A flock of pigeons cut across the sky above them. Their golden bodies fanned the air, tasting of sunshine.

Beneath this flurry of wings, the neighing of horses rose, and a troop of about twenty swift riders came galloping from the distance, heading toward the capital of Kaifeng Kingdom.

Among these riders were certainly men in their prime, but there was also an elder whose beard and hair were entirely white.

Seeing the towering gates of Kaifeng's capital loom ahead, the group let out a unified whoop, and the galloping horses immediately slowed to a walk.

The man in the lead turned around and said, "Great-Uncle, we have finally arrived."

That elder was none other than Old Master Xie Zhien of the Xie family from the Fire Crow Kingdom. Although he was a formidable master, standing at the pinnacle of the tenth level in both internal force disciplines, his advanced age meant he had not yet entered the Xiantian (Innate) realm, nor had he drawn the energy of heaven and earth into his body. Consequently, after the long journey, he appeared utterly exhausted, even more so than some of the younger family members traveling with them who were only at the seventh level of internal force.

He gazed at the city walls and let out a long sigh. "Nuanhang, I am old. I cannot compare to you young ones anymore."

Xie Nuanhang quickly comforted him, "Great-Uncle, if you can successfully break through to the Xiantian realm this time, you will naturally draw the energy of heaven and earth into your body. You will surely return to the vigor of your youth."

Xie Zhien fell silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke, "For some reason, the closer I get to that place, the faster my heart beats. I am constantly worried that I won't break my limits and will waste this magnificent opportunity."

Xie Nuanhang's expression shifted slightly. Although He Yiming had promised to help reinforce Xie Zhien's meridians, whether he could break through to the Xiantian realm ultimately depended on the old man's own strength. If his confidence faltered now, a smooth advancement would surely be impossible.

Furthermore, after this protection and reinforcement session, He Yiming might not have the patience for a second such undertaking.

Thus, for the Xie family, this was effectively their last chance.

As the contemporary head of the Xie family, Xie Nuanhang understood the crucial importance of an Innate master to the clan. His face flickered several times as he reassured the elder, "Great-Uncle, your Firewood cultivation technique has already reached the stage of perfection. If even you cannot succeed, then no one else in this world will be able to."

Xie Zhien looked at the bold declaration made by Xie Nuanhang with surprise, then understood the source of his worry, chuckling softly. "Nuanhang, rest assured. I know this is not just my own matter. I will exert every ounce of my strength..." He paused, his expression becoming more grave and solemn than ever before: "Death is the only alternative!"

Xie Nuanhang's heart trembled; he knew the old man had made up his mind. If he succeeded in this attempt to reach the Xiantian realm, all would be well. If he failed, even if his meridians were utterly shattered, he would not yield.

To push oneself to a point of no return for survival—this was not a resolve everyone could make. However, given Old Master Xie Zhien's age, this might indeed be the best course of action.

Xie Nuanhang's lips twitched twice, and he finally remained silent. The party spurred their horses toward the city gates.

In the inner courtyard, He Yiming and Yuan Lixun were diligently practicing in their rooms.

Ever since Yuan Lixun was injured, besides changing her dressings on time, He Yiming had focused entirely on urging her to cultivate her water-element techniques. In his words, he wasn't absolutely certain he could refine the Youth-Retaining Pill, but he had a decent degree of confidence in helping Yuan Lixun advance to the Xiantian realm.

The prerequisite, however, was that Yuan Lixun must cultivate her internal force to the peak of the tenth level.

To achieve this goal, He Yiming was certainly not sparing with Golden Elixirs. As soon as Yuan Lixun’s injuries stabilized slightly, he had her swallow a Vitality Golden Elixir and focus entirely on refining its medicinal power.

The Vitality Golden Elixir offered little significant effect for masters above the tenth level of internal force, but for Yuan Lixun, currently at the seventh level, it possessed an unimaginably immense benefit. Under the stimulation of this elixir, Yuan Lixun’s internal force advanced by leaps and bounds.

