The wind shook through the forest. Gnarled trees stretched their branches, and through the heavy, overlapping shadows, slivers of moonlight occasionally sifted down, glittering on the ground like scattered shards of mirror, listless, like the eyes of the sleep-drunk.
In this wash of moonlight, two figures sped from the distance until they stood before a towering peak.
These two were none other than He Yiming and Hundred-and-Eight.
After successfully slaying Suoge and the Red Wolf King, He Yiming handled the aftermath and then returned to Hengshan at maximum speed.
This chase, spanning ten thousand li, had taken over half a year—something utterly unimaginable beforehand. Yet, after the prolonged pursuit, He Yiming had successfully condensed his second tangible flower and obtained a miraculous weapon, also beyond prior imagining.
Half a year, in every respect, had been extremely worthwhile.
At this moment, looking up into the distance, Hengshan was finally in sight.
He Yiming took a deep breath, and as he smelled the air here once more, a sense of kinship, like a wanderer returning home, welled up in his heart.
In that instant, He Yiming finally understood: after everything that had transpired, his heart now considered Hengshan his home.
Perhaps the weight of this home was less than that of the He Family Manor, but here, undeniably, he felt the sensation of home.
With a slight exertion of his feet, he transformed into a gust of mountain wind, rushing towards the summit.
Passing a certain mountain path, the color of the ground differed noticeably from its surroundings, stirring an ineffable surge of emotion within He Yiming.
It was here that he had fought the powerhouses from the Totem, leading to the collapse of the entire mountainside.
However, with the combined strength of the more than two thousand Post-Celestial cultivators on Hengshan, the collapsed area was quickly filled in, and the mountain path was restored.
Yet, some things, unlike this mountain path, could never be afforded the chance of repair.
Turning his gaze towards a particular direction, He Yiming silently nodded three times, as if bowing in reverence to an elder who cared for him.
At this moment, his expression was profoundly solemn…
At the distant peak, several figures suddenly appeared. Concealed by the night, they were boldly rushing towards this location.
As He Yiming ascended the mountain, he had released the aura he had long kept veiled.
Sensing this familiar presence, Yu Jinglei and the others instantly knew that He Yiming had returned.
Upon feeling He Yiming's aura, the Great Elder of the Hengshan lineage ceased his meditation of absorbing the world's qi without a second thought. He immediately abandoned everything and sprinted down the mountain.
Of course, Yu Jinglei was not the only one descending from the peak; the other innate elders of the Hengshan lineage had all come down without prior consultation.
In their hearts, He Yiming’s status was extraordinary; they held deep concern for this future pillar of Hengshan.
He Yiming had been gone for half a year; to say they felt no worry would be a lie.
“Elder He, you have finally returned.”
A voice filled with mixed joy and surprise rang out from not far away, followed by Yu Jinglei’s unrestrained, hearty laughter that carried clearly.
It was late at night, but this spot was still a considerable distance from where the main disciples resided on the Hengshan peak. As long as one didn't use true qi to shout, this laughter would not reach them.
He Yiming suppressed his surging emotions, turned, and felt a slight tinge of surprise.
For among Hengshan's many elders, Lu Zhengyi was absent. With Yu Jinglei himself having come down the mountain, this seemed rather odd.
However, He Yiming appeared to take no notice, bowing deeply to Yu Jinglei and the others. “I apologize for causing the elders such worry; I feel deeply ashamed.”
Yu Jinglei and the others were momentarily stunned. They vaguely perceived that the current He Yiming was somehow different from before.
If the former He Yiming, though astonishing in his martial cultivation, still possessed a trace of youthful greenness, the present He Yiming had become significantly more composed and grand.
They all privately wondered what events of the past six months could have caused such a massive transformation in a person's temperament.
Yu Jinglei stepped forward and noticed a thread of sorrow in He Yiming’s eyes. Understanding dawned in his heart, and he sighed softly, “Elder He, the departed are at rest; try to take it lightly.”
He Yiming nodded slightly, a look of surprise suddenly crossing his face. His ears twitched subtly. “There is a Line-of-Sight expert on the main peak? Could it be…” A thought stirred in his mind, “Has Mr. Zhu Baqi not departed?”
Yu Jinglei nodded, stating solemnly, “Zhu Baqi is an old friend of mine. Since he rarely visits Hengshan, it is natural that he would stay for a few more days.”
Looking at Yu Jinglei’s expression, He Yiming suddenly realized the situation and developed a strong affinity for Zhu Baqi.
He naturally understood that Zhu Baqi was staying on Hengshan because he was uncertain about the outcome of He Yiming’s pursuit of Suoge and the others, thus remaining to ensure the safety of the Hengshan lineage.
Daoist Medicine stepped forward and said, “Elder He, we are all deeply regretful over the passing of Brother Shui Xuanjin. He died for Hengshan, essentially; we cannot fail him. Therefore, we have already dispatched Elder Lu to reside in the capital of the Tianluo Kingdom. With him stationed there, it should be enough to deter petty troublemakers.”
Only then did He Yiming understand why Lu Zhengyi was not among the group.
