In the vast northwestern expanse, there existed a land where mountains and grasslands coexisted. Within the confines of a single nation, one could find both endless, towering ranges and sweeping, open plains.

The Tianluo Kingdom was undoubtedly a prime example of such a nation.

However, the capital city of Tianluo was strategically situated in an area of excellent accessibility. Not far from the capital, minor mountain ranges gently undulated, though centuries of development had gradually shaped the area into the well-connected metropolis it now was.

After a month of travel, He Yiming and his entourage finally arrived beneath the towering walls of the most crucial city in the Tianluo Kingdom.

As He Yiming stepped out of the carriage and gazed upon the massive fortifications, a wave of deep emotion washed over him.

If someone had told him three years prior that such monumental changes would occur in just that span—that even the imperial family of Tianluo would respectfully invite him—he would never have believed it.

Yet, everything that had transpired over those three years had indeed elevated him, without his conscious notice, to a height previously unimaginable.

Suddenly, a fierce, undeniable urge surged within him: the need to see Shui Xuanjin as soon as possible.

“Mr. Xue,” He Yiming called out loudly.

Xue Lie, who was leading the procession, immediately moved with the speed of a striking bird, calling back from a distance, “Master He, what is your command?”

“I wish to see your master.”

Xue Lie paused, surprised. Was this not the very purpose of He Yiming’s journey to the capital?

He slightly bowed from his saddle. “Master He, rest assured. We will enter the city now, rest at the Royal Manor for a day, and tomorrow morning…”

“I want to see your master now,” He Yiming interrupted him coolly.

A flicker of hesitation crossed Xue Lie’s face. Was Master He’s urgency to meet his teacher due to some unknown reason?

He Yiming shot him a knowing, half-smile look. “Then you are saying, Mr. Xue, that you are unwilling to facilitate the introduction?”

Xue Lie gritted his teeth. “Since Master He insists, this Xue will naturally comply.”

At this moment, Yu Xiaoyi had also been alerted and approached them. Hearing He Yiming’s request, he could not help but offer a wry, internal smile.

He had always known that these Xiantian powerhouses were often unreasonable individuals. He had initially hoped He Yiming might be an exception, but now it seemed he was merely better at concealing it.

Giving Xue Lie a subtle look, Yu Xiaoyi said, “Master He, since you are eager to meet Master Shui sooner, please allow Mr. Xue to escort you. As for Mr. He Quanxin and the others, may this King attend to them?”

He Yiming pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly, turning his gaze toward Xue Lie.

Xue Lie sighed in resignation, spurred his horse away from the main group, and headed toward the city gates. He Yiming whistled sharply, and the Crimson Silk Horse immediately broke away from the entourage. He Yiming sprang up, landing perfectly in the saddle.

Without needing urging, the Crimson Silk Horse quickly fell into formation directly behind Xue Lie’s mount.

The longer He Yiming spent with the Crimson Silk Horse, the more he admired it. Furthermore, the beast was intelligent to the point of near sentience, leading to increasingly perfect coordination between rider and steed.

However, this closeness only deepened He Yiming’s gratitude toward Luo Xin.

He resolved that he must find an opportunity to repay the kindness of this gift in the future.

The sheer prosperity of Tianluo City dwarfed that of Taicang County, and even the Fire Crow Kingdom, which He Yiming had visited before, seemed inferior by comparison.

Every street was thronged with pedestrians, and merchants could be seen everywhere.

Yu Xiaoyi had once mentioned that while the Tianluo Kingdom might not rank among the three great powers, it was undeniably one of the leading nations in the entire Northwest.

Seeing the city today, those words seemed to contain little exaggeration.

On the main thoroughfares, nearly all pedestrians walked along the sides. The two central lanes, wide enough for carriages, were entirely empty.

Xue Lie rode his horse down these central paths, proceeding unimpeded. He Yiming immediately understood: these two lanes were reserved for those with status and power.

Of course, such segregated lanes were only possible on the main avenues within the city; they would be utterly impossible in the narrower alleyways.

