The night wind slipped and whistled, whipping the great banners atop the Imperial Palace into a frenzied, snapping dance.

A slight breeze stole through, bypassing countless guards completely, drifting past their very eyes and into the confines of the Royal Estate.

No one saw it, nor did anyone even sense that what had just passed was not mere wind, but a person—a human-shaped current.

He Yi-ming felt an unparalleled surge of relief, much like Zhu Bajie after consuming the Ginseng Fruit; that exquisite sensation radiated outward from every one of his thirty-eight thousand pores.

His movements were impossibly nimble; his entire form seemed to dissolve directly into a whirlwind, floating into the heavily guarded Royal Estate.

Suddenly, his steps halted. In a deserted, obscure corner sat a clean stone bench.

Even the stone benches in such a location were wiped flawlessly clean, not a speck of dust to be seen. He Yi-ming sighed internally; the quality of the servants in the He Family Manor truly could not compare to their counterparts here in the Royal Estate.

He settled gently onto the bench, his two ears twitching almost imperceptibly.

This time, his ears did not expand to an exaggerated size as they had before; they merely fluttered briefly, much like ordinary people’s ears subtly contracting when they pull at their scalps.

When the Clairaudience technique was first cultivated, under the saturation of zhenqi, the ears would stretch and elongate to maximize their effect.

However, upon grasping the true essence of the power of Wind, all things return to their original, simple state. Even if zhenqi is circulated to the ears now, there will be no outward, noticeable transformation.

And this, truly, represented reaching the pinnacle of this cultivation method.

He Yi-ming’s moment of enlightenment had not only allowed him to perfectly integrate Cloud and Rain but had also granted him the true secret of the Wind’s power. In his mastery of this technique, he had even surpassed Shui Xuanjin, who had been immersed in it for over a century.

This was the effect of epiphany, something sought by congenital masters yet impossible to command at will.

Faint threads of sound entered his ears—the sound of the wind, the vibration of the air itself; no sound could escape him.

Swiftly, a rich and colorful virtual world materialized in his mind. Everything within the Royal Estate was now audible to him, and simultaneously, ‘visible.’

Cheng Fu, the congenital master he had met at the royal banquet earlier that day, stood quietly in a certain courtyard. He gazed upward, seemingly contemplating something far away.

His expression was exceedingly grave, and his eyes were filled with deep bewilderment, as if confronting an unsolvable problem.

Yet, what brought He Yi-ming solace was that this congenital master had not detected him. Even as He Yi-ming processed every movement of his in his mind, there were no signs of recognition.

At this point, he finally understood why he hadn’t detected Shui Xuanjin spying when he watched Yuan Li-xun transcribe the secret manuals. It was because the effect of the Clairaudience technique was simply too potent, astonishingly so. Of course, this technique was only useful in this manner; it offered little practical advantage in actual combat.

Suddenly, two figures walked toward Cheng Fu side by side.

The security within the Royal Estate was exceptionally tight; only those closest to Master Cheng Fu could approach him so easily.

Although the two had not yet spoken, He Yi-ming could already “hear” their identities from the subtle shifts in the air currents.

They were the Third Prince Zhan Zhichao and the Fifth Princess Zhan Zhiyan, hailing from the Kai Rong Kingdom.

“Master Cheng…” A pleasant, melodious voice emerged from Zhan Zhiyan.

Cheng Fu finally drew his gaze back from the distance and settled it upon the beautiful face of the Fifth Princess. “Princess, is there something you require?”

Zhan Zhiyan executed a deep curtsy toward him. “Master Cheng, the guards mentioned you have been standing here since early evening, even skipping dinner.”

Cheng Fu offered a wry smile. “Thank you for your concern, Princess. I am quite well.”

The Zhan siblings exchanged a glance. Zhan Zhichao stepped forward, his demeanor far more respectful, displaying an almost discipleship-like deference.

“Master Cheng, were you perhaps in a state of enlightenment just now?”

“No.” Cheng Fu shook his head. “To reach the state of enlightenment—that is not so easily achieved.” He sighed softly, looked up suddenly, and asked, “Have you managed to ascertain that person’s origins?”

