As the sun timidly hid behind the curtain of clouds early that morning, the weather seemed far from bright. Yet, two separate processions, starting from different locales, finally reached their destination.

The Kai Rong Kingdom, since its ascent hundreds of years ago, had remained one of the three great powers among the Northwestern Nations. Their rise had displaced the former sovereign of the land, relegating the previous dynasty to a secondary status.

He Yiming had read about this history, but all records were vague, suggesting the former monarch had willingly abdicated out of admiration for the ancestor of the Zhan family of Kai Rong Kingdom. Although the texts depicted the event with idealized fairness, He Yiming knew it was absolute nonsense. Regardless of the actual cause, one fact was certain: the Kai Rong Kingdom possessed the formidable strength of a major power.

The capital of Kai Rong was also one of the most renowned and magnificent cities in the Northwest, and upon arriving, He Yiming was deeply impressed by its grandeur and spectacle.

Such a colossal convoy arriving at the city gates naturally drew attention and inquiry. Fortunately, anyone with even a modicum of discernment could tell that every member of the procession was a true master, leading the guards to adopt a respectful demeanor. There was none of the typical bullying extortion one might expect from common gate soldiers. Especially once Mao Lieguang’s attendant displayed the insignia of the Grand Masters' Hall, their passage became smooth, and even the customary questioning about their origins ceased.

Even seated within his carriage, He Yiming could sense the prestige of the Grand Masters' Hall within this city and the overwhelming, unyielding fervor they commanded.

Once inside the city, their carriages proceeded directly onto the central avenue—a path reserved only for nobility and those of high standing. In many Western cities, similar avenues existed; the more opulent, prosperous, and prestigious the city, the more such roads and strictures there were. Conversely, smaller prefectures like Taicang County possessed far fewer such regulations.

Finally, the group arrived at a sprawling mansion within the city, the official residence designated by the Kai Rong Kingdom for hosting foreign dignitaries. He Yiming and the two others, as Guardian Masters representing their respective nations, naturally held the highest status and thus received the most distinguished treatment.

As they alighted and entered, He Yiming’s ears began to vibrate subtly in rhythm. He could "hear" that the city harbored quite a number of Xiantian-level experts, with the largest concentrations residing in three specific locations. The grand residence they were entering was one of those hotspots. He refrained from listening intently, unwilling to draw attention to himself.

After escorting them to the residence, Mao Lieguang took his leave, setting a meeting three days hence to tour the Grand Masters' Hall of Kai Rong Kingdom. He Yiming readily agreed, eager to witness the famed Ten Great Xiantian Masters of Kai Rong.

Barely had they settled their belongings and tidied up in the courtyard when Shui Xuánjǐn strode in, laughing heartily.

“Brother He, this old man plans to pay a visit to some old friends. Are you interested in accompanying me?” the elder asked, his eyes full of hope.

He Yiming felt a flicker of suspicion. “You have old friends here, Elder?”

“Indeed. The Xiantian trade assembly in Kai Rong this time involves Xiantian experts from Tu Fan Nation, who possess some unique items quite rare in the entire Northwest. Consequently, many Xiantian Masters from the subordinate states of Kai Rong have arrived, and I have good friendships with several of them.” As Shui Xuánjǐn spoke, his eyebrows shot up with spirited bravado: “This time, coming to Kai Rong, I don’t expect to gain much, but I wish to see my old comrades one last time, and let them know that even without me, Tian Luo Nation is not a realm to be trifled with.”

He Yiming nodded slightly, immediately grasping the old man’s true intent. The Elder wished to introduce He Yiming to these powerful figures and, in a way, make arrangements for the future. In that moment, He Yiming deeply felt the depth of the Elder’s devotion to Tian Luo Nation; even at the edge of his life, he never ceased striving for the nation's prosperity. Understanding this, He Yiming naturally could not refuse.

As they traversed the massive estate, He Yiming’s Sharp-Eared Skill immediately detected seven Xiantian experts gathered in a single room. This was precisely the room Shui Xuánjǐn was heading towards. Suddenly, a peculiar thought struck He Yiming. If the Guardian Masters from the subordinate nations within Kai Rong's sphere of influence were gathered here, along with the Xiantian experts from Tu Fan Nation and the masters from the Kai Rong Grand Masters’ Hall, then the capital city held nearly thirty Xiantian experts assembled together. Such a massive concentration of power, He Yiming mused, only a paramount state like Kai Rong could orchestrate. If such a force descended upon the capital of a minor nation, its ruler would surely be consumed by worry and sleepless nights.

