A sudden light breeze rustled through the mountain forest, causing the countless blades of grass and leaves to collide in a faint, collective whisper that was both soft and surprisingly potent.

Amidst these wisps of wind, a sound as clear and decisive as striking metal rang out abruptly. It sliced through the seemingly profound stillness of the royal gardens, landing heavily upon the heart of every person present.

“If you wish to fight, then I shall fight…”

A figure strode forward with confident, sweeping steps. Wherever he passed, people involuntarily stepped back.

That lean frame, the resolute countenance, the piercing gaze, the tightly sealed lips—a will as unyielding as iron swept through the minds of all present like a violent storm.

A faint smile touched Shui Xuanjin’s eyes; he had grasped the situation the moment He Yiming brought up that topic. When Cheng Fu unexpectedly issued the challenge, Shui Xuanjin knew that He Yiming, for some unknown reason, had long anticipated this turn of events.

Since He Yiming was willing to step up now as the Protector Master of the Tianluo Kingdom, he was bound to accept the challenge before Shui Xuanjin himself could.

It was a feeling, a pure intuition. Though no words had been exchanged between the two, an inexplicable understanding already existed between them.

The smile in his eyes deepened. He was genuinely pleased—not because someone had stepped in to resolve his predicament, but because he was happy to gain such a close, cross-generational friend just before his own demise.

He Yiming’s steps appeared slow but were deceptively swift. Although he seemed to have just emerged from his tent, taking only a few paces, he arrived before Cheng Fu nonetheless.

He clasped his hands together and announced loudly, “Master Cheng, please…”

Cheng Fu’s expression grew grave. He looked at He Yiming with a complicated gaze, sighed softly, and said, “Master He, I am here today representing the Kai-Rong Kingdom to challenge the Protector Master of Tianluo. You truly should not interfere.”

He Yiming laughed aloud, and an immense, peak-level aura suddenly surged from him. “Master Cheng, perhaps you are unaware that just moments ago, I accepted Master Shui’s invitation and have assumed the position of the second Protector Master of the Tianluo Kingdom.”

The formerly quiet surroundings instantly erupted as if a pot of boiling water had its lid blown off. The onlookers even forgot that two innate masters were currently standing in the arena, chattering excitedly, eager to vent the sheer joy surging through them.

Among the Northwestern Kingdoms, only the three great powers could boast two Protector Masters; certainly, no more than ten nations overall could manage such a feat.

If He Yiming’s statement were to spread, it would surely send shockwaves through every power surrounding the Tianluo Kingdom.

Cheng Fu’s eyes instantly sharpened, while the two princes and princesses from the Kai-Rong delegation showed expressions of disappointment and vexation.

They had not anticipated that He Yiming would agree to Shui Xuanjin’s offer so quickly. For an innate expert, such haste seemed utterly reckless.

Cheng Fu’s gaze finally settled firmly on He Yiming. He quietly sensed the aura radiating from him, and a strange smile suddenly appeared on his face.

It was not just him; Shui Xuanjin, standing nearby, also displayed a flicker of surprise.

Both were innate masters, and from the aura He Yiming released, they both sensed a powerful Metal element energy.

This was power that had already grasped the very essence of the Metal element—a piercing, seemingly invincible momentum, like a sharp spear capable of breaking through everything before it.

Shui Xuanjin was profoundly shaken. He had interacted with He Yiming for a long time, even sensing his moment of enlightenment. He had believed He Yiming was definitely an innate master wielding Water element power, having merely awakened his latent Wind affinity while practicing his 'Farsight Ear' technique.

But he never imagined that such potent Metal energy would suddenly erupt from He Yiming. His eyes immediately shone brightly, filled with renewed hope for this young man who seemed an inexhaustible abyss.

Perhaps, under these circumstances, he truly could defeat the renowned Cheng Fu, who had also experienced enlightenment before.

Shui Xuanjin lowered his gaze slightly and asked with a half-smile, “Master Shui, has your Tianluo Kingdom decided that Master He will accept our challenge?”

