For a full three shichen, yet in He Yiming’s perception, it seemed no more than the blink of an eye.

The experience of viewing the original manuscript was indeed different from reading the Thirty-Six Styles of Mountain Splitting he held in his hands.

It wasn't that the manual in his possession contained any flaws, but rather that he and the founding ancestor of the Lingxiao Treasure Hall possessed subtle divergences in their understanding of Metal-elemental techniques.

It was precisely because of this divergence that He Yiming encountered a vastly different realm of understanding.

Of course, determining whose comprehension was superior was impossible to know; however, in He Yiming’s view, only what suited him best was truly the most formidable martial art.

In the first shichen, He Yiming had finished reviewing the first style through the twentieth. During the subsequent second shichen, he reviewed the twenty-first style through the twenty-third using his unique method. He could fully immerse his body and mind within, meticulously discerning the minute differences between the two texts.

This variance provided him with vast room for adjustment, instilling a profound confidence that he could elevate the Thirty-Six Styles of Mountain Splitting even further.

In the final shichen, He Yiming fixed the diagram in the manuscript upon the twenty-fourth style.

Although twelve styles remained, including the final, unfathomably mysterious three, he did not turn the page.

After all, at his core, he was not someone who aimed too high or lacked grounding. Despite the immense allure of the subsequent forms, he rigidly suppressed the yearning in his heart.

Lingering over the page for the twenty-fourth style, He Yiming’s brow furrowed deeply. Even though his spirit was steeped within it, he simply could not fully grasp its profound secrets.

It felt as if a semi-transparent film lay before his eyes—thin, seemingly easy to tear, yet his limbs felt shackled, utterly unable to exert force, naturally preventing him from ripping that film apart.

Suddenly, He Yiming sensed someone approaching him. His spirit sharpened instantly, and he hastily withdrew from that state of total immersion.

Opening his eyes, He Yiming immediately saw Jin Zhanyi standing silently before him.

A flicker of annoyance crossed He Yiming’s face. “Time’s up?”

Jin Zhanyi nodded expressionlessly. “Three shichen have passed.”

He Yiming stood up with resignation, placed the manuscript back into the wooden box, closed the lid, and carefully presented it to Jin Zhanyi with both hands.

If Jin Zhanyi had been exceedingly cautious when presenting the manual initially, He Yiming was now even more reverent in returning it.

Jin Zhanyi finally allowed a slight smile to appear. “Brother He, you may return to review it again in three days. Furthermore, once you advance to the Venerable realm, you will have unlimited access to review it here.”

He Yiming managed a wry smile, though he understood in his heart that this was essentially an empty promise unless he intended to reside permanently within the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

Sighing deeply, watching Jin Zhanyi carry the manuscript back into the room, He Yiming’s eyes shone with a burning intensity.

Leaving the Martial Repository, Jin Zhanyi once again bowed deeply toward the small door at the entrance. He Yiming, greatly perplexed, mimicked the gesture and returned the bow.

His ears twitched slightly, and He Yiming’s expression shifted subtly. He had detected an infinitesimally faint sound. He vaguely understood that perhaps a Venerable Lord resided within that area.

Yet, this Venerable Lord’s art of concealment was so profound that even with his efforts, he had strained to detect even a whisper of movement while the person remained seated.

Following Jin Zhanyi downstairs, he accompanied He Yiming out of the tall tower and into a courtyard not far from its base.

This was where Jin Zhanyi resided within the inner city of the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

Those situated closest to the central tower were invariably the core figures of the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

As for the powerful Venerable Lords, they primarily resided atop the tower; unless their cultivation reached the absolute peak of a certain stage, or some earth-shattering event occurred in the outside world demanding their intervention, they would absolutely never leave the tower.

In this regard, they were remarkably similar to those powerful Venerable Lords residing atop Tianchi Mountain.

Jin Zhanyi settled He Yiming into the finest guest room before taking his leave.

Although he had many instructions to impart, he understood even better that after viewing the original Thirty-Six Styles of Mountain Splitting, He Yiming required a significant period for contemplation. It would be improper for him to linger and risk being asked to depart.

Seeing Jin Zhanyi off, He Yiming immediately closed his eyes and devoted himself entirely to that mystical state.

After an unknown duration, he remained with his eyes shut but stood up and moved toward the door.

Even without opening his eyes, it was as if he possessed an unseen pair of eyes; every step he took was exceptionally steady, and he managed to avoid bumping into any furniture within the room.

Reaching the door, he pushed it open gently, his footsteps growing even more measured.

He advanced step by step, finally coming to a halt precisely in the center of the courtyard.

Then, he assumed his stance and began practicing his forms, fist after fist, as if moving in slow motion.

