The bitterest cold of winter had descended, freezing the earth until the entire world resembled a massive refrigerator. Mountains shivered with cold, rivers were locked in rigid ice, and the very air seemed on the verge of solidification.

Yet, before the Yuan Family Manor, the atmosphere crackled with heat.

Under the leadership of Yuan Zewei, the Fan family entourage arrived before the Yuan estate, bearing an eight-person palanquin.

Although the Jinlin Kingdom had regulations prohibiting ordinary folk from using such grand litters, among these powerful noble houses, such rules were utterly disregarded; even the Jinlin Imperial Family could only turn a blind eye and let matters slide.

The gates of the Yuan Family Manor were already open. Upon their arrival, Yuan Chengzhi himself stepped out to usher them toward the martial arts field behind the estate.

Yuan Zewei had already prepared for this; everything within the Yuan Manor was familiar to him, and the rear courtyard's training ground was undoubtedly the optimal venue for today’s confrontation.

Yuan Chengzhi's gaze swept over the arriving party from time to time, his eyes holding a touch of the strange, mixed with a hint of satisfaction. But when his eyes settled upon that mysterious palanquin, a distinct sense of unease gripped him.

On the field, led by Yuan Zeyu, He Quanxin and the others had naturally been waiting for some time.

However, just like Yuan Chengzhi, when they witnessed an eight-person palanquin being carried directly into the rear courtyard, everyone couldn't help but display a flicker of surprise. Even the composed and seasoned He Quanxin found himself wondering what kind of person was concealed within that sedan. If it was just one individual, the pretense seemed excessively grandiose.

Those who vaguely knew about the recent changes couldn't help but associate the palanquin with the enigmatic figure who had appeared at the manor gates a few days prior. Yet, until they could confirm it absolutely, they preferred self-deception, feigning ignorance.

The two sides naturally segregated themselves. Yuan Zeyu retracted his gaze from the palanquin and called out in a clear voice, "Patriarch Fan, though our Yuan family is not a major power, we do not turn away friends. May I ask which master resides within this sedan, and why they are unwilling to show their true face even now?"

Fan Shuhe suppressed a bitter smile. To be honest, he didn't understand Lü Xinwen's thinking, agreeing to such a peculiar demand—not only insisting on remaining seated in the palanquin but refusing to alight. Nevertheless, even if he were granted ten times his courage, he wouldn't dare question it.

At this moment, he displayed an inscrutable, profound smile. "Elder Master Yuan, the person in the sedan is a senior of mine. He favors sitting in the litter, but whether your side possesses anyone worthy of drawing him out remains to be seen."

Yuan Zeyu’s heart sank. Could the person in the sedan truly be that mysterious figure from the front of the manor?

However, the news of Lü Xinwen’s arrival at the Fan family was known only to Fan Shuhe and his son within the entire clan; the servants knew nothing of such a supreme master. As for the Yuan family, it was impossible for them to have caught any whisper of it. Therefore, despite their suspicions, they would not reveal any sign of weakness under the circumstances.

Yuan Zewei stepped forward and announced loudly, "Second Brother, now that we have arrived, for the sake of our shared mother, I advise you to settle things and depart immediately. If the two sides engage in a bloody battle, I fear you may find it difficult to leave."

Yuan Zeyu smiled faintly. "Elder Brother, isn't it a bit premature to say such things now?"

Yuan Chengzhi declared loudly, "Indeed, who will win the day is yet to be decided."

At that instant, Fan Haori, who was closely accompanying the sedan, subtly inclined his ear. He distinctly heard a voice from within: "Who is that man carrying the long strip of cloth on his back?"

The voice was not loud, but it was unmistakably Lü Xinwen's.

Fan Haori dared not delay. After glancing over, he quickly lowered his head and murmured, "Granduncle, that is He Yiming, the young master from the He family invited by the Yuan family as backup."

"A junior from the He family?" The voice from the sedan suddenly took on a strange tone, and after a moment, it continued, "Who among them is related to this person?"

"There is also He Quanxin, who has achieved the Tenth Layer of Inner Strength, and his son, He Yitian. It is rumored they share close blood ties with He Yiming," Fan Haori replied respectfully.

"Good." The voice in the sedan abruptly turned placid. "You two, father and son, kill those two."

Fan Haori looked up, his eyes wide with shock.

"If you two can accomplish this, I will take you as a disciple and pass on my legacy. Perhaps one day, I can help you reach the Innate realm," Lü Xinwen stated unhurriedly.

Sharp light flashed in Fan Haori's eyes; he immediately made up his mind. Such a prospect was worth risking his life for.

He resolutely turned and walked to Fan Shuhe's side, whispering a few words.

The same expression bloomed on Fan Shuhe's face, and he immediately clenched his fists tightly.

He Quanxin was a master of the Tenth Layer of Inner Strength, and according to intelligence from the two Xiao brothers, he was also an Earth element Inner Strength expert—a direct counter to Fan Shuhe's Water element techniques.

However, he glanced at the heavily curtained sedan, and his heart immediately burned with excitement. Lü Xinwen had actually agreed: if they could kill the father and son of the He family, he would help Fan Haori reach the Innate realm. This promise was worth staking the entire Fan family for.

