The biting north wind howled like a runaway steed, roaring and crashing against everything in its path. Within the forest, several Innate Realm masters faced each other with grim expressions, their hearts as chilled and devoid of warmth as the fierce northern gale. He Yiming unleashed his aura without reservation, drawing upon the absolute peak of his power, pushing out every shred of his essence. Around him, within the radius enveloped by his massive and terrifying broadsword, even the air seemed to ripple with a strange vibration, rising faintly as if scorched by subterranean fire. Though young, his combat experience was already considerable; he had tangled with numerous Innate experts, including top-tier figures like Yu Jinglei. However, every previous engagement had been against a single foe. Now, standing before him were three Innate masters. After instinctively swinging his blade, even he wondered if he had grown impossibly bold, intending to fight three adversaries alone? These three were no mere peak Houtian experts from the ranks of the mountain bandits; they were bona fide Innate masters. Yet, this thought merely circled his mind once before being ruthlessly discarded. He instantly focused all his spirit, concentrating with his utmost effort, daring not to hold back even a sliver of his power. To conceal anything when facing three Innate experts would be sheer, deliberate suicide.

Sensing the overwhelming power and imposing presence emanating from He Yiming, the three dark-robed figures with high noses and deep-set eyes also became intensely serious. In their perception, He Yiming’s body had merged completely with the surrounding environment. Especially within a four-meter radius centered on him, the space seemed to have transformed into another world—a world brimming with lethal danger for them. At least half of their gaze was fixed upon the great broadsword. The mere thought of engaging this terrifying weapon, which exuded an aura of profound coldness, sent a tremor through their cores. That the blade was devastatingly powerful was a consensus among all of them.

A soft cough sounded from behind He Yiming. "Thank you, respected elder, for your timely assistance. I, Yu Xichen of Hengshan, am deeply indebted. However, these three individuals employ uniquely peculiar martial skills; esteemed brother, you must take extreme caution." He Yiming stood as immovably as a mountain, seemingly paying no heed to the words, yet everyone understood he dared not allow his focus to waver for an instant. Upon hearing this, the three dark-robed men exchanged glances, their eyes faintly brightening. The one wielding the soft sword suddenly spoke, "Sir, this is a matter of grievance between us and him. Since you are unacquainted with him, why interfere?" Though the language he used was the most common dialect among the Northwest Kingdoms, his delivery was stiff and formal, as if reciting from a script, lending an extremely bizarre quality to his speech. He Yiming felt a shift; precisely as this man spoke, the imposing pressure from the trio momentarily weakened. If the situation moments before had been one of drawn swords, ready to explode, now there seemed a slight opening for de-escalation. He immediately grasped that these three were not truly intent on a fight to the death with him. Indeed, after undergoing several enlightenments, the current He Yiming was no longer the youth who had just entered the Innate Realm. All 360 of his acupoints were now infinitesimally close to a state of perfect fullness, on the verge of overflowing. He was separated from Yu Jinglei by only the narrowest margin. When wielding the great broadsword, the power he projected reached an astonishing, almost terrifying level. It would not be an overstatement to call him the foremost expert below the Divine Light Realm (Yixiantian). It was precisely because he had repelled them with a single strike, coupled with the sensation of his surging, tidal-wave-like aura, that the three had hesitated. If they had faced He Yiming from just over a year ago, when he first broke through to the Innate Realm, they certainly wouldn't be so inclined toward polite discourse. However, perceiving their true thoughts, He Yiming immediately lifted his head high. His aura intensified further. "I know nothing of your grievances, but since this fight occurs here and I have encountered it, I naturally cannot stand idly by." He scoffed, "What skill is there in overwhelming a single person with numbers?" The three dark-robed men looked at each other, utterly surprised to encounter such a chivalrous figure here. In the presence of an ordinary wandering swordsman, the three would have rushed him simultaneously, beating him beyond recognition. But the sheer power of the terrifying weapon in this man's hand kept them profoundly wary. If a fight could be avoided, they absolutely did not wish to lock horns with He Yiming to the death. After a brief glance, the leader was about to speak when his expression suddenly contorted. All three simultaneously stared toward the spot where He Yiming had first appeared. A figure shot out. This person possessed a disconcertingly youthful appearance, much like He Yiming. Upon arrival, he executed a leap, instantly positioning himself beside Yu Xichen. His wrist flickered, and a porcelain vial materialized. His movement was lightning fast; he uncorked the vial, poured out a white pill the thickness of a thumb, and presented it to Yu Xichen’s lips. Yu Xichen was overjoyed beyond measure. He had been certain of death today, yet at the final moment, not only did an unbelievably formidable young man wielding a broadsword appear, but now the 'Medicine Taoist' arrived as reinforcements. After swallowing the pill offered by the Medicine Taoist, his heart settled completely; he knew his life had been saved this time. Seeing the Medicine Taoist’s actions, the three dark-robed men froze momentarily, then their faces turned exceedingly grim. The leader roared sharply, "You are in league with him?" He Yiming chuckled, announcing loudly, "Idiot, of course we are allies." Before the Medicine Taoist’s arrival, he had tried every trick to stall for time, but with the Medicine Taoist—a fresh surge of strength—joining the fray, He Yiming had nothing left to restrain himself about. The trio were furious to the point of smoking from their seven orifices. Had they known this outcome, no matter how wary they felt, they would have fought desperately. But now, as their gazes fell upon He Yiming’s great broadsword and the Medicine Taoist who had followed, a flicker of hesitation crossed their eyes. Yu Xichen took a deep breath and suddenly declared, "Elder Yao, we cannot let them leave! They stole my Innate Inner Elixir!" He Yiming’s expression sharpened, and with a slight flick of his wrist, the great broadsword emitted a rattling sound. This noise resembled countless firecrackers exploding instantaneously, or perhaps beans popping violently in a pan, instantly jarring the nerves and agitating the spirit. The three men’s hearts tightened, and then they saw a flash of light emanate from the broadsword as it swept toward them with an overwhelming, towering momentum. Having already tasted the raw, fierce might of the broadsword, they dared not delay; each focused their spirit, gathering all their True Qi to meet the peerless, crushing power of that descending strike. However, as they raised their weapons high, they did not hear the expected thunderous roar of a sky-splitting strike. Their weapons, loaded with power, stabbed into empty air. The hollow, cotton-like resistance they felt caused an instant, agonizing discomfort in both mind and body. They knew something was terribly wrong, and then they saw clouds and mist. He Yiming’s great broadsword swung down again. But this strike, imbued with infinite ferocity, suddenly softened halfway through its arc, losing all its power. The unyielding, indomitable Metal element force abruptly transformed into something all-encompassing yet light and nimble—a continuous, gentle rain and mist. It was this incredible, subtle change that instantly gave He Yiming the advantage. First in hand, first in step... Though the power of the wind, rain, clouds, and mist generated by the broadsword could not trap the Divine Light Realm master Yu Jinglei, it possessed unparalleled potency against opponents of the same rank. For the moment, the three were trapped within the mist-like blade radiance, barely able to defend themselves.

