I spent ten days residing in the flourishing He Family Village. He Yiming presented his father with eight Extreme Golden Pills and over a hundred Vitality Golden Pills, cautioning him gravely that due to the nature of the Extreme Golden Pills, a person could likely only break through a limit once in a lifetime, thus urging extreme prudence in their use.

He Quanming naturally understood the gravity of the situation and carefully stored the Extreme Golden Pills, distributing the Vitality Golden Pills throughout the clan; even Yuan Ling was allotted one.

He Yiming was very satisfied with his father's approach. Since Yuan Ling had promised to remain within the He family permanently, he deserved to be treated equally.

Subsequently, he and Yuan Lixun departed once more, heading for the capital of the Tianluo Kingdom.

Everyone was aware that the current prosperity of He Family Village stemmed from He Yiming being the nation's Guardian Master; consequently, even the royal family spared no effort in courting his favor. Under these circumstances, even He Yiming felt compelled to reciprocate their goodwill.

He had no desire to prematurely disrupt this period of mutual affection, akin to a honeymoon phase.

Several months after his departure, Yuan Chengzhi, the head of the Jinlin Yuan family, arrived in a hurry. He had immediately dropped everything and rushed to He Family Village upon receiving a letter from his legitimate eldest son, Yuan Ling.

Upon arriving at He Family Village, he was stunned by the earth-shattering transformation. However, after meeting with Yuan Ling privately, his brow immediately furrowed deeply. “Ling’er, what nonsense were you writing in your home letter? How could you possibly renounce the position of the next family head? Not even a woman from the He family is worth making such a choice over.”

Yuan Ling smiled faintly. “Father, your son was not rash, but rather made this decision after deep, careful consideration.”

Yuan Chengzhi’s face stiffened. “Nonsense! In your heart, is a woman from the He family truly more important than the entire Yuan family?”

Yuan Ling shook his head. “They certainly cannot be compared. But, Father, do you truly believe that our Yuan family’s two daughters, after marrying into the He family, will be able to rest easy forever?”

Yuan Chengzhi paused, thinking seriously for a moment. “Ling’er, it is true that with the He family’s protective shield, our Yuan family can indeed rest easy within Jinlin.” He stated soberly, “The news of Master He Yiming defeating Master Cheng Fu has spread throughout Jinlin. I cannot imagine any foolhardy person daring to provoke our Yuan family now.”

Yuan Ling sighed softly. “Father, perhaps for one or two years, this will hold true. But what about ten or eight years from now? If another ambitious, rising force like the Fan family emerges, how shall we cope? Must we seek aid from the He family every time we face a Houtian master at the tenth layer of Inner Strength?”

Yuan Chengzhi fell into silence. After a moment, he said in a deep voice, “Ling’er, is this truly the reason for your firm decision?”

Yuan Ling puffed out his chest. “Master He Yiming has promised that as long as I remain with the He family, he will ensure I reach the peak of the tenth layer of Inner Strength before I turn sixty.” His eyes held a brilliance that Yuan Chengzhi found hard to meet directly. “Once I reach the peak of the tenth layer of Inner Strength, perhaps your son will even have the possibility of further advancement.”

Yuan Chengzhi gasped, drawing a sharp breath. He understood the implication of those words perfectly.

The peak of the tenth layer of Inner Strength—if he could advance further, would that not mean becoming a Xiantian expert?

He began to faintly grasp the situation. If there was a chance to become a Xiantian expert, then given Ling’er’s character, he genuinely might forsake the Yuan family headship.

Father and son regarded each other for a long time. Although Yuan Chengzhi knew that this decision would ultimately bring far more benefit than harm to the entire Yuan family, Yuan Ling was the heir he had meticulously trained since childhood, his most cherished legitimate son. Thus, his heart remained torn.

Yuan Ling let out a long sigh and suddenly asked, “Father, have you had a chance to meet Sister Lixun yet?”

Yuan Chengzhi was greatly surprised, not understanding why he brought up Yuan Lixun out of the blue. He shook his head. “I rushed here from Jinlin, so of course I haven’t met Lixun. Is she not greatly favored by Master He? Has she fallen out of favor?”

