The mountain colors gradually softened, the contours easing until one felt they could reach out and touch solidified cream. Here, the streams moved slowly, winding around the base of every peak.

Above the summits, clumps of ornamental clouds drifted lazily by.

Yet, beneath the peaks, the secluded valley instilled in those within a sense of profound peace and tranquility.

If it were possible, no one would wish to shatter this gentle, almost heartwarming ambiance.

Even when He Yiming and Yuan Lixun arrived, they were briefly entranced, drawn in by the ethereal atmosphere, almost forgetting the very purpose of their visit.

“Young Master, this truly is a fine place. If only we could reside here permanently,” Yuan Lixun murmured sincerely.

He Yiming nodded, his gaze sweeping around as if searching for something specific. After a pause, he confirmed, “Indeed. The vital energy here is exceptionally abundant, rivaling even the peak of Hengshan’s main summit or the medicinal gardens of Lingyao Peak. To live in seclusion here long-term would undoubtedly greatly benefit our cultivation.”

Yuan Lixun’s bright red lips parted slightly, and for the first time, a faint shadow of dissatisfaction crossed her eyes.

Her outpouring of tender affection was completely undone by that single remark. Her pearly teeth left a faint, neat indentation on her vivid lower lip.

This blockhead…

But then she reconsidered: if he wasn’t a blockhead, how could he have achieved such cultivation at such a young age? If he weren’t so unfeeling, would she even be the only one by his side right now?

She subconsciously nodded, and a strange thought flashed through Yuan Lixun’s mind: It’s better that he’s a blockhead!

He Yiming looked over in surprise. After speaking, he had sensed that the atmosphere had shifted subtly. However, when he truly focused on Yuan Lixun, he found she had completely returned to normal, as if his perception had been merely a fleeting illusion.

Yuan Lixun met He Yiming’s gaze and offered a subtle smile. Though most of her face remained hidden by her veil, the amusement in her eyes was unmistakable.

“Young Master, have you found it?”

He Yiming felt a sense of relief; perhaps he had been overthinking things.

He composed himself and nodded slightly. “I have located a place, but I am uncertain if it is there. Have a look yourself and see if you can discern any other location.”

Yuan Lixun’s eyes also scanned the surroundings, but her delicate brows furrowed; she saw nothing suspicious.

Flipping her wrist, she produced the map. After studying it for a moment, she sighed and shook her head. “Young Master, I can confirm we are at the map’s center point, but finding that specific grotto dwelling within this environment will not be easy.”

He Yiming smiled faintly and pointed to the right with his hand.

Yuan Lixun followed the direction of his arm, which indicated a sheer stone wall at the valley’s edge.

She looked with confusion, but after a moment, her beautiful eyes suddenly lit up with a mixture of joy and surprise. “Young Master, I see it now.”

At first glance, the stone wall appeared utterly unremarkable. But upon closer inspection, one could discern that its surface was exceedingly smooth, as if polished by countless hands over a long period.

However, the difference was subtle. Without He Yiming’s prompting, Yuan Lixun might not have easily spotted such a minute variation in the vast valley.

Seeing the sparkle of delight in Yuan Lixun’s eyes, He Yiming felt pleased. He had been able to discern it entirely thanks to his Shunfeng Ear Divine Skill ().

Following his battle with Sima Yin, his understanding of the power of wind had deepened. Sounds entering his ears now became exponentially clearer and more distinct.

Behind that section of the wall, there was clearly a massive hollow space. Furthermore, the stone wasn't perfectly sealed; faint wisps of wind continuously flowed through the cracks.

Under such circumstances, if He Yiming couldn't hear the secret hidden there, his Shunfeng Ear Divine Skill would have been practiced in vain.

The two walked hand-in-hand to the stone wall. He Yiming studied it intently, then suddenly let out a short, confident laugh. “Lü Xinwen once mentioned that when exploring this grotto, he encountered a mechanism that even he couldn't decipher. I’m curious to see if this mechanism can stop me.”

His words were filled with confident bravado. From the bottom of his heart, he did not take the grotto's mechanisms seriously. After all, He Yiming was now a terrifying First-Tier Heaven expert (). Comparing him to the former Lü Xinwen was like comparing the heavens and the earth. His confidence stemmed from his inherent power; he was certain that no mechanism could withstand him.

Yuan Lixun watched his proud expression, and for some reason, a wave of deep, sweet warmth washed over her. Only a man brimming with such self-assurance held the greatest attraction for a woman. She subtly moved a little closer to He Yiming, clearly feeling the warmth emanating from him, a blissful smile touching her lips.