He Yi-ming felt a pang of suspicion, wondering who could occupy the thoughts of Cheng Fu so deeply, when Zhan Zhichao announced loudly, “Master Cheng, I have sent men to investigate. The congenital master who accompanied Master Shui Xuanjin to the Imperial Palace today is a newly ascended master from the Linlang Prefecture. Reports suggest this master has been in the congenital realm for less than a year, and…” He paused, hesitating, then continued in a tone of disbelief, “This master might possibly not even be twenty years old this year.”

Cheng Fu’s expression shifted instantly to one of intense interest. His cheeks twitched slightly. “What kind of men have you sent? A congenital expert in his twenties might exist in this world, but absolutely not in the Tianluo Kingdom.”

Zhan Zhichao flushed with shame. “Yes, I will immediately dispatch others to investigate again.”

Although He Yi-ming appeared exceptionally young, the appearance of a congenital master could never be judged by mere looks, as that would be the most unreliable method. Furthermore, Cheng Fu and the others would never believe that He Yi-ming had truly reached the congenital realm before the age of twenty.

Cheng Fu waved a hand dismissively. “Never mind. Keep this quiet for now; if it draws unwanted attention, that would be problematic. In any case, we will receive confirmed news once we return.”

Zhan Zhichao hesitated slightly. “Master Cheng speaks wisely. However, speaking of this Master He, it reminds me of someone.”

“Who?”

“Does Master Cheng still recall those bandits along the border between our Kai Rong Kingdom and the Tianluo Kingdom?”

Cheng Fu snorted. “You mean the loyal dogs kept by the Second Prince?”

“Precisely.” Zhan Zhichao replied respectfully. “Last month, we received intelligence that these bandits suddenly raided hundreds of li, attacking the city of Taicang County in the Tianluo Kingdom. Somehow, they managed to provoke a congenital master, who slew two thousand of them in a single strike, including five peak-level Innate Strength experts. All were killed.”

Cheng Fu started slightly, exclaiming, “Two thousand slain in one strike? That is sheer nonsense.”

Zhan Zhichao gave a bitter smile. “Master Cheng, we know it’s pure rumor-mongering, but those bandits did vanish. And according to the few who escaped, the description of that congenital master does indeed match that of Master He today.”

He Yi-ming, eavesdropping, nearly couldn’t believe his own ears. He had always assumed the bandits who descended upon Taicang County were simply vagrants from Tai’a County. But hearing Cheng Fu and Zhan Zhichao, they were somehow connected to the Kai Rong Kingdom—the very hounds kept by their Second Prince.

For a moment, the blood in He Yi-ming’s body seemed to freeze.

Now, he finally understood something. Why the Lin family of Linlang, despite their strength, allowed those bandits to run rampant? Why the Tianluo Kingdom, holding sway over four prefectures and possessing significant military might, remained utterly powerless against them? Why Shui Xuanjin, a congenital master, allowed those bandits to survive along the border?

It turned out that behind it all lay the shadow of the Kai Rong Kingdom.

His breathing quickened slightly, and his skin began to emit a faint heat.

He recalled the ruined county seat, the slaughtered populace. Slowly, an irrepressible killing intent, fierce and menacing, began to spread from the deepest recesses of his heart.

“Hmph. So what if Tianluo has gained a Protector Master? Our Kai Rong Kingdom boasts ten congenital masters,” a delicate snort sounded from Zhan Zhiyan. Her beautiful eyes blinked, filled with a peculiar charm, but her words were chillingly audacious. “Third Brother, why don’t we ask the Grand Ancestor to step forward, claim they killed our Kai Rong soldiers, and demand compensation?”

“Nonsense.” Zhan Zhichao chuckled despite himself. “Those fools marched to Taicang County of their own volition. Not only did they breach the county seat, but they were even laying siege to the fortress of one of the hereditary noble families there. That was a cardinal offense; their deaths are their own fault. We should be distancing ourselves, not championing their cause.”

