It was the voice of a single person, yet it roared with the intensity of thousands screaming themselves hoarse, as if every soul in the entire Kai Rong Kingdom could hear it.

The sheer volume and expansive reach of this sound were beyond comparison for anyone present.

This single utterance was concentrated and unwavering, a singular note layered upon itself, cresting and falling like a rising tide.

However, to the others in the city who heard it, the maximum reaction was a startled jump, coupled with a sense of the incredible and the inexplicable.

But here, among these Xiantian masters, once they heard that sound, not a single person could maintain their composure.

Especially those Xiantian masters who had previously clashed with He Yiming—they stood utterly stunned, as if thought itself had abandoned them in that instant.

As for Cheng Fu, the hands he had tightly clenched unconsciously relaxed their grip.

His gaze toward He Yiming first showed extreme complexity, then slowly eased into relief; the yearning for a decisive battle had completely vanished from his eyes.

If He Yiming had still been a Xiantian master of the Baishan Heaven realm, Cheng Fu would have possessed the confidence to catch up and challenge him again. Even if the current He Yiming could contend with Mu Jintian, he would not have despaired.

This was because he could receive guidance from the Yixiantian expert Zhan Tianfeng; as long as he endured the hardship, he was certain he could advance rapidly and eventually gain the commensurate supreme strength.

But now, He Yiming was no longer merely a Baishan Heaven master.

The razor-thin line between life and death, much like the boundary between Xiantian and Houtian, was a chasm separating heaven and earth.

Cheng Fu slowly closed his eyes, the suffocating frustration in his heart seeming to dissipate in an instant.

A master of Baishan Heaven attempting to engage in a true contest with an expert of Yixiantian...

Even if he couldn't figure things out, choosing this manner of death seemed unnecessary.

Therefore, at this moment, he had completely extinguished the determination to fight He Yiming. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, the moment he let go of that intense urge for combat, his heart suddenly felt lighter. Mysteriously, he seemed to have grasped something; though the intensity of his True Qi hadn't increased, his state of mind had subtly shifted, allowing his spiritual focus in martial cultivation to leap ahead of his physical progress.

When the booming sound echoing in the air finally faded, He Yiming took a step forward.

He did not move toward Mu Jintian, but instead strode toward Bu Xingcong, who was huddled behind Su Jun, trembling uncontrollably.

Mu Jintian's expression flickered, but as soon as he tried to move his body, a profound discomfort seized his chest and abdomen, and his limbs felt weak, utterly devoid of strength.

He knew this was due to the utter depletion of his True Qi. He Yiming’s body had just acted like a bottomless pit, greedily absorbing all of his Han (Cold) element True Qi. Had it not been for the rare treasure he possessed that allowed him to replenish energy, he might have been reduced to a desiccated husk by now.

Even so, recovering to his former state would require him to meditate in stillness for at least three days.

At this juncture, even if he wished to stop He Yiming, he was clearly willing but physically incapable. With a long sigh, he turned his face away, unwilling to invite further humiliation.

As He Yiming approached with heavy strides, Su Jun and the other Xiantian elder immediately retreated without hesitation, ignoring the pleading looks directed at them by Bu Xingcong.

Furthermore, in their eyes when they glanced at the profligate prince, there was a deep thread of loathing.

If it hadn't been for this fool, how could they have drawn the disaster that was He Yiming here? How could a Xiantian master have fallen? How could He Yiming have seized the opportunity to break through the Baishan Heaven realm?

Of course, compared to Mu Jintian's crushing defeat, all of that was insignificant.

In these decades, this was the first time Mu Jintian had suffered a loss at the hands of an expert of the same realm. This would be an unparalleled blow to his confidence. If he failed to emerge from the shadow of this defeat, he would never break through to the Yixiantian realm in this lifetime.

And this was precisely what they hated Bu Xingcong for the most.

Naturally, if their own strength had been sufficient—if they weren't already two tiers below He Yiming—their primary object of hatred would have been He Yiming himself.

But as they watched the approaching He Yiming, neither of them harbored such thoughts.

Resenting an expert of Yixiantian?

They hadn't grown weary of living yet.

He Yiming arrived beside Bu Xingcong with an expressionless face. Looking at Bu Xingcong, who was whimpering and had shed every last vestige of masculine pride, a flood of thoughts surged through He Yiming’s mind.

That whip strike, though it hadn't landed on him, had shocked He Yiming fully awake.

Actually, when He Yiming first saw the whip, beyond intense rage, he hadn't felt much murderous intent. What truly shocked, even terrified, him was the fear that one day, news might arrive of the death of Yuan Lixun or someone else from his family.

Injury was manageable; as long as life remained, there was a way to heal. But if life itself was lost, it was irrevocably over.

If Yuan Lixun could be whipped today, could someone in the future ride roughshod over him and kill his family and friends?

The thought sent a chilling sensation through He Yiming, as if plunging into an ice cellar.

This was a primal fear emanating from the depths of his heart, which was why he had made the reckless decision to seek vengeance at any cost.

He wanted everyone to know that anyone who harmed someone close to him, regardless of their background or the price he had to pay, would face retribution.