On this matter, he addressed Shui Xuanjin directly, not even consulting the Lord of Tianluo. Yet, Yu Rupei showed no displeasure, merely directing his tense gaze toward Shui Xuanjin.

The elder Shui Xuanjin waved a hand lightly. “Since Brother He is the Protector Master of our Tianluo Kingdom, he naturally has the right to fight. Does Master Cheng fail to understand such a basic principle?”

Cheng Fu chuckled dismissively, and the imposing energy around him began to swell, growing steadily more abundant.

It was like a long-suppressed volcano beginning its eruption at that very moment.

“Master He, I cultivate the power of Fire. If you know you are outmatched, there is still time to switch opponents,” his voice was solemn, yet carried a hint of disdain.

If it were Shui Xuanjin’s Wind power, he would certainly be cautious, but since He Yiming cultivated the power of Metal, what did he have to fear?

In the face of his raging flames, any metal or stone would only face the fate of being burned to ash.

He Yiming laughed proudly. He extended both hands flatly, gradually forming fists. A strange, metallic sheen was undeniably visible on his knuckles.

Then, he strode forward, crossing his fists, and instantly, shadows of his fists flew out—like a massive boulder rolling forth, blotting out the sky.

A trace of surprise finally crossed Cheng Fu’s face. This set of fist techniques, in his view, certainly didn't look exceptional. But the imposing aura emanating from He Yiming finally instilled a hint of apprehension.

In Cheng Fu’s eyes, He Yiming seemed to have genuinely transformed into a colossal boulder, rolling towards him with crushing force.

The power of the Metal element is sharp and hard, serving as the invincible spearhead of assault on the battlefield.

However, He Yiming had imbued this Metal discipline with an entirely different meaning at this moment.

Though his fist winds were fierce, they lacked the sharp terror of other Metal techniques. But within this set of Metal methods, there was an added dimension of ceaseless flow. To Cheng Fu’s eyes, he even detected a sensation akin to gurgling streams.

Using a Metal combat skill, yet manifesting the intention of a Water technique.

For a moment, Cheng Fu felt his head spin in confusion…

Seeing the series of interlocking fists about to close in, Cheng Fu finally grunted angrily. Both palms instantly turned as red as glowing charcoal. With a slight shift, even the air around them seemed to heat up to an unbearable degree.

Instantly, before everyone’s eyes, a wall of fire seemed to materialize—an offensive net woven from countless hands leaving fiery afterimages in a single moment.

A series of muffled impacts erupted between the two of them, each heavy collision sounding like a desperate shout right next to the ear.

In mere breaths, many people staggered backward, covering their ears. They only dared to stop once they had retreated to a great distance, their subsequent gazes toward the center filled with terror.

The wall of fire suddenly dispersed. Cheng Fu’s feet danced lightly, like the flickering flames at the tip of a firework, impossible to track.

Where he moved, clear footprints were left on the ground, and everything beneath and around those prints was scorched black.

His footwork was incredibly fast; soon, the footprints on the ground overlapped densely, becoming uncountable. The area within his range of movement appeared transformed into a scorched wasteland ravaged by intense flame.

Sparks dotted the air, and embers threatened to spread into a prairie fire.

The true essence of Fire power found its most perfect expression within his fist techniques.

Yet, despite this tremendous power, despite the fist intention and technique, which resembled genuine raging fire, having trapped He Yiming, they still could not overcome this peculiar Metal discipline.

He Yiming’s fists continued to swing ceaselessly; his movements were fluid, just as they were during normal practice.

Within him, the Ripple Technique circulated like flowing water, using powerful Water true qi combined with the profound principles of the Metal technique to unleash a unique ‘Rolling Stone Fist.’

He resembled a stone in a pit constantly rolling—no matter how rampant the fire raged, it could not melt or consume this massive, stubborn, and hard rock.

He Yiming’s aura grew stronger; the momentum-accumulating characteristic of the Rolling Stone Fist gradually manifested. Slowly, within that sea of fire, the volume of the boulder seemed to grow larger and larger, eventually reaching an unbelievable scale.

“Hah!”

