Book 3 Chapter 17: Returning Wounded - Martial God

### Chapter 17: Returning Wounded "Elder Yao, this should be a disciple of Lingyao Peak," He Yiming said in a grave tone. "She kidnapped Lixun and tried to steal the Innate Golden Pill. I've killed her." Elder Yao nodded, emotion flickering across his face—sorrow, anger, disgust, and a touch of desolation. "Elder He, it's my lack of management that led to this regrettable incident," Elder Yao sighed deeply. "I apologize for the fright Miss Yuan experienced." Yuan Lixun stepped forward quickly from behind He Yiming, bowing deeply to Elder Yao. "Elder Yao, this has nothing to do with you. It was entirely due to the woman's greed." With a bitter smile, Elder Yao replied, "This person was a disciple of Lingyao Peak. It happened here, how could it be unrelated to me?" He glanced at the body on the ground, speaking softly, "Refining the Innate Golden Pill is indeed a significant matter in our sect. But once refined, those who have painstakingly cultivated their whole lives to reach the tenth level of Internal Strength have no right to enjoy it. Naturally, they're upset." He Yiming's eyebrows lifted slightly, and his antipathy towards Gu Qiying dissipated somewhat. He too had progressed from the tenth level of Internal Strength. He vividly remembered how helpless he felt when he realized he couldn't advance further. If not for his grandfather and uncle revealing the family secret chamber and the method to advance innately, who knows what despair he might have succumbed to. This Gu Qiying, to be frank, was merely a pitiable soul who desperately sought the Golden Pill to break through to the Innate realm. Of course, after learning from the Red Bandit Horse Thieves and Fan Haoyue, He Yiming had resolved to show no mercy to those who wished him harm. Much like earlier, when he sensed Elder Yao's impending arrival, he acted without hesitation, swiftly killing Gu Qiying, not giving Elder Yao a chance to plead for her. To his surprise, Elder Yao had not come out to intercede, irrespective. Although Gu Qiying possessed martial talent, she was no match for He Yiming. Kidnapping Yuan Lixun in her quest for the Innate Golden Pill could have provided disastrous consequences, potentially making He Yiming leave Hengshan—a responsibility neither she nor Elder Yao could bear. Thus, even if He Yiming hadn't struck, Elder Yao couldn't have spared her. This incident revealed the hidden desires of the postnatal tenth-level masters on the mountain to Elder Yao. It would be naive to assume other outstanding disciples didn't harbor similar thoughts. Before stepping out, Elder Yao had decided to consult with Yu Jinglei and Lian Yi on how to address this matter properly. He Yiming held Yuan Lixun's hand without reservation and asked suddenly, "Elder Yao, I've heard that Lingyao Peak has some reserves of Jingli Pills and Jixian Pills?" Elder Yao nodded instinctively. These two kinds of pills were indeed invaluable treasures among the great families in all of Northwestern nations. But in this serene and secluded mountain, few would actually take them. Because here, the cultivation environment was vastly superior to the outside world, most relied on their own efforts. Only when encountering an exceptionally rare genius would the sect give a pill to help them reach the peak of the tenth Internal Strength level and attempt to break through to the Innate realm. On Hengshan, no such genius had appeared in a century, so quite a number of these pills accumulated. He Yiming squeezed Yuan Lixun's hand slightly, and said earnestly, "Elder Yao, I wish to request a few Jixian Pills and Jingli Pills, if allowed?" Elder Yao glanced at Yuan Lixun, consenting readily, "That's a minor matter, no problem." He Yiming thought to himself, these two pills are priceless outside, yet to Elder Yao they're mere trifles. The three-thousand-year history of the Hengshan lineage indeed boasts a heritage that even millennial aristocratic families cannot rival. Elder Yao hesitated, then said, "Elder He, today's incident is truly regrettable. I have a pill recipe here to give as an apology to Miss Yuan." As he spoke, he produced a yellowed