He Yiming extended both hands and placed them flat against the stone wall. His True Qi slowly seeped into the rock. Gradually, a look of utter astonishment involuntarily spread across his face.

The stone appeared quite ordinary, showing no significant difference from the surrounding rock. But only when he poured his True Qi into it did he realize this material was far beyond ordinary stone.

“Young Master, what have you discovered?” Yuan Lixun stood on tiptoe, peering over He Yiming’s shoulder. “Is this the spot?”

He Yiming gave a wry smile. “It must be here.”

This stone possessed an incredibly strong capacity to absorb True Qi. Although He Yiming couldn't confirm its origin, he knew that if he took this stone out, it would surely be a supreme material for forging treasured artifacts. Using it merely to block a door was an utter waste, an extravagance.

The True Qi in his hands gradually intensified, and slowly, the stone wall began to shift in a predetermined direction according to his will.

Yuan Lixun’s small hands clenched tightly. In the past, she might not have been so nervous. But the day before, when they arrived, He Yiming had told her that within this grotto dwelling was likely a Congenital Golden Elixir (), specifically a water-elemental one that would suit her perfectly. If she wished to advance to the Congenital Realm and draw the energies of heaven and earth into her body to erase the scar on her face, this was currently her only path. Thus, as the entrance to the grotto was about to open, her heart pounded like a startled fawn. This feeling of mingled hope and anxiety made it impossible for her to maintain her usual composure.

With a grinding sound, the massive stone finally yielded to He Yiming's efforts.

He shook his head slightly. “A formidable guardian stone. The owner of this grotto must be an interesting person to have found such material.”

Yuan Lixun nodded, smiling sweetly. “Young Master, it is fortunate that you are here. If it were merely a Houtian cultivator, they might not even be able to move it.”

Indeed, in her estimation, if even He Yiming struggled, how helpless would a master of the Houtian Realm be?

However, He Yiming waved a hand and patted the large stone lightly. “Lixun, this stone is peculiar. For a Congenital Master, moving it would certainly be taxing, but for a Houtian cultivator—even one at the Ninth Layer—it might not be so strenuous.”

Yuan Lixun’s beautiful eyes widened. She scrutinized the stone for a moment. Such a strange object was unheard of; if it hadn't come from He Yiming’s mouth, she wouldn't have believed it.

Behind the stone lay a cavern pitch-black, devoid of any light. From the outside, it was a solid void, and gusts of chilling wind blowing out made one’s hair stand on end.

He Yiming and Yuan Lixun exchanged a look. Though they knew there likely wasn't any immense danger within the grotto, a sense of apprehension still settled in their hearts.

He took a shallow breath, his True Qi circulating within his body, stabilizing him completely in the next instant—like a towering mountain, possessing the might to stand against heaven and earth. Yuan Lixun instinctively pressed closer to him; being with this man had seemingly become an indispensable part of her life.

He Yiming cast a final glance at the massive rock beside the cavern entrance, then drew his gaze back, taking Yuan Lixun’s hand. One after the other, they entered the dark tunnel.

The ground inside the cavern was unexpectedly level. Their feet trod upon a surface as smooth as the widest avenues in the capital of Kaorong Kingdom, suitable for the swift passage of carriages.

Yuan Lixun’s small hand tightened slightly. Both understood this place had been artificially worked, but with such meticulous skill that it bordered on supernatural craftsmanship; experiencing it firsthand was necessary to detect any flaw.

Though the cave was dimly lit, this was no obstacle for the current He Yiming. A subtle brilliance shone in his eyes, and his ears twitched slightly, listening to the seemingly endless symphony carried on the wind. Within these sounds lay information far beyond the comprehension of ordinary people, all of which he captured. He knew there was a bend ahead before he even stepped inside—information delivered by the sound of the wind.

If Shui Xuanjin were to learn that his Shunfeng Ear ability had reached this level, he would surely sigh in admiration, proclaiming a worthy successor, and feel humbled himself.

He applied a gentle tug to Yuan Lixun’s hand, instantly securing his undisputed leadership role.

“There’s a curve ahead, be careful.”

Yuan Lixun softly responded. She didn't ask how He Yiming knew; she simply followed quietly behind him, as if she could do so forever.

When they reached the end of that section and turned the corner, their vision was suddenly illuminated. On the stone wall far beyond the bend, a small pearl emitted a bright light, providing illumination for the dark, stone passageway.

In truth, the pearl’s light was not strong, merely a faint halo. But in this utter darkness, even such a meager glow was enough to bring immense satisfaction.

The two walked forward. About ten steps later, another pearl appeared on the ceiling’s wall, radiating the same soft light. Thereafter, a similar pearl appeared approximately every ten steps.

