Huge lanterns hung high above. Casting a gentle glow, a melody bursting with the unique, spirited tenor of the Northwest echoed overhead. An elder, well past his sixtieth year, dressed in surprisingly fashionable attire, watched the scene with a placid smile.

He Yiming approached the old man, smiling as he spoke, "Master Bao, the night is late, and the firecrackers are ready. Shall we go take a look?"

This place was the He Family Village in Taicang County.

However, compared to its former scale, the He Family could no longer truly be called a village; it was now more fittingly termed a He Family Fortress, or even a He Family Town.

After spending several days in the Tianluo Imperial Capital and declining Yu Rupei's invitations, He Yiming had returned to the He Family Village in Taicang County.

This place held the memories of his childhood. For him, celebrating the New Year here was far preferable to basking in the flattering attention of the Imperial Capital.

He Yiming’s return naturally caused a massive stir throughout Taicang County. Yet, the number of people who could actually gain access to him at this moment was surprisingly small.

Even among the two other major aristocratic families once considered equal to the He Family, their current standing was clearly far inferior.

Moreover, He Yiming had not returned alone this time. Accompanying him were Yu Jinglei, the Grand Elder of the Hengshan lineage, along with the newly promoted Xiantian experts Lu Zhengyi and Yuan Lixun. Add to that the enigmatic Hundred and Eight, whose depths no one could fathom, and the effect was enough to make others feel utterly inadequate before the He Family Village.

At this moment, the most senior figure within the entire He Family Village was naturally He Laibao, who had returned to anchor the home.

Because of He Yiming’s standing, even Yu Jinglei treated the members of the He Family Village with utmost courtesy.

Just as it was now, night had fallen, yet the New Year celebrations outside were still in full swing. Therefore, He Yiming invited He Laibao to join him in watching.

He Laibao’s aged face beamed like an opened daisy. His heart swelled with sweetness, like someone who had eaten honey, looking at this young man he had watched grow up, now someone so far beyond reach.

Answering with a sound, the old man and the youth stepped out of the room and into the courtyard.

Quite a few people were already gathered in the courtyard, and in the center, several peculiar objects had been placed. Yet, before He Yiming appeared, no one dared to touch them.

Seeing He Yiming emerge, a chorus of greetings erupted from the crowd.

He Yiming smiled and nodded in response. His gaze swept across the assembly, immediately landing on Yuan Lixun.

At this moment, a smile of pure happiness graced her face. By her side were the relatives she held dear. This Lunar New Year was the happiest she had experienced in several years.

Gathered here were all the prominent and influential figures from across Taicang County.

Not only were Cheng Ningsheng and Xu Yinjie present, but even Yuan Chengzhi, the current patriarch of the Yuan Family from Jinlin, and Yuan Lixun’s own younger brother, Yuan Lixiang, were in attendance.

As the current and future leaders of the ascendant Yuan Family in Jinlin, they had traveled thousands of miles to the He Family for the New Year instead of celebrating in Jinlin.

Such conduct was blatant, unadulterated fawning and flattery, yet neither the major families in Jinlin nor those in Taicang County displayed the slightest hint of contempt. On the contrary, everyone watching was filled with envy.

If other families enjoyed a relationship with the He Family as close as this, they would surely rush over without hesitation as well.

Noticing that He Yiming and He Laibao had come out, He Quanming waved a large hand, and several remarkably capable family attendants stepped forward from the crowd.

They had clearly practiced countless times beforehand; their movements were perfectly synchronized as they bowed to the assembled dignitaries. Subsequently, they approached the batch of strange objects laid out on the ground.

Each of these attendants held a long, slender torch, burning brightly, about the thickness of a finger. They carefully moved these small torches toward the objects.

He Laibao asked in confusion, "Yiming, what are these things?"

When He Wude was not in the He Family Village, He Laibao was indeed the highest-ranking person in terms of seniority. However, he never concerned himself with the village's affairs, so naturally, he lowered his voice to inquire upon seeing novel items.

He Yiming shrugged his shoulders slightly. "Master Bao, these are New Year gifts sent by Lixun's father. I hear they come from the Great Shen Empire. They’re called... Baozhu (Firecrackers), I think."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a deafening roar erupted from within the courtyard.

