The crepe myrtle was in full bloom that high summer in Kezhu, its strings of purplish-red flowers filling the air with a sweet, grape-like fragrance.

He Yiming journeyed eastward toward Da Shen with Zhang Zhongjin and Jin Zhanyi.

Jin Zhanyi had initially headed to the Northwest Heavenly Pool with the ambition of sparring against numerous First Heaven experts. However, after witnessing the battle between He Yiming and Xiong Wuji, he abandoned that notion entirely. Even when the First Heaven masters gathered on the main peak of the Heavenly Pool, he harbored no desire to challenge any of them.

Everyone understood this shift was because he had fixed his sights on He Yiming, positioning him as the foremost figure below the Northwest Venerable.

To stand on the highest peak and behold all lesser mountains.

Given the presence of such a supreme figure ahead, and considering Jin Zhanyi's temperament, he naturally held no further interest in battles whose outcomes he could already predict.

Yet, the only thing that perplexed He Yiming was that after traveling together for a month, Jin Zhanyi had shown absolutely no inclination to spar, which left He Yiming, who had been prepared for a challenge, completely bewildered.

After a month on the road, the group had left the mountain range that spanned the entire Northwest and arrived at a vast, endless plain.

Here lay a small city, considered something of a lawless territory.

The local customs were simple, yet the people were intensely fierce. However, upon seeing the convoy of over a hundred people led by Jin Zhanyi, even the most aggressive individuals dared not provoke them.

After all, these common folk possessed a basic sense of judgment. Though He Yiming and the other two Innate realm experts concealed their true cultivation levels, the sheer mass of a hundred experts proficient in the eighth, ninth, or tenth layer of Post-Natal Internal Energy gathered together presented an overwhelming force that ordinary people simply could not afford to antagonize.

As the party entered the small city, they immediately drew every eye.

Zhang Zhongjin and the others, navigating like seasoned travelers, arrived before a massive manor. He Yiming glanced at it and was quite surprised; judging purely by the circumference of the perimeter walls, the grounds this manor occupied seemed even larger than the Xie Family Manor in the Fire Raven Kingdom.

Jin Zhanyi, who had been walking shoulder-to-shoulder with He Yiming since leaving the Heavenly Pool, suddenly chuckled. "Brother He, the area of this estate accounts for roughly one-eighth of the entire city. I was similarly astonished the first time I saw it, Brother Jin."

He Yiming smiled faintly and said nothing, but inwardly he mused.

For a single estate to claim one-eighth of an entire city, there was no doubt that the owner must be the most powerful individual here, possessing enough authority to reign as a local emperor.

Before the group even reached the entrance of the opulent, gold-and-jade-trimmed structure, the great doors swung open, and retainers emerged to respectfully usher them in.

The man leading the reception was an elder in his sixties. Upon seeing Zhang Zhongjin and Jin Zhanyi, he bowed and scraped, behaving with the subservience of a personal servant.

Zhang Zhongjin and Jin Zhanyi paid him no mind, showing no interest in even acknowledging him.

After entering the manor, they did not immediately rest but proceeded first to the rear courtyard. Servants promptly brought forth a large number of horses and magnificent carriages.

He Yiming felt extreme curiosity as to how such a small city could provide so many horses, especially two top-tier, lavish carriages. By any measure, these resources seemed beyond the capacity of what could be termed merely a small town.

A black horse suddenly neighed loudly, breaking free from the handler beside it, and galloped toward the group like a phantom.

Jin Zhanyi burst into laughter, executing a swift leap that carried him forward. Without any apparent effort, he vaulted onto the back of the horse and began riding wildly in the expansive courtyard that resembled a parade ground.

He Yiming watched with a touch of envy, immediately recalling the Red Silk Mare back at the He Family Village.

Though Jin Zhanyi’s black horse was incomparably spirited, He Yiming held the firm confidence that if the Red Silk Mare were present, it certainly would not show the slightest deference.

Zhang Zhongjin observed closely, then nodded with satisfaction. "Not bad, Li Dongrong. You have taken excellent care of them."

Receiving his praise, the sixty-year-old elder, Li Dongrong, seemed to become lighter in his posture. "Grand Martial Uncle, disciples like me only have the opportunity to serve the Lingxiao Treasure Hall once every ten years. If I couldn't even manage these small matters properly, my entire family wouldn't be allowed to reside here."

Only then did He Yiming understand: these horses and carriages had been left here by Zhang Zhongjin and his companions long ago. They had only paused here temporarily because they were en route to the main vein of the Heavenly Pool.

Furthermore, He Yiming realized that this man’s family must belong to the Lingxiao Treasure Hall’s faction or an affiliated power, and must command significant prestige locally, otherwise, they could not occupy such a vast estate or maintain these fine horses and luxurious carriages so impeccably.

