“Please, Senior, speak,” He Yiming replied with a serious expression. “As long as it is within my humble capabilities, I will certainly fulfill your request.”
Venerable Xu nodded faintly. His demeanor toward He Yiming had changed drastically from their first meeting, his goodwill now evident without question.
“I wonder, within the Xu Family Fortress, are there any exceptionally talented junior disciples who show promise of ascending to the Innate Realm?”
He Yiming paused, his brow furrowed in thought for a long moment before finally answering, “Senior, to my knowledge, there is no one in the Xu Family Fortress whose compatibility in both inherent elemental affinities has reached the tenth layer of Inner Strength.”
This response was a subtle deflection of Venerable Xu’s inquiry, phrased carefully to avoid bluntness that might cause offense.
Venerable Xu chuckled dryly. “The dual affinity for mutual generation is a rare talent indeed. To find such a genius within a single family is almost impossible.”
He Yiming felt a deep resonance with this statement. Although the Hengshan lineage boasted disciples with dual affinities, and more than one at that, a sect and a family could hardly be placed on the same scale.
After a moment of contemplation, He Yiming offered, “Senior, Fourth Master Xu of the Xu Family Fortress, Xu Xiangqian. He is still under fifty this year, yet he has already cultivated his Fire elemental technique to the ninth layer. If he were to consume a few Essence Golden Elixirs and spend two years in a place rich with the Qi of Heaven and Earth, he might stand a chance of advancing to the peak of the tenth layer of Inner Strength.”
He Yiming stopped speaking there, his implication clear. To advance to the Innate Realm, Xu Xiangqian would require an Innate Golden Elixir—an item so precious that He Yiming himself could not provide it.
Venerable Xu smiled gently. “Nephew, please have a seat for a moment. I shall return shortly.”
He turned gracefully and, indeed, came back to the main hall within moments, holding a jade vial in his hand.
The vial itself suggested it was no ordinary item, and He Yiming vaguely suspected what treasures it contained.
Sure enough, Venerable Xu presented the vial to He Yiming. “There are two Fire elemental Innate Golden Elixirs inside. Please verify if they are correct.”
He Yiming’s eyes brightened. “Since they are presented by you, Senior, there can naturally be no error.”
Venerable Xu grew increasingly satisfied. He nodded lightly. “You have likely guessed the favor I wish to ask of you, haven’t you?”
He Yiming replied respectfully, “Fourth Master Xu Xiangqian of the Xu Family Fortress possesses extraordinary talent and is worthy of advancing to the Innate Realm.”
Venerable Xu smiled faintly, but then sighed with a tinge of melancholy. “This matter has nothing to do with me. Do you understand?”
He Yiming hesitated, unable to truly grasp the relationship between this man and the Xu Family Fortress, yet knowing he must handle the request perfectly, no matter the ambiguity.
“This junior understands. Elder Yu of my Hengshan lineage, while visiting Taicang County, happened to meet Xu Xiangqian, greatly admired his talent, and exceptionally took him on as a disciple to aid his advancement to the Innate Realm.”
Only then did Venerable Xu nod. “My name is Xu Zili. If you are willing, you may call me Uncle-Senior.”
He Yiming was overjoyed and did not hesitate. He immediately stood, approached the elder, and bowed deeply from the ground. “This junior greets Uncle-Senior.”
Xu Zili threw back his head in hearty laughter and personally helped him up, his eyes filled with unconcealed admiration.
Yet, He Yiming sensed that the reason for this elder’s warmth toward him was likely connected to He Yiming having saved the Xu family from a catastrophic disaster. That was why the elder treated him with such closeness, even carrying a hint of gratitude.
“As this is our first meeting, your uncle has prepared a small token of welcome. I hope you will not disdain it,” Xu Zili said with a broad smile, placing a small bundle on the table.
He Yiming hastily replied, “Uncle-Senior is too kind; this junior is truly unworthy.”
Shaking his head, Xu Zili continued, “I heard you have a twenty-year pact with the Totem Clans?”
“Yes,” He Yiming’s expression grew solemn. “This junior has a twenty-year agreement with the Wolf and Snake tribes. After twenty years, I will venture deep into the mountains to settle old scores with them.”
“Good, worthy of being my nephew, truly possessing great mettle,” Xu Zili praised. “Twenty years from now, I shall accompany you on that journey.”
He Yiming looked up abruptly, disbelief shining in his eyes.
The old man could not possibly be unaware of the strength of the Totem Clans, and this promise was an immense favor that would be difficult to repay.
“Uncle-Senior, this is my own affair…”
Xu Zili waved a hand. “Since you have called me Uncle-Senior, your business is my business. Furthermore, I am not going there to help you.” A proud smile touched his lips. “The Wind Wolf Sage of the Wolf Totem and I had some past friction. I merely wish to see if that old fellow has made any breakthroughs over the past few decades.”
He Yiming opened his mouth, then bowed deeply once more.
If the previous bow was a gesture motivated by self-interest, this one was entirely sincere. At the same time, He Yiming’s opinion of the elder underwent a massive shift; he truly began to regard him as family.
Accompanying him deep into the territory of the Totem Clans was no small matter. Even with Aivenbin’s relationship with the Hengshan lineage, and even with Li Mingxuan’s regard for Yuan Lixun, no similar offer had ever been made. This fact underscored the significance of the gesture.