He Yiming channeled his energy to his Dantian, his voice booming like thunder, unleashing a sudden roar like a bolt from the clear sky.

His hands shot high above his head. The immense momentum accumulated by the Rolling Stone Fist was triggered by this single motion and finally exploded outward.

The Thirty-Six Forms of Mountain Splitting, Sixteenth Form…

A vast, unavoidable force instantly tore through the sea of fire, smashing through the fire wall, and arriving directly at Cheng Fu’s chest.

At this instant, He Yiming’s fists no longer resembled a massive boulder. Instead, they looked like a great broadsword forged and refined by the intense fire, having cast off all impurities, finally condensing into a weapon capable of splitting heaven and earth.

He raised both palms high, their edges sharp as blades, charging forward with a heaven-shading momentum, like a chaotic demon king breaking through endless void from the deepest pit of hell, returning to the mortal realm, carrying an aura of violent, unstoppable force.

Only now did the full power of the Metal element reveal itself.

Cheng Fu’s eyes suddenly narrowed to a single point. He finally understood that Metal power, too, could be accumulated in this manner and ultimately unleashed.

This final burst, far exceeding his greatest previous strength, must be the trump card He Yiming dared to use in challenging him.

At this moment, he abruptly realized that under the shadow of his opponent’s overwhelming aura, escape was impossible.

With a deep sigh, he crossed his palms. His hands, which had been glowing fiery red as if burned in hot coals, suddenly retracted into the sleeves of his robe.

He swept both hands outward, and accompanied by a whistling sound like a fierce gale, his wide sleeves powerfully met the incoming attack.

A tremendous crash erupted between their fists and palms. It was a sound that seemed to detonate directly inside people’s hearts, shaking their minds and rendering them incapable of controlling themselves.

The crowd retreated further backward. Even Yu Quanxin and his son watched the confrontation, which far surpassed human limits, with expressions of shock.

The power contained within each of their blows was no longer just physical strength; they were wrestling with the very forces of nature.

The wild intensity of Fire and the piercing sharpness of Metal were entangled moment by moment, creating a feeling that threatened to draw the entire world into their conflict.

They had witnessed He Yiming fight Lu Xinwen before, but only now did they understand that even among innate masters, there existed immense chasms of difference.

Compared to the current battle between He Yiming and Cheng Fu, Lu Xinwen seemed like a toddler just learning to walk, entirely unsuited for this stage.

The father and son exchanged a look. When had Yiming acquired such terrifying strength? In just a few short months, he seemed to have undergone a complete metamorphosis. If this pace continued, what heights might he reach in the future?

Around He Yiming and Cheng Fu’s clash as the epicenter, no other person dared to stand within a two-hundred-meter radius.

Even Shui Xuanjin stood with his hands behind his back, retreating to a distance. Although he was immune to the damage caused by such levels of elemental energy, he did not wish to exert any influence on the two combatants.

Yu Xiaoyi and the others wore looks of utter horror.

They knew innate masters were strong, powerful beyond mortal measure, something ordinary people could not resist; even those who had just stepped into the innate realm possessed the strength to fight ten thousand men.

But watching innate masters clash for the first time, they realized that humanity could indeed be this formidable.

In their eyes, the two figures in the arena were no longer merely men; they were a ball of fire and a blade.

A fierce conflagration burning away everything in the world, a great broadsword tearing open the void to split heaven and earth.

※※※※

With a tremendous crash, Cheng Fu flew backward, apparently unable to withstand the impact of He Yiming’s powerful true qi, soaring high into the sky.

At this moment, Yu Rupei and others showed signs of delight, while the Kai-Rong delegation, led by the Third Prince, turned pale, the earlier joy of likely victory vanishing.

Compared to defeat in a contest against a Protector Master, any number of fierce beasts they hunted meant nothing.

However, Shui Xuanjin’s expression shifted slightly; he sighed internally, a sense of regret passing through him.

In the Five Elements, Southern Fire overcomes Western Metal, yet He Yiming had employed an extremely bizarre method, accumulating momentum to its peak and then unleashing it instantaneously. He had not only nullified the opponent’s Fire power but had thoroughly reversed the suppression.

