A crow landed upon a solitary tree by the roadside. It spread its wings, shook itself upon the bare branches with a desolate cry, and seemed caught up in its own somber thoughts.

The entire scene was one of bleak winter, as if plunged into deep contemplation.

Even within the confines of this ancient wood, the usual vibrancy seemed lost, replaced by a chilling quietude.

Across the snow-covered floor of the ravine, two figures danced like wisps of smoke. At times they swooped low, like diving birds; at others, they streaked forward with the swiftness of leopards. Any ordinary person witnessing this might mistake them for mountain spirits or sprites and offer them worship.

Suddenly, they halted almost simultaneously, revealing the forms of a man and a woman.

These were none other than He Yiming and Yuan Lixun, who had been deep in the mountains for over four months now.

“Lixun, your Light Body technique has improved immensely,” He Yiming said, nodding with a satisfied smile.

Yuan Lixun’s cheeks flushed slightly. “Yiming, I still can’t grasp the power of the wind you speak of. I’m sorry.”

He Yiming chuckled softly. “What is there to be sorry about? Everyone excels in different areas. Though you may not command the force of the wind, the essence of your Ice and Snow True Qi is so potent that even I feel a degree of inferiority.”

He spoke these words with absolute sincerity.

After directly absorbing the essence from the dark green jade vial, the chilling energy Yuan Lixun could unleash was indeed a notch above He Yiming’s own.

Although He Yiming could still secure victory when they sparred, he was currently a master of the Yixiantian realm, while Yuan Lixun had only recently advanced to Baisantian a few months prior. Thus, he truly had nothing boastful to claim.

Through these four months of dedicated cultivation under He Yiming’s guidance, Yuan Lixun could now control the circulation of her True Qi at will.

And achieving this mastery brought her genuine joy.

Previously, following beside He Yiming, she often felt like a burden. But now, she too had ascended to the Xiantian realm, and moreover, she was a special Xiantian master possessing intensely cold True Qi.

Having gained such smooth control over her Qi, even though she was still less powerful than He Yiming, she finally possessed the means for self-preservation.

However, beyond her innate ice-elemental True Qi, she could not grasp the cultivation methods of other elements as He Yiming did. Even with his meticulous guidance, attempts to impart the essence of the Wind element to her showed no signs of success.

The two ceased their running and began to walk leisurely across the snow.

Their bodies seemed utterly weightless; even traversing the snow, they left no discernible footprints.

While experts of the Houtian level could barely manage the trick of ‘treading snow without leaving a trace,’ to walk as calmly and smoothly as they did, achieving such perfection, was exponentially difficult. Even some Xiantian masters who favored sheer power might struggle to manage it effortlessly.

Walking side by side through the desolate winter valley, the two of them felt a deep warmth in their hearts.

Yuan Lixun, especially, seemed transformed, radiating a vibrancy that suggested a complete rebirth compared to her former self.

She had originally been sent to He Yiming as a concubine from the Yuan family, but through a twist of fate, she had achieved the Xiantian realm.

Now, even if He Yiming were to formally take her as his legal wife, no one in the world would dare speak against it.

This feeling was deeply personal and inexpressible to outsiders, yet within her heart bloomed a joy as sweet as rock candy, so immense she felt it might overflow. Her countenance was perpetually bright and serene, vastly different from before.

He Yiming had shared in her joy during this period. Though neither voiced it, both harbored a silent wish that these days might never end.

Suddenly, a loud cry of an eagle echoed from the distance, and several dark shapes swept overhead, shattering the tender atmosphere between them.

He Yiming looked up in mild annoyance. Though he was a Yixiantian master, he lacked wings and could not possibly challenge these kings of the sky.

Shaking his head, He Yiming sighed. “What a pity.”

Yuan Lixun looked at him, curious. “Pity for what?”

He Yiming’s gaze swept over their surroundings. “Lixun, it is winter now, and the mountain environment is superb for cultivating your cold True Qi. Yet, we lack any suitable secret manuals for the Ice and Snow path. To waste such an opportunity is truly a shame.”

At this advanced stage of cold energy cultivation, both He Yiming and Yuan Lixun faced a frustrating realization: they possessed no cultivation manual appropriate for Yuan Lixun’s current needs.