As the two approached the door of that specific room, the aura within suddenly became subtly chaotic. He Yiming knew this was the masters inside sensing their approach and engaging in private communication. Since entering the city, He Yiming, like the others, had released his long-suppressed powerful aura. Though he wasn't consciously maintaining it, it was easily detectable by peers.

Pushing the door open, Shui Xuánjǐn wore a clear smile, while the gazes of the seven Xiantian experts inside fixed upon them simultaneously. The instant He Yiming stepped through the threshold, he recognized Ting Shiguang among the seven, but not the other six. However, as He Yiming looked up, as if by prearrangement, the eyes of the six men suddenly brightened. They bypassed Shui Xuánjǐn instantly, focusing their intense scrutiny upon He Yiming.

From their bodies surged formidable power. The auras of the six Xiantian experts merged instantly, crashing towards He Yiming like Mount Tai bearing down.

He Yiming’s expression darkened. He hadn't expected them to show no mercy, attempting to intimidate him upon first meeting. He let out a soft snort. Facing such a collective surge of power, He Yiming showed no intention of retreating. His own aura exploded forth, even mightier, surging back against the six men with substantial, almost tangible force, in a manner of even greater ferocity.

The collision of their energies immediately stirred the pervasive Xiantian Qi. Even though the six experts hadn't unleashed their full strength, the clash involving seven Xiantian realms generated a force by no means negligible. A sharp crack echoed through the void, and from the precise point of their confrontation, massive ripples of energy radiated outwards in all directions.

He Yiming wore a cold smile, completely unfazed by the combined might of the assembled masters. His internal True Qi churned wildly, and his gaze toward them held an indescribable air of aloof arrogance. When Shui Xuánjǐn proposed introducing him to old friends, He Yiming knew he was about to formally meet the Guardian Masters from neighboring smaller nations under the banner of Tian Luo Nation’s protection. He had prepared himself for a challenge then. Though the number and strength of the challengers now far exceeded his expectation, a thrilling sense of excitement peaked within his heart.

Abruptly, He Yiming sensed that the aggressive momentum of the six Xiantian experts, after that initial impact, was not increasing but actually beginning to dissipate. Frowning, he extended his hand and pushed out flatly, aiming directly at the central point where their auras had just clashed.

Instantly, the temperature in the entire room rose drastically. In that moment, images of relentless, sweeping earth-fire flooded He Yiming’s mind. Beneath the Nine-Story Pagoda, boundless subterranean flames radiated unimaginable heat. This was the core temperature of the earth; though lacking the brilliant display of a volcanic eruption, this ceaseless heat represented the true might of the Fire Element.

When he launched his palm strike proactively, the faces of the six Xiantian experts shifted dramatically—becoming extremely ugly. These men were Guardian Masters from various nations and had known each other for years. Any new Guardian Master aspiring to gain their recognition and integrate into their circle would typically undergo such a trial. However, usually, only one person would step forward for a cursory verification.

Today was different. Though they hadn't officially met He Yiming, his renowned accomplishments over the past year, especially his victory over Cheng Fu, had become widely known. What was more astonishing was He Yiming’s age, which struck them as terrifyingly young, breeding skepticism. Thus, upon meeting, what should have been a brief test evolved into six masters attacking simultaneously. They realized their mistake immediately after the initial collision of auras and instinctively tried to pull back.

But at that precise moment, He Yiming suddenly attacked proactively, not targeting any single one of them, but challenging all six in a near-arrogant display. This action instantly provoked the ire of all present. A single thought flashed through their minds: even if one of us isn't your match, are six of us afraid of you?

In an instant, the six auras, which had begun to recede, erupted once more. This time, their combined pressure was several times stronger than before. Six distinct elemental True Qi energies were unleashed without restraint in the void. Within the ornately decorated room, these energies collided and merged, sometimes canceling out, sometimes amplifying, forming an enormous, indescribable spatial force field.

He Yiming’s eyes suddenly shone brightly. While others could sense this force field, none perceived it as deeply as He Yiming. Due to his unique constitution, he was acutely sensitive to the clash of these multi-attributed True Qis. In his mind, countless different colors appeared, weaving together to form a vast, mystical, and beautiful tapestry of profound knowledge. He Yiming felt an indescribable joy, almost enough to burst, and vaguely, he thought he glimpsed something—perhaps the very origin of power within this dazzling display.

However, this feeling was fleeting. He immediately snapped back to awareness and sensed the overwhelming, seemingly insurmountable power rushing toward him from the front. The combined strike of the six Xiantian experts was far more bone-chilling than their mere clashing auras.

