In the summer fields. Peanut flowers burst forth in clusters of small golden blossoms, as numerous as the stars in the sky. The holly bushes along the road had every leaf shining clearly, clustered like pale hydrangeas.

He Yiming slowly lowered the carriage curtain and exchanged a look with Yuan Lixun by his side. With the slight sway of the carriage, their hearts connected, and they smiled at each other.

This was a convoy exceeding a hundred people; every guard in the procession was a post-celestial master meticulously selected from the Tianluo Nation. Even one of the carriage drivers possessed a cultivation level no less than the seventh layer of Inner Strength.

However, within this convoy, everyone knew that the truly powerful ones were not these guards, but the three innate masters traveling within.

For a single convoy to harbor three innate existences—if this news were to spread, what a staggering sensation it would cause.

These were, naturally, He Yiming and Shui Xuanjin, fully prepared and accompanying Mao Lieguang.

As for a gathering of innate masters, to claim no interest would be pure self-deception. Thus, He Yiming had shamelessly selected some items from the Imperial Treasury before the three innate masters set off together.

Innate masters commanded respect everywhere. Yu Xiaoyi had long since prepared the finest carriages, drivers, and guards for them.

Everything was taken care of; all they needed to do was board the carriages.

Out of the full ten large carriages, five were luxury coaches. Apart from one designated as a spare, another had even been prepared specifically for Yuan Lixun. This showed the Tianluo Imperial Family’s meticulous care for He Yiming, the newly appointed master.

Yet, He Yiming and Yuan Lixun still chose to remain in the same carriage.

With over a hundred lean and fierce guards accompanying them, although the combat prowess of these men was not something the three innate masters truly took seriously, to ordinary folk, it represented an undeniable, formidable power.

Throughout their journey, not a single bandit group dared to target them, even when passing through Taicang County.

In Taicang County now, although the Four Great Bandit Groups like the Red Turban Bandits had vanished, such individuals never truly disappeared, much like wild grass in spring.

However, He Yiming suspected that behind these new bandits, the shadow of the Kailuo Nation surely lingered; otherwise, such a resurgence from ashes within just over a year would be impossible.

Taking Yuan Lixun’s small hand, He Yiming meticulously explained the local geography and customs to her. Though his own understanding was superficial, this did not impede his uninhibited embellishments.

Suddenly, He Yiming paused. He looked up, peering past the curtain into the distance, a flicker of surprise crossing his features.

“Young Master, what is it?” Yuan Lixun asked sweetly.

He Yiming shook his head slightly. “There might be some trouble. But it has nothing to do with us; let them handle it.”

At this moment, the convoy had slowly halted, not due to any internal issue, but because a pair of retinues ahead had blocked the main road.

The leader of the convoy was a middle-aged man past forty, named Yu Kefan, one of the Tianluo Imperial Family's descendants. He was deeply trusted by the current Sovereign, which was why he was entrusted with the grave responsibility of escorting the three innate masters to the Kailuo Nation.

Seeing the complication ahead, though he could never believe someone would be so foolish as to attempt robbing three innate masters, he immediately spurred his horse forward.

Arriving at the head of his formation, his gaze, sharp as electricity, immediately discerned that the blocking convoy was no collection of weaklings either.

This opposing convoy numbered about two hundred men, comprising twelve large carriages, all guarded by experts.

Though surprised, Yu Kefan remained inwardly composed; indeed, no one backed by three innate masters would feel flustered.

Raising his eyebrows, Yu Kefan called out loudly, “Friends ahead, please clear the main road.”

From the opposing convoy, a man also stepped forward. This person’s expression was remarkably steady. His gaze swept over Yu Kefan’s convoy, and immediately a look of delight surfaced. “Are you perhaps the leader of this procession?”

Yu Kefan faltered slightly, a chill prickling his spine.

With three innate masters in his convoy, even if he possessed the courage of a bear and a leopard, he would never dare claim that title.

He snorted coldly. “May I ask why you inquire?”

The man before him chuckled heartily. “Brother, I see several luxury carriages in your convoy. I wonder if you would be willing to sell one to us? We can discuss the price.”

