"Brother Shui, you are..." He Yiming couldn't spare much thought for the great enemy before him, asking with a mix of surprise and elation.

That feeling just now, there was absolutely no mistaking it. This was a secret technique that could only be unleashed after truly comprehending the essence of Wind Force.

If this secret technique had been performed by someone of a higher realm, He Yiming wouldn't have harbored any strange thoughts. But clearly, the aura emanating from Shui Xuanjin was still only at the level of an ordinary Baixiantian. To execute such a technique at this level seemed utterly incredible.

It wasn't just He Yiming with that expression; everyone else was similarly stunned.

Even the opposing Soguo and his group looked suspicious, seemingly taken aback by this move. The only one unaffected was the red wolf that had suddenly erupted from beneath the earth.

Meeting He Yiming's surprised gaze, Shui Xuanjin smiled faintly. "Brother He, during this time, I have spent every day listening to the wind, and I've gained a slight realization. I stumbled upon this technique quite accidentally. However, regrettably, even I cannot fully articulate what it is, so it's impossible for me to pass this secret technique down."

He Yiming nodded heavily. Shui Xuanjin’s words struck a deep chord within him.

This kind of skill relied entirely on personal comprehension—if you understood it, you understood it; if you didn't, there was no reasoning behind it.

The Apothecary Daoist was equally delighted. "Brother Shui, congratulations on such a significant advancement in your state of mind. There is a strong possibility you could even break through to Yixiantian in the future."

This time, however, Shui Xuanjin offered a wry smile, shaking his head slightly before falling silent.

He Yiming's heart sank. He finally understood: Shui Xuanjin was only able to let go of everything because his lifespan was nearing its end, and it was in this state of mind that he finally grasped the true essence of the Wind Force.

If this had happened ten years earlier, he might truly have advanced to Yixiantian, thereby harmonizing his meridians, washing his physical body anew, and extending his life by another century. But to speak of this now was…

A thought suddenly flashed through his mind, and his gaze drifted toward the Apothecary Daoist.

The Apothecary Daoist, master of the path of medicine, had once collected countless ancient prescriptions. Amidst that vast, sea-like collection, he had actually discovered a heaven-defying spiritual medicine.

The Yuan-Enhancing Pill.

This spiritual medicine had the effect of extending one’s life by twenty years.

Although an individual could only consume one in their lifetime, twenty years of longevity was an irresistible temptation for anyone.

When the Apothecary Daoist first introduced this medicine, he had repeatedly warned against disclosing this secret.

Furthermore, he had admitted frankly that successfully refining the five Yuan-Enhancing Pills in Hengshan was nothing short of a blessing from Heaven; even if he were fortunate enough to gather all the ingredients again, another success would be impossible.

Could the Apothecary Daoist and the others truly give such a treasure to Shui Xuanjin?

This notion flickered across his mind, only to be forcefully suppressed.

At that moment, everyone looked at Shui Xuanjin with expressions of extreme envy, yet none knew the true landscape within the old man’s heart. If he hadn't genuinely seen through the cycle of life and death, how could he possibly remain so calm?

Across from them, Soguo and his party also looked grim.

The Red Wolf King was the strongest of the current generation of the Spirit Wolf Clan, and moreover, the most formidable spiritual beast specializing in both Earth and Fire elements. As a member of the wolf tribe, its greatest strengths lay in stealth, sudden strikes, and finishing blows.

Unexpectedly, this attack from beneath the ground had not yielded the anticipated results. Just as He Yiming was about to be wounded by that claw, he had been miraculously saved by the old man.

Witnessing that utterly shocking scene, even Soguo felt a prickle of fear.

That speed—wasn't it even slightly faster than that of the wolf tribe?

"It was him, it must have been him," Yi Shibao muttered, his eyes full of venom. "He must have intercepted the Spirit Wolf, which is why the Spirit Wolf perished."

