Book 2 Chapter 69: Shui Xuanjin - Martial God
Chapter 69: Shui Xuanjin Since stepping into the innate realm, He Yiming had encountered two other cultivators at this powerful level. The person before him was undoubtedly the third. As he walked slowly into the pavilion, He Yiming couldn't help but pause momentarily. Both Ting Shiguang of the Fire Crow Kingdom and the Blood Butcher Lü Xinwen of Jinlin were figures of impressive stature. However, the appearance of this Grandmaster of Tianluo, responsible for protecting the nation, was almost comical. In truth, Shui Xuanjin's face was full and his eyes bright and piercing. But atop his head were a pair of exceptionally large ears, flapping lightly with the breeze in the pavilion. Yet, in just the blink of an eye, He Yiming had regained his composure and respectfully bowed, saying, "Greetings, Brother Shui." Having dealt with Ting Shiguang and Lü Xinwen, he understood that among innate cultivators, relations were not based on age but rather on strength. As long as one reached the innate realm, they could interact on equal footing with others of the same level. Shui Xuanjin stood up, giving He Yiming a deep, considering look before sighing, "Brother He, you are indeed young." He Yiming detected the genuine feeling in that sigh, a reflection of sincere appreciation. He glanced a few times at Shui Xuanjin, noticing a subtle change in his expression. "Brother He, you noticed?" Shui Xuanjin asked in astonishment. "I did not see anything unusual, Brother Shui. You overthink," He Yiming replied, albeit somewhat insincerely. In fact, upon close observation, he saw that the vitality in Shui Xuanjin seemed to be diminishing, albeit at a very slow pace. During his interactions with the other two innate masters, He Yiming felt a robust life force from them—akin to the sensation of growth in spring. This vitality was a unique aura of innate cultivators, only perceivable to their equals. However, Shui Xuanjin's vitality seemed to be waning, as if spring had passed, summer was over, autumn leaves had fallen, and winter was approaching. Shui Xuanjin laughed heartily, "Brother He, your keen eyes surprise me. But there's no need to hide it: I'm two hundred twelve years old and have only a few years left." He Yiming felt a touch of embarrassment; however, he admired this man's ability to face life's final stage with such openness, evident in the clarity of his eyes. Shui Xuanjin gestured to a seat, "Please, Brother He." He Yiming took his seat, now holding a significant respect for the elderly man. His eyes still occasionally strayed to those large ears. Noticing this, Shui Xuanjin smiled slightly, and with a blink of an eye, his ears shrank to normal size. He Yiming's eyes widened in amazement. "That's incredible. Brother Shui, what kind of technique is this?" "This technique is called 'Wind Listening Ears,' an innate supporting discipline from the Tianluo royal collection," Shui Xuanjin explained with a smile. "It's rare, and not everyone can master it." "Why is that?" "The technique doesn't belong to the five elemental disciplines. To learn it, one must have a natural talent for wind-based cultivation," Shui Xuanjin stated calmly. He Yiming's eyes lit up. "Are there other disciplines beyond the five elements?" "Certainly," Shui Xuanjin took a deep breath, as if consuming all the fresh air around him, "Nature is ever-changing, like the myriad paths of the Dao, each unique. In this world, there are as many forces as there are attributes. The five elements are fundamental but not all-encompassing. The force of wind is merely one among the myriad paths." He Yiming's eyes shone with insight. His grandfather, He Quanmíng, had never spoken of such principles. Suddenly, the world seemed clearer, and he gained a more profound insight into the Dao of nature. Especially as he had already grasped the essence of wind and rain. He felt almost as if he could break through an invisible barrier and start training anew. However, he restrained himself and bowed deeply to Shui Xuanjin. This journey to the capital had already proven insightful with this single conversation. Observing He Yiming’s response, Shui Xuanjin appeared slightly taken aback. "Brother He, has your master never spoken of these principles?" Indeed, while such insights might not be required for those in the acquired realm, they were fundamental for innate cultivators—transmitted upon initiation. Blushing slightly, He Yiming said, "Brother Shui, I have no master." "No master?" Shui Xuanjin pondered, "But as far as I know, your family has deep ties with the Hengshan School?" He Yiming realized Lin Taoli must have disclosed this information and smiled slightly. "My ancestor was once a provisional disciple of Hengshan but left some forty years ago. He hasn't returned, so I am not yet affiliated with Hengshan." Shui Xuanjin's expression flickered before he