"Elder Yao, this must be a disciple from Spirit Medicine Peak, correct?" He Yiming said in a deep voice. "She held Li Xun hostage, intending to steal the Innate Golden Elixir, and I have already killed her."

Daoist Yao nodded, his face showing a mixture of sorrow, anger, and disgust, yet also a hint of melancholy.

"Elder He, this entire regrettable incident stems from my lax management," Daoist Yao sighed softly. "I apologize for frightening Miss Yuan."

Yuan Lixun quickly stepped out from behind He Yiming, bowed deeply to Daoist Yao, and said, "Elder Yao, this has nothing to do with you; it was entirely the greed of this woman."

Daoist Yao gave a wry smile. "This person was a disciple of Spirit Medicine Peak, and this occurred on Spirit Medicine Peak, so how can it not be related to me?" He looked down at the corpse before him and said quietly, "Refining the Innate Golden Elixir is indeed a major affair for our sect. But once the Elixir is refined, the disciples who have painstakingly cultivated their entire lives to reach the tenth layer of Inner Strength have no right to enjoy it. Naturally, their hearts are not at ease."

He Yiming raised his eyebrows slightly, and his negative impression of Gu Qiying instantly lessened somewhat.

He too had ascended from the tenth layer of Inner Strength. He clearly remembered the utter confusion and helplessness he felt when his Inner Strength reached the peak of the tenth layer and he found he could progress no further. If his grandfather and uncle had not opened the hidden chamber in their home to show him the method to advance to the Innate realm, who knew if he might have gone mad from it.

This Gu Qiying, frankly, was nothing more than a pitiful soul yearning to seize the Golden Elixir and advance to the Innate realm.

Of course, having learned the lessons from the Red Scarf Bandits and Fan Haoyue, He Yiming was certainly never merciful to those who wished him harm.

Just as moments ago, as soon as he detected any sign of Daoist Yao appearing, he had unhesitatingly struck a fatal blow, killing Gu Qiying.

His speed was as quick as lightning, clearly designed to give Daoist Yao no chance to plead for mercy.

However, he hadn't expected that Daoist Yao's appearance wasn't to intercede.

Although Gu Qiying was talented in martial arts cultivation, how could she compare to He Yiming? To seize the Innate Golden Elixir, she even dared to kidnap Yuan Lixun. If she had truly brought about an irreconcilable consequence that caused He Yiming to abandon Mount Heng, then let alone her, even Daoist Yao could not have borne that.

Therefore, even if He Yiming hadn't acted, Daoist Yao would never have spared her life.

It was just that, after this unexpected event, Daoist Yao also sensed the hidden intentions of those experts at the tenth layer of Post-Natal Inner Strength within the mountain.

To say that other outstanding disciples harbored no similar thoughts was entirely impossible.

Before coming out, Daoist Yao had already made a decision: he would discuss with Yu Jinglei and Lian Yi how to handle this matter appropriately.

He Yiming reached out, without any pretense of avoidance, and took Yuan Lixun's small hand, suddenly saying, "Elder Yao, I heard that on Spirit Medicine Peak, there have always been reserves of Essence Golden Elixirs and Limit Golden Elixirs?"

Daoist Yao subconsciously nodded. These two types of elixirs were indeed priceless treasures in the great families of the Northwestern Kingdoms. However, here in the deep mountains, far from the hustle and bustle of the human world, few ever consumed these two elixirs.

This was because the cultivation environment here was already many times better than the outside world, and the vast majority relied on their own efforts to cultivate. Unless they encountered a once-in-a-century cultivation genius, the sect would bestow a Golden Elixir to lend them a hand, helping them reach the peak of the tenth layer of Inner Strength as early as possible to challenge the Innate realm.

And on Mount Heng, there hadn't been such a genius for a full century, so the accumulated reserves of these two types of elixirs were not few.

He Yiming tightened his grip on Yuan Lixun's hand slightly and said seriously, "Elder Yao, I wish to request a few Limit Golden Elixirs and Essence Golden Elixirs. What do you say?"

Daoist Yao glanced at Yuan Lixun, and immediately agreed wholeheartedly, "That's a small matter; no problem at all."

He Yiming thought to himself. These two elixirs were treasures beyond measure outside, yet in Daoist Yao's mouth, they became a minor issue. The lineage of Mount Heng, with its three-thousand-year history, truly possessed a foundation that even thousand-year-old great families could only dream of reaching.

Daoist Yao hesitated for a moment and said, "Elder He, today's events are indeed regrettable. I have an elixir formula here; please accept it as compensation for Miss Yuan."

