In the courtyard of Shaoming Residence, there was a patch of bamboo grove, not overly large, where the gentle breeze swept through, causing the bamboo to sway rhythmically, sounding like beautiful, ethereal music drifting in.

Since returning here, a smile had never left Yuan Lixiang’s face, and the way she looked at He Yiming held a barely perceptible hint of reverence.

Before today, she had heard many people discuss He Yiming’s martial arts, even hearing the rumored exploit of him slaying two thousand men with a single strike.

However, all of that was hearsay. As the saying goes, seeing is believing. Only after she truly witnessed the powerful, almost inhuman innate martial force that He Yiming unleashed did she understand the incredible strength the young man before her possessed.

If before today, due to her acceptance of her fate and days spent in his company, she had developed a vague fondness for He Yiming, then after the battle today, this feeling became far more distinct.

He Yiming, with a seemingly mature demeanor, took the steaming hot milk tea she offered and asked inexplicably, "What are you smiling about?"

Yuan Lixiang’s face flushed slightly, and she shook her head gently. "I wasn't smiling."

He Yiming took a sip and thought to himself: Lying to my face. But then he immediately thought: She actually looks quite beautiful when she smiles.

A hearty laugh echoed in, and Shui Xuanjin’s figure flashed by the doorway, arriving instantly beside He Yiming.

He Yiming smiled, "Brother Shui, I already kept you company drinking all last night; aren't you satisfied yet?"

Shui Xuanjin shook his head. "Little brother, I was too happy yesterday; there are a few matters I need to discuss with you."

Yuan Lixiang quickly stepped back. "Master Shui, please be seated; I will go make tea for you."

This statement was purely an excuse; she was signaling to the two of them that she would not listen to their conversation.

He Yiming frowned slightly. "The milk tea here is very good; no need to prepare anything special."

Yuan Lixiang’s heart warmed, vaguely sensing that He Yiming had no intention of hiding anything from her. She lowered her head and responded quietly, fetched a new teacup, and poured a cup of thick milk tea from the teapot on the stove onto the table before Shui Xuanjin.

Shui Xuanjin took a sip and chuckled, "Very good. No wonder Brother He treasures you so much."

Yuan Lixiang’s face reddened further. He Yiming gave a light cough, not taking the bait, but instead said, "Brother, if you have something to discuss, please speak plainly."

Shui Xuanjin looked at He Yiming seriously. "Before today, I never realized that you not only mastered the Way of Wind, Rain, Clouds, and Mist, but also possess such profound attainment in the Way of Metal." He nodded slightly. "If I am not mistaken, Little Brother did not cross this barrier by consuming an Innate Golden Elixir, but rather by fusing the internal energy of Metal and Water's mutual generation to ascend to the Innate realm, right?"

He Yiming nodded slightly. "That's correct. This junior has indeed never consumed an Innate Golden Elixir."

He was being clever with his words; he only said he hadn't consumed an Innate Golden Elixir, without admitting that he used the synergy of Metal and Water internal energy to break through.

If this elder knew that he didn't break through relying on the Metal and Water synergy, but rather on Wood and Fire internal energy, he couldn't imagine how shocked the old man would be.

Of course, he would never volunteer information that would cause him trouble, and no matter how prescient Shui Xuanjin was, he couldn't have guessed that He Yiming not only mastered the essence of Metal and Water but also cultivated the vital energy of Wood and Fire to a level comparable to Metal and Water.

Shui Xuanjin sighed softly. "Little brother, actually, Cheng Fu, whom you sparred with today, is also an Innate Master skilled in dual-elemental techniques. Like you, he never consumed an Innate Golden Elixir, but at the age of seventy-eight, relying on his own efforts, he combined two top-tier Postnatal techniques, allowing Fire to generate Earth, to cross the barrier and step into the Innate realm."

He Yiming paused slightly. "Dual-elemental techniques? Since he is also an Innate expert of dual-elemental techniques, why didn't we see him use Earth element power?"

