The two Long-Armed Raccoons, upon descending, did not immediately pounce but began pacing slowly around the perimeter.

They seemed to be toying with the group, or perhaps perplexed as to how these humans had seen through their pincer maneuver.

They were not like humans; while possessing profound intelligence, they also had exceedingly sharp senses.

To their senses, the man wielding the great broadsword instilled a truly terrifying feeling.

In contrast, despite the number of the others, they were not necessarily worth their immediate concern.

The Long-Armed Raccoon behind slowly opened its mouth.

This strange spirit beast, comparable in size to a large monkey, extended its forelimbs—which were longer than its body—and suddenly leaped, landing atop a branch as thick as a human arm, from which it hung suspended, observing the humans below.

Then, at that very instant, as if a streak of light had slashed across the firmament, the eyes of this Long-Armed Raccoon flooded with stark white.

Its intelligence and the instinct of a spirit beast both warned it of danger.

Its massive hands instantly released their grip, and its body recoiled backward in a tight coil, even as its two arms furiously hammered forward regardless of the risk.

With a single bound, He Yiming was already above the spirit beast’s head.

The great broadsword in his hand dissolved into a blur of light and shadow, crashing down heavily upon the Long-Armed Raccoon's arm.

This was no specialized secret art, nor any peerless swordsmanship; it was merely the illusion created by He Yiming swinging his massive blade with extreme velocity. "Clang, clang, clang..." A continuous series of violent impacts resonated, sharp as the collision of metal on stone, causing the eardrums of everyone present to ache faintly.

Suddenly, the Long-Armed Raccoon let out a piercing shriek and shot backward as if flung by wind.

Under this relentless series of brutal collisions, the first to falter was surprisingly not He Yiming, but this spirit beast that had initially appeared so majestic, seemingly regarding the humans before it as mere dust.

He Yiming let out a booming laugh, a sound filled with an indescribable sense of exhilaration.

Following this long laugh, he did not slow his pace but aggressively pursued the retreating Long-Armed Raccoon, his twin arms working furiously, the broadsword whirling like a living thing, tightly cornering the beast into a straight line.

Xie Nuanyi and the others stared, their eyes wide.

If this scene were not unfolding before them, they would never have believed it possible.

He Yiming’s swordsmanship, as such, was not extraordinary; anyone present could easily have wielded a broadsword to this degree of proficiency.

Of course, this was because they were unaware of the true weight of the great broadsword.

If they knew that the entire blade weighed three hundred and sixty jin, even Xie Nuanyi would not hold such a thought.

However, even without knowing the sword’s heft, they understood one thing clearly: since He Yiming had managed to force the spirit beast into a slow retreat, causing it to scream in pain, the power contained within that broadsword must be immense.

This could only be explained by innate divine strength, combined with an internal energy cultivation that had clearly reached an unbelievable realm.

Suddenly, a thought flashed like lightning through everyone’s minds.

The tenth layer, the peak of the tenth layer of internal energy, combined with innate divine strength—only then could this feat be accomplished.

Abruptly, Xie Nuanyi’s vision blurred.

He shouted sharply, "Be careful!" Before the words fully left his mouth, he had already lunged forward, positioning himself before several attendants, and with a sweep of his hand, a nimble soft sword materialized from thin air.

However, once charged with his internal energy, the sword instantly stiffened to a straight line, emitting a clear, resonant hum.

The soft sword lunged toward the advancing Long-Armed Raccoon like a venomous snake, aiming its tip.

Xie Nuanyi lacked He Yiming’s divine strength, nor did he possess that great broadsword—one that could not be found again even traveling the entirety of the Fire Crow Nation.

Therefore, he dared not meet the spirit beast head-on.

Instead, with an exquisitely subtle flick of his wrist, he targeted the beast's eye.

Although the spirit beast was ferocious, the eyes remained one of the absolute weak points for most creatures.

The Long-Armed Raccoon dared not allow the soft sword to strike, sweeping its long arm in a wide arc, creating a massive sound of tearing air.