Yuan Ling gave a wry smile. “Master He certainly cherishes Sister Lixun. Lixun is already at the seventh layer of Inner Strength now.”

As he spoke these words, he made no attempt to conceal the envy and jealousy churning within him. For so many years, he had cultivated diligently, yet he was only at the peak of the sixth layer of Inner Strength. Meanwhile, Yuan Lixun had quietly surpassed him. This realization struck him hard and was a major factor in his decision.

Yuan Chengzhi’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Seventh layer of Inner Strength? That’s impossible…”

“Indeed, it is impossible,” Yuan Ling murmured darkly. “To advance directly from the fifth layer to the seventh in just over a year—that speed, hehe…” His gaze fixed again on his father’s utterly shocked face. “Sister Lixun, by Master He’s side, might even have a chance to reach the Xiantian realm. So, do you still wish for me to change my mind?”

Yuan Chengzhi opened his mouth, finally letting out a sigh of resignation.

At this moment, he deeply felt the inherent magic contained within supreme martial power. Compared to that, the position of Yuan family head perhaps truly meant little.

On the official road, a crimson shadow flashed past, followed moments later by the thunderous echo of hooves.

Upon leaving He Family Village, the Red Cord Horse immediately reverted to its wild nature, spreading its four legs and galloping toward the capital like a bolt of lightning. Since being returned to He Family Village, it had enjoyed the treatment reserved for nobility, and absolutely no one had been permitted to ride this magnificent steed belonging exclusively to He Yiming. For over a year, it had been severely bored.

Along the way, He Yiming needed no urging; the horse ran with utter devotion, seemingly determined to vent over a year’s worth of pent-up frustration.

It was, however, a truly superb steed. Even burdened with He Yiming, Yuan Lixun, and that terrifying Great Guan Dao, it showed no sign of strain or difficulty. Any man would delight in such a magnificent horse, and He Yiming and Yuan Lixun were no exception.

However, they soon discovered that while they tried to conserve the horse’s energy, the Red Cord Horse was utterly unappreciative. If they let it run freely, it was fine, but if they reined it in or slowed its pace, the almost spiritual creature would emit dissatisfied whinnies of complaint.

Ultimately, the pair had no choice but to let it have its way. In just a few days, they reached the Tianluo capital from He Family Village.

Upon arriving in the city, He Yiming and Yuan Lixun continued to gallop down the center of the grand avenue. Everyone watched, but no one dared to intercept them.

Soon, they arrived at Shaoming Residence once more.

As they halted before the entrance to Shaoming Residence, He Yiming’s ears twitched slightly, and a look of surprise crossed his face.

Yuan Lixun asked with astonishment, “Young Master, has Master Shui truly met with trouble?”

He Yiming shook his head slightly. “Master Shui is perfectly well. However, there is another Xiantian Master residing within Shaoming Residence.”

Yuan Lixun was even more startled. Even in secluded sects like Hengshan, there were only a handful of Xiantian Masters. In the entire Tianluo Kingdom, there were supposedly only two. She could not conceive who this second Xiantian Master in Shaoming Residence might be.

Yet, both of them sensed that Master Shui Xuanjin’s urgent message was likely connected to this individual.

Upon arriving, He Yiming stopped concealing his aura. Instantly, a hearty laugh echoed from within Shaoming Residence.

“Brother He, you have returned so quickly! This is quite unexpected, old brother.”

The great doors of Shaoming Residence slowly swung open, and Shui Xuanjin appeared, his face beaming as he stepped out.

He Yiming nodded with a smile, but his gaze swept past the old man to the elder standing beside him.

“Brother Shui, who is this esteemed guest?”

Shui Xuanjin turned halfway. “Brother He, this is Master Mao Lieguang, from the Masters’ Hall of the Kaifeng Kingdom.”

He Yiming inclined his head slightly toward the newcomer. “So it is Master Mao visiting; my apologies for the lack of proper greeting.”