A whirlwind of black swept past, and accompanied by Jin Zhanyi’s laughter, the black horse charged up to them, halting abruptly. Man and beast reared high, sending a gust of fierce wind washing over the group.

Li Dongrong cried out praises, seemingly witnessing such miraculous horsemanship for the very first time, showering Jin Zhanyi and his black horse with adulation.

Though He Yiming’s face flushed slightly listening nearby, Jin Zhanyi remained unperturbed, clearly accustomed to such adoration.

Dismounting, Jin Zhanyi laughed heartily. "Brother He, all our mounts here have been carefully selected from various regions. Pick one among them, and we can have a friendly contest."

Upon hearing Jin Zhanyi's invitation, Li Dongrong’s expression shifted slightly.

He had initially assumed He Yiming was merely one of Jin Zhanyi’s disciples, giving him only a cursory glance. He never expected Jin Zhanyi to address him as an equal brother, and immediately began regarding He Yiming with renewed interest.

Despite his prominent reputation in this small city, these disciples from the Lingxiao Treasure Hall never held their local emperor in high regard. A single Innate realm expert like Zhang Zhongjin, or even an ordinary tenth-layer Internal Energy disciple, could utterly demolish his entire foundation overnight.

Therefore, before a figure of Jin Zhanyi’s stature, he had absolutely no room to speak freely. Were it not for his status as the local host, he wouldn't even qualify to groom the horses.

He Yiming shook his head gently. "Brother Jin, you and this magnificent steed already share a tacit understanding. Even if I choose a new mount, I certainly won't match you in the short term. If we have the opportunity in the future, I will bring my own mounts from the Tianluo Kingdom, and we can compete then."

Jin Zhanyi’s eyes brightened. "Excellent! The next time I travel Northwest, I will certainly bring Big Black along, and we shall contend face-to-face."

He dismounted and followed the others into the main hall; the horses and carriages in the rear courtyard were naturally left to dedicated caretakers.

They spent the night in the small city, and by early the next morning, everyone was already up.

After breakfast, the group proceeded to the rear courtyard.

Zhang Zhongjin and the other two arrived last. By the time they arrived, everyone else had been waiting for a long time.

Looking at the two luxurious carriages, Zhang Zhongjin smiled. "Junior Brother Jin and I will share one carriage. How about Brother He takes the other one alone?"

Li Dongrong, standing nearby, grew even more astonished. He had not expected that after Jin Zhanyi, Zhang Zhongjin would also treat He Yiming with such parity. He took a deep look at He Yiming’s face, engraving it permanently in his memory. If he ever had the chance to meet him again, he was determined to find a way to curry favor.

He Yiming nodded slightly. He knew that in this situation, refusing politely was impossible.

Zhang Zhongjin and Jin Zhanyi entered the same carriage, while He Yiming approached the second opulent vehicle.

He lightly placed his hand on the side of the carriage, but at that very moment, a bone-deep chill suddenly surged up from within him.

This sensation of cold was utterly abrupt and inexplicable.

He frowned slightly and gently touched the area over his chest.

Hanging against his chest were three items: first, the silver ring possessing the spatial attribute of an independent world; second, an energy stone; and third, a small stone given to him by Bai Lingba. This was the so-called tracker supposedly dug out from Bai Lingba. After Bai Lingba confessed, he had openly presented it to He Yiming, who had no choice but to hang it around his neck. Placing this item alongside the silver ring indicated the status Bai Lingba held in He Yiming’s heart.

At this moment, Bai Lingba’s tracker was vibrating at a strange frequency. He Yiming understood this as a danger signal, indicating a threat directed at him was nearby.

His heart stirred, and he withdrew the arm resting on the carriage. The chill in his heart immediately lessened, and the tracker’s vibration frequency weakened considerably.

A sharp light flickered in He Yiming’s eyes. His gaze locked tightly onto the luxurious carriage ahead, and his ears subtly twitched a few times. Faintly, he could detect a slight heartbeat. Even though the sound was extremely muted and not continuous, since He Yiming was alerted, it could not escape him.

He Yiming’s strange actions instantly attracted the attention of the others.

Jin Zhanyi was first startled, then his expression shifted, revealing a flash of shame and anger—evidently, following He Yiming’s reaction, he had also detected something amiss within the carriage.

Zhang Zhongjin looked at them both in confusion. Although he was also a top-tier First Heaven expert, the disparity in power among them became starkly apparent at this moment.

Jin Zhanyi snorted in anger, his body flickering like a ghost or phantom, and he instantly appeared before He Yiming.

Li Dongrong and the others only saw a blur; Jin Zhanyi had vanished and reappeared in another spot. While they knew the skills of these strong practitioners were superhuman, witnessing it firsthand still sent a wave of shock through them.

Jin Zhanyi didn't say a word, reaching out his hand to pull back the carriage curtain.

However, at that precise instant, a massive cloud of yellow smoke suddenly erupted from the carriage and spread instantaneously throughout the area.