The moon washed the courtyard in shades of ash and white, the stars claiming the entirety of the night sky. A profound, ineffable stillness settled over the estate as night deepened, weighted with a solemn gravity.

Inside his own room, He Yiming’s thoughts remained anchored to the three visitors from the Fan family yesterday.

Fan Haoyue was naturally outside his immediate consideration. The man was slightly older than elder brother Yiming, and his Inner Force cultivation seemed a notch higher, though he hadn't yet reached the peak of the Seventh Layer. Still, among his generation, Fan Haoyue was certainly a figure of note.

Though He Yiming's travels hadn't been extensive, he had encountered numerous young talents, especially among the Four Great Clans of the Huo Luo Kingdom, whose younger generations were teeming with experts. However, reaching the peak of the Seventh Layer before the age of twenty-five was exceedingly rare, a true handful of geniuses.

For someone like Lin Taoli to achieve the Ninth Layer of Inner Force before turning forty was even more scarce.

Yet, after the experience at the Xie Estate, He Yiming understood that Lin Taoli’s attainment of that level must have involved consuming quite a few Golden Elixirs. Beyond the Limit Golden Elixirs that aided breakthroughs, there were Vitality Golden Elixirs that rapidly restored energy, facilitating the conversion of Inner Force. If Lin Taoli had reached his current state without ever consuming these two types of elixirs, He Yiming would never believe it.

Therefore, for young masters like He Yiming and Fan Haori, who grew up in common aristocratic families, reaching the peak of the Seventh Layer before thirty was already the mark of a once-in-decades genius.

He Yiming, of course, was an exception; following his extraordinary encounter in the lake, his advancement could no longer be measured by ordinary standards.

However, despite Fan Haori’s excellence, he did not occupy He Yiming’s primary concern. His focus was fixed upon the brothers from the Xiao family who had accompanied Fan Haori.

The strength of these two was extraordinary. Having those peculiar protective bracers was one thing, but what truly captivated He Yiming was their incredible footwork technique.

Ever since those two departed yesterday, He Yiming had sequestered himself in his room, striving with all his might to reconstruct that set of movements. He even entertained the idea of integrating this footwork with the Cloud Rain Seal that Lin Taoli had employed, forging a complete, personal movement art.

He Yiming had a strong premonition: once this martial art was fully realized, it would undoubtedly be a Primordial Technique.

But creating a Primordial Technique was no simple feat. Even with He Yiming’s miraculous fortuitous encounter and having witnessed two distinct but fundamentally related techniques, completion remained elusive.

With a long sigh, He Yiming finally opened his eyes.

A sharp gleam flashed within them as he privately calculated the possibility of capturing the Xiao brothers alive and extorting the secrets of their Primordial Movement Art from them.

This thought, however, was merely a fleeting impulse; in his current state, he was not yet so utterly ruthless.

Suddenly, He Yiming tilted his head slightly, an expression of utter astonishment crossing his face.

If his hearing hadn't deceived him, a master expert was scaling the walls and infiltrating the estate under the cover of tonight’s darkness. If not for the presence of a master like He Yiming—a Primordial Realm expert—no one else would have detected the slightest disturbance. At the very least, He Yiming was certain his Uncle He Quanxin would have remained completely unaware.

But in the next moment, He Yiming's expression shifted to one of intense excitement.

He recognized the movement skill of the intruder scaling the wall—it was exceptionally refined. More importantly, this person's technique bore a striking resemblance to that of the Xiao brothers.

Yet, a moment later, He Yiming definitively concluded that this visitor could not possibly be one of the Xiao brothers.

The intruder’s Inner Force was not at the Ninth Layer; he had already attained the Tenth Layer of Inner Force, the pinnacle for a Houtian (Post-Heaven) master. Although he had only recently advanced, the difference between the Tenth and Ninth Layers was considerable.

Furthermore, while the movement style used was similar to the Xiao brothers' Primordial Movement Art, it was only similar; the intruder had clearly not mastered the true essence of that technique.

