The sky was clear and bright, unsullied by the slightest wisp of cloud. The distant mountains held a faint trace of indigo, and the gentle breeze carried warmth. Above that expanse of blue, not a single cloud marred the view, giving the sensation that if one only exerted a little force, pure, crystalline water could be wrung from the very air!

Yet, such perfect weather felt strangely ominous, as if something momentous were about to transpire, stirring an inexplicable unease in the heart.

Within the capital city of Kaifeng Kingdom, there lay an expansive estate. This manor was currently occupied by the envoys from Tu Fan Kingdom, one of the three great powers that stood alongside Kaifeng in the Northwest.

The delegation was not small, but what truly drew the focus of the entire Kaifeng Kingdom was the fact that within this diplomatic mission were no fewer than eight supreme masters of the Xiantian realm.

Even the Grand Hall of Masters in Kaifeng Kingdom possessed only ten Xiantian experts in total. Thus, when these eight Xiantian powerhouses arrived, they instantly became the focal point of attention for the whole of Kaifeng. Furthermore, they included Mu Jintian, a genuine powerhouse hailed as the foremost figure beneath the Xiantian realm.

Consequently, despite the numerous Kaifeng attendants guarding the estate's perimeter, not a single soul ever imagined that someone would dare approach to issue a challenge.

※※※※

It was noon; the sun blazed overhead, and the sky was utterly cloudless.

In the distance, two figures walked in tandem, heading straight for this location.

Their pace was unhurried, each step deliberately measured as they advanced. However, their approach instantly triggered high alert among all observers.

In the eyes of these Kaifeng soldiers, whose internal energy reached at least the sixth layer, the sudden appearance of these two men was jarringly abrupt.

Especially the leading figure; every footfall seemed imbued with immense, crushing power. As each foot struck the ground, a tremor ran through their very core.

This man projected a sensation of sheer terror, as if he were not an individual, but some ancient leviathan weighing ten or even a hundred tons; with every advance, the very earth beneath him seemed to quake.

Witnessing this uncanny sight, even the dullest mind grasped that this man’s arrival was aggressive and out of the ordinary.

The soldiers, bound by duty, felt their scalps prickle, yet they stiffened their resolve and attempted to step forward to question the intruders.

But as they took a single step forward, intending to block the path, they suddenly discovered they could move no further.

The closer they drew to this man, the more they felt a vast, almost boundless pressure radiating from him. This pressure hung over their bodies like a colossal mountain.

Could anyone carry an entire mountain on their back and still advance?

The answer was unequivocally no. Thus, even the most dutiful soldiers, upon nearing this man within ten meters, found their bodies rigid, utterly incapable of motion.

This man was, naturally, He Yiming. At this moment, he existed within a state of profound and bizarre transcendence.

Since leaving Yuan Lixun’s room, the immense, utterly irrepressible fury had completely seized control of his emotions.

He had once believed that after reaching the Xiantian realm, coupled with his superior self-control, he would never again be subject to overwhelming tides of joy or sorrow. But at that moment, he realized he had been wrong—catastrophically wrong.

The instant he saw the whip mark, he felt pain; that lash across Yuan Lixun’s face felt as though it had simultaneously struck his own heart. If there had been any possibility, he would have gladly taken the blow himself, knowing how much Yuan Lixun cherished her exquisite appearance.

A blow to the face, even with the aid of Medicine Daoist’s elixirs and his own Wood element Xiantian techniques, would likely leave a faint scar.

The thought that Yuan Lixun would surely be distressed by this in the future caused him exquisite pain.

It was only after the mentally exhausted Yuan Lixun finally fell asleep that He Yiming stepped out of the room, and the feeling of agony erupted fully.

His spirit, stimulated beyond measure, surged upward. The range of sound his 'Wind-Listening Ear' could detect expanded continuously.

The energy of heaven and earth he could influence, centered on him, grew ever more extensive.

As his anger surged like a furious, terrifying tidal wave, the True Qi within his body was fully unleashed. The sheer, unrestrained display of power manifested as something almost tangible at that moment.

Within a certain radius, his highly focused spirit and his surging True Qi created a colossal force field. Anyone entering this field endured the oppressive weight of his power, experiencing racing hearts and dry mouths, daring not approach.

Only Xie Mingjin, whom he tacitly acknowledged, was permitted to follow closely behind without being unduly affected.

Finally, under the gaze of countless eyes, he advanced openly to the main gate of the estate.

Along this path, every guard attempting to intercept them failed. Even though they numbered in the hundreds or thousands, not a single one could draw near He Yiming.

Following closely behind, Xie Mingjin watched with undisguised awe. He finally understood the true meaning of the phrase, “To subdue the enemy without fighting.”

In the presence of a true master, the sheer number of ordinary people amounted to nothing more than scattered ants, unworthy of fear.

Before the great gate, He Yiming raised his hand without hesitation. His hand shimmered with a terrifying metallic sheen—a color signifying dread, immense force, and unparalleled sharpness.

In full view of everyone, this hand, seemingly carrying the weight of a thousand jin, slammed heavily against the massive bronze gate.