Shui Xuanjin couldn't help but break into a bitter smile. "Little brother, you jest. He has only been Innate for twenty years. Focusing all his energy on one element's technique, he has only just reached the high tier of the Hundred Scattered Heavens. If he simultaneously cultivated two elements of Innate vital energy, let alone twenty years, even fifty years might not grant him this level of strength."

He Yiming blinked twice. He wondered internally, What is the Hundred Scattered Heavens?

Shui Xuanjin noticed his action and suddenly remembered that before him stood a freak that couldn't be viewed with normal eyes.

He hadn't even reached twenty, yet he had reached the Innate realm, and had cultivated the powers of Metal and Water to the high tier of the Hundred Scattered Heavens. As for side branches like Wind, there was no need to even mention them. He sighed internally, such a singularly gifted prodigy probably would never understand the solitude and sorrow he experienced during his cultivation.

But then he shifted his thoughts: he had at least stepped into the Innate realm, and those cultivators still struggling in the Postnatal realm were even further behind.

With a light sigh, the old man said with a trace of helplessness, "Brother He, I am not referring to you; you are different."

He Yiming offered a wry smile; only he knew how truly different he was.

The elder continued, "You Masters who rely on your own power to break through to the Innate realm have a far deeper comprehension of the Qi of Heaven and Earth than those of us who consumed Elixirs. Entering the Innate realm simply means the Qi of Innate enters the body, achieving Innate Vital Energy. But when the vital energy accumulates to a certain level, one can perceive Heaven and Earth, drawing in the Qi of Heaven and Earth within a certain range to unleash power far exceeding human limits. And you Masters, who once experienced enlightenment, can release the insights from that moment of realization through this method, and the resulting power is indeed superior to ours by more than a degree."

He Yiming nodded silently, recalling the situation during his past fight against Lü Xinwen.

Lü Xinwen, like Cheng Fu, had been Innate for over twenty years. But Lü Xinwen relied on the power of the Golden Elixir. Although he possessed Innate Vital Energy, compared to his current state and Cheng Fu's ability to draw upon the Qi of Heaven and Earth, the difference was vast.

If he encountered Lü Xinwen again now, he estimated he could severely injure him with just one move.

Shui Xuanjin suddenly waved his hand, which oscillated gently in the air, looking as if it could dissolve into the wind at any moment.

He Yiming’s eyes instantly focused. He could clearly sense that the power of the wind within a hundred-meter radius seemed to be drawn toward this hand. This clearly indicated he had reached the realm of attracting the Qi of Heaven and Earth, only he wasn't attracting Fire energy, but a kind of wind energy.

The elder sighed deeply, "It took me a full hundred and one years of arduous cultivation to truly grasp the Way of Wind and be able to borrow the power of the wind within a hundred meters. But Cheng Fu only took twenty years, and you..." He paused, unable to bring himself to say more, sighing again, "Moreover, you not only master the power belonging to your elements but also possess the illusory manifestation power from your moments of sudden enlightenment. If I were to fight against you, I fear I would lose more often than I win."

He Yiming awkwardly rubbed his scalp; on this point, he truly had nothing to say in rebuttal.

Only Yuan Lixiang, standing beside the two men, looked at He Yiming with an unusual emotion, and that feeling seemed to be expanding limitlessly.

Shui Xuanjin dwelled on the sentiment for a moment, finally saying, "Brother He, seeing you proficient in so many elemental techniques today, I am delighted, but also somewhat concerned."

"What worries you, Elder?" He Yiming asked, surprised.

Shui Xuanjin said seriously, "I know you are uniquely gifted, and being able to master so much power from Heaven and Earth simultaneously is undoubtedly incredible. However, every person's energy is finite; you should find the power you are most skilled in and enjoy the most, and focus on developing it. This way, your chances of breaking through the Hundred Scattered Heavens and entering the First Line of Heaven will be much greater."

