Su Jun’s expression instantly changed. He Ming’s directness in stating his purpose far exceeded his expectations.

He chuckled twice, asking with guarded caution, "Master He, may I ask the reason for your desire to meet Master Mu Jintian?"

He Yi Ming smiled slightly and replied, "I heard Brother Mao mention that Master Mu Jintian is the foremost master in the Hundred Sages of Tufan Kingdom, which inspired my admiration and led me to seek an audience."

Though he spoke of paying respects, his demeanor lacked the anxious reverence that ordinary Innate realm experts displayed when mentioning Mu Jintian.

Su Jun clearly sensed this peculiar attitude. Though inwardly furious, his gaze immediately normalized as it fell upon Mao Lieguang. He smiled and said, "Since Master He Yi Ming has come in person, I shall go and relay the message. As for whether Master Mu Jintian will grant you a meeting, that is beyond my ability to ensure."

He Yi Ming, unmoved, replied, "Naturally. I shall trouble Master Su then."

Su Jun bowed deeply to them and turned to leave. The moment his back was turned, an intensely sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

Once Su Jun was truly gone, a flicker of pleased amusement crossed Mao Lieguang's face. He Yi Ming regarded him with suspicion, utterly failing to understand the source of his happiness.

Seemingly sensing He Yi Ming's gaze, Su Jun’s aged face flushed slightly, and he coughed lightly. "Master He, this Su Jun is one of the seven Innate realm experts who accompanied Mu Jintian. Not only does his martial attainment far surpass his peers, second only to Mu Jintian, but he also enjoys the utmost trust of both Mu Jintian and the Tufan Royal Family, holding a corresponding status within this delegation of masters." Here, a trace of pride emerged on his face. "Now, having heard Brother He's intentions, he didn't even have the courage to inquire further. This is naturally gratifying."

He Yi Ming’s heart stirred, instantly understanding that Mao Lieguang must have suffered under this man's hand previously to feel such satisfaction.

However, from Su Jun's different treatment of him compared to Mao Lieguang, he realized that the Tufan Kingdom placed greater importance on him than on Mao Lieguang.

Having grasped this, he felt baffled yet deeply surprised.

Yet, he remained unaware that Su Jun’s high regard for him was largely connected to his age.

Any faction, upon learning He Yi Ming’s true age, would make the same judgment. No matter how formidable Mao Lieguang was, in terms of future potential, even two such figures could not compare to He Yi Ming.

A moment later, He Yi Ming’s ears twitched almost imperceptibly, and a bright light suddenly ignited in his eyes.

With the aid of the Wind-Following Ear ability, he detected them from afar.

Several sets of footsteps approached from the distance, moving in their direction. Although those people were still some distance away, He Yi Ming inexplicably sensed a powerful aura pressing towards him. It was precisely this potent aura that sparked a feeling of eager anticipation within him.

He was certain this person must be Mu Jintian, the strongest among Tufan Kingdom’s eight Innate experts, renowned as the foremost figure beneath the Celestial Gate. Though the two had not met directly, a mysterious connection through the air sparked a sense of mutual recognition between them.

Besides this person’s footsteps, there were the voices of several others, including Su Jun. Of course, the remaining few were ordinary Houtian realm cultivators, whose status, regardless of what it was, He Yi Ming paid no mind at this moment.

※※※※

The moment He Yi Ming engaged his Wind-Following Ear ability at its maximum capacity, a certain person behind the manor suddenly exclaimed in surprise. He raised his head, gazing forward with an expression bordering on infinite astonishment, then frowned slightly, his eyes revealing deep, unsettled wonder.

This man was clad in embroidered robes, possessing remarkably handsome, thick eyebrows. He had a unique mouth, full and vividly red, conveying an air of gentle refinement, like jade.

His sudden halt drew the attention of everyone present. They stopped in unison and fixed their gazes upon him. In their minds, this man held a status approaching the divine. Seeing him stop, everyone instinctively halted their steps as well.

"Brother Mu, did you discover something?" Su Jun glanced towards the direction where He Yi Ming was located; perhaps he was the only one among them who grasped what was unfolding.

Mu Jintian nodded slightly. "I have a feeling that our presence has been detected."

Su Jun’s face shifted slightly. "Impossible. Unless it’s a true Celestial Gate expert, how could they escape your notice?"

Mu Jintian hesitated. "The world is vast, full of rare skills and secret arts. Even if one is not a Celestial Gate expert, it doesn't mean they cannot achieve such a feat."

The two Innate experts exchanged glances, and Su Jun instantly understood. "Wind-Following Ear?"

Mu Jintian nodded slightly, then smiled. "So what if it is the Wind-Following Ear? Peerless hearing does not equate to peerless martial might."

He said this with absolute confidence, a confidence accumulated over countless victories in combat against peers of equal rank. If He Yi Ming were present, he would surely notice the striking similarity between himself and Mu Jintian in this aspect.