It was then that He Yiming understood why Old Man Yaodao had paid such specific attention to whether he had taken Golden Elixirs when they first met. For reclusive sects like the Hengshan lineage, which had been passed down for over three thousand years, cultivating a peak Houtian (Post-Natal) master quickly might not be difficult.

The trouble was that such masters, having experienced a smooth cultivation path without encountering obstacles or setbacks, would find it much harder to successfully break through to the Xiantian realm, even after reaching the peak of the tenth level, compared to disciples who steadily advanced relying on their own strength step by step.

But He Yiming was different. He was determined to have Yuan Lixun reach the peak of the tenth level as quickly as possible, and then, beneath the White Stone, administer the Xiantian Golden Elixir to her.

The light emanating from that White Stone was exceptionally peculiar. Although it offered no noticeable boost to the speed of Xiantian True Qi, it provided an incredible, specialized benefit for the recovery of True Qi and vitality. Furthermore, sitting enveloped by the White Stone’s radiance seemed to thin the barrier obstructing the breakthrough of limits considerably. While nowhere near as dramatic as his own experience, the advantage over attempting to break through to the Xiantian realm under normal circumstances was still worlds apart.

At this moment, He Yiming had finished his own practice. Since advancing to the Yixiantian (First Heaven) level, not only had the True Qi in all his acupoints gathered into a single thread, but the density of this Qi was also continuously condensing, like a fist being clenched tighter and tighter. Only such a fist, having reached a certain degree of tightness, could unleash its most potent might.

However, what truly held his attention was Yuan Lixun sitting beside him. The young woman was utterly immersed in her cultivation; compared to before, her attitude was far more serious, clearly striving countless times harder than previously. Seeing her like this, He Yiming couldn't help but smile wryly.

In the past, when he asked her to practice, although she would obey, there was always a sense of going through the motions. She simply couldn't believe that the day of reaching the Xiantian realm would ever come, so her current pace of cultivation was already satisfying enough for her. But after her face was injured and she learned that only by becoming an Innate master could she draw in the energy of heaven and earth and potentially erase the scar, her focus on cultivation became paramount. Even when He Yiming wasn't watching, she would proactively train, striving to extract the utmost medicinal power from the Vitality Golden Elixir within her.

The transformation in the same person, between before and after, was truly astonishing and hard to believe. It was only now that He Yiming understood that everyone had their own weakness. If one could grasp that specific weakness, there would be no need for constant urging; they would diligently complete the assigned tasks on their own, like an old ox pulling a plow.

Suddenly, He Yiming's ears twitched twice. He heard faint sounds coming from outside the side courtyard. He listened closely and immediately recognized the voice: it was Xie Mingjin, speaking in hushed tones with the two servants in the yard.

He smiled slightly, glanced at the still tirelessly practicing Yuan Lixun, applied slight pressure with his feet, and silently vanished from his spot. In just a few bounds, he appeared abruptly before the three of them.

The two servants were looking troubled, unsure whether they should announce the visitor. Although He Yiming had decreed that no one should disturb him during his cultivation, Xie Mingjin was clearly different. At least, before He Yiming distanced himself from him, no one dared to ignore Xie Mingjin's standing in He Yiming's presence.

But suddenly, their vision blurred, and then they saw He Yiming, instantly filling them with overjoyed relief. Since the principal figure had appeared, their worries were resolved.

He Yiming nodded toward Xie Mingjin, and the two walked a few steps closer. He Yiming asked, "Has Old Master Zhien arrived?"

Xie Mingjin was unsurprised that He Yiming knew his purpose, given his renowned Clairaudience skill. He nodded slightly and replied, "Big Brother, our family members have arrived. They say Great-Uncle, First Uncle, and Father are at the North Gate, but they are being blocked outside and cannot enter."

He Yiming feigned surprise. "Uncle is here too? Isn't that making too big a fuss?" He pondered for a moment and then smiled. "Mingjin, come with me to greet Uncle and the others."