He Yiming’s eyes immediately lit up. "Brother Shui, what are the Hundred Scattered Heavens and the First Line of Heaven?"

Shui Xuanjin looked at him suspiciously. "You don't know?"

"I truly don't."

Shui Xuanjin smiled wryly. "Little brother, perhaps you should inquire about that after you join Hengshan." He shook his head. "I am also unclear about the specifics. I only know that those who just enter the Innate realm are called the Hundred Scattered Heavens; if one can break past this stage, they reach the First Line of Heaven." He gave a bitter laugh. "With my aptitude, I doubt I will ever break through to the First Line of Heaven in this lifetime."

He Yiming responded with slight disappointment, but the thought of soon traveling to Hengshan with his grandfather filled him with expectation. As for the advice Shui Xuanjin offered, he didn't take it to heart.

With his constitution cultivating five elements simultaneously, this issue, which would be extremely troubling for others, was of no concern to him.

Seemingly perceiving the disappointment on He Yiming’s face, Shui Xuanjin quickly offered comfort. "Brother He, given your age, having already comprehended the true essence of Water energy and reached the high tier of the Hundred Scattered Heavens, being able to draw upon the Qi of Heaven and Earth around you, your potential to break through to the First Line of Heaven in the future is still very great."

He Yiming nodded slightly toward the elder; he was equally confident in himself.

Shui Xuanjin slapped his forehead. "I’m getting senile, rambling off topic again." He chuckled. "Little brother, today I went to the Imperial Palace and discussed matters with His Majesty. This time, you represented the Tianluo Kingdom with the wager being one-tenth of our annual tribute to the Kailuo Kingdom. Since you have won, starting this year, our tribute will be reduced by one-tenth. His Majesty’s intention is to bestow this one-tenth upon you."

He Yiming was startled. "His Majesty is too kind; this reward is perhaps a bit too generous."

Shui Xuanjin chuckled, "You earned this with your own strength; who else could it go to? Even if you refuse it, it can be given to your family." He seemed to consider for a moment, "If your He family wishes to develop in Taicang County, you will likely need a substantial amount of funds, and this is a wonderful opportunity."

He Yiming immediately stopped refusing; the elder's last sentence had indeed swayed him.

Of course, he also understood that the Royal Family was being so generous partly to use him as a shield. Furthermore, if he lost a martial contest against a master from the Kailuo Kingdom in the future, this grand gift would likely end there.

However, the Tianluo Imperial Family being willing to part with such a great gift was truly beyond He Yiming's expectations. If the Imperial Family truly encountered any danger in the future, he felt he would find it hard to stand idly by.

********

After seeing off the elder Shui Xuanjin, He Yiming returned to his room.

Although Yuan Lixiang was his nominal concubine, they had never shared a room. This fact not only surprised He Wude but also caused Shui Xuanjin to mutter inwardly. If they hadn't seen that He Yiming truly trusted Yuan Lixiang, they might have actually thought He Yiming disliked her.

After all, with the strength of an Innate expert, there were few concerns regarding the physical intimacy between men and women. As for it affecting Innate cultivation, that was even more baseless chatter.

Yet, He Yiming and Yuan Lixiang seemed to find nothing improper about their arrangement, having lived this way throughout their time together.

With his eyes slightly closed in repose, He Yiming resumed his daily fixed practice.

Although sudden enlightenment could lead to a leapfrog improvement in strength, after the breakthrough, long-term, diligent effort was still required for stabilization. Otherwise, obtaining another chance for sudden enlightenment later would become increasingly difficult.

After an unknown amount of time, He Yiming awoke from his semi-dreamlike state.

He opened his eyes. "Lixun, is something the matter?"

There was a faint sound outside the door, but just by listening to that familiar breathing, he knew it must be Yuan Lixiang.

Ordinarily, at this hour, she would never approach this place. Since she was here now, she must have something to inform him about.

Yuan Lixiang's gentle voice immediately sounded, "Young Master, the Third Prince and Fifth Princess of the Kailuo Kingdom have arrived together; they wish to see you."