Suddenly, a series of unrestrained, roaring laughter echoed from ahead, followed by the sound of more than twenty magnificent horses galloping toward them.

Although Xue Lie was also moving at a decent clip, this was within the city walls, so he kept his speed in check. However, these approaching riders showed no restraint, charging forward as if the city were an endless, open plain.

Seeing the horses approaching like flying arrows, about to collide with Xue Lie’s mount, the master of the late-stage Houtian realm, whose internal energy had reached the tenth level, saw his expression shift subtly, a flash of anger in his eyes. Without any noticeable movement, he dropped from his horse.

His feet touched the ground, and he abruptly extended both hands, pushing forward toward the oncoming charge.

The swift horses were upon him in an instant, and his raised palms struck precisely at the heads of the lead two horses.

In that single moment, the first two mounts seemed struck by lightning. They were halted as if they had slammed into a wall of iron or stone, brought to an abrupt stop.

Xue Lie’s application of force was supremely skillful, incorporating a slight rotational power in his palms. The two horses immediately tumbled to the ground, yet they continued to snort and hiss, surprisingly not dead from the impact of that single blow.

He Yiming watched with silent admiration. To strike a fast horse dead was no great difficulty for a master whose internal energy had reached the tenth level. But to halt the charging beast without taking its life required a skill far beyond the ordinary.

The two riders were clearly cultivators with established internal energy. Despite the sudden stop, their reflexes were quick; they immediately pushed off their horses’ necks and sprang into the air.

Those behind them were greatly alarmed, immediately pulling back their reins and shouting curses.

He Yiming frowned slightly. “Mr. Xue, who are these people?”

Xue Lie quickly turned back, respectfully explaining, “Master He, please forgive the intrusion. These are young masters and ladies from several prominent families in the capital. They are somewhat arrogant in their ways, but they certainly did not intend to offend you.”

At that moment, a voice roared in fury, “You two, where did you scoundrels come from, daring to block our path? Do you have any idea who we are?”

These young men and women were not fools. Upon witnessing Xue Lie’s display of skill, they instantly recognized that his martial cultivation was profound and far beyond their capability. Thus, they dared not approach to fight, contenting themselves with shouting threats from a distance.

Xue Lie’s face darkened. His figure suddenly shot forward, moving with lightning speed to appear before the most vociferous man. He extended his hand and administered eight slaps—front, back, left, right, and all points in between.

The man’s heart seized with terror. He shook his head, trying to dodge, but quickly realized that no matter how he moved, his efforts were useless. From the perspective of the onlookers, it appeared as if he were actively thrusting his face forward to receive the blows, making his predicament utterly humiliating.

After the eight slaps landed, Xue Lie returned to his original spot instantly.

His movement this time was truly ghost-like and swift as lightning. By the time the others reacted, the eight blows had already landed, and Xue Lie was back where he started, as if he had never moved at all.

The man who had taken the slaps let out a sharp cry, opened his mouth, and spat out a mouthful of blood, mixed with more than ten gory teeth.

Xue Lie’s eight slaps had knocked out every single one of his teeth.

Immediately, the faces of the other young men and women turned pale, and none dared to utter another curse.

At this point, anyone with a shred of sense understood that further antagonism would only result in greater loss.

After striking, Xue Lie glanced toward He Yiming with the corner of his eye. Seeing that his expression was placid, as if he hadn't given the incident a second thought, Xue Lie felt a surge of relief.

He had used harsh measures to intimidate these youths precisely because he feared their ignorance might lead them to offend He Yiming verbally. If He Yiming became truly angered and slaughtered them all, it would instantly cause a massive uproar and create countless enemies within the capital.

Of course, with his status as a Xiantian powerhouse, no one would dare provoke him directly. But since these young nobles dared to gallop on the main thoroughfare, their families must possess considerable influence. If enmity were created now, any hope of inviting He Yiming to the capital as a State Protector Master would be utterly dashed.

After a moment of silence descended upon the scene, He Yiming, feeling bored, said, “Mr. Xue, let us proceed.”

