A soft night breeze drifted from afar, and the clear sky was studded with the warm glow of countless stars.

He Yiming trailed far behind. For a master of the Xiantian realm, pursuit did not necessitate staying close to the quarry.

Even at a considerable distance from the masked figure, He Yiming could follow with ease and composure.

What surprised him, however, was that this masked individual made no move toward Zheng Tong County City. After leaving the Yuan Family Estate, he proceeded only a thousand meters before stopping in a sparse stretch of woods.

This grove had been planted by the Yuan family themselves. The man’s audacity to pause here spoke of superior skill and boldness. Yet, considering the might of the entire Yuan family, who among them could possibly stand against him?

This grove held more than just the masked man. As he stepped within, two other figures darted out, elusive as ghosts.

Though He Yiming had not seen them, he knew instantly that these two were the Xiao brothers who had arrived with Fan Hao the previous day.

“Eldest Senior Brother, did you see that old man, He Quanxin?” Xiao Yifan asked with a hint of urgency.

Although this location was distant from the Yuan Estate, the clamor within could still faintly reach them in the deep night. Their pressing anxiety simply made them appear somewhat impatient.

The masked man nodded slightly. “I saw him. He is indeed formidable. His internal energy is a full measure stronger than mine.” He paused. “No wonder you two together were no match for him. With him present, this is certainly a major complication.”

Xiao Yilin’s voice, laced with venom, suddenly cut through the air. “Eldest Senior Brother, if you and Big Brother Fan join forces, two against one, we can absolutely slay He Quanxin.”

The masked man glared at him and sharply rebuked, “Nonsense! If it became known that I, Zhuang Yuan, had to collude with others, attacking one with overwhelming numbers—wouldn’t that make us a laughingstock? Moreover, what would Master think if he learned of it?”

The two Xiao brothers fell silent, clearly holding their Master in considerable awe.

“Eldest Senior Brother, if Big Brother Fan acted personally, do you think he could defeat He Quanxin?” Xiao Yifan suddenly inquired.

The masked man, Zhuang Yuan, scoffed. “Fan Shuhe reached the Tenth Level of internal energy some time ago, but he practices a Water-element technique. How much chance do you think he has against an Earth-element cultivator of the same rank?”

Xiao Yifan immediately fell silent. The answer was painfully obvious, known even to fledglings just taking wing.

Zhuang Yuan pondered for a moment. “You two really are something. For this mountain trial, you got entangled in something like this. Master will certainly scold you both when he finds out.”

Xiao Yifan managed a wry smile. “Eldest Senior Brother, we have decades of friendship with Brother Fan. When our martial arts were not yet perfected, he once saved our lives. Now that he asks for our assistance, we cannot stand idly by.”

Zhuang Yuan sighed softly. “Very well. If a debt is owed, it must be repaid. However, since neither Fan Shuhe nor I can defeat this man, there is only one recourse: we must ask Master to intervene.”

The two Xiao brothers exchanged glances, a flicker of joy crossing their eyes. “Eldest Senior Brother, would Master condescend to act for such a minor matter?”

Zhuang Yuan replied helplessly, “Ordinarily, no. But perhaps for his two most cherished disciples, he might make an exception.”

The Xiao brothers quickly countered, “Eldest Senior Brother, you are Master’s most beloved disciple.”

Zhuang Yuan waved his large sleeve grandly. “He entrusted the Armguard Artifacts to you, and you still claim I’m the favorite? Even I am filled with envy.”

The Xiao brothers grew visibly awkward. Zhuang Yuan clapped them both on the shoulder. “But you two have certainly proven yourselves. To master a Xiantian battle technique while still in the Houtian realm is no small feat. In this regard alone, you surpass me. In your future cultivation, you must dedicate yourselves fully and strive to reach the Xiantian realm, so as not to disappoint Master.”

The Xiao brothers assented meekly, though wry smiles played on their lips. How easy it was to say they should advance to Xiantian, yet how difficult it was to achieve! Without the inner core of a spirit beast aged five centuries or more, how could such a breakthrough happen easily?

As if suddenly remembering something, Zhuang Yuan reached twice into his sleeve, pulled out a jade vial, and offered it over. “This is the Golden Pill Master gave you. Take it.”

He Yiming and the three Xiao figures gasped simultaneously. They were stunned that he carried such a treasure as a Golden Pill on his person.

“Eldest Senior Brother, what kind of Golden Pill is this?” Xiao Yifan asked, his voice a mix of shock and delight.

“It’s an Energy Golden Pill. Consuming it allows you to briefly elevate your internal energy to the peak of the Ninth Level.” Zhuang Yuan sounded envious himself. “There are four pills in here. Remember, you can only take one every ten days. Otherwise, excess energy will do more harm than good.”

The Xiao brothers quickly agreed and took the jade vial. However, Xiao Yilin hesitated before asking, “Eldest Senior Brother, if you consumed an Energy Golden Pill, could your internal energy increase enough to overcome He Quanxin?”