piece of paper, flicked it gently, and it floated over as if supported by an invisible hand. Yuan Lixun caught it in confusion, not understanding why Elder Yao was gifting her a pill recipe. He Yiming, however, understood. Elder Yao pretended the recipe was a gift for Yuan Lixun, when it was clearly being presented as an apology to him. He mused, strength truly reaps benefits. If he weren't an Innate master, merely He Wude's grandson, Elder Yao wouldn't have shown such consideration. Taking a glance at the recipe, He Yiming was startled—it listed over fifty types of herbs. Many were exceptionally rare, some not even found in Lingyao Peak's own gardens. He Yiming was no longer the naive boy who first arrived at Lingyao Peak. He immediately recognized the recipe's extraordinary value. "Elder Yao, what exactly is this pill?" He Yiming asked curiously. Elder Yao had been watching He Yiming closely, relieved when he saw no grudge held against Lingyao Peak. Of course, this was because Yuan Lixun hadn't been harmed. Had she been injured, He Yiming would not have let matters rest. With a slight cough, Elder Yao said, "This is an ancient recipe, which I stumbled upon in my youth, along with a successfully refined pill at the time." He Yiming was amazed. It was the first time he had sensed such reluctance from Elder Yao. Looking again at the recipe in Yuan Lixun's hands, his heart was filled with awe—someone had actually gathered all these herbs and refined the pill. Instinctively, he asked, "And the pill?" Elder Yao laughed awkwardly, "I consumed it." He sighed, "When I acquired the recipe and pill, I saw so many valuable herbs listed, many enhancing internal strength, so I couldn't resist." He Yiming understood instantly. Elder Yao hadn't reached the Innate realm when he found the recipe. Studying Elder Yao seriously, He Yiming asked, "What does the pill do? Is it more precious than the Innate Golden Pill?" "For martial artists like us, it doesn't compare to the Innate Golden Pill. However..." Elder Yao paused, his smile strained, "However, since consuming it, my appearance hasn't changed for over a hundred years." He Yiming and Yuan Lixun exclaimed in unison, finally realizing what the recipe was. The Rejuvenation Pill, known to grant eternal youth. Even if it only preserved appearance, the Rejuvenation Pill was an incomparable treasure. Yet, for an Innate master like Elder Yao, he was indifferent to youthful looks. Yuan Lixun gently tugged on He Yiming's sleeve, excitement radiating, "Master." Though she said nothing more, her expression spoke volumes. Reaching the pinnacle of martial training could slow aging, but paled next to the legendary Rejuvenation Pill. He Yiming might marvel at the tale, but it wouldn’t concern him much. Yuan Lixun, however, displayed unprecedented longing unmistakably. He Yiming took the recipe, examining the diverse rare herbs listed, silently sighing, yet spoke firmly, "Lixun, rest assured, I'll refine a Rejuvenation Pill for you." Yuan Lixun nodded eagerly, gratitude in her gaze towards Elder Yao. Elder Yao slightly bowed his head, understanding Yuan Lixun's importance to He Yiming. Otherwise, he wouldn't have offered such a grand gift. The recipe, useless to Elder Yao, had been lost for millennia. Rediscovered by pure chance, hardly anyone now lived who recognized it. Suddenly, frantic footsteps grew closer. Soon, He Wude arrived carrying Bei Youhui. Looking around, he was startled, "Master, you're here too." Elder Yao responded, his sharp gaze turning to Bei Youhui. At the sight of Elder Yao, her face turned ashen. When she spotted Gu Qiying's motionless body, she went completely pale. Elder Yao sighed deeply, "Do you know your crime?" Bei Youhui's lips trembled slightly before she finally spoke, "Ancestral Master, you crafted two Innate Golden Pills, yet Lingyao Peak did not receive even one. It's unfair." Elder Yao slowly shook his head. "Would it be fair if I gave the pill to you two instead?" Bei Youhui was stunned, rendered speechless. Despite her boldness, she couldn't find the words. "For the sake of personal greed, you sought the Innate Golden Pill and went as far as to harm your fellow disciples... such