Volume 2 Chapter 29: Returning Home - Martial God

Chapter 29: Returning Home The bone-chilling winter rain fell silently and leisurely, forming a fine curtain that obscured the distant view. "Winter has set in." "Yes, another year has passed." Before the He Family Village, two robust servants gathered together, sitting idly in the gatehouse. They gazed at the rain falling from the sky, speaking with a touch of lament. Suddenly, from afar, the rapid sound of hooves broke through the rain, transforming into a red shadow that splattered raindrops all around as it finally arrived before the He Family Village. The two gatekeepers stood up in astonishment. Such a magnificent horse was beyond anything they had ever seen in their lifetimes. Though they hadn't yet discerned the rider’s identity, they dared not show any neglect. After all, someone mounted on such a noble steed was definitely not just an ordinary person, or else he wouldn’t be able to maintain possession of such a fine horse. The visitor gently pressed his hand against the horse's back and instantly leaped gracefully to land before them. As the bamboo hat was removed, a familiar face was revealed. "The Sixth Young Master, it's the Sixth Young Master..." The two hesitated briefly before exclaiming in surprise and joy. One immediately rushed forward to greet him, while the other ran back into the manor. The Sixth Young Master had been away from home for several months. At each monthly family dinner during his absence, the patriarch and the senior members of the family often mentioned him, and the servants had long been keeping an eye out. Now, with the New Year approaching, the sudden return of the Sixth Young Master was truly a joyous event for the entire manor. He Yi Ming handed the reins of the horse to the approaching servant, saying, "Take good care of this fine horse." "Yes." The servant’s respectful response gave He Yi Ming a feeling of familiarity and comfort. He was finally home... Although the treatment he received at the Xie residence in the Fire Wu Kingdom was undoubtedly better than at home, it was still not his home. The moment he stepped into the manor, a strong, uncontrollable joy of returning home burst forth. This was truly his home! "Sixth Brother, Sixth Brother..." A voice filled with extreme joy came from within, followed by a young boy who was slightly shorter than He Yi Ming, braving the fine rain overhead to rush over. "Yi Tao." Overjoyed, He Yi Ming immediately moved to greet him. His speed was much faster than the person inside, and in a blink, he was in front of him, lifting him up with a hearty laugh and spinning him around. "Sixth Brother, you’re back." In just a short moment, it seemed the entire manor knew of his return. Even the eldest brother He Yi Tian and the third brother He Yi Xuan made their appearance. Though the rain was still falling, everyone's enthusiasm was far from being dampened by it. He Yi Ming's journey from home was known to all within the estate, yet only a select few understood that his departure was in pursuit of a breakthrough opportunity. No one expected he would return in just a few short months. "Everybody, head inside." A stern voice called from the inner gate. He Quan Yi, in charge of all manor affairs, strode out with great steps, his face stern. Save for He Yi Ming and He Yi Tian, all the younger ones immediately fell silent. "So many of you standing in the rain, it's simply irresponsible. All of you get inside." With his strict command, everyone rushed inside as if seeing a cat. He Yi Tao even made a playful face at Sixth Brother, but his movements were swift, for among all the siblings, he had tasted Granny's bamboo shoot dish the most frequently. He Yi Tao and He Yi Ming exchanged cheerful glances, walking side by side amidst the upcoming crowd, towering like cranes among chickens. "Sixth Brother, did you succeed?" He Yi Tian whispered softly like a bug chirping. He Yi Ming smiled slightly, replying, "Eldest Brother, I didn’t fail." He Yi Tian paused in his steps and heavily patted He Yi Ming's shoulder, exclaiming, "Good, good, good..." The repeated affirmation clearly expressed his current excitement. By this time, they were already in the hall, and He Yi Tian's action drew everyone's attention. "Eldest Brother, what are you excited about?" He Yi Tao asked in confusion. He Quan Yi's expression changed slightly as he stepped forward, asking, "Yi Ming, did you truly succeed?" He Yi Ming scratched his head—a gesture he hadn’t done in some time, but which instinctively returned now that he was home. "Third Uncle, my credibility surely can't be that low?" He Quan Yi laughed loudly, habitually raising his hand. This gesture had become a rule in the He Family Village, and everyone understood the meaning behind Third Uncle and Eldest Brother’s conversation just now. However, He Quan Yi hesitated, retracting his outstretched palm rather abruptly, saying, "I’ve gotten a bit confused. Your prowess has surpassed my estimation. Let Eldest Brother or Father assess you instead." The younger ones burst into murmurs, suddenly recalling that by the early year, at Eldest Brother’s wedding, He Yi Ming was already a practitioner of the ninth level of internal energy. If he broke through one more level… For a moment, all eyes showed a bit of daze, even He Yi Tao's lively demeanor dimmed. Perhaps in his mind, he was contemplating how Sixth Brother managed it all. He Yi Tian cleared his throat, announcing, "Since Sixth Brother has returned and set such an example for us, you all should strive to learn from him..." At this point, he found himself unable to continue. Given He Yi Ming's astounding cultivation