Book 3 Chapter Seven: The Supreme Elder - Martial God

Chapter Seven: The Supreme Elder After returning to his courtyard, He Yiming glanced at the two innate secret manuals in his hand. He hesitated for a long while before finally putting away the "Flame Technique" and opening the "Withered Wood Technique". Seeing He Yiming’s actions, Yuan Lixun intuitively closed the courtyard gate. Although He Yiming had given no explicit hint, just observing his expression was enough for Yuan Lixun to understand that he was about to immerse himself completely in martial arts practice. After opening the "Withered Wood Technique" manual, He Yiming didn’t jump straight to the advanced innate techniques. Instead, he began reciting from the very first line, word by word. This content was all too familiar to him. Since reaching the pinnacle of the tenth level of the "Withered Wood Technique," he had not looked through it again. However, upon this re-reading, he suddenly realized he seemed to have gained a new understanding. Currently, even though he still practiced the wood-based "Withered Wood Technique," due to his unique constitution where the five elements flowed as one, all his martial techniques had undergone subtle changes. The most significant transformations were in the "Primordial Force" and "Ripple Technique". The rigorous training of the "Thirty-Six Styles of Mountain Opening" and multiple insightful revelations had unexpectedly enhanced these two techniques to a level that was not inferior even when compared to genuine innate techniques. Yet, the other three martial techniques were somewhat lacking in utilization. However, with the innate versions of "Withered Wood Technique" and "Flame Technique" now at his disposal, he was absolutely confident of bridging the gap in these two techniques. Reading page by page, once He Yiming finished reviewing all the acquired content of the "Withered Wood Technique," he closed his eyes and let his inner energy flow, simulating the movements of internal energy along the acquired martial paths within his body. Starting from the first level, up to the tenth level, and finally effortlessly breaking out of the body, creating some sort of connection with the external forces. As his internal energy surged out, a wave of profound comfort spread throughout every part of He Yiming’s being. He Yiming exhaled a long breath, reflecting with emotions. In the past, he had spared no effort to step into the innate realm, and only by a stroke of luck did he eventually succeed. Now, it felt as if he was revisiting these experiences, though the breakthrough technique shifted from the fire element to the wood element, and the exhilarating sensation was just as intense. After the chaotic internal energy made a full circuit within his body, it converted into wood-elemental energy, connecting with the external forces. For He Yiming, who was accustomed to transforming his energy into metal or elements of weather, this was a strange feeling. If it were metal energy now, he could practice the "Thirty-Six Styles of Mountain Opening"; if it were water or wind energy, he could become the incarnation of rain, cloud, and fog, drifting in the mountains. Yet, when he transformed his energy to the wood element, he felt a bit at a loss. After standing there for quite some time, he finally realized that although practicing the "Withered Wood Technique" could also enhance his chaotic energy, its speed was nowhere near as fast as practicing the "Thirty-Six Styles of Mountain Opening" or the elemental weather techniques. He sighed lightly and turned the page from the tenth-level acquired content of the "Withered Wood Technique" to the genuine innate techniques. Withered Wood Technique, wood-elemental innate incantations and illustrations. He Yiming’s eyes sparkled as if a child had found their favorite toy, his focus completely drawn to the contents within. He silently chanted each word, finding in every line of this manual a pearl of wisdom that spoke directly to his heart, showering him with enlightening clarity. Particularly when he reached the final annotations, his excitement grew even more visibly. After quite a while, He Yiming finally averted his gaze, closed his eyes, pondered briefly, then read the manual from start to finish once more. After repeating this three times, He Yiming put down the book, exhaling a long breath. When he reopened his eyes, there was a hint of fatigue he couldn’t conceal. For someone with the formidable power of an innate master to show such expression, it was evident how taxing the mental effort had been. Exiting the room, the first sight he caught was Yuan Lixun. She had already shut the courtyard gate, taken a chair, and was sitting just outside the door of his retreat. Although her internal energy had reached the sixth level, she was still unremarkable among the disciples of Lingyao Peak. However, as long as she sat there, not even Yao Dao Ren would force an entry. Hearing the door open, Yuan Lixun turned to him with a bright smile, her face radiant like a clear sky after rain, exuding a unique charm. He Yiming paused slightly, his eyes regained their focus, returning to normal. "Young Master, did you succeed?" Yuan Lixun asked softly. Although He Yiming hadn’t made a point of showing it, there was a trace of weariness on his face. This surprised Yuan Lixun greatly, as she rarely saw He Yiming look this way, even after his battle with Cheng Fu. She wondered what kind of technique could require such immense focus from the young master. He Yiming chuckled softly, realizing Yuan Lixun had