From his body, an immensely powerful Metal-elemental energy suddenly surged forth, radiating wantonly in all directions.

Starting from the first style of the Thirty-Six Styles of Mountain Splitting, he practiced them one by one with practiced ease.

His movements appeared steady and slow, but the transitions between each style flowed like running water; in mere breaths, he completed the transition from the first style through the twenty-third.

Back on Tianchi Mountain, though he had practiced the styles sequentially up to the twenty-third, the speed then was far inferior to today, and the powerful aura he manifested was considerably weaker.

This was the result of having studied the original Thirty-Six Styles of Mountain Splitting today, giving He Yiming a new comprehension of this Metal-elemental technique, especially regarding the linkage between moves, which had reached an indescribably subtle level.

Were it not for this, He Yiming could not have executed every style successfully in just a few breaths.

Upon formally completing the twenty-third style, He Yiming’s movements paused abruptly in mid-air. The true qi within his body surged like a giant wave hundreds of meters high, having reached its absolute peak. He poured his entire being into this final style, hoping to utilize this incomparable momentum to complete the twenty-fourth style in one decisive push.

He felt intensely that as long as he could strike the twenty-fourth style, he could successfully condense the Metal Flower.

But at this juncture, despite the surging true qi and billowing aura, he still could not break through the thin membrane before him.

The twenty-fourth style had been executed countless times in his mind, yet his body simply could not control the immense power; instead, there was a constant risk of collapse.

He remained in this posture, maintaining the peak momentum precisely at this point, motionless as a clay Buddha.

Only after a long while did he let out a long breath, gradually drawing back his true qi. A trace of disappointment crossed his face.

A figure flashed, and Jin Zhanyi was instantly by his side, his body standing straight as a pine, his eyes alight with an intense, unusual gleam. It seemed He Yiming’s previous aura had stirred a heroic spirit within him, making him eager to exchange blows immediately.

Sensing Jin Zhanyi’s potent fighting intent, the dejection He Yiming had felt moments before vanished completely. An equally strong will to fight surged from his own body, in no way inferior to the other.

However, the moment their battle intents collided, both simultaneously exerted full control to restrain themselves.

They exchanged a knowing smile, both harboring a shade of indescribable regret.

“Brother He, Senior Brother has sent word. Five days from now is the day we fight the Qilian Twin Devils,” Jin Zhanyi stated in a deep voice.

He Yiming loosely clenched his fists. He took a deep breath. “Five days? I truly wish the time would arrive sooner.”

Jin Zhanyi laughed heartily. “Brother He, I was not mistaken in my judgment of you. We are, in fact, the same kind of people.”

He Yiming paused, recalling his initial reluctance and his current impatience. He couldn't help but chuckle wryly; perhaps he and Jin Zhanyi truly belonged to the same mold.

※※※※

On the other side of the tower, in a spacious room, three elders sat across a table, seemingly deep in discussion.

Among these three, two of them shared identical features; not just their faces and attire, but even their expressions displayed no variation whatsoever.

As if sensing something, they abruptly halted their conversation and turned their gazes toward a specific direction.

A moment later, one of the two identically dressed elders stated solemnly, “Such powerful Metal-elemental energy must belong to Jin Zhanyi.”

The other elder nodded slightly. “It is rare for Metal-elemental power to reach this level of strength, but more importantly, he maintained it for so long. Heh heh… this is clearly a display of force directed at us two.”

The elder seated opposite them retracted his gaze. “Great Devil, Second Devil, what are your thoughts?”

The Great Devil immediately replied respectfully, “Master, please rest assured. The stronger the opponent, the greater the benefit for us two.”

The Second Devil followed up, “Only between life and death do we have the opportunity to grasp that fleeting chance and integrate the Divine Weapon into our bodies. Since Jin Zhanyi lives up to his reputation, we should only be pleased.” He paused. “However, who exactly is this He Yiming? We have never heard of him. Does the Lingxiao Treasure Hall harbor any other peak powerhouses unknown to us?”

The Great Devil parted his thick lips. “No matter who he is, since he dared to accept our challenge, we will let him taste the bloody flavor of hell.”

The elder across from them sighed softly. “Since the Lingxiao Treasure Hall has permitted this person to fight, they must have something to rely upon. You must never be careless, or all your efforts will be wasted, and my painstaking work will have been in vain.”

The Qilian Twin Devils’ eyes focused, and they nodded simultaneously, their movements perfectly synchronized, as if they were one person.

The elder’s gaze returned to that direction, and he murmured, “Five days from now…”

Ps: Three chapters today, likely three tomorrow as well, and possibly five the day after. My updates this week have been sluggish, which is entirely unavoidable. I ask all kind sirs and ladies for their understanding. Bai He apologizes…