Time seemed to halt in that instant. Everyone experienced an intensely bizarre sensation; He Yiming’s strike seemed to command some incomprehensible power. Their hearts and bodies trembled inexplicably, as if the blow had landed directly upon them.

The next moment, a tremendous shattering sound echoed throughout the entire estate.

The towering bronze door disintegrated like mere paper, unable to withstand the absolute pinnacle of that power.

The wood, sheathed in bronze, blew apart completely. Countless splinters of wood and shards of metal shot into the compound.

Immediately following, He Yiming raised his head and roared a voice that sounded like a thunderclap splitting the clear sky, seeming to resonate directly within everyone’s mind:

“Bu Xingcong, come out and face death…”

The booming sound reverberated like massive thunder across the air. Within the estate, all other sounds ceased, leaving only endless echoes drifting in the atmosphere.

Inside the manor, Bu Xingcong had been lounging with an alluring woman, thoroughly engrossed in watching a troupe of dancers. The woman’s boneless, slender waist and beautiful face held his gaze captive. At that moment, he had entirely forgotten his failed hunt and the public assault.

To him, the loss of face from the failed hunt was far more serious than the street brawl.

But as he indulged in pleasure, he was suddenly struck by that immense roar, sounding like a soul-snatching summons. His body jerked violently, and the wine cup in his hand clattered to the floor.

It was only after the endless echoes faded that he managed to calm himself slightly. However, there was no trace of color left on his face.

Hearing that voice and sensing the sheer force contained within, he instantly understood: the person outside had to be a Xiantian master. Only a powerhouse of this caliber could achieve such a feat.

Without a second thought, he sprang up, brutally shoving the woman from his embrace, and bolted from his room with the frantic haste of a cornered dog.

He had previously arranged his quarters far from Mu Jintian to ensure his own freedom. Now, however, he wished that distance was zero. Only by reaching Mu Jintian’s side could he feel true security.

※※※※

Stepping into the estate, He Yiming’s momentum reached its zenith. Centered on his body, turbulent waves of Heaven and Earth energy surged forward irresistibly.

Shadows flickered rapidly around him. In mere moments, seven other figures materialized at his side.

These seven were uniformly elderly men, yet their vital auras were vastly stronger than those of ordinary people. Moreover, each carried a faint, subtle connection between their innate power and the surrounding external energy of heaven and earth.

He Yiming looked straight ahead and immediately spotted Su Jun.

Though no one introduced them, he instantly knew these were the seven Xiantian experts from Tu Fan Kingdom, excluding Mu Jintian.

Su Jun glanced at the surrounding debris of wood and bronze, then felt the palpable, almost physical killing intent radiating from He Yiming. His eyes narrowed, and he spoke in a deep voice, “Master He, you intrude here without cause, loudly demanding the death of our Prince. Is this the manner in which your kingdom treats guests?”

He Yiming let out an arrogant smile. “I am not a citizen of Kaifeng Kingdom; your so-called etiquette is irrelevant to me.” His voice suddenly turned cold. “Hand over Bu Xingcong, and I will leave immediately. Otherwise…”

Another elder, whose face was grim, snorted angrily. “If we refuse to hand him over, do you intend to slaughter all of us?”

Although the aura emanating from He Yiming was terrifying, this was the domain of seven Xiantian masters. Even Mu Jintian, hailed as the foremost among the Hundred Scattered Heavens, would not dare be so reckless.

However, the elder’s question effectively bound all seven together, suggesting that despite their confrontation with He Yiming’s immense pressure, he still lacked the confidence to face him alone.

A chilling smile spread across He Yiming’s lips. His gaze swept across the faces of the seven Xiantian masters one by one. “If killing all of you is the only way to find Bu Xingcong, then… you may as well die.”

As the word “die” left He Yiming’s mouth, his body moved.

It was as if he suddenly vanished; the eyes of Su Jun and the others lost sight of him.

At this point, a complex mix of fury, humiliation, and shock flashed simultaneously through the eyes of the seven Xiantian masters.

Before He Yiming had truly attacked, even they had not anticipated that he would dare strike first in the face of seven peers.

For a moment, a realization dawned upon them.

Regardless of the outcome of this fight, He Yiming’s name would soon echo throughout the Northwest. This sheer audacity and confidence surpassed their own; perhaps only Mu Jintian could truly match him in spirit.

A wisp of mist suddenly appeared before their eyes—the bizarre illusion created by He Yiming pushing his movement technique to the extreme, condensing the sensation of mist into his fist work.

Although the seven Xiantian masters lacked experience fighting together against a single opponent, they naturally converged as one when assailed by He Yiming’s indiscriminate attack.

Instantly, the remaining onlookers witnessed a peculiar sight.

Seven Xiantian masters were encircled by one person. That cloud of mist, seemingly omnipresent, appeared to spread throughout the entire space.

Seeing this incredible scene, disbelief welled up in everyone’s hearts. Could this man’s strength be so overwhelming that even seven Xiantian masters could not contend with him?

Inside the enveloping mist, the seven top experts were equally unsettled. Though they were long past their impulsive youth, a surge of drive and heroic spirit—feelings usually reserved for their younger days—began to rise within them.