He Yiming specialized in the Five Elements technique. Although he commanded powerful cold energy, his situation was so extreme and unique that it offered no practical reference for others.

While Yuan Lixun could slightly increase her True Qi reserves by practicing the Water element technique, He Yiming knew this meager gain was barely worth mentioning.

Yuan Lixun paused, then covered her mouth with a light laugh. “It doesn’t matter, Yiming. I am already quite content.”

He Yiming sighed softly. Since advancing to Xiantian, the scar on Yuan Lixun’s face had naturally faded, and her entire disposition had become exceptionally tranquil. Though she cultivated diligently every day, she maintained a strange balance of striving without grasping, and never yielding.

He Yiming secretly envied this level of inner peace. Perhaps one day she might naturally slip into a state of epiphany. If that happened, the lack of a specific cold-element manual would hardly matter.

The two chatted cheerfully as they finally returned to their secluded valley.

This place, like the world outside, had succumbed to the deep freeze of winter; the flowers that bloomed profusely in summer and autumn had long since withered and vanished.

Reaching the base of the stone cliff, Yuan Lixun suddenly stopped, her gaze distant and thoughtful.

He Yiming asked, “Lixun, what is it?”

Yuan Lixun shook her head and whispered, “Yiming, I miss home.”

“Home…”

“Yes, I want to go back and see.”

He Yiming nodded slightly. He had always known that in the Yuan family, Yuan Lixun’s deepest concern was for her younger brother. Nearly two years had passed since they left. Their own journey had been filled with legendary, colorful transformations, but they wondered how things stood back home.

“Actually,” He Yiming said, turning to look in a specific direction, “I miss home too.” He took her hand and turned back. “Let’s go back.”

Yuan Lixun paused. “Now?”

“Of course.” He Yiming flashed a bright smile and called out loudly, “Brother Bai, where are you?”

On the rock face, a figure materialized with uncanny fluidity. Slowly, a thin layer of the surrounding stone seemed to peel away, and before He Yiming and Yuan Lixun stood the humanoid weapon, Bai Lingba.

If anyone else witnessed this scene—even Yixiantian masters like Zhuo Wanlian or Zhan Tianfeng—they would likely have fled in terror, souls scattered.

But He Yiming and Yuan Lixun paid it no mind, as if accustomed to such bizarre phenomena resembling legendary demons or ghosts appearing from thin air.

In truth, the first time Bai Lingba revealed this miraculous ability, it had terrified He Yiming and Yuan Lixun so profoundly that they were like startled birds for three days and nights, finding no peace.

However, after living together for several months, even the most bizarre or powerful displays from Bai Lingba became something they simply overlooked.

This experience led He Yiming to realize that when it came to adaptability, even spirit beasts paled in comparison; only humans, the spirits of all things, could truly adapt to any harsh environment.

Scared enough, and you just get used to it…

In terms of sheer bravery, He Yiming and Yuan Lixun were now undoubtedly the foremost among masters of their rank. If a genuine ghost were to appear before them, they would likely just roar and drive it away.

“Brother Bai, my wife and I are leaving this place to return home. Will you accompany us, or stay here?”

“Accompany,” Bai Lingba stated calmly.

A look of ‘as expected’ crossed He Yiming’s lips. Setting aside any promise, even for the sake of more white stones, Bai Lingba had no choice but to follow him.

Yuan Lixun looked toward the cave dwelling. “Shall we go in and pack?”

“No need. There is nothing to pack. Let’s go.”

With a hearty laugh, He Yiming exerted a slight force on his wrist, instantly pulling Yuan Lixun and shooting out of the mountain like flying arrows.

Behind them, Bai Lingba lowered his head, bent his posture, stomped one foot across the other, and shot forward like a rocket. Although his stance was less graceful than He Yiming’s use of wind energy, in terms of pure velocity, Bai Lingba was absolutely no slower than He Yiming.

Not only that, but every step Bai Lingba landed seemed heavy upon the snow, yet no snow scattered into the air. Instead, it was like the fleeting glimpse of a snow fox gliding over the ground, leaving behind only an incredibly subtle trace.

In moments, the three figures were far away from that spot.

Besides He Yiming and Yuan Lixun, there was also a humanoid weapon unknown to anyone for millennia.