For a mere accomplice like Bu Rong, he could cripple his Dantian, and now, with the principal culprit present, should he falter or show weakness? He would become a laughingstock to all.

Regardless of the reason, if He Yiming spared him now, the impact of today's events would be severely diminished. In the future, anyone targeting the He Family Manor would hesitate less.

Especially those with deep backgrounds would pay him even less heed.

This was a relentlessly realistic world where the attitude of the strong dictated everything. The kind are bullied; the docile are ridden. Combined with everything he had experienced before, this brought He Yiming to a definitive conclusion in this moment.

Standing before the terrified and nearly broken Bu Xingcong, He Yiming’s expression turned icy, his eyes gradually calming. His gaze upon the prince was merciless, as if looking at a dead man.

Bu Xingcong trembled and suddenly shrieked, "You cannot kill me! I am a prince of the Tu Fan Kingdom! I am a prince, soon to be King! You cannot kill me!"

He Yiming gave a cold laugh; he couldn't even be bothered to waste breath on this man.

Suddenly, his expression shifted, and his gaze locked onto a specific direction. He sensed with clarity a powerful aura, approaching them at a speed that did not yield in the slightest to his own or Mu Jintian’s pace.

In just a few more breaths, this person would arrive.

A thought sparked in his mind; his hand did not hesitate. He threw out a palm strike. This strike appeared light and weightless, as if devoid of any force. But as the strike left his hand, Mu Jintian couldn't help but close his eyes.

Smack...

Bu Xingcong, who had been howling like a madman, desperately screaming at the top of his lungs, suddenly stopped. He no longer possessed the strength to utter a sound.

He stared blankly at He Yiming, the light in his eyes gradually fading. Yet, his eyes remained wide open, as if he couldn't believe he was dying over the trivial matter of recklessly riding a horse and injuring someone.

He had done such things countless times; no one had ever dared to rebuke him, as if he were born with such inherent right. Apart from himself, he gave no thought to the lives of others. Compared to him, everyone else was an expendable ant, whose existence merely served to procure his pleasure and amusement.

But in the final moment of his life, he saw the look in the eyes of the once famous Xiantian masters.

He finally understood that in the eyes of some, his status as a Royal Highness was utterly laughable.

In their view, he was no different from the common rabble.

As Bu Xingcong drew his last breath, He Yiming turned his gaze toward Mao Lieguang and the others from the Kai Rong Kingdom.

Although they had arrived last, these individuals had witnessed nearly the entire battle between He Yiming and Mu Jintian, and they clearly perceived He Yiming's ineffable power at this moment.

To them now, it seemed as if a single move from He Yiming could annihilate them all.

Thus, upon meeting He Yiming’s slightly unfriendly gaze, Mao Lieguang and the others wisely lowered their heads, even Cheng Fu did the same.

Now that He Yiming had successfully attained another realm, Cheng Fu had completely cast aside his inner turmoil. Bowing before a Yixiantian master was not something difficult to accept, especially for those Xiantian experts who deeply understood the terror of the Yixiantian realm—such reverence toward a powerhouse of this magnitude was simply natural.

Seeing their expressions, He Yiming allowed a flicker of satisfaction to show.

His gaze swept across the crowd, one by one. Every person whose eyes met his, despite displaying different expressions, unanimously conveyed sufficient respect.

Even the elder Shui Xuanjin bowed respectfully.

Regardless of friend or foe, their hearts were currently stirred immensely. To witness firsthand the birth of a Yixiantian expert was an immense stimulus and an invaluable experience for them. Recalling the tumultuous surge of elemental energy just moments ago, everyone seemed to have gained some insight.

The one who felt the deepest impact was undoubtedly Mu Jintian. His feelings were complex; although Bu Xingcong's death dealt a fatal blow to his prestige, this battle was an indispensable experience for him. If he managed a breakthrough in the future and achieved the Yixiantian realm, today’s fight would prove absolutely crucial.

Among this group, only Xie Mingjin was utterly confused about what had transpired.

Although he knew the might of Xiantian masters, he did not grasp the distinction between Yixiantian and Baishan Heaven.

However, he did perceive one thing: after He Yiming’s great shout, the attitude of all the Xiantian masters toward him instantly changed, much like how his elders in the Xie family treated He Yiming.

But his elders in the Xie family were only Houtian cultivators; how could they be compared to these Xiantian masters?

Try as he might, he could not fathom the mystery behind this shift.

His cold gaze swept around one last time before settling back on the deceased Bu Xingcong. He Yiming announced loudly, "I killed this man. If your Tu Fan Kingdom harbors any dissatisfaction in the future, feel free to issue a challenge to me. But if you dare harm the innocent, do not blame me for taking ruthless and unscrupulous revenge upon your nation."

Hearing these words, which sounded like a declaration, Su Jun and the other Xiantian expert meekly lowered their heads, lacking even the courage to argue.

Mu Jintian, now nearly exhausted, let out a bitter smile and said, "Master He, you jest. Bu Xingcong’s end, due to recklessly riding his horse and injuring others, is entirely self-inflicted. If Master He is willing to let this matter rest here, we would be endlessly grateful, let alone issue another challenge."

