In the dim stone chamber. Only a few slivers of faint light filtered down from above.

In the past, Yuan Lixun’s eyesight would have been severely hampered, but now, as her gaze swept across the room, she abruptly realized her vision seemed capable of seeing much farther, and with clarity a hundred times greater than before. Her head still felt muddled and disoriented, as if she hadn't fully grasped what had happened.

He Yiming's eyes lifted slightly, the initial joy of seeing her awake replaced, at this moment, by a touch of worry. “Lixun, how do you feel?” Yuan Lixun suddenly heard an extremely familiar voice.

After a start, she slightly turned her head and immediately saw He Yiming looking at her with tension etched on his face. A flood of memories surged into her mind, especially those associated with this very face, pouring in like a tidal wave.

She frowned slightly, then recalled everything, immediately responding, “Young Master, I am well.” He Yiming casually extended an open palm and placed it directly in front of Yuan Lixun. Yuan Lixun paused, then remembered this was the standard method used by the elders of the He Family Estate to test the inner strength of the younger generation.

She took a deep breath. Following the old method, she began to gather the inner energy within her body and raised her hand to meet He Yiming’s large one.

However, the moment she circulated her qi, a powerful and utterly unbelievable energy erupted from her Dantian. The sheer force of it was far beyond what she could have imagined or controlled beforehand.

Not only that, but as her true qi gathered, the surrounding temperature immediately plummeted at an alarming rate. This place was already a cryogenic chamber, much colder than the outside world, but compared to the frigid aura Yuan Lixun was currently releasing, it was like a mere trickle against a vast ocean.

That surging, overwhelming power, accompanied by a cold so intense it could freeze a person solid, rushed violently into He Yiming’s body. Yuan Lixun was struck with stark terror.

Although she had long sensed an abnormality in her body and knew that upon successfully breaking through to the Innate Realm, her inner energy would transform into true qi, the sheer might of this qi still far exceeded her expectations. She struggled with all her might to withdraw the true qi, but she sadly discovered her qi behaved like a group of disobedient children, utterly ignoring her commands.

Once these strands of qi were released, while it wouldn't result in a backlash, controlling them at will was an undeniable fantasy. Feeling the torrent of potent true qi flooding over him, even He Yiming himself shivered violently.

His heart was a mixture of astonishment and delight. Yuan Lixun’s true qi was even more formidable than he had anticipated.

He could state with certainty that Yuan Lixun was absolutely an Innate expert now, and one who surpassed the majority of Innate masters who reached the Hundred Scatter Heaven realm. What surprised him was that the ice-element energy Yuan Lixun possessed was even stronger than his own.

He naturally understood the reason: the cold energy within his own body was generated indirectly through the jade bottle, whereas Yuan Lixun had directly absorbed the essence within. Therefore, strictly in terms of frigid aura, it was only natural that he was slightly inferior to her.

Fortunately, He Yiming was an expert of the First Line Sky realm, and his internal Dantian was a massive furnace. Any true qi entering it would be homogenized into chaos.

Thus, after just one shiver, he immediately returned to normal. As for the true qi flowing from Yuan Lixun’s palm, he hardly paid it any mind.

Yuan Lixun exerted herself fully, and only after a long while did she manage to retract all the true qi within her body. Looking up at He Yiming’s faintly smiling gaze, her heart-shaped face instantly flushed crimson.

He Yiming burst into hearty laughter, “Lixun, you succeeded.” Although Yuan Lixun had expected it, she was still deeply stirred, “Young Master, have I truly become an Innate Master?” He Yiming nodded slightly and reached out, gently removing her veil. The scar that had once marred her face had completely vanished.

Her cheeks, pale beneath a hint of rose, were smooth as jade, so tender they looked as if water could be squeezed from them. Her slightly upturned nose and a pair of bright eyes like stars glittered with captivating luminescence.

If the former Yuan Lixun was merely a flower bud yet to fully bloom, now, having attained the Innate Realm, she exuded an infinite charm, coupled with a subtle, almost untouchable aura of solemnity. The Innate Realm might not alter one's physical appearance, but it exerted a profound influence on one's temperament.

If the current Yuan Lixun stood in the middle of the main road and encountered Bu Xingcong, it was likely that the prince from the Tu Fan Kingdom would not dare to casually lash out with his whip. After a slight moment of stunned contemplation, He Yiming smiled, “Lixun, your scar is gone.” Yuan Lixun extended a hand, pausing just three centimeters from her face, then summoned her courage and gently stroked the spot.

Indeed, the surface was slick and smooth; she could feel no trace of a wound. Her eyes immediately filled with joy, even gaining a thin film of mist.

She leaned into He Yiming’s embrace and whispered, “Young Master, thank you…” For her, advancing to the Innate Realm was cause for happiness, but the removal of the scar on her face was the event that truly made her heart leap with joy. He Yiming shook his head with a wry smile, finding it difficult to fully comprehend a girl’s preoccupation with her appearance.

