The crisp, resounding sound echoed again and again.

He Quanxin remained motionless. His movements didn't appear particularly fast, yet his outstretched palms managed to brush lightly against the four arms of the Xiao brothers with perfect timing.

However, the subsequent result was far beyond everyone's expectations.

This seemingly light touch resulted in a series of loud, sharp clangs, as if metal striking stone, and the Xiao brothers clearly did not yield ground.

He Quanxin’s expression immediately sobered. He was secretly astonished; the contact with their four arms had delivered an internal energy so incredibly potent that it nearly matched the energy he himself had exerted.

Though he hadn't used his full strength, he certainly hadn't underestimated his opponents. He was certain that even a ninth-level internal energy master would have been forced to retreat three paces after those four strikes. But seeing the brothers standing there, brimming with vitality, he couldn't help but wonder: could these two actually be tenth-level internal energy masters?

Once the Xiao brothers attacked, they gave no quarter. Their four arms swung in a continuous weave, sometimes sweeping out like iron whips, other times lashing like flexible strands. Simultaneously, their footwork executed a peculiar rhythm, darting up and down within the tiny space they occupied. Even He Quanxin found himself troubled, utterly unable to unleash a decisive, lethal blow.

He Yiming and the others had long since risen. Every eye was fixed upon the ongoing clash, not excluding Fan Hao Ri, who had come to provoke them.

The Xiao brothers’ movements accelerated. Not only were their dual arms spinning like flying shuttles, but the swiftness of their footwork left spectators breathless.

Even Yuan Chengzhi, an eighth-level internal energy master, found his vision blurring, completely unable to track their combined movements.

Yet, the only one who could truly discern the mystery behind their technique was He Yiming alone.

His eyes were slightly narrowed. In his perception, while the martial art used for the Xiao brothers' arm movements was rare, it wasn't overwhelmingly profound. By observing his grand-uncle maintaining a steady, mountain-like stance, he knew the brothers wouldn't be able to overcome him easily.

What baffled He Yiming, however, was the sheer power of the internal energy they generated through their arms—it vastly exceeded the known limits of a ninth-level expert. Even a ninth-level expert, after sustained preparation, might struggle to unleash such fierce power. If not for this, He Quanxin's tenth-level internal energy, with a casual strike, should have been enough to push them back and injure them, certainly not allowing this continuous onslaught.

Of course, the footwork of these two men was enigmatic. Once deployed, it moved like mist and rain, making its secrets impossible to grasp.

He Yiming inwardly flinched. If even he, a Master of the Innate Realm, could not see through this strange movement technique, then it was no wonder his grand-uncle couldn't fully commit to an attack.

Slowly, He Yiming's focus sharpened intensely. In his mind, a wondrous scene began to unfold.

It was an empty space where two swirling clouds of mist spun rapidly. After every rotation, they underwent a subtle, strange transformation—sometimes agile, sometimes heavy. The two clouds merged and scattered, separated and rejoined, each formation distinct, a myriad of endless variations.

He Yiming’s brow and temples began to throb faintly. His core felt charged with power, as if he might explode at any moment.

His heart raced with excitement. Appearing alongside the swirling mists in his mind were a pair of hands—nimble hands that seemed boneless.

These hands were constantly shifting, but all their movements remained indistinct, as if veiled by a thin gauze, forever just beyond his clear sight.

Gradually, the two clouds vanished, and the hands disappeared. What churned in He Yiming’s mind transformed into clouds and rain.

The ethereal, undulating clouds; the pervasive rain...

Vaguely, he began to understand.

The reason these two dared to challenge He Quanxin with only ninth-level internal energy wasn't recklessness; it was a calculated plan.

Every swing of the Xiao brothers' arms generated a force far greater than that of an ordinary ninth-level expert. This power alone was enough to make his grand-uncle wary. But their true reliance lay in this mysterious footwork.

If he wasn't mistaken, this must be an Innate Skill.

An Innate Lightness Skill, one that must have been perceived by some ancient master observing the movement of rain and clouds, thus lending him that feeling of ethereal intangibility.

Through this set of movements, He Yiming was suddenly reminded of the Cloud-Rain Seal utilized in Lin Tao Li’s Innate Seal Arts.

Rain-cloud, cloud-rain—these two techniques, the footwork and the hand seal, continuously emerged in He Yiming’s mind, cross-referencing and integrating, undergoing a subtle, indescribable transformation.

If the progenitors who created these two techniques knew their methods were being examined and altered under such circumstances, they would surely be utterly shocked and disbelieving.

They had managed to create such profound techniques only after decades or even centuries steeped in the phenomena of rain and clouds, stumbling upon the Way of Heaven and Earth’s shifting patterns.

