Great, sweeping masses of white cloud piled up like cotton, rolling over each other like breaking waves, banked together as if they were connected mountain peaks.

He Yiming looked up at the boundless expanse of clouds, and within his heart, a chaotic flux mirrored the endless, shifting vapor.

With his level of strength, there was naturally no reason for him to fear the Hengshan lineage. After all, even the sole elder remaining at Hengshan Peak had fallen before him, let alone anyone else.

However, the opponent he faced this time brought an indescribable awkwardness; it turned out this individual was none other than Pharmacist Daoist.

He scratched his scalp, letting out a quiet sigh of melancholy internally. He stepped forward proactively, adjusted the robes behind He Wude, knelt down on both knees, and bowed with utmost respect: “He Yiming pays respects to Martial Great-Grandfather.”

Setting aside everything else, the mere fact that this elder had adopted He Wude, an orphan, and personally taught him martial arts was a kindness so profound that He Yiming felt incapable of repaying it fully.

Therefore, as He Yiming lowered his head for this bow, his intention was entirely genuine, without a shred of reluctance.

Pharmacist Daoist’s figure flickered, and his hands settled upon He Yiming’s arms. He chuckled, “Rise, rise. You are Wude’s child?”

Upon seeing He Yiming kneel alongside He Wude, Pharmacist Daoist had immediately guessed his lineage. Yet, having guessed it, his heart was simultaneously startled and overjoyed. If the reality were not directly before his eyes, and if he had not personally exchanged blows with He Yiming, knowing the young man possessed unfathomable, supreme strength, he would never have believed that such a powerful, young Innate Master could truly exist in this world.

He Wude hurried forward, saying, “Master, Yiming is this disciple’s grandson.” He paused, puffing his chest out slightly, “This child possessed exceptional talent from a young age, a genius in cultivation, and is the greatest pride of this disciple’s line.”

He Yiming rose as guided by Pharmacist Daoist’s gesture. By now, he had completely retracted his imposing aura, standing quietly beside the elder. To an uninformed observer, he appeared merely an ordinary young man, with nothing to suggest he was an Innate Master.

A dazzling light flashed within Pharmacist Daoist’s eyes, while He Yiming’s own mind gradually settled.

Since the fortuitous encounter at the bottom of the lake, He Yiming had become acutely sensitive to the emotional responses of others. Just like now, even though he had fought Pharmacist Daoist once—even coming close to wounding him—he could sense not the slightest trace of malice emanating from the elder.

He Yiming let go of his worries, certain that Pharmacist Daoist held no resentment towards him, but rather regarded him with considerable admiration.

Although this reaction was somewhat unexpected, it was ultimately a good thing.

Pharmacist Daoist studied He Yiming closely, nodding slowly. He suddenly smiled and asked, “Child, under which sect did you study the martial way? To have been given two Innate Gold Pills suggests high hopes were placed upon you.”

He Yiming was momentarily stunned; truthfully, he found the entire situation bizarre.

Everyone else present was long accustomed to Pharmacist Daoist’s face, which bore no resemblance to his actual age. But He Yiming was encountering such an anomaly for the first time: a man supposedly nearing one hundred and fifty years old possessed the appearance of a man in his early twenties. Furthermore, he addressed He Yiming with the tone and manner of an elder caring for a junior. This combination of factors was genuinely unsettling.

However, under the gaze of Pharmacist Daoist and everyone else present, no matter how strange He Yiming felt internally, he could not display it.

He lowered his head and respectfully replied, “Martial Great-Grandfather, this disciple has not apprenticed under any sect. Nor have I consumed any kind of Gold Pill.”

Pharmacist Daoist’s eyes suddenly shone as brightly as electric lamps, filled with shock. But following the shock came sheer ecstasy, a joy rising from the very depths of his heart.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the emotion threatening to burst forth from his delight.

Turning, his gaze instantly fixed upon He Wude.

He Wude wore an expression of pride. “Master, Yiming has not deceived you. He has never taken anyone as a master, and what he cultivates are the direct lineage techniques of our Hengshan lineage. Moreover, he has never consumed any Gold Pills.”