Zhan Zhiyan laughed sweetly. “Third Brother, that’s just an excuse. As far as I know, this Master He has been in the Tianluo Capital for less than five days, and he is not Tianluo’s Protector Master.” A flicker of proud amusement crossed her face. “Think about it: this Master He was obscure until recently, meaning he must have only just reached the congenital level. The Tianluo royal family clearly invited him from Taicang County with the intention of making him the Protector Master. But if our Grand Ancestor were to step forward and promise him access to the Royal Treasury and offer him valuable spirit treasures, provided he joins us in Kai Rong—do you think he wouldn't be tempted?”

Zhan Zhichao fell silent. Neither the Royal Treasury nor the genius spirit treasures were decisions he could make. And whether to offer such a massive price to recruit a master who had just attained the congenital realm was also beyond his authority.

Cheng Fu suddenly spoke up. “It is worth it.”

The Zhan siblings looked up simultaneously, their eyes wide with indescribable surprise, even Zhan Zhiyan included.

She had only proposed the idea half-jokingly, but she hadn't expected Master Cheng to state so definitively that it was worthwhile. This greatly exceeded her expectations.

“Master Cheng, why do you say that?”

Cheng Fu’s expression was gravely serious. “Did you not send people to inquire? He is not even twenty. A congenital master under twenty—it is worth recruiting him at any cost.”

Zhan Zhichao managed a wry smile. “Master Cheng, didn’t you just say it was impossible for a twenty-year-old to reach the congenital realm in the Tianluo Kingdom?”

“It is impossible, but given this person’s youthful appearance, even if he is not twenty, he surely cannot be over fifty.” Cheng Fu asserted confidently. “To reach the congenital realm below fifty is still an extraordinary achievement.”

The Zhan siblings exchanged a look, both deeply moved.

Moreover, in their minds, once the Grand Ancestor made an offer, He Yi-ming would undoubtedly choose Kai Rong over Tianluo without hesitation.

After all, water flows downhill, and people strive for advancement. A congenital master must surely understand where his better future lies.

However, the three of them were unaware that it was precisely their words that prevented He Yi-ming from exploding right there on the spot.

From Zhan Zhiyan’s account, he learned that the Kai Rong Kingdom possessed a full ten Protector Masters, and one of them, the Grand Ancestor, must far surpass the rest, otherwise Zhan Zhiyan would not possess such near-blind confidence in him.

The strength of the Kai Rong Kingdom was far beyond what He Yi-ming could currently contend with. Given this, he swiftly calmed his mind, suppressing the immense killing intent he had generated.

But in his heart, he had marked the Second Prince of the Kai Rong Kingdom.

He was no wandering knight; he could not challenge the entire Kai Rong Kingdom openly for the sake of the murdered citizens of Taicang County. But if an opportunity arose in the future, he would certainly not hesitate to strike down that Second Prince.

Taking a deep breath, He Yi-ming rose from the stone bench. The night deepened; he was ready to depart.

Having achieved his breakthrough tonight, mastering his techniques, and stumbling upon this conversation had already provided him with immense knowledge. There was no need to listen further.

Yet, just as he prepared to leave, he heard Zhan Zhiyan ask again, “Master Cheng, since you weren't in enlightenment, why did you remain here for the entire evening?”

He Yi-ming paused. This was a question he, too, wanted answered.

A congenital master wouldn't just stare intently at the same spot for so long for no reason.

Cheng Fu sighed softly. He seemed rather fond of Zhan Zhiyan, and after a moment’s thought, he finally disclosed, “Before coming here, did His Majesty mention our mission to you?”

“Father did mention it,” Zhan Zhichao replied, bowing slightly. “Father said that Tianluo’s Protector Master, Shui Xuanjin, is advanced in years, rumored to have little life left. He instructed us to investigate the truth. If it is true, then Tianluo’s annual tribute of grain and money should be doubled in the future. But if the rumors are false and Master Shui Xuanjin is in robust health, then as compensation, Tianluo’s annual tribute can be reduced by ten percent.”