Xie Mingjin nodded blankly. He knew that He Yiming calling his father "Uncle" and condescendingly going to meet them was entirely for his sake. This moved him deeply, and in that moment, he felt a profound, unwavering gratitude toward He Yiming. However, the fact that an entire family effort, the Xie family's utmost concern, was dismissed by He Yiming as "making too big a fuss" truly highlighted the immense gulf in their power and stature. In front of He Yiming, he felt himself become ever more insignificant.

He gave a self-mocking laugh. In the eyes of a Yixiantian expert, ordinary Baixiantian (Hundred Heaven) masters, especially those still stuck at the peak of the tenth level of internal force, probably amounted to nothing.

The two walked side-by-side and moments later emerged from the embassy district.

A carriage arrived before them like a bolt of lightning. The two coachmen in front of the carriage were grand masters at the ninth level of internal force. They looked at He Yiming with ingratiating smiles, begging, "Master He, please board the carriage. Wherever you wish to go, we will certainly hasten with all our might."

He Yiming frowned slightly. He knew this was the consequence of his earlier rampage at the Tuofan Kingdom's envoy compound. By now, the entire city must know about his conflict with Bu Xingcong and its outcome. Thus, wherever he intended to go, someone would immediately be ready to serve him. They weren't afraid someone would harm him; they were terrified that some insensitive fool might provoke his anger again.

His expression darkened slightly, but seeing the look of dread in the eyes of the two coachmen, He Yiming sighed and stepped into the carriage. These two were merely following orders; there was no need to make things difficult for them.

The two coachmen showed expressions of relief. One quietly inquired, "Brother Mingjin, where is Master He headed?"

Xie Mingjin felt a surge of emotion: it was good to follow Big Brother He; even ninth-level internal force masters were eager to fawn over him. He coughed lightly and said, "North Gate. Hurry."

The expressions of the two men changed instantly. Since Xie Mingjin commanded haste, they dared not delay even a moment. One snatched the large banner representing the Master Hall from the carriage roof and waved it a few times in the air. The other shouted, his arm remaining perfectly still, using only the strength of his wrist to crack the great whip he held with a sharp crack.

The four steeds immediately reared up and bolted forward toward the North Gate without hesitation. They traveled squarely down the center of the main avenue, a space where ordinary people were never permitted to tread. With the constant waving of the banner, anyone who saw it immediately cleared the way. Even the most swaggering, fearless young scions usually occupying that space fell silent and obediently moved aside.

Having learned a harsh lesson from Bu Xingcong, everyone who possessed the right to travel the central avenue had received the strictest warnings. During this period, even members of the royal family dared not parade arrogantly down the center of the main road. In the entire capital of Kaifeng Kingdom, there was likely only one person who could travel with such impunity and wild abandon.

Therefore, every gaze fixed upon this carriage held a complex expression. Although the owner of this carriage had inflicted a massive humiliation upon the envoy of the Tuofan Kingdom—one of the three great powers of the Northwest—the envoy dared not retaliate openly. Sadly, this person was not Kaifeng Kingdom's own Protector Master...

The carriage swiftly traversed countless streets, and the North Gate finally appeared in the distance.

He Yiming suddenly smiled. "Mingjin, Uncle and the others are blocked at the city gate. Go welcome them in."

Xie Mingjin was momentarily stunned, then responded excitedly. He pulled aside the carriage curtain and stepped out, saying, "Brothers, my father and the others are being stopped by your Kingdom's soldiers at the gate. Please be accommodating."

The two coachmen readily agreed with beaming smiles. They finally understood that Master He himself had come out to greet the Xie family members. It seemed Master He not only maintained an excellent relationship with Xie Mingjin but with the entire Fire Crow Xie family as well. Instantly, the status of the Fire Crow Xie family soared in their estimation.

At the city gate, Xie Nuanhang and his party were clearly displeased.

