Shui Xuanjin’s ears immediately flared wide, swaying like massive banana leaves.

In an instant, his gaze sharpened. “Mao Lieguang has arrived.”

From that moment on, the looks the Xiantian experts cast toward He Yiming were imbued with even greater admiration and respect.

These men had known each other for years and were intimately familiar with each other's capabilities. Everyone knew that Shui Xuanjin was not only proficient in the extremely rare Wind Element techniques but also cultivated a peculiar secret art: the Clairaudient Ear.

While this peculiar technique held little utility during actual combat, when it came to monitoring the surrounding environment, it was an unrivaled, marvelous art.

It was precisely because of this magical skill that they had felt safe and bold enough to discuss such sensitive matters within the capital of KaiRong.

One had to remember that within this city, the Kingdom of KaiRong harbored a formidable expert at the Yixiantian (First Heaven) level. If such secrets were overheard by him, it would undoubtedly bring catastrophic disaster upon the smaller nations. All this time, they had felt completely secure in Shui Xuanjin’s presence. But only now did they abruptly realize…

This young, incredible Xiantian Master from the Tianluo Kingdom possessed not only strength surpassing everyone present, but his mastery of the Clairaudient Ear surpassed even Shui Xuanjin’s, reaching the pinnacle within the entire sphere of KaiRong’s influence.

Ting Shiguang gazed deeply at He Yiming and said, “Gentlemen, since Mao Lieguang is here, let us step out to greet him.”

Naturally, no one objected to this proposal.

Given that the Xiantian expert, second only to Zhan Tianfeng in the capital’s Master Hall, had come in person, it was entirely proper for everyone to come out and meet him. After all, at this moment, Mao Lieguang represented not just himself, but the entire Kingdom of KaiRong.

However, Shui Xuanjin suddenly interjected, “That is inappropriate. If he sees us gathered together, it might rekindle his suspicions. It is better for everyone to disperse.”

The others paused, then nodded in succession.

※※※※

Mao Lieguang indeed arrived at the diplomatic quarter specifically reserved for high-ranking figures from the subordinate nations.

Yet, to everyone’s surprise, he only paid a visit to the two State Protection Masters from the Tianluo Kingdom.

Before He Yiming’s clash with Zhao Rupei and the others, they might have been utterly baffled by this. Given Mao Lieguang’s status, he hadn’t merely sent an invitation via messenger; he had traveled personally. Furthermore, upon arriving in KaiRong, he paid a courtesy call the very next day.

Such deference was unimaginable for anyone else.

But having witnessed He Yiming’s strength, they had no choice but to admit that, based on his power, age, and potential, He Yiming indeed possessed the qualifications to earn Mao Lieguang’s distinguished attention.

After being seated in the main hall, He Yiming and Shui Xuanjin both came forward to greet him. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Mao Lieguang subtly brought up the matter of the residence that had been demolished due to the confrontation among the numerous Xiantian experts.

He Yiming and Shui Xuanjin exchanged glances. Although they knew this incident could never be hidden from the local power brokers of KaiRong, they had assumed that once KaiRong officials understood the destruction was caused by a battle between nine Xiantian experts, they would simply turn a blind eye. Even with KaiRong’s immense power, they couldn't afford to offend so many masters over a mere building.

But they hadn't anticipated that in just about an hour, not only would Mao Lieguang arrive personally, but he would also inquire about the matter right in front of them. A supremely absurd notion surfaced simultaneously in their minds: was Mao Lieguang actually going to pursue accountability for this?

Shui Xuanjin coughed lightly and said, “Brother Mao, Brother He and Zhao Rupei’s group merely encountered each other and exchanged a few moves; it was nothing significant.”

Although his description was dismissive, implying it could be brushed away with a single sentence, Mao Lieguang knew that a battle between Xiantian experts was never that simple.

He smiled faintly. “Brother Shui, Brother He, you have just arrived, and Zhao Rupei’s faction immediately made a move to test you. They clearly harbor ill intentions.”

He Yiming was greatly intrigued and asked with surprise, “Why would Brother Mao say that?”

Mao Lieguang chuckled. “Master He, you have only just become a Xiantian Master of Tianluo, so perhaps you are unaware. Your kingdom is surrounded by formidable enemies. Their attempt to probe you was merely to ascertain your true depth so they could plan their future responses.”

Shui Xuanjin remained impassive, as if he hadn't heard the words, while He Yiming pondered for a moment before clarity dawned.

Although Zhao Rupei and the others allied themselves for self-preservation under KaiRong’s powerful pressure, from KaiRong’s perspective, they absolutely did not want such an alliance to form. Thus, if an opportunity arose, they would spare no effort to sow seeds of discord among the Xiantian masters of the smaller nations.