Among their group, he had the closest rapport with that Spirit Wolf, and he likely would have gained the Spirit Wolf's recognition, possibly even using the wolf’s power to break through his current limits and become another Totem Emissary among the Wolf Totem Clan.

But with the Spirit Wolf's demise, that dream was shattered. Consequently, he harbored an intense, bone-deep hatred for whoever caused the Spirit Wolf's death.

The other Totem Emissaries nodded in agreement. Only a speed so fast that even they couldn't perceive it could have intercepted the Spirit Wolf.

The female Totem Emissary, Harlin, suddenly said, "Emissary Soguo, perhaps we should withdraw for now."

Soguo was slightly startled. "Why?"

Harlin’s expression was grave. "That person's movement technique is profoundly mysterious. I once saw the Wind Sage perform a similar technique. He told me that without mastering the profound meaning of Wind, it is fundamentally impossible to use. Furthermore, even the Sage himself only comprehended this technique after ascending to the rank of Wind Sage."

The expressions of all the Emissaries turned extremely grim.

If this movement technique could only be mastered by Saint-level powerhouses, then even if they all attacked together, they might not even be enough to fill his teeth.

Soguo lowered his head and let out a few soft growls. The massive wolf, standing taller than a young calf, also whimpered softly in response.

The Totem Emissaries showed envious looks; only those recognized by a Spirit Beast could communicate with them in this manner.

A moment later, Soguo breathed a sigh of relief. "Everyone, the Red Wolf King said that this person's movement technique was derived from Wind Force, but it is merely rudimentary. At best, it’s for survival; it’s nowhere near capable of harming an enemy."

The other Totem Emissaries finally relaxed, though in their hearts, they remained half-convinced, half-doubting. After all, this ability surpassed the limits of their comprehension, and coupled with the Wind Sage’s words, pretending to be completely unconcerned would be dishonest.

"Emissary Soguo, what should we do?" Yi Shibao asked, his eyes flashing fiercely.

Soguo coldly replied, "Since things have come to this, what more is there to say? You use the Wolf Array to trap these people. If you can kill a few more, do so. Once the Red Wolf King and I dispatch He Yiming, we will immediately descend the mountain." He paused, his voice filled with endless killing intent. "A Yixiantian powerhouse this young cannot be allowed to live. If given space and time to grow, the Divine Path, which no one has broken through for millennia, might reappear."

The Totem Emissaries exchanged glances. Even those who had reservations moments before remained silent.

To think there was such a powerful young master outside the mountain range.

This kind of person absolutely could not remain...

"Be careful, they are preparing for a group battle."

Xu Chengchang, who had already dedicated most of his attention to monitoring the Totem Emissaries, suddenly shouted fiercely.

As a native of Tianchi Mountain, he was intimately familiar with the Totem Clan. Although this was their first real combat encounter, the records in the books were etched into his memory. Seeing their movements now, he immediately cried out.

The Apothecary Daoist’s face shifted slightly. "Everyone, be cautious."

Saying this, he stepped forward and began running up the mountain. Behind him, everyone else, as if suddenly losing all will to fight, turned tail and fled without exception.

The newly emerged Totem Emissaries stared blankly at each other. They hadn't even started fighting, and these people had already cleared out?

Although Soguo was bewildered, he roared, "Pursue!"

All the Totem Emissaries unhesitatingly charged forward. As for the Houtian experts of the Totem Clan who were merely there for show, they retreated from Hengshan under Soguo's command.

They were of no use in a confrontation of this caliber.

The Apothecary Daoist and the others didn't retreat far, stopping after only a moment.

When Soguo and his group caught up, they finally understood why their opponents had retreated without a fight.

It turned out they had arrived at a comparatively narrow mountain path. While this area could hardly be called cramped, on this critical route leading to the main peak, it was undoubtedly the most suitable location for a confrontation with the Totem Clan.

Soguo frowned, but let out a cold snort. "To think you can block our Wolf Totem with such meager geographical advantage is utterly laughable."

As his words fell, several Totem Emissaries behind him lunged forward fiercely.