Mu Jintian continued walking forward, as if he had never paused. Behind him, everyone, including Su Jun, looked upon him with the utmost admiration and reverence. Although the ordinary Houtian cultivators did not grasp the meaning of the conversation between the two Innate masters, it did not diminish the formidable confidence they felt radiating from Mu Jintian moments before. As long as Mu Jintian himself remained unharmed, unless he encountered Zhan Tianfeng of the Kaifeng Kingdom, they had nothing to fear.

Moments later, surrounded by the entourage, they finally arrived at the lavish, opulent hall.

As Mu Jintian set one foot into the hall, the first person his eyes landed upon was He Yi Ming. Correspondingly, He Yi Ming’s gaze, which seemed to shine with vibrant spirit, locked onto his counterpart at that very moment.

A sharp glint flashed simultaneously in both their eyes. In that instant, they truly saw each other and simultaneously sensed the peerless, immense power contained within bodies that appeared utterly mortal.

From them, an aura erupted almost simultaneously, surging forth like a volcanic explosion. The surrounding air seemed to solidify in that instant, as if a great mountain were violently pressing down upon everyone present.

The expressions of Su Jun and Mao Lieguang changed. Mao Lieguang had already witnessed He Yi Ming’s true strength, so while his face shifted, he was mentally prepared. But Su Jun was genuinely stunned. According to the intelligence gathered by Tufan Kingdom’s spies here, they knew He Yi Ming’s true background: an Innate expert at just seventeen years old was an existence no one could ignore. Although they had heard reports of He Yi Ming’s battle achievements, they never expected his strength to have reached this level. How could Cheng Fu, though powerful, be compared to Mu Jintian, a supreme genius rarely seen in the Tufan Kingdom over several centuries?

Before He Yi Ming and Mu Jintian met, everyone assumed He Yi Ming was far from Mu Jintian's match. The reason Su Jun had been so courteous to He Yi Ming was not fear of his strength, but apprehension regarding his age and potential. But at this moment, feeling the intense auras emanating from both men, he finally understood: He Yi Ming not only possessed terrifying potential but also wielded an ultimate, profound strength that could actually contend with Mu Jintian, renowned as the greatest beneath the Celestial Gate.

An unprecedented shudder rapidly spread through his heart, and his gaze toward He Yi Ming carried a faint trace of awe. Glancing at Mao Lieguang, he finally began to comprehend why this powerful but morally dubious old man had brought He Yi Ming here: he intended to use this young powerhouse to suppress the envoys and Innate experts of the Tufan Kingdom.

Under this terrifying pressure, the two Innate experts were already struggling to endure. The ordinary Houtian cultivators who had followed Mu Jintian fared even worse. They suffered collateral damage from the immense pressure exerted by the two Innate masters. Without exception, several stumbled; all save one, a cultivator at the peak of Houtian Tenth Layer, either knelt, squatted, or fell prone. Even that peak expert swayed precariously, looking as if he might collapse at any moment.

Mu Jintian frowned slightly. He had been very excited to meet He Yi Ming, but he hadn't anticipated that the pressure generated when they released their auras would be so overwhelming for others. He sighed inwardly, feeling regret. Behind him was a prince of the Tufan Kingdom with whom he shared a close kinship; if this relative were injured because of this, even he would find it hard to account for.

His aura abruptly weakened, though this was not a sign of yielding but rather shared a subtle, profound utility with He Yi Ming's Needle-Hiding Seal. He Yi Ming also sighed inwardly, glancing at the others, and slowly retracted his own imposing aura.

Su Jun and Mao Lieguang exchanged glances, both giving wry smiles, shocked by the power of the two masters. If they had been continuously accumulating and increasing their auras, it would have been one thing. But He Yi Ming and Mu Jintian could instantly unleash their auras to the peak and then, at that apex, retract them as if nothing had happened. This degree of control over their own vital energy and aura made both Su Jun and Mao Lieguang feel utterly inferior.

Once their auras dissipated, the few Houtian experts following Mu Jintian straightened up. However, they now looked at He Yi Ming as if he were a ghost or a god, filled with infinite dread.

Mu Jintian chuckled lightly. "Brother He, I have long heard of your great name. But seeing you today, I realize that hearing is false; seeing is believing."

He Yi Ming inwardly felt a wave of shame; without the journey to Hengshan, he knew he could never have displayed such dominance in front of this man.

"Brother Mu overpraises me," He Yi Ming returned the salute. "The name of Tufan Kingdom's peerless genius, the foremost master below the Celestial Gate, is indeed thunderous in my ears."

Mao Lieguang paused, his gaze becoming strangely complex. Thunderous in his ears? If not for his request, He Yi Ming wouldn't have known who Mu Jintian even was.

Mu Jintian extended a hand, acting as host to usher them into the hall. He glanced behind him. "Brother He, this is His Highness Bu Xingcong, the Fourth Prince of our Tufan Kingdom."

