The courtyard lay silent in the oppressive dark. Moonlight spilled down, leaving the earth washed in a stark, pale white.
Jin Zhanyi stood in the center of the yard, head tilted back, his gaze tracing the path of two streaking meteors disappearing into the distance, his expression shifting like troubled waters.
As a direct disciple of the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, he knew precisely what those two streaks represented. Yet, he could not fathom what event was grave enough to disturb those two ancient figures.
One had to remember the esteemed status of these two elders; they had long since withdrawn from worldly affairs, possessing tempers so aloof that even the last upheaval in the Armory had caused them to turn a blind eye, paying it no heed whatsoever.
If the Sect Master himself had not personally issued the order, Hao Tong would never have taken the trouble to refine the Youth-Preserving Elixir.
Therefore, anything capable of alarming both of them must be monumental, perhaps even concerning the very survival and prosperity of the entire sect.
In comparison, the departure of the two on-duty Venerables was a matter of little consequence.
Under normal circumstances, Jin Zhanyi might have followed along to witness the excitement, but this night, he dared not make a move without proper contemplation.
Not long after, two more streaks of light slashed across the sky; the two elders had returned to the Tongtian Pagoda.
Even so, throughout the Lingxiao Treasure Hall that night, anyone who knew the origin of those two flashes found sleep elusive. It was only the next day, when Gao Weiliang issued the command to search the scorched earth, that everyone grasped the vague outline of what had transpired.
And while the disciples of the Lingxiao Treasure Hall were steeped in suspicion and doubt, He Yiming had already slipped back into his room from beneath the ground, conveniently bringing the Treasure Pig along with him.
His room contained several sets of replacement clothing. He Yiming casually swapped one set, thereby replacing Bai Lingba's position.
This marvelous bodyguard, without a single complaint, dissolved into a sheet of flowing water and departed the Lingxiao Treasure Hall in his own unique fashion. As for the worry of whether he would be discovered, He Yiming never concerned himself with that.
The Treasure Pig hesitated conspicuously; it seemed desperately eager to follow, yet equally reluctant to leave He Yiming’s side.
After all, alongside He Yiming rested an artifact of immeasurable power, an object that held an attraction for the creature no less potent than that of Bai Lingba.
He Yiming rearranged a few tables and chairs in the room, constructing a crude nest for the Treasure Pig, then placed the Nine Dragon Furnace within it. Taking hold of the pig’s large ear, He Yiming murmured softly, “Little fellow, do you know what this thing is?”
The Treasure Pig nodded, grunting in response.
He Yiming’s expression grew exceedingly grave. “You should be perfectly aware of how precious this thing is. If anyone else saw it, they would certainly snatch it away from you.”
The Treasure Pig seemed startled, immediately throwing itself forward, all four hooves planted firmly, clutching the furnace tightly. Its small eyes blinked rapidly, as if challenging anyone who dared approach to try and take it.
He Yiming nodded with satisfaction. “You stay here and guard it. You absolutely must not go out.”
The Treasure Pig grunted a few times more, and seeing his subsequent actions, anyone could discern its intent.
He Yiming chuckled slyly, finally revealing his true colors. “Of course, if you tire of playing with it, you’ll hand it over to me.”
The Treasure Pig’s little eyes instantly filled with vigilance, its gaze upon He Yiming sparkling brightly.
He Yiming feigned irritation and flicked its ear. “You little scamp, you can’t possibly take this thing with you to find Brother Bai, can you? If you wish to be with Brother Bai, you must leave this behind.”
The Treasure Pig tilted its head, apparently wrestling with the dilemma of staying or going.
He Yiming shook his head, stood up, and paid the little creature no more mind.
Although this divine artifact was now in his possession, the little creature was ultimately the lucky one who discovered it first. More importantly, the fire dragon dwelling within the Nine Dragon Furnace was clearly extremely friendly toward the piglet, its gaze carrying an almost doting quality.
He Yiming vaguely suspected that the slight measure of the Nine Dragon Furnace’s power he could now channel was likely connected to this little companion.
Given this, allowing the piglet to remain with the Nine Dragon Furnace might yield unexpected benefits.
Regarding this artifact that seemed almost sentient, He Yiming dared not treat it casually.
However, he was confident that, apart from Bai Lingba, the Treasure Pig possessed only a three-day fascination for any treasure. Even an artifact like the Nine Dragon Furnace, He Yiming was certain, would be abandoned after three to five days at most, as it went in search of Bai Lingba. By then, the divine artifact would return to his hands as before.
Having settled the Treasure Pig and tidied up a bit, dawn was already breaking on the second day.
He Yiming pushed open the door and inhaled deeply the fresh air of the courtyard. The sensation was utterly delightful, especially when contrasted with the acrid stench of the previous night, making the clarity feel all the more precious.
“Brother He, how has your contemplation progressed?” Jin Zhanyi’s voice carried over, and immediately the courtyard door opened. Jin Zhanyi walked in from outside.
He Yiming offered a slight smile. “I have gained some insights; I can only say I have gained a little understanding.”
Jin Zhanyi appraised him thoroughly, then laughed. “Brother He, your face is bright with joy. The understanding you grasped this time must be extraordinary.”
He Yiming did not deny it, nodding with a pleased look.
