The city gates of Qianshan City opened as usual the next day. People from the myriad small islands surrounding Penglai Immortal Island flooded in like a tide.

Yet, amidst the usual large-scale commerce that day, rumors with countless variations circulated through the city.

It was whispered that the Dong Family, rulers of the city's east side for nearly a century, had been utterly annihilated overnight after provoking a formidable enemy.

Legend claimed that even the Ancestor of the Qianshan Sect was disturbed by this event and rushed down the mountain in the dead of night. This, they argued, was proven by the sonic flare that pierced the entire city the night before and the subsequent, boundless roar of power.

After all, no one other than the powerful Ancestor of Qianshan Sect could produce such a soul-shaking cry.

However, even with the Ancestor’s personal intervention, it was not enough to spare the Dong Family from their ultimate doom. Furthermore, whispers suggested that the Ancestor of Qianshan Sect had engaged in a fierce battle with the mysterious figure, ultimately losing and being defeated.

Now, the Dong Family residence in the east of the city had been completely sealed off. The plaque outside had been replaced; the grand characters for "Dong Residence" had given way to "Huo Residence."

Innumerable rumors spread through every corner of Qianshan City, gaining momentum by the hour.

Initially, few believed that Zhan Hongtu, renowned across the Immortal Island, could be vanquished by an unknown master. But the sudden change of ownership of the Dong Residence, coupled with the Qianshan Sect’s absolute silence on the matter, finally spurred widespread suspicion.

In just a few short days, this news had spread across the entire island as if it had grown wings. Even the Haitian Sect and Lingjiu Valley soon received word, learning that a new powerhouse at the Venerable level had emerged on Penglai Immortal Island.

※※※※

The gates of the Dong Residence finally reopened several days later. However, the people emerging this time were not the Dong Family members who had occupied it for a hundred years, but the Huo Family, who had risen from the remote border town.

In the adjacent manors nearby—residences belonging to other high-ranking figures of the Qianshan Sect—these influential figures treated the Huo Family with excessive warmth, studiously avoiding any mention of the Dong Family. It was as if the Dong Family, once their sworn brothers, had never existed.

Only then did the Huo Family truly believe that the Dong Family had vanished without a trace, ceasing to exist.

Yet, everyone within the Huo Residence knew that their current elevated status was entirely granted by the Mr. He residing in the back courtyard.

If He Yiming had not defeated the Ancestor Zhan Hongtu of the Qianshan Sect with a single move, the Huo Family would likely have been utterly wiped out by the Dong Family long ago, let alone enjoy such current glory.

At this moment, in the back courtyard, Huo Dongcheng was fully immersed in practicing his Water Element Internal Strength.

Aided by the Spirit Gold Elixir gifted by He Yiming, he had effortlessly broken through the third layer of Water Element Internal Strength to reach the fourth layer in just a few short days.

Not only that, under He Yiming’s tutelage, he now commanded the Water Element Internal Strength with ease, the previous uncontrolled surges completely eliminated.

He Yiming sat quietly in a pavilion, watching with appreciation for Huo Dongcheng’s focused demeanor.

However, since he had already decided to recommend Huo Dongcheng to the apprenticeship of Chu Haozhou, He Yiming felt he should only impart the most fundamental techniques to lay a solid foundation. How Chu Haozhou would proceed with the rest was a matter for the future.

Bai Lingba arrived silently beside him, his face devoid of any discernible emotion.

He Yiming asked softly, "How did it go?"

Bai Lingba replied slowly, "The Dong Family members have indeed been crippled and sent overseas. Another disciple under Zhan Hongtu carried out the deed."

He Yiming nodded slowly. "With the Dong Family’s fate resolved, and knowing Dongcheng’s talent for reaching the Venerable level, even if Qianshan Sect falls, the Huo Family is guaranteed at least three centuries of residency on the island. However, Dongcheng will inevitably not remain on the island long-term, so the ultimate extent of the Huo Family’s development still depends on their own efforts."

Bai Lingba hesitated for a moment, then suddenly spoke, "There is one matter you likely did not anticipate."

He Yiming was slightly startled. "What is it?"

"All the Dong Family members died after being escorted three hundred li away from the island."

He Yiming gasped, demanding, "How did they die?"

"They were killed by the escorting Qianshan Sect disciple," Bai Lingba stated calmly.

He Yiming remained stunned for a long while, his expression shifting dramatically. After a considerable silence, he finally let out a long sigh. "It is better that they died. This matter need never be mentioned again."

Bai Lingba watched him, speaking with a trace of emotion he rarely showed. "You have changed."

He Yiming offered a wry smile. "I have no choice but to change. Dong Mingrui, upon appearing, intended to utterly destroy the Huo Family. Such a ruthless individual, if left alive, would certainly remain a deep threat to the Huo Family. If the Huo Family were annihilated because of me, how could I face Dongcheng?"

Suddenly, Bai Lingba turned his head, his eyes blazing with intense light.

He Yiming frowned and called out loudly, "Brother Zhan has traveled a great distance. Please come in."

The gate to the back courtyard was pushed open, and Zhan Hongtu walked out with a smile. The embarrassment and anger from that night were entirely gone from his aged face; it seemed he had forgotten everything that happened that day.

