The moment he emerged, every member of the Dong family bowed in deep reverence.

Huo Leqing's face instantly drained of all color, and Zhang Hetai’s expression was scarcely better; he managed a slight bow and murmured, "Your junior nephew, Zhang Hetai, greets the Grand Elder."

Dong Mingrui let out a cold laugh. "Nephew Zhang, this matter does not concern you. You should leave soon."

His voice was utterly flat, seemingly devoid of emotion, yet everyone present detected a thick, menacing killing intent woven within the tones.

The muscles in Zhang Hetai's face twitched slightly. "Grand Elder, this Mr. He is profoundly skilled in the Dao of Pill Refinement. Junior Brother Xu from the refinement chamber has already gone to report to the Old Ancestor, hoping to invite Mr. He to forge a Primordial Golden Pill for our Qianshan Sect. Therefore, I implore you to show restraint."

Dong Mingrui’s gaze finally flickered with a hint of hesitation. If the Old Ancestor had indeed given specific instructions, and he had already injured He Yiming, explaining the situation to the Ancestor would prove difficult.

However, He Yiming merely smiled faintly. "Brother Zhang, you don't need to concern yourself with this. Withdraw."

Zhang Hetai sighed deeply for a long moment, pulling on Huo Leqing’s hand. "Brother Huo, let’s go."

Huo Leqing’s lips trembled, and the light in his eyes finally dimmed.

"Want to leave? Not so easily," Dong Mingrui's voice cut through the air, cold as ice. "Since you Dongs dared to challenge my authority on my doorstep, if I simply let you walk away now, how could I possibly face anyone?"

Huo Leqing took a deep breath, finally realizing he could no longer extricate himself from the situation.

Shaking off Zhang Hetai’s grip, Huo Leqing cupped his hands in a formal salute. "Senior Dong, how do you intend to deal with this?"

Dong Mingrui pondered for a while. "My birthday celebration is fast approaching, and I do not wish to see blood spilled. All of you from the Huo family must cripple your own martial arts and vacate the Immortal Isle, and I will pursue the matter no further."

All color fled Huo Leqing's face. The Huo family had been established on the Immortal Isle for sixty years, accumulating a fair number of grudges along the way. To comply would be no different from annihilation.

He Yiming laughed aloud. "Dongcheng, did you see that?"

Huo Dongcheng nodded subconsciously, his gaze fixed on the opposing party filled with burning indignation.

He Yiming pressed his advantage. "Do you know why this old man is so arrogant? Because he possesses strength—immense strength, a power far exceeding that of your entire Dong family. That is why he can decide the fate of the Dong family with a single word." He Yiming spoke faster. "If you wish to protect the Dong family, to secure better prospects for them, you must pour all your energy into the Martial Dao. Once you possess greater power than him, you will be the one deciding whether he lives or dies."

A resolute expression gradually dawned in Huo Dongcheng’s eyes. He nodded heavily, clenching his fists tightly.

He Yiming nodded with satisfaction, looking at Huo Dongcheng and recalling his own younger self.

The experiences of recent years had taught him the harsh reality of the world; the adage, 'Failing to kill a tiger leaves endless future troubles,' was perhaps his greatest lesson.

Dong Mingrui let out an angry snort. In front of him, He Yiming was brazenly using him as an example to lecture a junior—an unprecedented audacity.

Hearing the snort, a flicker of viciousness crossed the eyes of Dong Yihong and the other man. They simultaneously let out a sharp cry, taking a step forward, hands thrust out toward He Yiming.

However, He Yiming paid their attack no mind, merely tilting his head back and regarding them with eyes full of mockery.

A chilling numbness instantly flooded Dong Yihong and his companion. Then, they saw He Yiming casually raise his hand and point twice into the air.

The two men charging forward simultaneously choked out a pained gasp, then tumbled backward as if struck by a hammer weighing ten thousand jin.

Dong Mingrui's face drastically changed. He shot forward with lightning speed, hands extended, catching both of them separately.

However, an irresistible, tremendous force radiated from the two men. Dong Mingrui was violently shoved back several steps; with every step he retreated, the hard stone pavement beneath his feet cracked inch by inch.

He only managed to halt his momentum at the entrance to the front courtyard, a flush of red involuntarily creeping up his face.

Everyone stared at Dong Mingrui with slack jaws, then turned blankly toward the unruffled He Yiming. They felt as if the world itself had shifted, transforming into something they could no longer comprehend.

Dong Mingrui set the two men down, asking in a strained voice, "How are you both?"

Dong Yihong’s face was ashen. "Father, my Dantian is ruined."

Dong Yige trembled uncontrollably, seemingly unable to accept the reality, his eyes vacant and bewildered.

Including Huo Leqing, everyone gasped in unison, their gazes fixed on He Yiming filled with terror.

For a Xiantian realm expert, having one's Dantian destroyed meant the complete annihilation of all cultivation, rendering future martial arts practice impossible. This was a punishment a hundred times more agonizing than death itself.

Dong Mingrui looked up, staring blankly at He Yiming. His lips trembled, yet, strangely to the onlookers, his eyes held no hatred—only profound dread.