Though innate experts of the Acquired Realm possessed exceptional talent and could learn Innate Skills prematurely, it was merely mimicry, tracing the outline. Executing three or four-tenths of the technique’s true potential was already the limit.

Yet, He Yiming was now probing the fundamental power of these two techniques, derived from mere three-tenths efficiency—a development truly terrifying and unimaginable.

Slowly, the rain and clouds in He Yiming’s mind grew clearer. He had forgotten everything, submerged entirely in a space uniquely his own.

Fortunately, everyone else in the hall was absorbed by the fight between He Quanxin and the Xiao brothers, too preoccupied to notice him. Otherwise, his strange state would certainly have been discovered.

At that very moment, however, a resonant roar erupted from He Quanxin's throat.

This roar struck the Xiao brothers’ chests like a massive hammer, momentarily halting their flowing, seamless footwork.

Immediately following this, He Quanxin finally launched his own attack.

While Earth element techniques were the strongest in defense among the Five Elements, when the Earth element began its counterattack, it was equally fierce and overwhelming.

He Quanxin’s two palms struck toward the chests of the Xiao brothers like giant axes. These two strikes carried the full force of peak tenth-level internal energy, accompanied by two thunderous roars, clearly indicating a resolve to kill.

Fan Hao Ri’s face instantly paled. He was the only one present who knew the background of these two brothers. If they died here, it wouldn't just bring ruin to the Yuan family; his own Fan family would likely be deeply implicated.

But in a confrontation of this magnitude, there was no role for him to play. So, though his face had drained of all color, he could only watch helplessly.

Just then, the four arms of the Xiao brothers retracted simultaneously, cleverly shielding their chests. He Quanxin’s two palms struck their arms, sending them flying backward like arrows. After executing a somersault in mid-air, they managed to land.

Impacted by the powerful surge of tenth-level internal energy, they stumbled back several steps, their faces briefly paling before they regained their footing.

He Yiming inwardly lamented the missed opportunity—not because the brothers were safe, but because they hadn't managed to hold out a little longer.

Under their footwork moments ago, even Lin Tao Li’s Cloud-Rain Seal seemed on the verge of having its veil lifted, leading to sudden enlightenment.

But at this critical juncture, the outcome was decided, abruptly shattering He Yiming’s developing comprehension.

If possible, He Yiming truly wished their contest could have lasted longer. Perhaps just a moment more, and he might have achieved his breakthrough. But now, his insight was undone.

In truth, even he couldn't comprehend how he had suddenly entered that state of spontaneous enlightenment. Nor could he be sure if another opportunity would arise for him to re-enter that state.

When transcribing the Bone-Melting Art in the He Family Village library, he had experienced a similar, magical state, but since then, no matter how he tried, that feeling never returned.

Unconscious epiphany and conscious striving produced vastly different results.

That was why he felt such regret...

A flicker of disappointment also crossed He Quanxin's face. Such a fierce, charged blow had failed to severely wound the two brothers. The next time, finding such an opportunity might prove impossible.

However, he quickly composed himself and fixed his gaze on the Xiao brothers' arms.

At that moment, the sleeves covering their four arms were completely torn, fluttering in the air like fragments of butterflies.

Revealed beneath the shredded cloth were two bare, robust arms. The most striking feature upon these arms were the four glittering, golden bracers. These four bracers covered everything from their wrists up to their elbows. Such extensive coverage was highly unusual.

He Yiming’s eyes brightened. He faintly suspected that the reason the Xiao brothers could unleash their internal energy to such a terrifying degree was due to these four bracers.

Taking a deep breath, He Quanxin spoke aloud, “I have long heard that within certain ancestral families spanning millennia, there often exist powerful, unique artifacts that possess miraculous functions. If my eyes do not deceive me, the bracers on the arms of you two Xiao brothers are precisely such special artifacts.”

Xiao Yi Fan sneered, “Brother He has sharp eyes. Correct, what my brother and I wear are Da Shen Armguards.”

He Quanxin nodded slightly, his expression heavy.

Fan Hao Ri’s first thought upon seeing such fine goods was to seize them by force. But upon seeing the golden bracers, He Quanxin immediately considered the brothers’ origins.

Those capable of possessing such miraculous armguards were unlikely to be simple figures. Who knew what power stood behind them? If a great family with a thousand-year heritage supported them, even summoning his father from Taicang County might not be enough to deal with the situation.

Fan Hao Ri’s frantic heartbeat finally returned to normal. By sheer luck, the two brothers seemed only slightly injured—though this was already the limit of what he could tolerate.

He quickly descended, approaching the two brothers. Turning around, he announced, “Uncle Yuan, my father asked me to convey a message: please arrange for you and Second Master Ze Yu to move out quickly. Otherwise, my father will personally accompany Grandmaster Ze Wei here to reclaim what belongs to his esteemed elder.”