Xue Lie was overjoyed. “Yes,” he replied swiftly.

Without mounting his horse, he led it and strode forward with long, powerful steps. Wherever he walked, the young masters and ladies hastily cleared their horses, leaving the central road open. Even the young man whose teeth had been scattered retreated to the side, clutching his severely swollen cheek. However, in his eyes burned an intense, venomous hatred fixed upon Xue Lie.

He Yiming rode his horse, following closely behind Xue Lie through the cleared passage.

Once they had passed, a figure finally stepped forward. He cupped his hands and asked, “I am Zi Ruiwen. May I ask your esteemed name, sir?”

Xue Lie did not turn back, calling out loudly, “This old man is Xue Lie. Ask your elders if they deserve a beating.”

The young nobles in the street were first stunned, then their faces changed dramatically. The resentment and hatred that had been visible in their eyes instantly vanished, replaced by a flicker of sheer dread.

Zi Ruiwen asked, his voice trembling, “Are you the Elder Xue Lie of Shaoming Residence?”

Xue Lie laughed heartily, ignoring them further, and continued his journey.

Only after the two figures had disappeared far into the distance did the young nobles collectively exhale a breath of relief. Their gazes fell upon the youth who had been beaten, now tinged with a sense of miraculous escape.

The man held his cheek, his eyes filled only with terror. At this moment, even if granted a hundred times the courage, the thought of revenge had utterly evaporated.

Suddenly, several shouts were heard ahead. Dozens of city guards rushed forward.

Upon arriving, these soldiers saw the young nobles on their horses. The leading officer, apparently recognizing Zi Ruiwen, stepped forward ingratiatingly. “Young Master Zi, we heard someone caused trouble for you. Where is this person? Allow me to arrest him and ensure he is severely punished.”

Zi Ruiwen and the others looked at the captain of the guard with expressions of complicated amusement.

Though they knew the officer was merely trying to curry favor and link himself to the young nobility, expecting him to capture Xue Lie was another matter entirely…

Zi Ruiwen chuckled lightly. “Your enthusiasm is most appreciated, Officer. May I ask your name?”

The officer’s smile became even more obsequious. “This humble one is Zhang San. Serving the young masters is my honor.”

Zi Ruiwen pointed ahead. “The person who clashed with us went that way.”

A vicious glint flashed in Zhang San’s eyes. He waved his large hand. “Brothers, follow me to apprehend the criminal!”

The soldiers behind him answered the command and were about to move when Zi Ruiwen suddenly interjected, “Captain Zhang San, I happen to know this person’s name.”

Zhang San immediately stopped. “Young Master Zi, who is this offender?”

“This person’s name is Xue Lie.”

“Xue Lie, is it? Rest assured, Young Master, I guarantee that even the fiercest person will be tamed when he falls into my hands… Wait, Xue Lie? That name sounds familiar.”

Zi Ruiwen helpfully reminded him, “You should recall him, Officer. He is from the Shaoming Residence.”

Zhang San’s face immediately turned ashen. He gave a bitter smile. “Young Master, please forgive my ignorance. This humble one shall take his leave now.”

With that, he turned and walked away, never mentioning the apprehension of the criminal again. The soldiers behind him exchanged bewildered glances, hurrying to catch up.

Watching his pathetic retreat, the group felt slightly better.

Then, someone asked, “Brother Zi, who was the person beside Mr. Xue Lie?”

Another replied, “Probably a nephew or younger generation relative, right?”

“Doesn’t look like it.” The first person countered. “I observed that Xue Lie treated that young man with extreme deference, like a junior showing respect to a senior. How could he be a nephew?”

The third person was momentarily speechless, then argued, “Given Xue Lie’s status, why would he bow to a youngster? You must have seen incorrectly.”

The first person hesitated. Honestly, the moment had been too chaotic, and now, hearing the suggestion, he felt a doubt creep in. Perhaps he had misread the situation.

Zi Ruiwen’s expression shifted slightly. “Not good.”