As he spoke, he took out a piece of withered yellow paper, flicked it gently, and it floated over as if carried by an invisible hand beneath it.

Yuan Lixun accepted it, bewildered, not understanding why Daoist Yao would suddenly gift her an elixir formula.

He Yiming, however, understood. Daoist Yao was ostensibly giving Yuan Lixun a gift to calm her nerves, but was actually presenting this formula to him as an apology.

He felt a surge of emotion; this was the benefit of immense power. If he hadn't been an Innate expert, but merely He Wude's grandson, Daoist Yao certainly wouldn't have taken this matter so seriously.

Glancing at the formula, He Yiming couldn't help but be slightly stunned. This formula recorded over fifty medicinal ingredients.

And most of these ingredients were extraordinarily rare; several were not even present in the herb gardens of Spirit Medicine Peak.

The He Yiming of today was no longer the ignorant youth first arriving at Spirit Medicine Peak. Seeing the ingredients on this formula now, he knew this thing must be exceptionally precious.

"Elder Yao, what elixir is this exactly?" He Yiming asked curiously.

Daoist Yao had been carefully watching He Yiming's expression. Only now did he finally relax, knowing that He Yiming did not hold the entire Spirit Medicine Peak in resentment because of this incident.

Of course, this was because Yuan Lixun had not been harmed. If she had truly suffered any damage, He Yiming certainly would not have let it go easily.

Daoist Yao coughed lightly and said, "This is an ancient formula passed down from antiquity. I chanced upon it when I was young, and at the same time, I also obtained an already refined elixir made from it."

He Yiming was greatly surprised. This was the first time he had seen such an indecisive demeanor from Daoist Yao.

Glancing again at the formula in Yuan Lixun's hand, he was inwardly shocked. So, someone truly managed to collect all the necessary ingredients and successfully refine it!

He subconsciously asked, "Then where is that elixir?"

Daoist Yao let out two awkward laughs. "I ate it." He sighed deeply, "I obtained this formula and the elixir by chance. Seeing so many rare ingredients, many of which could enhance Inner Strength, I couldn't resist consuming it."

He Yiming immediately understood that Daoist Yao had not yet reached the Innate realm when he acquired the formula.

Looking seriously at Daoist Yao, He Yiming asked, "What exactly is the effect of this elixir? Is it even more precious than the Innate Golden Elixir?"

"For us martial artists, this elixir is far inferior to the Innate Golden Elixir. However..." Daoist Yao paused, smiling wryly, "However, after consuming this elixir, my appearance has not changed for over a hundred years."

He Yiming and Yuan Lixun exclaimed simultaneously. They finally understood what the formula in their hands was.

The Youth-Preserving Pill—this was the legendary elixir capable of granting eternal youth.

Although this Youth-Preserving Pill only granted an eternally youthful appearance, it was still an unparalleled treasure not easily obtained.

It was just that, for an Innate expert like Daoist Yao, he never cared whether his appearance remained young.

Yuan Lixun gently tugged at He Yiming's sleeve and said with surprise and joy, "Young Master."

Although she said no more, anyone could understand her intentions from the look on her face.

When cultivating martial arts to its extreme, there was indeed an effect of slowing aging, but compared to the legendary Youth-Preserving Pill, the effect was worlds apart.

He Yiming might merely express wonder and not care too much, but Yuan Lixun was completely different. For the first time in front of He Yiming, she couldn't restrain herself and showed an expression of intense craving for something.

He Yiming took the formula over, looking at the comprehensive list of rare ingredients, and though he sighed internally, he did not hesitate to say aloud, "Lixun, don't worry, I will definitely refine the Youth-Preserving Pill for you."

Yuan Lixun nodded excitedly, her eyes full of gratitude toward Daoist Yao.

Daoist Yao nodded slightly. Seeing He Yiming's attitude towards Yuan Lixun, he understood the status of this young girl in He Yiming's heart. If it weren't so, he wouldn't have offered this great gift so readily.

Although the Youth-Preserving Pill formula was useless to him, it was an ancient recipe lost for thousands of years. If not for a twist of fate, it would never have seen the light of day in his hands again.

The sound of hurried running suddenly came, and moments later, He Wude arrived carrying Bei Youhui.

His gaze swept over them, and he said in surprise, "Master, you are here too."

Daoist Yao responded, his sharp gaze falling upon Bei Youhui.

The moment this woman saw Daoist Yao, her face turned ashen. Then, seeing Gu Qiying lying motionless on the ground, her face lost all color.

