Amidst the garden, a hundred flowers vied for splendor. To sit in the pavilion during the scorching summer, a pot of fine tea set before them, trading convivial words with companions, truly possessed an indescribable air of effortless grace.

However, the atmosphere within the pavilion in the garden at this moment was rather heavy.

When He Yiming informed Zhang Zhongjin that he intended to join forces with Jin Zhanyi to challenge the Qilian Twin Demons, the veteran first-tier master’s eyes instantly registered disbelief.

He turned to Jin Zhanyi standing beside him, who offered a gesture of resignation. "I sparred with Brother He, but after all, it wasn't a battle to the death; both sides held back. Such a contest is essentially useless to us. So, Brother He proposed that the two of us simply join forces and fight the Qilian Twin Demons."

He Yiming felt a volcanic rage brewing within, as if one Buddha had appeared only for a second Buddha to ascend in fury—this fellow was clearly twisting the truth and stirring up trouble. Yet, despite his vexation, his expression remained perfectly placid, betraying none of the turmoil inside.

Zhang Zhongjin pondered for a long while before finally shaking his head with a sigh. "Brother He, are you truly set on fighting the Qilian Twin Demons?"

"Of course, I am sincere," He Yiming replied, seemingly earnest. As for how much sincerity truly lay beneath those words, only Heaven could know.

Zhang Zhongjin let out a wry smile. "Brother He, you are not a disciple of my Lingxiao Treasure Hall. If you involve yourself, I fear it will lead to misunderstandings."

He Yiming paused momentarily, blinking twice before recalling his true status.

He hailed from one of the branches of the Tianchi Sect, the largest faction in the Northwest. After leaving the Northwest, everyone he encountered assumed he represented the main lineage of Tianchi.

In truth, that was largely the case; if He Yiming were merely an ordinary elder of Hengshan, it was hard to imagine figures of He Min’s and Xu Zili’s stature taking the trouble to guide him. The mighty Venerables would never waste their time on him unless absolutely necessary. If he and Jin Zhanyi joined this battle, wouldn't it appear to outsiders as an alliance between Lingxiao Treasure Hall and the Northwest Tianchi?

Several thoughts raced through his mind, and He Yiming’s expression grew solemn.

Suddenly, Jin Zhanyi’s unrestrained laughter broke the silence. Shaking his head, he remarked, "Senior Brother Zhang, Brother He, does the relationship between our Lingxiao Treasure Hall and the Northwest Tianchi really need to be concealed?" A mocking smile played on his lips. "Every ten years, Lingxiao Treasure Hall sends disciples to various places under the guise of friendly competition for the new generation, but do you really think powerful sects like the Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands are blind to the real machinations going on?"

He Yiming and Zhang Zhongjin instantly felt a wave of awkwardness wash over them.

If such a major matter could be concealed from the powerful sects for years on end, that would be truly miraculous.

He Yiming cycled through several more possibilities in his mind. "Brother Zhang, Brother Jin is correct. The relationship between our Tianchi and your esteemed Hall is not insignificant. Since that is the case, the need to avoid suspicion is actually unnecessary."

Zhang Zhongjin hesitated for a moment before finally nodding slowly. As He Yiming had stated, even if he refrained from participating, it wouldn't change how others perceived the situation.

"Very well, Brother He, since you are so keen on this fight, I will propose it to the Venerables. However, whether they grant permission is not something this old man can decide," Zhang Zhongjin stated with formal seriousness. The power to decide this matter definitively lay outside his hands. His utmost capability was to put in a good word.

He Yiming felt profoundly stifled, yet his face showed utter gratitude. "Thank you very much, Brother Zhang."

After stepping out of Zhang Zhongjin’s chamber, He Yiming glared at Jin Zhanyi with poorly concealed annoyance. "Brother Jin, are you satisfied now?"

Jin Zhanyi chuckled, "Brother He, do you truly have no interest in this fight whatsoever?" He turned serious. "If you genuinely have no interest, I will speak to Senior Brother Zhang right now, and I guarantee he will grant me this favor. Of course, I will also lend you an original manual from the Martial Repository for inspection."

He Yiming was slightly taken aback. He turned his head and met Jin Zhanyi’s gaze. In those clear, water-like eyes, He Yiming perceived genuine sincerity. He felt a surge of excitement, almost blurting out a response. After all, fighting the Qilian Twin Demons was not his initial intention.

However, the words hovering at the tip of his tongue lingered by his lips for a long moment, ultimately remaining unspoken. Deep down in He Yiming's heart, he felt far less resistant to Jin Zhanyi's proposal than his outward display suggested. A chance to fight masters of the Qilian Twin Demons' caliber was not something that came around often. To miss this opportunity would be a terrible shame.

As for the danger to his life... having mastered the Art of Earth Burrowing and the illusionary arts of Wind, Cloud, and Mist, He Yiming genuinely couldn't imagine who, below the Venerable rank, could genuinely threaten his existence. Jin Zhanyi couldn't; the Qilian Twin Demons certainly couldn't either.