Upon reaching the North Gate, they were not allowed entry into the city; instead, they were stopped by the common gate guards. These guards were a mixed lot, but among them were men with keen eyes who immediately recognized the imposing nature of this group and noted, from their attire, that they were not citizens of Kaifeng Kingdom, but retainers of a noble house from some smaller nation.

Therefore, they barred Xie Nuanhang and the others. Whether Xie Nuanhang pleaded kindly or offered bribes of silver, the guards ignored them entirely, insisting that someone be sent inside to notify their contacts and provide a guarantee before entry would be permitted. Until then, they must wait where they stood.

In the Fire Crow Kingdom, Xie Nuanhang wielded considerable influence and had never suffered such treatment. But this was the capital of Kaifeng Kingdom, a place teeming with Houtian masters, and any single Innate Master from the Master Hall could easily wipe them all out seventeen or eighteen times over.

Thus, besides sending someone in to notify Xie Mingjin, they had no choice but to wait outside the city without daring to make any rash moves. While they were angry, they couldn't help but admire the powerful composure of the guards. Only the guards of the capital cities of the three great powers would exhibit such confidence, steadfastly holding their ground even when facing three late-stage masters at the peak of the tenth level of internal force.

A shared thought crossed their minds: when the soldiers of the Fire Crow Kingdom could meet the experts of other nations with such confidence, that would truly be the moment of the Fire Crow Kingdom's great strength.

However, as they were deep in contemplation, Xie Mingjin appeared from within the city, accompanied by a tall, middle-aged man whose clothing was rather distinctive.

The moment the gate guards saw the insignia on this man's attire, they immediately lowered their heads in respectful salute, their deference seeming even greater than if they were greeting their own fathers.

The man swept them with a look brimming with unspoken authority. The city guards, who had shown no deference to Xie Nuanhang, dared not meet his gaze.

"Release them..."

The command was brief, just two words, yet the city gates immediately swung wide open, and the guards on the ramparts, who had been on high alert, instantly relaxed.

When Xie Zhien and the others saw the soldiers’ shift from arrogant to subservient, they were filled with a sense of awe.

Xie Mingjin stepped forward. "Great-Uncle, First Uncle, Father, I apologize for making you wait."

Xie Zhien and the others nodded in succession. Xie Nuanyi stepped forward, taking his son's hand, and asked quietly, "Mingjin, which manor does this gentleman belong to?" Someone who could make these soldiers open the gates without question certainly could not be an ordinary person.

Xie Mingjin glanced back and murmured, "This Big Brother is from the Master Hall."

The entire group gasped in reverence. Within the sphere of influence of the Kaifeng Kingdom, who had not heard the formidable renown of the Kaifeng Master Hall?

Xie Nuanhang quickly cupped his hands. "So it is an expert from the Master Hall. I beg your pardon for my disrespect, Master."

The man quickly stepped back a pace. "Mr. Xie is too kind. I am merely a small carriage driver in the Hall; I dare not accept your bow."

All ten-plus members of the Xie family collectively sucked in a cold breath. A mere carriage driver possessed the strength of a ninth-level internal force master. This Master Hall was truly a place where dragons lay hidden and tigers lurked—unbelievable.

They walked into the city. After passing a street corner, they heard a burst of hearty laughter: "Old Master Zhien, Elder Xie, Second Elder Xie, it has been a long time!"

The Xie family members were first startled, and several rubbed their eyes, disbelieving what they saw. Only when they confirmed the identity of the person before them did true, overwhelming joy erupt.

Xie Nuanhang strode forward and bowed deeply to the ground. "Master He, to travel so far to greet us personally—the Xie family is truly unworthy..." Behind him, including Xie Zhien and Xie Mingjin, everyone bowed deeply. At this moment, their excitement reached its absolute peak.

Because they all understood that after today, the prestige of the Fire Crow Xie family would soar to a new height, and their future glory and prosperity were just around the corner.

Ps: Today's update reaches 15,000 characters. If I can successfully finish and revise one more chapter, it will be released precisely at ten o'clock ^_^.