He Yiming struck out with his palm, and instantly, the wind swirled and clouds gathered. In the ears of the onlookers, there seemed to be an immediate, piercing sound of air being violently rent apart.

The immense power contained within this palm strike was such that no one dared to treat it with the slightest contempt. Under the shadow of this strike’s might, the innate expert targeted was compelled to unleash the most powerful technique of his life in a desperate bid to resist the blow.

But no one had anticipated that this seemingly powerful palm strike would suddenly alter its course mid-air.

The same power, the same momentum, the same terrifying grandeur.

Only the target of the strike had abruptly changed.

The face of the other innate expert shifted drastically. A flicker of horror crossed his eyes as, in that instant, he felt an intense, almost lethal sense of danger, while the hairs on his body stood rigid.

He experienced a strange premonition: He Yiming’s strike had surpassed the limit of what he could withstand, and with their auras locked, escape was impossible—he could not evade this palm attack by any means.

Thus, without hesitation, he instantly marshaled all his Zhenqi. Although the rush meant his momentum was inevitably slightly diminished, at this critical juncture, he had no other choice.

A sharp shout erupted. He planted his feet wide, sinking his center of gravity low, raising both palms level, fully prepared to meet the incoming strike.

Yet, his eyes widened just as quickly in the next moment, because, like the first man, he realized that in his vision, He Yiming’s palm, brimming with world-shattering force, was not drawing closer, but receding further away.

He Yiming’s mind remained untroubled as his steps moved with blurring speed.

Though the ground was littered with shattered stones, he moved as if on level ground, circling the six innate experts with blinding quickness.

In that single rotation, he had met each of them face-to-face, and each had felt the terrifying aura pressing down on them, as if they could be crushed flat at any moment. But even after completing the circle, He Yiming’s palm had never actually struck.

He snapped back to his original position, his gaze fixed intently forward. Everyone felt as though he had channeled the bulk of his focus directly upon them.

Although He Yiming’s poised strike was never fully delivered, precisely because of this restraint, the aura surrounding him had coiled to its absolute peak, like a colossal powder keg on the verge of eruption.

Let alone the six innate masters facing him, even Shui Xuanjin and Ting Shiguang held their breath, daring not to make a move.

After experiencing this indescribable, overwhelming might, they all shared the same conviction: they absolutely could not withstand He Yiming’s attack.

And what would the consequence of being unable to withstand it be?

No one dared to imagine the outcome. Their only thought was to avoid any conflict with He Yiming, even the most trivial one, as much as possible.

Slowly, He Yiming’s imposing aura began to recede, bit by bit.

Just as his energy reached its zenith, like an arrow fully drawn on a taut bow, demanding release, his aura started to dissipate of its own accord.

Even so, under the hawk-like scrutiny of the six innate experts, He Yiming calmly gathered his immense presence inward, seemingly assured that no one would dare counterattack during this vulnerable moment.

The six innate masters, though visibly grim-faced, truly dared not make any rash move. They simply watched as He Yiming completely reined in his power.

From beginning to end, the notion of launching a counterattack never solidified in the minds of these six experts.

And when He Yiming’s aura finally subsided completely, a profound sense of relief washed over them.

From that moment on, their perception of He Yiming fundamentally changed.

In their eyes, the doubt, the assessment, and the condescension reserved for a younger master were gone.

Their gaze was now filled with respect. Though tinged with disappointment and envy, none of them dared to express it openly.

Once one achieved the Innate realm, they had leaped over the dragon gate; their perspectives diverged sharply from those of ordinary people.

In their view, seniority or age differences held little meaning. The only thing capable of subduing an innate master was strength—power superior to their own.

Having witnessed a strength far surpassing their individual capabilities, they finally believed the circulating rumors, confirming He Yiming’s dominant position among them.

His gaze shifting, He Yiming allowed a gentle, breeze-like smile to surface. "I am He Yiming. I pay my respects to all you Nation-Protecting Masters."

Shui Xuanjin felt a silent wave of gratitude. He knew that given He Yiming’s true nature, such arrogance was uncharacteristic. Yet, today, upon his first meeting with these innate masters, He Yiming had struck without hesitation, and with a bold, uninhibited manner, as if he held these venerable figures in low regard.

This starkly different demeanor did not escape Shui Xuanjin; he recognized it as He Yiming acting on his behalf. By striking with such full force, the formidable reputation of Tianluo Nation’s new Nation-Protecting Master would now spread far and wide, forcing neighboring states with competing interests to reconsider any ambitions against Tianluo Nation.

Before the six innate masters could speak, countless gasps echoed from all directions, accompanied by the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps.

The men exchanged glances, then looked at the scene of devastation around them, offering wry, helpless smiles.