The crowd, which had been murmuring amongst themselves, fell instantly silent upon hearing the tremendous sound.

In the night sky, a brilliant golden flower suddenly burst open. This golden flower danced in the air, turning red for a moment, then blue, before finally dissolving into countless golden raindrops descending upon the earth.

Following this first firecracker explosion in the sky, the remaining ones shot upward one after another.

In mere moments, the entire firmament became a riot of color. Shimmering sparks of every hue danced above, sometimes resembling celestial scattering flowers, other times like signal flares shooting into the void. The flickering lights adorned the sky as if it were a world suddenly carpeted with blossoms.

The majority of the onlookers, including He Yiming, stared upward, utterly dumbfounded.

Only a very small fraction of people, like Yu Jinglei, who had traveled extensively across the world, managed to maintain a somewhat composed demeanor.

However, even though they had encountered these things called Bianpao (firecrackers) before, the sheer quantity and exceptional quality of this display made even them watch with rapt fascination.

It took a full quarter of an hour before all the firecrackers laid out in the area had been ignited.

A rich smell of sulfur hung in the air, and the crowd finally snapped back to reality, shouting praises enthusiastically.

He Laibao exclaimed happily, "These things are truly magnificent. The Yuan Family Patriarch certainly dotes on you as a son-in-law."

He Yiming smiled faintly. As his power continued to grow, such developments were only natural.

Witnessing this scene brought immense comfort to the old man’s heart. He let out a long sigh. "What a pity, what a pity."

He Yiming found this strange. During the height of the New Year celebrations, what could Master Bao possibly be lamenting?

"Master Bao, are you troubled by something?" He Yiming asked sympathetically.

He Laibao glanced toward the two elders from Hengshan, then lowered his voice. "Yiming, if the Old Master were here too, he would surely feel that his life had been without regret."

Although both He Wude and He Quanxin were absent from the village for the New Year, He Yiming's return had completely compensated for that absence.

At this juncture, the He Family Village had become the epicenter of not just Taicang County, but perhaps the entire Linlang Prefecture.

Not only were all the powerful and noble figures gathered, but the paramount figure of the Hengshan lineage, Yu Jinglei, and the newly advanced Xiantian Elders were also present. If He Wude could have witnessed such a glorious spectacle, he would indeed have died without regret.

He Yiming fell silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed. "Master Bao, what difficulty is there in that? Next year at this time, we will host a grand banquet and invite everyone here... plus Elder Yao, and those few Xiantian Grandmasters we encountered in the Master Hall of the Kaifeng Kingdom."

He spoke with such ease, as if merely dispatching an invitation would guarantee the attendance of all those people and masters. He hadn't considered for a moment that anyone might refuse.

He Laibao sighed softly. Only He Yiming could possess such unshakeable confidence.

That night, the Firecracker Banquet at the He Family Village became the most talked-about topic in Taicang County, even extending to Linlang Prefecture and the entire Tianluo Kingdom. Those fortunate enough to attend and witness the event saw their personal standing skyrocket.

Subtly, imperceptibly, the He Family Village in Taicang County had solidified into a force that the Tianluo Kingdom could no longer ignore. Every change occurring here now drew the attention of countless people.

Night fell, the stars dotted the sky, shimmering with ethereal light.

The Lunar New Year had passed, but the festive atmosphere lingered. He Yiming spent these few days at home, enjoying the warm, harmonious company of his parents and siblings.

The only real regret was that Yuan Lixun had departed from his side.

After the New Year celebrations, Yuan Chengzhi requested that Yuan Lixun return to the Yuan Family compound for a visit.

The venerable patriarch of the Yuan Family, Yuan Zeyu, had suffered a drastic decline in health following the rift between the brothers. While Yuan Chengzhi’s visit to the He Family Village was partly to curry favor, he also intended to bring Yuan Lixun and Yuan Liwen back to their ancestral home to see the Old Master one last time.

No matter how reluctant He Yiming was, he could only let her go.