Zhuang Yuan shook his head slightly. “While the Energy Golden Pill has miraculous effects, it is intended for cultivators below the Tenth Level. Once one reaches the Tenth Level, its efficacy is significantly diminished.”

The Xiao brothers then carefully put the Energy Golden Pills away. Though not the Limit Golden Pills that could shatter barriers, the Energy Golden Pills were nonetheless priceless treasures, rare and highly sought after. The two brothers beamed, clearly excited.

“Eldest Senior Brother, when shall we contact Master?” Xiao Yifan inquired.

“No need to contact him,” Zhuang Yuan replied offhandedly. “Master will likely arrive here tomorrow. You can petition him then, and he probably won't refuse.”

Xiao Yifan nodded heavily, a sudden, sinister gleam flashing in his eyes. “If Master refuses to agree, so be it. But if he does agree, I must beg him to utterly annihilate the entire He family.”

Far in the distance, He Yiming looked up sharply, overwhelmed by a powerful sense of astonishment and disbelief.

He truly could not fathom what feud Xiao Yifan held against the He family to harbor such a terrifying thought.

Yet, unlike He Yiming, Zhuang Yuan showed no surprise at all; instead, he reacted as if it were the most natural thing. “If Master truly agrees to act, of course, we must wipe out both the He and Yuan families completely.”

A chilling wave surged from the depths of He Yiming’s heart. Despite being a master of the Xiantian realm, in this moment, he couldn't help but feel the biting severity of winter.

“Eldest Senior Brother, I hear the He family is far away in the Tian Luo Kingdom. Do you think their lineage possesses any Artifacts?” Xiao Yifan’s voice held a trace of faint anticipation.

Zhuang Yuan shook his head slightly. “That is hard to say. But since the He family has produced a Tenth Level internal energy expert, there is certainly a possibility.”

Xiao Yifan laughed lightly. “Eldest Senior Brother, if we truly find an Artifact in the He family home, we will certainly save it for you.”

Zhuang Yuan laughed loudly. “You brothers are thoughtful.”

The three spoke without changing expression, as if the distant He family in the Tian Luo Kingdom were already theirs for the taking.

He Yiming’s heart grew cold. He looked up at the sky, a strange thought beginning to surface. The He Family Estate, including servants, numbered several hundred people. In the minds of these three, did they truly hold no weight whatsoever?

He did not doubt their words, because the casualness with which they spoke of annihilating the He family sent a bone-deep chill through him, from head to toe.

He had not felt this cold even when confronting fierce spirit beasts or Ting Shiguang.

Slowly, He Yiming’s gaze shifted. His once clear eyes were now filled with another, more violent hue.

He drew a deep breath. This time, he made no attempt to conceal himself, emitting a distinct sound in the quiet night.

The three in the nearby grove instantly changed expression. Though not masters of the Xiantian realm, such an obvious intake of breath over that distance could not escape their senses.

As if swept by the wind, the three materialized before He Yiming, positioning themselves in three cardinal directions, subtly encircling him.

However, when their gazes fell upon He Yiming’s face, their expressions instantly became absurd.

They had expected someone capable of approaching undetected to be at least on the level of He Quanxin. They never imagined it would be merely a youth.

Zhuang Yuan frowned slightly and asked in a low voice, “Young man, who are you?”

Xiao Yifan’s eyes darted around. “Eldest Senior Brother, this is one of He Quanxin’s nephews. I saw him briefly at the Yuan Estate yesterday; his cultivation seems decent.”

A sharp glint of killing intent flashed in Zhuang Yuan’s eyes. “A child of the He family, hmm? To possess the strength to evade our senses at such a young age is indeed remarkable.” He shook his head gently, as if talking to himself. “A pity. A true shame.”

He Yiming’s gaze swept over the three, finally resting on Xiao Yifan. He asked slowly, “I have one matter I don't understand; I ask Senior Xiao to enlighten me.”

Xiao Yifan hadn't intended to reply, but for some inexplicable reason, upon meeting He Yiming’s eyes, he changed his mind as if guided by a spirit.

“Speak.”

A flicker of surprise crossed the faces of Zhuang Yuan and Xiao Yilin, but they quickly understood—perhaps Xiao Yifan, seeing the boy was doomed, wished to play a game of cat and mouse.

He Yiming lowered his gaze and asked calmly, “My He family has no grievance with you. Why do you wish to exterminate my entire lineage?”

Xiao Yifan gave a cynical laugh. “Who says you can’t destroy a whole family if there’s no existing feud?” His voice carried a tone of utter disregard. “Never mind that you’ve already meddled in the Yuan family’s affairs. Even if you hadn't, if I simply find you displeasing, I can still annihilate every last one of you.”

He Yiming’s eyebrows twitched slightly, and his heart grew colder than ice.

Before today, he had always believed that the ice of winter was the coldest thing in the world. But now, he realized there existed something colder in this world.

That thing was the human heart—the inscrutable human heart.