At this moment, these Wolf Totem Emissaries, having reached the Xiantian cultivation level, seemed to transform into massive spirit wolves. Regardless of gender, as they charged forward, everyone, including He Yiming, felt this terrifying sensation.

Standing in the first rank of the path were He Yiming, Lian Yi, and Mao Lieguang. Facing the powerful assault of the Totem Emissaries, they simultaneously circulated their true qi to counterattack.

Three palms were raised at once. Mao Lieguang’s arms shimmered with a metallic luster; Lian Yi’s arms withered unnaturally; as for He Yiming’s hands, they were fiery crimson. Powerful qi erupted completely at this moment, sweeping forward like wind and fire.

The mountain path was not wide, leaving little space for the Xiantian experts to unleash their qi. The three stood shoulder-to-shoulder, managing to cover the entire area. However, contrary to their expectation, the seemingly fierce attacks from the opposition did not actually inflict any damage on them.

Upon witnessing the powerful qi attack, the first few attackers immediately retreated swiftly.

He Yiming and the other two felt a momentary relaxation, only to see the Totem Emissaries in the rear leap up and charge again.

As soon as one wave subsided, another followed immediately. Moreover, their coordination was extremely tacit; the timing they chose for their attacks was precisely at the tail end of the residual wave of qi He Yiming and the others had just unleashed.

This subtle and exquisite method of attack instantly made the Hengshan group’s hearts clench.

They suddenly recalled packs of wolves in the jungle. If they encountered those fearless creatures, the wolves would flexibly engage their prey, continuously provoke, advance and retreat in an orderly fashion, gradually eroding the prey's patience and confidence, only then moving in to claim the victory.

They vaguely felt that the Totem Emissaries they faced today were employing precisely this tactic.

There was no room for individual heroism among the wolf tribe; they lived in packs, cunning and brutal. Even the mightiest king of the mountains might not dare to provoke a wolf pack easily.

Now, these Wolf Totem Emissaries were unleashing the essence of the wolf nature to the fullest. Every round of attack was powerful and orderly, their coordination so seamless it was enough to shock any Xiantian expert.

After only a few rounds of attacks, excluding He Yiming, Lian Yi and Mao Lieguang were already showing signs of being unable to hold on.

Just as dread filled their hearts, another person appeared beside them, their immense qi arriving like a swift current, bringing them a moment of relief.

"Fall back," a hurried voice sounded near their ears. Without hesitation, the two retreated, only to see Ting Shiguang and Yu Xichen taking their positions. The person who had spoken was Xu Chengchang from Tianchi Mountain.

The two exchanged a look, recalling that feeling from before. Although the strength of each wave of attack wasn't greater than their own, this relentless, wave-after-wave assault brought an unimaginably huge pressure.

They felt like they were enduring the battering of giant waves before the tide peaked—the psychological pressure was so immense that even they felt on the verge of collapse.

Glancing at their surroundings, the intentionally constricted mountain path, they felt a profound sense of gratitude.

If they were not on this path but on flat ground, facing the same number of opponents, they would surely have been defeated.

At this point, they finally believed that when the Totem Clan mobilized their full strength, this formidable power might truly be insurmountable for the Northwest Kingdoms.

In just a short time, under Xu Chengchang's direction, everyone had taken turns fighting, each enduring this terrifying pressure.

Even without engaging in a true life-or-death struggle, the pressure everyone endured was already far greater than in their usual personal sparring matches.

Soguo was the only Totem Emissary who did not enter the fray. He watched the battle quietly from below, one hand resting lightly on the Red Wolf’s back.

Suddenly, the giant Red Wolf sank down with lightning speed.

Beneath its body was the mountain path leading to the main peak—a road truly composed of solid rock.

But in the Red Wolf's eyes, the stones below were softer than soil. It moved beneath the earth like a swimming fish.

He Yiming’s expression changed drastically; this time, he would not allow even the slightest carelessness.