Fortunately, Yuan Lixun was now a master of the Xiantian realm. Even her father treated her with endless smiles and effusive affection upon seeing her, so He Yiming was quite at ease letting her return home.

After the New Year, Yuan Chengzhi departed with the Yuan sisters, Yuan Lixun and Yuan Liwen, along with Yuan Lixuan and Yuan Lixiang. Accompanying them was He Yiming’s fourth elder sister, He Yiling.

Since Yuan Lixuan had expressed his willingness to remain with the Yuan Family permanently, the obstacle between him and He Yiling had been completely removed.

He Quanyi, true to his word, no longer obstructed the union, treating Yuan Lixuan almost as his own son, which did cause He Yitao a touch of jealousy.

Yuan Lixuan taking He Yiling to the Yuan Family this time was, in a sense, their first visit to the Old Master, but simultaneously their last official one.

He Yiming stood in his room, gazing into the distance, watching the brilliant stars above, his mind deep in thought.

Suddenly, his brow furrowed. "Hundred and Eight, are these stars above us larger than our entire Tianluo Kingdom?"

The shadow of Hundred and Eight materialized from a dark corner. He replied calmly, "Any star you can see with the naked eye is certainly larger than the Tianluo Kingdom."

He Yiming nodded slightly, then after a long pause, he spoke slowly, "So many Tianluo Kingdoms... I truly wish I could ascend and see them."

Hundred and Eight looked up, meeting He Yiming’s gaze in silence.

He Yiming felt his scrutiny and asked, puzzled, "Is there an issue?"

"No," Hundred and Eight replied straightforwardly. "Your wish is noble. Perhaps you cannot achieve it, but your descendants might."

"How do you know?"

"According to my memory, in my nation, there were people who wished to ascend to the stars in the heavens, which is why they developed technology."

He Yiming nodded slowly. Having spent so much time with Hundred and Eight, he had grasped some of what he spoke of.

Although much of it sounded unimaginable to him, He Yiming was certain of one thing: interacting with and becoming familiar with Hundred and Eight had taught him an immense amount, far more than before.

While this knowledge might not offer immediate, tangible benefits right now, he was certain it would provide him with unimaginable assistance on his future path of cultivation.

Suddenly, Hundred and Eight leaped silently, vanishing back into the shadows, as if he had dissolved, leaving no trace.

He Yiming’s ears twitched slightly. He turned. "Elder Yu, you visit at this late hour. Do you have some counsel for me?"

Yu Jinglei strode in with a hearty laugh. He said sincerely, "Elder He, your 'Ears of the' skill is truly miraculous. I had exerted all my effort to conceal myself, certain I would not be discovered before entering this courtyard, yet you..." He shook his head, displaying a sense of awe for the new generation surpassing the old.

He Yiming lowered his head slightly. "You flatter me, Elder. I was merely lucky enough to overhear something."

Yu Jinglei waved his hand, suddenly letting his smile fade, his expression becoming grave. "Elder He, I have a matter I wish to inquire about."

He Yiming ushered him into the room. Yu Jinglei deliberately chose this hour, meaning he had something significant to discuss, something that would not be resolved in a few simple words.

After both were seated, He Yiming said, "Please, Elder Yu, speak your mind."

Yu Jinglei nodded slightly. "Junior Brother, after you entered the mountains this time, not only did you encounter Senior Hundred, but you also helped Miss Yuan achieve the Xiantian realm. If I am not mistaken, you must possess some method for accelerating the breakthrough to Xiantian, correct?"

He Yiming paused, thinking to himself that there were no true fools in this world. After witnessing Yuan Lixun's rapid advancement to Xiantian, someone was bound to guess the secret.

However, aside from Yu Jinglei, no one else possessed the audacity to inquire directly.

After a moment of hesitation, He Yiming slowly nodded. "Indeed, I possess a medicinal agent that can bring about rapid increases in strength. Furthermore, if combined with a Xiantian Golden Elixir, there is a possibility of directly breaking through to Xiantian. However..." He paused, then said solemnly, "This agent is excessively precious. Even I only have the final three sets remaining. Moreover, this potion is unique; it will likely be lost to the world forever after this."