Its palm opened wide, intending to snatch the sword out of the air.

Xie Nuanyi had dedicated the greater part of his life to the mastery of this soft sword; it would not be so easily ensnared.

His wrist remained as steady as a mountain, yet the internal energy channeled into the sword abruptly diminished slightly.

The tip of the once perfectly straight and rigid blade instantly went soft, drooping limply.

The Long-Armed Raccoon snatched empty air, and the now-limp sword tip instantly stiffened again, darting once more toward the spirit beast’s eye like a viper baring its fangs.

The beast was enraged.

It blocked its eyes with one hand while swinging its other arm like a long club in front of it, intent on striking down this cunning human instantly.

But Xie Nuanyi possessed exceptional martial skill.

His feet executed a set of marvelous steps, and his entire being sank into a wondrous state.

Thus, he weaved in and out around the Long-Armed Raccoon, his soft sword never straying from the beast’s eyes, ears, and other vulnerable organs with every thrust.

As for the spirit beast’s body, Xie Nuanyi hadn't even considered touching it.

He treated its two long arms with the utmost fear, daring not provoke them in the slightest.

In this manner, he circled the Long-Armed Raccoon with the speed of lightning.

While the situation appeared perilous, he should be able to protect himself for a short time.

Xie Mingjin’s expression grew solemn, and he murmured softly, "Form up for defense." At his words, the attendants immediately retreated a few steps, surrounding Xie Mingjin.

They maintained a very precise distance between each other—a formation that Xie family core attendants learned from childhood for confronting high-level cultivators.

Once the formation was complete, these eight individuals could hold off a cultivator at the ninth layer of internal energy for a period.

However, they all understood clearly that the might of a spirit beast was absolutely beyond what a ninth-layer cultivator could withstand.

If the beast managed to free a hand, their formation would likely offer little resistance.

But forming up now was merely a method of self-consolation.

As for aiding Xie Nuanyi, although they held the thought, they understood even more clearly that interfering now would not be helping, but merely adding trouble for the Second Master.

A confrontation of this magnitude was beyond their capacity to intervene in.

The piercing shrieks of the Long-Armed Raccoon continued to drift from the distance.

Looking at Xie Nuanyi struggling with all his might just to hold off that one beast, their faces grew faintly pale.

Who was this young man they had stumbled upon in the forest? The attendants who had earlier looked down on him and wished to subdue him were now ashen-faced, secretly grateful that they had not acted rashly.

Otherwise, forgetting the two enraged spirit beasts, even this young man alone might have accounted for all of them today.

He Yiming’s great broadsword spun like a violent storm.

Aside from one straight path leading backward, he allowed the Long-Armed Raccoon absolutely no possibility of escaping in any other direction.

At this moment, his spirit soared to an unparalleled height.

His entire internal energy churned restlessly, feeling as though it might burst forth from his body at any second.

Of course, this did not imply self-destruction, but rather a subtle, wondrous connection beginning to form with the surrounding space, hence the sensation.

He even felt that if this condition were allowed to continue, he might achieve the Innate Realm without needing to consume the Golden Elixir refined from a five-hundred-year spirit beast’s inner core.

In Taicang County, He Yiming constantly suppressed his power because he did not wish his grandfather or father to know his true capabilities.

This was because his progress had been too swift, so fast that even he found it unbelievable.

If he told the whole truth, he might truly be labeled a monster.

Even if he gained acceptance, it seemed impossible to explain with mere 'talent.' If this led to the exposure of his undersea encounter, his future development would absolutely spiral beyond his control.

Therefore, as long as he was at the He Family Estate, as long as he was in Taicang County, he instinctively concealed his true strength.

After two years, this had become a reflex.

Although he performed well, a massive and inescapable shadow had formed within his heart.

It was like a heavy shackle, gradually pressing the air from his lungs.

Yet, over these last three months, having entered the dense, sparsely populated forest, he had endured wind and lodging daily, traversing the mountains and woods.