Of course, what he said held a grain of truth. Those individuals had indeed made a move to gauge his abilities. If he failed to gain their approval, not only would he receive no assistance from them when KaiRong began making inroads into Tianluo, but he would also have to guard against them being the first to lash out with sharp, fierce claws, eager to claim a share of the spoils.

With this realization, He Yiming’s favorable impression of Zhao Rupei and his group plummeted. He even felt profound concern regarding the stability of their small alliance.

A flicker of satisfaction crossed Mao Lieguang’s eyes. He knew that those who successfully advanced to the Xiantian level were certainly no fools. Therefore, merely planting a seed of an idea often achieved the desired result, whereas pushing further might become an unnecessary flourish.

“Master He, the real reason I’ve come is to invite you to visit the Tufan State Hall.”

This time, even Shui Xuanjin, who had been as still as an old Zen monk, showed a slight reaction. He called out clearly, “May I ask, Brother Mao, what is the intent behind this sudden invitation?”

Mao Lieguang’s expression sobered. “Brother Shui, the leader among the eight Xiantian Masters arriving from Tufan this time is Mu Jintian.”

Mao Lieguang’s face finally grew grave, and he exclaimed, “Mu Jintian? The one in Tufan State who is hailed as the foremost among the Hundred Scattered Heaven experts below the Yixiantian level…”

Mao Lieguang nodded slowly. “Brother Shui, Master He, at this juncture, I have nothing more to conceal. Tufan sent Mu Jintian here to KaiRong purely for intimidation.” He sighed deeply. “However, this man’s strength is indeed profound and unfathomable. Apart from Senior Zhan Tianfeng, no one here can contend with him.”

As he said this, he glanced towards He Yiming, seemingly hinting at something.

He Yiming turned to look at Shui Xuanjin. The old man hesitated for a moment. “Brother He, among our three great northwest powers, each possesses one Yixiantian expert. But below that level are all Xiantian Masters of the Hundred Scattered Heaven category. Among these masters, Master Mu Jintian of Tufan is only about a hundred…” He broke into a wry smile. “He is over a hundred and twenty years old and has always been universally recognized as the undisputed master beneath the Yixiantian level.”

A sharp gleam flashed in He Yiming’s eyes. The foremost expert below Yixiantian. In Hengshan, he himself had received a similar appraisal, and it had come from Yu Jinglei, an expert at the Yixiantian level. Yet now, he heard the very same assessment applied to another man, spoken by others. A strange thought suddenly welled up in his mind: perhaps they were fated to clash, to finally decide who truly held the title of the foremost expert beneath Yixiantian.

“Brother Shui,” Mao Lieguang suddenly interjected, “If this were a month ago, perhaps I would have thought the same. But now…” He smiled wickedly, his gaze landing on He Yiming. “With Master He’s martial cultivation, how could we allow someone from Tufan to occupy the top spot?”

He Yiming couldn't help but laugh lightly. He knew clearly that Mao Lieguang’s visit served two purposes: firstly, to sow discord, and secondly, to provoke him into confronting Mu Jintian, thereby allowing KaiRong to profit from the friction.

But truthfully, upon hearing that such a figure existed in the KaiRong capital, He Yiming was genuinely moved. Even if he didn't fight him, merely meeting him might suffice.

“Very well. Since Brother Mao extends the invitation, I dare not refuse,” He Yiming stood up readily. “In that case, let us depart.”

Mao Lieguang opened his mouth, completely unprepared for the fact that merely mentioning Mu Jintian’s strength had so easily persuaded He Yiming to agree to go to the Tufan State Hall. A flicker of astonishment and ecstatic joy crossed his eyes. Though fleeting and quickly masked, how could it escape the notice of He Yiming and Shui Xuanjin, who were watching him closely?

Shui Xuanjin looked at He Yiming with some concern, but He Yiming gave him a reassuring look. For some inexplicable reason, seeing that placid gaze instantly eased the tension in Shui Xuanjin’s heart. He knew He Yiming would not disappoint him.

※※※※

To the west of the KaiRong capital lay a vast estate interspersed with countless exquisite landscapes. It was far more opulent than the Shaoming Residence in Tianluo, seamlessly blending luxurious extravagance with refined elegance—a place few could match even within all of KaiRong.

Currently residing in this manor were the eight Xiantian experts from the State of Tufan. Only envoys from Tufan, one of the three great powers, enjoyed the highest level of treatment, surpassing even that afforded to Shui Xuanjin and his peers.

Outside the manor gates, KaiRong attendants stood guard specifically. Ostensibly, they were there for protection, but their true purpose was self-evident.

A magnificent carriage slowly halted before the main entrance. Upon seeing the insignia on the carriage, the faces of the guards immediately changed. They hurried forward, forming two respectful lines on either side of the carriage door, their postures filled with apprehension.