As He Yiming sped along carrying Yuan Lixun, he glanced back, a rush of complex emotions flooding him. For even he was unsure if bringing this being into human society was truly the right choice.

※※※※

Several days later, three figures walked side by side on the official road outside the capital city of the Kai Rong Kingdom.

The man and woman were naturally He Yiming and Yuan Lixun; they wore no disguises, appearing in their usual attire. However, the one trailing beside them, Bai Lingba, wore a large straw hat that completely obscured his entire head.

He Yiming did this out of necessity. Bai Lingba was not human; he had not learned the myriad expressions of mankind. In particular, his eyelids, which never seemed to close, and his gem-like eyes were magnets for attention.

Such a person would draw every eye wherever they went. Thus, immediately after descending the mountain, He Yiming procured a large straw hat to mask his face.

Bai Lingba raised no objection to this. For him, as long as the employer’s safety was guaranteed, or more accurately, as long as He Yiming could continuously supply energy stones, everything else was negotiable.

The wisdom of a humanoid weapon could sometimes be strikingly direct: one plus one equals two—simple, yet utterly practical.

Soon, they reached the city gate.

The leader of the soldiers at the gate frowned slightly upon seeing this peculiar trio.

He Yiming and Yuan Lixun’s clothing was not heavy; it seemed as if the current season was not the icy winter but the scorching heat of midsummer.

This detail alone suggested they were cultivators, and of no low rank, powerful enough to be immune to the extremes of cold and heat.

Furthermore, trailing behind them was a tall man strangely attired, his face hidden.

For some reason, upon seeing this man whose face was concealed by the wide hat, the squad leader, whose inner strength had already reached the seventh layer, felt an instinctive chill deep in his bones.

He couldn’t understand why, but his gaze toward the figure was filled with palpable dread.

He Yiming glanced over and understood immediately.

An inner strength of the seventh layer was considered a minor master. Moreover, gate-guard leaders were typically sharp-eyed, having seen no fewer than eighty thousand people in their careers.

This squad leader must have sensed that he could not hear Bai Lingba’s heartbeat or breathing, nor detect any hint of human vital signs from him, leading to his subconscious look of fear.

As the three approached the gate, the squad leader finally straightened his chest, conquering his fear, and stepped forward to intercept them for questioning.

But just then, He Yiming cast a look upon him.

To others, this look seemed ordinary, with nothing remarkable about it. But to the squad leader, this single glance carried an overwhelming majesty.

In that instant, the leader felt impossibly small, while the young man before him swelled to infinite proportions. His heart felt tightly seized by a powerful, inexplicable force, giving him the sensation of suffocation.

He Yiming smiled with satisfaction and strode into the city. Though their pace wasn't fast, the three vanished from sight in a fleeting moment.

After a long pause, the squad leader finally managed to catch his breath. His bewildered subordinates approached to ask questions. Trembling, he ordered them to report immediately, but lacked the courage to pursue the three himself.

Yuan Lixun glanced back at Bai Lingba. She understood that He Yiming had acted this way because he feared the squad leader’s questioning might provoke the humanoid weapon. If Bai Lingba had killed the man on the spot, it would have been nothing more than a wasted life.

After all, within the entire Kai Rong Kingdom, even if Master Zhan Tianfeng himself intervened, he might not be able to defeat Bai Lingba.

Led by He Yiming, they headed toward the manor belonging to the Tu Fan Kingdom.

Initially, He Yiming’s group intended to return to Taicang County after leaving the mountain. However, upon reaching this juncture, He Yiming remembered his one-year pact with Mu Jintian.

Therefore, before heading home, he decided he must notify him.

After all, he had accepted two treasures from Mu Jintian; leaving without a word would be inexcusable.

Yet, as they neared the manor, He Yiming abruptly stopped, gazing fixedly in that direction with an expression of intense surprise.

Simultaneously, from behind him came Bai Lingba’s voice, seemingly unchanged across millennia:

“There are two evolutionaries inside matching your energy signature. The fluctuations around them are nearly identical to yours.”

Yuan Lixun paused, then, encouraged by He Yiming’s gaze, quietly focused her senses. After a moment, she turned back, her eyes alight with joy. “There are three Xiantian masters inside?”

He Yiming nodded slightly. “That’s right, exactly three. But two of them are Yixiantian level.”

