The sky was still a pale, faint blue. In an instant, a crimson glow appeared on the horizon, slowly expanding its reach and intensifying its light.

Beneath this radiant spectacle, two figures slowly materialized. They tilted their heads back, gazing at the wonders of nature with infinite awe in their hearts.

"Li Xun, it's time to change the dressing," He Yiming murmured after a moment of silence.

Yuan Li Xun jolted out of her enchantment with the beautiful scenery, responding distractedly as she looked up, waiting quietly.

Several days prior, Elder Xie Zhi'en had successfully advanced to the Innate Realm. Following this, He Yiming bade farewell to everyone and led Yuan Li Xun deep into the mountains.

Their destination, naturally, was Hohhot Mountain, as marked on that magical map.

Of course, He Yiming’s hurried departure was not without a desire to evade the crowd. At the very least, until the wound on Yuan Li Xun's face healed completely, he did not wish for anyone else to see her.

He retrieved the specially prepared medicinal ointment from his satchel and carefully reapplied it around the wound. He Yiming's movements were precise, his hands both fast and steady. Aided by his Wood Element True Qi, the process was soon smoothly completed.

Though changing a dressing was a trivial task, He Yiming absolutely refused to let anyone else handle it. It seemed he would not permit any other eyes to witness the scar on Yuan Li Xun's face besides his own.

Yuan Li Xun kept her eyes tightly shut. A tingling numbness spread across her face, a sensation so pleasant it made her wish to completely surrender to it. But alas, He Yiming's movements were swift; the moment those seemingly magical hands lifted from her face, a faint sense of loss touched her heart.

He Yiming took the initiative to pack up the tent and supplies, slinging a large bundle onto his back. He clapped his hands lightly and said, "Li Xun, let's go."

Yuan Li Xun flushed as she responded. Although it wasn't the first time she had been in close proximity to He Yiming, nor the first time he had tended to her wound, every instance where his warm hands brushed gently across her cheek caused her to blush uncontrollably.

Standing straight, Yuan Li Xun was about to pull up her veil and step forward when she saw He Yiming’s body suddenly stiffen. He then looked sharply behind them, his dark eyes instantly sharpening into fierce points of light.

She followed his gaze but saw nothing, prompting her to ask, "Young Master, what is it?"

He Yiming hesitated for a moment, then shook his head slightly. "I can't be sure." A trace of vexation crossed his face. "Ever since we entered these mountains this time, I've had a persistent, ominous feeling, as if someone is following us. But every time I turn to check, I find not the slightest trace."

Yuan Li Xun looked toward He Yiming’s ears with surprise. They were still twitching subtly, but knowing him as intimately as she did, she realized he hadn't located the source of the problem using his Clairaudience Divine Skill.

"Young Master, could there be someone who can evade your Clairaudience?" Yuan Li Xun asked, unable to believe it.

He Yiming shook his head gravely. "Martial Uncle Yu once said that miraculous skills and secret arts abound in this world; no one can master them all. It’s possible that some Innate techniques specializing in stealth might even elude Clairaudience." He paused, as if struck by a sudden thought, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "Perhaps possessing some kind of rare heavenly treasure on one's person could also mask one from Clairaudience."

Yuan Li Xun’s eyes brightened as well. Her lips moved slightly, forming words silently, but her mouth shape clearly spelled out: "White Stone."

He Yiming nodded solemnly. Since the White Stone possessed the miraculous ability to obscure Clairaudience, it wasn't surprising that another miraculous item with the same effect might exist.

Yuan Li Xun opened her beautiful eyes wide and asked, "Young Master, what should we do?"

He Yiming spread his hands helplessly. "Nothing to be done, we can only take things one step at a time."

The two finished packing and continued deeper into the mountains, following the route marked on the map. Long after they had departed, a shadowy black figure abruptly appeared where they had stood.

The speed of this shadowy figure was utterly inconceivable; it was as if he were a mere wisp of air, entirely devoid of weight.

The shadow circled the spot like the wind, muttering as if to itself, "Such keen Clairaudience. He nearly spotted me. So seasoned at such a young age—what cultivation technique does he practice?" He looked toward the direction He Yiming and Yuan Li Xun had taken, his brow furrowing. "Cannot strike in the dense forest? But they insist on heading straight into the thicket! Unreasonable!"

After this brief complaint, the figure moved again, vanishing once more like a phantom.

Even He Yiming’s Cloud and Rain Soaring Technique could not match such movement. Yet, only a method of evasion this impossibly light could render He Yiming’s Clairaudience Divine Skill unable to grasp him.

※※※※

They traveled in the great mountains for over a month, and the dry rations they carried were long since depleted. However, with the strength they possessed, they wouldn't starve even if they carried nothing into the forest.

By now, they were gradually approaching the Hohhot Mountain Range, but He Yiming did not enter rashly. Instead, he lingered on the periphery, moving in circles as if he were a lost traveler in the jungle.