One figure stepped forward from among the Houtian cultivators. This man appeared to be around thirty, tall and well-built, with handsome features and bronze-toned skin radiating masculinity. However, with a single glance, He Yi Ming knew that although this man’s exterior was bold and his martial cultivation had reached nine-tenths of Inner Force, his Inner Force foundation was clearly built upon ingesting massive amounts of elixirs. His personal willpower ranked among the typical 'bronze spear, wax candle head' types in this group. Since this man had performed the worst, being the only one who collapsed completely under the pressure without enduring even a fraction of it—even those with only seven-tenths of Inner Force hadn't fared as poorly—He Yi Ming naturally paid him little attention. After all, in this world, only true powerhouses earned widespread recognition and respect. Those with high status from birth but lacking in willpower and character meant little in the eyes of an Innate expert like He Yi Ming.

Bu Xingcong stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "I am Bu Xingcong, greeting Master He." Having been born noble and being a prince of the Tufan Kingdom with numerous Innate experts domestically, his reverence for Innate masters was far less intense than that of the young prince from the smaller kingdom. Furthermore, having made a huge spectacle of himself earlier while unprepared, although he was quite fearful of He Yi Ming, a hint of inherent arrogance remained in his expression. This was a habit ingrained by birth and cultivated over thirty years of life, impossible to change instantly.

A flicker of dissatisfaction and gloom crossed Mu Jintian’s eyes. His relationship with Bu Xingcong was extraordinary, which was why he had brought him along to meet the rumored excessively young Innate expert. But Bu Xingcong’s display did not satisfy him. His gaze shifted back to He Yi Ming’s face, and Mu Jintian asked, "Brother He, what is the purpose of your visit to see me?" As he asked this, there was an almost palpable sense of anticipation emanating from him. He Yi Ming clearly felt the immense battle intent radiating from him. Yet, a peculiar smile suddenly appeared on He Yi Ming’s face. "Brother Mu, I merely heard of your great name, which stirred a whim in my heart to seek an audience. I have no other intention."

At these words, not only Mu Jintian but also Mao Lieguang and the others were utterly dumbfounded. He Yi Ming’s assertiveness since entering the manor had been evident to all, especially during the confrontation with Mu Jintian moments ago. Both the other Innate experts and the ordinary cultivators assumed He Yi Ming had come specifically to challenge Mu Jintian. But nobody expected that when Mu Jintian inquired about his purpose, He Yi Ming would suddenly change tack. It was as if a full-powered punch, mid-trajectory, had suddenly softened into a gentle thrust wrapped in concealed needles.

The look of astonishment on Mu Jintian’s face flashed and vanished. There was no trace of mockery in his eyes; instead, his expression became increasingly grave. From those simple words, he sensed a power within He Yi Ming—a power that shifted unpredictably. A feeling of being unable to grasp the situation suddenly arose in his heart, a sensation he hadn't experienced in decades.

He Yi Ming sat for a short while and then took his leave. After departing the manor, He Yi Ming parted ways with Mao Lieguang with a smiling face. Watching his dashing departure, Mao Lieguang’s expression instantly darkened. His original plan was to use He Yi Ming to clash with Mu Jintian. In his scheme, a meeting between geniuses like He Yi Ming and Mu Jintian would surely lead to an intense collision. Whether the two would emerge victorious or defeated was irrelevant to him; a fight between two titans would greatly benefit the Kaifeng Kingdom regardless. However, everything had gone smoothly until He Yi Ming suddenly chose to retreat when their auras collided, a moment that brought him secret joy. This shattered all his plans, leaving him deeply frustrated.

In the distance, He Yi Ming looked back, a cold sneer touching his lips. Although he genuinely wished to test his martial arts against Mu Jintian, he absolutely would not let Mao Lieguang have his way. Even if he and Mu Jintian were destined to fight someday, that did not mean he had to act according to Mao Lieguang's arrangements.

While Mao Lieguang stewed in frustration and He Yi Ming sneered coldly, intense discussion erupted simultaneously within the manor. Su Jun stepped forward. After sweeping his gaze across the room, everyone except Bu Xingcong quietly withdrew. Su Jun then asked, "Brother Mu, what is your assessment of this man’s strength?"

Mu Jintian pondered for a long while. "Strong. Extremely strong."

Su Jun inhaled sharply; it was the first time he had heard Mu Jintian offer such an evaluation of a Hundred Sages expert. Mu Jintian spoke as if to himself, "This man’s martial arts change unpredictably; he possesses abilities that even ghosts and gods cannot discern. If I could have a fight with him…" His voice trailed off, as if he himself had fallen into a state of mystical absorption.

Ps: Ten thousand five hundred words on the first day. Bai He requests monthly votes… The recommendation rankings seem precarious. Crane Friends holding onto recommendation tickets, please lend a hand. Thank you ^_^ ※※※※ There is another divine book: "Peerless Under Heaven" by Elder Ren Yuan. Bai He believes many have read it. The old master’s return to Xuanhuan is a masterpiece; brothers, go read it, you absolutely won't be disappointed.