A sound of horses' hooves echoed from the Grand Dao. This contingent of horses came directly from the Imperial City of Tianluo, proceeding into the county town.

After making contact with the Cheng family, they immediately pressed onward without pause toward He Family Village. The horses in the contingent were uniformly the renowned Black Horses of the Northwest—tall-boned beasts with slender, straight legs and broad chests bulging with cords of muscle.

In the sunlight, their coats shimmered like black satin. While they couldn't compare to He Yiming’s Crimson Silk Horse, they were still exceptional breeds, one in a hundred.

Acquiring one or two such fine horses in the Northwest would hardly be difficult, but to purchase over a hundred and form an entire contingent was another matter entirely. Within the nation of Tianluo, there were certainly no more than ten families capable of such a grand expenditure, and this current group naturally belonged to the Yu family, the Imperial Household.

Half a day later, when the carriages halted before He Family Village, a commotion immediately erupted. Not only did He Quanyi emerge to greet them, but Lin Taoli also followed suit.

Meanwhile, He Yiming, who was in his courtyard studying how to integrate the momentum of cloud and rain into his martial arts, finally received word that representatives from the Imperial Yu family had arrived. When he entered the main hall, he saw all of He Wude’s generation—his two younger paternal uncles and his elder brother, He Yitian—present.

To host the Imperial delegation, even He Quanming had returned from the county seat. In all of He Family Village, the only one absent, shut away in isolation and ignoring all visitors, was He Laibao, who was fully committed to breaking through to the tenth layer of Inner Strength.

Glancing around the hall, He Yiming noted that besides members of the He family, the father and son duo of Cheng Ningsheng and Cheng Jiahui were also seated nearby. What surprised him even more was the presence of Elder Xu Yinjie and Xu Xiangqian from the Xu Family Fortress, as well as Lin Taoli from the Linlang Lin family.

He offered a wry internal smile. The name of the Tianluo Imperial Family indeed held immense allure for a small place like Taicang County.

To have the three great clans gather for a single representative of the Imperial House—this was clearly a demonstration of feeling insecure. Were this in the Fire Crow Nation, given the Xie family’s influence, even if the Fire Crow Sovereign himself appeared, they would never mobilize the entire family.

He sighed inwardly, his gaze settling upon the two unfamiliar figures in the hall. One of these two men appeared to be a frail old fellow.

His lips were clamped shut so tightly it seemed he feared making any sound escape, yet at the center of his eyes, a faint, sharp brilliance flickered, undetectable to ordinary people. With just one look, He Yiming discerned that this old man's Inner Strength cultivation was no less than his grandfather's—he was at the peak of the tenth layer of Inner Strength, seemingly just one step away from shattering the barrier and advancing to the Innate Realm.

Of course, this step appeared simple, yet truly achieving it was monumentally difficult. There were many at the peak of the tenth layer of Inner Strength, but few managed to cross that final threshold; perhaps one in a hundred.

That required not only extraordinary willpower but also incredible, almost supernatural luck. Clearly, this elder did not seem the sort to possess such fortune.

Standing shoulder-to-shoulder beside the old man was a young man. This young man was handsome, with a piece of dark green jade set precisely in the center of his forehead band made of dark cyan satin.

He wore large, jade-inlaid gold hoops in his ears. His broad cuffs and lapels, the coloring on his face and hands suggesting diligence, a straight nose bridge, and gentle eyes holding a hint of melancholy—even He Yiming had to admit he was excessively handsome.

Upon seeing He Yiming, a flicker of astonishment crossed the eyes of both men. Though they quickly masked it, it did not escape the notice of those in the hall.

They had known intellectually that He Yiming was young, but seeing him in person still elicited an involuntary, deep sigh of surprise from them. How had such a youth reached the Innate Realm?

The old man, in particular, felt a pang of wistfulness mixed with a touch of jealousy. However, he dared not let any hint of envy show.

To envy an Innate expert was tantamount to seeking one's own demise. "Yiming, hurry over here.

Let me introduce you," He Wude said cheerfully, clearly having enjoyed a very pleasant conversation with the two guests. "This is His Highness Yu Xiaoyi, the legitimate eldest son of the current Sovereign." Yu Xiaoyi bowed slightly.

"Greetings, Master He." He Yiming clasped his hands in return. "No need for formalities, Your Highness.

Your personal visit means I should have greeted you much sooner." Yu Xiaoyi felt puzzled; Master He’s attitude was remarkably gracious. Though he was the Crown Prince of Tianluo, he understood the standing of Innate experts within the nation.

The sole Guardian Master of Tianluo, Shui Xuanjin, showed few people in the Royal Family a good expression, save for His Majesty the Sovereign. "And this is Mr.

Xue Lie," He Wude paused. "Mr.

Xue Lie is Master Shui Xuanjin’s principal disciple. He is renowned throughout our Tianluo Nation and hailed as the foremost expert among those at the tenth layer of Inner Strength." A slight smile touched He Yiming's lips; he was unsurprised by the title.

Being the disciple of an Innate expert naturally afforded one privilege. If one could master an Innate cultivation method combined with a precious artifact, dominating peers of the same rank seemed hardly difficult.