Yuan Li Xun naturally remained by his side, never leaving. As for the injury on her face, it was already healing significantly, perhaps seven or eight-tenths recovered.

The wound medicine personally refined by the Medicine Daoist was extraordinarily precious; it would certainly tarnish his reputation if it couldn't heal such a minor injury.

Although the bruising had faded, a faint scar remained—erasing that final trace would not be easy.

Taking Yuan Li Xun's small hand, He Yiming suddenly looked sharply in one direction.

Yuan Li Xun’s heart tensed. "Young Master, have you found that person’s tracks?"

He Yiming shook his head. "That person moves like smoke; who knows where he hides. But there is another group ahead. In this desolate wilderness, what are they doing here? Hmm..."

Yuan Li Xun was greatly intrigued and asked with surprise, "Young Master, what is it?"

He Yiming said gravely, "They are also searching for Hohhot Mountain, and they mentioned a 'cave dwelling' or something similar. How strange."

As he spoke, he tightened his grip slightly, drawing Yuan Li Xun toward that spot.

Moments later, they arrived in a valley where seven men were gathered. The leader had deep-set eyes and a high nose, his gaze severe, occasionally flickering with a sharp glint.

He Yiming and Yuan Li Xun walked in openly, without any attempt at concealment, immediately drawing their attention.

The leader glanced over them briefly, then averted his gaze, dismissing them entirely.

He Yiming had already suppressed his immense aura. An uninformed observer would think his internal energy was only around the sixth or seventh level. While achieving this level at his age was remarkable, everyone in the valley, even the weakest among them, possessed cultivation at the peak of the seventh level, so naturally, they paid the pair no mind.

The seven men had been gathered, discussing something in low voices, but they ceased talking when He Yiming appeared.

He Yiming maintained a gentle smile. He could see at a glance that the strongest among them, the leader, was only at the tenth level of internal energy. They posed no threat to him whatsoever. Thus, he spoke directly: "Gentlemen, I overheard you mentioning the Hohhot Mountain Range and talk of some 'cave dwelling'..."

He had barely finished speaking when the expressions of the seven men changed drastically. The leader signaled with his eyes, and the other six leaped up rapidly, stepping forward quickly to surround He Yiming and Yuan Li Xun.

He Yiming frowned slightly, stopping his advance. "Gentlemen, what is the meaning of this?"

One man, holding a long sword, sneered, "What's the meaning? I'll tell you—you overheard our conversation, and you think you can leave alive?"

He Yiming seemed momentarily stunned, then smiled. "Are you suggesting you intend to take my life?"

The man chuckled sinisterly. "Of course, you brat is finished, but the lady beside you stays. We've been stuck in this wretched place for two months and are about ready to burst. After we've had our fill, we'll send her to join you."

He Yiming's smiling face instantly turned cold as ice.

All seven men felt a chill surge over them. When He Yiming’s expression changed, they experienced a bone-deep dread.

Their gazes sharpened, but after observing closely for a moment, the tension in their hearts began to subside.

In their eyes, both He Yiming and Yuan Li Xun appeared to have cultivation around the seventh level of internal energy.

Faced with two youths of such apparent level, even the most cautious man would feel little apprehension. Perhaps they had heard of He Yiming, and knew that a fifteen-year-old Innate expert existed in the world, but such anomalies were singular. No one could imagine they would stumble upon such a formidable menace here.

The man who spoke first spat contemptuously. "Boy, are you trying to scare us by pulling a long face? Have your companion remove her veil so we can see what she looks like."

The other six offered no objection. Even those without lust harbored killing intent upon realizing He Yiming and Yuan Li Xun had eavesdropped on their secrets, making letting them leave impossible.

He Yiming laughed, the sound brimming with chilling murderous intent.

He let out a great laugh. "You want to kill me? Very well, let’s see who ends up killing whom."

He strode forward suddenly, closing the distance instantly, and launched a kick directly into the man's chest. The man watched the kick approach, his mind screaming to dodge, but his body failed to obey the command. He was struck squarely and sent flying backward.

His body performed a full three-hundred-and-sixty-degree aerial flip before crashing heavily against a large tree. He then slid down like a fish, frothing at the mouth, eyes bulging—his internal organs shattered by the impact, resulting in instant death.

He Yiming paused momentarily. He suddenly realized that while his strength continued to rise, his own mindset seemed unable to keep pace. When angered, a desire to kill surged instantly. Worse still, he no longer held the same reverence or value for the lives of ordinary people as he once did. In the past, he would never have killed someone so readily over mere words. But now, a thought sparked, and the execution was ruthless; a human life vanished instantly.

Unconsciously, his mentality was becoming increasingly similar to Lü Xinwen and his disciples. The vast masses, in his eyes, were gradually becoming like ants. This change in perspective was difficult for someone his age to fully accept, yet it was all happening subtly, day by day. The moment he recognized it, it felt as if everything had flowed naturally into place.