He Yiming mused for a moment, then understood. This person likely had some connection to the Xiao family, but lacked their innate talent for cultivating movement arts, which is why he couldn't master the Primordial Movement Art.

Indeed, a Primordial Battle Technique was an object of immense power. Beyond possessing absolutely superlative, extreme talent, not just anyone could learn one. Even a Tenth Layer Houtian master might not necessarily be able to master a complementary Primordial Battle Technique.

A cold smile touched He Yiming's lips as his mind raced. Since this person had arrived, he certainly deserved a proper reception.

He gently opened the door, and under the subtle control of his True Qi, not a whisper of sound escaped.

With increased use of True Qi, He Yiming was gaining deeper comprehension. In combat, channeling large amounts of True Qi into a weapon could yield tremendous power. However, not all weapons could withstand the corrosive nature of True Qi. Unless forged with refined Steel Magnetite or minerals of equivalent grade, potent True Qi could melt metal and dissolve gold; in a close fight, channeling excessive True Qi into an ordinary weapon would likely destroy one's own blade before damaging the opponent.

Conversely, in daily life, directing only minute traces of True Qi could offer significant assistance without risking damage to surrounding objects.

The longer he remained in the Primordial Realm, the more experience he gained with True Qi, the more he felt unable to do without it.

His form shifted almost imperceptibly, and He Yiming strode forward. His footfalls appeared heavy, yet his soles seemed wrapped in thick cotton padding, or perhaps transformed into the padded paws of a cat, transmitting absolutely no sound. He had never specifically trained a movement technique, but under the influence of True Qi, achieving a silent landing was effortlessly simple.

Just as He Yiming was leaving his courtyard, his pace abruptly halted. A strange look washed over his face.

He couldn't tell if this nighttime visitor was lucky or truly doomed. As the intruder advanced deeper into the estate, his Uncle He Quanxin suddenly rose and stepped outside as well.

He Yiming felt a surge of surprise. Had his uncle detected the infiltration?

A moment later, He Quanxin pushed open his door, and in that instant, his peripheral vision caught sight of a dark shadow. Almost simultaneously, that shadow turned its head, and their gazes locked in mid-air.

It was the look of someone prepared. The gaze, sharp and chilling, carried an aggressive momentum. Though the intruder’s face was masked by a black cloth, his posture was unnervingly rigid, standing bolt upright like a stake without the slightest bend.

Instantly, both He Yiming and He Quanxin understood: this person hadn't sneaked in under the cover of night to engage in petty thievery. He had come to confront He Quanxin openly.

He Yiming sighed internally; he had underestimated this man. A peak Houtian master at the Tenth Layer of Inner Force naturally possessed his own dignity, refusing to be slighted even when operating under the veil of night.

He Quanxin’s gaze sharpened. He immediately sensed the powerful aura emanating from the opponent. This was an expert of the same rank, a formidable peer not weaker than himself. Facing such a master, the blood within He Quanxin began to stir. Since advancing to the Tenth Layer of Inner Force, he hadn't encountered a true challenge.

Within the He Estate, whether it was Elder He Wude or his monstrous nephew He Yiming, neither could engage him in a life-or-death struggle. Yesterday’s Xiao brothers, despite their formidable martial prowess, were still not Tenth Layer experts; sparring with them was hardly satisfying. But now, before him stood an equal, which naturally excited He Quanxin, known throughout the clan as the Martial Arts Obsessive.

As if sensing He Quanxin’s fighting spirit, the masked man took a sharp step forward. In that single stride, he was already in front of He Quanxin. As he charged, he brought with him an intense, searing heat, and the hands he thrust forward were terrifyingly like heated iron rods.

He Yiming’s heart leaped. This was a Fire Element cultivation method, and one operating at the Tenth Layer, possessing immense destructive power. Among the Five Elements, perhaps Fire wasn't the strongest in sheer destructive force, but in terms of aggression, it was unmatched. When a Fire cultivation method is pushed to its extreme, the aura—as if ready to scorch the heavens and boil the seas—erupts like a volcanic explosion.

