A day later, the group had entered the county town, where He Quanming and his wife, who were managing the family business, came out to meet them.

Accompanying He Quanxin, besides Yiming and the other three, was He Yilong.

He Yixuan, He Yiming, and He Yilong were all the biological children of He Quanming, and their reunion was naturally filled with emotion.

After settling into the house purchased by the He family in the town, He Quanxin immediately got to the point, inquiring about the details of Old Master Cheng’s birthday celebration.

After He Quanming answered a few questions, Lin Wenyu rose, taking He Yiming and the other two siblings away from the main hall and towards the inner chambers.

Watching Lin Wenyu and her four children leave, He Quanming let out a long sigh and said, "Second brother, your wife has suffered."

He Quanming hesitated for a moment, then shook his head slightly, saying, "It is what it must be."

To manage the He family's business, He Quanming and his wife had to remain far from He Family Village. According to the village rules, He family disciples had to live separately from their parents after the age of five. If the couple had remained in the village, they could at least have seen each other daily, but being in the county town meant they rarely saw each other more than a few times a year.

This time, the Old Master had graciously allowed He Yilong to accompany the others into town, undoubtedly creating an opportunity for their family to reunite while attending the Cheng family's birthday celebration.

Under these circumstances, the brothers He Quanxin naturally turned a blind eye and allowed them to depart.

Although Lin Wenyu was not from a prominent aristocratic family, she was nonetheless considered a respectable young lady in Taicang County.

The Lin family was also a lineage known for martial arts, but their lineage was sparsely populated. By Lin Wenyu’s generation, the family tradition had effectively ended.

After marrying He Quanming, the couple worked together with single-minded devotion, and their contributions were indispensable to the He family securing a footing in the county town.

While Lin Wenyu’s internal energy cultivation was not as profound as her husband's, she was still a cultivator at the peak of the Seventh Level. Had she not borne three children, it was likely she would not have been inferior to He Quanming.

However, upon seeing her three long-absent children, Lin Wenyu shed her usual reserve. Although her children were growing older, in her eyes, they were still just as they were in childhood.

"Mother, now that we are in the county town, Sister Ling asked me to bring back some face powder and jewelry. Will you come with me to buy some?" He Yilong asked, gently shaking her mother's hand.

Although mother and daughter did not live together, their relationship was far closer than that of mothers and daughters who lived together year-round.

The rules set by Old Master He, though rigid and inflexible, were not without reason.

Lin Wenyu gently brushed a strand of hair from He Yilong’s forehead and replied without hesitation, "Alright, let's go out now." Then, she looked up at her two sons and added, "Since you rarely visit the county town, why don't you come along with us for a stroll?"

He Yiming and the other son naturally had no objections. Taicang County town might not rank highly in the entire Linlang Prefecture, but in their eyes, it was already the epitome of prosperity.

For the two young He brothers, filled with the spirit of youth, this prospect had long been something they yearned for.

The four of them quickly made arrangements and headed toward the most bustling streets in the county town.

Lin Wenyu had resided in the county town for decades, making her intimately familiar with every street. Knowing that this was a rare visit for her children, she had naturally already planned an itinerary to ensure they had their fill of enjoyment.

The prosperity of the county town truly opened He Yiming's eyes. He Yixuan had visited several times before and managed to maintain his composure. But for He Yiming and He Yilong, this was their first time, and they gazed around ceaselessly, utterly overwhelmed by the sights.

Seeing his sixth brother so excited, He Yixuan suddenly asked, "Yiming, do you find this place fun?"

"Of course," He Yiming replied without turning his head.

"Do you want to live here?"

"I definitely do," He Yiming blurted out, but he immediately sensed something was amiss. He turned and questioned, "Third Brother, why do you ask that?"

He Yixuan smiled faintly, "Sixth Brother, do you know that although the main ancestral house of the Cheng family is situated within the county town, any Cheng family disciple who shows even the slightest potential in internal energy cultivation is strictly forbidden from residing at the main house before the age of twenty?"

He Yiming paused slightly and asked, "Then where do they live?"

"In the countryside, a place of beautiful scenery, yet far removed from the clamor of the mundane world," He Yixuan stated gravely.

He Yiming fell silent, a dawning realization crossing his mind. He asked, "Third Brother, how did you come to know this?"

"Two years ago, Big Brother, Second Brother, and I visited that place and sparred with the third-generation disciples of the Cheng family; that is how we learned the reason," He Yixuan sighed lightly. "The Cheng family is truly a major lineage. All third-generation disciples, upon reaching five years of age, must be sent there for training. Several are eliminated every year, and only the true elites remain in the end."

He Yiming frowned slightly. The history of the He family's rise was too short; they truly could not compare to the deep foundations of these aristocratic families spanning over a century.