But as long as Yuan Lixun was happy, that was enough. Turning, he noticed Bai Lingba standing quietly nearby and suddenly recalled something.

He gently released Yuan Lixun, took out the thumb-sized piece of white stone, and offered it to him, “Brother Bai, this is an energy stone. Please accept it.” Bai Lingba took the stone without ceremony, opened his mouth, and tossed it inside.

He Yiming and Yuan Lixun watched, dumbfounded. Although they knew he was not like humans, swallowing a stone as if it were food was still difficult to accept.

Moments later, a seven-colored light suddenly emanated from Bai Lingba’s body, flickering intermittently with a certain rhythm. Especially his eyes, which resembled polished jewels, blazed with intense light.

He Yiming and Yuan Lixun exchanged a look and instinctively retreated a few steps, stopping only when they were near the entrance. “Young Master…” “Stop calling me Young Master.” He Yiming kept his eyes fixed on Bai Lingba, but spoke quickly, “You are now an Innate expert, and you must carry yourself with the bearing of one.

From now on, call me Yiming, so others won't laugh.” Yuan Lixun lowered her head, thinking seriously for a moment, and finally said, “Yi… Yiming.” “Very well. What is it?” Yuan Lixun let out a long sigh.

Before speaking the first time, she had been uneasy, but once she said it and received He Yiming’s response, it came naturally, “Yiming, what is Mr. Bai doing?” He Yiming shook his head.

Suddenly remembering his conversation with Bai Santian, his expression flickered, “Perhaps, like you, he is also… evolving.” Yuan Lixun gasped involuntarily, though the sound was quiet, it betrayed immense surprise. “Is he… Innate?” “Most likely,” He Yiming said uncertainly.

“At least at the First Line Sky level.” He Yiming had dueled with him for a very short time, but when masters clash, a single exchange is often enough to roughly gauge their strength. “He is already a First Line Sky expert, does he still need to evolve?” Yuan Lixun asked, utterly perplexed.

He Yiming gave a bitter smile, “He is different from us.” Yuan Lixun slowly nodded, deeply agreeing with that statement. After a long pause, the light emanating from Bai Lingba’s body finally faded away.

When he returned to normal, He Yiming vaguely sensed that some novel change had appeared on him as well. However, this change was completely inscrutable to him.

Bai Lingba’s eyes regained their calm. He stepped forward a few paces to the center of the room, picked up the strange box, and brought it before He Yiming, saying, “You said it—the exchange.” He Yiming blinked twice, marveling inwardly that although this being was not human, his actions were far more straightforward than those of many humans.

He retrieved the silver ring from his chest and began pouring massive amounts of true qi into it. Before Yuan Lixun advanced to the Innate Realm, He Yiming truly did not want her to know this secret.

But now that Yuan Lixun was a genuine Innate powerhouse, there was no need for further concealment. Moments later, a spatial world materialized bizarrely before He Yiming.

Yuan Lixun’s eyes widened. Having been by He Yiming’s side for so long, this was the first time she had seen him produce this object, something even she had been unaware of.

He Yiming smiled back, “Lixun, this is a supreme treasure I obtained after hunting down Sima Yin. However, to use this thing, one must at least ascend to the Innate Realm and possess sufficient true qi.” Yuan Lixun nodded slightly, “Yes, I understand.” He Yiming turned and reached into the wave-like space.

In a moment, six white stones of identical size appeared in his hand. Spreading the stones across his palm, He Yiming stated, “Exchange made.” Bai Lingba placed the box before He Yiming and took five of the white stones from his hand.

Then, his gaze fell upon the final stone. Although his eyes were dull and devoid of any expression a human might show, He Yiming knew he desperately wanted this energy stone.

Picking up the box, he tucked it into the spatial world and cut off the input of true qi. He coughed lightly, “Brother Bai, do you have any other treasures here that could be exchanged for energy stones?” Bai Lingba considered for a moment, “No.” He Yiming frowned suspiciously, “Are you certain?” He glanced around the room.

Frankly, even this strange, chilling room felt far more valuable to him than the white stones in his hand. After all, in the White Stone Gorge, there was a massive white boulder, compared to which these small stones in his hand were mere gravel.

This room, however, seemed almost unbelievable; if they could build one like it back at the He Family Estate, his parents and elders could enjoy comfort there even in the height of summer. After a period of silence, Bai Lingba admitted reluctantly, “There are some super-weapons here, but those weapons cannot be given to you.

Doing so would violate the Interstellar Treaty, and I risk being recycled and destroyed.” Though He Yiming did not understand what exactly he feared, he gathered that Bai Lingba meant he had nothing else of value to trade. Shaking his head slightly, He Yiming said, “Brother Bai, I recall you once saying that if I was willing to pay in white stones, you would serve as my bodyguard and protect me.” “That is correct, but you refused.” “I have changed my mind now.” He Yiming’s face did not flush, nor did his breath catch.