One must not forget how the Xiao family brothers, at the ninth layer of Inner Strength, could contend with their uncle. To ordinary eyes, this was absolutely inconceivable.

Xue Lie’s demeanor was far more respectful. He stepped forward, ignoring the age gap between them, and bowed deeply from the waist: "Xue Lie greets Master He." He Yiming frowned slightly, raising his hand to steady him, "Mr.

Xue, there is no need for such ceremony." Although He Yiming’s gesture was small—just a gentle lift—it stunned Xue Lie. He realized that in front of this man, he seemed to possess no power to resist at all.

He had only ever felt this sensation in the presence of his own master. At this point, Xue Lie finally became utterly convinced: this excessively young man was indeed an Innate expert.

He Yiming’s gaze swept over the members of the Cheng and Xu families, giving them a slight nod and a smile. Cheng Ningsheng and the others returned the gesture with clasped hands.

They had been sitting and chatting, but the moment He Yiming entered, everyone automatically stood up, including the members of the He family. "Yiming, His Highness brought us many wonderful things this time," He Wude’s voice carried an unconcealed, intense delight.

Although Taicang County had suffered an unprecedented onslaught by horse bandits, the He family had not only emerged unscathed but had profited greatly. He Yiming had brought tens of thousands of taels of gold.

The items Lin Taoli delivered, once appraised, were equally valuable. And the sheer volume of gifts brought by the Imperial Family from Tianluo City this time made him overjoyed.

However, he understood perfectly that the reason these people offered gold and goods so freely was purely due to He Yiming’s reputation. If it weren't for his grandson being an Innate master, the He family would not only have reaped rewards but he himself might have been lost.

Cheng Ningsheng chimed in with a smile, "Master He, this time the Royal Court has exempted Taicang County from ten years of taxation, and they have allocated substantial funds and grain for us to repair the damaged city walls. I have just inspected the supplies; they are sufficient not only to restore the county walls to their original state but also to construct a high defensive wall in front of He Family Village." He Yiming’s heart stirred.

He knew well that constructing city walls involved enormous expense. Otherwise, his grandfather and the others wouldn't invest so much money in it every year.

Cheng Ningsheng saying this clearly meant he had the tacit approval, or perhaps even the direct instruction, of Yu Xiaoyi and the other guest. He sighed internally; worthy of the Imperial Family, they certainly knew how to make a grand gesture.

He Wude laughed heartily. "Brother Cheng, in resisting the bandit invasion, the Xu Family Fortress deserves the greatest credit.

Moreover, your Cheng family mansion and the outer fortress of the Xu family suffered severe damage. Let this fund be entrusted to you two for the reconstruction of the Cheng Mansion and the Xu outer fortress." He Yiming was momentarily stunned, wondering when his grandfather had become so benevolent.

Before he could react, he heard Yu Xiaoyi laugh, "Old Master He jokes. This time, the three great clans of Taicang County resisted the bandits together and wiped out the roaming groups plaguing Taicang County.

Such merit contributes to the nation. How could we allow our heroes to suffer loss and sorrow?" His expression turned sincere.

"The reconstruction of the Xu Family Fortress and the Cheng Mansion will be borne entirely by us, the Royal Family; we will absolutely ensure justice for both your families." Xu Yinjie and Cheng Ningsheng were ecstatic beyond measure. They immediately stepped forward and bowed deeply to express their thanks.

Given the foundations of their two families, they could manage the rebuilding, but it would still amount to a staggering sum that would severely deplete their strength once completed. Now, receiving such a windfall from the heavens, they were naturally overjoyed.

After offering their thanks, their gaze toward old man He Wude carried a hint of gratitude. Of course, these three old men, who had been rivals for decades, were hardly going to become as close as blood brothers; it could only be said that their relationship had gradually softened.

Seeing that the conversation was concluded, Xue Lie bowed deeply once more. "Master He, my teacher Shui Xuanjin was overjoyed to hear that another Innate Master has emerged in Taicang County.

He requests that Master He travel to the capital; there is a matter of importance to discuss." His voice was utterly sincere, carrying an appeal that was difficult to refuse. Yu Xiaoyi also bowed deeply.

"Master He, please grant our request." He Yiming deliberated for a moment. "Traveling to the capital to pay respects to Master Shui has long been my aspiration.

However, Mr. Xue, may I ask what matter Master Shui requires my assistance with?" Both Xue Lie and Yu Xiaoyi's expressions shifted slightly.

They exchanged a glance before Yu Xiaoyi finally gritted his teeth. "Master He, while our Tianluo Nation is not among the three great powers of the Northwest States, we are certainly a leader among the second-tier nations.

Yet, within the Three Prefectures, Master Shui is our only Guardian Master. Therefore..." He Yiming frowned, about to state that he had no interest in becoming a Guardian Master, when he noticed his grandfather making frantic faces at him from the side.

The words forming on his lips changed abruptly. "This matter requires some consideration from me, Elder He.

I will give you both an answer in a few days." Hearing that he had not refused outright, Yu Xiaoyi and Xue Lie couldn't help but show relief. As long as there was no outright rejection, it meant there was room for negotiation.

