As he closed the gap like a flash of lightning, they found themselves stopped precisely between the mid-mountain dwelling and the summit.

Crossing past the mid-mountain house was forbidden territory on Spirit Medicine Peak for the vast majority of people. Thus, at this moment, no one noticed the sudden appearance of two new figures here.

He Yiming, moving like a phantom, halted twenty meters before the other man, and as his gaze fell upon the man’s face, a profound shock resonated within his heart.

All along, He Yiming had felt intensely proud that he had reached the Innate realm at the mere age of fifteen. For, to his knowledge, most Innate masters only achieved this breakthrough between the ages of sixty and eighty.

Although there were exceptions, being able to reach the Innate realm by forty was already considered a rare, top-tier genius.

Yet, the very instant he saw the person before him, He Yiming realized the world was vast, and he was not the only genius in existence.

The man’s features were ordinary, and his attire held nothing noteworthy; judged by appearance alone, he seemed merely a poor farmer. But this man’s face was too young—impossibly young.

Though older than He Yiming, his age was, at most, comparable to that of his elder brother, Yi Tian.

An Innate master in his mid-twenties, and from the unfathomable aura emanating from him, He Yiming knew this person was no master who had just recently ascended.

Unless he had experienced an enlightenment similar to He Yiming or Cheng Fu, he must have been an Innate master for at least ten years.

This thought made He Yiming murmur to himself.

If this man truly attained the Innate realm a decade ago, then he was the same age in terms of cultivation tenure as He Yiming. It seemed the world was indeed full of extraordinary individuals, and He Yiming had been confined to his narrow view, becoming arrogant and conceited.

However, it wasn't just He Yiming who felt this way. The Innate master standing before him was equally stunned, seemingly unable to comprehend that an Innate expert younger than himself existed in this world.

They appraised each other, both utterly astonished by the other's youth. After a long silence, He Yiming finally broke the quiet first: “Who are you, sir, and why do you sneak into Spirit Medicine Peak? Are you unaware that this place is the sacred gate of the Hengshan lineage, not to be slighted?”

The young master opened his mouth, as if to offer a defense, but then frowned. “And who might you be, sir? What connection do you have with the Hengshan lineage?”

He Yiming smiled proudly. “That is none of your concern, sir. Since you dare trespass upon Spirit Medicine Peak, you might as well stay as my guest for a few days.”

The man gave a wry smile, a look of extreme self-assurance flickering across his expression. “You speak with great confidence, young man.”

He Yiming’s eyes sharpened, the divine light within them concentrating. “Whether my confidence is too great, you will know if you test me. If you have the courage, come down the mountain and fight me.”

They were close to the peak here. Although He Yiming had never been this high, he knew that disturbing those engaged in alchemy seclusion was the greatest taboo. If two Innate masters dueled here, it would be impossible not to alert those in the cave residences.

The man laughed heartily. “Why the unnecessary trouble? If you wish to fight, then come forth.”

He Yiming’s brow furrowed, a sudden idea flashing through his mind: capture this person with the utmost speed.

Having resolved himself, his figure flickered, moving like a ghost or a phantom.

The man opposite held a strange, complex light in his eyes, but upon seeing He Yiming’s sudden shift, his expression turned grave, and a bead of cold sweat even surfaced on his back.

All extraneous thoughts were instantly discarded. He berated himself inwardly: what he faced now was not some ordinary junior, but an Innate master of equal cultivation.

Though this expert’s appearance was perhaps excessively young, the powerful aura radiating from him was enough to induce a tremor in his core. To be distracted when facing such an opponent was courting death.

The opponent's single flicker, seemingly simple, transformed in his eyes. After that momentary shift, a cloud of mist seemed to envelop He Yiming, making him appear less like a man and more like a monstrous figure composed of vapor and fog.

Simultaneously, a pressure, almost substantial, spread outwards, squeezing inward toward the man as the center point.

Just as he felt he was about to be enveloped by He Yiming’s aura, the man took a deep breath, and a burst of equally powerful aura, resembling raging fire, erupted from him.