speed, how could one learn from him? If judged by this standard, the others might lose the will to continue cultivating. He Quan Yi shook his head slightly, saying, "Yi Ming, Father is already aware of your return. Come with me to the main hall to see him. Yi Tian, you come too." With that, he glanced sharply, "The rest of you, disperse." At his stare, a few younger ones screamed lightly, decisively leaving He Yi Ming and He Yi Tian behind, scattering like birds and beasts. After all, in their hearts, Third Uncle was unquestionably the most terrifying among the elders, even surpassing Grandpa He Wu De and Great Uncle He Quan Xin. He Yi Ming chuckled inwardly but also felt deeply touched. If not for his rapid advancement in strength, surpassing Third Uncle, he would likely be among those scattering at this moment. The three of them moved towards the main courtyard, with He Quan Yi and He Yi Tian all the while observing He Yi Ming. After a moment, a strange feeling arose in both of their hearts: He Yi Ming was indeed different from before, yet they couldn’t pinpoint how. However, through their observations along this path, they were convinced of one thing—He Yi Ming had indeed advanced. Little did they know, He Yi Ming hadn’t just progressed to the tenth level of internal energy, but had stepped into the innate realm. The door to the main courtyard opened gently, and a peculiar smile appeared on He Yi Ming’s face. He knew that inside the hall of the main courtyard, not only was Grandpa present, but also Great Uncle He Quan Xin and the old servant He Lai Bao. Upon hearing of his return, even they had set aside the library matters, paying them no mind. "Grandpa, Uncle Bao, Great Uncle." He Yi Ming bowed deeply and spoke in a clear voice. "Quickly rise." He Wu De rose to his feet, came to He Yi Ming, and grasped his hand, inspecting him closely. Seeing Grandpa’s graying hair at the temples, He Yi Ming felt a sudden pang in his heart. For the sake of this family, the old man had given his all. Though it had been only a short few months apart, and with no apparent change in appearance, the strong feeling in He Yi Ming’s heart was overwhelmingly intense. He Wu De’s gaze grew ever brighter, his smile ever more pronounced. Finally, he said with a touch of excitement, "Yi Ming, did you succeed?" "Yes, Grandpa," He Yi Ming replied with firm resolve. He Lai Bao and He Quan Xin exchanged glances, their eyes brimming with excitement. He Wu De did not lose his composure like He Yi Tian. He merely nodded heavily, saying, "Yi Ming, you’ve done very well, really well." He Yi Ming smiled subtly and suddenly said, "Grandpa, during this journey, not only have I advanced in my cultivation, but I also acquired some benefits." Intrigued, He Wu De asked, "What benefits?" In his mind, as long as Yi Ming advanced smoothly, everything was worth it. The notion of benefits wasn’t something he particularly valued. He Yi Ming pulled out a jade bottle from his belongings and handed it over, "Grandpa, the greatest benefit I received is within here." He Wu De took it with a trace of curiosity and opened it. But as soon as the jade bottle was opened, a familiar scent wafted to his nose. This scent was unforgettable, and as his eyes swept over the contents of the bottle, his expression changed drastically, unable to suppress his exclamation, "Golden Elixir?" Aside from He Yi Ming, the expressions of the other four people in the room changed simultaneously. They were all aware of the spirit beast matter and the Golden Elixir. They also knew that only three Golden Elixirs were made from the recent hunt of the spirit beast, one of which He Quan Xin had already consumed, while the remaining two were in He Wu De's possession. Thus, where did Yi Ming get his Golden Elixirs? He Wu De’s face changed once more upon seeing the number of Golden Elixirs inside the bottle. Five in total, two more than what was refined from the Jingan Python's inner core. He carefully sealed the jade bottle again, his expression becoming extremely serious. "Yi Ming, where exactly did these Golden Elixirs come from?" Yi Ming smiled slightly and said, "I was quite fortunate; as I journeyed through the dense forest, I found myself traversing through Jinlin Nation before reaching the Fire Wu Nation..." He recounted how he had met with the Xie family, though he omitted certain parts. In particular, he glossed over his advancement to the innate realm. He also attributed the acquisition of the two long-armed raccoons almost entirely to his collaboration with the Xie family's people. It wasn't that he wanted to hide anything, but revealing everything now would be too shocking. Thus, he decided to wait another six months. After all, his family seemed to have grown accustomed to him breaking through regularly every six months. Although his account was simple, He Wu De and the others were filled with astonishment as they listened. After a long pause, He Wu De sighed deeply and said, "Yi Ming, you truly have good fortune and encountered noble people. Two spirit beast inner cores, hah... and the Xie family did not take them for themselves. You've indeed made true friends." Yi Ming chuckled and did not contradict him. While he and Xie Ming Jin did become friends, he knew well that if he hadn’t demonstrated a power surpassing that of a typical tenth-level inner force master from the start, the Xie's would not have treated him so amicably. Moreover, following his successful advancement to the innate realm, the Xie's attitude towards him became increasingly respectful. Possessions of an innate master were not something they could covet, even as a prestigious family. He Quan Xin exhaled