The others pressed him for an explanation, and Zi Ruiwen gave a bitter, drawn-out smile. “I heard that about a month and a half ago, Xue Lie accompanied the Crown Prince to Taicang County.”

The group was initially startled, then their faces drained of color. If that was true, then the person accompanying Xue Lie might be that legendary figure—the one not yet twenty years old?

The realization that they had just clashed with such an individual filled them with profound regret.

They had originally planned a hunting excursion outside the city, but after this incident, all desire for amusement had vanished.

Zi Ruiwen shook his head slightly and sighed. “Gentlemen, today’s events cannot be kept secret. When we return home, we must be honest with our elders and prepare for confinement. At best, we might receive a beating.”

The young nobles looked utterly dejected. They secretly blamed their terrible luck for encountering such an untouchable figure, yet not a single one considered whether they should have been recklessly galloping their horses down the main avenue.

“Mr. Xue, your reputation carries considerable weight in the capital of Tianluo,” He Yiming remarked with a light smile, teasing him.

The previous incident had not genuinely angered him; a casual jest wouldn't hurt.

Xue Lie showed an embarrassed expression. He carefully replied, “Master He, this is not due to Xue Lie’s own fame, but entirely due to my master’s reputation.”

He Yiming chuckled wryly. “Since those people were young masters and ladies from various great houses, why didn’t they recognize you?”

Xue Lie offered a pained smile. “Master He, since I became a disciple of my master, I have mostly dedicated myself to rigorous cultivation and disliked attending banquets or social invitations. Over time, people simply stopped recognizing me.”

He Yiming nodded slightly. “You speak the truth. Without complete dedication to cultivating the Martial Dao, one cannot achieve success.”

Hearing this, Xue Lie felt a profound sense of accord. While his innate talent was decent, his current standing—being called the foremost figure below the Xiantian realm in Tianluo—was owed entirely to constant, relentless hard work without a single day of relaxation.

After traversing several more streets, the crowds gradually thinned, and the terrain began to rise, leading to a small, elevated mound.

Finally, Xue Lie stopped. He Yiming looked up. Clearly inscribed on the massive, castle-like structure were the characters for Shaoming Residence.

The gates opened, and as they entered, He Yiming focused his gaze.

Within the entire complex, as far as the eye could see, were carved galleries, waterside pavilions, and tiered halls built harmoniously into the hillside. The surrounding walls rose and fell like waves, enclosing a pond of gently rippling, living water—natural, balanced, yet undeniably elegant.

He took a deep breath. A sudden feeling of expansion and clarity washed over He Yiming’s spirit.

To reside in such a place long-term would indeed inspire a desire to cleanse the heart and remain detached from the dust of the mortal world. Moreover, he instinctively felt that the efficiency of his cultivation here would far surpass that at the He Family Estate.

He began to contemplate whether he should seek out a similarly scenic location in the future to build such a castle. If he succeeded, his parents, brothers, and sisters would surely adore it.

Though he had not yet formally met Shui Xuanjin, the expectations within his heart seemed to have deepened further.

Suddenly, He Yiming felt an intuitive awareness.

He turned his head. Sitting in one of the pavilions was a figure who, viewed from a distance, gave him an unusually desolate impression.

However, as soon as this sensation arose, He Yiming’s gaze shifted.

Because he now perceived that although this person was seated, he gave the distinct feeling of having completely merged with his surroundings. It was as if he were no longer a distinct entity, but rather a part of the landscape itself.

Unity of Heaven and Earth—he had achieved such a state.

Xue Lie was about to lead He Yiming further inside when he noticed the Master staring silently in one direction, seemingly having forgotten Xue Lie entirely.

Puzzled, he turned and looked. A familiar silhouette immediately entered his sight, and Xue Lie instantly understood the reason.

With a soft sigh, he knew this level of attainment was something he could never hope to reach in his lifetime.

He backed away silently, waving away all the servants. The meeting of Xiantian realm experts was certainly not something they were qualified to witness; therefore, it was better to keep a distance.