He held both palms up, and the surrounding temperature seemed to rise perceptibly. With a sudden, sharp shout, he charged toward He Yiming with the speed of a meteor chasing the moon.

Wherever his feet touched the ground, sparks dotted the surface, and the wisps of heat instantly formed a powerful thermal wave. These waves churned and danced in the air, radiating boundless majesty within the cloud-and-mist aura, like a fiery dragon.

Stirred by this wave of energy, like a fire dragon, the cloud and mist that filled the space began to slowly dissipate.

He Yiming sneered inwardly. It seemed this man was also an Innate master like Cheng Fu, though his strength appeared slightly superior to Cheng Fu’s.

However, among all Innate masters, He Yiming had the most extensive experience dealing with Fire element experts.

He shifted his body and suddenly executed a strange set of footwork.

This footwork was not complex; its sole characteristic was speed!

One step, two steps, three steps…

After the third step, it became unstoppable. His feet left countless afterimages in the empty space; it was as if he was traversing every possible location in that area simultaneously.

The mountain rain fell ceaselessly, covering the earth.

At this moment, the image of endless mountain rain flashed through He Yiming’s mind once again.

He had once channeled that ceaseless mountain rain force through his Great Broadsword, slaying over two hundred men in a single flurry of strikes.

This time, after the battle with the two-headed spirit beast in the canyon, and experiencing the sensation of the Five Elements mutually generating and merging into one, his comprehension of swordsmanship and footwork had advanced further.

Although he held no Great Broadsword now, he had successfully integrated the essence of the mountain rain into his Cloud and Rain Soaring Technique, transforming his palms into blades in this instant, releasing the very core of that technique.

In that flash, the sparkling embers that had been gradually boiling around them—like a forest fire about to spread—were met by a deluge of rain rarely seen in a century, vanishing at a visible rate.

A look of sheer terror dawned on the man’s face. His Fire element cultivation had reached an extraordinary level of power. While this power didn't originate from an enlightenment, his Fire technique was unique, and in terms of sheer destructive force, it was absolutely not inferior to other Fire element Innate masters who had experienced enlightenment.

But unexpectedly, this Innate master, who looked impossibly young, possessed such overwhelming ability. With every move, he seemed to wield the power of a vast ocean. Even before he could fully unleash the true might of his Fire energy, He Yiming had entirely dispersed it.

His expression grew exceptionally solemn, but panic did not seize his heart.

Seeing He Yiming’s newly condensed cloud-and-mist aura pressing in, he suddenly drew a deep, long breath.

This breath was so incredibly prolonged that it suggested he possessed not human lung capacity, but that of an ancient leviathan—the inhalation was unnervingly long.

The surrounding air seemed to solidify momentarily. He Yiming suddenly realized his cloud and mist were encountering a strange entanglement, like an invisible net that had completely spread out from the man and was now recoiling.

Within this force, He Yiming sensed an extremely familiar presence.

Withered Wood Skill.

The Withered Wood Skill, one of the two supreme Houtian peak techniques of the Xu family, held a feeling very close to this aura.

In that instant, He Yiming understood completely: this man was truly extraordinarily formidable. Even Cheng Fu, were he here, would certainly be no match for him.

For this man was an Innate master cultivating both the Fire and Wood elements simultaneously.

Although Cheng Fu also cultivated Fire and Earth dual paths, having only reached the Innate Master realm twenty-odd years ago, even with one experience of enlightenment, he had only achieved high proficiency in Fire energy. As for Earth energy, Cheng Fu hadn't lacked the desire to learn it, but simply lacked the time.

This young man before him, however, was far more terrifying than Cheng Fu.

He clearly cultivated both Wood and Fire, not only raising his Fire power to a level approaching perfection, but his Wood energy seemed to have achieved an equally profound level of attainment.

At this moment, the flow of his internal True Qi shifted, becoming like dry wood; his entire aura retracted almost completely, giving the impression that what stood before He Yiming was not a man, but a colossal, towering, ancient tree.

This was He Yiming’s first encounter with a Wood element Innate master. As his storm-like palm strikes rained down on his opponent, He Yiming murmured internally.