deeply, then rubbed his palms together a few times, saying, "Yi Ming, since you've already broken through, you're also a peak tenth-layer practitioner. Come, let's spar a bit." Yi Ming paused and said, "Uncle, how could I dare compete with you?" He Lai Bao laughed heartily, saying, "Yi Ming, why don’t you give it a try with your uncle? When he was at the ninth level, he would often come looking for me to spar. Unfortunately, now that he's reached the tenth level, he's found no worthwhile opponents. He's been suppressing himself for these past few months." Yi Ming couldn't help but laugh. Among the He Family's second generation, He Quan Xin undoubtedly possessed the highest talent, the most diligent cultivation, and the greatest achievements. This was certainly related to his talent, but his cultivation efforts far exceeded those of his two brothers. Before Yi Ming’s rise, He Quan Xin and Xu Xiang Qian from the Xu family were famed in Taicang County as two martial arts enthusiasts. A quick glance at his uncle revealed a slightly embarrassed expression on his face. Since his uncle’s breakthrough to the tenth level, he indeed found himself without equals. However, no matter how bold he might be, he wouldn’t dare spar with his father, He Wu De. With Yi Ming's return, that concern naturally dissipated. He Wu De hesitated momentarily before slowly nodding, harboring a desire to witness the extent of progress his most outstanding grandson had achieved in the months away from home. The hall was relatively spacious, and as they rearranged the tables and chairs, it left a generous space. Yi Ming and He Quan Xin stood apart, yet their expressions remained relaxed. It was, after all, an internal spar, far less perilous than contending with outsiders. Watching his father and younger brother, Yi Tian found his thoughts traveling back to the martial arts contest two years ago during the New Year. Back then, although not as skilled as Yi Ming, he had still hoped to catch up. But in just two years, Yi Ming had astounded everyone, completely surpassing him. Now, even his most admired father could only stand on equal footing with his younger brother. Who knew what heights Yi Ming might reach in a few more years? As He Quan Xin gradually lifted his hand, the relaxed look on his face slowly faded, replaced by a profound seriousness. Yi Ming positioned his feet in a V-stance, with fists crossed at his chest. This was Rolling Stone Fist's typical starting pose, allowing for a relentless advance akin to a massive rolling boulder, continuously assaulting the opponent. While He Quan Xin didn't practice the metal system technique, he was fully aware of the tactics involved. Moreover, his training lay with the earth element techniques. In the Five Elements, earth techniques are undeniably the strongest in defense. Even under equal circumstances, the attacking prowess of metal techniques usually couldn’t penetrate the earth's defensive circle. Yet inexplicably, upon seeing Yi Ming's stance, He Quan Xin couldn't shake off this strange notion that the longer they dragged on, the slimmer his chances of prevailing. Although it defied logic, the feeling was vivid and intensified. He smiled wryly within but eventually took the initiative to strike. Simultaneously, everyone around felt a peculiar sensation. The master of metal techniques, known for unrivaled striking power, had chosen to defend, while the earth technique master, known for impenetrable defense, opted to attack. Apart from He Wu De, the rest exchanged puzzled glances, feeling everything was in upheaval, almost reversed. He Wu De’s heart was a medley of surprise and delight; his tenth-level peak inner force surpassed He Quan Xin's, allowing him to sense closer details. He understood clearly that He Quan Xin wasn’t attacking out of willingness but necessity. The longer the two opposed each other, the more probable it was that He Quan Xin would lose even the courage to attack. At this precise moment, a thought sprang into He Wu De’s mind: could Yi Ming's cultivation truly surpass Quan Xin's? "Whoosh..." He Quan Xin unleashed a punch—not swiftly, but steadily powerful. His arm symbolized a mighty mountain pressing down with great momentum. Yi Ming, unflinching, crossed his fists and commenced the Rolling Stone Fist. The two gradually unfurled their respective mastered skills, gradually increasing the intensity of their strikes. Yet they maintained a mutual understanding, ensuring not to demolish the hall's furnishings in their spar. He Quan Xin's earth system boxing was somewhat akin to Yi Ming’s Rolling Stone Fist, except for one key difference: the latter was inherently aggressive, chaining attack after attack, while He Quan Xin's orthodox earth system punches were defensive. Throughout their exchange, fists and feet clashed incessantly, but a definitive upper hand remained elusive. He Wu De nodded slightly, and after some contemplation, he finally said, "Stop." Yi Ming and He Quan Xin immediately leaped back. Although the duel was intense, they did not dare defy the elder’s word, so they promptly withdrew. He Wu De looked at Yi Ming with great joy, stating, "From now on, our He Family Village will have three practitioners of the tenth level of inner energy. The era where we dominate Taicang County is about to dawn." Holding the Golden Elixir, he pondered momentarily before declaring, "Lai Bao gets one Elixir, and any family member who reaches the pinnacle of the ninth level will have the chance to obtain a Golden Elixir." His eyes intently focused on the jade bottle, murmuring softly, "With these resources, perhaps our He family might indeed endure for a thousand years."