Under these circumstances, even Cheng Fu could only suffer injury and retreat, losing the ability to continue the fight—that was the only probable outcome.

But upon his person was a specially made outer garment that, while not a true Bao Qi (Treasure Artifact), was in no way inferior to one when it came to defense.

In mid-air, Cheng Fu waved his hands, and the sleeves of his robe fluttered like butterflies. Woven from fire silkworm threads sourced from an active volcano mixed with steel wire, these sleeves were utterly shredded under the clash of the innate true qi from the two masters.

He Yiming also sighed internally. This was an unarmed confrontation; if he had his Great Broadsword in hand, he was certain he could have cleaved not just the two severed sleeves, but even an entire tortoise shell had Cheng Fu worn one, cutting through it in a single strike.

He stepped forward, intending to follow up, but saw the tattered sleeves dancing in the air suddenly slice through space, whistling sharply as they lunged toward him.

His eyes narrowed slightly. He Yiming struck out alternately with both fists, instantly weaving a net across the space before him. The fragments of the sleeves fell uselessly, like nails hitting a hammer, no longer posing any threat.

But in that single breath, Cheng Fu had already landed back on the ground from the sky.

His appearance was extremely disheveled, especially his bare arms exposed outside his remaining garments, making him look ridiculously comical.

Yet, before the entire garden, no one dared to utter a single laugh. Their minds were still immersed in the dragon-tiger struggle they had just witnessed. They felt an inherent, deep-seated fear of these two monsters wearing human skins and dared not mock them.

Cheng Fu’s demeanor was utterly calm; he showed no signs of shame, frustration, or resentment following his recent defeat. His spirit reached an unprecedented peak at that moment.

In the Master Hall of the Kai-Rong Kingdom, there were ten innate masters in total.

Among these ten, while Cheng Fu was not the most powerful, he ranked comfortably within the top five.

He had only entered the innate realm a mere twenty years ago. However, unlike typical innate experts who entered solitary seclusion to slowly accumulate the energy of heaven and earth and purify their bodies with innate true qi, he chose a far more arduous path of cultivation.

The year after he ascended to Master rank, he left his family and walked barefoot across the land, traveling to the distant Southern Border Archipelago.

In those perilous sea regions, he endured ten years of hardship, traversing countless inhabited and uninhabited islands. Finally, amidst a volcanic eruption, he achieved enlightenment regarding the true essence of Fire power, entering the realm of enlightenment yearned for by all innate masters.

Enlightenment: one moment of realization, instantly resulting in a fish leaping the dragon gate, transforming into a dragon.

His innate true qi improved dramatically in that instant, and the Fire techniques he cultivated reached an unbelievably profound level.

It was precisely this achievement that gave him the confidence to challenge Shui Xuanjin, who had been an innate master for over a century.

Challenging a century-old innate master with only twenty years of innate cultivation was not something everyone was qualified to attempt.

However, he had not accounted for an opponent even stronger than himself standing before him.

In that last exchange, he had definitively judged that the innate true qi his opponent commanded was a notch stronger than his own.

The intelligence gathered by the Third Prince, Zhan Zhichao, suddenly flashed through his mind.

Those fools—this person wasn't under twenty years old, but perhaps under twenty years since achieving the innate realm...

※※※※

Time seemed to freeze at that instant.

The two innate masters faced each other, their gazes meeting in the air. Their intense auras clashed as if sparks were instantly struck, scattering their power in all directions.

Unconsciously, a larger area around them had been cleared.

Although no one wanted to miss this rare duel between innate masters, no one wished to enter that circle either, lest they suffer collateral damage for no reason.

Cheng Fu slowly raised his hand, his voice deep and strong. “Master He, when I was in the Southern Border Archipelago, I witnessed a volcanic eruption and was inspired to create a set of techniques called the ‘Magma Art.’ I humbly request Master He’s guidance.”

He Yiming’s heart tensed, but his expression remained unmoved. “I eagerly await your instruction.”

Cheng Fu nodded slightly, and the next moment, his figure moved.