“Could Master Zhan Tianfeng and Master Zhuo Wanlian both be here?” Yuan Lixun asked, astonished.

“Zhuo Wanlian is indeed here, but the other is not Zhan Tianfeng,” He Yiming said with a knowing smile. Judging by his expression, he already knew the identity of the other person.

Yuan Lixun had only ascended to the Xiantian realm a few months ago. To her, aside from He Yiming, the auras of all other Xiantian masters were unfamiliar. As for Bai Lingba, he possessed no discernible aura at all.

So, although she sensed three Xiantian presences, she had no idea who they were.

He Yiming winked at her twice. “The other one is actually an old acquaintance.”

Yuan Lixun pondered for a moment and immediately thought of the answer. “The Grand Elder?”

Having been with He Yiming, she had met a great number of Xiantian masters, but the Yixiantian masters she had encountered, including He Yiming, totaled only four. If it wasn't Zhan Tianfeng, then it could only be Yu Jinglei.

He Yiming smiled and nodded, but his mind was racing with unanswered questions. He strongly suspected that Yu Jinglei had left Hengshan specifically for him. But what business required such a high-ranking figure to make the journey remained unknown.

Just as Yuan Lixun was about to press for more details, the three energy signatures suddenly surged.

They had finally detected He Yiming’s group approaching.

With a long laugh, He Yiming made no attempt to restrain his aura, allowing it to resonate with the might of the three Xiantian masters. At the same time, he tightly grasped Yuan Lixun’s small hand, using this gesture to offer silent encouragement.

Yuan Lixun’s beautiful eyes shone with fervor. She finally took a deep breath, and the icy aura emanating from her actively spread outward, causing the surrounding temperature to plummet further. The purity of her cold energy actually managed to subtly suppress the cold aura emanating from Zhuo Wanlian.

This sudden shift stunned the three distant figures simultaneously.

Yu Jinglei and Zhuo Wanlian, in particular, could barely believe what their senses were telling them.

They could clearly perceive an unfamiliar cold-elemental aura—certainly a Xiantian master cultivating Ice and Snow True Qi. Yet, this individual's cultivation was plainly at the Baisantian level, but the intensity of the cold energy far surpassed that of the Yixiantian master, Zhuo Wanlian.

Even for veterans such as themselves, this was an unprecedented phenomenon.

With a long cry, Zhuo Wanlian shot forward like lightning. When he clearly saw the three people before him, he froze, his jaw dropping until he became a statue of wood and stone, utterly unable to move…

Ps: After I mentioned the robot yesterday, many people voiced opinions, hehe, the opposition was overwhelming.

But let me ask, has anyone written like this before?

Since no one has written it before, why shouldn't I be the first to dare?

At the annual meeting, someone asked me what divine beast He Yiming should bring along. I told him either bring none, or bring the most formidable one.

In my mind, a ** robot is the ideal fighter, far superior to any divine beast, and much more moldable.

There are so many books on Qidian; haven’t you all grown tired of divine beasts?

Do you really want me to follow the same old tropes?

I simply want to blaze a new path, a road untraveled by others—that is what I constantly strive for.

If a book endlessly recycles old material without offering anything new, how can it attract readers or bring you joy?

So, I say, instead of reading about divine beasts, come see how I cultivate a robot. Bai Lingba’s abilities will surprise you far beyond your expectations—though not right now!

Oh, yesterday I saw a brother post something suggesting I was switching to sci-fi ^_^

I couldn’t find the post after a while, sigh… If you see this, please contact me—an internal site message will do, thank you. It was the brother who posted yesterday before 8 PM, not today’s post.

I truly regret not remembering your name, brother. Please forgive me.

Also, Imagination Brother, your post hit the nail on the head, but precisely because of that, it can only be highlighted, hehe^_^

※※※※

Lastly, let me weakly mention: nearly two hundred of you sent tips yesterday. This makes me quite suspicious—did I say something wrong before?

My birthday is April sixteenth, not April first…

Sigh…

I won’t say more, look forward to April sixteenth.

Today is April 2nd, and the 15,000-word update for the second day is ready. If you count the last three days of last month, this marks five consecutive days of 15,000-word updates.

It’s the same plea as always: Bai He is holding firm, begging for monthly passes...

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