Daoist Yao sighed deeply and said, "Do you know your crime?"

Bei Youhui's lips trembled a few times, and finally, she said, "Grandmaster, you refined two Innate Golden Elixirs, yet in the end, our Spirit Medicine Peak didn't get a single one. This is unfair!"

Daoist Yao slowly shook his head. "Then would giving this one Golden Elixir to the two of you make it fair?"

Bei Youhui was stunned and left speechless. Even if she had a thicker skin, she certainly couldn't utter a word now.

"For your selfish desires, seeking the Innate Golden Elixir, you didn't hesitate to harm your fellow disciples. Such a disposition..." Daoist Yao's face held an imposing aura without anger. "You should know what needs to be done."

Bei Youhui's body trembled violently, and she suddenly burst into tears, "Grandmaster, spare my life! Your disciple was deceived by others; I will never dare again!"

Daoist Yao glanced at her coldly and said softly, "Why put yourself through this?"

With a wave of his large sleeve, Bei Youhui's cries abruptly stopped. Then she collapsed limply, but her eyes remained wide open, seemingly still clinging to life with infinite yearning.

He Yiming slowly nodded. These two women indeed deserved death. Even if Daoist Yao hadn't acted, he absolutely would not have shown mercy. Daoist Yao's methods were indeed clean and decisive; once a disciple committed a major error, they were immediately punished accordingly.

This combination of strictness and benevolence was what kept the entire Spirit Medicine Peak running smoothly.

Suddenly, a sharp whistle sounded from afar. Because of the great distance, the sound that reached them was already extremely faint. If they hadn't been at the foot of the mountain, they might not have heard it at all.

He Yiming and the others looked up. In the extreme distance within their sight, a fiery red arrow of light shot straight into the sky, exploding into dazzling, flame-like radiance in mid-air. Against the twilight sky, it looked exceptionally bright and eye-catching.

Daoist Yao and He Wude's expressions changed simultaneously. Daoist Yao said, "Wudao, call Wu Jin over to handle the aftermath. Elder He, please accompany me."

With that, he pushed off with his feet, already shooting away like the wind.

Although He Yiming didn't understand what had happened, seeing Daoist Yao's demeanor, he knew that fiery signal must be related to Mount Heng, and whatever was happening was certainly no minor event.

He gave Yuan Lixun a slight nod, offering her a comforting smile, then his figure flickered, and he instantly chased after them.

Daoist Yao exerted his utmost strength rushing toward the direction of the flames. Suddenly, he heard someone ask softly beside him, "Elder Yao, who released that flare?"

He turned in surprise to see He Yiming following close behind him, hands clasped behind his back, looking as if he were merely strolling. Seeing his appearance, Daoist Yao knew he wasn't using his full power. Looking up, he also noticed the rectangular bundle on his back, and he was inwardly shocked—what an incredible lightness skill.

Daoist Yao slowed down slightly and said urgently, "Elder He, that flare is a distress signal only held by the Elders of Mount Heng. Elder Yu Xichen must have encountered an enemy. Please proceed ahead first and lend aid."

He Yiming's heart stirred slightly. He hadn't expected that even when they were nearly at Mount Heng, that Elder Yu, whom he hadn't yet met, would encounter an enemy he couldn't handle. He responded, and his speed suddenly accelerated, like a gust of wind, instantly leaving Daoist Yao far behind.

On Mount Heng, in terms of speed right now, He Yiming truly held the top spot; even Yu Jinglei, the Supreme Elder who had reached the First-Line Sky realm, was willingly surpassed.

When He Yiming exerted his full effort, he almost carved a straight line composed of countless afterimages through the jungle. His speed was so fast that in just a moment, he arrived beneath the spot where the flare had exploded.

His ears twitched slightly, and he immediately heard the clash of weapons, as well as heavy, ragged breathing. Just hearing those sounds, he knew someone must be injured, and quite severely.

His figure flashed like lightning, and with another surge of force beneath his feet, he suddenly drifted out from behind several large trees, arriving just outside the melee beneath the flare.

At this moment, a large open area had appeared in the forest. Several towering trees and some shrubs had once occupied this space, but in the fierce battle between several Innate experts, it had been leveled.

His gaze swept around, taking in the figures fighting in the clearing.

In this clearing, three men in black robes were surrounding and attacking one man in blue robes.

When He Yiming's gaze fell upon the faces of the three black-robed figures, he couldn't help but be slightly startled. These three were clearly different from the locals; they all had high noses and deep-set eyes, were tall, and even their eyes were not pure black.