“I wish to hire you now. You may name your price.” When they first met, He Yiming absolutely could not trust this non-human being.

But now that even Yuan Lixun was a master of the Innate Realm, He Yiming naturally felt a degree of goodwill toward him. Coupled with the realization of the being’s power, which rivaled that of a First Line Sky expert, he was now eager.

With such a mysterious expert as a bodyguard at his side, even if he encountered another unscrupulous figure like Sima Yin, he would have the absolute confidence to ensure they were detained. Bai Lingba’s eyes lit up once more, “You wish to employ me?” “Yes.” He Yiming paused.

“But if you accept my employment, you must not mention your origins to others, nor should you reveal your identity proactively. For example…” He pointed at Bai Lingba’s eyes and said seriously, “Your eyes cannot shine like sunlight; otherwise, anyone could tell you are different with just one glance.” “That is simple.” The eyes embedded in Bai Lingba’s face suddenly moved with surprising agility, leaving He Yiming speechless.

If his eyes had always been like this, he would never have believed this being was the so-called humanoid weapon. “Are you satisfied now?” “Satisfied, absolutely satisfied,” He Yiming quickly replied.

“According to my calculations, one energy stone can be exchanged for * in my nation.” After stating a value He Yiming could not comprehend at all, Bai Lingba added, “This price can hire a latest-generation Liquid Evolution Body for one year.” He Yiming inwardly mused that heaven knew what that number represented, but since one thumb-sized energy stone could hire him for an entire year, He Yiming certainly wasn’t going to feel the pinch. “Brother Bai, I wish to use energy stones to hire you to work for me.

Do you agree?” “Certainly I agree.” He Yiming generously handed over the energy stones he possessed. Although the items were precious, he had many, so he didn't cherish them particularly much.

Bai Lingba accepted the energy stones, but this time, he did not swallow them immediately. Instead, he placed all six stones together in his palm.

A moment later, when he opened his hand, his palm was empty. He Yiming and Yuan Lixun clicked their tongues in wonder, both suspecting he possessed something akin to a spatial world within his body.

Yet, from start to finish, they saw no clue, utterly failing to understand how he made the six stones vanish. Having secured the energy stones, Bai Lingba suddenly asked, “What is your name?” “He Yiming.

This is my wife, Yuan Lixun.” Bai Lingba gave a barely perceptible nod and continued, “According to the Universal Mercenary Rules, Liquid Evolution Body One Hundred and Eight accepts employment from the indigenous resident He Yiming. The employment period is one year.

During this year, Liquid Evolution Body One Hundred and Eight guarantees the personal safety of He Yiming and his wife and will provide limited consultation services not involving Red Confidentiality. The contract is established on **** and terminates on ****.” He Yiming blinked twice.

Except for the incomprehensible dates, he understood everything else clearly. For some inexplicable reason, He Yiming found himself trusting the being a little more.

However, to truly and completely trust him would require observing his actual actions in the time to come. After finishing that statement, Bai Lingba fell silent again, but no matter where He Yiming went, he followed closely, never letting him leave his sight.

He Yiming and Yuan Lixun did not leave the location immediately, choosing instead to reside in this hidden cave dwelling. For three full months, Yuan Lixun spent every day intensely practicing controlling the immense, sudden wave of frost qi that had awakened within her.

Until she could control this true qi with absolute ease, they dared not leave this place. After all, in the face of this extreme cold, not even He Yiming could claim to endure it casually, let alone anyone else.

If they encountered any friends or relatives, and Yuan Lixun made contact, only for her frost qi to erupt inexplicably… The consequences of even thinking about it were chilling enough to freeze one's blood. Therefore, until she could completely master this frost qi, they had no choice but to remain here, with no intention of leaving.

Of course, during this period, through deep discussions with Bai Lingba, He Yiming learned some details about the past. When Bai Lingba arrived here, he encountered the first owner of this cave dwelling, apparently a supreme expert who had reached the Divine Dao realm.

However, this Divine Dao expert departed hastily after half a year and never returned. It was only with the appearance of Lü Xinwen that he encountered a second human.

But Lü Xinwen’s strength was too weak, and he possessed no energy stones that could capture Bai Lingba’s interest, so they never established any meaningful communication. He Yiming was the third human to arrive here—not only was his strength formidable and not inferior to Bai Lingba’s current state, but he also possessed the very item Bai Lingba yearned for.

Their cooperation was far from accidental. As for Bai Lingba’s initial attempt to snatch He Yiming’s silver necklace, it was because he did not view He Yiming as a potential collaborator, but merely as an uncultivated native.

Only when He Yiming demonstrated power equal to his own did he begin to regard him as an equal entity. Though humanoid weapons lack human emotion, this does not mean they lack human intelligence.