Glancing at Yu Jinglei, He Yiming’s eyes held deep gratitude. Without the approval of this Grand Elder, the Hengshan lineage would never have dispatched an innate powerhouse to garrison the Tianluo capital.
Although Lu Zhengyi had only recently advanced to the Innate realm a few years ago, his status as an elder of the Hengshan lineage was significant.
Unless his backing, the Hengshan lineage, was utterly extinguished, neighboring countries around Tianluo would not dare to harbor designs against them.
“Elder He, where you went this time…” Daoist Medicine paused, his gaze questioning.
He Yiming nodded calmly. “I did not fail my mission; all were executed.”
The complexions of Yu Jinglei and the others changed drastically. The purpose of He Yiming’s departure this time was known clearly to almost everyone.
He had gone to exact revenge upon Suoge and the others, to avenge the elder Shui Xuanjin.
Suoge and his group were no mere rabble; they were a collection of powerful supreme experts, among whom the two Totem Ambassadors and the two thousand-year-old mutated spirit beasts were powerful enough to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with four Line-of-Sight powerhouses.
Before He Yiming left, Yu Jinglei had encouraged him to exact revenge by killing a few of them, even at some cost, but he had never imagined that He Yiming could truly eliminate all of them.
The elders exchanged glances. Yu Jinglei finally spoke, “Elder He, did you truly kill them all?”
A slight curve touched He Yiming’s lips, as if the lives he spoke of were not those of living beings, but rather unconscious numbers.
“Ninety-six ordinary Totem clansmen, ten Totem Emissaries, two Totem Ambassadors, and two thousand-year-old mutated spirit beasts,” He Yiming stated calmly. “The blood of this many souls, to consecrate the spirit of Brother Shui, should be sufficient.”
Yu Jinglei and the others already had wide, disbelievingly stunned eyes.
In their minds, only one thought resonated: how on earth had He Yiming accomplished this…
※※※※
In the largest reception hall of the Hengshan main peak.
He Yiming sat calmly to one side. Before him sat Yu Jinglei and Zhu Baqi, the two veteran Line-of-Sight powerhouses.
As for Daoist Medicine and the others, they had returned to their respective peaks at Yu Jinglei’s signal.
Although they felt some dissatisfaction, within Hengshan, no one dared to defy Yu Jinglei’s command; even the fiery-tempered Lian Yi dared not disobey.
After Yu Jinglei and Yu Xichen returned to the main peak, Zhu Baqi, who had always maintained his dignity, finally approached He Yiming.
However, after hearing Yu Jinglei’s account, Zhu Baqi’s expression involuntarily shifted.
He looked at He Yiming with a peculiar feeling—a mix of shock, but perhaps even more so, a degree of suspicion.
“Elder He,” Zhu Baqi stated solemnly, “I hear you have executed all of them: Suoge, She Ru, their thousand-year mutated spirit beasts, and every single Totem clansman?”
He Yiming sat in his chair, nodding calmly. This casual demeanor, however, made the white-haired, rosy-cheeked old man hesitate.
His gaze locked onto He Yiming, his expression growing increasingly grave.
“Elder He, I have an impudent request; I hope you will grant it.” Zhu Baqi said heavily.
He Yiming seemed to discern his thoughts, smiling faintly. “Brother Zhu, please speak your mind.”
Zhu Baqi’s aged face flushed slightly, but the matter was too critical; even he dared not reach a conclusion lightly.
“Though I reside in seclusion atop Tianchi Lake, I have long admired Elder He’s name. The world claims Elder He possesses unparalleled talent for cultivation and progresses with divine speed. Today, this old man wishes to spar with Elder He. What do you say?” Zhu Baqi asked with a smile, as if discussing some trivial matter.
Yu Jinglei opened his mouth to speak but then seemed to recall something, ceasing his objection.
He Yiming’s gaze swept across their faces, and he smiled slightly. “Elder Yu, Brother Zhu, I know you doubt whether I could truly have killed them all by myself.” He paused for a moment. “Since that is the case, perhaps both of you would join me in a spar?”
A sharp, intense glint flashed simultaneously in the eyes of Yu Jinglei and Zhu Baqi.
Although they were both astonished by the record of He Yiming’s recent expedition and felt a sense of inadequacy, as veteran Line-of-Sight experts who had both condensed tangible flowers, they still felt a blow to their pride upon hearing He Yiming’s challenge.
Of course, this feeling quickly faded. When one reached their level of strength and age, the experience of joy and sorrow was far removed from that of ordinary people.
“Very well,” Zhu Baqi said, narrowing his eyes, “since Elder He has such inclination, Jinglei and I shall respectfully accept.” Though his face held a smile, his eyes gradually turned cold, devoid of any amusement.
He Yiming nodded. “Excellent. Elder Yu, please select the location.”
The clash between these three naturally could not be known to the ordinary disciples. Yu Jinglei thought for only a moment before stating, “Follow me.”
With a sweep of his wide sleeve, he shot away from the hall like a flying arrow. He Yiming and Zhu Baqi nodded to each other and left the room almost side-by-side.