As for the man besieged in the middle, struggling to hold on, his features bore some resemblance to Yu Jinglei. However, his current situation was dire; under the assault of the three, he was constantly shifting and barely holding on, appearing as if he could perish at any moment.

He Yiming dared not delay. Almost simultaneously as he saw these figures, the muscles in his shoulders twitched slightly, and his Great Guan Dao flew up into the air.

He reached out and grasped it, holding the blade firmly, assembling it in an instant. With a roar like thunder and lightning, the Great Guan Dao transformed into a golden gleam, slashing brutally toward the three black-robed men.

The four combatants in the fray were all peak Innate Realm experts. If it were one against one, He Yiming would have been fearless. But facing three against one, he wasn't entirely confident. However, having arrived at this juncture, even if he was unwilling, he could only grit his teeth and meet the challenge head-on.

Fortunately, holding the Great Guan Dao gave him immeasurable courage.

This strike slashed out with a momentum reminiscent of swirling wind and gathering clouds. After the battle with Yu Jinglei and the subsequent epiphany from observing the Landscape Painting, his Saber Techniques had become increasingly powerful and incredible.

The three opponents were clearly well-coordinated. As soon as they saw He Yiming attack, one of them immediately ceased his assault, stepped back, and turned around.

He held a massive greatsword—a two-handed weapon. While this broadsword wasn't as exaggerated as the Great Guan Dao, it was undeniably a heavy weapon.

However, the moment this man raised his broadsword, he felt the incomparably powerful force emanating from the Great Guan Dao, a force far exceeding the limits he could withstand.

His eyes widened instantly, and he opened his mouth, shouting out a string of rapid words that He Yiming couldn't understand at all.

But He Yiming paid no heed to what he was trying to express; he brought his strike down mercilessly.

"Clang..."

A massive sound of metal striking metal rang out. The man's body trembled, and he immediately lost his footing, his feet stamping heavily on the ground as he retreated rapidly. On the greatsword in his hand, which had been tempered by a thousand fires, a small, rice-grain-sized chip broke off.

The might of He Yiming's strike did not diminish; without any pause, he continued his attack toward the second man.

The second black-robed man turned back, also holding a broadsword. Sword met saber, and just like the first man, he couldn't withstand the force and staggered backward.

Under the sheer brute force of the Great Guan Dao, although he was shocked and furious, he had no choice but to evade the sharpest edge.

The Great Guan Dao continued to hack down; this single 'Sweeping a Thousand Armies' strike was like the rising tide of a great river, wave after wave, seemingly without end.

The third black-robed man sighed inwardly. The man before them was already severely injured; if they were given a little more time, they could definitely succeed in stopping and killing him here.

But faced with the sharp, overwhelming killing intent and Saber Qi rushing toward him from behind, he dared not hesitate any longer.

He executed a graceful turn; his movements were far more agile than his two companions. What he held was a slender and flexible soft sword.

Under the manipulation of his True Qi, this soft sword coiled upward like a venomous snake, attempting to evade the Great Guan Dao and stab directly at He Yiming.

However, before he could complete his thrust, the Great Guan Dao trembled slightly, meeting his sword tip at an extremely subtle angle.

The man grunted in anger and retreated rapidly. The pressure on his tiger's mouth was so intense that he almost lost his grip.

He Yiming stopped his saber and stood firm, glaring with anger. With a single swing, he forced three Innate experts to retreat three steps.

The man behind him stared at the scene, utterly dumbfounded, filled with excitement.

The might of one saber strike, to be this ferocious...

Ps: Last night, the poor White Crane was dragged off by Gengsu, Maoni, Seventy-Two, and Yaoji to play cards—they were playing Fight the Landlord. White Crane, who has no idea how to play cards, was absolutely crushed by them... Alas, I won't say much else; the plan to write was disrupted by these darned guys. Fortunately, this afternoon was free time, so White Crane managed to post on time. But tomorrow is uncertain. If things go smoothly, I might post early; otherwise, I'll have to wait until I get home. Also, tomorrow White Crane is taking a flight home after 5 PM, and it will be around 10 PM when I reach Ningbo, so I won't be able to log into the Q group tomorrow. Could those who know please pass on the message in the group? Thank you very much!!! Starting the day after tomorrow, White Crane should return to normal. But these past few days have been too exhausting, so I will update with ten thousand characters the day after tomorrow, and fifteen thousand for sure the day after that, sweat...