The carriage bore a prominent symbol—that of the renowned Master Hall of KaiRong. Any KaiRong guard who recognized the symbol knew that whoever rode inside must be one of the ten Xiantian experts from the Master Hall. And no matter which Xiantian master descended, they were not people any of these guards could afford to offend.

The carriage door opened slowly, and an elderly man stepped out leisurely. When the attendants saw this person, their expressions shifted again. Although they knew a Master from the Hall was inside, presumably to meet the masters from Tufan, they still gasped audibly upon seeing who it was.

It was Mao Lieguang, the Xiantian expert ranked second in the entire Kingdom of KaiRong. What astonished them further was the rare smile gracing the face of this notoriously cold expert. He half-turned toward the carriage door, as if respectfully awaiting someone. The only person in the entire Kingdom of KaiRong for whom he would willingly behave this way was likely just one individual.

Instantly, all the KaiRong attendants who knew Mao Lieguang straightened up, fixing their gazes on the still-open carriage door.

A foot stepped out from the carriage, and immediately, the eyes of all the guards shone brightly with excitement. They believed they were about to witness the legendary, most powerful guardian deity of KaiRong.

However, just a breath later, every gaze froze in astonishment. The young man emerging from the carriage was not the hero they expected, but an impossibly young man. After stepping down, this man swept his gaze over them expressionlessly. He carried no particularly powerful aura; he resembled an ordinary youth, utterly unversed in any martial skill, without any discernible special quality.

The guards exchanged bewildered looks, utterly unable to comprehend why Mao Lieguang treated this person with such deference, or perhaps even a hint of fawning deference.

The two walked side-by-side into the estate without hindrance. The guards outside dared not stop them, though their suspicion grew deeper.

The man who had alighted was naturally He Yiming. He had deliberately suppressed the powerful aura unique to a Xiantian expert. As a result, unless confronting a peer face-to-face, no one could possibly discern his true strength. Mao Lieguang did not understand why he acted this way, but the more low-profile He Yiming remained, the more reassured Mao Lieguang felt, interpreting it as proof that He Yiming took Mu Jintian and the others seriously and harbored no arrogance.

Led by Mao Lieguang, they passed through the guards with ease. Even the guards who had traveled all the way from Tufan dared not obstruct this KaiRong Xiantian Master; instead, they quickly notified their superiors before escorting him into the main hall.

By the time He Yiming and Mao Lieguang reached the hall entrance, a Xiantian expert from Tufan was already waiting to receive them. It was a pale-haired old man wearing peculiar robes. His outer garment possessed only one sleeve, and the hem was adorned with strings of hanging beads that chimed musically with a refreshing sound whenever he walked.

“Brother Mao, what an honor for you to visit; I, Su, regret not meeting you further out,” the old man said, cupping his hands slightly with a gentle smile.

Mao Lieguang laughed heartily. “Brother Su Jun, I am deeply ashamed that you came out to greet me personally.”

Su Jun offered polite courtesies, then his gaze shifted, briefly glancing over He Yiming. However, he suddenly paused, as if noticing something, and sharply redirected his attention back to He Yiming. Initially, he had assumed this was merely a junior from Mao Lieguang’s retinue, there only to serve as an escort. But the longer his gaze lingered on He Yiming, the more perplexed he became. Slowly, his eyes grew serious and increasingly sharp.

Mao Lieguang sighed inwardly, though he had never expected He Yiming to completely deceive the Xiantian experts of Tufan. He smiled slightly. “Elder Brother Su Jun, allow me to introduce Master He Yiming, from the Hengshan lineage.”

Su Jun’s eyebrows twitched slightly, and he nodded deeply. But within his heart, a storm was brewing. So, this young man truly was a Xiantian expert…

Among the eight Xiantian Masters from Tufan, Su Jun was the preeminent figure second only to Mu Jintian. With his experience, after observing He Yiming for some time, he realized this was absolutely a genuine young man, not an elder using some arcane technique to maintain his appearance. And precisely because of this, he was utterly shocked.

Suddenly, a memory surfaced in his mind—a matter that was causing a huge stir even in the distant State of Tufan. His expression changed abruptly. “Could it be Master He Yiming, the Xiantian Master of Tianluo?”

He Yiming was surprised; he realized then that his reputation was so widespread that even the Xiantian experts in Tufan had heard of him. He raised his head, and the powerful aura he had been suppressing slowly began to release.

Su Jun took a deep breath, and only then did he truly feel the immense pressure emanating from He Yiming. In that moment, a thought flashed through his mind: perhaps the old rumors were not exaggerated at all…

He Yiming smiled faintly. “Master Su Jun, may I ask where Master Mu Jintian is?”