"Third Brother, how is the cultivation level of the Cheng family's third-generation disciples?" He Yiming asked with concern.

A hint of triumphant amusement appeared on He Yixuan's face. "Though the Cheng family has numerous descendants, few achieve much. Among the third-generation disciples, not a single one has advanced to the Seventh Level of internal energy, far less than Big Brother and you."

He Yiming relaxed. He then recalled how difficult it was to reach the Seventh Level of internal energy.

Among the third-generation disciples of the three great aristocratic families, only He Yitian had managed to break through successfully by chance.

As for the others, although several had reached the peak of the Sixth Level, not a second one had managed to shatter the barrier beyond the Sixth Level.

As for He Yiming...

His situation was entirely unique and could not be grouped with them.

He Yixuan looked seriously at his brother beside him. "Yiming, your internal energy cultivation is now no longer beneath Big Brother’s, and given your age, your future prospects are limitless. Therefore…" He gestured around, "While this place is flourishing and prosperous, it is not suitable for you."

He Yiming nodded heavily. "Third Brother, I understand." He murmured, "I will not disappoint the family."

As he spoke these words, his voice carried an immensely powerful conviction, so much so that even He Yixuan experienced a fleeting illusion that the imposing aura radiating from his sixth brother could rival that of their grandfather.

Although this feeling vanished instantly, it was enough to startle him.

In truth, since He Yiming's actual strength far exceeded everyone's imagination, it was this foundation that allowed him to state those words with such righteous confidence. Since he was speaking the truth, his bearing was naturally forceful, incomparable to those who swear oaths about a future they cannot yet grasp.

Lin Wenyu had been quietly conversing with her daughter the entire time, but she maintained considerable awareness of her sons. Hearing their conversation, a subtle expression of gratification and pride surfaced on her face. With sons like these, what more could a wife ask for?

Suddenly, a burst of noise echoed from afar, followed by three sharp gong strikes. Instantly, many people surged toward the same direction.

He Yilong asked curiously, "Mother, what is happening up ahead?"

Lin Wenyu’s expression turned serious. "That is the public arena established in the county town. Someone has signed a life-or-death waiver, and a duel is about to begin."

Martial arts were highly prevalent in the Tianluo Kingdom. Although the true cultivation methods for internal energy were strictly controlled by the aristocratic families and various sects, the techniques for strengthening the body were widely disseminated. While few could master internal energy, those with a basic grasp of common combat skills were certainly numerous.

In every city across the Tianluo Kingdom, there was at least one public arena. These stages were designated for martial contests. Even state law stipulated that once a life-or-death waiver was signed and participants stepped onto the stage, fate ruled, and no one could interfere. Furthermore, killing an opponent on the stage did not incur capital punishment.

Of course, besides these life-or-death bouts, some utilized the arena to spar and hone their skills. However, anyone who ascended the platform did so with the goal of making a name for themselves.

He Yixuan's eyes brightened. "Mother, why don't you and Yilong return first? My brother and I will go take a look."

Lin Wenyu hesitated for a moment, then sighed softly. "Alright, but you two must remember, absolutely do not step onto the stage."

He Yixuan and He Yiming exchanged a look and answered simultaneously. Although He Yilong was deeply reluctant, she could hardly defy Lin Wenyu and was half-dragged away. Of course, as a mother, Lin Wenyu had appeased the young girl with promises of beautiful gifts like pearls and jewelry before she finally left willingly.

Though everyone in He Family Village practiced martial arts, no one held high hopes for the Linglong sisters. In the minds of these men, they were the ones who would hold up the sky; women, conversely, were those to be protected, not those under whose protection one survived. Thus, before the life-or-death arena, the brothers tacitly agreed to let He Yilong avoid the scene. As for the He Yixuan brothers, they were destined for the martial path, and even if Lin Wenyu was extremely unwilling, she would not stop them from watching a life-or-death contest.

After their mother and sister departed, the two brothers nodded to each other and moved forward with swift, flowing steps.

Although the crowd ahead was already dense, the skill of these two brothers was evident. With a gentle push of their hands, they parted the throng almost effortlessly, squeezing through. Even if someone felt displeased and deliberately bumped into them, it was like hitting a wall of iron, causing their own bodies to ache slightly. They immediately realized that these two, despite their young appearance, were not to be trifled with, so no one dared to provoke them further, allowing them to easily reach the central area.

P.S.: I actually made it to number one on the new book chart, pant... It has been over three years since Bai He started writing, and this is his fifth book, but this is the first time he has held the number one spot on the new book chart. Although it was only after Grandmaster Shao finished his run that this wish was fulfilled, Bai He is satisfied ^_^

Suddenly, a saying came to mind: When the tiger is absent from the mountain, the crane reigns as king.

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