He suddenly retreated a step, pulled an object from his robes, and tossed it into the air.

Instantly, an incomparably loud, sharp whistle pierced the void. He Yiming looked up; though the object was small, the sound it emitted was even higher and more piercing than a signaling arrow. The ingenuity and craftsmanship of the Eastern Sea masters were truly remarkable.

Zhang Hetai’s eyes widened, and he cried out in alarm, "Grand Elder, you... you've actually alerted the Old Ancestor?"

Dong Mingrui abruptly turned, shooting Zhang Hetai a fierce glare. Although he dared not direct such malice toward He Yiming, this look completely exposed his true feelings.

Zhang Hetai shuddered violently, his back instantly soaked through with cold sweat.

A long, soaring cry suddenly erupted from behind the mountain, rolling in like a massive wave. When the cry first sounded, it was atop the peaks, yet its speed descending the mountain was utterly inconceivable; before the sound wave had ceased, it was already in the city.

Upon hearing that cry, Dong Mingrui's eyes flared with ecstasy. The fear that had been present moments before vanished completely, and a shade of venomous resentment finally colored his look toward He Yiming.

The Dong family possessed only three Xiantian masters, but with his two sons instantly crippled by He Yiming, he now hated the man to the core.

The surrounding air suddenly grew intensely oppressive, and the vision of everyone seemed to blur. Then, an old man with white hair and beard materialized in the front courtyard like a phantom.

As soon as the elder appeared, everything around them immediately returned to normal.

"Master."

Dong Mingrui bent over in deep respect, while everyone else, including Zhang Hetai, knelt down.

This elder was Zhan Hongtu, the Old Ancestor of the Qianshan Sect. His prestige on Penglai Immortal Isle was almost that of an immortal being. Although Huo Leqing was not a disciple of the Qianshan Sect, upon seeing this near-mythical figure, he too knelt down involuntarily.

Huo Dongcheng was swept by the elder's eyes, which flashed like lightning. Just as his knees buckled and he was about to fall, he felt his legs stiffen, completely unable to move. He glanced back in surprise and saw He Yiming wink at him twice, instantly understanding that the disruption was caused by Mr. He.

Zhan Hongtu’s gaze swept over the surroundings. When his eyes locked onto He Yiming, sparks of sharp light shot out. As his gaze shifted to the White Horse Lightning, an unusual glint appeared, and only He Yiming noticed that this strange light held a trace of both greed and fear.

Clearly, the elder had recognized Lightning as a powerful Sacred Beast.

A Sacred Beast was a treasure trove; capturing one would move even a Venerable Master. However, Sacred Beasts possessed immense martial power. Compared to ordinary human Venerable Masters, Sacred Beasts often held an absolute advantage, especially those rare and unusual ones, which possessed unexpected might. This was why Zhan Hongtu’s eyes displayed such a complex expression upon seeing White Horse Lightning.

After saluting, Dong Mingrui rose and spoke in a voice thick with resentment. "Master, this person trespassed into your disciple's home and, without discerning right from wrong, crippled the Dantians of Yihong and Yige. Your disciple is ashamed and proved no match for him. I beg Master to uphold justice for your disciple."

A flash of anger crossed Zhan Hongtu's eyes, but it was fleeting.

Dong Mingrui was about to say more when Zhan Hongtu waved a large hand. "Step back."

Startled, Dong Mingrui dared not disobey, retreating several steps. He looked at Zhan Hongtu's stern expression and a sense of foreboding grew in his heart.

Zhan Hongtu took a deep breath and stated in a deep voice, "I am Zhan Hongtu of the Qianshan Sect. I do not believe I have offended you, esteemed guest. May I ask why you have come to Qianshan to cause trouble for these juniors?"

His voice was not loud, but to the listeners, it resonated like the boom of thunder, shaking their very souls.

At this point, everyone could discern that the foremost figure of the Qianshan Sect, the dignified Venerable Master, was addressing Mr. He as an equal.

The Martial Dao was strictly hierarchical; language was governed entirely by strength. The only one who could compel a Venerable Master to speak on equal terms was another Venerable Master.

Huo Leqing stared at He Yiming, dumbfounded, his throat bobbing convulsively as a wild joy surged within him.

Only now did Huo Leqing, Zhang Hetai, and the others understand why He Yiming had acted so fearlessly upon arriving, and why he had shown no mercy in his actions.

It was because he himself was a Venerable Master. Since his cultivation had reached such a height, what did he have to fear?

Suddenly, Huo Leqing recalled that Mr. He had once mentioned that Dongcheng’s special physique was identical to that of an old acquaintance of his—an acquaintance whose martial cultivation was no less than He Yiming’s own.

To think that Dongcheng’s future achievements might possibly reach that level...

At this realization, even Huo Leqing felt somewhat dazed.

Ps: Huo Dongcheng is Old Chu's designated disciple, not He Yiming’s.

Also, Old Chu will be appearing soon. Guess when he will show up? Heh heh...

Still soliciting votes; the ranking doesn't seem completely secure yet.

The next two days, White Crane will post three chapters, but from next Monday to next Friday, White Crane will post five chapters daily!