A gentle breeze drifted over from the distance. It seemed this very breeze was what roused everyone in the valley from their thoughts.

After Venerable Fan Shuo and the Qilian Twin Demon Masters and their disciple departed with such flair, the gazes of the assembled masters all turned toward He Yiming and Jin Zhanyi, their eyes brimming with undisguised envy.

He Yiming was one thing; although condensing the Flower of Metal was certainly a momentous occasion, Jin Zhanyi was the true focus of everyone's attention.

Gao Weiliang walked forward slowly, his expression grave. "Junior Martial Nephew Jin, are you truly confident?"

Jin Zhanyi's expression tightened, revealing a look of certainty. He reached out and lightly tapped his waist, and with a flash of cold light, the concealed Dragon Spear immediately materialized before them.

The spear shaft, crafted from the legendary dragon hide, was now perfectly straight, emitting a chill so sharp it pained the eyes.

Everyone was momentarily taken aback, unsure what he was doing. Only the two Venerables, Gao and Du, and the keenly perceptive He Yiming vaguely noticed that beneath the cold glare, a faint trace of white mist seemed to undulate, as if the Dragon Spear might dissolve into vapor at any moment.

"Please do not worry, Martial Uncles. What I lack is only the final step, and I am already beginning to sense it."

He Yiming was merely surprised, but Gao and Du were overjoyed. They exchanged a look and nodded in mutual understanding.

Gao Weiliang sighed deeply. "Junior Martial Nephew Jin, your decision was correct. Today's trials have truly benefited you immensely."

Jin Zhanyi, unhurried, stated, "Martial Uncles, when shall this junior set off for the Central Great Plain?"

Gao Weiliang hesitated for a moment. "Although the West has begun mobilizing its armies, based on past patterns, those Paladins will not appear on the main battlefield until after the New Year. You all shall remain here for three months to recuperate and consolidate what you have learned, just in time to join the true convergence of the powerful."

Jin Zhanyi nodded slightly. "As Martial Uncle deems fit." He flicked his wrist, and the Dragon Spear instantly coiled back around his waist, the movement flowing as smoothly as water, possessing a truly pleasing aesthetic.

He Yiming clicked his tongue in admiration, just as a figure slowly approached, none other than the smiling Miss Qiu, who called out magnanimously, "Senior Brother Jin."

Jin Zhanyi’s demeanor immediately lost the effortless grace he had just possessed. He smiled faintly. "Junior Sister Qiu."

He Yiming's gaze swept between the two of them, a strange feeling subtly stirring within him.

Gao Weiliang cleared his throat lightly. "Junior Martial Nephew Jin, you shall escort Junior Martial Sister Qiu back to the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda." He waved his large hand toward He Yiming with a hearty chuckle. "He... Mr., how about I accompany you back to your sect?"

He had initially intended to adopt a tone of seniority and call He Yiming 'Junior Martial Nephew,' a courtesy well within his rights given his friendship with the Venerables of the Heavenly Pool. However, recalling He Yiming's performance that day, and the way Fan Shuo had addressed him, the title of 'Junior Martial Nephew' stuck in his throat, impossible to utter with a straight face.

So, when the moment arrived, he could only follow Fan Shuo's lead and address him as Mr. He.

Jin Zhanyi's expression shifted slightly, and he quickly intervened. "Martial Uncle Gao, it was I who was hosting Brother He during his visit to the Azure Firmament Palace."

Miss Qiu's eyes immediately dimmed, her wistful expression seeming to silently voice a certain kind of complaint.

Gao Weiliang’s face hardened slightly. "Since Mr. He has arrived at the Azure Firmament Palace, he is naturally a guest of the entire Azure Firmament Palace. Am I, his Martial Uncle, incapable of hosting him?" He turned, and the sternness instantly softened. "What do you think, Mr. He?"

He Yiming glanced around. Everyone’s expression held a peculiar nuance. He understood the situation perfectly. He completely ignored the look of pleading from Jin Zhanyi and declared with upright integrity, "Venerable Gao speaks correctly. This junior wishes to tour the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda now; I hope Venerable Gao will grant permission."

Gao Weiliang laughed heartily. "A small matter, Mr. He, please proceed." With that, he turned, his form blurring, and in an instant—like wildfire spreading—he was gone, a flicker of dimness followed by a flash of light in the distance.

He Yiming offered Jin Zhanyi an apologetic smile, giving a silent signal to fend for himself, and fled under the shadow of Jin Zhanyi’s discontented, fierce gaze.

Though Jin Zhanyi was well-regarded within the Azure Firmament Palace and highly favored for the future, He Yiming certainly would not risk offending the Sect Master's only daughter for his sake.

Du Wenbin’s eyes glared fiercely around. "What are you still waiting for? Go back and cultivate diligently! Review everything you witnessed today carefully; perhaps you might achieve a breakthrough."

The crowd responded with unified, respectful assent. In an instant, the valley erupted in chaos, dozens of people scrambling over each other to rush out of the valley mouth, as if some ancient, ferocious beast were snapping at their heels.

Du Wenbin finally nodded slowly, quite satisfied with the behavior of these youngsters.

Afterward, without sparing Jin Zhanyi or the other any farewell, as if he hadn't seen them at all, he turned and drifted away.

When He Yiming returned to the Azure Firmament Palace, Gao Weiliang had already been waiting for some time.