Mao Lieguang’s gaze remained fixed on He Yiming, his expression solemn as he clearly attempted to sense the aura emanating from him. He managed a strained, insincere smile. “I have long admired the formidable reputation of Master He. Seeing you today confirms it is well-deserved; it is no wonder my young disciple was defeated by your hand.”

He Yiming was briefly puzzled. “May I ask which disciple that would be?”

“My disciple is Cheng Fu,” Mao Lieguang huffed out.

He Yiming then understood why the man’s demeanor was instantly unfriendly; he was, after all, Cheng Fu’s master. However, since Mao Lieguang chose to act so pretentiously, He Yiming certainly wasn't going to offer false warmth in return. He laughed coldly. “Ah, the esteemed master of Master Cheng. Truly, I am lacking in courtesy. But the next time I meet Master Cheng, I will require a verification. Lest someone speak carelessly and spread falsehoods.”

Mao Lieguang’s face instantly turned extremely grim. He snarled menacingly, “Master He, what precisely do you mean by that?”

He Yiming met his gaze fearlessly. “I tested my skill against Master Cheng, and I was merely fortunate enough to win by one move. However…” A mocking, cold sneer played on his lips. “…Master Mao, how many moves do you suppose you could withstand against myself?”

A sharp glint flashed in Mao Lieguang’s eyes, which gradually turned icy. A massive wave of aura began to boil forth from his body. He Yiming’s flagrantly dismissive words left him no room to tolerate the insult. If he remained impassive now, he would surely lose all face if the news spread. Thus, even though he could not discern the depth of He Yiming’s true power, he had no other option.

Yuan Lixun had absolute confidence in He Yiming. With his current strength, unless he faced a top-tier expert, he had nothing to fear. Even if confronted by such a powerful master, He Yiming’s superior movement techniques would still allow him to escape. She retreated several steps, positioning herself under the shade of a tree to watch calmly.

Shui Xuanjin frowned slightly, then his expression smoothed out. He shook his head and also stepped back to observe from the sidelines.

Sensing the ever-increasing might radiating from Mao Lieguang, He Yiming understood that this man’s cultivation was indeed a step above Cheng Fu’s, but his actual strength was, at most, comparable to that of Yao Daoren. Since defeating the Twin-Headed Spirit Beast, He Yiming had already possessed a slight edge over Yao Daoren. Now, having achieved another moment of sudden enlightenment, his body’s acupoints were nearing the point of overflowing. Yu Jinglei had repeatedly called him the foremost expert below the true Xiantian realm. Therefore, before the clash even began, He Yiming’s heart was filled with absolute certainty of victory. This confidence manifested as his True Qi gathered, causing his imposing aura to tower, firmly suppressing his opponent.

Mao Lieguang’s expression became exceptionally grave. He inwardly cursed his decision. After Cheng Fu’s defeat, Mao Lieguang had discussed the battle with him numerous times. Their conclusion was that while He Yiming was powerful in martial cultivation, he was only slightly superior to Cheng Fu; the gap was not immense, and had it not been for the conflicting nature of their techniques, the outcome might have been uncertain.

As Cheng Fu’s mentor, Mao Lieguang had entered the Xiantian realm decades before his student and had also experienced epiphanies. Within the Kaifeng Kingdom’s Masters’ Hall, if Cheng Fu ranked in the top five, Mao Lieguang could reliably claim a spot in the top two. In Kaifeng, besides the Royal Ancestor, no one dared claim they could defeat Mao Lieguang.

Mao Lieguang had traveled to the Tianluo Kingdom specifically to deliver a message, but also with the intention of suppressing He Yiming and reclaiming lost prestige. In their estimation, if Mao Lieguang clashed with He Yiming, victory was assured. This was why Mao Lieguang adopted a provocative stance immediately upon meeting, hoping to incite He Yiming into a conflict.

However, though his wish had been granted, Mao Lieguang was now filled with regret. Was this young man truly the He Yiming described by Cheng Fu? Why was his aura so overwhelming, subtly forcing Mao Lieguang onto the defensive? Had he not exerted his full strength in the previous battle with Cheng Fu?

