Two figures vanished in the night sky in a flicker. Like a pair of ghosts, they seemed to blink out of sight only to reappear scores of meters away.

What was more, they moved with such unspoken synchronization that even while speeding along, they raised not the slightest whisper of wind. They released their potent True Qi, sensing the surrounding environment, deftly avoiding every patrol disciple on the main peak, ensuring no one detected them from start to finish.

In no time, they were running neck and neck beneath the main peak, and even at this stage, neither had managed to gain the lead.

The instant He Yiming and Jin Zhanyi leaped out of their room, they sensed the fiercely rushing figure ahead. For no discernible reason, they knew instantly that the person who had attacked them earlier with the small stone must be this runner.

Though this thought flashed through their minds in the electric instant, they could not help but wonder how this individual had entered the mountain grounds—had the Venerable old monsters above the cloud line all turned deaf and blind?

Regardless of their internal deliberations, they both chased after the figure without a word of coordination.

From the very first step, a silent contest began between them. This was no simple sprint; it was a race demanding evasion from others even while running at top speed. It was as if, in that moment, the two of them had also become infiltrators sneaking up the mountain from below.

While Jin Zhanyi was determined by all means to engage He Yiming in a contest, He Yiming harbored a very similar ambition deep in his heart.

Only through continuous sparring with true masters, perhaps even through battles of life and death, could one break through current limits at the fastest pace and ascend to higher tiers.

The Fan Tian Yin that He Yiming had struggled to fully comprehend during his nearly half-year of solitary cultivation suddenly sparked an epiphany upon witnessing the attack patterns of the Fox Bear spirit beast. In a flash of inspiration, he entered a state of sudden enlightenment, unleashing his power and completely mastering the seal technique, even grasping the Flower of Earth in the process.

This entire sequence demonstrated the greatest advantage gained from clashing with experts of the same rank.

Of course, if the challenging opponent was far too superior, being struck down by a single palm strike would be a cruel joke.

Though unstated, both Jin Zhanyi and He Yiming regarded the other as a worthy opponent capable of a true fight. Since such an excellent opportunity had presented itself now, neither was willing to concede, using the fastest speed and most agile movement techniques to evade everyone they encountered on the way until they reached the foot of the mountain.

Arriving there, the two exchanged a glance, seeing in the other's eyes a brilliance like distant stars.

Although the distant figure had not managed to escape their pursuit, they had likewise failed to close the gap between themselves.

Unconsciously, a competitive spirit flared simultaneously in both their hearts.

Even though they both knew that lightness skill alone could not represent one’s total strength, at this moment, nothing else occupied their minds except determining who was superior.

He Yiming took a deep breath, his form suddenly blurring, instantly vanishing from his position. The distance between two points seemed infinitely compressed; he appeared ready to cross it with a single step.

Jin Zhanyi’s expression changed drastically, struck by an overwhelming sense of disbelief.

Although he had seen the Flower of Wind and Fire that He Yiming had unleashed previously, this supremely powerful skill, which seemed to tear space for instantaneous movement, still caught him completely off guard.

At this point, he understood: He Yiming’s comprehension of Earth element power had reached its zenith, and his mastery of Wind element power was on the very same level.

His face grew incredibly grave, and an aura of ultimate power suddenly erupted from his body.

A flash of golden light instantly appeared beneath his feet. This light bore an uncanny resemblance to the Flower of Earth that He Yiming had condensed with his full True Qi.

Then, he took a single stride.

As he took that step, the ground before him seemed to shrink rapidly. With that single motion, he instantly traversed scores of zhang, appearing directly behind the rapidly fleeing black silhouette.

While this might not have been the pinnacle expression of Wind element power, the actual strength displayed was in no way inferior.

He Yiming’s figure flickered, emerging from that mysterious state. But his eyes widened; at the very instant he appeared, Jin Zhanyi materialized right beside him, with not the slightest difference in timing.

It was as if both had simultaneously utilized the top-tier Wind ability of "two points, one line," crossing those tens of zhang of space to arrive at this spot together.

The shock in his heart was far beyond description, yet mingled with the astonishment was a faint stirring of joy and anticipation.

Ever since he had mastered this miraculous Wind ability, only the late Shui Xuanjin had been able to compete with him in terms of maximum speed. Beyond that elder, no other person on solid ground had ever moved faster than him.