How old could this man be? Barely older than his brother Yi Tian, yet he was not only an Innate expert but a dual-element cultivator, both reaching such frightening heights. How did he achieve this? Could it be that he was not the only one in this world to have gained a miraculous encounter, like the one at the bottom of the lake...?

Under the Cloud and Rain Soaring Technique, He Yiming moved with lightning speed, his hands forming seals in a continuous chain.

Wind, cloud, rain, and mist seemed to fuse together at this moment, forming a vast net capable of concealing even the heavens.

However, he soon discovered the ubiquitous truth of the Five Elements’ mutual restraint.

The opponent’s martial art was clearly also an Innate combat technique. Though seemingly simple, these actions, honed to ultimate simplicity, possessed infinite defensive power.

Since reaching the Innate realm, He Yiming could injure enemies several meters away by channeling True Qi, even without using the Hidden Needle Seal.

But this time, He Yiming unleashed over a hundred streams of True Qi, yet every impact on the opponent’s body sounded like a dry crackle against old wood.

It was like the mountaintop on that rainy day: though the fine drizzle was everywhere, the towering trees in the forest remained utterly unaffected. They still stood proudly, seemingly capable of enduring for ages.

For the first time, he felt that while his Wind, Cloud, Rain, and Mist powers were strong, they were perhaps too ethereal and intangible.

If facing an opponent weaker than himself, he could naturally use the intangible to conquer the tangible and win. But against an equally strong adversary, especially one who was seasoned and whose technique subtly countered his own, these forces seriously lacked the power to deliver a decisive blow.

He calmed his mind, observing the opponent’s technique, seeking the flaws in his own methods. The best way to achieve this was undoubtedly to learn from an expert of equal or slightly higher rank.

He Yiming was highly practiced in this method. In a short time, the opponent’s few recurring moves were firmly imprinted in He Yiming’s mind, even gaining some insight into the circulation of the man’s True Qi.

If the man opposite knew what He Yiming was gaining at this moment, he would surely be struck dumb with shock.

Finally, a satisfied smile touched He Yiming’s eyes. He had learned almost everything he needed to know.

Since that was the case, he had no interest in prolonging the confrontation.

His body, which had been flowing like wind, cloud, and mist, suddenly stopped, transitioning abruptly from extreme motion to extreme stillness—a feat incredibly difficult, even for many Innate masters.

After all, Innate masters employed immensely powerful Innate combat techniques, and mastering such techniques to the point of effortless control was no simple task.

The opponent’s eyes contracted back to a single point, and he suddenly felt an intense, overwhelming sense of dread.

Before he could fully process what was happening in his terror, he saw He Yiming raise both hands.

Those hands now emitted a metallic sheen, as if they had transformed into a massive broadsword, radiating sharp killing intent in the wind.

A strange feeling of fear inexplicably surfaced in the man’s heart—a sensation he had never experienced when facing peers of equal rank.

He narrowed his eyes and circulated his True Qi. He recognized that He Yiming was executing a Metal element technique, which happened to be the exact counter to the Wood element skill he was currently employing.

He wanted to change his technique’s attribute, but in his haste, how could he manage it?

At this moment, the man sighed inwardly with regret.

What strange monster had emerged, not only mastering the profound truths of so many elements but also possessing an inexplicable mastery over technique transformation? To shift so effortlessly from the utmost Yin and softness of wind, cloud, rain, and mist, immediately to the utmost Yang and strength of the Metal element, seemingly without any obstruction.

His only thought now was: How did this fellow accomplish this?

A thunderous boom erupted along the deserted stretch of path.

Thirty-Six Felling Techniques, the Sixteenth Stance.

Although this strike was not the full-force blow He Yiming unleashed after circulating the Five Elements, nor had he used the Rolling Stone Fist beforehand to build momentum, its sudden execution carried immense power. It instantly shattered the man’s defensive structure, like a gigantic felling axe severing the towering tree completely.

The man’s body shot backward; the True Qi within him boiled like scalding water, almost forcing him to vomit blood from sheer pressure.

