The vast sea of clouds was still, solidified, and deathly pale, reminiscent of an ancient, desolate wasteland, instilling a sense of dread.

Along the Grand Dao, scattered passersby hurried along, each absorbed in their own affairs; undoubtedly, He Yiming was one of them.

However, as He Yiming walked the road at this moment, even if he encountered someone intimately familiar with him, he dared not acknowledge them.

Fourteen-year-old He Yiming’s physique was exceptionally well-developed due to years of martial arts training, but he was not naturally large-boned, so compared to average adults, his body was still somewhat slender.

Yet, with the aid of the Bone Transformation Art, He Yiming’s frame had forcibly gained a significant height.

Not only that, but he had also disguised his face, making him appear like a down-on-his-luck man in his thirties. As long as he stood still and remained silent, even if He Quanming and Lin Wenyu sat directly across from him, they would never spot a flaw.

Of course, He Yiming knew that given his limited experience, he might not perfectly embody the essence of a ruined man. But this was merely an initial attempt; with richer experience later on, the resemblance would naturally become uncanny. Furthermore, in this place, few people paid him any particular attention anyway.

Glancing up at the thick, seemingly endless white clouds overhead, He Yiming slightly slowed his pace. This time out, due to a certain clandestine purpose, he hadn't ridden a horse but relied entirely on his own two legs.

With his strength, fatigue was impossible, but traveling alone inevitably brought a touch of loneliness.

After all, this was the first time he had left home completely on his own.

His ears twitched almost imperceptibly as he detected the faint sound of hooves approaching from far behind. His heart stirred slightly. This Grand Dao was famous in Taicang County because it was the sole route leading to the Xu Family Fortress. Anyone bold enough to gallop a horse on this road likely had some connection to the Xu Family Fortress.

He edged slightly to the side of the road, walking silently. Only when the sound of hooves grew louder and was close behind him did he feign a vacant look and turn back.

Upon clearly seeing the rider, he couldn't help but freeze momentarily. The person was none other than Xu Yucai, the one he had once sent flying with a single palm strike.

In a quick glance, He Yiming noticed a hint of worry etched on the face of this outstanding member of the third generation of the Xu family, as if burdened by heavy thoughts. The rider spurred their horse past him in a flash, not even glancing sideways.

He Yiming inwardly felt puzzled. After a moment of contemplation, he slightly quickened his pace, hurrying toward his destination ahead.

As the sun began to dip towards the west, he arrived at the small town situated just before the Xu Family Fortress.

The Xu Family Fortress was nestled in a hollow surrounded by mountains on two sides and water on one. The ancestors of the Xu family, through over a century of arduous effort, had finally constructed a massive castle spanning several hundred mu in this strategically defensible location.

Those residing within the castle included not only the Xu family disciples but also numerous retainers recruited from outside, as well as countless servants and aides. Over the years, as the population grew, a small town entirely dependent on the Xu Family Fortress had gradually formed several miles in front of it.

The population of the small town was not large, numbering only a few hundred people, yet the residents were all connected, in one way or another, to the Xu Family Fortress.

Upon entering the town, He Yiming easily located the only inn.

This inn was not small; for a town of only a few hundred people, it was quite large. However, the actual occupants were not the town residents but guests traveling to or from the Xu Family Fortress.

When He Yiming walked into the inn, he immediately felt at least three pairs of eyes linger on him for a moment.

Perhaps because there were simply too many people looking like him, these scrutinizing glances vanished shortly thereafter.

He Yiming thought to himself, his father was right; the Xu Family Fortress must certainly have its influence behind this inn, and everyone staying here would surely have been checked by their hidden sentinels.

A waiter approached with a welcoming smile. He Yiming pondered for a moment, requested a single room, and asked for some food and wine.

The waiter clearly paused, but then immediately replaced his expression with a smile. However, at that exact moment, He Yiming noticed that the gazes, which had retreated earlier, were now focusing on him again.

He was sharp enough to instantly understand the reason.

His current disguise was that of a destitute traveler; such a person wouldn't logically choose to occupy a private room.

He let out a wry internal chuckle. In truth, he shouldn't have entered this inn at all, perhaps not even this small town.

But since he was already inside, leaving immediately would only arouse greater suspicion.

He composed himself and followed the waiter to the single room. Moments later, the waiter brought some simple food and drink.

Just as the waiter was about to leave, He Yiming called out, "Waiter, is the Xu Family Fortress just ahead?"

The waiter bowed deferentially, his face beaming, "Yes, sir, just a few miles ahead lies the renowned Xu Family Fortress of Taicang County."

He Yiming stroked his chin. For this outing, he had affixed stubble around his jaw, making him look well over thirty. Looking at the waiter, who appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen, being called "sir" was not unreasonable.