Unlike before, his movements were no longer like elusive flames. Instead, he suddenly transformed into a vast, crimson ocean.

He moved at extreme speed, leaving trails of afterimages in the short space. His crimson-tinged robes instantly became a dazzling glare. His entire being seemed to have morphed into the molten lava cascading down from a height after a volcanic eruption, continuously washing over the world.

The ambient temperature seemed to instantly rise to an unbearable level.

Although the actual effect was not as exaggerated as the crowd currently imagined, upon seeing that expanse of crimson ocean seemingly spitting molten slag, terrifying visions of a volcanic eruption appeared in everyone’s eyes.

Even those who had never personally experienced it, through Cheng Fu’s current presence, the scene they had witnessed in the past was vividly recreated in their minds.

The ability to manifest one's own sensory experience through the exchange of heaven and earth energy was undoubtedly a power arising from achieving enlightenment.

At that moment, He Yiming’s eyes narrowed slightly. He immediately felt the tremendous pressure radiating from his surroundings.

It was as if the royal gardens surrounding him had vanished, replaced in an instant by the terrain of a vast, desolate island.

At the highest point of this island loomed a massive fissure—an enormous, erupting volcano.

The volcano roared like a colossal beast, spewing forth scorching, dense smoke and torrents of bronze-colored flame. The surrounding peaks seemed to be ablaze; incandescent hail, smoke clouds dyed deep crimson, and lava streaks shooting upward like rockets wove together into a kaleidoscope of unimaginable scale.

He stood precisely at the vortex of this kaleidoscope, feeling as though he might tumble into the searing magma at any moment, reduced to ash and oblivion.

He suddenly realized that within this sea of fire, where the power of Metal was being suppressed to an unimaginable degree by the utmost exertion of Fire, it was impossible for him to shatter this fiery barrier simply by accumulating his aura.

He let out a deep sigh, and in that instant, he felt as if he had been transported back to the summit of a distant mountain peak from his past.

There was the mountain rain, continuously sprinkling down from the horizon, and the mists that veiled the endless mountain ranges afar.

A gust of wind blew through, stirring the pictorial scene before him into ripples, as if an unseen hand were gently pushing from behind, causing the image in his mind to spring vividly alive.

Suddenly, everyone inexplicably sensed a fine, drizzling rain beginning to fall around them. The strands of rain were delicate, yet seemed pervasive, touching everything.

Then, a cloud and mist began to spread, looking as if they had always existed there, perhaps for eons beyond count.

They realized, with a jolt, that the terrifying sea of fire was gone. The lava flow, capable of annihilating the world, had vanished.

The entire crimson world had been replaced by white wind, rain, clouds, and mist.

Gentle breeze, fine drizzle, vast, swirling fog...

Everyone exchanged bewildered glances; few understood what had transpired.

Only Shui Xuanjin’s eyes were wide, even he captivated by the sudden, miraculous spectacle.

When Cheng Fu had unleashed his Fire power to its absolute zenith, appearing almost incarnate as a molten tide, Shui Xuanjin had genuinely worried for He Yiming.

Such profound techniques, grasped through sudden enlightenment, could not be easily resisted by ordinary Xiantian masters relying solely on long periods of absorbing the energies of Heaven and Earth.

Only by pushing one specific element to its extreme peak could one provoke a resonance in the energies of Heaven and Earth, creating that overwhelming, shared illusion for others.

Even for himself, facing such an incredible ultimate technique, he would only manage to secure minimal self-preservation by relying on a century of rigorous cultivation to fully activate his most refined Xiantian vital energy.

Yet, He Yiming’s performance stunned him once again.

It appeared this young man, not yet twenty years of age, had truly achieved complete mastery over the powers of Wind, Rain, Cloud, and Mist.

The moment these four co-existing powers manifested and enveloped that sea of fire, Shui Xuanjin knew the outcome of the contest had been decided.

As if without a sound, the pervasive cloud and mist abruptly dispersed.

Everything returned to normal: no sea of fire, no clouds and rain, no wind and fog.