Yet now, Jin Zhanyi had caught up. In terms of their absolute peak speed, the power Jin Zhanyi exhibited was in no way inferior to his own.

For a moment, a fierce fighting spirit surged within He Yiming. At this juncture, even if Jin Zhanyi hadn't sought him out, He Yiming would never let this man go.

Sensing the rising fighting spirit in He Yiming, an even mightier battle intent simultaneously soared from Jin Zhanyi.

The technique he cultivated was designed for breakthroughs during combat. Although currently allied in pursuit, there was an inherent element of competition between them. Both exerted themselves fully; neither dared to be careless or allow the other to look down upon them.

They both extended their hands, and powerful True Qi condensed in their palms.

Having closed the distance of scores of zhang, the black-clad figure was now within arm's reach, seemingly graspable.

Naturally, they seized this chance, striking out simultaneously, each striving to capture the target before the other.

However, the pupils of both men contracted violently in the next instant.

Because they suddenly realized that the distance between their hands and the figure ahead was not closing, but rather, increasing…

From being almost upon the figure, it suddenly became an inch, a foot, a zhang, until in a flash, scores of zhang had separated them once more.

Both hands grasped empty air at the exact same moment, and the figure miraculously vanished from their sight, reappearing scores of zhang away.

He Yiming and Jin Zhanyi exchanged another look, recognizing the astonishment in the other’s eyes.

It turned out this person’s cultivation was equally terrifying, not in the least bit below theirs.

However, upon seeing the look in each other’s eyes, a slight smile touched the corners of both their mouths. If it weren't this challenging, it would be too dull.

A wind began to swirl around He Yiming. In his eyes, all the colors of the world began to fade, revealing a landscape of stark black and white.

In this world, he clearly discerned a single, strange line. This line seemed to be the very pulse of this world, and by following its strong beat, he saw a straight path connecting himself and the person ahead.

Then, he disappeared once more.

As the wind began to whirl around He Yiming, a miraculous golden light simultaneously flared beneath Jin Zhanyi’s feet.

He took a stride, and the seemingly infinite stretch of ground contracted at that moment. The golden light flashed, and he crossed that exact same straight-line distance with precisely the same speed, arriving behind the fleeing figure again.

Ten thousand miles leisurely stroll, a mere inch of separation from the distant horizon…

The Earth element secret art of the Ling Xiao Precious Hall was now employed with utter fluidity.

When He Yiming's world returned to normal, he found himself once again behind the black-clad man. However, his ears twitched slightly, and he instantly knew that Jin Zhanyi had traversed that distance in the same instant.

They set off together, descended the mountain together, and applied their strongest secret arts in pursuit together, yet still, they could not determine a victor.

When their eyes met for the fourth time that night, beyond the ever-intensifying fighting spirit, there was also unconcealed admiration and appreciation.

However, before they could retract their gazes, both their expressions shifted—the figure ahead, as if provoking them, also deployed some secret method, instantly crossing the same distance and pulling out of their grasp once more.

At this point, both their faces soured slightly. The distance between them hadn't changed at all; this felt like deliberate mockery.

Unwilling to be outdone, they both circulated their energies, preparing to step forward a third time.

But just then, the person ahead suddenly turned, skirting around a massive boulder.

Then, the eyes of both He Yiming and Jin Zhanyi involuntarily narrowed.

Before the figure reached the boulder, there had clearly been only one person; yet, when he emerged from behind the stone, he had become two.

This was not an illusion or an afterimage, but genuinely two individuals.

A wave of chilling coldness swept through the hearts of He Yiming and Jin Zhanyi. With their acuity, they could discern that the two figures emerging from behind the rock appeared identical to the single person they had been pursuing.

Although they couldn't see their faces, their backs were indistinguishable. The height, the attire—everything was exactly the same, as if they had been stamped from the same mold.

After exiting from behind the large stone, they split, one to the left and one to the right, instantly sprinting off in different directions.

In a flash, He Yiming and Jin Zhanyi arrived beside the boulder.

They naturally separated, rounding the stone, their eyes flashing with fierce light as they looked across at each other.

Without a word exchanged, they split apart, one heading left and the other right, giving chase.

In their hearts, one thought resonated: they had to catch this person, no matter what. They absolutely could not afford to lose to their rival.

The circling wind rose again, and the golden light flashed anew…

He Yiming and Jin Zhanyi vanished from their spots once more.