When the heart turned indifferent, it was surely ten, even a hundred times colder than the severest winter ice…

Unknowingly, something pricked him deep inside, causing him pain.

He raised his head, his voice carrying a strange note. “In such disregard for life, are you not afraid of legal retribution?”

“Law?” Xiao Yifan looked utterly perplexed, as if he had just heard the most ridiculous notion in the world. He laughed. “What is ‘law’? Law is something used to oppress ordinary people; how could it possibly apply to us?”

His laughter held no trace of exaggeration or doubt; it was as natural and self-assured as stating that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

He Yiming finally nodded slowly. “I understand now. As long as someone is stronger than you—so strong that they can ignore the existence of law—then they can dispose of your life as they please. Am I correct in this assessment?”

Xiao Yifan chuckled sinisterly. “Kid, you finally grasp the principle. Too bad it’s too late.”

Zhuang Yuan finally showed impatience. “Second Junior Brother, are you done playing? Hurry up and make your move; we still need to welcome Master later.”

Xiao Yifan replied, “Eldest Senior Brother, I know.” Yet, he felt a strange curiosity himself as to why he possessed such an inclination today, speaking so much with a man about to die. It seemed entirely contrary to his usual self.

Shaking off the strange thought, he extended one arm, took a sudden step, and his body moved with uncanny grace across the distance separating them, landing before He Yiming. Effortlessly, he swung his arm across in a sweeping blow.

This was not due to carelessness, but because He Yiming was simply too young.

Even if He Yitian stood there, Xiao Yifan would not have been so careless. But how could a teenager, barely sixteen or seventeen years old, warrant seriousness from a master of the Ninth Level of internal energy?

He Yiming raised his hand, placing it flat before his chest, seemingly intending to block the lightning-fast sweep of the arm.

A cold sneer appeared on the faces of Zhuang Yuan and the other two, a smile tinged with cruel mockery. In their minds, He Yiming would surely be knocked flying by that sweeping blow, perhaps losing his life in the same instant.

However, the smiles froze on their faces.

Xiao Yifan’s arm smashed fiercely against He Yiming’s open palm, yet He Yiming’s body did not fly backward; it did not even tremble.

He stood rooted to the spot, as unshakeable as a mountain.

His facial expression remained unchanged, his eyes reflecting only a profound stillness, utterly devoid of mortal concern.

The powerful force struck him as a stone hurled into the ocean, creating not the slightest ripple.

Inexplicably, Xiao Yifan’s heart clenched instantly, as if a hand had gripped his heart tightly, momentarily arresting his breath.

With his Ninth Level internal energy, amplified by the special enhancement of the Golden Armguard, even He Quanxin, the Tenth Level master he encountered yesterday, dared not take him lightly. Even when their fists met, though He Quanxin wasn't forced back, his body had at least swayed slightly.

But now, this youth before him was like a high mountain—a true mountain. The immense internal energy striking it achieved not even the slightest effect.

Zhuang Yuan and Xiao Yilin’s gazes sharpened abruptly. Their breathing instantly shifted from steady to ragged, and the calm internal energy within them surged and churned like a furious sea in an instant.

Yet, they hesitated. Deep in their subconscious, they could not believe this young man truly possessed such terrifying strength.

He Yiming slowly closed the hand that had been open, gripping tightly around the arm, gripping the magical, shimmering golden armguard.

Xiao Yifan struggled desperately, but to his horror, no matter how hard he pulled, the grip on his arm did not waver once. It was as if he were clutching not a man’s arm, but an ant.

At that moment, a strange sensation flooded his mind: in front of He Yiming, he was like an ant, one that could be crushed at any moment.

His eyes widened, his gaze fixed on He Yiming with a terror reserved for ghosts and gods.

This feeling was not new to him. He felt it in the presence of his Master. But his Master was a powerhouse of the Xiantian realm!

Suddenly, a terrifying, unbelievable thought surfaced in his mind, draining all color from his face.

He gaped in horror, wanting to shout out his discovery, but he found a powerful force invading his body through his armguard. All his strength vanished in an instant.

This kind of power was not unfamiliar to him. Before it, not only he, but even his Eldest Senior Brother, Zhuang Yuan, who had reached the Tenth Level of internal energy, was as insignificant as an ant.

He thought he caught a glimpse of two familiar figures out of the corner of his eye. These two were not fleeing, but charging toward him—toward this youth.

He wanted to roar, to urge them to flee, to run as far as possible. Though deep down he already understood they probably couldn't escape.

But all that emerged from his throat was a weak, insect-like croaking: "Hoh... hoh..." He couldn't even tell if he had managed to utter anything coherent, making him doubt if any sound had been made at all.

Worse still, even this faint sound seemed to recede further away from him.

The pressure on his arm suddenly vanished, and his body slowly began to fall. In his final glance, all he saw were those bright eyes—calm, expressionless, and seemingly untouched by the mortal world…

Ps: Another chapter coming in two minutes. ^_^