Suddenly, Yuan Li Xun's sharp cry pierced the air, jolting He Yiming out of his daze.

His ears twitched, and another wave of anger rushed through him.

The remaining six men were horrified by the sight of He Yiming killing their brother with a single kick, realizing they had misjudged him completely. The speed, the cunning angle, and the immense force of that kick generated an irresistible sense of overwhelming threat. Consequently, they were gripped by terror; even the foremost expert at the tenth level of Houtian Peak admitted inferiority.

However, no matter how much they guessed, they couldn't imagine they had encountered an Innate expert. Thus, the remaining men simultaneously lunged toward Yuan Li Xun. In their minds, since He Yiming had resorted to murder for this woman, he must value her highly. Therefore, only by taking her hostage could they make He Yiming hesitate.

But such a move was merely courting death. For Yuan Li Xun's sake, He Yiming had outright killed the Fourth Prince of the Tu Fan Kingdom, let alone a few insignificant strangers.

His figure flashed like lightning, and before anyone realized it, he was back by Yuan Li Xun's side, as if he had never left.

Except for the leader, the tenth-level expert, who prepared to defend against He Yiming with all his might, the other five simultaneously struck at Yuan Li Xun, aiming to subdue her quickly.

However, their vision blurred; He Yiming had mysteriously reappeared in their line of sight. This sudden turn of events shattered their courage; even the leader hadn't seen He Yiming move. At this point, they finally understood they had kicked an iron plate—they had encountered figures far beyond their ability to provoke.

"Run."

The leader made a decisive choice, abandoning his brothers, and fled into the distance on foot.

Then, one after another, piercing screams reached his ears. With every sound, his heart sank further. Five screams—five brothers—could not hold out for even a few breaths.

He was filled with horror. Who exactly had he encountered? But before he could process it, a voice echoed near his ear: "You will stay too."

His eyes snapped wide open, his jaw clenched. He hammered wildly backward with both hands, unleashing the full power of his tenth-level internal energy without reservation.

Yet, all his strength felt like it struck a ball of cotton—weightless and ineffective. Then, a powerful suction force pulled at him. The momentum generated by his full-speed sprint could not counteract it; instead, he was forced to retreat helplessly, step by step.

Horrified, he twisted his head around. He Yiming stood in the distance, his hand outstretched flat. He clearly felt that the irresistible suction dragging him back was emanating from that palm.

His heart sank into despair. Seeing an attack launched from a distance, if he still couldn't deduce that he was facing an Innate expert, he might as well be blind.

He Yiming was imitating Elder Yu Jinglei’s technique, using True Qi to create a strange force field that pulled the man toward him. He felt a flicker of secret pride; after achieving the Yixiantian breakthrough, condensing True Qi into a single stream indeed yielded far greater power than the Hundred Dispersed Heaven technique. However, Yu Jinglei had managed to hold a Houtian expert when facing an opponent at the Hundred Dispersed Heaven level, and the difficulty difference was obvious. This thought immediately washed away his fleeting pride. He realized he still had much effort ahead to reach Martial Uncle Yu's realm.

"My Lord, spare my life," the leader, though at the tenth level, was also shrewd. Seeing himself trapped, he immediately called out, "This petty one is willing to offer my sect's greatest treasure, only begging my Lord to spare my life."

He Yiming’s focus sharpened. He spoke gravely, "What is your name, what is your sect's treasure, and why are you here?"

"This humble one is Jiang Wenwu, a disciple of the Innate Master Lü Xinwen from the Jinlin Kingdom. My master discovered a treasure cave dwelling while traveling the world in his younger days. Since my master has passed away, I brought a group of brothers here to search for the dwelling's location."

He Yiming turned in surprise, exchanging a glance with Yuan Li Xun. A feeling of extreme, almost comical irony washed over them both. With a soft sigh, He Yiming realized that the lineage of Lü Xinwen was not yet extinguished. That the final disciple had, through sheer coincidence, fallen into his hands, could only be attributed to the whims of fate.

Jiang Wenwu, not seeing He Yiming's expression, thought he had been moved and quickly added, "My Lord, although I do not know the exact location, I know the general direction. If you give me time, I can surely find it."

He Yiming hesitated for a moment before finally making a resolution in his heart. He asked coldly, "Jiang Wenwu, do you know who I am?"

"This petty one does not know," Jiang Wenwu replied without hesitation, thinking privately that if he had known He Yiming was an Innate expert, they never would have dared provoke him. A sudden thought struck him—Innate expert...

He looked up sharply, staring at He Yiming with wide eyes, which slowly filled with terror. Such a young Innate expert... could it possibly be him?

He Yiming nodded slowly. "You guessed correctly."

The color drained instantly from Jiang Wenwu's face. Having fallen into this man's hands, he knew there was no escape.

He Yiming sighed deeply, about to speak, when his ears violently twitched. A black shadow flickered a few meters away, and a thin streak of sword light stabbed toward his chest with unparalleled speed, like lightning.