A master of the Tenth Layer of Inner Strength was already an immensely important figure to a family, but compared to an Innate realm expert, the gap was staggering. If the Fan family could truly birth an Innate Master, the clan might one day become a great lineage lasting a thousand years.

He took a deep breath and was about to step forward when Fan Haori stopped him.

"Haori, what are you doing?" Fan Shuhe asked with displeasure.

"Father, let me make the first move."

"You?"

"Yes. Uncle Xiao once mentioned that He Quanxin's son, He Yitian, inherited his lineage and is also an Earth element Inner Strength practitioner," Fan Haori said, a strange killing intent flashing in his eyes. "Your son will strike first and slay him on the spot. He Quanxin will undoubtedly be thrown into confusion, and then Father can strike while he’s unstable, surely killing him then."

Fan Shuhe's eyes brightened, then he shook his head. "No, you cultivate the same Water element techniques as I do, and you are only at the Seventh Layer of Inner Strength. I fear you are no match for him."

Fan Haori was full of confidence. "Father, Uncle Xiao said that although his Inner Strength is at the Seventh Layer, it is nowhere near its peak; it's only in the middle stage at most. My Inner Strength has reached the peak of the Seventh Layer; I am considerably stronger than him. As long as I fight steadily, I will surely win."

Fan Shuhe hesitated for a moment before finally nodding slowly. He knew that although the two Xiao brothers were one level below him in Inner Strength cultivation, their observational skills were extraordinary, and their judgment of people was unparalleled. Otherwise, he would not have begged the two to pose as Fan family retainers to probe the situation.

Fan Haori strode out, his figure covering the distance to the center of the training ground in the next moment. His abrupt intrusion silenced Yuan Zewei, who had been engaged in a war of words with Yuan Zeyu and the others.

Fan Haori clasped his fists and bowed deeply. "Gentlemen, things have come to this; verbal sparring is useless. I am Fan Haori, merely an insignificant junior. Today, I dare not boast, but merely offer myself as a stepping stone. I wonder which gentleman would care to come forward for a preliminary exchange."

At this moment, everyone on both sides felt a wave of surprise. They all understood that today's outcome would not be decided by words, but by a real clash of steel. Yet, no one expected the first to step forward to be Fan Haori.

Yuan Zeyu frowned deeply. He knew Fan Haori's strength, but among their own younger generation, there was no genius at the Seventh Layer of Inner Strength. However, sending forward the second generation figures would make it impossible to retreat gracefully.

Fan Haori laughed heartily and suddenly addressed the other side. "Brother He Yitian, your esteemed father's past battle against my two Uncles Xiao is something I recall vividly. I know I am far beneath your father, so I dare not challenge you directly, but I wish to fight you, brother. Is that acceptable?"

He Yitian paused for a moment, then a confident smile spread across his face. "Since Brother Fan is interested, I would be remiss to refuse." With a sweep of his sleeve, he stepped out without hesitation.

As he emerged, Yuan Zeyu and the others felt a sense of relief. Among so many people present, perhaps only he and He Yiming were the most suitable choices to handle this.

The two men arrived in the center of the field. Neither side deployed weapons; they merely exchanged formal salutes across the distance and then settled into a standoff.

But the standoff lasted only an instant before Fan Haori’s movements flowed like running water. He cultivated Water element techniques, while He Yitian practiced Earth element. If they remained still, any contest of sheer aura would put him at an immediate disadvantage. Thus, after a brief pause, he launched the first attack.

When he moved, he seemed to glide straight forward, as if his feet were fitted with wheels, and the ground beneath him was impossibly slick. Almost simultaneously, he raised one palm vertically, instantly gathering his Water element Inner Strength to its peak. Although he was not yet thirty, his Inner Strength had reached the peak of the Seventh Layer, poised to break through to the Eighth. This strike concentrated all his Inner Strength; it was ferocious, aiming for a swift, decisive victory.

He Yitian, practicing Earth element techniques, valued steady advancement. But if he was forced to retreat on the very first exchange, the principle of 'steadiness' would be utterly lost. Fan Haori had meticulously planned his attack: if He Yitian retreated even a single step, his combat skills would surge forth like an endless, torrential river. He intended to unleash killing blows, willing to suffer severe injuries to ensure He Yitian’s death. Once this opponent was eliminated, He Quanxin would undoubtedly be mentally shattered by the bond between father and son, reducing his operational capacity to perhaps eighty percent of its potential. If the father and son truly perished by his hand, Lü Xinwen’s command would be successfully executed. Thinking of being accepted as a disciple by an Innate expert, with the prospect of becoming one himself, his heart boiled with intense fervor.

However, at this crucial moment, He Yitian raised his hands. Those palms were as steady as a great rock, and within the torrent of Fan Haori’s storm-like palm strike, they found their destined target. The two pairs of palms collided forcefully.

Suddenly, a powerful, unimaginable force erupted from He Yitian’s palms—a force so immense and utterly unbreakable.

