Book 2 Chapter 89: Mountain Gate - Martial God

## Chapter 89: Mountain Gate Gazing into the distance, a thick veil of mist shrouded the horizon! Among the clouds and mist, the peaks hinted at intriguing shapes—sometimes resembling graceful maidens, other times elder sages with staffs, occasionally monkey offering peaches, or even wild horses galloping freely. In the gentle haze of dawn, these visions appeared and vanished, sometimes near, sometimes far. Though He Wude and He Laibao initially chose divergent paths, neither anticipated that their journeys would ultimately converge in the same place. Even after forty years away from Hengshan, the memory of this place never faded from their hearts. After several days of travel, He Yiming initially thought they slowed their pace for Yuan Lixun's slower steps. However, as their destination drew nearer, He Yiming realized both elders were actually overwhelmed with mixed emotions. This wasn't fear, but rather excitement—a hard-to-define feeling. In Taicang County, they repeatedly declared their intent to return to Hengshan, to astound those who had mocked them forty years ago, scoffing at their dreams of ever returning to their sect, compelling them to swallow their words of ridicule. But as they truly approached Hengshan, the proximity to home stirred unexpected apprehension. At this moment, the two elders gazed at the immense, undulating mountain range in the distance, their expressions complex beyond words. Watching them, He Yiming finally asked, "Grandfather, have we arrived?" He Wude sighed deeply, replying, "Indeed, we have." It was as though he had just awakened from an intense emotion, his spirit renewed as he declared in a strong voice, "Let's go." He Laibao gave a hearty laugh, echoing, "Let's go." The two elders strode forward with their bodies as straight as spears, their steps seemingly empowered by a boundless force. He Yiming watched in awe. In this moment, though only two, they imparted a feeling of heroic grandeur, as if they were an entire army. Such a sensation shouldn't manifest in martial artists of their level, yet He Yiming could clearly sense that their intense, unprecedented emotional surge somehow connected them to an extraordinary external force, one beyond his wildest imagination. In his mind, a vivid scene of galloping horses surged forth. Though the duo's aura didn't yet reach such a level, a nascent form of it was evident. He Yiming sighed, his eyes bright with insight, feeling he had touched upon something crucial within his heart. Regrettably, this feeling was fleeting, vanishing as rapidly as it appeared, leaving it elusive once more. "Young Master, is something the matter?" Yuan Lixun quietly asked. Between her and He Yiming, an inexplicit spiritual connection had formed; even his subtle reactions allowed her to sense his current mood wasn't entirely pleasant. He Yiming smiled at her, lowering his voice to reply, "It's nothing. I just remembered a particular technique, but unfortunately haven't fully comprehended it yet." Yuan Lixun consoled him, "Young Master, I believe you will understand it eventually." He Yiming nodded firmly, his gaze brimming with confidence. Hand in hand, they walked side by side, following closely behind the two elders. ### ※※※※ The mountain range, seemingly within reach, revealed a longer trek than expected once they began walking. Only half a day later, with He Wude’s pace, did they finally reach the base of those peaks. The landscape appeared unremarkable compared to other areas, yet in the forest, He Yiming noticed a path—well-trodden, as if countless travelers had walked it over the years, carving it into existence through sheer force. Upon reaching this path, the two elderly men grew increasingly excited. Yet, outwardly, their faces remained calm. For an observer unfamiliar with them or their journey, sensing the storm of emotions within them would be nearly impossible. He Wude paused on the path, bent down, and inhaled deeply from a wildflower by the roadside. He closed his eyes, seemingly immersing himself fully, savoring the floral fragrance as if this moment held unparalleled tranquility. Watching this spectacle, He Yiming felt as if he were witnessing a masterpiece of art. An aura of harmony with the surrounding world emanated from the elder, as though removing him would create a void in the environment, disrupting its balance. Remarkably, despite not yet reaching the innately gifted level of mastery, He Wude displayed phenomena only achievable by such experts, all while nearing Hengshan. Had He Yiming not witnessed this himself, he wouldn't have believed it possible. He observed his grandfather quietly, feeling as though he had grasped a concept from the elderly man's composure. It was a pure feeling, indescribable by words, and even He Yiming himself couldn’t