"Brother He has excellent hearing. This old man is impressed." Zhan Hongtu stepped into the pavilion, his gaze falling upon Bai Lingba. His expression flickered slightly. "May I ask who this esteemed brother is..."

"This is my close friend, Bai Lingba. Brother Bai, this is the Venerable Zhan Hongtu of the Qianshan Sect." He Yiming introduced casually.

Bai Lingba inclined his head slightly toward Zhan Hongtu and then lapsed back into silence.

Zhan Hongtu smiled politely. "I have long heard of you, long heard of you." Yet, inwardly, he was perplexed. What kind of name was this? He had never heard of it.

The longer he stood near Bai Lingba, the greater his inner shock became.

Even standing face-to-face, he could not sense the slightest spark of life force emanating from Bai Lingba. This person seemed like a clay sculpture or a wooden carving; even his jewel-like eyes held no animation.

A deep chill spread through Zhan Hongtu’s heart. A figure like this was truly the most terrifying kind of strong cultivator.

In the courtyard, Huo Dongcheng finally let out a long breath, concluding the current set of Internal Strength exercises. Looking up, he was startled.

He Yiming waved a hand. "No need for training today. You may withdraw."

Huo Dongcheng quickly acknowledged and hurried away, still unable to believe he was seeing the Venerable Zhan Hongtu here. Had he imagined it...?

He Yiming said calmly, "Brother Zhan, you visit today, but for what purpose do you seek counsel?"

Zhan Hongtu adopted a grave expression. "Brother He, I have come today to discuss several matters with you."

Though He Yiming wished to avoid further entanglement with the Qianshan Sect, outright refusal now would be impolite. After all, the Huo Family would continue to live on Penglai Immortal Island; while he and Huo Dongcheng could simply leave, the Huo Family could not.

"Please speak, Brother Zhan."

"I wish to take Huo Hongyu as my disciple. What does Brother He think?"

He Yiming pondered this. Huo Hongyu was the third son of the second generation of the Huo Family, possessing peak cultivation at the tenth layer of Fire and Earth dual-element Internal Strength. While this level was negligible in the eyes of someone like Zhan Hongtu, his desire to take Huo Hongyu as a disciple was clearly a move to bring the Huo Family firmly into the Qianshan Sect’s fold.

Recalling the tragic end of the Dong Family and Zhan Hongtu’s proposal regarding Huo Hongyu, a shiver of unease ran down He Yiming’s spine.

However, his rationality told him that as long as he lived, or until Huo Dongcheng cultivated to the Venerable level, Zhan Hongtu would never act against the Huo Family. Perhaps, this was the best possible future for the Huo Family.

He sighed softly. "What else is there?"

A flash of delight crossed Zhan Hongtu’s eyes. Since He Yiming did not object, that was sufficient.

"The second matter: I wish to invite Brother He to refine thirty doses of Innate Gold Elixirs. Regardless of the success rate, the Qianshan Sect will only claim half of the finished pills."

This time, He Yiming agreed without hesitation. This was an opportunity one wouldn't find even by lighting a lantern; refusing it would mean true idiocy.

"The final matter: I wish to invite Brother He to accompany me to Haitian City twenty days from now to participate in the Thousand Islands Martial Arts Tournament held every twenty years." Zhan Hongtu stated solemnly.

He Yiming considered it briefly and instantly realized this assembly was the territory-grabbing event Huo Leqing had mentioned.

"Brother Zhan, I already promised Huo Leqing that I would help him participate in that gathering," He Yiming replied calmly. "However, as I understand it, only the smaller families participate. Must even your esteemed sect engage in martial combat?"

Zhan Hongtu laughed heartily. "Brother He, since I am accepting Huo Hongyu as a disciple, the Huo Family naturally becomes part of the Qianshan Sect and need not attend any martial competition. But this time, the two Venerables in Haitian City sent invitations, requesting that I, along with Venerable Zhen Wanqing of Lingjiu Valley, attend." He paused. "I am deeply concerned, and thus I wish to invite Brother He to accompany me to lend me courage."

He Yiming was very surprised. "Why do you say that, Brother Zhan?"

Zhan Hongtu’s smile vanished, and he sighed deeply. "Brother He may not be aware, but the Haitian Sect is the largest faction on this island, and the only one possessing two Venerables. These two were once master and disciple. They are ruthless, stopping at nothing to achieve their aims. This old man truly cannot afford to be careless."

He Yiming looked at him in surprise. He never expected Zhan Hongtu to speak of the island's largest faction in such a manner.

Seeing the doubt in He Yiming's eyes, Zhan Hongtu offered a wry smile. "Brother He, Venerable Lin Yiwo and his disciple Venerable Chen Wo of the Haitian Sect have long desired sole dominance over Penglai Immortal Island. If not for my mutual communication and covert alliance with Venerable Zhen Wanqing of Lingjiu Valley, I fear our two factions would have already been absorbed, leaving only one power controlling all of Penglai Immortal Island."

He Yiming slowly nodded. He finally understood. It turned out that even on this small Penglai Immortal Island, there existed a deadly struggle of life and death.

But he also understood why Zhan Hongtu had so readily abandoned the Dong Family. To win over a powerful Venerable to better ensure the sect's continuation, sacrificing one subordinate family seemed to be the best choice.