There was no flowing lava, no mountain rain showering down, no swirling vapor.

In the center of the arena stood only two figures, standing calmly, as if they had not moved an inch from the beginning.

They finally understood that everything they had just felt was nothing more than a series of illusions. And the creators of these illusions, so intensely real, were the two men standing before them.

Though the crowd grasped this truth, their reverence for the two increased tenfold, a fear almost branded into the very marrow of their bones.

Xiantian experts were the true sovereigns of this world. The power they commanded exceeded the limits of the human body; facing such might, even an army would surely collapse.

At this moment, all that remained in their hearts was a chilling awe of power.

※※※※

Cheng Fu lifted his hands, which had returned to normal, devoid of that strange, fiery glow.

He cupped his fists toward He Yiming from a distance and stated, "I concede."

Everyone’s breath hitched. A moment later, they processed the meaning behind those words.

Suddenly, an eruption of cheers burst from the crowd. Even those like Yu Xiaoyi couldn't help but pump their fists in triumph. The roar was exponentially louder than the cheer of the Kaorong Kingdom attendants when the Third Prince, Zhan Zhichao, secured the top spot in the hunt.

In the battle between the two Grandmasters protecting their respective nations, their own Grandmaster had achieved final victory.

For every subject of the Tianluo Kingdom, this was a source of incomparable pride. They raised their heads, the dejection initially stemming from the hunting failure completely vanishing.

In stark contrast were the envoys from the Kaorong Kingdom. Their faces were exceptionally grim, yet when they looked at He Yiming, their eyes held an unutterable expression blending fear and profound respect.

After witnessing the entire battle, even the most defiant among them would never harbor further disrespect.

Because they knew that before this man, they were mere ants, capable of being crushed effortlessly and without resistance at his slightest whim.

This was the power of the Xiantian realm; the strength they commanded was absolutely beyond the reach of those who cultivated only Houtian inner force.

Cheng Fu seemed oblivious to the outside clamor. He suddenly asked, "Grandmaster He, the sudden surge of Heaven and Earth Qi that day... that was caused by you, wasn't it?"

Although he didn't specify the exact date, the three Xiantian experts present understood perfectly.

"Yes, it was caused when I experienced a sudden enlightenment," He Yiming replied without concealment.

"Enlightenment," Cheng Fu gave a wry smile. "Indeed, a sudden enlightenment." He chuckled bitterly, thinking that if he had known, he never would have issued such a rash challenge.

It was a pity that the surge of Heaven and Earth Qi that day had not been related to the power of Fire; thus, without witnessing the event firsthand, he could never have imagined it was an extremely rare experience of sudden enlightenment.

His heart felt quite bitter. He himself had endured over ten years, constantly brushing past the jaws of death, to achieve enlightenment in the Southern Borderlands. Yet, this person had experienced something similar without even leaving the small territory of the Tianluo Kingdom.

Truly, individuals could not be compared.

He sighed softly and addressed Yu Rupei, who dared not approach, in a loud voice: "Congratulations, Your Majesty." Having said that, he turned, his arms bare, and strode away with determined long steps, soon disappearing from everyone’s sight.

The siblings Zhan Zhichao did not call out. They knew Grandmaster Cheng merely wanted a secluded place to be alone after his defeat. They were sure they would see him again once they returned to the Kaorong Kingdom.

Shui Xuanjin stepped forward, gently clapped He Yiming’s shoulder a few times, and chuckled, "How do you feel?"

He Yiming smiled faintly. "I benefited greatly."

"Come have a drink with me," Shui Xuanjin’s voice carried an indescribable sense of satisfaction. "I haven't been this happy in a very long time."

The two exchanged a knowing smile, walked side by side, and departed like the wind.

Only after the three Xiantian Grandmasters had all left did thunderous cheers erupt once more outside the perimeter of the garden...

Ps: I didn't expect such a massive endorsement/recommendation wave. Wipes brow Starting today, there will be 15,000 characters updated daily for three consecutive days. Please, brothers, cast your monthly tickets and recommendation votes as much as possible to help Baige's endorsement data look good! Thank you, everyone...