Even though the seven innate masters had not gone all out, the mere friction of their initial contact had caused an earth-shattering commotion.

The collapse of the grand hall and the immense noise naturally could not be concealed from those outside.

Suddenly, a host of people were converging on the area.

Within moments, many people gathered nearby. Their attire varied, clearly belonging to different factions. There were guards from various nations, disciples of the innate masters present, and even miscellaneous servants assigned to the KaiRong Nation contingent here.

However, despite the diverse backgrounds of these newcomers, upon reaching the scene, even those who had been the most vocal and assertive immediately fell silent, cowering like the meekest kittens in the world.

Those present here possessed a measure of discernment. Moreover, with the exception of He Yiming, the other eight innate masters were renowned figures with reputations spanning decades. Their faces and appearances were known to those who paid attention.

If only one had appeared, recognition might have been uncertain, but with nine present simultaneously, anyone failing to identify them forfeited their right to be there.

Finally, upon spotting the young man positioned centrally, subtly encircled by the others as if by stars around the moon, the minds of the onlookers grew intensely active.

Shui Xuanjin shook his head slightly. "Masters, perhaps we should relocate our discussion."

His proposal was instantly met with agreement. No one wished to remain in such an open space, scrutinized like monkeys.

The innate masters flicked dust from their robes and turned to leave. They paid no heed to the ruins behind them or the excited gazes of the crowd. In their eyes, apart from peers of the same realm, even the peak of the Houtian realm, those at the Tenth Level of Inner Strength, warranted no more than a passing thought.

Only after their figures vanished from sight did the area slowly begin to buzz back to life.

Whispers erupted, quickly spreading. Excitement and reverence were barely concealed in everyone’s eyes.

Most of the people present were guards dispatched from different nations, each country possessing perhaps only one innate master to anchor them. Given their station, they would never normally encounter such supreme experts. Even the servants of KaiRong Nation, whose status lay light-years below the masters in the Grand Hall, found meeting these figures even more difficult than the guards did.

Therefore, witnessing nine innate masters gathered together filled every one of them with intense elation.

One person stepped forward, giving a slight bow to the crowd. "Everyone, let’s tidy up and disperse. Clustered together like this looks terrible."

This man was Yu Kefan from Tianluo Nation, his demeanor exceedingly sincere and his eyes bright and focused.

Another man stepped beside him—Ting Guili from Huowu Nation. As he concurred, the leaders of the guard contingents from the other nations readily agreed.

A few moments later, the crowd dispersed, leaving only a selected few to manage the chaotic cleanup.

Although no one had witnessed the direct confrontation between these innate masters, it did not restrain their boundless imaginations. Almost overnight, countless rumors, impossible to verify, saturated the city. Yet, in every version of the tale, He Yiming was featured as a primary player.

Such a young innate master naturally became the focus of all attention, and his presence in such a context fueled endless speculation.

After moving to a new chamber, everyone settled into their seats. Following brief and simple introductions, He Yiming learned the names of these masters:

Zhao Rupei, Xu Zechun, Li Qingxian, Zhang Xingfeng, Zhao Zhanyang, and Wang Xixiang.

These six masters were all innate Protector Masters from the smaller nations subordinate to KaiRong Nation. Furthermore, their attitude suggested a degree of familiarity with Shui Xuanjin and Ting Shiguang.

Shui Xuanjin surveyed the group and spoke in a deep voice, "Masters, everyone has witnessed Brother He’s strength. Are there any remaining objections to him joining our ranks?"

A trace of wry smiles touched the faces of the innate masters. At this juncture, anyone objecting now would surely look like a fool.

He Yiming’s expression shifted slightly. Seeing their reactions, he suddenly felt that Shui Xuanjin was concealing something from him.

He paused, then asked, "Brother Shui, what did you mean by that statement?"

Shui Xuanjin looked apologetic. "Brother He, this is my fault for not laying the groundwork with you beforehand."

Ting Shiguang chuckled lightly. "Brother He, you can’t blame Brother Shui. We had an old agreement: unless a majority approved, this matter was never to see the light of day."

He Yiming’s curiosity deepened. He swept his gaze across their faces; the expressions of these innate masters all seemed remarkably grave.

Suddenly, a thought struck him, linking their guardianships to their respective nations. He raised his brows. "KaiRong Nation?"

Shui Xuanjin sighed heavily. "Brother He is correct. We, the Nation-Protecting Masters of the smaller states, formed a secret alliance decades ago."

Master Zhao Rupei exchanged a look with the others. "Master He, regarding our alliance, it has indeed been kept confidential from all outsiders. Brother Shui was not intentionally concealing things, so we ask for your understanding."

With that, he bowed deeply on the spot. Almost simultaneously, the other innate masters performed the same gesture.

