Inside the gates of this courtyard, there were three people. Upon seeing He Yiming, one quick-witted fellow bowed deeply and then bolted, his pace as swift as fire, betraying the excitement surging through him.

The other two disciples, including the stout man with the bushy beard, were equally deferential. Although they belonged to neither the Hengshan lineage nor the main Tianchi branch, their reverence toward a powerhouse like He Yiming was in no way inferior to that of the disciples from the Northwest factions.

It was only now that He Yiming truly appreciated the benefits of fame. After showing off before thousands of onlookers, his prestige had become unparalleled for the moment.

Yu Jinglei, standing beside him and also a figure of note, seemed utterly relegated to the role of an attendant in the eyes of these men. After courteously ushering the pair into the inner chamber, the two stood by, hands clasped behind their backs.

He Yiming shrugged his shoulders in a gesture of helplessness. Yu Jinglei sighed, then swiftly adjusted his demeanor, remarking with a chuckle, “The great river’s rear waves push the front ones onward.

The world constantly births new heroes. Elder He, you are certainly the hero of this generation.” He Yiming shook his head slightly, speaking with genuine sincerity, “I am no hero, merely a fortunate soul.” There was no falsehood in his words.

Had it not been for the miraculous encounter at the bottom of the lake in days past, which removed all barriers on his path of cultivation, how could He Yiming have reached such heights today? A burst of hearty laughter echoed from within.

“Brother He is too modest. If even you cannot claim the title of this generation’s hero, then tell me, who in this entire realm is worthy of the name?” This voice, just finishing its utterance, had traveled from several yards away and, mid-sentence, had already arrived directly before them.

The two men inside the inner chamber immediately knelt, crying out in unison, “Greetings, Ancestor Master.” Zhang Zhongjin merely gave a slight nod, not even offering them leave to rise. “Brother He, Brother Yu, since you have graced me with your presence, you must bring good tidings for Zhang?” Yu Jinglei grinned, “Perhaps not entirely good tidings.” He pointed toward He Yiming, “Elder He has an additional request, one I wonder if Brother Zhang will grant.” Zhang Zhongjin’s eyebrows lifted, and he laughed heartily, “Since it is Brother He’s wish, as long as it is within my power, I will certainly not disappoint you.” Yu Jinglei inwardly sighed; letting He Yiming take the lead was clearly the correct move.

Though this was his first meeting with Zhang Zhongjin, it was evident that He Yiming held far greater weight in Zhang’s estimation. Yet, this was hardly surprising.

Given Yu Jinglei’s current age and cultivation, the chances of further advancement in martial arts were slim to none. He Yiming, however, was different; he was like a rising scarlet sun, nowhere near the limits of his potential.

Any person with even a shred of intellect would understand which of the two men warranted immediate favor. “Brother He, Brother Yu, let us step inside to talk,” Zhang Zhongjin invited.

He Yiming cast a meaningful glance toward the doorway, a strange smile playing on his lips. “Very well.” Zhang Zhongjin and Yu Jinglei were men of great perception; seeing that smile, they knew He Yiming had discovered something.

But despite their utmost focus in listening and sensing, they perceived absolutely nothing. Though filled with suspicion, they both maintained polite smiles as they accompanied He Yiming out of the inner room.

The moment they stepped clear of the doorway, their hearts seized; they instantly grasped the meaning behind He Yiming’s earlier smile. Not far ahead, Jin Zhanyi stood alone, his posture ramrod straight as a javelin, his eyes blazing with intensity.

The instant he saw He Yiming emerge, a massive and utterly unconcealed will to fight erupted from him. Of course, while Jin Zhanyi appeared desperate for a clash, he certainly would not choose this moment for it.

His display was merely a declaration of his attitude. Both Yu Jinglei and Zhang Zhongjin inwardly sighed.

They had not even noticed when Jin Zhanyi had stealthily positioned himself, yet He Yiming had detected him with such ease—a clear illustration of the chasm separating them. Jin Zhanyi, from his perch on the high platform facing Xiong Wuji, had spoken with confidence, showing no fear even after witnessing Xiong’s defeat of two experts at the Three Flowers Realm, appearing eager for a fight himself.

He Yiming, conversely, had moved without hesitation, crushing Xiong Wuji’s confidence with thunderous force and utterly toying with him in the palm of his hand. Across all of Tianchi, below the Venerable Realm, perhaps only these two possessed such power.

“Junior Brother Jin, these two are esteemed guests; do not push things too far. If you fail to secure that item, you can explain it to Junior Sister Qiu yourself,” Zhang Zhongjin said, his face darkening with anger.

Jin Zhanyi’s imposing aura vanished instantly. He laughed heartily, “Senior Brother Zhang, you misunderstand.

I was overjoyed to hear that the two Supreme Elders from Hengshan had arrived; I was merely offering a greeting. Surely you two do not mind?” He Yiming and Yu Jinglei exchanged amused glances.

However, they were quite curious about this "Junior Sister Qiu" Zhang Zhongjin mentioned. They wondered who this person was that commanded such caution from Jin Zhanyi.