“Whoosh…”

The surrounding air was instantly affected, becoming dry and scorching. The small flowers and weeds on the ground across the path he crossed withered instantly.

Bright light flickered in He Quanxin’s eyes. He did not shout but opted for an equally silent counterattack. His hands pushed forward evenly, as if an insurmountable, colossal mountain stood before him. Yet, this push conveyed the impression that even a mountain could be felled by his effort. The profound, heavy stability of the Earth Element cultivation was displayed flawlessly in this instant.

It was precisely in this unrestrained, fully confrontational exchange that one could unleash their most prized abilities. In that moment, He Quanxin felt mentally refreshed, his entire being brimming with peak vitality.

“Boom…”

A massive collision resonated from where their palms met. The masked man abruptly advanced, then recoiled sharply. His hands, flushed red then pale, showed signs of slight discoloration. He Quanxin’s feet were planted wide apart, sinking several inches into the earth. A flash of crimson light emanated from his body, and a scorch mark appeared on his outer robe. However, it was merely superficial damage to his clothing, causing no substantive harm.

Though this strike appeared evenly matched, He Yiming, observing from the outside, knew his uncle’s Inner Force was marginally superior, and the stone in his heart finally settled.

When masters of the same rank fight, a hairline difference spells a thousand miles of distance. It was this minuscule difference; unless the masked man possessed some secret technique, he had virtually no chance of winning.

If one of the Xiao brothers had broken through to the Tenth Layer, He Yiming would have worried for his uncle. After all, those two mastered a Primordial Movement Art. A Houtian practitioner wielding a Primordial Battle Technique is virtually unbeatable among their peers.

But this man was different. He clearly had not mastered that Primordial Battle Technique; he had only learned a flawed version of the movement art. How could he hope to defeat He Quanxin? He Quanxin was no novice; he had trained in martial arts for decades, earning the praise of He Wude himself as the clan's martial arts enthusiast. Especially since he cultivated the most stable of the Five Element arts: the Earth Element. The defining characteristic of this technique was solidity and stability. Unless facing a technique that inherently counters it, if an opponent’s strength is slightly inferior, they are almost certain to lose. If their own strength is slightly superior, losing becomes nearly impossible. Stone in a latrine—foul-smelling and hard—that was the truest description of the Earth Element art.

“Who are you…”

“An assassin…”

“Catch the thief…”

Almost instantly, countless shouts erupted from every corner of the estate. The collision between two Tenth Layer Inner Force masters was tremendously violent. Not only were the inhabitants of their immediate compound unable to sleep, but those in neighboring courtyards were also jolted awake by the tremendous noise.

The masked man peered deeply at He Quanxin, then burst into loud laughter. “Fine skill, Tenth Layer Earth Element. I have been enlightened.” With that, his figure moved, transforming into a mass of perpetually trembling black flame, and he vanished along the path he used to enter, departing instantly.

He Quanxin lifted his foot but abruptly stopped, gazing after the receding figure thoughtfully. With his eyesight, he knew the intruder’s movement technique was superior to his own. Even if he pursued desperately, he wouldn't catch up. In that case, better to conceal strength than risk embarrassment; better to conserve energy.

The Yuan Estate guards, alerted by the sound, rushed over in a flurry of movement. By the time they arrived, they found only He Quanxin standing there. The supposed thief had long since flown away, vanished without a trace.

With a flash of movement, Yuan Chengzhi appeared, his face a mixture of alarm and fury. Someone daring to cause trouble within the Yuan Estate was a blatant provocation, naturally infuriating him.

“Brother He, who was that?”

He Quanxin shook his head slightly. “The man was masked. He exchanged a palm strike with me and then retreated.”

Yuan Chengzhi froze, feeling a sudden chill down his spine. Someone capable of exchanging a single palm strike with He Quanxin and then retreating calmly—even Yuan Chengzhi himself couldn't manage that feat.