His voice carried a trace of bitterness, but it was absolutely sincere.

If He Yiming were still a Baishan Heaven master, killing the prince of the Tu Fan Kingdom might provoke their Yixiantian experts to seek vengeance across the Tian Luo Kingdom. But the current He Yiming was already Yixiantian, and a Yixiantian master barely seventeen years old at that.

Unless the Yixiantian expert of the Tu Fan Kingdom had completely lost his mind, it would be unthinkable for him to incur a deadly feud with He Yiming over a mere prince.

Likewise, Bu Xingcong's mother was a descendant from one of Mu Jintian’s own lineages, which was why he had looked favorably upon the prince, hoping he might one day inherit the throne of Tu Fan Kingdom. But after receiving some of Mu Jintian's teachings, Bu Xingcong had attracted such a terrifying enemy.

Thus, regardless of his standpoint, Mu Jintian could only completely abandon him.

This was the difference in perspective between the aged Mu Jintian and He Yiming.

Upon receiving Mu Jintian’s assurance, He Yiming paused, then vaguely grasped the man's reasoning. He lifted his gaze to the sky, feeling the fear emanating from the gazes directed at him. A strange sense of excitement arose within him, a feeling even more gratifying than when he had first successfully ascended to the Xiantian realm.

After a pause, He Yiming opened his eyes and called out loudly, "Which esteemed master has arrived? Please show yourself."

His voice boomed out, surging toward a particular direction.

The sound of rushing air erupted at that spot, and a figure in a green robe appeared before them as if emerging from a spectral mist.

Upon seeing the person’s face, all the Xiantian Grandmasters of the Kai Rong Kingdom showed joy, simultaneously bowing deeply: "Greetings to the Old Grand Tutor."

He Yiming’s eyes narrowed in surprise: "Zhan Tianfeng?"

Zhan Tianfeng laughed heartily, "Indeed, it is this old man."

Although Shui Xuanjin, Mu Jintian, and others belonged to different factions and held varied feelings toward Zhan Tianfeng, the moment he appeared, their attitudes became uniformly respectful.

He Yiming scrutinized the man before him deeply. His features were not overly aged; he looked much younger than Mao Lieguang. However, once cultivation reached this level, one could no longer judge a person's true age by their appearance alone.

Once one entered the Xiantian realm, the aging of the physical form slowed considerably, let alone for a supreme expert of the Yixiantian caliber.

Zhan Tianfeng offered a distant cupped-fist salute: "Brother He has achieved great success. Congratulations."

He Yiming returned the same gesture: "Brother Zhan flatters me. He Yi merely succeeded through a stroke of luck."

His remark instantly resonated with everyone present.

Others, striving to reach the Yixiantian realm, had proceeded with utmost caution, even exhausting national resources to nurture a single candidate; when they began their breakthrough, the entire nation enforced martial law, and all Xiantian masters stood guard like enemies facing a major threat.

But look at He Yiming...

He managed to push toward the Yixiantian realm heedlessly during a life-or-death battle, and incredibly, through some strange twist of fate, he succeeded.

Gazing upon this newly minted Yixiantian expert, the onlookers felt a wave of poignant sentiment—Heaven had truly eaten its conscience; it was too unfair.

Zhan Tianfeng shook his head, his expression grave. "Brother He, do you know how I successfully advanced to the Yixiantian realm back then?"

He Yiming shook his head blankly: "I do not. Please guide me, Brother Zhan."

Zhan Tianfeng sighed deeply: "Nothing more than this: my luck was better, and thus I finally succeeded."

This answer clearly exceeded He Yiming’s expectations. He asked in surprise, "Are you joking, Elder?"

Zhan Tianfeng stated solemnly, "To attempt the breakthrough to Baishan Heaven requires supreme talent and unceasing effort. But to break through to Yixiantian, personal luck is the truly decisive factor." His gaze shifted toward Mu Jintian: "Experts like him, who have reached the peak of Baishan Heaven, there are no less than seventeen or eighteen in the entire Northwest. Yet, in the last century, only a mere handful have successfully passed through this line between life and death." His eyes flickered: "Their cultivation levels and mental states are nearly identical, but whether they ultimately succeed is something no one can guarantee. This is the greatest allure and the greatest regret of the Yixiantian realm."

All the Xiantian masters lowered their heads, their hearts deeply shaken.

So, in the entire Northwest, there were actually so many experts comparable to Mu Jintian.

It was easy to surmise that these experts were mostly concealed within mountain forests or within hidden sects. They, the Xiantian masters flourishing in the outside world, had all become frogs in a well.

Zhan Tianfeng smiled faintly. Although he valued Mu Jintian greatly, as long as Mu Jintian had not reached Yixiantian, he could never earn the right to equal treatment.

Using himself as an example, even if Mu Jintian felt displeased, he could do nothing about it.

He Yiming pondered for a moment, offering no comment, but if anyone knew what he was thinking at this moment, they would likely feel a powerful urge to commit suicide.

In his mind, he mumbled to himself:

What luck? Isn't ascending to Yixiantian quite easy...?