The morning courtyard was washed in the sound of birdsong. A breeze stirred, carrying the fresh scent of leaves.

He Yiming, in a rare display, worked through a set of bare-handed forms in the courtyard. Though he refrained from using True Qi, his bearing remained profoundly stable; his movements, sweeping and decisive, carried an almost palpable, weighty aura.

Since ascending to the Venerable rank, even his mere presence, radiating such immense power, was enough to awe many onlookers.

The door opposite swung open, and Jin Zhanyi strode out. He paused on the steps, a flicker of admiration in his gaze fixed on He Yiming. However, for him, a year of rigorous training would surely bring him to the same level; thus, while he admired, there was little genuine jealousy in his heart.

Perhaps, having a friend like He Yiming to spur him on would only make his own pursuit of martial cultivation even more diligent.

The old adage, "Near vermilion, one becomes dyed vermilion; near ink, one becomes stained black," was clearly no idle saying.

He Yiming seemed entirely oblivious to Jin Zhanyi’s presence, continuing his martial display without pause. There was a peculiar energy about him, a quality that seemed to seamlessly blend him into the surrounding environment, transforming him into a living painting.

Jin Zhanyi’s eye twitched almost imperceptibly. This state, akin to the unity of Heaven and Man, was something he too could enter at any time. But that required the mobilization of True Qi. To achieve such a level relying solely on simple forms and footwork was, indeed, extraordinarily difficult.

In that moment, he even wondered if He Yiming had slipped into a state of profound enlightenment, for how else could he accomplish this?

Yet, he soon shook his head. If enlightenment were so easily attained, it wouldn't be the object of such universal yearning.

A moment later, He Yiming’s movements seemed to accelerate rapidly, and under the direct sunlight, a strange, elusive radiance suddenly manifested around him.

Jin Zhanyi’s eyes narrowed sharply; for a split second, he thought he saw He Yiming vanish.

It was as if the man had utterly disappeared from the space, becoming a sheer void before his eyes. Though the flowers, trees, and courtyard architecture remained unchanged, the figure moving among them had simply ceased to be visible.

But this sensation lasted only an instant, and even Jin Zhanyi doubted whether his eyes had deceived him.

He focused his gaze, pouring all his concentration onto He Yiming. Yet, until the very final moment, he perceived nothing unusual.

Finally, He Yiming settled his weight, sinking into a solid stance, and let out a long breath, concluding his practice session.

Jin Zhanyi shook his head again, muttering inwardly, perhaps his mind, preoccupied with refining the Dragon Spear, had made him overly suspicious. It seemed prudent to select an auspicious date soon to begin the refinement process.

He Yiming looked up and laughed, "Brother Jin, what do you make of my set of forms?"

His heart swelled with a mix of gratification and pride. This seemingly ordinary set of forms contained a profound secret: he had slowly integrated the techniques of concealment with the Distortion Art he had managed to glean from Hao Xue.

Though he appeared to be using no True Qi, that subtle, strange energy was being mobilized within his body at incredible speed. At one critical point, when he felt his physical being achieved the utmost harmony with the forces of Heaven and Earth, he had deployed this modified version of the Distortion Art.

The result was that for that brief moment, He Yiming experienced a sensation akin to bending the light itself, allowing him to cloak himself perfectly, just as his four tangible Flowers did.

Of course, concealing a living, breathing human being was exponentially harder than concealing the four formless yet materialized Flowers of the various elements. Even for He Yiming now, such perfect concealment was only achievable in a state resembling serendipity, lasting but a fleeting instant.

Nevertheless, this represented significant progress. He possessed the strong confidence that one day, just like concealing the tangible Flowers, he would be able to hide his entire self, ensuring that not even under the brightest daylight would anyone detect his existence.

But reaching that height—who knew how many years of dedicated study that would require?

Jin Zhanyi gave He Yiming a look of complex emotion. "Your martial comprehension is truly excellent. Even in a simple set of forms, you evoke the feeling of Heaven and Man united. Truly worthy of being called a Venerable Master."

He Yiming roared with laughter. "Brother Jin, are you praising me, or yourself? Don't forget, in at most one year, you too will be a Venerable."

A faint smile touched Jin Zhanyi’s lips, yet he felt an equal measure of quiet satisfaction.

Sometimes he wondered; he was fortunate to have achieved his own breakthrough. Otherwise, seeing He Yiming now, he might have felt inadequate and allowed a distance to grow between them.

The idea that people associate by affinity held undeniable truth. No matter how close the bond, a subtle, invisible chasm would inevitably open between a Venerable and someone merely standing at the threshold of that rank, widening the gap unnoticed.

As if suddenly remembering something, Jin Zhanyi turned and slipped back into the room, quickly emerging under He Yiming's bewildered gaze.

When he reappeared, he carried a sizable bundle slung across his back, and in his hand, he held a book.

He handed the book over. He Yiming felt a surge of delight, quickly accepted it, flipped through a few pages, and said, "Brother Jin, thank you."