The cultivation of these three was absolutely top-tier within the Hengshan lineage; even the Innate realm elders did not notice that these three had already left Hengshan.
Even though Yu Jinglei’s speed was impressive, it was vastly inferior to He Yiming’s. And Zhu Baqi, who maintained pace alongside He Yiming, showed no signs of strain.
This discovery led He Yiming to conclude that this man’s movement technique must surpass that of Grand Elder Yu Jinglei.
Yu Jinglei clearly intended to travel far from Hengshan, running for a full hour before stopping.
This location was one of the mountains in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, but the trees here were considerably smaller than those on the nearby peaks. He Yiming’s gaze swept over the area, instantly spotting numerous traces of martial practice.
Though these signs were faint, how could they escape the notice of He Yiming, such an accomplished master?
Smiling faintly, He Yiming remarked, “Elder Yu, this is where you usually practice your combat techniques, correct?”
Yu Jinglei laughed heartily. “I knew I couldn't hide it from you.” He paused. “I only come here once every few months, but this spot is conveniently located. If Elder He is interested, perhaps you could join me for some sparring in the future.”
He Yiming nodded. “Thank you for your kind offer, Elder Yu. If I do focus on practicing combat techniques later, I will certainly choose this place.”
Yu Jinglei nodded with satisfaction, then his expression hardened slightly. He clapped his hand down. “Elder He, we can begin now.”
The smile vanished entirely from Zhu Baqi’s face, and another keen glint flashed in his eyes. “Be careful.”
As soon as he uttered this, he raised his foot and lashed out forward.
There were still several meters between him and He Yiming, yet with that single kick, the distance seemed to vanish as if it never existed.
He Yiming’s eyes brightened slightly; he possessed a strong curiosity for such strange abilities.
His body shifted subtly, and he retreated backward.
It was as if someone grasped his collar and continuously pulled him backward along a perfectly straight line.
Before retreating, He Yiming seemed to have calculated the surrounding environment perfectly, choosing a path where not a single large tree stood in his way. Thus, as he fell back, he displayed no sense of haste, appearing rather effortless.
Zhu Baqi had kicked out with absolute confidence; this was some secret art from Tianchi Mountain, one that ensured the opponent could neither evade nor retreat once the kick was launched. If forced back, one’s momentum would immediately weaken, placing them in an absolutely defensive position.
Therefore, he had poured his signature skill into this kick, determined to make this arrogant youngster, He Yiming, suffer a hidden loss.
But what shocked Zhu Baqi was that He Yiming had chosen to retreat, and he refused to stop receding.
He Yiming’s steps were precisely measured, maintaining a fixed distance between himself and Zhu Baqi. No matter how fast or slow Zhu Baqi’s kick was, he could not close or widen this gap by even a fraction.
After a few breaths, Zhu Baqi’s full confidence plummeted drastically.
The opening move, intended to seize the initiative, now left him feeling like he was riding a tiger, unable to dismount. Only then did he recall the various legends surrounding He Yiming, only to realize upon actually engaging the young man that those legends were false.
He Yiming’s actual strength was far greater than the legends suggested.
At that moment, a long, deep breath sounded from behind Zhu Baqi. Hearing this breath, Zhu Baqi’s heart relaxed by half; Yu Jinglei had chosen to attack as well.
Although two fighting one would sound bad if word got out, in this secluded environment with no outsiders present, they could not afford such concerns.
Yu Jinglei struck out with a punch, and surging water-elemental power immediately crashed down like a monstrous tidal wave.
When the force of this punch surpassed that of Zhu Baqi’s kick, the esteemed guest from Tianchi Mountain retracted his foot, sighing inwardly.
Sensing the vast water-elemental energy swirling around him, He Yiming’s heart moved slightly.
He immediately halted his steps, and then a vivid crimson color emerged from his body’s surface. Simultaneously, the temperature around him began to rise sharply, and a power filled with fire instantaneously spread outward.
Yu Jinglei and Zhu Baqi were equally bewildered. They understood He Yiming’s proficiencies well, knowing he excelled in Wind, Cloud, Rain, and Mist techniques, but his fire-elemental power seemed slightly inferior. Moreover, Yu Jinglei was clearly using water-elemental power right now; yet, He Yiming chose to counter with fire, which seemed to show too little regard for both of them.
Yu Jinglei, old and experienced, was unconcerned by He Yiming’s choice; instead, he circulated his true qi, expanding the volume of water-elemental qi several times over.
Just as He Yiming’s fire power seemed about to be extinguished by the great flood, the smile on his face did not change in the slightest.
“Hiss… hiss…”
Innumerable strange sounds erupted between the point of contact between He Yiming and Yu Jinglei. The massive water power did not exert the expected restrictive force dictated by the Five Elements cycle of mutual restraint. As this water force neared He Yiming, it began to evaporate rapidly. Above He Yiming’s head, vast clouds of white mist formed—just like pouring a cup of water onto a scorching stove, it was instantly vaporized without leaving a trace behind.