Pharmacist Daoist nodded repeatedly, his face alight with happiness. “Good, good, good…”

He uttered three ‘good’s in succession before turning back to He Yiming. “Yiming, it is not that I disbelieve you, but this matter is too significant. I must confirm it. I hope you do not mind.”

He Yiming smiled faintly. “You worry too much, Elder.”

Pharmacist Daoist nodded in satisfaction. “Wude, why have you brought Yiming up the mountain now? What are your intentions?”

As he spoke these words, a hint of tension laced his voice. Given his age, status, and strength, even feeling this way—his heart clearly poised on the edge of expectation.

He Wude bowed deeply to him. “Master, when this disciple was expelled from the sect, you once said that if this disciple’s descendant were to birth an Innate Master and be willing to join the Hengshan lineage, then this disciple could atone for his mistakes and return to the fold.” He raised his head, his gaze holding a mixture of pride and excitement. “Master, this disciple has not disgraced you.”

Pharmacist Daoist reached out and clapped He Wude heavily on the shoulder.

He Yiming felt that strange sensation again: a young man patting an old man’s shoulder in comfort, while the old man’s face displayed deep respect, relief, and pride…

He suddenly felt an intense envy for Pharmacist Daoist’s incredible appearance-preserving technique, wondering how the elder had managed it.

Pharmacist Daoist turned and asked solemnly, “Yiming, since you have come this time, are you willing to join our Hengshan lineage?”

He Yiming slightly bowed. “Yes, this disciple genuinely wishes to join the Hengshan lineage.”

His words carried certainty. Setting aside the fact that numerous Innate Masters resided within Hengshan, whose exchange would certainly advance his own martial cultivation, even solely for the sake of his grandfather’s stubborn desire to return to the sect, he would not refuse.

Receiving He Yiming’s affirmative reply, Pharmacist Daoist finally let out a booming laugh, a sound filled with utter exhilaration, as if years of pent-up frustration had been completely scattered in that moment.

A moment later, he curbed his smile. “Excellent! I never imagined that after decades, our Hengshan lineage would finally welcome another Elder.” He stepped back a pace and cupped his fist towards He Yiming, bowing slightly. “Elder He, since I am the only one currently residing on this peak, please take temporary residence here. When all the elders return to the mountain, we will certainly open the Ancestral Hall for you, inform our venerable ancestors, and formally invite you to join Hengshan. Afterward, you may choose any of the peaks within the Hengshan lineage at will.”

Among the surrounding onlookers, save for He Wude, He Laibao, and He Wujin, the expressions of everyone else shifted drastically. The third-generation disciples of the Spiritual Medicine Peak, who had initiated the confrontation, stared at one another in utter dismay.

If they had known this young man would become the fourth Elder of their sect, even if given ten times their courage, they would never have dared to lay a hand on him.

Moreover, after witnessing Pharmacist Daoist’s solemn etiquette, these individuals finally understood. Although the man before them looked young and was He Wude’s grandson, since he had successfully stepped into the Innate Realm, he was an Elder of their sect, holding a status far beyond their reach.

He Yiming voiced no objection. “This disciple accepts the arrangements made by the Martial Great-Grandfather.” Then, a thought struck him, and he asked, “Martial Great-Grandfather, were you not in seclusion refining pills? Why did you suddenly come down the mountain?”

A flash of embarrassment crossed Pharmacist Daoist’s face, and the expressions of He Wujin and others grew rather strange. However, in front of Pharmacist Daoist, no one dared to act carelessly, so though their faces were contorted, not a single sound escaped their lips.

Seemingly noticing their expressions, Pharmacist Daoist’s face hardened. “What are you all standing here for? Shouldn’t you be tending to the medicine gardens? Wujin, Wude, and Laibao, stay. The rest of you, go back to your duties.”

Faced with the elder’s sudden fury, everyone grew fearful and anxious, promptly answering in unison, and they scattered like startled birds, vanishing without a trace in an instant.