Yu Xichen, who had collapsed onto the ground, watched the scene with wide-open, disbelieving eyes, muttering, "From absolute rigidity to utter softness—how did he achieve that?" The Medicine Taoist’s lips trembled twice; his eyes held the same shock. A moment later, he admitted honestly, "I do not know..." In truth, the transformation between rigidity and softness in True Qi was not difficult for Innate masters; it was almost as natural as eating or drinking. But He Yiming's situation was radically different. In his initial attack, his great broadsword clearly manifested the ultimate, rigid power; the starting stance of the Thirty-Six Mountain-Splitting Forms expressed the sharp edge of the Metal element to the fullest. Yet, midway through the arc, the blade suddenly transformed into the ultimate Yin, yielding power—wind, rain, clouds, and mist, a hazy drizzle where not a trace of yang energy remained. Such a sudden shift from one extreme to the opposite should fundamentally be impossible in martial arts. Although some individuals cultivate two different, even opposing techniques simultaneously, when fighting, they must deploy them sequentially, or fuse the two different attributes through special means. To have the Metal element force, which was maximally rigid at the moment of striking, suddenly transform mid-flight into the soft, Water element force—such a sudden change during a full-power exertion—even an Innate master’s body might not withstand it. Especially when the body’s 360-plus acupoints had just unleashed one type of True Qi, only to abruptly convert it to a relatively opposing form. This was undoubtedly a method that harmed the enemy by a thousand while damaging oneself by eight hundred. Yet, after executing such a maneuver, He Yiming was not spitting blood and retreating; instead, he was vibrant and full of life, darting and weaving, trapping the three dark-robed men within the circle of his blade light. This bizarre transformation left Yu Xichen and the Medicine Taoist utterly baffled and deeply shocked.

Yu Xichen watched for a few moments, immediately realizing that even if He Yiming couldn't secure victory, he was certainly in no danger. He breathed a sigh of relief and inquired, "Elder Yao, who is this person? Is he an Innate elder from another sect visiting Hengshan?" The Medicine Taoist stared unblinkingly at the combat zone, not turning his head. "No. This person is a newly affiliated elder of our Hengshan Sect." "He is an elder of our sect?" Yu Xichen asked, a mixture of pleasant surprise and joy in his voice. "Precisely," the Medicine Taoist replied proudly. He Yiming was He Wude's grandson, and He Wude was the Medicine Taoist’s own disciple. From any perspective, the more powerful He Yiming became, the greater the glory reflected upon the Medicine Taoist. When first engaging the trio, He Yiming had felt some trepidation. But once his great broadsword was fully deployed, all his reservations vanished. His eyes sparkled with vitality; his entire focus was submerged in the great broadsword. Man and blade became one; he had unconsciously achieved perfect unity. Now, the broadsword was like an extension of his own arm, a part of his body, exerting the ultimate potential of wind, rain, clouds, and mist. Although the three opponents were also Innate masters, and the leader was a high-level expert of the Hundred Dispersions Realm (Baisantian), only slightly inferior to He Yiming, once caught in his Cloud and Mist Sword Technique, they were like people mired in a swamp, unable to pull themselves free.