He Yiming had not employed his supreme wind-attribute instantaneous movement technique, so his speed was nowhere near as exaggerated as the elder's. After all, he remained wary of this Venerable Gao, who had relentlessly pursued him that night; as long as there was any possibility, he would not allow the elder to see through him.

Gao Weiliang accompanied He Yiming into the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda, but after half an hour of circling, they remained confined to the lower five floors. Although his attitude remained polite, Gao simply would not lead him any higher.

He Yiming naturally understood the implicit boundary and wisely excused himself, returning to his temporary residence within the Azure Firmament Palace.

The moment he pushed open the door, He Yiming’s ears twitched. He instantly applied force to the tip of his foot and shot away like a phantom.

In the instant he moved, a tree branch sliced through the space where his afterimage had just been.

He Yiming turned, a touch sheepish. "Brother Jin, this has nothing to do with me. Venerable Gao ordered me to leave; how could I refuse?"

Jin Zhanyi snorted coldly, tossing the branch aside. "Don't think I'm ignorant of your motives. You probably knew Miss Qiu's background and didn't want to offend her, that's the truth, isn't it?"

He Yiming chuckled, not denying it. He glanced up at the sky, puzzled. "Brother Jin, since it was a meeting with a beauty, why did you return so early? If it were me, I would gladly spend the entire day with her."

He was about to tease further, but noticing the subtle tension in Jin Zhanyi's brow, he quickly sobered his expression. "Brother Jin, I actually missed Li Xun very much. If you hadn't invited me to the Azure Firmament Palace this time, I would certainly have gone to the Northern Frontier Ice Palace."

Jin Zhanyi was indeed taken aback. He opened his mouth, a strange feeling of guilt rising in his heart. "Brother He, since Miss Yuan has been received into the Northern Frontier Ice Palace, it is naturally for her great benefit. This brief separation is preparation for a long and enduring future. You should put your mind at ease."

He Yiming nodded slightly, as if recalling something. "Brother Jin, is that Miss Qiu truly the daughter of your esteemed Sect Master?"

Jin Zhanyi shot him an annoyed look. "Is that something one would lie about?"

He Yiming chuckled. "Since Miss Qiu is the Sect Master's daughter, why hasn't she even stepped into the Innate Realm?"

When He Yiming first began cultivating the martial path, he held the Innate Realm in extreme reverence, viewing it as the pinnacle of martial arts. But as he advanced and encountered more people and events, his perspective on certain matters underwent a drastic transformation.

Although he had met Miss Qiu only once, He Yiming could already discern that her talent was not poor. While not as astonishing as Jin Zhanyi's, it was certainly not inferior to most of the First-Tier Heaven experts present.

Yet, with such talent and such lineage, to still only be a Postnatal cultivator was difficult to comprehend.

Jin Zhanyi waved a dismissive hand. "Junior Sister Qiu is only twenty-five years old, yet she has already cultivated three disciplines concurrently to the peak of the Ninth Level of Internal Energy. This speed is unparalleled even in the historical records of the Azure Firmament Palace. As for stepping into the Innate Realm, it will require at least another decade of cultivation." He paused, glancing at He Yiming with a peculiar expression. "Brother He, do you truly believe there is a second person who, at your age, could ascend to the Three Flowers Realm like you?"

He Yiming paused momentarily, then let out a hearty laugh. "Miss Qiu is only twenty-five? May I ask the age of your esteemed Sect Master?"

Jin Zhanyi hesitated. "I don't know either. I only recall Martial Uncle Gao mentioning that when he joined the Azure Firmament Palace and began his martial cultivation, the Sect Master was already leading the sect and often entered seclusion. Most sect affairs were handled by the presiding Venerables."

He Yiming gaped in surprise, holding up both hands to illustrate the difference, his face full of confusion.

Jin Zhanyi found it both funny and exasperating. "Brother He, this isn't a secret; it’s quite simple. The Sect Master remarried thirty years ago. At that time, the new Sect Mistress was about the same age as Junior Sister Qiu. Five years later, Junior Sister Qiu was born. That is all."

He Yiming finally understood, feeling a deep sense of awe toward the formidable strength of the Sect Master.

However, here and now, even if he possessed the audacity of a leopard, he would never dare to speak a word of criticism.

Changing the subject, He Yiming asked, "Brother Jin, I noticed Miss Qiu clearly holds you in high regard. What are your intentions regarding that?"

Jin Zhanyi gave a wry smile. "Brother He, I am nearly one hundred and fifty years old. Do you think I still harbor such thoughts?" He paused, then continued, "From the day I began martial arts, I resolved that I would dedicate this life solely to the martial path, never entangling myself in matters of romance. Furthermore, this is the critical juncture for my ascension to the Venerable Realm; how could I afford any distraction?"

He Yiming nodded slowly. At this moment, Jin Zhanyi needed to devote himself entirely to the martial path. But what about after he advanced to Venerable?

Subtly, He Yiming suddenly felt a strong anticipation regarding the future development between them.

As for the age gap, He Yiming suspected that in the Azure Firmament Palace, no one truly cared about it.

Considering the actions of the Sect Master, everything suddenly became perfectly reasonable!

P.S.: Five chapters today, sweating... I originally wanted to ask for monthly tickets, but my computer is deliberately antagonizing me, damn it. I'll ask tomorrow. Wishing all book friends a happy new week! If you have any recommendation tickets, please spare a few. Thank you!