He Yiming and Yuan Lixun exchanged a look, both registering surprise. Even to He Yiming now, such pearls counted as rare treasures, yet there were dozens of them lining this passage—a truly extravagant display. Moreover, since entering the tunnel, they had been advancing continuously. Given the distance covered, they were likely deep within the mountain's belly, yet the passage showed no sign of ending.

The deeper He Yiming ventured, the greater his shock. To construct such a passage would require an effort nearly comparable to establishing the entire Hengshan lineage. What deity, using how much manpower and resources, managed to hollow out nearly half a mountain and build this tunnel? How was such a massive undertaking completed and concealed so that no one ever knew? Everything felt like a mystery, causing a vague sense of unease to stir in He Yiming’s heart.

Finally, the light ahead flared brightly.

He Yiming and Yuan Lixun exchanged glances; they knew instinctively they had reached the main grotto chamber.

Inside the chamber, the space was indeed extraordinary. Suspended overhead was a massive crystal sphere, emitting an intense light that illuminated the entire grotto as if it were high noon.

He Yiming and Yuan Lixun stared up at this enormous crystal, comparable in size to an adult man, their hearts filled with awe.

“Young Master, what is this thing?” Yuan Lixun murmured, squinting slightly, her eyes seemingly unable to open fully due to the intensity of the light.

This level of brightness posed no issue for He Yiming, but he too was gazing upward at the crystal, shaking his head distractedly. “I don’t know, but…” He paused, then spoke with disbelief even in his own voice, “…it smells like the sun.”

Yuan Lixun blinked, then immediately understood. She lowered her head, astonished. “That’s right, its light is as dazzling as sunshine. Young Master, I have read the book on rare minerals at Hengshan, but I have never seen any record of anything similar.”

He Yiming nodded slightly. The luminous pearls outside, while precious, were not unique in this world. However, this crystal suspended above them in the grotto was no less brilliant than midday sun. Standing beneath it, they could even feel distinct waves of heat washing over them. If this item were revealed outside, it would instantly cause an immense sensation. Yet, it was not mentioned in the archives of the Hengshan library, nor had Daoist Yao or Shui Xuanjin ever spoken of such an unbelievable treasure among the world's rare wonders.

Suddenly, a thought struck He Yiming: could even those two venerable elders have never heard of an object this miraculous?

After taking a long, deep look at the sun-bright crystal, He Yiming let out a long breath. He lowered his gaze to examine the cavern structure carefully.

Upon first entering, He Yiming and Yuan Lixun’s attention had been entirely captured by the strange crystal above. This was understandable; anyone entering would likely have focused on that object first. It was no small feat that they managed to detach themselves from its fascination so quickly.

Inside this grotto dwelling, there were three passages. One was the entrance they had just used, while the other two branched off to the left and right, leading to other unknown areas. Their exploration would focus on these two side passages.

Scanning the two paths, He Yiming immediately pointed to one. “Lixun, this is the passage where Lü Xinwen usually resided. His Congenital Golden Elixir must be hidden here; let’s go in.”

Yuan Lixun asked in surprise, “Young Master, how did you know?”

He Yiming chuckled. “You will sense it once you advance to the Congenital Realm.”

A look of eagerness immediately appeared on Yuan Lixun’s face. She nodded soberly. “Young Master, I will work hard.”

He Yiming’s gaze swept over her veiled face. Though the scar was hidden, it could not escape his notice. He sighed internally. If it weren't for that whip mark, Yuan Lixun wouldn't be so driven. Was this truly the saying of the Old Man of the Southern Border—misfortune turning into blessing?

He Yiming nodded to her and led the way into the passage. Although he knew there shouldn't be any danger—otherwise Lü Xinwen wouldn't have concealed it until his final moments—He Yiming remained cautious, not daring to be careless upon entry.

This passage was not excessively long, but it was nowhere near as exaggerated as the path they had taken to get inside. Soon, they successfully reached their destination.

This was another chamber resembling a large hall, but the entire space was built squarely, like a normal room. Here, the most striking feature was a massive stone cabinet placed in one corner.

The two exchanged a look and stepped forward to open the cabinet. Inside lay some yellowed books and several vials and pots of unknown use. However, their gazes simultaneously settled upon a nearly transparent crystal box. Within this box rested a pill, pure white and utterly flawless. This elixir seemed to possess an inexplicable power, almost as if it held a vibrant life force.

A satisfied smile finally dawned on He Yiming’s face. They had found the greatest reward of their journey!

ps: Posted today all at once; there will be another chapter in two minutes.