Even with Yu Kefan’s vast experience, encountering such a request was a first for him.

He looked again toward the opposing convoy and instantly understood the reason.

That convoy also possessed several luxury coaches, but one in particular was so exquisitely opulent just by its exterior that it bordered on the excessive.

Currently, near this grand carriage, several men were struggling to make repairs—it was clear that this vehicle had broken down mid-journey, thereby delaying the entire procession.

He was inwardly startled; the owner of this carriage must be extraordinary, otherwise, so many people would not willingly wait for him.

However, upon remembering the three great figures in his own convoy, his heart was instantly filled with confidence.

Yu Kefan shook his head without hesitation. “Brother, you jest. Our vehicles are all in use and cannot be sold. Please instruct your men to clear the road.”

The face of the man opposite instantly darkened, and his voice turned icy. “Brother, I advise you kindly. If you simply spare one carriage, that is one thing. If not…”

Yu Kefan threw his head back and laughed. “And what if we refuse to spare one?”

The man said nothing, but his eyes grew colder.

The atmosphere between the two parties immediately grew tense. Their subordinates gripped their weapons, and gradually, the surrounding air became thick with a dangerous tension, like an unlit powder keg waiting for a spark.

He Yiming frowned deeply. It was indeed bad luck that they had run into such a situation. If a fight broke out between the two sides, Shui Xuanjin and Mao Lieguang would find it inappropriate to intervene, meaning the matter would ultimately fall to him.

He felt a flicker of anger; the conduct of that man was no different from blatant highway robbery.

He Yiming let out a cold snort. Although the three of them were innate masters, sitting within the carriage, they had suppressed their true qi as much as possible. But now, He Yiming was about to circulate his qi and release his aura.

However, just at that moment, he heard a familiar voice ring out from the opposing convoy.

“General Ting, what exactly is happening? Is there a need to draw weapons?”

The voice still carried a hint of untamed youth, clearly belonging to a young man under twenty.

But upon hearing this voice, He Yiming's heart instantly filled with joy. Without hesitation, he threw back the curtain, his body leaving its place like a phantom, shooting towards the speaker like a gust of wind.

His movement was so swift, it was almost instantaneous, bringing him right before the man.

The broken-down luxury carriage in the opposing convoy suddenly shuddered. Then, it exploded outwards toward He Yiming’s side. An old man shot out like lightning from amidst the shards of wood and debris, forcibly blocking He Yiming. Simultaneously, he thrust out a palm; the resulting sharp, piercing sound cracked like firecrackers in succession, revealing the sheer power of that strike.

He Yiming’s heart tightened. Only then did he realize that this carriage actually contained an innate master as well.

This innate master must have also concealed his entire aura, remaining quietly within the carriage, just like them. That was why neither side had detected the other’s presence.

His mind raced, and his hand instinctively shot out to meet the blow.

With his current strength, arguably the foremost below the pinnacle of the 'First Line Heaven,' this palm strike, though not using his full power, was swift and irresistible, like wind and fire.

With a muffled boom, He Yiming’s figure abruptly stabilized. His body stood firm as a mountain, his eyes alight with proud defiance.

The man who met his palm strike, however, staggered back as if struck by lightning, involuntarily crashing through the carriage behind him, shattering it completely.

Only then did the two innate masters clearly see each other’s faces.

Then, they both exclaimed in surprise, a look of shock simultaneously spreading across their features.

“Who are you…”

“Stop…”

Countless voices roared in anger, but no one dared to rashly attack.

Suddenly, a voice cried out excitedly, “Big Brother He…”

He Yiming laughed heartily. “Brother Mingjin! I never expected to meet you here again. How have you been lately?” Without waiting for Xie Mingjin’s reply, he turned slightly and bowed his clasped hands toward the innate master. “Brother Ting, I apologize for my rashness just now. Please forgive me!”

It turned out the voice He Yiming had heard was Xie Mingjin from the Huowu Nation.

The two were similar in age and had befriended each other before He Yiming advanced to the Innate Realm; He Yiming naturally felt a special connection with him.

