Upon He Yiming’s return to the embassy district, everyone, including Shui Xuanjin, rushed out to meet him. The attitude they displayed toward He Yiming this time was markedly different from before.

This difference was not merely superficial; it emanated from their very core.

After navigating pleasantries for a while, He Yiming returned to his courtyard with Shui Xuanjin. Once the others had been dismissed, Shui Xuanjin hesitated for a moment and then asked, "Brother He, now that you have broken through to the First Heaven realm, are you still willing to join our small nations' alliance?"

He Yiming let out a soft laugh. "Elder Brother Shui, they sent you to ask this, didn't they?"

Shui Xuanjin’s old face flushed slightly. "Indeed. They were all quite uneasy, so they asked this old man to swallow his pride and inquire." He pursed his lips and explained, "But please rest assured, no matter what decision you make, we will harbor no resentment."

He wasn't lying; even if they did harbor resentment, they certainly wouldn't dare show it.

He Yiming considered for a moment, and finally, under Shui Xuanjin’s expectant gaze, he slowly said, "Elder Brother Shui, I already stated my position last time. Since the Tianluo Nation requires it, as the Protector Grandmaster of Tianluo, this younger brother naturally will not refuse."

A look of profound relief washed over Shui Xuanjin's face. His greatest anxiety regarding He Yiming's advancement to the First Heaven realm had finally been completely eradicated.

Taking a deep breath, Shui Xuanjin continued, "Brother He, we have already agreed with Mao Lieguang and Mu Jintian that seven days from now will be the time for everyone to trade their items. You must not forget."

He Yiming was greatly surprised. "Mu Jintian and the others are still participating?"

Shui Xuanjin smiled faintly. "Did they travel a thousand li all this way for anything else?"

"But they lost two men," He Yiming stated grimly.

Shui Xuanjin chuckled. "Those two brought about their own demise, and now that they are dead, there is no one left to champion their cause." He looked at He Yiming, his expression suddenly serious. "The Tufan Nation absolutely will not risk offending a First Heaven powerhouse with boundless potential for the sake of a deceased prince and a deceased Hundred Dissipating Heaven Master."

He Yiming suddenly understood. Shui Xuanjin’s words struck right to the bone. If he had not advanced to the First Heaven realm, what awaited him would have been a violent tempest of retribution, possibly even dragging the He Family Village into the fray. But now that he had reached the First Heaven, everything had changed.

The root of it all, ultimately, was strength.

After discussing a few more moments, Shui Xuanjin excused himself. Before leaving, however, he hesitated for a long time before finally asking, "Brother He, what is your assessment of Mu Jintian?"

He Yiming spoke sincerely, "That man is immensely powerful, especially his tenacity of spirit. He is a truly excellent rival."

Shui Xuanjin's expression shifted slightly. "Then, in your view, after suffering one major setback, does he still have a chance to reach the First Heaven realm?"

He Yiming was momentarily puzzled, unable to grasp why Shui Xuanjin was asking such a seemingly irrelevant question.

After serious contemplation, He Yiming responded, "For most people, suffering a crushing defeat at the peak of their career makes a resurgence incredibly unlikely. But Mu Jintian is different. I believe he will certainly manage to rise again and ultimately break through to the First Heaven."

Shui Xuanjin nodded slightly. "Excellent."

He Yiming grew even more confused. "What is so excellent about that?"

A flash of smug satisfaction crossed Shui Xuanjin's face. "That question was actually put to me by Mao Lieguang. Naturally, he hoped Mu Jintian would remain disheartened, which would grant him peace of mind. Heh, how could this old man allow him that satisfaction?"

He Yiming shook his head slightly. He truly held little interest in the machinations between these nations. His greatest takeaway from the battle today was simple: as long as you possess overwhelming, crushing strength, you can act with utter impunity.

Even if you kill a prince from one of the three great powers and a Xiantian Master, the others can only swallow their pride and blood, daring not seek revenge.

As for Mu Jintian's potential ascension to the First Heaven, He Yiming cared even less. By the time Mu Jintian reached that level, his own cultivation on the martial path would likely have left him far behind.

Yet, watching the animated Shui Xuanjin depart, He Yiming felt a sense of understanding.

This elderly man had been trapped at the Hundred Dissipating Heaven realm his entire life, and with his remaining lifespan dwindling, his perspective naturally differed from his own.

Shaking his head, He Yiming made his way to Yuan Lixun's room.

Before leaving her earlier, he had used his Wood and Water true qi to soothe her into a deep sleep. Several hours had passed now; she should be awake.

Reflecting on the events of these past hours felt almost dreamlike. He had not only successfully broken through to the First Heaven realm but had also defeated Zhuo Wanlian in a one-on-one fight. Such rapid changes were things he wouldn't have dared to imagine before.

He gently pushed the door open and looked at Yuan Lixun lying on her side, her bare skin illuminated. Especially noticing the long whip mark across her face sent a sharp pang of heartache through him.

To be honest, after studying under the Medicine Daoist for these past few months, He Yiming had gained a rudimentary grasp of medical arts. He was absolutely confident he could erase the whip mark entirely. However, achieving it without leaving even the faintest trace was highly improbable.

Mulling it over silently, he finally settled on a resolution. Yet, achieving that specific outcome would be incredibly difficult.

His ears twitched slightly, and He Yiming laughed heartily. "Lixun, since you're awake, get up quickly."

Yuan Lixun's eyelashes fluttered a few times before she slowly opened her eyes. She obediently sat up but intentionally kept the injured side of her face turned away.

He Yiming sighed inwardly, knowing she hadn't overcome the psychological barrier yet. But he didn't press the issue, simply sitting down on the edge of the bed and watching her quietly.

Although she was close to his age—seventeen—a girl of seventeen, provided she had good nutrition and cultivated internal energy, would no longer be underdeveloped compared to a mature woman.

At this moment, Yuan Lixun, sitting up by the head of the bed, was clad in a pale yellow inner garment. Although it completely enveloped her graceful and slender figure, a expanse of smooth, snow-white skin was visible at her neckline. Particularly