Yet, within this deep, secluded courtyard, a powerful, almost tangible aura permeated the air. Fortunately, all the servants and menials in the vicinity had been relocated beforehand; otherwise, this sudden shift would have caused immense shock and stimulation to everyone.

In the quiet room, He Yiming's body had transformed as if into a blazing furnace; the Fire-element internal energy was pushed to its extreme, seemingly burning with his body as fuel.

His clothes instantly disintegrated into ash, and even the rush cushion beneath him suffered collateral damage, utterly ruined.

It was fortunate that the four walls of this quiet room were constructed of brick and stone; a wooden structure might not have survived intact.

However, at this moment, He Yiming's heart was filled with an intense anticipation. He could already feel that the might of the Blazing Fire Technique had reached its limit, but under the infusion and catalysis of the Withered Wood Technique, the power of this skill was still climbing.

Finally, all the accumulated energy of the tenth layer of the Withered Wood Technique converted into sustenance, poured into the Blazing Fire Technique.

That incredibly powerful force erupted abruptly.

This was a mutation, a qualitative change in energy. The Blazing Fire Technique was no longer the acquired skill it once was; after absorbing the essence of the Withered Wood Technique, it transformed into a skill of an entirely different nature.

He Yiming’s body surface convulsed violently, as if countless sharp needles were piercing him.

After cultivating the Withered Wood Technique, the human body’s resistance to pain had already increased substantially. Not to mention that needle pricks caused no pain, even a sword slash might not inflict much harm upon He Yiming.

But this current sensation of being needled far exceeded the limits He Yiming could imagine. It was as if countless drills were operating within his body, intersecting from the inside out and the outside in, boring countless openings through his frame.

This seemed to be a pain beyond human endurance, even inducing a feeling worse than death.

However, this sensation lasted only for an instant.

After that moment, the feeling vanished.

And when all the pain disappeared, He Yiming’s spirit was instantly invigorated. He felt a strange energy surging wildly from outside his body into his internal structure.

This was not internal energy converted from his body’s stamina, but energy absorbed from the external environment.

This energy was drawn in by the mutated Blazing Fire Technique within him, which is why it ceaselessly flooded into his body. His body was like a container expanded tenfold, and the energy poured in ceaselessly, rapidly filling every inch of space within that vessel.

His skin, muscles, internal bones, viscera, every organ, every cell, underwent subtle transformations under the impact of this energy.

It was like being immersed in a scorching hot spring, making his body feel intensely comfortable to the extreme.

This was the cleansing of energy, causing a momentous change in his body. Not only was his physical strength increased unbelievably, but his lifespan was also increasing in an imperceptible manner under this strange metamorphosis.

The energy transmitted from the outside carried a hint of negligible warmth, which made him realize that the energy he absorbed was actually Fire-element energy, the Fire-attribute energy belonging to the natural world.

This was because he was currently advancing using the Blazing Fire Technique; if he were using a technique of a different attribute, the energy he absorbed would likely change accordingly.

He inhaled deeply, savoring the wondrous, extreme changes occurring within him.

Finally, the surging external energy slowed down, and the openings that had appeared on his body were mended under the energy's purification. However, these openings did not close completely; instead, they resonated subtly with He Yiming’s spirit.

Soon, He Yiming reacted immediately: those so-called openings were actually the body's major acupoints, the vital junctions through which the meridians traveled.

But what astonished him was that the number of these openings far exceeded the known seventy-two major acupoints, leading him to understand that human acupuncture points numbered far more than one hundred and eight.

The external energy continued to pour into his body ceaselessly, suddenly giving He Yiming an impulse, a wild urge to vent.

Instinctively, He Yiming knew this was the berserk power within Fire energy, especially since it was entering his body for the first time; it would place an enormous burden on him, and if he couldn't vent it quickly, it could even cause him grave harm.

His eyes suddenly snapped open, and he raised both palms high, striking out toward the empty space above his head.

"Boom…"

The suppressed, powerful internal energy—or perhaps it should now be called True Qi energy—finally found a massive outlet. In an instant, it coalesced into a single mass and surged out wildly.

A tremendous explosion echoed from above the quiet room. The brick-and-stone roof of the chamber was blasted away without any resistance. The entire roof was pulverized into fragments by this immense, unbelievable force and shot into the distance.

Not only that, the fine gravel and the dust filling the air did not dissipate but swirled skyward like a vortex, carried by He Yiming's surging True Qi.

Instantly, a massive red tornado materialized in the sky, radiating an intense heatwave that no one dared approach.

※※※※

Such a colossal disturbance would awaken even those deep in slumber at midnight, let alone occurring in broad daylight under a clear sky.

Almost the moment the explosion sounded, the three foremost experts at the Tenth Layer of Internal Energy in the Xie Residence arrived outside their respective rooms.

Xie Nanhang, Xie Nuanyi, and Xie Zhi’en, the only Daoist priest in the Xie family to have lived past a hundred years, stared dumbfounded at the strange tornado erupting from a building within the Xie Residence.