And the one who intercepted He Yiming was Ting Shiguang, the Protector Master of the Huowu Nation. However, the innate master’s face now held an expression of utter disbelief, his gaze fixed on He Yiming as if he couldn't recognize him at all.

Only when He Yiming offered his salute did Ting Shiguang seem to wake up, stammering, “Master He, is that truly you?”

He Yiming paused, then suppressed a smile that bordered on laughter. “Brother Ting, who else could it be besides this humble one?”

He wondered inwardly if Master Ting had suffered some setback during his martial arts cultivation.

A burst of hearty laughter echoed from another luxury coach. Shui Xuanjin had alighted from his carriage at some unknown point and was striding purposefully toward the scene. Not far from him, Mao Lieguang had also left his carriage, though his demeanor was far less enthusiastic than Shui Xuanjin’s; he merely offered a cold nod in their direction.

This attitude immediately reminded He Yiming of the arrogant way Mao Lieguang had behaved upon their first meeting. It seemed Mao Lieguang’s treatment of others truly varied by person.

He Yiming couldn’t help but wonder how such a person with questionable character managed to advance to the Innate Realm. But then he reconsidered: advancing to the Innate Realm seemed to have little connection with a cultivator’s moral character, being far more related to their innate disposition and luck.

“Brother Ting, ten years without a meeting. I trust you are well.”

Ting Shiguang’s eyes brightened slightly. “Brother Shui is here as well! What a coincidence…” His eyes flickered, and he noticed Mao Lieguang, causing his words to pause briefly before he smiled with sudden understanding. “Brother Shui, Brother He, are you also heading toward the Kailuo Nation?”

Shui Xuanjin nodded with a smile, glancing at the now-damaged luxury carriage. “Yu Kefan, bring over our spare carriage for Brother Ting to use.”

The retinues of both parties were utterly dumbfounded. They had initially assumed only their own convoy contained innate masters, but they never expected that not only did both sides possess experts of this caliber, but they also seemed extremely familiar with each other.

Yu Kefan dared not delay and immediately obeyed, ordering the spare carriage to be brought forward.

Ting Shiguang did not stand on ceremony, merely offering Shui Xuanjin a slight nod.

When one reaches their level of strength and status, a single carriage is inconsequential. If the roles were reversed, Ting Shiguang would have made the same choice.

Since the misunderstanding was cleared, everyone naturally continued their journey. However, unlike before, the two contingents merged, becoming even larger.

The man who had confronted Yu Kefan earlier was a disciple of the Huowu Imperial Family, named Ting Guili, whose status in the Huowu Nation was comparable to Yu Kefan’s in Tianluo. The two were practically sworn brothers after the convergence of the convoys, having never met before.

He Yiming invited Xie Mingjin into his luxury coach. Xie Mingjin happily complied and paused in surprise upon seeing Yuan Lixun.

“Brother Xie, this is my wife, Yuan Lixun of the Jinlin Yuan Family,” He Yiming introduced with a smile.

Xie Mingjin immediately composed himself, bowed deeply, and spoke sincerely, “Greetings, Sister-in-law.”

Yuan Lixun felt a warmth in her heart and took extra care when preparing the tea and snacks for him.

Sitting in the carriage, Xie Mingjin said joyfully, “Big Brother He, although I am in Huowu, I have heard of your glorious achievements. To have you as an elder brother is a lifelong fulfillment for me.”

He Yiming chuckled. “Nonsense. What glorious achievements could I possibly have?”

Xie Mingjin insisted earnestly, “How could there be none? In the Jinlin territory, you slew the Bloody Butcher Lu Xinwen; in Taicang County, you cut down two thousand bandits with a single blade; and the national battle in the Tianluo capital against Master Cheng Fu of the Kailuo Nation. These deeds have spread throughout Huowu!”

He Yiming was silent for a long moment. The other matters were one thing, but the rumor of cutting down two thousand men with one blade—even though this was not the first time he’d heard it—still left him speechless with amusement.

However, he understood that the more one tries to argue against such rumors, the more they multiply. So, he decided to let it be and pay no heed.