murmured, "Then how did you attain the innate realm, Brother He?" He Yiming spread his hands, "I used the interrelation of different elemental techniques to amplify my internal energy, eventually breaking through to the innate realm." Shui Xuanjin displayed pure shock. "So you entered the innate on your own, not through consuming an innate Golden Elixir?" "That's right," He Yiming chuckled and added after a brief thought, "I've heard of the Golden Elixir but never seen one. To be honest, reaching the innate realm is significantly harder than advancing internal energy." Shui Xuanjin's facial muscles twitched slightly. After a long pause, he sighed, "Brother He, I originally thought you were like the young cultivators of the great sects, blessed with immense talent and aided by elixirs. Now I see how greatly I underestimated you." He Yiming was momentarily taken aback and tentatively asked, "Brother Shui, these great sects, are they like Hengshan, hidden from the world?" Shui Xuanjin laughed, "The Hengshan School is hidden but not among the great sects." Noting He Yiming's interest, he gestured, "Brother He, you’re said to be bound for Hengshan. You'll learn in due time. It wouldn't be proper for me to reveal anything now." Relieved of his curiosity, He Yiming contemplated before asking, "Brother Shui, are there young innate cultivators among these great sects?" After a moment's hesitation, Shui Xuanjin responded seriously, "Indeed, there are, though they are talented, they pale in comparison to you." His statement was unwavering and definitive. For someone like He Yiming, so young and having reached the innate realm independently of elixirs, was remarkable, unprecedented even. He Yiming inwardly smiled wryly, recognizing that his own accomplishment was less about innate talent and more due to an inexplicable transformation following a mysterious underwater incident. With a few more words of admiration, Shui Xuanjin's demeanor shifted to one of seriousness. "Brother He, since you’ve realized my longevity is limited, surely you understand why I've invited you here?" He Yiming was surprised at Shui Xuanjin's direct approach, though it certainly was characteristic of him. After a brief consideration, He Yiming said, "Brother Shui, there's something I don't understand. Please enlighten me." "Ask anything." "Why did you agree to become Tianluo's Protector Master?" "Old friendships with the former king of Tianluo," Shui Xuanjin explained without hesitation. "One hundred thirty years ago, I took on the role. Over these years, I’ve witnessed Tianluo’s growth from a small county to a territory over four times its original size. Now I'm old, my body frail; at most, my reputation deters nearby wolves." He let out a long sigh and said, "I originally thought that once I was gone, Tianluo would fade away like many of the small nations of the Northwest. But I never expected a genius like you to emerge at this time." As he spoke, Shui Xuanjin's eyes gradually brightened, and he said with a hint of excitement, "That’s why I invited you here. I hope you can take my place and continue to protect Tianluo." He Yiming's eyes flickered. In that moment, the old man before him caused He Yiming to feel a peculiar sense of kinship, similar to what he felt with his grandfather, He Wude. Both had something weighing on their hearts, something they cared about deeply—so much so that they wouldn't rest peacefully even in death. Although their goals differed, their intentions were the same. Seeing He Yiming silently contemplating, Shui Xuanjin softly said, "Brother He, I know you have a brilliant future ahead of you, but let's not forget that He Family Village is part of Tianluo. I hope you will consider this favor." He Yiming suddenly remembered his conversation with his grandfather, which expressed similar sentiments. Seeing He Yiming somewhat swayed, Shui Xuanjin appeared pleased and said, "Brother He, over the past hundred years, I've gathered quite a collection of trinkets. If you're interested, why not have a look?" He Yiming hesitated for a moment and asked, "Brother Shui, does Tianluo's treasury contain any innate manuals?" Shui Xuanjin was momentarily stunned but replied, "Yes." "I would like to borrow and study those manuals. Could you help facilitate this?" Shui Xuanjin laughed heartily and said, "Brother He, it's a small matter, a mere word from me will suffice." Pausing momentarily, he added, "In fact, if you agree to become the Protector Master of Tianluo, you wouldn’t just have access to the innate manuals. You’d even own a ten percent share of the treasures within the entire treasury." He Yiming was a bit taken aback. The extent to which Tianluo was willing to go to secure an innate expert like himself was truly unexpected. After laughing, Shui Xuanjin continued, "Brother He, there's something I feel compelled to say, especially since you lack