The moment He Yiming’s feet touched the ground, he sensed the opponent was injured. Guided by the interaction of their vital energies, his own aura surged instantly. His eyes blazed with sharp light, and stamping his feet, he pursued like lightning.

He held his palm like a blade, and the Thirty-Six Felling Techniques, grand and sweeping in his hands, continued to hack down upon the man, forcing the opponent into a state of desperate scrambling and misery.

This was only because He Yiming was wary of the man’s origins and unwilling to deliver a killing blow. Otherwise, that earlier palm strike, while not fatal, could at least have severely wounded him.

Faint sounds drifted up from the path below the mountain. He Yiming knew the recent explosion must have alerted his grandfather and the others.

This was, after all, the restricted area of Spirit Medicine Peak; they could not afford carelessness.

In the blink of an eye, several figures rushed up the slope. These individuals were all around forty or fifty years old. Upon seeing the faces of the two combatants, their expressions drastically changed. Without hesitation, several drew their weapons, shouted loudly, and charged forward fearlessly.

He Yiming nearly rolled his eyes in exasperation. In the past five days, he had encountered some of these people; he knew they were the third-generation disciples of Spirit Medicine Peak, juniors to He Wude.

Their fathers shared some acquaintanceship with He Wude. While not necessarily sworn brothers, they were at least familiar faces. Even though forty years had passed since their last meeting, these elders interacted amicably when they met.

In terms of strength, their cultivation was not poor, mostly around the seventh or eighth layer of the Inner Strength realm, with one even reaching the ninth layer. Cultivating in the environment of Hengshan, they would likely reach the peak of the tenth layer of Inner Strength without issue.

Such cultivation would certainly be noteworthy in the Tianluo Kingdom, and they would be highly sought after by the major noble families.

However, the battle between him and the intruder was one between Innate experts. For these people, with their cultivation levels, to recklessly interfere, not understanding the gravity of the situation—was that not inviting death?

Though these people had no kinship with him, this was still Hengshan. If his grandfather learned that these men died right before his eyes, even if his grandfather didn't blame him, He Yiming would struggle to escape responsibility.

He sighed softly. If these people had arrived one moment later, he might have been able to wound, or even subdue, this young Innate master.

Sighing internally, He Yiming changed his hand seals. The massive, adamantine axe-like Thirty-Six Felling Techniques suddenly transformed back into the misty, rain-like hand seal technique.

With a shift of his body, he positioned himself between the intruder and the arriving disciples of Spirit Medicine Peak.

Though the intruder seemed constrained and flustered under He Yiming’s assault, constantly facing the threat of imminent death, he was still an Innate expert. If he were to enter a crowd of Houtian practitioners at the seventh or eighth layer of Inner Strength, he would be like a tiger among sheep, capable of ending lives with every casual gesture. Thus, He Yiming dared not let him reach them.

However, upon seeing He Yiming’s movement, a flush of extreme anger spread across the intruder’s face.

If their initial, unexpected confrontation involved no great animosity between them, He Yiming blocking him from the arriving disciples instantly caused the man’s emotions to fluctuate violently, and the malevolent aura surrounding him flared up instantly.

He Yiming felt as if a wounded beast had been roused, sparking a fighting determination.

Alas, under He Yiming’s pressure, he could gain no advantage, so despite his rage, he was helpless. Seeing the others approaching rapidly, a hint of pleading crept into his eyes amidst the fury.

He Yiming instantly perceived the emotion conveyed by his gaze and felt a surge of surprise.

A strange thought struck him: Could this man know these Spirit Medicine Peak disciples and thus be unwilling to face them? But why would an Innate Master fear these Houtian cultivators who, by the standards of their rank, were utterly insignificant?

However, just as this thought arose, He Yiming’s expression changed drastically.

Because he had "heard" that the approaching group had arrived, but instead of bypassing him to attack the man in front, they raised their weapons and swung them toward him without preamble.

A look of shocked anger flashed in He Yiming’s eyes. These people knew him; although some only superficially, they now attacked him indiscriminately the moment they met. This was truly excessive arrogance.

He let out a sharp snort, his Zhenqi churning, his sleeves and robes fluttering without a breeze, as if he had suddenly inflated into a massive, gas-filled balloon.