Though distant, the three of them simultaneously felt an immense oppressive sensation, heavy as Mount Tai, yet utterly inviolable. It was a power beyond their comprehension and experience; facing it, even numerous Postnatal experts would stand no chance of resistance.

At this moment, the commotion centered around this room was not confined to the Xie Residence.

In Yingfeng City, masters from the other three great families, as well as experts from the Fire Crow Nation's Imperial Family, all witnessed this sudden, yet strangely confined, fire-red tornado.

Every face held a strange expression; some showed envy, others admiration, but more were deeply troubled.

In the Imperial Palace stood a massive pagoda, ten zhang high.

Even the King of the Fire Crow Nation dared not act presumptuously beneath this tower, for within it resided an elder of the Imperial Family.

He was the guardian deity of the Fire Crow Imperial line, the protector of the Fire Crow Nation, and the only expert in the entire nation who had reached the Innate Realm.

At this moment, he glanced at the clearly visible, bizarre tornado in the distance. After a long consideration, he finally issued an order that threw the entire palace into chaos.

※※※※

It took a full quarter of an hour before He Yiming felt his internal meridians fully recover, the furious sensation entirely vented.

He retracted his hands, and the powerful True Qi completely subsided, while the red tornado in the sky vanished without a trace.

Looking at the devastation surrounding him, he sighed inwardly. Had he known advancing to the Innate Realm would cause such a commotion, he would have fled elsewhere long ago rather than staying at the Xie Residence.

The surroundings were covered in dust, but his body remained spotless.

Glancing at his completely bare form, He Yiming slightly shook his head, then suddenly felt a jolt, crying out mentally that something was wrong.

His body shifted subtly, and he moved with ghost-like swiftness to a corner of the quiet room.

After checking the paper and jade bottle, which were merely covered in a layer of dust with no other damage, the anxiety he had felt subsided.

The alchemical formulas were inconsequential; with his current strength, even if he openly requested copies, the Xie family wouldn't dare refuse. But the jade bottle contained five Limit Golden Pills; losing those would have been too great a pity.

He Yiming had advanced to the Innate Realm while staying with the Xie family; not only had they hosted him generously, but he had also received guidance from Xie Zhi’en. No matter how thick his skin, he wouldn't dare covet the Xie family's Golden Pills now.

He picked up the items from the floor, casually brushed them off, and with one step, he was outside the inner room. Although the roof of the inner chamber had been completely destroyed, the outer area remained largely unaffected.

His steps didn't falter, and in an instant, he passed through the outer hall and entered Xie Mingjin’s bedroom.

They were similar in age and build. Casually, he picked out an outfit to change into. Although slightly large, it was infinitely better than being naked.

Of course, having grown up in a powerful noble household, Xie Mingjin had never worried about clothing. His bedroom contained not only dozens of sets of clothes but also many brand-new shoes and socks, which He Yiming accepted without hesitation.

Just as he finished dressing, he sensed the hubbub outside and people cautiously approaching the courtyard.

That's right; he didn't just hear them, he sensed them.

Within a hundred meters centered on him, nothing seemed able to escape his perception.

It was a magical feeling, as if after absorbing the Fire-element energy of heaven and earth, he had formed an incredibly subtle connection with that energy. And through this omnipresent Fire energy, via the absorption, expulsion, and exchange with his body, he could miraculously sense the scene within a hundred meters.

Of course, this visual perception was still very blurry, no better than listening with his ears when it came to discerning moving objects. However, when sensing static objects and the surrounding atmosphere, the clarity surpassed that of using his ears.

He could even sense that within eighty meters, there was a circle of attendants. These people vaguely held a line, exchanging glances, fear etched in every eye. But no matter how many more gathered, none dared cross that invisible boundary.

Suddenly, a person came running from a distance. From his footsteps and breathing, He Yiming knew it was Xie Mingjin.

He didn't know where he had been, as he only arrived now. But unlike the attendants, he charged straight in, shouting loudly, "Brother He, are you there?"

He Yiming felt a warmth in his heart. Had Xie Mingjin shown the slightest hesitation just now, He Yiming would have begun to distance himself. As for the assistance the Xie family provided him, he would repay it slowly later. But Xie Mingjin, just like in the dense forest, rushed in without regard for consequences.

This kind of character might not be favored in large families, but it allowed He Yiming to feel his genuine friendship. Once this fellow identified you as a friend, he would never abandon you.

Stepping out, He Yiming traversed several zhang in a flash, appearing before him.

Although He Yiming hadn't cultivated any specific movement techniques, his current immense power allowed him to effortlessly achieve feats that even Postnatal experts using special skills couldn't manage.

Innate versus Postnatal—though only one realm apart, the gap was already insurmountable and impossible to close.

"Brother Xie, I am here," He Yiming said with a cheerful laugh. "Everything is fine, though I accidentally ruined your meditation room."

Xie Mingjin looked at He Yiming and breathed a sigh of relief. "As long as you are well, it’s just a meditation room…" He suddenly stopped, looking seriously at He Yiming, feeling that he was different from a few hours ago, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly how.