“Brother He, was the man injured?” he asked, clinging to a sliver of hope.

He Quanxin continued shaking his head. “No. His Inner Force strength is no less than mine.”

This time, Yuan Chengzhi’s face turned green. An expert at the Tenth Layer of Inner Force had infiltrated tonight? Thankfully, he encountered He Quanxin. If it had been someone else… Yuan Chengzhi shook his head; he didn't dare contemplate further.

“Brother He, it is fortunate you detected him early. If that person had been allowed to wreak havoc in the estate, no one but you could have stopped him.”

He Quanxin offered a wry smile at the flattery. “Brother Yuan, you flatter me. I merely had an impulse and wanted to go out for a round of shadow boxing. I didn’t expect to run into this person the moment I opened the door.” He paused. “I suspect this man came specifically for me.”

Yuan Chengzhi hesitated for a long moment before asking, “Brother He, do you know who this person is?”

He Quanxin lightly waved his hand, then suddenly inquired, “Brother Yuan, you once mentioned that Fan Shuhe cultivates a Water Element technique, correct?”

Yuan Chengzhi immediately confirmed, “That’s right, he cultivates the Water Element art.” His expression tightened, and he demanded sternly, “Could this person be Fan Shuhe?”

He Quanxin sighed softly. “This person is definitely not Fan Shuhe, because he used a Tenth Layer Fire Element technique.”

Yuan Chengzhi blinked, unable to imagine which other master would choose to scout the Yuan Estate tonight, and specifically target He Quanxin. However, he absolutely refused to believe this intruder had no connection to the Fan family.

He Quanxin pondered briefly. “Brother Yuan, although this man is not Fan Shuhe, his movement technique bears some resemblance to the Xiao brothers from yesterday.”

Yuan Chengzhi’s face went instantly pale. He had witnessed the formidable power of the Xiao brothers firsthand; together, they were nearly equivalent to a Tenth Layer Inner Force master. If they were to gain another Tenth Layer expert, the Ten-Day Pact would become a complete farce.

Seeing the dismay on his face, He Quanxin quickly added, “Brother Yuan, I only caught a glimpse in the dark; I might not be entirely correct. You shouldn't worry too much.”

Yuan Chengzhi managed a forced smile, but his heart offered no relief. Given He Quanxin’s skill and eyesight, he wouldn't speak so confidently without some certainty. Today’s assailant was undoubtedly connected to the Xiao brothers.

Though Yuan Chengzhi’s mind was in chaos, he was experienced enough to know that panicking now was futile. After loudly instructing the servants to return to rest, he took his leave to consult with Elder Yuan about the grave matter.

He Quanxin returned to his room and immediately saw He Yitian. However, He Yitian’s usual composure was gone. He whispered, “Father, Yiming is missing.”

He Quanxin started. “What?”

“I didn’t see Yiming come out earlier. Worried, I checked his room, but he was gone without a trace. All that was left was the large Guandao blade stuffed under the quilt to look like he was sleeping,” He Yitian chuckled ruefully.

He Quanxin’s heart tightened. He immediately understood that He Yiming must have gone after the masked intruder.

He Yitian asked anxiously, “Father, I suspect Sixth Brother has gone to chase that person. What should we do?”

He Quanxin slowly shook his head. “Don’t worry about him. Let’s go back to sleep.”

He Yitian stared, bewildered. “Father, are you confused? That person is a Tenth Layer Inner Force master!”

He Quanxin patted his son’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. Yiming’s cultivation is no longer beneath mine. Even if he can’t win, ensuring his own safety is no problem at all.” A faint smile touched his lips. “Besides, the little fellow should be qualified to stand on his own.”

Watching his father walk away with a placid smile, He Yitian felt a profound sense of emotion. He wondered how long it would take before he heard similar praise from his father’s lips…

P.S.: The Lunar New Year is approaching, and it is the Year of the Tiger. Bai He spent two hours today penning a long message of blessings. Interested friends can check it out tomorrow^_^