Once the crowd departed, Pharmacist Daoist’s expression changed. He chuckled, “Elder He, since you have ascended to the Innate Realm and are willing to join our Hengshan lineage, there is no need to call me Martial Great-Grandfather anymore. Call me Martial Elder Brother Yao or Elder Pharmacist. It is an ancient rule passed down by our ancestors that Innate Elders address each other as martial brothers; this courtesy must not be broken!”

He Yiming had encountered this situation before; starting with Ting Shiguang, the address between Innate Masters no longer strictly followed age. Similarly, now that he had become an Elder of the Hengshan lineage, his relationship with Pharmacist Daoist would become one of peers.

However, glancing at He Wude and He Laibao, the term ‘Martial Elder Brother’ simply would not leave his tongue. He smiled faintly. “Since it is Elder Pharmacist’s wish, this disciple respectfully obeys.”

He Wujin watched He Yiming. In truth, ever since he learned He Yiming was an Innate Master, he knew this day would come. But witnessing He Yiming truly gain Pharmacist Daoist’s approval and being a hundred percent certain to become a sect Elder, he felt a flood of complex emotions, the look in his eyes growing increasingly complicated.

Then, he lowered his head, deeply burying the flicker of jealousy in his heart. Yet, as he bowed his head, he suddenly noticed his own hands—those palms showing the characteristic wrinkles and age spots of an elderly person.

He suddenly realized that he was already older than He Wude by several years; he was an old man with more than half his life already buried. Why should he be dwelling on such thoughts?

With this realization, his mind cleared. When he looked up again, his gaze had returned to its usual calm.

Pharmacist Daoist nodded in satisfaction. He suddenly coughed lightly. “Elder He, I was not actually in secluded refinement. I was traveling through the mountain ranges gathering medicinal herbs.”

He Yiming was greatly surprised, opening his mouth slightly, thinking internally that this explanation seemed exaggerated. Even He Wujin, the disciple in charge of the Spiritual Medicine Peak, was kept in the dark.

Following the direction of his gaze, Pharmacist Daoist seemed to read his thoughts and couldn’t help but laugh. “Actually, most of the disciples on the peak know about this; it’s become routine over the decades. Even Wude wouldn’t find it strange, right?”

He Wude nodded with a smile, clearly very familiar with this custom.

He Yiming immediately recalled that when He Wujin returned up the mountain a few days prior, he had mentioned failing his seclusion breakthrough, with no response from his cave dwelling. Grandfather had been extremely anxious then, wanting to force open the seclusion barrier, but He Wujin had slightly obstructed him, and immediately understood, ceasing all concern.

This showed that Pharmacist Daoist’s behavior was not a sudden whim but part of a long tradition. At the very least, his grandfather, who had been away for over forty years, was accustomed to it and took no notice.

He shook his head privately. Xue Lie, the chief disciple under Shui Xuanjin, had once said that every Innate Master, after more than a century of life experience, would develop eccentric habits to some degree. These habits might not be major, but they could sometimes affect those around them.

Only now did He Yiming understand that this statement was far from unfounded.

“Master.” He Wude stepped forward, his voice now somewhat subdued. “When the four of us entered the mountain this time, we discovered a two-headed spirit beast on the way. This beast was incredibly powerful, and its two heads could breathe Innate elemental forces of Wind and Fire.”

Pharmacist Daoist’s expression tightened immediately, and sharp brilliance flashed in his eyes, tinged with profound anticipation. “Where is this spirit beast?”

He Wude smiled. “Master, it was this child Yiming who took action and slew the spirit beast.”

Pharmacist Daoist opened his mouth, hesitating before finally nodding firmly, speaking with genuine sincerity, “Indeed. Elder He, you and Wude are truly lucky.”

In that instant, countless calculations spun through Pharmacist Daoist’s mind.

If He Yiming and the others had only discovered the spirit beast but not slain it, he would naturally have intervened personally. If only He Wude had killed the beast, he would have unceremoniously demanded the inner core.