After a moment, his eyes lit up. "Brother He, your clothes?"

He Yiming coughed lightly and chuckled, "I accidentally burned my clothes just now, so I'm borrowing a set. Please forgive me."

Xie Mingjin waved his hand and asked, "What happened just now? Why such a huge disturbance? I hope it didn't alert the Elder Uncle."

He Yiming smiled slightly. Although he hadn't met the head of the Xie family, seeing Xie Mingjin's expression, he knew this must be a strict elder. However, even an elder at the Innate Realm probably didn't have the right to put on airs in front of him now, did he?

His expression shifted suddenly, and he looked up toward the doorway, smiling, "Brother Xie, I'm afraid it's too late."

"Too late for what?" Xie Mingjin asked suspiciously.

"Your Elder Uncle is already here."

Xie Mingjin's face instantly changed dramatically, but before he could press further, a very familiar voice was heard: "Is Mr. He present? I, Xie Nanhang, have come to pay my respects."

Xie Mingjin’s eyes widened, staring at He Yiming as if he had seen a ghost.

That voice was his Elder Uncle's, Xie Nanhang, the current head of the Xie family. Yet, the tone of the voice conveyed caution, respect, and appeasement that even an idiot could recognize.

He had seen the red tornado swirling above the roof, but seeing it was one thing, understanding its meaning was another. His experience simply didn't match that of Xie Nanhang and the others, and he had never witnessed the might of an Innate Realm expert, so his failure to recognize the secret was understandable.

He Yiming smiled faintly, nodded at the wooden-like Xie Mingjin, and then said, "I am here. Head Xie, please come in."

The three of them entered one after another. Upon seeing them, Xie Mingjin's shock intensified beyond measure.

It turned out the three giants of the family were all present at this moment. Only then did he vaguely begin to understand something. Looking from the ruined meditation room to He Yiming, his eyes were filled with disbelief.

Xie Nanhang and the other two were surprised to find Xie Mingjin standing beside He Yiming. Seeing them standing shoulder-to-shoulder, they seemed quite friendly. But after exchanging a glance, they seemed to ignore it all.

"Mr. He, congratulations, congratulations." Xie Nanhang strode forward, stopping not far from He Yiming, and bowed deeply with a beaming smile.

Xie Mingjin’s eye twitched twice and he quickly stepped aside; he dared not accept the family head’s great courtesy.

He Yiming frowned slightly, hesitated, but returned a similar gesture. "Head Xie is too polite. I succeeded by a fluke, and it is all thanks to Old Master Xie Zhi’en of your esteemed residence." Saying this, he bowed deeply to Xie Zhi’en. This statement was utterly sincere; without the old man's guidance, He Yiming would likely have had to venture into the dense forest to find spirit beasts centuries old.

But having entered the Innate Realm, He Yiming now knew that if a five-hundred-year-old spirit beast could absorb the Qi of heaven and earth like him, even if he encountered one, he would likely be the one forced to flee.

The difference between Innate and Postnatal was just too vast; only by experiencing it personally could one grasp the true feeling.

Xie Zhi’en waved his hands repeatedly. This old man, over a hundred years old, sighed deeply. "So, Mr. He is also a genius who cultivates dual systems. I am ashamed to be showing off my paltry skills before you."

He found it strange: since He Yiming understood two top-tier cultivation methods based on mutually generating internal energy, he must have inherited them from some major sect or great family.

But why had no one told him the principle even after reaching the tenth layer? If he hadn't mentioned it inadvertently, perhaps He Yiming would still be stuck. However, he merely pondered this question briefly and could never guess the true reason.

He Yiming smiled and shook his head. "Senior Xie, the guidance you offered has helped me beyond imagination. My rapid advancement to the Innate Realm is truly due to your instruction." He paused, considering for a moment, then said, "Within three years, I will surely repay this favor to you, Senior."

The light in Xie Zhi’en's eyes suddenly flared with brilliance, and his voice trembled slightly: "Mr.... Mr. He, what did you say?"

He Yiming nodded slightly, his gaze filled with sincerity. "My father often taught me: one must repay a drop of kindness with a surging spring."

Xie Zhi’en’s lips trembled twice, and finally, he stepped forward, bowing deeply to the floor. "Thank you, Mr. He, for granting this wish."

Xie Nanhang and his brother were simultaneously overjoyed and surprised. They exchanged a look and also bowed. Only then did Xie Mingjin fully understand, looking at He Yiming with a wry smile—what kind of monster had his father brought home?

Ps: While I was editing, my daughter suddenly came over and told me there was a parent-teacher meeting tonight at 6:30 PM. Baihe suddenly remembered.

I've been dizzy these past few days and completely forgot about it. It’s already 6:20 now, so I’m uploading immediately and setting the release time for 7:30 PM. I hope the kindergarten parent meeting ends soon; if not, the release might be slightly delayed, but I promise to upload. Please forgive me, brothers; Baihe has been so engrossed in writing that I haven't heard anything outside.

Sweat|...

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