He Yiming’s aura increased steadily, the magnitude slight, yet it consistently maintained dominance over his opponent. Any discerning eye could tell that He Yiming was controlling his imposing presence intentionally.

Not far away, Shui Xuanjin’s eyes showed disbelief. Sensing the distinct transformation in He Yiming’s aura, he sighed inwardly, Truly worthy of being a Hengshan disciple. Returning from just one trip, he has undergone a change approaching rebirth. It seems the rumors of a true Xiantian powerhouse overseeing the Hengshan lineage are factual. He attributed He Yiming’s improvement to guidance from a top-tier master but could never have guessed that the magnitude of He Yiming’s progress already far exceeded his expectations.

A few more moments passed, and Mao Lieguang’s face grew even more ashen. Under the pressure of He Yiming’s surging, fierce aura, he even felt an urge to flee in panic. At this point, his confidence was utterly shattered, and he abandoned any hope of victory.

The instant Mao Lieguang’s resolve waned, He Yiming perceived it. He laughed loudly and took a step forward.

This footfall landed like a massive mountain striking the ground, rattling the heart and making even Mao Lieguang involuntarily tremble. His aura instantly plummeted to freezing point, completely suppressed and dominated by He Yiming.

He then saw a fist expanding rapidly before his eyes. He knew the situation was dire, but retreat was impossible. With his kinetic energy completely locked down, escape was unthinkable unless his movement technique was twice as good as his opponent’s.

Mao Lieguang’s eyebrows shot up. As a seasoned fighter who had survived countless battles, being cornered now ignited a savage ferocity within him. He circulated his entire True Qi and abruptly released it all. He roared fiercely, raising both hands, his forearms flashing with an eerie metallic sheen. Although he was Cheng Fu’s master, he did not cultivate a Fire-element technique, focusing instead on Metal, supplemented by Earth. In this desperate, all-or-nothing strike, he could no longer hide his true power. His Metal energy instantly reached its peak, his entire body exuding a razor-sharp quality. His palms turned into blades, slicing the air into a blur of afterimages, carrying the desperate aggression of a cornered beast as they lunged toward He Yiming.

He Yiming smiled coldly. He raised both his hands simultaneously; his palms also shone with a metallic luster. Then, he simply crossed his palms and pushed them forward, flatly and plainly.

Mao Lieguang let out a sharp howl. Though He Yiming’s palms had undergone no visible alteration, to Mao Lieguang, they appeared infinitely more terrifying. The Great Dao is simplicity itself; when all complex variations are contained within a single palm, what unimaginable power must it hold?

The Xiantian Metal Combat Skill: Thirty-Six Styles of Mountain Splitting…

With a tremendous crash, He Yiming’s and Mao Lieguang’s four palms collided violently in mid-air.

The myriad palm shadows conjured by Mao Lieguang vanished instantly. He roared in frustration, feeling an overwhelming, immense force surge upward. He could no longer maintain his footing and was sent flying backward. After several steps, he finally managed to stop himself, his face flushed, his True Qi chaotic and difficult to sustain.

He looked up to see He Yiming standing perfectly still, hands clasped behind his back, regarding him with an expression mixing pity and mockery. In a rush of anger and distress, a sweet, metallic taste filled his mouth, and he spat out a mouthful of black blood, realizing his body was limp—he was gravely injured.

Shui Xuanjin was dumbfounded. He looked at He Yiming and let out a wry smile. One move. In a single exchange, the victor had been decided. And judging by He Yiming’s relaxed posture, he had clearly shown restraint. Only now did Shui Xuanjin realize the gap between them was not small, but vast—a chasm of difference.

Inside and outside Shaoming Residence, countless eyes witnessed the scene: disciples of Shui Xuanjin, envoys from the Kaifeng Kingdom, and spies planted by various powerful families. At this moment, every informed observer was shaken to their core. They all knew that all previous assessments of He Yiming were about to be completely discarded…