misunderstood, thinking he was cultivating a new technique. After a thought, he sincerely explained, "Lixun, I was just reading a manual, not practicing any technique." Yuan Lixun glanced towards the room in surprise. Could it be... A tinge of envy flashed across her face. If she had the chance, she too wished to learn an innate technique. Unfortunately, she was aware that in her lifetime, she might never have the opportunity to reach the innate realm. "Young Master," Yuan Lixun couldn’t help but inquire, "Did the book help you?" He Yiming nodded earnestly, "Indeed, this book was enlightening for me, like a splash of cold water on a muddled mind." Seeing Yuan Lixun’s eyes light up with hope, he gave a wry smile, "Lixun, this is a wood-elemental technique, different from what you practice." Disappointment flickered in Yuan Lixun’s eyes. For any practitioner, having an innate manual placed before them yet being unable to practice it, was nearly torturous. Though Yuan Lixun hadn’t devoted herself entirely to martial arts, she wasn’t immune to this feeling. He Yiming studied her closely, hesitating before saying, "Lixun, for practitioners like us, the best technique isn’t the strongest, but the one that suits us best!" Yuan Lixun’s eyes lifted to meet He Yiming’s clear gaze. As if she suddenly understood something, she nodded firmly, "Young Master, thank you." He Yiming waved his hand, pleased for her. Even though this was something obvious, when faced with an innate manual just sitting before them, how many could resist the temptation and not reach for it? Yuan Lixun’s quick understanding was a pleasant surprise to He Yiming. ※※※※ In the Herb Garden, He Yiming stood with closed eyes, gently tracing his hands over an ancient towering tree of unknown age. An unperceivable current flowed slowly around him. Gradually, his face revealed a genuine smile. After studying the "Withered Wood Technique" manual and its annotations gifted by Yao Dao Ren, He Yiming understood. To achieve the best innate energy cultivation, one must practice in the most suitable environment. For instance, to achieve optimal results, "Ripple Technique" should be practiced near the sea or water bodies. While this didn’t surpass the insight from revelations, compared to He Yiming’s usual practice, it was certainly more efficient. So, after viewing the innate cultivation methods and notes in the "Withered Wood Technique," he experienced an awakening as if a mist had cleared from his eyes. To cultivate the "Withered Wood Technique," naturally, one should choose a deep mountain forest. However, after centuries of experimentation, Yao Dao Ren discovered that the medicinal garden behind Lingyao Peak offered even better conditions for cultivation. Thus, He Yiming found himself in the Herb Garden, selecting the largest ancient tree there, slowly channeling his wood-elemental energy into it as per the manual’s instructions. As he extended his energy further, the intricate patterns within the great tree began to unfold in his mind. He was once again engulfed in a wave of understanding, realizing that even in nature, plants have their own unique pathways, similar to human and animal meridians. However, these pathways are deeply hidden, not visible to everyone easily. Only a wood-element innate master like him could explore these mysteries using innate wood-element energy. As the wood-element energy spread along the tree’s pathways, He Yiming suddenly felt an odd sensation. It was as if he had become the tree itself, or perhaps the tree had become a part of him, extending his spirit and consciousness outward. This sensation was intriguing. Although not as intense as an epiphany, it was still deeply moving. His innate energy flowed through the tree, scattering in all directions and interacting with some peculiar energy in the surroundings. Every leaf and branch of the tree absorbed this mystical energy from the space around. Gradually, the energy began to converge from countless leaves and branches toward a single focus. The tree's pathways seemed to transform into the meridians within He Yiming's body, continuously drawing these energies into himself. This was the energy of life, representing the power of growth. Fir, cypress, locust, and elm—strong, upright, and thriving... Suddenly, He Yiming began to understand. Among the five elements, the power represented by wood was astonishingly strong and incredible. At that moment, tears of emotion brimmed in his eyes, and his entire being was submerged in overwhelming gratitude. He opened his heart fully, immersing himself entirely in this extraordinary feeling. Unsure how much time had passed, he finally regained his composure from this deep emotional experience. Only then did he realize that he had successfully accomplished the innate cultivation method detailed in the manual, and had done so remarkably well. As his internal energy circulated slightly, it felt as if it was surging like a vast ocean. This practice session had pushed his internal energy even further than anticipated. Although it wasn't as intense as an enlightenment breakthrough, the progress he had made exceeded his expectations significantly. He looked up at the ancient tree, deep in thought. The tree’s volume was much larger than a human's, its reach with the void far exceeding that of a human’s individual practice. Although its pathways absorbed a massive amount of life energy, the total energy absorbed was still far beyond what an individual could achieve alone. As he surveyed his surroundings, a surge of boundless ambition filled He Yiming’s