After they conversed for a while, He Yiming understood why they had appeared so abruptly.

The Huowu Nation was a minor state within the sphere of influence of the Kailuo Nation. This grand transaction meeting for innate masters had also invited Ting Shiguang.

Before leaving, Ting Shiguang had called Xie Mingjin to accompany him.

They had originally intended to meet He Yiming at the Kailuo capital, but they never expected to run into him before even reaching their destination.

Meeting Xie Mingjin again, although he seemed slightly more mature than last time, his fundamental nature had not changed much. Therefore, He Yiming felt especially relaxed when interacting with him.

This feeling had become increasingly rare as his own strength grew. Even back at the He Family Village, he only felt it when he was with his most beloved younger brother, Yitao.

As for his other brothers, even Elder Brother Tian, though still as close as family, He Yiming clearly sensed a growing sense of constraint in their presence.

Although He Yiming tried hard to change this dynamic, some things simply refused to bend to his will.

After a long pause, He Yiming suddenly stopped talking. After a moment of consideration, he finally made a decision in his heart. “Brother Xie, back when I advanced to the Innate Realm at your residence, I made a promise to Elder Zhi’en: within three years, if I achieved anything substantial, I would guard him and channel my energy to reinforce his meridians, assisting him in his attempt to break through to the Innate Realm.”

A flicker of anxiety crossed Xie Mingjin’s face as he stared intently at He Yiming.

He Yiming smiled slightly; Xie Mingjin was still the same Xie Mingjin—all his thoughts were written plainly on his face. But it was precisely this openness that made He Yiming regard him differently.

“My schedule is tight, but I estimate I will be staying in the Kailuo Nation for some time. If Elder Zhi’en is willing to relocate to the Kailuo Nation, that would be for the best.”

Xie Mingjin nodded, overwhelmed with surprise and joy, readily agreeing. He immediately ordered a trusted confidant from the Xie Residence to return to Huowu.

Although Xie Zhien was very old, his constitution was robust. For a chance to break through to the Innate Realm, never mind traveling to the Kailuo Nation, he would gladly circumnavigate the entire Northwestern Kingdoms.

※※※※

In another luxury coach, Shui Xuanjin and Ting Shiguang sat opposite each other.

They were old acquaintances; although their ages differed by more than fifty years, their bond was profound.

Ting Shiguang gestured with his hand. “Brother Shui, Mao Lieguang himself accompanied you—that is quite a favor to grant.”

Shui Xuanjin gave a wry smile. “Don’t you know his temperament? If Brother He hadn’t tempered his arrogance, why would he be so docile?”

Ting Shiguang’s eyes flashed keenly. “Are you saying the recent rumor that Master He defeated Mao Lieguang in a single move is not just an empty tale?”

Shui Xuanjin smiled proudly, his face showing undisguised satisfaction, as if the one who delivered the strike was himself, not He Yiming.

Ting Shiguang opened his mouth, murmuring, “Impossible, absolutely impossible…”

Shui Xuanjin frowned slightly. “Brother Ting, what is impossible?”

Ting Shiguang gave a bitter laugh. “Brother Shui perhaps does not know, but Master He actually achieved his Innate advancement in our Huowu Nation. However, less than two years have passed since his successful breakthrough.” He took a deep breath. “Two years—can less than two years of cultivation defeat Mao Lieguang?”

Shui Xuanjin started to speak but ultimately closed his mouth. In his own heart, he harbored the exact same doubt.

Those who advance to the Innate Realm are undoubtedly geniuses. Those who surpass these geniuses by a margin are naturally the geniuses among geniuses. But what about those who surpass these elites by such a wide margin…?

For a moment, the two sat in silence. In Ting Shiguang’s heart, however, he was being devoured by the poison known as regret.

If he had known of He Yiming’s potential earlier, the Huowu Royal Family would have scraped together everything, even bankrupted the nation, to secure him as the Protector Master of Huowu.

But now…

Ting Shiguang looked at Shui Xuanjin, lost in thought, his envy and jealousy far beyond what words could describe!