decipher what exactly it was. However, he sensed if he could truly comprehend this power, it would provide immeasurable aid in his martial pursuits. Abruptly, the old man stood up, gazed forward, and resumed their journey. From the moment he rose, that wondrous sense of melding with the world dissipated, and He Yiming frowned slightly, lamenting the lost opportunity. This had been a rare chance—not just for him, but also for his grandfather. Had the elder been able to frequently enter such a state, he might have ascended to innate mastery possibilities, despite not being a dual elemental practitioner. Yet this state was merely an accidental occurrence, one not easily achieved by practitioners of their level. The odds might be even lower than that of an innate master’s enlightenment. ### ※※※※ The mountain He Wude ascended was the tallest peak among the surrounding range. Midway up, the path suddenly widened, and a series of neatly arranged steps emerged around a bend, revealing a grand route ahead. If the previous trail was a rugged mountain path, this was a radiant avenue. The road seemed to stretch endlessly into the distance. He Yiming couldn’t help but admire the sect’s legacy, spanning over three thousand years, that could establish such a monumental masterpiece in the remote mountains. How did they achieve this in such an environment? Did the entire sect unite, setting aside their cultivation? As He Yiming gazed into the distance, a sudden flash of light caught his eye, followed by a piercing whistle slicing through the air. A silver arrow shot down from the path’s edge, descending with a swift motion. The arrow's grand momentum wasn't threatening them; it landed steadily ten meters ahead on the stone steps. "Similar to Big Brother's, internal strength at eight layers," He Yiming's voice echoed. Though his voice wasn't loud, it reached the ears of the two elders in front. He Wude and He Laibao paused momentarily, then noticed someone dashing down from the mountain. The person stopped ten meters away by the silver arrow; he was a young man in his mid-twenties. Tall and upright, with stern features, his dark eyebrows spread like a hawk's wings. His sharp, penetrating gaze emanated an icy aura. Upon seeing He Yiming and the others, the young man was taken aback. The group comprised mostly elders and women, with the singular young man appearing surprisingly youthful. Prudent by nature, the young man couldn't discern their intentions. Having no recollection of them, he maintained a cold demeanor, saying, "You are standing at the heart of the Hengshan sect. If you have come here by accident, I urge you to turn back." He Wude exchanged smiles with He Laibao, finally understanding what He Yiming meant by his prior remark. The young man, being of a similar age to Yitian and possessing an eight-layer internal strength, was certainly a standout among the younger generation in Hengshan. Yet, both elders bore a trace of amazement. How had He Yiming assessed this man's age and skill so accurately, without seeing him emerge? Could every innate master possess such a skill akin to x-ray vision? Yet, they were unaware that He Yiming didn't possess any x-ray vision. Instead, he had an incredible auditory skill that even x-ray vision might not match. Beyond wind-element innate masters, most advanced practitioners find it exceedingly difficult to learn this secret technique. He Wude composed himself and spoke warmly, "Young man, we haven't lost our way. We're here to visit Hengshan specifically." The young man's expression shifted instantly, his feet subtly shifting apart. With that slight adjustment, a surge of powerful menace emanated from him, carried by the gentle mountain breeze, pressing forward. Despite this, He Wude's old face remained calm and unshaken. Upon seeing a brilliant young disciple of Hengshan, he felt not a tinge of jealousy but rather a swelling sense of pride. Look, this is what the Hengshan disciples have become... Sensing the benevolence exuding from He Wude, the young man's demeanor gradually softened. Although vigilance lingered in his expression, the intensity of his threatening aura significantly decreased. He Wude nodded slightly and said, "Young man, we mean no harm. We’re just here to seek an audience with the Herbal Peak's Medicine Sage." The man's recently calmed demeanor instantly tensed again. His lips tightened, and his aura intensified even further, emanating a greater menace than when he first arrived. Yuan Lixun shivered slightly, the cold menace washing over her. He Yiming frowned slightly, with a slight wave of his robe, releasing a subtle energy around both him and Yuan Lixun. This energy, like a soft, cloud-made barrier, gently pushed back the young man's aura without causing any alarm or awareness. The ability to wield true energy with such