The truth was, he hadn't grasped anything the previous night, but to receive even a sliver of acknowledgment from the Nine Dragon Furnace—to be able to guide even a fraction of its might—was indeed a matter of immense joy.
Jin Zhanyi’s expression suddenly grew serious. “Brother He, Martial Uncle Hao just sent word, hoping we will concentrate on our training here in the Lingxiao Treasure Hall. Especially the two of us; with the Central Great Plains expedition in three months, we cannot afford even a moment of negligence.”
He Yiming felt a warmth spread through his chest. “Brother Jin, please convey my gratitude to Senior Hao for me.”
Jin Zhanyi chuckled wryly. “You and Martial Uncle Hao hit it off immediately. It’s fortunate you are not a disciple of the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, but rather from the Northwest Tianchi Mountain. Otherwise, I would truly worry that Martial Uncle Hao might forcibly take you as a disciple and pour the entirety of his knowledge of the Elixir Way upon you.”
He Yiming shook his head with a wry smile. In Jin Zhanyi’s mind, nothing existed beyond Martial Arts, but in this world, there were many fascinating things, and He Yiming was beginning to dimly perceive that the Elixir Way and Martial Arts shared a subtle, almost imperceptible connection.
If one could grasp it correctly, it would not only fail to impede martial progress but actively aid it.
However, very few people could truly see this point, and those who successfully grasped it were even rarer—a handful among thousands.
Jin Zhanyi glanced toward He Yiming’s side, his tone solemn. “Brother He, I know your plan: to use the Five Element Flowers as the legs of a tripod. You have now condensed three Five Element Flowers; you can begin attempting the Tripod Stance.”
He Yiming’s face flushed slightly. He murmured, “Brother Jin, how should I proceed?”
Jin Zhanyi paused, then asked back, “What did you say?”
He Yiming’s lips curved into a wry grin; he decided to throw caution to the wind. He asked as if it were his due right, “I am asking how one goes about forming the Tripod Stance.”
Jin Zhanyi’s eyes widened. “Brother He, did your sect elders never teach you?”
He Yiming felt a flash of annoyance. He hailed from the Hengshan lineage, where the highest cultivation belonged to Yu Jinglei, yet Yu Jinglei had only condensed two flowers; how could he possibly know how to cultivate the Tripod Stance?
Though the secret chambers beyond the Ancestral Hall seemed to contain relevant records, He Yiming strictly followed ancestral injunctions and had not consulted them before reaching the Three-Flower realm. At this point, even attempting to consult them was impossible. He certainly couldn’t travel thousands of miles back to Hengshan just for that.
Clearing his throat lightly, He Yiming offered, “Brother Jin, I am a successor of the Tianchi branch’s Hengshan lineage, so…”
His eyes flickered, holding a hint of ingratiating appeal.
Jin Zhanyi offered a wry smile. “Very well, watch closely.”
He lightly tapped his waist, and a phantom image shot out from his side like an arrow, expanding rapidly as it met the air, instantly transforming into a spear nearly three meters long.
Although the Dragon Spear’s length was far inferior to the Great Guan Blade, infused with True Qi, it still exuded a fierce killing aura. Especially the chilling gleam shimmering on the spearhead, which made even He Yiming’s body hair stand on end instantly.
“Brother He, feel it. What is different about my Dragon Spear?” Jin Zhanyi stated gravely.
He Yiming hesitated for a moment, then extended his hand to rest upon the spear. However, his expression immediately shifted.
The instant his palm touched the Dragon Spear, a massive force rebounded upward. He was intimately familiar with this power: it was Jin Zhanyi’s True Qi.
He initially thought Jin Zhanyi intended to strike him by surprise, but he quickly realized this did not seem to be Jin Zhanyi’s action, but rather the reaction of the Dragon Spear itself.
Concentrating a significant amount of True Qi into his palm, the two forces momentarily stalled, but the True Qi within the Dragon Spear was finally suppressed by He Yiming.
A look of surprise and doubt flashed in He Yiming’s eyes. “Your True Qi…”
Jin Zhanyi slowly nodded. “The process of Sealing the Summit (Juding) and Establishing the Tripod (Dingzu) are actually two opposite processes. When Sealing the Summit, one atomizes divine weapons and absorbs them into the body. From then on, one can use this as a bridge to communicate with the power of Heaven and Earth, truly grasping the forces of the cosmos in one’s hand. However, atomizing and absorbing divine weapons into the body is incredibly difficult. That is why the Tripod Stance exists beforehand.”
He paused at this point, then gave a slight shake of his wrist. The Dragon Spear immediately emitted a crisp sound like a dragon’s roar: “Before atomizing the divine weapon, one must first channel their own True Qi into the chosen weapon. Only by saturating this weapon with the power of your Three Flowers, completely fusing all your strength with the armament, can you identify the three optimal support points.” He looked deeply at He Yiming. “Three points form the most stable configuration in the world, and they are the source of all constrained power. If you can find your three corresponding points of power, then you can achieve the Tripod Stance.”
He Yiming’s brow furrowed slightly; he seemed to grasp something, yet perhaps understood nothing at all.
At some unknown point, Jin Zhanyi had silently departed.
He had explained everything he understood; as for whether He Yiming could comprehend it, that was up to He Yiming alone.