Yu Xiaoyi, especially, had resolved internally that he must secure this arrangement. If he could obtain Master He’s promise to serve as the Guardian Master of Tianluo under his reign, his throne would be as solid as Mount Tai.

He Wude laughed heartily. "Your Highness, Mr.

Xue, you have traveled far and endured hardship. Please rest for the night.

Even if you plan to return to the capital, tomorrow is soon enough." He Yiming nodded. "Indeed.

Please rest. I must return to my studies." With that, he nodded toward several family members and turned to leave.

Although this action was exceedingly impolite, neither the He family members nor the others felt the slightest irritation. How could the special privileges accorded to an Innate Master not reflect their immense power and noble status?

He Yiming returned to his quarters and instructed Yuan Lixun to prepare a tea that his grandfather particularly favored, sourced from the distant Great Shen. These tea cakes had been sent by the Yuan family; originally intended as smuggled goods, the Yuan family had instead gifted this batch to the Elder as a token of appreciation this time.

The Elder was delighted and allocated two-tenths of it to He Yiming. However, for He Yiming, whether the tea was fine or mediocre made almost no difference, so he had saved this gift specifically for his elders to leverage when they needed favors.

As expected, the Elder arrived in his room not long after. Sitting opposite, he took a sip from his teacup and let out a contented sigh, appearing perfectly at ease.

"Grandfather, the signal you gave me just now—what did it mean?" He Yiming asked directly. "Are you hoping I accept the position of Guardian Master, or not?" "Naturally, you should accept it," He Wude said without hesitation.

"Yiming, if I hadn't drifted to Taicang County, settled here, and built a foundation, I wouldn't ask you to do this. Because among the Northwest States, Tianluo is not the strongest; above it are the three great powers.

The closest to us is Kai Rong Nation. You could become the Guardian Master of Kai Rong Nation, where the treatment would be the best.

But since our He Family Village is established in Taicang County and has branched out from here, I wish for you to become the Guardian Master of Tianluo Nation." He Yiming nodded slightly; he understood his grandfather's meaning. If he became the Guardian Master of Tianluo, the He family would undoubtedly thrive within the nation, and no one would dare offend them again.

After consideration, He Yiming said earnestly, "Grandfather, I understand your intention, but my ambition lies with the world; I wish to pursue the supreme martial dao, not to be tethered to a single nation." He Wude laughed heartily. "Yiming, do you think becoming a Guardian Master means being shackled?

Heh heh, in truth, Guardian Master is merely a title. Unless the nation faces grave peril or the Guardian Master of another country issues a challenge, you would never need to act." He Yiming raised his eyebrows slightly.

"But becoming a Guardian Master means residing in the capital. How then can I go out and see the world?" He Wude's smile stiffened momentarily, then he couldn't help but give a wry smile.

"That is indeed a significant problem." For most Innate experts, they reached that realm past the age of sixty, often much older. These individuals possessed rich experience and wisdom, and their interest in extensive world travel was usually low, leading them to accept stipends from a nation and become its Guardian Master.

For someone as young as He Yiming to step into the Innate Realm was virtually unheard of, so this issue left He Wude genuinely troubled. He Yiming suddenly chuckled.

"Grandfather, you need not worry." He Wude’s eyes brightened. "Do you have a solution?" He Yiming shook his head.

"It's not that I have a solution, but that they have a solution." He Wude looked at his beloved grandson, utterly bewildered. He Yiming pointed toward the direction of the Tianluo capital.

"When I get there, I will explain my aspirations to Master Shui. If he can solve this predicament, I will agree to serve as the Guardian Master of Tianluo.

If he, too, is powerless, then I will simply leave." Seeing He Wude’s expression oscillating between distress and amusement, He Yiming quickly added, "Don't worry, Grandfather. As long as I live, I doubt many will dare provoke the He family.

Whether I serve as the Guardian Master of Tianluo or not, that will not change." He Wude pondered for a long time before slowly nodding. Still, a trace of regret lingered in his heart; if He Yiming were to become the Guardian Master, the He Family Village would undoubtedly reap many associated benefits.

But the moment he considered his grandson’s ambition, that concern faded. As long as his grandson was happy and continued to achieve higher martial arts pinnacles, the status of He Family Village would only rise; this was undeniable.

The next day, outside the He family gates, the atmosphere was vibrant and bustling. A vast contingent of carriages departed He Family Village, heading toward the Tianluo capital.

In this procession, besides the two guests from the capital, Lin Taoli was also traveling along. From the He family, apart from He Yiming and Yuan Lixun, only He Quanxin and his son He Yitian accompanied them.

According to the Elder, since He Yitian would eventually need to travel and explore the world, Quanxin and his son, who were destined to take over He Family Village, must accompany them to gain worldly experience. Watching the convoy slowly move onto the main road and disappear from his sight, He Wude let out a long sigh, uncertain of the complex emotions churning within him.

However, from this day forward, He Family Village had stepped out of the tiny confines of Taicang County and formally entered the sightlines of the Northwest States. And the celestial prodigy of He Family Village, He Yiming—would he truly be able to establish a firm foothold in the Northwest?