He lived alongside wild beasts, using the sky as his quilt and the earth as his bed, spending three carefree months immersed in nature.

During these three months, his state of mind was blissful.

Both physically and spiritually, he felt no repression whatsoever.

Especially his spirit, which seemed to have undergone a great natural cleansing, leaving it crystal clear, as if utterly untainted.

The shadow that had weighed on his spirit for two years was thoroughly swept away.

It was precisely because of this, and because he was in this unfamiliar place, in the mountain range of the Fire Crow Nation, thousands of miles from the Tianluo Kingdom, that He Yiming finally let go of his emotional guard, speaking frankly with Xie Nuanyi and the others, and confronting the spirit beast without any concealment of his true power.

Here, he had absolutely no need to hide anything, nor any reason to do so.

Brilliant light flashed from He Yiming’s eyes; his face showed extreme excitement mixed with a trace of manic thrill.

His broadsword swings had evolved from relying solely on brute force and lack of structure to now incorporating a measure of 'Fist Intent.' It was akin to the Rolling Stone Fist: the broadsword flew, resembling a massive boulder, constantly maintaining immense pressure on the spirit beast—relentless and seemingly endless.

He had never considered integrating the techniques of the Rolling Stone Fist into his blade work, yet today, at this very moment, he inexplicably and naturally accomplished it.

It was as if he were born to wield the great broadsword and had practiced the Rolling Stone Blade Technique his entire life, perfectly integrating the essence of this fist art into the broadsword.

This was Fist Intent, not a mere technique, but the very core essence of martial arts.

If acquaintances like He Wude saw this display, they would surely be staggered by his performance once again.

“Haha, haha, hahahaha…” A hearty, unrestrained laugh erupted from He Yiming’s throat.

His broadsword grew faster and faster, whipping up a howling sound in the air, like ghosts crying and wolves howling.

The characteristic of the Rolling Stone Fist is that the longer it is executed, the greater the accumulated momentum becomes.

When facing an evenly matched opponent, as long as the sequence can be maintained without interruption, the Rolling Stone Fist will ultimately secure victory.

Of course, if the martial artist were forcefully interrupted mid-sequence, or harassed by some supreme skill that prevented the accumulation of momentum, the outcome would be different.

However, the Long-Armed Raccoon before him clearly lacked the ability to do so.

In its continuous retreat, it was already terrified by the great broadsword before it.

Moreover, it suddenly realized that shadows of the broadsword seemed to surround it on all sides; even the space where it could retreat was blocked by the stream-like flow of blade light.

No matter which direction it charged, it was met by this vast curtain of light.

Its dual arms, supposedly impervious like Vajra iron bones, felt as if they were being hammered by countless mallets upon impact, causing a pain that pierced the marrow.

Yet, resistance was equally unavoidable, as the blade light would occasionally penetrate the defense of its arms and strike its body.

At that moment, the potent internal energy contained within the blade struck it like a steel hammer or iron rod, leaving it dizzy and causing its movements to slow considerably.

In its memory, this was the first time it had felt the intense sensation of impending death, as if the Grim Reaper stood before it, awaiting its demise.

It dared not cling to any shred of hope.

Abruptly, the Long-Armed Raccoon raised its head high and emitted a series of ineffably shrill cries.

This long cry spread rapidly, and all creatures within earshot immediately fled in disarray toward the distance.

And at that moment, the Long-Armed Raccoon entangled with Xie Nuanyi also raised its head and let out an identical, piercing cry.

Then, it threw up one arm as a block and charged out, fleeing like the wind in the direction He Yiming had pursued.

Only after its form vanished did Xie Nuanyi stop.

His clothes now bore two long gashes—souvenirs of his momentary greed during the entanglement with the beast.

Fortunately, his cautious nature had prevented him from discarding his vigilance entirely and advancing recklessly; otherwise, the damage would have been to his body, not just his garment.