Even those unfamiliar with He Yiming knew his origins from his youthful appearance.

To be provoked by a seventeen-year-old youth who stormed their doors and spoke of wiping them all out—such arrogance naturally stirred revulsion and disgust in all of them.

For whatever reason, the dignity of a strong practitioner could not be desecrated…

The seven Xiantian masters grew serious in unison. Powerful battle intent radiated from them, and the Xiantian True Qi in each body surged wildly. They intended to use their strength to show He Yiming that the combined might of seven Xiantian masters was something no single peer could possibly withstand.

Seven streams of Xiantian True Qi, each of a different element, were instantly unleashed, tearing seven large rents in the mist that permeated the space.

However, within these rents, a phantom figure coalesced, appearing solid before Su Jun, transitioning from ethereal to real.

Su Jun dropped into a low stance, breathing out sharply, his palm instantly turning blood-red.

The Fire Element Xiantian technique was displayed perfectly through him. Waves of intense heat rolled forward, seemingly intent on incinerating He Yiming who had just materialized before him.

But at that very moment, Su Jun saw a sneer of disdain lift the corner of He Yiming’s mouth.

A sense of foreboding sank into his heart, and then, he seemed to behold a monstrous, overwhelming tidal wave.

It was an endless, vast ocean, or perhaps the Milky Way pouring down from the Nine Heavens. Instantly, water and fire merged; the triumphant heatwave vanished entirely, extinguished in a moment by the colossal surge of water.

Two sharp shouts erupted from Su Jun’s flanks. The two Xiantian experts beside him never imagined that in a single move, He Yiming had already gained absolute advantage, perhaps even holding the possibility of killing Su Jun on the spot.

In clashes between Xiantian masters, if one’s elemental power was countered and the initial advantage lost, it was not uncommon for them to be pursued relentlessly and ultimately perish.

Thus, upon seeing Su Jun in peril, they abandoned all pretense of pride and immediately joined the rescue effort.

The two realized how rapidly He Yiming’s Water Element power had suppressed Su Jun’s Fire Element technique. Therefore, this time, they employed the Wood and Earth element techniques, respectively.

The one on the left struck with solid, dense force—the innate Earth Element True Qi, which specifically counters the Water Element among the Five Elements.

As the man on the right launched his attack, his arms resembled old, gnarled vines. Though grotesque in appearance, the potent aura emanating from them was in no way inferior to that of the man beside him.

Not only them, but all seven Xiantian masters, including Su Jun, expected He Yiming to abandon his pursuit and retreat momentarily.

Yet, they almost simultaneously saw that He Yiming’s eyes were still shining brightly, and that cold, dismissive smile was rapidly widening.

His hands did not withdraw, nor did he continue his ethereal, mist-like supreme movement technique. Instead, his palms crossed, meeting the two incoming Xiantian masters.

The others felt an inexplicable strangeness. Did he intend to simultaneously counter both Earth and Wood element Xiantian True Qi using only his Water element power?

Had He Yiming’s aura not been so overwhelming, they truly might have suspected him of being insane.

“Boom…”

The moment the three palms met, the faces of the two Tu Fan Kingdom Xiantian experts changed drastically.

He Yiming’s right hand suddenly withered, becoming skeletal thin. Touching the opponent’s Earth Element True Qi, it unleashed devastating power, instantly scattering it.

His left hand, meanwhile, became as hard as diamond, smashing through the opponent’s Wood Element True Qi with irresistible force.

Wood Element, Metal Element…

The attributes of the True Qi he used had transformed in an instant, switching from the ceaseless flow of the Water Element technique to the vibrant vitality of Wood and the indestructible sharpness of Metal.

The shift between these two energies was so abrupt; it offered absolutely no prior warning.

Su Jun and the others’ eyes finally showed a trace of horror. They vaguely sensed why He Yiming possessed such profound confidence to challenge them.

This ability to change techniques instantly far exceeded the limits achievable by experts of the Hundred Scattered Heavens; even among the First Line Heavens, no tale of such heaven-defying capability had ever been heard.

He Yiming attacked with both hands, decisively crushing two major Xiantian experts.

He raised his head, and a long, cold cry carried far away, his chilling killing intent sharp and pervasive…

Then he strode forward, his gaze locked onto Su Jun, the strongest among the seven. From him erupted an endless, terrifying murderous intent.

The remaining four dared not delay. They attacked in sequence, different elemental Xiantian True Qi surging toward He Yiming like a tide.

However, He Yiming remained utterly fearless. He neither retreated nor dodged, continuing his steady advance as if the powerful defensive line formed by the Xiantian masters before him was merely a straight, flat road.

“Boom, boom, boom, boom…”

After four successive impacts that sounded like metal striking metal, the four Xiantian experts were all forced back one after another.

In these four exchanges, He Yiming’s True Qi shifted unpredictably, utilizing all five elements of True Qi. Every opponent who exchanged palms with him encountered a counter-elemental force.

At this moment, He Yiming seemed like a god descended. His momentum soared like oil poured onto a raging fire, instantly reaching its absolute peak, even surpassing the combined might of the seven Xiantian masters.