heart. Having mastered this method, he was more confident than ever about his martial arts cultivation in the future. ※※※※ While He Yiming was wholly engrossed in this new path of cultivation, he didn’t notice that Yao Dao Ren had also arrived at the Herb Garden. After staying for a while and observing, Yao Dao Ren finally nodded in satisfaction and left. When he departed, besides joy, there was also a mixture of astonishment and reflection in his eyes. Though he knew He Yiming’s wood-element talent was extraordinarily high—almost to a legendary degree—seeing He Yiming grasp the essence of the "Withered Wood Technique" in just a day was utterly surprising. It was important to note that Yao Dao Ren himself was a martial arts prodigy. If not, he wouldn’t have managed to step into the innate realm by mastering the interaction between fire and wood. After entering the innate realm, Yao Dao Ren had spent over a decade gradually mastering the innate cultivation techniques of the "Flame Technique" and "Withered Wood Technique." His progress prior to mastery was extremely slow. In his view, even for a prodigy like He Yiming, mastering the innate cultivation techniques of both the "Flame Technique" and "Withered Wood Technique" would take at least a year. However, the scene he had just witnessed conveyed a simple truth. Genuine prodigies cannot be judged by ordinary standards. Reflecting on what he had personally witnessed, Yao Dao Ren was filled with emotion. Such a prodigy joining the Hengshan lineage was undeniably a great blessing. However, residing alongside this genius over time might not be beneficial for him. At the very least, his own confidence in martial arts cultivation could face challenges in the future. Yao Dao Ren did not linger in the Herb Garden for long and left before He Yiming finished his practice. As he returned to his abode, he found He Wu Jin eagerly waiting outside. The moment he saw Yao Dao Ren, He Wu Jin advanced and said, "Master, we have received a message from the main peak that the grand elder has returned." Yao Dao Ren's eyebrows lifted with delight as he remarked, "The grand elder is back?" "Indeed." "Great." Yao Dao Ren waved his sleeve, laughed heartily, and turned to leave. Upon hearing the news of the return of the Hengshan lineage's grand elder, any lingering feelings of envy in Yao Dao Ren’s heart vanished without a trace. If granted recognition by this grand elder, He Yiming could immediately become the fourth formal elder of Hengshan, ensuring a successor for the Spirit Medicine Peak. With lightning speed, Yao Dao Ren traversed the distance between the two peaks and arrived at the main peak in the time it took for incense to burn. Within the Hengshan region, the main peak was undoubtedly the highest, the same peak He Wu De and He Yiming had first stepped upon. As one of the three great elders, Yao Dao Ren’s presence was a ticket in itself. All the Hengshan disciples he encountered along the way greeted him respectfully. Shortly thereafter, he found himself at a secluded courtyard behind the main peak. Approaching the gates, a familiar sonorous voice from within welcomed him, "Elder Yao, please enter." Yao Dao Ren entered without hesitation. Upon raising his head, he saw an elderly man, lean yet steady as a mountain. This elder, with large eyes that seemed to emanate limitless wisdom and alertness, was none other than Yu Jing Lei, the only remaining predecessor of the Hengshan lineage. Seeing Yao Dao Ren enter, Yu Jing Lei smiled faintly and said, "Elder Yao, you generally don’t visit the sanctuary for nothing. What brings you here so urgently today?" Yao Dao Ren offered a slightly embarrassed smile. This elder surpassed him in power, seniority, and age. Even with his high-level Hundred Scattered Heavens cultivation, Yao Dao Ren dared not disrespect him in the slightest. With a slight bow, Yao Dao Ren first inquired, "Master Uncle, did you gain anything from this outing?" Yu Jing Lei sighed deeply, an unhidden regret in his gaze. "Finding an innate spiritual beast is easier said than done. Once again, I’ve returned empty-handed." Yao Dao Ren wasn’t surprised by this. As the elder said, had innate spiritual beasts been easy to find, the world would be full of innate experts. Yu Jing Lei hesitated a moment before adding, "In a month, it will be New Year. After the celebration, I plan to take a trip there." Yao Dao Ren was taken aback and objected, "Master Uncle, you mustn't. Such a place is beyond human reach." Yu Jing Lei managed a wry smile. "I know, but age is catching up with me. If I don’t take the risk now, in several decades, I fear I will lack the capability to do so." Yao Dao Ren smacked his forehead. "Master Uncle, there's something I’ve neglected to report." "What is it?" "My once banished disciple, He Wu De, has returned to the mountain and rejoined the Hengshan sect," Yao Dao Ren stated earnestly. Yu Jing Lei seemed indifferent. "So you finally located him. It must have been quite an effort." Yet Yao Dao Ren remained solemn. "Master Uncle, He Wu De did not return alone. He brought his grandson, He Yiming." Yu Jing Lei paused in surprise, then chuckled, "He Wu De is your disciple. If his grandson wishes to join the Hengshan sect, you can decide. Assign him any master you see fit." Yao Dao Ren found himself at a loss, laughing awkwardly. "Master Uncle, across all of Hengshan, aside from you, there’s likely no one else who could serve as his master." Yu Jing Lei questioned, "Why is that?" Yao Dao Ren drew himself up proudly and declared, "Because He Yiming is an innate master."