Against this type of spirit beast, the elaborate trickery of swordplay offered little advantage.

In contrast, the powerful and seemingly incredible strength displayed by He Yiming with his great broadsword proved far more effective.

But to wield the broadsword to a degree that even a spirit beast could not withstand—that feat was likely beyond the capabilities of everyone else.

“Father.” Seeing the spirit beast leave, Xie Mingjin immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

He stepped forward and said, "Let's leave quickly." A flicker of hesitation crossed Xie Nuanyi’s eyes.

He had seen the direction the spirit beast fled and had heard the cry—one impossible to ignore unless deaf—and naturally understood what that beast was rushing to do.

“Father, why do you still care about him?” Xie Mingjin urged anxiously.

“Now is the best opportunity to escape safely.

Do you intend to offer assistance? Or perhaps try to recruit that He Yiming?” Xie Nuanyi shot him a glance, sighing inwardly—how could his son comprehend a father’s mind? While he hesitated, Xie Mingjin grew anxious.

“Father, these two Long-Armed Raccoons haven’t attacked humans in recent years.

Why the sudden abnormality today, openly making enemies of us?” Xie Nuanyi paused slightly.

“You think it has something to do with that He Yiming?” “I don’t know,” Xie Mingjin replied with a wry smile.

“But no matter how strong he is, he cannot possibly face two Long-Armed Raccoons and win.

Father, let us depart.” Xie Nuanyi’s brows furrowed deeply.

Suddenly, he declared, “You all leave first.

I will follow to take a look.” Just as Xie Mingjin and the others prepared to object, Xie Nuanyi waved his hand.

“My expertise lies in swordplay and light-body techniques.

Even if those two Long-Armed Raccoons are together, I can at least manage an escape.

But you cannot.

If you cumbersome burdens slow me down, then even escape will be impossible.” Xie Mingjin and the others exchanged glances.

Xie Nuanyi’s face hardened, and he sternly commanded, “Hurry and go! Are you truly trying to drag me down?” Stamping his foot heavily, Xie Mingjin turned and left.

The seven attendants behind him bowed deeply to Xie Nuanyi.

One said, “Master, rest assured.

Even if we lose our lives, we will guarantee the Young Master returns safely.” Xie Nuanyi nodded slightly, and the seven attendants immediately followed Xie Mingjin.

Given their familiarity with the forest, they could safely exit within half a day at most.

In this wilderness, besides the two powerful Long-Armed Raccoon spirit beasts, no one else could threaten their party.

This was why Xie Nuanyi was so relaxed.

The furious roars of the Long-Armed Raccoon continued to echo from the distance, seemingly growing louder.

To Xie Nuanyi’s ears, every roar of the spirit beast sounded like a death charm, striking him with a sense of palpitation.

Xie Nuanyi shifted his long sword and headed in that direction.

As Xie Mingjin had suggested, he did not believe He Yiming could handle two Long-Armed Raccoons simultaneously.

Therefore, his current intention was merely to delay them for as long as he possibly could.

He was not staying for He Yiming; he was staying for his own son, Xie Mingjin.

Long-Armed Raccoons were known to be extremely vengeful spirit beasts.

Having fought once already, their intelligence meant they would have firmly memorized the appearance of everyone involved.

He Yiming and he might escape, but if they lost He Yiming’s aid and the two beasts pursued them, Xie Mingjin and his men would have no chance of survival.

Only by holding these two spirit beasts here did they have any hope of returning safely.

As for himself, he was fairly confident he could escape if necessary.

Xie Mingjin could not discern this complex calculation, but one of the attendants beside him understood perfectly, which was why he had given such an assurance.

As the battleground drew nearer, a powerful aura surged forth from Xie Nuanyi’s body.

At this moment, he had resolved that no matter the cost, he would cooperate with He Yiming to trap the two Long-Armed Raccoons here, preventing them from venting their rage upon Xie Mingjin’s party.

For this objective, sacrificing the newly met He Yiming would not be out of the question.