This book was the volume of Western cultivation secrets concerning the essence of vitality that Jin Zhanyi had translated. The foreign script had been entirely converted to Great Shen characters, and all the accompanying illustrations had been meticulously redrawn.

A single glance was enough for He Yiming to realize the immense effort Jin Zhanyi had dedicated to this task.

After all, translating such a complex manual completely within a few days was by no means a simple feat. Without a martial arts grandmaster of Jin Zhanyi's caliber, the task would have been impossible.

Jin Zhanyi chuckled wryly. "Brother He, you were correct. The path of martial arts follows a single root, no matter how varied the branches. These Western techniques certainly possess their unique merits. This method of cultivation allows the True Qi and the aura of a Divine Weapon to fuse into a new essence. Although this essence cannot be stripped away, it significantly benefits the Divine Weapon itself, further refining it and making it more attuned to us."

A look of pleasant surprise flashed in He Yiming’s eyes. Since Jin Zhanyi vouched for it, the effect must be real. For them, achieving this much was more than satisfactory.

The smile faded from Jin Zhanyi’s face. "Brother He, when do you plan to depart?"

He Yiming tucked the book into his robe. "I plan to leave today."

Jin Zhanyi’s expression darkened slightly. "The expanse of the overseas territories is beyond comprehension. Brother He, as you travel abroad, you must be extremely cautious."

He Yiming nodded heavily and laughed. "Brother Hao said he would prepare a sturdy vessel for me, and with my current cultivation, I should at least be able to protect myself, right?"

Jin Zhanyi couldn't help but chuckle wryly himself. He Yiming was now a true Venerable. For someone of his standing to venture out to sea, even if faced with dire peril, he should possess the means to secure his escape.

He Yiming’s ears suddenly twitched, and his gaze darted toward the doorway.

The closed entrance had somehow opened, and Hao Tong strode in, his voluminous sleeves trailing elegantly behind him. Close behind him followed a bald man, appearing to be in his early thirties.

Both men quickly stepped forward to offer their salutations. Hao Tong looked upon them with evident appreciation, tinged even with a hint of fond indulgence.

Jin Zhanyi was the most outstanding disciple of the current generation at the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, and He Yiming was the one he valued most highly, having also saved Zhang Zhongjin. For these two, Hao Tong held them in exceptional regard.

"Yiming, I have made all the necessary arrangements." Hao Tong gestured toward the man behind him. "This is Chen Yulin, the head of our sect's outer disciples in the East Sea. He happened to be here these few days, so I called him over."

Chen Yulin’s skin, the color of dark bronze, rose in defined planes like hammered steel. Upon hearing Hao Tong’s introduction, he immediately stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and stated loudly, "This junior, Chen Yulin, pays respects to Venerable Master He."

He Yiming paused slightly; it was quite novel for a man in his thirties or forties to refer to himself as a junior in his presence.

With a gentle wave of his hand, He Yiming said, "Brother Chen, thank you for taking the trouble to come this far. I am grateful."

Chen Yulin’s expression shifted subtly. He had visited the Lingxiao Treasure Hall many times, yet the number of Venerables he had encountered could be counted on one hand. Moreover, all the Venerables he met were arrogant figures who viewed him as no more than an insect.

However, He Yiming presented a distinctly different feeling.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Yulin responded with utmost deference and sincere humility, "It is Yulin’s honor to be of service to Venerable He."

Hao Tong waved his hand lightly, and Chen Yulin knew to withdraw discreetly. He understood that in the presence of these three, he held no standing to speak further. If He Yiming hadn't required a ship, and he hadn't happened to be at the Treasure Hall, he likely wouldn't have even earned the chance to meet them.

Hao Tong produced two jade vials from his robes. "Yiming, though you have advanced to Venerable, the journey overseas demands vigilance. These are two vials of medicine I refined. One treats internal injuries, and the other is remarkably effective against most poisons. While they may not match Old Man Fan Shuo’s Life-Returning Pills, they are plentiful. Please accept them."

He Yiming accepted with thanks, thinking inwardly that both Jin Zhanyi and Hao Tong being so earnestly concerned confirmed that the overseas regions were indeed not benevolent lands. He certainly could not afford to be careless during his travels.

Jin Zhanyi handed the bundle he was carrying over to He Yiming. "Brother He, this is a gift from me, wishing you a smooth journey."

He Yiming accepted the package with surprise. Though he didn't open it, the feel of it informed him that it contained several small bottles and jars, and one half-spherical object whose purpose he could not guess.

Jin Zhanyi smiled mysteriously. "This is a token of my regard. Overseas can be lonely; this will surely be useful to you."

He Yiming asked, suspicion lacing his voice, "What exactly is this?"

Jin Zhanyi beamed with theatrical delight. "These are a selection of the finest spatulas and a generous supply of seasonings I picked out—enough for you to splurge on for the next two years!"

He Yiming: "..."