After conversing for another half hour, He Yiming took his leave.
Not long after He Yiming departed, a person emerged from the rear of the courtyard—He Min, who was known to be an intimate friend of Venerable Xu.
“Venerable Xu, are you truly going to accompany him to the Deep Mountain Totems?”
Xu Zili smiled faintly. “Is my promise merely idle talk?”
He Min frowned deeply. “The Deep Mountain Totems are teeming with experts. If it were just the Wind Wolf Sage, perhaps it would be manageable, but if several other powerhouses of the same caliber intervene, even you might face danger.”
Xu Zili’s gaze was placid, as if he paid the dangers no mind whatsoever.
“Venerable He, some favors must be repaid with one’s life.”
He Min snorted angrily. “Have you not already sworn an oath never again to be a man of the Xu Family Fortress, vowing that even watching it fall to ruin would be none of your concern?”
Xu Zili’s gaze drifted into the distance, seemingly piercing through the mist before them, crossing infinite space, returning to a scene within his memories.
After a long silence, he murmured, “Youthful arrogance… leaves return to their roots…”
He Min looked as if he had more to say but stopped, finally letting out a long sigh. “Very well. If you are going to seek death, I shall accompany you.”
Xu Zili was momentarily stunned. “Venerable He…”
He Min’s face lit up, brimming with heroic spirit. “I refuse to believe that the two of us, combined with that young man twenty years hence, cannot withdraw from the deep mountains unharmed.”
Venerable Xu finally broke into a smile identical to He Min’s. The two Venerables burst into laughter, a sound filled with unrestrained freedom, as if they had, in that moment, reverted to their youthful, passionate years.
Their laughter carried far, causing confusion among some individuals on the highest peaks of the Hengshan main branch.
Have those two old fellows gone senile together?
※※※※
He Yiming returned to his courtyard, his heart filled with emotion. He had unexpectedly gained such a weighty promise today; it was a genuine windfall.
After a moment of consideration, He Yiming first sought out Yu Jinglei, presenting the two Innate Golden Elixirs and explaining the favor Venerable Xu had entrusted him with.
With Yu Jinglei’s seasoned shrewdness, he understood immediately how to proceed upon hearing the request. Looking at the two Fire elemental Innate Golden Elixirs in the vial, his aged face broke into a smile.
If Xu Xiangqian succeeded in breaking through to the Innate Realm after consuming just one elixir, the remaining one would naturally belong to the Hengshan lineage.
A chance like this was impossible to find elsewhere, even with a lantern.
“Elder Yu, when do we return to Hengshan? Do you still intend to leave those core disciples at the main branch?”
Yu Jinglei pondered for a moment. “Elder He, since you and Xiong Wuji have made that wager, Hengshan can expect at least twenty years of peace. Therefore, I have decided to bring everyone back. After all, the feeling of being dependent on others is never pleasant.”
He Yiming naturally agreed with this choice. After deliberating for a long time, they decided to depart in three days. However, the vast majority of disciples would return to Hengshan ahead of them with Yu Xichen, while the two of them, along with the Alchemist Daoist, would take a detour via Taicang County.
Of course, regarding the matter of accepting Xu Xiangqian as a disciple, none beyond the two of them—not even the other Hengshan Elders—could know. If this matter were to leak, who knew if Venerable Xu Zili would redirect his wrath?
After finalizing their plans, He Yiming returned to his own courtyard. However, before he could even settle in, another Hengshan disciple reported that Jin Zhanyi had arrived requesting an audience.
He Yiming’s head immediately began to ache.
After He Min’s persuasion, He Yiming had resolved to avoid Jin Zhanyi for the time being, planning to face him only after he had condensed his Metal elemental flower and achieved a balanced tripod state. Yet, this fellow had disregarded everything to come calling in person.
Sighing internally, He Yiming still invited him into the main hall.
Moments later, Jin Zhanyi entered the hall. The two sat down, observing formal seating arrangements. Before He Yiming could inquire about the purpose of his visit, Jin Zhanyi cut straight to the point: “Brother He, now that the Heavenly Pool Grand Competition has concluded, what are your plans going forward?”
He Yiming was surprised. Could he not have come for a challenge?
After a brief pause, he replied, “This junior plans to return home for a short while, and then travel the world, striving to achieve the Apex Convergence within twenty years.”
Jin Zhanyi said happily, “Brother He, Senior Brother Zhang and Elder Yu of your sect have already discussed and decided to present the formula for the Youth-Retaining Pill to the Lingxiao Precious Hall. Once we obtain the formula, we will begin refining the pills at the Hall. If you plan to travel the world, Brother He, why not accompany me to the Lingxiao Precious Hall first? After successfully refining the Youth-Retaining Pill, we can then finalize our next steps.”
He Yiming’s heart stirred deeply. Although he longed to return to his elders at home and was reluctant to travel far, the thought of the twenty-year pact finally solidified his resolve.
“Since Brother Jin invites me, this junior dares not refuse.”
Jin Zhanyi’s eyes shone slightly, his expression showing satisfaction. He immediately took his leave.
After inexplicably sending Jin Zhanyi away, He Yiming suddenly awoke to a realization: if he traveled alongside them, wouldn't that give Jin Zhanyi ample opportunity to openly "spar" with him?
He offered a wry smile; it seemed this fellow was not entirely honest either.