Fan Haori cried out, his body instantly thrown backward. He spun mid-air before landing steadily, but the look in his eyes toward He Yitian was filled with horror and utter incomprehension. The force of that single palm strike, while perhaps not quite the peak of the Seventh Layer, was terrifyingly close—separated by barely a thread.

His expression instantly turned ghastly. It seemed Xiao Yifan had misjudged; He Yitian's Inner Strength was not in the middle stage of the Seventh Layer, but alarmingly close to its peak. Because the strength gap in their Inner Strength was minimal, compounded by the elemental counter, his own strike had failed to move his opponent. With the first step unsuccessful, all subsequent plans dissolved into thin air.

But a clash had occurred, and retreat was no longer an option. Fan Haori gritted his teeth and surged forward again, moving like a slippery loach, circling around He Yitian. The moment he retreated, he changed strategy. Though He Yitian was strong, his Inner Strength was ultimately inferior to his own. As long as he kept circling and continuously exchanged palm strikes to wear down He Yitian's energy, he would ultimately prevail.

Yet, after exchanging dozens of palms, Fan Haori grew increasingly alarmed. He realized that He Yitian's Inner Strength seemed to be improving at an impossibly terrifying rate. Every time their palms met, the force emanating from He Yitian’s hands felt stronger. He Yitian resembled a non-human monster with infinite potential, or perhaps a spring: the greater the pressure applied, the stronger the recoil. This phenomenon was unheard of, filling him with dread.

After a few more rounds, despair began to set in. When their four palms met, he discovered that He Yitian, who had initially been weaker, now possessed the power to fully contend with him. He finally confirmed it: He Yitian now undoubtedly possessed the peak level of Seventh Layer Inner Strength. His heart was filled with bitterness; he never imagined his opponent would achieve such an incredible breakthrough mid-battle. Furthermore, the opponent’s stamina seemed limitless. After countless exchanges, even Fan Haori felt slightly exhausted, yet He Yitian remained vigorous and seemed to grow more excited the longer they fought. At this point, Fan Haori's only thought was: Is this guy some sort of freak?

※※※※

Inside the large palanquin, sparks flew from Lü Xinwen's eyes. He was now certain: his three disciples had been thoroughly defeated, and even their possessions were lost. This person named He Yitian must have recently consumed an Elixir of Vitality. Only the immense medicinal potency of a Golden Elixir could produce such unbelievable results.

Every strike from Fan Haori was effectively massaging and pounding He Yitian, helping him integrate the Elixir’s medicinal properties into his body. Without this fight, He Yitian might have taken several months to fully manifest the Elixir's effects. But having such a worthy opponent, especially one deliberately matching his Inner Strength, would accelerate the Elixir's dissolution, pushing his Inner Strength to the peak of the Seventh Layer prematurely. Moreover, since the Elixir of Vitality specifically enhanced bodily energy, once He Yitian's Inner Strength reached the Seventh Layer peak, the residual medicinal power would continuously replenish his current energy expenditure. Fan Haori’s plan to wear him down through attrition was utterly impossible.

The old man slowly closed his eyes. He drew deep breaths, his vital zhenqi circulating slowly. Although the frequency wasn't fast, it appeared profoundly natural, as if he himself had merged with nature, becoming a clear little stream.

He Yiming, observing the battle, turned his head. He watched the mysterious palanquin and listened to the sounds emanating from within, his expression growing solemn. In his perception, the water of the little stream inside seemed to grow larger and deeper. Perhaps when the stream became a vast ocean, it would signify the person within had gathered their zhenqi to its absolute peak.

He retreated a step, but he completely retracted his own zhenqi, concentrating all his essence and strength within his body. At that moment, he resembled a tightly drawn bow, fully strained; the moment the tension released, an earth-shattering arrow would fly. If anyone focused their attention on him then, they would certainly see He Yiming transformed into a stone sculpture—one that barely attracted notice.

However, at that moment, no one noticed the anomalies occurring in those two spots; all eyes were locked onto the two locked in combat.

He Yitian suddenly moved. He lifted his feet and took a purposeful step forward, forming his palm into a fist, which he punched through the air. After this punch was unleashed, even the sound of the air churning around it seemed particularly piercing. This was the first time He Yitian had both feet off the ground during the exchange, and his first active offensive move. But this single punch instantly brought him to his optimal state.

Fan Haori’s expression shifted slightly. He tried to dodge, but at that precise moment, his Inner Strength faltered momentarily. Understanding dawned instantly: during their mutual energy drain, he was the first to falter.

With that brief hesitation, He Yitian let out a sharp breath, and the power of his punch intensified by another three parts. With a resounding crash, the two men’s fists and palms met. He Yitian’s feet subtly shifted, and he immediately stabilized, standing tall, his eyes filled with the spirit of striving for constant improvement.

Fan Haori retreated several steps before finally regaining his balance. A faint crimson trace snaked from the corner of his mouth. Seeing He Yitian’s composed demeanor, his fury boiled over, and he could endure no longer. A mouthful of blood violently erupted from him, splashing red dots onto the ground.

Ps: Next chapter in two minutes ^_^