The moment the Red Wolf burrowed underground, he raised his spirit to its absolute peak. Even during combat, he had never relaxed his vigilance.

Combining his sensory perception with his hearing, he vaguely detected that the strange Red Wolf was moving underground, traversing without any restriction.

He was shocked. What kind of ability was this? It was utterly incredible.

Sensing the creature drawing closer, he instantly understood that the Red Wolf’s target was him.

He steeled his resolve and said in a low voice, "Brother Shui, take my place."

With that, his body leaped high into the air. In mid-flight, as if walking on thin air, he arrived at the edge of the cliffside.

Shui Xuanjin had already been poised and ready. His figure moved instantly, blocking the gap.

Just then, the female Totem Emissary, Harlin, who was advancing, saw Shui Xuanjin and her expression changed slightly. Although the Red Wolf had told them not to fear him, the Sage's earlier words echoed constantly in her mind.

She applied slight pressure and immediately retreated, clearly unwilling to risk direct confrontation.

The other Totem Emissaries were not fools; they immediately noticed this. They maintained their synchronized teamwork, but absolutely no one dared to truly test Shui Xuanjin's strength.

With this stubborn fixture in place, although the group was encountering this bizarre wolf pack fighting style for the first time, they managed to barely maintain a deadlock.

Looking down from the edge of the cliff, it seemed as if they were standing on clouds in the void, making one dizzy. Even those engaged in the battle below were unwilling to approach such a perilous location.

However, He Yiming saw none of this. His gaze was locked tightly onto Soguo, and he called out loudly, "Emissary of the Wolf Totem, are you willing to fight me fairly?"

Soguo’s eyes lit up. "I would be delighted to..."

He had barely spoken those three words when his body shot upward, raising his massive hand, which was the size of a vinegar jar, to smash down on He Yiming’s head. Simultaneously, the Red Wolf King beneath the earth shifted its position, darting toward He Yiming’s feet.

Unlike He Yiming, who relied on a combination of perception and hearing to locate the Red Wolf, Soguo, being recognized by the Red Wolf, shared a close, magical connection with it.

At this moment, man and wolf had entered a state of full performance. They had no intention of adhering to any one-on-one rules; as long as they could put He Yiming to death, any method was acceptable.

He Yiming met Soguo’s palm strike, and both retreated a step. However, their footing was perfectly stable; there was no sign of them falling off.

But at that precise moment, the earth beneath He Yiming’s feet loosened. The Red Wolf’s massive claws reappeared. This time, it wasn't just the sharp claws; its huge, gaping maw lunged toward He Yiming as well.

He Yiming struck out a palm, hitting the giant wolf’s chin with lightning speed, knocking it down heavily.

But the giant wolf rolled over and stood up as if nothing had happened, its eyes showing no sign of fluctuation.

Almost simultaneously, Soguo’s fist arrived once more. Man and wolf operated as one entity, their coordination flawless.

However, as Soguo’s fist connected, he saw a faint, almost-smiling expression on He Yiming’s face.

It was not the blankness of panic, but the confident smile of someone completely in control.

Their fists met heavily again, the clash of powerful qi forcing them both back involuntarily.

The Red Wolf darted out from Soguo’s side, its gaping maw spewing hot breath, its small eyes holding a trace of smugness.

However, at that very instant, all its movements abruptly stopped.

On its tail, a powerful hand had appeared out of nowhere.

The Red Wolf twisted its body mid-air, and its open mouth inexplicably curved, snapping toward the person who had grabbed its tail behind it.

But at that moment, the person released the grip on its tail and swiftly pulled and tugged twice near the Red Wolf’s enormous hindquarters. Two patches of red fur were violently ripped away. Then, the person turned and fled down the mountain like the wind.

The Red Wolf King let out a heaven-shaking howl. Its eyes instantly turned blood-red, and without a second thought, it chased downward, ignoring Soguo’s desperate calls...

P.S.: Only two chapters today and tomorrow, whew...