A sound even louder than before erupted once more. This collision was the true test of strength between both sides—head-on confrontation, power against power. Multiple forces erupted at that single nexus, and the barely settled energy waves spread outward without restraint once more.

The solid structure of the room seemed to suffer the impact of a Category 10 tornado, shaking violently. As the powerful fluctuations intensified, this shaking became more pronounced and violent. Finally, as the tension from all parties peaked, the room, unable to withstand the concentrated pressure of so many Xiantian masters, groaned briefly before collapsing with a resounding crash, living up to expectations.

A gust of wind blew through, seemingly intelligent, sweeping across the area thick with dust. Slowly, the suspended dust dissipated, revealing several figures. Even amidst the catastrophic collapse of the structure, not a single Xiantian expert had moved from their original spot. For them, a disaster capable of killing ordinary people posed no threat. Even when massive structural beams descended, they merely waved a hand, shattering or deflecting the thick timbers. Furthermore, their True Qi circulated, and the Heaven and Earth power surrounding them formed a thin, transparent protective barrier, shielding them. Although their shields were dispersed and not condensed—far less potent than the virtually impervious barrier displayed by Yi Jinglei of the Yixiantian realm that could withstand a great Guan Dao—they were sufficient to block falling dust.

However, at this moment, everyone among the gathered masters, save for He Yiming, wore expressions of profound astonishment. The gazes of all eight Xiantian experts converged on a single point. Where their focus lay, He Yiming stood proudly, radiating an aura of confidence and a spirit that surveyed the world with contempt. Even the combined force of the six Xiantian masters had failed to push him back a single step. Though they knew the six had not fought with maximum effort, this achievement was enough to leave their peers in awe; none present could match it.

Shui Xuánjǐn took a deep breath, his heart swelling with pride. Every encounter with He Yiming brought him new surprises. The first time, He Yiming decisively defeated Cheng Fu on his behalf, elevating Tian Luo Nation’s prestige to a new height. The second time they met, He Yiming, utilizing a Metal element technique, defeated Mao Lieguang, renowned for his expertise in Metal and Earth, in a single move. This time, as He Yiming met the Guardian Masters of various nations for the first time representing Tian Luo, his performance exceeded all expectations. Fighting six single-handedly, he resisted the combined force of six Xiantian experts. If nothing else, such supreme confidence alone was enough to make others yield in deference. Moreover, He Yiming actually succeeded. Fighting six, he stood firm without retreating or yielding ground.

With that, Shui Xuánjǐn exhaled a long breath, the final stone of worry lifted from his heart. My old friend, I am too old now; I can no longer fulfill my promise to you, no longer guard this realm. But I have found a successor—a young man far stronger than I, who will take my place and continue to protect this nation...

As Shui Xuánjǐn's emotions surged, Ting Shiguang’s eyes were wide with shock. The muscles in his face twitched continuously, filled with regret. A single moment's decision long ago—a mere thought—had allowed such a genius to slip away. Was this to be the fate of Fire Crow Nation?

He Yiming laughed loudly, and his body flashed out like lightning. Even after that initial clash, he was unwilling to stop. He swept his hands out, creating a vast net of palm shadows, transforming into a Heaven and Earth snare aimed at the six. His movements were like a violent storm, brimming with fierce intent, and above all, his speed was unmatched. With one stride, he was before one of the masters, his palms charged with power, raining down fiercely.

That Xiantian expert cried out in surprise, seemingly complaining why He Yiming chose him as the first target. But his response was not slow; he raised both hands, conjuring countless palm shadows in return. At that moment, however, He Yiming’s shadows vanished, leaving only two ordinary-looking hands pushing forward, a simple pat aimed straight ahead.

The man’s expression became intensely grave. Despite the apparent simplicity of the palm strike, it contained an enormous amount of Heaven and Earth power, drawing in the surrounding energy. In his mind’s eye, he didn't see just that one palm, but countless strands of Heaven and Earth power being drawn by that strike, converging upon him from all directions. With a cry, he poured forth all his skill, planting one foot firmly while spinning like a top. From his body as the center, vast quantities of Heaven and Earth power surged out, seemingly determined to match He Yiming’s single palm. He had unleashed his ultimate life-saving ultimate move at this critical moment.

Yet, to his astonishment, just as he exerted his utmost and was poised to strike, the sensation of He Yiming vanished. Then, he watched He Yiming’s palm strike appear smaller and smaller in his vision...

Ps: I recommend the book "Zui Chuan Yue" (The Ultimate Transmigration) by Xiao Selang; it is truly excellent. It involves everyone transmigrating—the entire family, young and old, along with many related people. It’s an absolutely unique concept and shouldn't disappoint readers. ^_^