finesse indicated He Yiming's complete mastery over the mist-like energy, with no hindrance whatsoever. The young man's face grew increasingly grave. Though not panicked, it was clear he was now considering retreat. These four looked like elderly and frail women, with the sole young man obviously younger than him. Yet, under his peak pressure, they appeared completely unruffled, as if unaware of the powerful presence of an eight-layer internal strength master. In that instant, he understood that these four were formidable, at the very least on par with his cultivation. He took a deep breath and said, "Since you've traveled far, I shouldn’t obstruct you. However, the Medicine Sage of Herbal Peak is currently concocting elixirs and likely unavailable for visitors." He Wude hesitated, pondering. Although there were three other peaks at Hengshan housing elders and the most powerful Grand Elder, He Wude had no desire to bother them. It was, after all, their insistence that led to his expulsion from Hengshan years ago. Were it not for the Medicine Sage's intervention, he might have been stripped of his martial skills then and there. After a brief pause, he asked, "Young man, is He Wujin on Herbal Peak?" The young man paused, a note of respect in his demeanor, as he asked, "Senior, you know Master He?" He Wude’s eyes reflected a touch of nostalgia. "I’ve known him for over seventy years." The young man’s expression changed again, the menace dissipating entirely, replaced by a hint of embarrassment. "Senior, if you are acquainted with Master He, please rest in the pavilion at mid-mountain while I inform him of your arrival." He Wude, puzzled, asked, "The guest pavilion at mid-mountain was in ruins long ago. Has it been rebuilt over these decades?" The young man finally believed He Wude wasn't bluffing and smiled, "Senior, the guest pavilion did indeed fall into disrepair when I was young, but it was rebuilt ten years ago on the Wind and Fire Peak Grand Elder's orders." He Wude nodded, and with the young man's guidance, the group ascended the steps and swiftly arrived at a bend with a pavilion. The pavilion was simple yet spacious and bright. Though not luxurious, it exuded an unmistakable air of grandeur. During their ascent, He Yiming and the others learned the young man was Zibo Wan, a great-grand-disciple of Hengshan's Wind and Fire Peak Elder Lian Yi. Judging by He Wude's seniority, Zibo Wan was on the same level as He Yitian and He Yiming. However, as He Yiming was now a master of the innate level, joining Hengshan Mountain would make him on par with the three elders, far beyond Zibo Wan’s reach. The pavilion even had a dedicated area for boiling water and brewing tea, where a pot of water was already boiling. Zibo Wan served them tea and said awkwardly, "This place usually has at least two guards, but guests here are rare, so it's typically just me. Please forgive the lack of formality." He Wude waved it off, "No worries, young man. We're grateful for the tea." Zibo Wan bowed slightly, asking, "May I have your names, senior, so I can report to Master He?" He Wude paused before saying, "Just tell him that Wude has come." Zibo Wan seemed slightly startled but quickly bowed and left in a hurry. Watching him go, He Yiming asked in surprise, "Grandfather, that senior He Wujin’s name is very similar to yours." He Wude sighed, sharing, "Wujin and I were both orphans taken in by our master from a young age. He was the one closest to me in our entire sect." He Yiming understood, suddenly curious, "Grandfather, how did our family’s surname come about?" "We took our master's surname," He Wude replied with a touch of irritation, "Our master’s original surname was He. He oversaw Herbal Peak for many years at Hengshan, thus later adopting the title of Medicine Sage." He Yiming nodded slowly, understanding the deep bond. The reason for his grandfather's attachment to Hengshan was clear now—he cherished the master who adopted, raised, and taught him martial arts since childhood. Though He Yiming had not yet met the Medicine Sage, he was immensely grateful. Without this master, He Wude might have perished long ago, and He Yiming himself would never have been born. The four sat in silence; though He Yiming and Yuan Lixun remained composed, the two elders seemed quite restless. In the presence of others, they maintained their calm, but in solitude, they struggled to suppress their complex emotions. After a while, He Laibao stood, pacing the pavilion. Despite his tenth layer of internal strength, his restlessness reflected his agitation. Suddenly, He Yiming smiled, "Grandfather, Uncle Bao, someone's coming." The two elders immediately turned their gaze toward the mountaintop, and after some time, they spotted a man racing down, shouting as he approached, "Junior Brother, is it really you..."