“Correct,” Cheng Fu nodded slightly. “When I met Shui Xuanjin today, I immediately issued a provocation, intending to test him. A few exchanges in combat would surely reveal his condition. Unfortunately, that other person intervened first, ruining my plan.”

Zhan Zhichao’s expression tightened. “Master Cheng, did you discern his true strength during the banquet today?”

Cheng Fu’s face grew even sterner. “Though I did not engage him again today, based on my observations, Shui Xuanjin’s condition does appear compromised. That rumor is not baseless.”

Zhan Zhichao’s eyes brightened considerably. “Excellent! Over the past hundred years, the Tianluo Kingdom has expanded rapidly, from possessing only one prefecture to four. If Shui Xuanjin passes, their national power will certainly decline sharply, and they will no longer threaten us.”

Cheng Fu, however, shook his head slightly. “Third Prince, I initially thought the same, but…” His tone deepened. “This afternoon, an intense fluctuation of heaven and earth energy emanated from that direction. The sheer intensity of that aura was world-shaking; even I felt my own inferiority.”

The Zhan siblings’ expressions changed drastically. Zhan Zhiyan exclaimed, “Master Cheng, then this rumor…”

Cheng Fu managed a bitter smile. “Since he still possesses such formidable power, the rumor is naturally debunked.”

Zhan Zhiyan blinked twice, then suddenly mused, “Why would Master Shui Xuanjin do this? Could he have guessed our intentions?”

Cheng Fu said coldly, “Heh heh, he did not guess. Rather, this is Shui Xuanjin showing off his own strength to me. He is responding to my provocation from today.”

He Yi-ming, hidden in a corner of the estate, stumbled, nearly falling back onto the stone bench.

This fellow was truly too arrogant…

The Zhan siblings looked at each other. Zhan Zhiyan murmured, “Master Cheng, are you certain that surge of heaven and earth energy was emitted by Shui Xuanjin? Could it be another congenital master?”

“Impossible,” Cheng Fu declared with finality. “I sensed the power of Wind, a force mastered by only a few in the Northwest Principalities, and Shui Xuanjin is one of them. As for the other master you mentioned, one only needs to look at his appearance to know: he must have only recently stepped into the congenital realm. To cause such a massive surge of heaven and earth energy, even with prior experience in epiphany, would require at least twenty years of dedicated cultivation.” He snorted. “If the news you gathered stated this person had been congenital for twenty years, there would be a sliver of possibility. But having just entered the realm? Absolutely impossible.”

Indeed, it would be impossible for an ordinary congenital master to invoke such powerful natural energy within a year of his breakthrough. But He Yi-ming had entered the state of epiphany multiple times within that short year; his achievements could certainly not be measured by common standards.

Zhan Zhichao nodded slightly. “Master Cheng, since Master Shui Xuanjin has made this move, what should we do?”

“What to do?” Cheng Fu snorted. “Since he has issued a challenge, this old man will naturally not show weakness. We will rest for seven days. Seven days from now is the Tianluo Emperor’s grand hunt. We will demand a challenge against the Tianluo Protector Master then.” He spread his hands flatly; a faint blush of red suddenly rose over his palms, and his voice was filled with supreme confidence. “We will wager the ten percent tribute offered by His Majesty. I want to see if the Wind power Shui Xuanjin has cultivated for a century can suppress the Fire power I gained through epiphany.”

The eyes of the Zhan siblings shone with excitement. They clenched their fists, seemingly filled with absolute faith in Cheng Fu’s inevitable victory.

Meanwhile, the distant He Yi-ming looked up at the sky. He suddenly realized that some matters were simply beyond one’s ability to predict or control.

Pa: Last day of the month, White Crane seems to have secured the top three spots ^_^ Starting tomorrow is the first day of March; White Crane requests the guaranteed monthly votes for March. After midnight tonight, there will be an extra chapter release, and tomorrow is guaranteed to have fifteen thousand characters!

Book Recommendation ^_^ Youyan, Book ID 1492535 When a delicate Epiphyllum flower appears on one’s back, does this signify the changing of their fate?