In his mind, just as in He Wude’s, they were thoroughly considered members of the Hengshan lineage. With such a treasure, it naturally belonged to the sect for the refinement of Gold Pills. Of course, the sect would not mistreat the disciple who handed over the inner core; while they might not bestow an Innate Gold Pill, there would certainly be ample compensation, and the disciple would be highly utilized.

But now, the killer was He Yiming. If the elder had been tactless enough to demand it, He Yiming, even out of respect for He Wude’s sake, would certainly have been displeased internally, even if he said nothing outwardly. If this bred resentment and caused this young Innate Master to develop divided loyalties towards Hengshan, it would be a far greater loss than any gain.

After all, even possessing an Innate Gold Pill could not guarantee a smooth advancement to the Innate Realm. But He Yiming was a living, breathing Innate Master. Even if Pharmacist Daoist were dense, he knew how to weigh the value of things.

He Wude subtly signaled He Yiming, a hint of triumph flashing across his aged face.

He Yiming smiled faintly, flipped his wrist, and instantly produced a small jade bottle. “Elder Pharmacist, this is the inner core I obtained from that spirit beast. I have heard that Elder Pharmacist’s alchemy is unparalleled in the world, and the return of my ancestor to Hengshan is a great joyous occasion. Please accept this item as a gift for you.”

Before entering Hengshan, he might have hesitated slightly. But after hearing He Wujin’s words—how Pharmacist Daoist, standing before the Grand Elder, had prioritized asking for He Wude’s reinstatement over securing personal profit—He Yiming was filled with reverence and gratitude for this elder he had never met.

He would not carelessly reveal the matter of the White Stone, but he certainly would not begrudge handing over the two spirit beast inner cores.

A look of pleasant surprise appeared on Pharmacist Daoist’s face. He hesitated for a moment before finally reaching out and accepting the bottle.

If ordinary spirit beasts were the most vital treasures to noble families, then spirit beasts of the Innate Realm aged five centuries or more were the most critical assets for these hidden sects.

With the inner core of an Innate Spirit Beast right before him, even Pharmacist Daoist, with his cultivated restraint, felt his heart stir intensely.

Opening the jade bottle, Pharmacist Daoist was first momentarily taken aback, then astonished, followed by an expression of incredulous joy.

“Elder He, how could there be two… Innate Inner Cores?”

He Yiming shrugged both hands. “I do not know either. That spirit beast had two heads, and there was an inner core within each head.” He paused, then asked curiously, “Elder Pharmacist, what kind of spirit beast was this?”

Pharmacist Daoist was speechless. After pondering for a long time, he smiled wryly. “I do not know either. But according to ancient records, any spirit beast possessing two inner cores must be a mutated variant. Both the beast’s strength and the effect of its inner cores far surpass those of ordinary Innate Spirit Beasts.” He rejoiced, “If it were a common Innate Spirit Beast inner core, I would only have a thirty percent chance of refining it into an Innate Gold Pill. But with the core of this mutated spirit beast, I have at least a fifty percent chance of success in my hands.”

He Yiming’s heart stirred deeply. He vaguely suspected that the mutation of that two-headed spirit beast must be connected to the White Stone, but the exact nature of that connection would require later exploration.

Pharmacist Daoist carefully tucked the jade bottle into his robes, pondered for a moment, and stated, “Elder He, although your intentions are excellent, the rules of Hengshan will not allow the disciples who offer Innate Inner Cores to go unrewarded. If both these inner cores are successfully refined into Innate Gold Pills, I guarantee that the right to control at least one of them will be placed in your hands.”

He Yiming then nodded with satisfaction. “Elder Pharmacist, I have one more favor to ask, and I hope you will grant it.”

Pharmacist Daoist swept his wide sleeve. “Elder He, if you have a request, speak freely. As long as it is within my power, I will not refuse.”

“Then I thank Elder Pharmacist,” He Yiming said, a spark of delight flashing in his eyes. “I wish to follow the Elder and learn the Way of Alchemy.”

Ps: Another chapter in two minutes^_^