A flicker of disappointment crossed Yu Jinglei's face. "So this medicine also requires the cooperation of a Xiantian Golden Elixir."

He Yiming stated seriously, "Naturally. If there were no need for a Xiantian Golden Elixir, how could one ascend to Xiantian?"

Yu Jinglei sighed deeply. "Indeed, that is the principle."

He completely believed He Yiming's words. If a potion truly existed that could replace the Xiantian Golden Elixir, the world would not have remained ignorant for so many years.

However, this fact diminished the agent's value considerably.

For these hidden sects, ensuring that exceptional disciples reached the peak of the Tenth Level of Internal Strength before the age of fifty or sixty was not a major challenge. If a disciple possessed outstanding talent, reaching that stage by forty was not unheard of.

But for such powerful sects, what they truly valued were not the Houtian disciples, but the Xiantian Elders themselves.

Shaking his head slightly, Yu Jinglei dismissed the matter. Since this agent was so rare, it should be reserved for the He Family Village; the Hengshan lineage had no need to covet it.

Clearing his throat, Yu Jinglei continued, "Elder He, after Yu Xichen returned to the mountain, our sect acquired two more Xiantian Inner Elixirs. Elder Yao mentioned that you possess a spiritual medicine that can increase the success rate of refining Xiantian Golden Elixirs."

"I do possess such an item. Does Daoist Yao intend to start his furnace again?"

"That is correct. Before we descended the mountain, Elder Yao had this intention. My journey down this time is also to confer with you on this matter on his behalf." Yu Jinglei's expression grew solemn. No one treated the subject of Xiantian Golden Elixirs lightly.

He Yiming pondered for a moment. "Since Elder Yao requires it, I will gladly offer it with both hands."

The last time two Xiantian Golden Elixirs were refined, the consumption of the Wujiang Fruit was less than one full fruit. He Yiming was certainly not inclined to be stingy.

A look of relief crossed Yu Jinglei's face. "Elder He is indeed quick to the point. If we manage to successfully refine two elixirs this time, one of them will belong to you."

He Yiming was momentarily surprised. "Then I thank you, Elder Yu."

The Xiantian Golden Elixir was something no one ever had too much of.

Yu Jinglei glanced outward, then suddenly asked, "Elder He, if you were to obtain another Xiantian Golden Elixir, how would you decide its use?"

He Yiming's brow immediately knitted. The first Xiantian Golden Elixir would, without question, be given to his paternal uncle. This would ensure the He Family Village had a second Xiantian expert besides himself, making their position unshakable.

But who should consume this second one?

His grandfather and Master Bao were too old and could be ruled out. That left his parents, his third uncle, and so many brothers and sisters...

Never mind just one elixir; even with the five doses of gene fluid in his possession, it was far from enough.

Seeming to recognize He Yiming's dilemma, Yu Jinglei chuckled wryly. "Elder He, let me ask you a question."

"Please, Elder Yu."

"Do you wish for the He Family Village to endure for a thousand years, or merely to flourish for a single generation?"

He Yiming replied without hesitation, "Naturally, to endure for a thousand years."

"Since that is your desire, then you must accumulate the Xiantian Golden Elixirs," Yu Jinglei stated gravely. "Within our Hengshan lineage, once the number of Xiantian Elders reaches three or more, we absolutely do not use the reserved Xiantian Golden Elixirs. Elixirs are only to be used when there is a gap between generations in the sect. If you use them as fast as you acquire them, the sect will only shine brightly for a time, unable to sustain itself for a millennium."

Sparks flashed in He Yiming's eyes. Countless realizations clicked into place in his mind instantaneously.

Those ancient families that had lasted a thousand years, while perhaps lacking Xiantian experts, possessed numerous Houtian masters at the peak of the Tenth Level of Internal Strength.

Yet, almost every one of those families only had three or four masters at the Houtian Tenth Level.

He Yiming certainly did not believe those families lacked reserves of limit-breaking elixirs. But only now did he understand that these families deliberately controlled the usage rate of their peak elixirs.

Perhaps this was the only way to extend the continuation of the family bloodline for the longest possible duration...