Seemingly perceiving He Yiming's hesitation and understanding his true thoughts, Jin Zhanyi burst into laughter. "Brother He, after seeing your battle with Xiong Wuji at Tianchi, I already knew you and I are the same kind of people. People like us can only squeeze out our full potential and achieve constant progress, gaining greater strength and status, by continuously fighting and challenging stronger opponents."

He Yiming felt a stirring within, reflecting on his own journey of martial cultivation—it seemed to be exactly so. Without the pressure from those formidable adversaries, his progress after stepping into the Xiantian realm would never have been so swift.

Still, he let out a long sigh. "Brother Jin, don't you think this method is too dangerous?"

"Dangerous?" Jin Zhanyi scoffed coldly. "Wanting rapid advancement while avoiding even a shred of risk is absolutely impossible. Besides, we wouldn't engage opponents who vastly surpass us. If we truly encountered such a person, couldn't you just turn tail and flee?"

He Yiming shook his head with a wry smile, the slight resentment in his heart seemingly evaporating. He now felt a genuine sense of anticipation for the impending encounter with the Qilian Twin Demons.

The convoy did not linger in that city; after resting for a day, they pressed onward toward their destination.

After a month of travel, they finally reached their intended location. The journey along the way gave He Yiming a true understanding of Lingxiao Treasure Hall’s status within the Great Shen Kingdom. No matter which city the convoy arrived at, welcoming parties were always specially arranged, and these people were not merely peripheral disciples of Lingxiao Treasure Hall in various regions, but even included the most powerful figures in those localities. Apart from the official government of Great Shen, they even encountered several experts at the Xiantian realm.

Of course, the Xiantian experts who appeared here largely maintained friendly relations with Lingxiao Treasure Hall, and judging by their respectful demeanor toward Zhang Zhongjin and Jin Zhanyi, they were clearly not strangers to them. These Xiantian experts were like the various branches of Tianchi Mountain—though not the true main trunk, they were scattered across the nation, appearing like loose sand, yet bound by countless, unbreakable threads of connection. Even to Lingxiao Treasure Hall, they held irreplaceable importance.

On this day, the convoy maintained a steady pace, but a subtle excitement flickered across everyone's face. Perhaps many among them were not leaving Lingxiao Treasure Hall for the first time, but returning home was a joyous occasion for anyone.

Jin Zhanyi pointed ahead. "Brother He, we are almost there."

He Yiming lifted the carriage curtain and gazed intently. In the distance, the first thing he saw was a massive structure towering above the flat ground. Though too far away for him to discern clearly, He Yiming was certain it was not a natural mountain. The terrain here was flat plains; there was no possibility of a sudden peak erupting. He pondered for a moment, closed his eyes, and when his eyes reopened, a sharp, subtle light flickered within them.

Jin Zhanyi smiled slightly. He was accustomed to newcomers to Lingxiao Treasure Hall being immediately captivated by the central structure.

Finally, He Yiming made out the distant, tall edifice: it was a pagoda. A true pagoda. Although the distance obscured its exact height, merely observing it sent a wave of profound shock through him. He was certain that standing beneath the pagoda would multiply that shock a thousandfold.

He turned his head and saw Jin Zhanyi’s expression—a look that was half-smile, half-smirk, yet tinged with intense pride. He Yiming immediately understood that this pagoda likely held a status within Lingxiao Treasure Hall equivalent to the summit of Tianchi's main peak, shrouded in the clouds. It was the sanctuary for every Lingxiao Treasure Hall member, even for Jin Zhanyi.

Forcibly suppressing his overwhelming curiosity, as the carriage advanced, the scenery unfolding before him shocked He Yiming just as much. Slowly, a city materialized before his eyes. It was a vast metropolis centered around the towering pagoda. Before today, He Yiming could never have imagined that such a strange, even beautiful, city could exist in the world. The buildings of the entire city seemed endless, but more importantly, the city appeared to lack something vital.

As He Yiming’s questioning gaze swept the surroundings, Jin Zhanyi finally spoke. "Brother He, what are you looking for?"

He Yiming hesitated. "City walls. Why does this city not have city walls?"

Jin Zhanyi let out an arrogant laugh. "Simple. Because they were too much trouble and delayed most people’s entry and exit times, so we tore them down."

Author’s Note: I apologize; there are only two chapters today. Something significant happened at White Crane's home, with major repercussions; I even had to visit the Public Security Bureau this morning and afternoon. Although it wasn't in the city proper, in the pure life of White Crane, apart from an incident involving a household theft several years ago, I have never had any dealings with the police. Yet, today, I went twice. A relative made a mistake, caused trouble, but it was purely unintentional; however, they were still detained.

These two chapters were written last night and this morning; I haven't written a single word today. Not just today, White Crane also has to travel tomorrow, and things likely won't be resolved until Thursday or Friday. Over the next few days, I will try my best to maintain three updates daily, but if I truly can't manage, it will only be two.

I know that personal matters preventing me from writing are unfair to all of you, but Heaven’s fortunes can turn suddenly, and White Crane truly understands the meaning of that phrase now... I ask for everyone’s understanding. By next week at the latest, White Crane will certainly erupt with extra chapters to make up for it.

My commitment of 400,000 words this month will be fulfilled. If I fail to complete it, White Crane will no longer request monthly votes in the future.

Please be understanding and forgive me.