With that, he offered a slight bow and turned, pulling the Xiao brothers away.

When these two first entered, they carried an air of arrogance so profound they barely seemed to acknowledge He Quanxin, a demeanor far surpassing even Fan Hao Ri’s own. But after that brief battle, their haughtiness was significantly tempered, especially towards He Quanxin, whose image was now shaded with deep apprehension.

Yuan Chengzhi did not speak to ask them to stay, but watched their retreating figures with deep concern.

He had assumed the Fan family possessed only one tenth-level expert, but unexpectedly, two ninth-level experts had appeared, and these two were far beyond ordinary peers. Together, they had managed to tangle with a tenth-level internal energy master for a considerable time.

Although they ultimately lost, even He Quanxin’s full-force strike failed to kill them. If He Quanxin were tied up by Fan Shu He in the official confrontation ten days later, who would deal with these two brothers?

His gaze involuntarily shifted to He Yiming, and his eyes lit up. Perhaps only He Yiming, with his heaven-defying, god-like strength, could possibly hold off those two.

He Yiming pondered for a moment, then asked, “Grand-uncle, what exactly are those arm coverings they wear?”

He Quanxin let out a wry smile, “I have never seen these things myself, only heard your grandfather mention them a few times.” He paused, as if gathering his thoughts, and after a moment continued, “It is said that in the great nation to the east of the continent, named Da Shen, there reside countless skilled artisans capable of forging strange items from the essence of heaven and earth into weapons or defensive gear of tremendous power. When such items fall into the hands of us cultivators, they can amplify our inherent strength manifold.”

A sharp glint flashed in He Yiming’s eyes. He immediately recalled the situation moments ago—the powerful force exerted by the Xiao brothers on every strike, exceeding that of a ninth-level master. He had initially been confused, assuming it was some miraculous Innate Skill, but now he was certain: it must be the peculiar effect of these Da Shen Armguards.

Yuan Chengzhi stepped forward two paces, his expression grim. Anyone would look displeased to see two formidable experts suddenly added to the enemy’s ranks.

“Nephew Yiming, actually, these marvelous weapons and defenses are not only forged in Da Shen; even our Northwestern Kingdoms produce them.”

He Yiming was slightly taken aback. “Why have I never seen them before, Junior Uncle?”

Yuan Chengzhi gave a dry laugh, “These items cannot be crafted by ordinary blacksmiths. It is rumored that only experts in the Innate Realm have the potential to forge such weapons and defenses.”

He Yi Tian sucked in a sharp breath. It was the first time he had heard of such weapons and armor. Though he understood their immense value, if they originated from Innate masters, they were utterly beyond his aspirations.

He Yiming remained composed and calmly asked, “Uncle Yuan, do you know who is capable of forging them?”

Yuan Chengzhi’s expression grew solemn. “Within the Northwestern Kingdoms, there are hidden sects, and amongst them, Innate experts surely reside. Among them, there must be masters skilled in crafting such powerful weapons and defenses. Besides them, the three major powers of the Northwest also possess experts in this area, but inviting them to forge something is nearly impossible.”

He Yiming nodded slightly, but he paid close attention.

Yuan Chengzhi sighed deeply. “These two armguards must possess some special ability, which is why they could contend with Brother He for so long using only those four arms.”

He Quanxin gently shook his head. “These two are not just about the armguards; their own skill is considerable.”

He Yiming thought to himself that his grand-uncle’s insight was superior. While the armguards were formidable, how could four inanimate objects hold back his grand-uncle for so long? Their true strength lay in their Innate Footwork. It was because they had successfully cultivated an Innate Battle Skill in the Acquired Realm that they could challenge those of a higher level.

Thinking of this miraculous Innate Battle Skill, He Yiming’s spirit burned with heat once more, yet he also felt deep regret.

Yuan Chengzhi looked even more worried. “Alas, if Brother He cannot intervene ten days from now, what then?”

He Yiming smiled wryly. “Uncle Yuan need not worry. Though those two armguards are fine, the Great Guan Dao in my hands is no ordinary iron. It is more than enough to make them pay dearly for their challenge.”

He spoke these words with absolute confidence. In his mind, he added: even if the Great Guan Dao couldn't cut through their armguards, severing their four arms would not be difficult.

The supreme saber technique of the Thirty-Six Forms of Mountain Splitting, wielded by an Innate master—if it couldn't subdue two Acquired Realm cultivators, He Yiming might as well hang himself.

Yuan Chengzhi’s face brightened considerably. He had been waiting for these words from He Yiming. Despite his anxiety after witnessing the Xiao brothers’ power, among those present, only He Yiming, with his unmatched divine strength, could provide him with such a sense of reassurance.

Ps: Another chapter in two minutes ^_^