But they did catch one crucial detail: it seemed this same Junior Sister Qiu was the one seeking the Youth-Retaining Pill. The four walked together into the inner courtyard.

Every disciple of the Lingxiao Treasure Hall they passed bowed respectfully. With their level of perception, the four could tell that the disciples’ gazes were primarily fixed on He Yiming and Jin Zhanyi, their eyes filled with deep curiosity.

Under such almost brazen scrutiny, He Yiming and the others understood the disciples' thoughts perfectly. Jin Zhanyi had long been known as the foremost expert below the Venerable Realm in Lingxiao Treasure Hall for several years.

He Yiming’s display of driving away Xiong Wuji in the grand square had only solidified his own status as Tianchi’s number one below the Venerable Realm. The two recognized as ‘number ones’ represented different factions.

Thus, seeing them together inevitably sparked the same question in everyone’s mind. Which one of them was the true foremost expert below the Venerable Realm?

Personally guided by Zhang Zhongjin, they were led to the largest pavilion in the complex. This structure was uniquely situated on the edge of a cliff, peeking out from the forest along the mountainside, featuring an open front veranda, winding corridors, painted carvings, and antique furnishings.

He Yiming and Yu Jinglei surveyed the pavilion, immediately realizing that its decor was undeniably superior to the courtyard occupied by the Hengshan lineage. However, considering the difference in status and the representative forces involved, this disparity was accepted with equanimity.

“Brother He, what is your additional requirement?” Upon reaching their destination, Zhang Zhongjin immediately asked with gravity. Although he understood that his eager attitude might prompt the others to demand an exorbitant price, he had already agreed to fifty Congenital Golden Pills; adding a little more would not concern him greatly.

Some items were priceless treasures in the eyes of the Hengshan lineage, but within the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, the foremost sect in Great Shen, they were merely somewhat valuable objects. He Yiming’s gaze sharpened, and he responded seriously, “Brother Zhang intends to refine the Youth-Retaining Pill after obtaining the formula, I presume?” Both Zhang Zhongjin and Jin Zhanyi cursed internally: Obviously.

Yet, Zhang Zhongjin’s face remained wreathed in smiles: “That is correct, Brother He guesses shrewdly. We certainly plan to refine the Youth-Retaining Pill.” He Yiming’s eyes brightened.

“If your sect successfully refines the Youth-Retaining Pill, how many will you absolutely require?” Zhang Zhongjin paused, contemplating for a moment, “Two.” He Yiming laughed heartily, “Brother Zhang, as far as I know, if all the materials can be gathered and the refining succeeds, a single batch of Youth-Retaining Pills yields at least six. If the refining fails, that is one thing, but if it succeeds, I hope to receive half of the yield.” Zhang Zhongjin’s brow immediately furrowed.

Exchanging the formula for fifty Congenital Golden Pills was already a tremendous risk for him. If the refinement succeeded, it would be fine, but if it continually failed, even he would struggle to explain the outcome.

Glancing at the young face opposite him, Zhang Zhongjin grew more hesitant. He was almost certain this young man would advance to the Venerable Realm, perhaps even higher, in the future.

If he tried to fob him off with empty promises, the repercussions might be beyond his capacity to handle. After a long pause, Zhang Zhongjin stated, “Brother He, your demand exceeds the scope of what I can personally promise.

I can only agree to this: if the refining succeeds and yields six or more pills, I can commit to granting you two.” “Two…” He Yiming pondered briefly. “Very well, two it is.” Zhang Zhongjin finally let out a long breath, a flicker of excitement crossing his eyes.

The Youth-Retaining Pill held little value for the Hengshan faction, but it was immensely useful for the current disciples of the Lingxiao Treasure Hall. Jin Zhanyi’s eyebrows lifted suddenly.

“Brother He, is your business concluded?” He Yiming gave a slight start. “Yes, it is concluded.” Jin Zhanyi’s eyes gleamed.

“Excellent. Brother He, I have a small favor to ask, please grant it.” A look of wry suffering crossed the faces of Yu Jinglei and Zhang Zhongjin.

Though they had long anticipated that this confrontation could not be avoided, Jin Zhanyi’s impatience surprised them. He Yiming understood perfectly.

He took a deep breath, about to speak, when his expression suddenly shifted. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a finger-flick shot forth.

At the exact same instant, Jin Zhanyi performed the identical action. As their fingers snapped forward, two sharp sounds of air tearing echoed, followed by a clang like metal striking metal; two small stones were pulverized mid-air.

A blur of movement, and He Yiming and Jin Zhanyi were gone from the room like flying arrows. Yu Jinglei and Zhang Zhongjin followed a step behind, but by the time they reached the doorway, the figures had vanished.

The two exchanged bewildered glances, unable to fathom who dared launch an ambush on the main peak of Tianchi. Ps: Six updates complete today, eighteen thousand characters… After so many releases these past few days, Bai He’s head is genuinely swimming.

Tomorrow… five updates. Striving for this month’s target of 400,000 characters.

Brothers, please do not be stingy with your monthly recommendation tickets; move your fingers, click, and cast your votes. Thank you ^_^