Yet, no matter the fury in his heart, it was impossible for him to strike these people down dead.

So, he swelled his Zhenqi intending only to teach them a lesson—at the very least, to knock the weapons from their hands as a demonstration of reprimand.

However, at that very moment, he saw the face of the man before him change dramatically, shouting, "No! Retreat quickly!"

He Yiming paused, suspicion flickering in his mind: could a mere command from this man really make the third-generation disciples of Lingyao Peak fall back?

But then, something even stranger occurred.

Upon hearing that cry, these people immediately and forcefully retracted the weapons in their hands and retreated without hesitation.

They executed these movements without a second thought, acting almost instinctively upon this man's order.

It seemed that in their hearts, this man held a position of supreme and inviolable status; never mind being told to sheath their swords and retreat, they would execute an order to swing their swords at their own throats without question.

He Yiming’s gaze narrowed. He was no fool, and witnessing this scene, he suddenly perceived a dawning, terrible realization: he might have made a colossal mistake.

With a slight pause of his feet, He Yiming leaped back as swiftly as flight, eyeing the congenital master before him—who was just as unnaturally young as himself—with unsettled astonishment.

Seeing He Yiming retreat, the other man was immensely relieved and dared not pursue; instead, he quickly seized the moment to regulate his breath, watching He Yiming with eyes full of vigilance.

Although their exchange had been brief, having witnessed He Yiming’s true strength, fear had already taken root in his heart. Simply put, he had been thoroughly intimidated!

For he knew clearly that the palm He Yiming had struck when suddenly switching his internal force had actually been delivered with restraint. Even if the two were to fight again now, he possessed not the slightest confidence of victory.

He Yiming’s suspicious gaze shifted to the group of Lingyao Peak disciples who had appeared. They stood there, weapons in hand, glaring back with furious eyes, poised as if ready to draw steel at the slightest provocation.

He blinked, then turned back, cupping his hands toward the young congenital master, and asked, "I am He Yiming. May I inquire as to your esteemed name, honored sir?"

Seeing that He Yiming showed no intention of attacking further, the man finally let out a half-breath of relief. Faced with He Yiming's inquiry, he dared not slight him; he returned the salute and replied, "What a coincidence; my surname is also He."

"My surname?"

The sense of foreboding in He Yiming’s heart grew stronger, especially upon hearing the man’s tone—so seasoned, yet somehow utterly natural. He even felt an urge to flee in disarray.

Suddenly, several more figures descended rapidly from the mountainside, including He Wujin, He Wude, and He Laibao.

They had clearly rushed from farther up the slope's residences, so even though their martial arts far surpassed those third-generation disciples of Lingyao Peak, they were still a step slower.

As they approached the location and saw that young man, He Wude and He Laibao froze instantly, like statues carved from wood. They stared at the person before them, dumbfounded, with some kind of crystalline desire swirling in their gaze.

He Yiming was equally stunned. He had never known that when an elder reached the peak of excitement, they could also radiate something so captivating.

However, his own heart sank like a lead weight; he truly suspected that his move just now had been a grave error.

Suddenly, He Wude and He Laibao simultaneously pushed past the crowd and rushed forward, stopping before the young man. They knelt down in a manner resembling "pushing down a golden mountain, toppling an ivory pillar."

They knelt with profound reverence, bowing their heads with a piety that anyone present could clearly sense.

For a moment, the area fell silent, broken only by the steady thud-thud sound of the two elders' heads striking the ground.

After the three bows and nine kowtows were complete, He Wude raised his head and spoke, "Master, Wude has returned."

The young man's face broke into a smile of the deepest possible gratification. He reached out and helped He Wude and He Laibao rise, saying, "It is good... that you have returned."

Ps: Last night’s chapter was published automatically. When I checked upon returning, I was shocked at how far behind I was from the bandit army; Baihe is utterly speechless...

I must exert myself, exert myself! Baihe will push hard today with thirteen thousand words, and I guarantee fifteen thousand plus the next two days. Crane Friends, please support with monthly votes, thank you!