Just as He Yiming was fighting with increasing ferocity, a deep, powerful voice suddenly cut through the dense sword light: "Jili Gulu..." This was a strange language. Though He Yiming could not decipher it, he knew it did not belong to the Northwest Kingdoms or Great Shen. As soon as this sound occurred, the three trapped within the blade light erupted as if injected with tiger spleen and bear gall. Their weapons began to move wildly. This seemingly random flurry moved along an extremely profound and esoteric trajectory, instantly shattering the surrounding clouds and mist. He Yiming’s heart went cold. Before he could alter his technique, his great broadsword clashed against their wide swords and soft blades. A surging, almost inconceivable force transferred through the great broadsword. He Yiming’s expression changed drastically; their strength had far exceeded the limits they displayed previously. At this moment, it seemed each of them had doubled their power out of thin air, possessing the formidable strength to directly clash with the great broadsword. He Yiming gave his wrist a shake. His palm instantly formed a circle, allowing the great broadsword to spin wildly within it, absorbing the shock generated by the collision with the three. Then, his figure retreated several steps like a ghost or phantom, instantly disengaging from the melee. The three did not pursue. They gasped for air, seemingly having expended a great deal of energy in that last exchange. However, a strange, bloody tint appeared simultaneously in their eyes—a color so eerie it sent a chilling sensation crawling up the spine. The faces of the Medicine Taoist and Yu Xichen also paled dramatically. Their gazes immediately sharpened. Yu Xichen was, after all, an Innate master. Despite suffering serious internal injuries, having taken the Medicine Taoist’s medicine, and being able to constantly draw upon the energy of heaven and earth as an Innate expert, though not fully healed, he now possessed the strength for a short battle. He tightened his grip, and his fine steel longsword flashed a series of flower patterns. The Medicine Taoist silently retrieved his unique weapon. This was the first time He Yiming had ever seen the old master’s armament. Upon seeing it, even in this harsh environment, He Yiming blinked twice, momentarily doubting his eyes. In the Medicine Taoist's hands, he held a bamboo basket. Yes, the seemingly ordinary bamboo basket he usually tucked at his waist. He Yiming had always assumed this basket was merely a tool for the Medicine Taoist to collect herbs. But now, seeing the immense, powerful aura radiating from the Medicine Taoist holding the basket, he finally understood that this item was his exclusive weapon.

The three dark-robed men shouted fiercely and leaped up suddenly. He Yiming’s eyes narrowed slightly. He suddenly noticed that the bodies of the three figures were not enlarging before him, but rather shrinking continuously. He was stunned for a moment, then realized they had abandoned the pursuit of Yu Xichen and were attempting to flee. "We cannot let them escape!" The moment Yu Xichen spoke, his vision blurred, and he once again saw the dense sword light, almost vast enough to blot out the sky. The instant Yu Xichen spoke, He Yiming had put his words into action. He shot forward with even greater speed, once again encircling them within that boundless expanse of cloud-and-mist blade light. The three were horrified. They were deeply shocked by He Yiming's speed, his sword techniques, and the formidable power he displayed. Given the terrifying nature of his weapon, it should predominantly rely on Yang force; yet, he was proficient not only in the sharp path of Metal but also handled the path of clouds and mist with such ease. Once entangled by him, escaping became nearly impossible. Furthermore, his movement technique was lightning fast, clearly superior to theirs. Encountering an opponent one cannot defeat and cannot escape from is enough to give anyone a severe headache. Moments later, seeing themselves about to be swallowed again by the swamp-like mist, the leader finally spoke again: "Jili Gulu..." Instantly, the combat effectiveness of the three increased dramatically. Their strength, speed, and even their demeanor underwent an incredible transformation. The three worked in concert, immediately shattering the clouds and mist generated by He Yiming’s great broadsword. The clouds dispersed, and the sky cleared, revealing bright light. The three hesitated no longer, moving in unison toward the distance. He Yiming roared in anger. Being inexplicably repelled for a second time—even a clay Buddha would have sparks of anger—let alone the peerlessly dominant and youthful He Yiming. The moment his feet touched the ground, he shot out like a flying arrow, catching up to them in the blink of an eye. He swung the great broadsword, unleashing a sheet of blade light, once again encircling them. The Medicine Taoist and Yu Xichen exchanged glances. As fellow Innate masters, they felt an inability to intervene at this moment, filling them with both awe and admiration for He Yiming. Especially Yu Xichen, who was meeting He Yiming for the first time, he muttered incessantly to himself. Where on earth did this monster come from? "Jili Gulu..." With this incantation-like sound, the three once again burst free from the confinement of the blade light. He Yiming was furious, roaring, "Elder Yao, what are they chanting?" The Medicine Taoist started. Though he was very old, he had spent most of his life immersed in pharmacology and genuinely did not know what they were shouting. Suddenly, an aged voice drifted over from a short distance behind the Medicine Taoist and Yu Xichen. "These three juniors are chanting..." The voice was drawn out, yet it contained infinite, sharp killing intent: "God said, grant you strength..."