formal tutelage." "Please, Brother Shui." "As innate cultivators, we possess worldly energy unmatched by those of the acquired realm. However, even our focus is limited. When selecting innate manuals, it's best not to indulge too much; instead, focus on mastering a few." He sighed lightly, "The Hengshan lineage has been around for thousands of years and its archives exceed even those of Tianluo’s royal collection. With the guidance of elders from the sect, you’ll be better directed in your development. Even if you see those innate manuals, it's best to use them as references rather than try to grasp everything." He Yiming silently pondered for a moment before bowing, "Understood, I have learned much." Shui Xuanjin waved dismissively, "No need for formalities, Brother He. It’s merely the wisdom I've accumulated over the years." Standing up, he said, "I'll go to the palace now and bring back three manuals for you to look at. Even copying them down won't be an issue." He Yiming hesitated before responding, "Brother Shui, your advice is sound. I've decided that the Wind Listening Ear technique will suffice for now." Shui Xuanjin’s face showed a hint of satisfaction. Despite He Yiming's youth and status as an accomplished innate expert, he was humble and receptive to advice, traits Shui Xuanjin greatly admired. In that moment, Shui Xuanjin resolved to secure He Yiming as the Protector Master, no matter the cost. ※※※※ In the beautiful surroundings of Shaoming Residence, He Yiming sat flipping through a relatively slim book. Due to Shui Xuanjin's insistence, He Yiming had chosen to reside in this courtyard handpicked by the elder himself. However, He Quangxin and He Yitian were staying in a royal estate. Every day, countless people sought to establish connections with them. But in Shaoming Residence, He Yiming enjoyed a rare peace. While many wished to visit this new innate master, no one dared enter Shui Xuanjin’s quarters uninvited. True to his word, Shui Xuanjin had retrieved the Wind Listening Ear manual from the palace that very day, handing it over to He Yiming. Holding this unique innate technique in his hands, He Yiming read through it carefully, murmuring to himself as if gaining insights. After a moment's pondering, he moved to the central desk and started transcribing its contents. Just then, a soft rustle came from the doorway. The rooms here were specially designed and well-maintained, making the opening of doors almost inaudible. But to an innate master, even the faintest sound could not escape detection. Without lifting his head, He Yiming asked casually, "Is there something you need?" Yuan Lixun, the only woman who had accompanied him from the He family, was also the sole person He Yiming allowed in Shaoming Residence. Excluding the female attendants personally selected by Shui Xuanjin, He Yiming had requested no others to enter the courtyard. Having spent some time with Yuan Lixun, they had developed a certain harmony. He Yiming knew she wouldn't disturb him unless it was important. A melodious voice replied, "Husband, Prince Lin Taoli awaits you in the outer hall. He wishes to see you." Nodding slightly, He Yiming set down his pen and said, "He’s come quickly. I should see him. Hopefully, he brings good news." Before coming to the capital, He Yiming had hinted to Lin Taoli about his interest in the Lin family's collection of hand seal manuals. Though Shui Xuanjin advised against overindulging, He Yiming had developed a deep interest in the hand seal techniques. Additionally, one of his strongest martial skills was derived from these techniques, so he couldn't resist learning more. In the central hall, Lin Taoli greeted him respectfully. In their first meeting, the Lin family held the upper hand. Now, the tables had turned. While Lin Taoli’s heart was filled with emotion, his expression grew even more respectful. After Yuan Lixun served them tea, she bowed slightly and returned to He Yiming's study. She never eavesdropped on their conversations. Once she left, Lin Taoli produced two thick books, placing them on the table. "Master He, these are the hand seal manuals, both the original text and a handwritten copy." He Yiming's eyes sparkled and he inquired, "What's the difference between the two?" Shaking his head, Lin Taoli explained, "This is a handwritten copy by my father, so there should be no errors. But since innate manuals are so critical, we couldn't risk it. My father asked me to bring the original as well for you to study and return afterward." He Yiming understood immediately. While a handwritten copy might provoke suspicion of withholding information, bringing the original spoke volumes. After expressing his gratitude to Lin Taoli, the young prince left satisfied, while He Yiming sighed inwardly. Since becoming an innate master, he received many favors. Paying them back would surely keep him busy in the future.