He Yiming’s expression changed slightly; he certainly could not accept such a profound bow without cause. With a subtle shift of his body, he moved away as swiftly as the wind.

Everyone present was an innate master, and upon witnessing He Yiming’s movement technique, they could not help but sigh in admiration. Though they had already experienced the power of his speed, observing it now as bystanders gave them a distinct, novel sensation.

Such fluid and elegant movement struck a deep chord in each of them.

However, their gazes immediately flickered towards Shui Xuanjin.

They had all discerned that He Yiming’s movement technique utilized the element of Wind, which was known to be the power cultivated by Shui Xuanjin. Yet, in their estimation, He Yiming’s technique differed from Shui Xuanjin’s.

In fact, in terms of sheer speed and the subtle fluidity of movement, He Yiming seemed to surpass Shui Xuanjin.

He Yiming evaded their deep bows, and the resentment he had initially felt subsided considerably.

After all, he was standing before six innate masters. When they offered a sincere apology, even He Yiming felt a powerful surge of satisfaction.

However, his brow furrowed slightly, and a degree of caution and hesitation entered his gaze toward them.

Shui Xuanjin and the others had made their intentions clear: their secret alliance was formed to pool their collective strength against the immense pressure exerted by KaiRong Nation.

But KaiRong Nation boasted ten innate masters. Confronting such a colossus required more than a little courage. As such, He Yiming himself was uncertain if he truly wished to join such a small faction.

Ting Shiguang and the others, having lived well over a century, were cunning old foxes. Seeing He Yiming’s expression, they exchanged a swift glance.

Zhao Rupei cleared his throat. "Master He, I understand your reservations. But please forgive my bluntness: KaiRong Nation’s ambition is vast. They don't merely aim to annex one-third of the Northwest into their domain; they also harbor strong designs on the reclusive sects within their sphere of influence." He paused, fixing his gaze on He Yiming, his eyes filled with sincerity. "The Hengshan lineage, though independent, is also a target of ambition for the Masters’ Hall of KaiRong Nation."

He Yiming raised his eyebrows and laughed heartily. "Brother Zhao, aren't you being a bit alarmist? To covet our Hengshan, I fear Cheng Fu and Mao Lieguang alone are hardly qualified."

He spoke with utter confidence, his expression clearly broadcasting his certainty that he felt no worry whatsoever.

Zhao Rupei’s face remained intensely serious. "Master He, are you aware that Mao Lieguang is not the foremost master in KaiRong Nation’s Masters’ Hall? The true top expert is an ancestor of the KaiRong royal family who has lived in seclusion for many years."

He Yiming’s heart stirred. He immediately recalled eavesdropping on the conversations between the Third Prince of KaiRong and Cheng Fu some time ago.

In their talk, that highly revered ancestor possessed power that even Cheng Fu could not hope to match.

Hesitating slightly, He Yiming asked, "Who is that ancestor?"

Zhao Rupei’s eyes narrowed sharply. It was clear that even for him, mentioning this name brought a palpable sense of apprehension.

"That is Zhan Tianfeng, the foremost of KaiRong Nation’s Ten Innate Masters." He took a deep breath, the words issuing with difficulty. "This man is the only… Single-Thread Peak expert in KaiRong Nation and all its subordinate small states."

"Single-Thread Peak…"

He Yiming also inhaled deeply. Before heading to Hengshan, he had been truly ignorant of the implications of a Single-Thread Peak expert.

But now, especially after witnessing Yu Jinglei effortlessly, it seemed, slay an innate master, He Yiming understood the terror wielded by practitioners of that tier.

"Master He," Zhao Rupei continued, "rumor has it that the Hengshan lineage also possesses an innate master who has reached the Single-Thread Peak realm. If not for that, Zhan Tianfeng would likely have already turned his attention to your sect."

He Yiming snorted softly. He immediately recalled the millennia-old medicinal garden within Hengshan, and the anxieties expressed by Yu Jinglei and Medicine Daoist about the lack of successors. He was already half-convinced. If there weren't a profound sense of crisis, why would Yu Jinglei and the others be so insistent?

As Zhao Rupei spoke, everyone, including Shui Xuanjin, remained silent. It was evident that Zhao Rupei possessed the best rhetorical skill among them.

At this point, even before an invitation to join was formally extended, He Yiming’s heart was already moved.

Perhaps only by uniting all possible forces could they hope to contend with the vast and terrifying monster that was KaiRong Nation.

Suddenly, He Yiming’s ears twitched. His expression altered slightly. "Masters, Mao Lieguang is here!"

Ps: The first chapter of the week is here. This week, White Crane goes into battle bare-chested, delivering fifteen thousand words daily for five consecutive days. If my brothers have monthly tickets, please cast them out… I will fight that fat man Seventy-Two; White Crane will never surrender, hmph!!!