"The Prince and Princess of Kailuo?" He Yiming pondered in surprise for a moment, unable to ascertain why they had come to visit him. Surely they hadn't come to challenge him after Cheng Fu's defeat?

"Young Master, do you intend to see them?" Yuan Lixiang urged, "If you don't wish to, I will inform them that you are in secluded cultivation and cannot be disturbed."

A faint smile touched the corner of He Yiming's mouth. Regardless of their purpose for coming, he had no reason to be afraid, so why hesitate?

He reached out and pulled the door open. "Where are they?"

"They are waiting in the living room," Yuan Lixiang whispered. "Young Master, they don't seem to be here to cause trouble."

He Yiming waved his hand slightly. "Of course not. Have you ever seen anyone come here to cause trouble for an Innate Master?"

Yuan Lixiang let out a soft, sweet chuckle, covering her mouth without speaking.

Coming here to cause trouble in front of an Innate expert would be tantamount to courting death. Given the intelligence of the siblings Zhan Zhichao, they surely wouldn't commit such a near-idiotic act.

A moment later, the two entered the living room one after the other.

This courtyard was one of the best in Shaoming Residence, and the living room was quite spacious. He Yiming's gaze swept over the room and he was surprised to see that behind the siblings Zhan Zhichao, there were only two veiled women; none of the other attendants were present.

But then he realized it wasn't strange. This was Shaoming Residence, after all, and with two Tianluo Kingdom Innate Masters present, if the two of them encountered any accident here, He Yiming and Shui Xuanjin might as well hang themselves from a tall tree.

He Yiming's ears twitched slightly. The distant air was normal; he detected no signs of eavesdropping.

Presumably, Shui Xuanjin knew that He Yiming had comprehended the Mystic Skill of Eavesdropping via Wind, knowing that secret listening was impossible, yet he chose to ignore the two royal siblings rather than risk angering him.

Seeing He Yiming enter, the siblings Zhan Zhichao quickly stood up.

They cupped their hands simultaneously. "Greetings, Master He."

Zhan Zhichao’s gesture was fine, but Zhan Ziyan even mimicked the posture of a man clasping his fist, which somewhat surprised He Yiming.

Still, he remained composed. "Please, have a seat."

After the guests and host were seated, He Yiming got straight to the point. "May I ask what brings the two of you here?"

Zhan Zhichao smiled slightly. "We heard Master He had attained the Innate realm, so we came bearing gifts to offer our congratulations."

A trace of suspicion flashed in He Yiming's eyes, and he asked with disbelief, "You came all this way just for this?"

With his status, he no longer bothered to guess others' motives through elaborate means; this was the benefit of possessing overwhelming power. Sometimes, the most direct approach was the best. Of course, to do this, one's own strength had to be solid, or it would turn into a clumsy imitation.

Zhan Zhichao waved his hand gently, and the two women behind them slowly stepped forward.

He Yiming caught a whiff of a faint fragrance. Although he didn't know what perfume it was, his nose didn't reject it.

The two women knelt a few meters in front of He Yiming, holding up the gift register they carried.

With He Yiming's sharp eyesight, he scanned the contents of the register in just one glance. His heart was slightly startled; everything listed was an item of considerable value.

Moreover, there were several items he had never heard of, but they were all written in the first few lines, indicating their immense value made them the finest among the offerings.

He Yiming was not a lofty or arrogant man; upon seeing the contents of the register, it would be a lie to say he wasn't moved.

Zhan Ziyan suddenly let out a light laugh, her laughter imbued with a distinctly alluring power. "Master He, I observe that residing in this courtyard, you seem to lack sufficient attendants. Why don't you let these two maids stay and serve you?"

As her words fell, the veils covering the two maids' faces fell away for no apparent reason.

What was hidden beneath the veils were two exquisitely beautiful faces.

Ps: Next chapter in two minutes ^_^