox Bear?" He Wude and the others immediately showed signs of tension, asking, "Where is that Fox Bear?"

Fox Bears were ferocious beasts of the mountains, notoriously difficult to deal with. They possessed the brute strength of a bear combined with the cunning of a fox. If such a beast were lurking near the village perimeter, it would pose a significant threat to the ordinary villagers and the third-generation disciples.

He Yiming quickly reported, "It was near the edge of the forest, but I managed to drive it off."

"You drove off a Fox Bear?" He Quanyi asked, his expression peculiar.

Those living at the foot of the mountain knew exactly how powerful a Fox Bear was. Although He Yiming had just reached the Sixth Layer, he was still a novice who had not mastered any martial technique manuals, and at only thirteen, he might not be a match for a Fox Bear.

He Wude pondered for a moment. "Yiming, recount your encounter with the Fox Bear in detail."

"Yes." He Yiming quickly steadied himself and narrated the details of his confrontation with the Fox Bear on the mountain.

Naturally, he could not reveal that he had long since mastered the Ripple Art to the Sixth Layer. Instead, he claimed to have consistently relied on the Primal Force. However, he did not conceal the moment when his power inexplicably advanced; frankly, he wanted to know why his Primal Force had progressed automatically.

After hearing He Yiming’s account, He Wude nodded slightly. "You were very fortunate. That Fox Bear was likely injured before it encountered you. But thank goodness for that—it allowed you to manage initially with the Fifth Layer Primal Force." He looked at his grandson, his face showing relief. "Yiming, your daily hard practice was not in vain. Under the pressure of confronting the Fox Bear, all your accumulated efforts were stimulated. Heh, to think you crossed that barrier without even realizing it and advanced smoothly to the Sixth Layer—it is truly Heaven’s blessing."

He Quanxin and He Quanyi nodded in agreement. Recalling the perilous situation, a chill ran down their spines. If Yiming had not faced an injured Fox Bear, or if he hadn't broken through successfully at the critical moment, he might have perished under the bear’s paw today.

Had such a thing happened, how would they explain it to the Second Brother?

He Quanyi suddenly snorted in anger. "Yiming, village rules strictly forbid third-generation disciples from entering the mountains alone. Why did you venture into the forest?"

He Yiming blinked twice, realizing he was in trouble.

He Wude and He Quanxin also snapped back to attention, their gazes toward He Yiming becoming less benevolent.

He Yiming mumbled, "Third Uncle, I was merely feeling bored and went up for a walk. Furthermore, I only stayed near the edge of the forest, I didn't go deep."

"A walk? Do you understand how dangerous it is to go into the mountains alone? And you dared to run into a beast like a Fox Bear!" He Quanyi pointed at him, his voice sharp. "Starting today, you will stay put at home. You are forbidden to step outside without my permission."

He Yiming looked toward his grandfather and elder uncle. Both elders turned their faces away, paying him no mind whatsoever. This showed how shaken they still were by the news of the Fox Bear encounter.

He Yiming silently cursed that Fox Bear seventeen or eighteen times in his mind; why couldn't it have stayed in the deep mountains instead of wandering to the edge of the forest? But facing his uncle's fury, he could only reply with resignation, "Yes, Third Uncle."

In the following days, even He Wude personally accompanied He Quanyi on several patrols around the mountain base, even visiting the spot where He Yiming had supposedly fought the Fox Bear near the forest edge. Only after confirming the beast had left was the alarm finally lifted.

Ps: Hah... I mixed up the chapter count this morning; this should actually be Chapter Eight. My apologies!