"Waiter," He Yiming asked casually, "I hear the Xu Family Fortress is one of the three great clans of Taicang County. What are their standards for recruiting retainers?"

Before coming here, he had already decided: if no one questioned him, that would be best, but if questioned, he would use the pretense of seeking temporary asylum with the Xu family as a retainer.

He figured he would stay here for at most a month, and whether he succeeded or not, he would depart. As for whether the Xu family could find him after he left, that was their concern.

The waiter’s smile remained unchanged, but his demeanor grew more respectful. "Sir, the Xu Family Fortress is indeed one of the three great clans in our county. Their standards for recruiting retainers are not very high. I hear that any cultivator whose Internal Strength has reached the third layer or above can become a retainer of the Xu family. If one's Internal Strength reaches the fifth layer, they qualify to enter the inner fortress and study the Xu Family Fortress's combat techniques and cultivation methods."

He spoke these words very quickly, clearly having recited them countless times.

He Yiming nodded in satisfaction, tossed a few copper coins over, and waved his hand. The waiter immediately beamed, thanked him profusely, and retreated from the room with a half-bow.

After leaving the room, the waiter’s smile vanished. He walked to the back room where an old man in his fifties was puffing smoke from a dry pipe. Seeing the waiter enter, the elder casually asked, "How was it?"

"I've gathered information. That person is likely from an outer county and wishes to become a retainer in the fortress," the waiter said respectfully, emanating an air of sharp competence that was a world away from the flattering, subservient demeanor of the waiter just moments before.

"Hmph, becoming a retainer of our Xu Family Fortress is not so simple," the old man exhaled a ring of smoke, then shifted his tone, "What did you gauge his Internal Strength cultivation to be?"

The waiter respectfully replied, "From what this disciple observed, his Internal Strength cultivation is between the third and fifth layers. For a fortress retainer, that is certainly more than sufficient."

The elder nodded in satisfaction. "You are correct. I also suspect that man is merely wandering here and will likely petition the fortress for a position tomorrow. Go send a message to the fortress; if this person truly possesses ability, inquire about his background, and then utilize him."

"Yes."

The elder took a draw from his pipe and suddenly asked, "How long have you been stationed here?"

"This disciple has been here for one year."

"Good, a year is not short. Your judgment has sharpened. During the next rotation, you will return to the fortress."

"Yes, thank you, Seventh Uncle," the waiter looked up, a mixture of joy and surprise on his face, expressing immense gratitude.

The elder lightly tapped his pipe. "As an outer-clan disciple, you must cultivate diligently once you return to the fortress. If you can advance to the sixth layer of Internal Strength before you turn thirty, you will naturally be absorbed by the clan and become an elite. If you cannot achieve that, then you will come back out; the clan's various sectors also require the replenishment of young blood. In short, as long as you do not betray the family, the family will guarantee you a footing."

The waiter’s expression grew even more respectful; a faint flush, caused by excitement, even appeared on his cheeks.

The elder waved his hand slightly, and the waiter finally withdrew.

Ten feet away, He Yiming slowly opened his eyes, his brow furrowed as he pondered the identities of the two men.

If the old man and the waiter had known that a master whose Internal Strength had reached the peak of the tenth layer was lodging in their establishment, they would never have dared to converse so carelessly. But no matter how they spied, they would never have suspected that the rather generous-looking down-and-out man was such a top-tier expert.

However, although He Yiming had overheard their conversation, the Xu family was different from the He family. This was a lineage spanning over a hundred years, and the complexity of its internal affairs was not something He Yiming could fully comprehend.

For instance, he had never heard of the Seventh Master presiding over the inn. Yet, this man’s Internal Strength was at the eighth-layer realm—unquestionably a significant figure.

While the Xu and Cheng families might not surpass the He family in peak combat power, their century-long foundation was formidable. At least in terms of eighth-layer experts, the He family was far from comparable to these two great clans.

He Yiming sighed inwardly. Perhaps only after another century would the He family truly and deservedly become one of the three great clans of Taicang County.

A thought suddenly flashed through his mind: the fact that he could even discern the degree of the old man's Internal Strength cultivation seemed like something unlikely.

He gave a faint, wry smile, wondering just how much untapped potential still resided within him, and whether it would bring him more surprises in the future.

He shifted his gaze, noted the late hour, extinguished his lamp, and slept. Ps: The title of the previous chapter, 'Wandering,' seemed inappropriate, as it was merely moving around the vicinity; for such a small place, it should have been called 'Sightseeing.' Unfortunately, it cannot be changed ^_^ [bookid=1429437,bookname=《》]