ruthless intent..." Elder Yao commanded an awe-inspiring presence even without anger. "You know what must be done." Bei Youhui trembled, suddenly weeping bitterly. "Ancestral Master, spare me. I was deceived, and I'll never act so rashly again." Elder Yao gave her a cold look, replying softly, "Why bring this upon yourself?" He waved his sleeve, and Bei Youhui's cries halted abruptly. She collapsed limply, her eyes wide open, seemingly still clinging to life. He Yiming nodded slightly. These two women had met their fate through their own malicious actions. Even if Elder Yao hadn't acted, he would show no mercy. Elder Yao's decisiveness, rewarding and punishing appropriately, maintained order and discipline at Lingyao Peak. Suddenly, a sharp whistle resonated from afar. The distance made the sound faint; only because they stood at the foot of the mountain could they hear it. He Yiming and the others lifted their gaze, seeing a bright red flare arrow shoot up in the distance, bursting with fiery brilliance in the dusky sky—strikingly radiant and conspicuous. Elder Yao and He Wude's expressions changed simultaneously. Elder Yao urgently stated, "Wudao, summon Wu Jin for aftermath arrangements. Elder He, come with me." With that, he leaped swiftly towards the direction of the flare. Although He Yiming didn't fully understand the situation, seeing Elder Yao's urgency, he knew the flare was significant to Hengshan and likely not trivial. He nodded reassuringly to Yuan Lixun, offering a comforting smile before moving to follow. Elder Yao exerted all his strength heading towards the flare, suddenly hearing a calm voice beside him, "Elder Yao, who sent that flare?" Startled, he looked over to see He Yiming walking leisurely behind him, hands behind his back. Elder Yao realized He Yiming wasn't exerting his full effort despite appearing at ease. Noticing the rectangular package on He Yiming's back, he was astounded—what profound lightness skill. Elder Yao slightly reduced his speed, hurriedly explaining, "Elder He, that flare is a distress signal used only by Hengshan Elders. Elder Yu Xichen must be in trouble. Please, go ahead to assist." He Yiming was intrigued. Nearing Hengshan, yet Elder Yu, whom he hadn't even met, found himself against undefeatable foes. With a swift nod, He Yiming accelerated, like a gust of wind, soon leaving Elder Yao behind. On Hengshan, He Yiming was currently unmatched in speed, even the esteemed Yu Jinglei had to concede. Exerting his full potential, He Yiming streaked through the forest, a straight line of afterimages, reaching the flare’s location swiftly. His sharp ears caught the clash of weapons and labored breathing. Hearing this alone, he understood someone was injured, possibly severely. Moving like lightning, He Yiming put more force into his feet, suddenly appearing from behind tall trees on the battlefield beneath the flare. Before him lay a vast clearing amidst the woods, likely a former grove of towering trees and undergrowth, now leveled by the clash of Innate masters. He quickly took in the scene: three men in black robes besieging a blue-robed man. As He Yiming’s gaze fell upon the three black-robed figures, he hesitated slightly. These men were clearly distinct, with tall statures, high noses, and deep-set eyes, not even entirely black. The besieged individual bore some resemblance to Yu Jinglei. However, he was in grave jeopardy, barely holding his own against the three adversaries, seemingly on the verge of collapse. Without delay, He Yiming reacted at once. The muscles of his shoulder twitched slightly, sending his large Guan Dao soaring into the air. In a smooth motion, he caught and assembled it in hand, and with a thunderous roar akin to lightning, he swung the Guan Dao, menacingly slashing towards the three black-robed individuals. All four combatants were top-tier Innate masters. One-on-one, He Yiming had no fear, but three against one was uncertain. Still, given the circumstances, retreat wasn't an option. Fortunately, wielding the Guan Dao infused him with boundless courage. His strike carried an overwhelming momentum, like a storm sweeping through the clouds. After battles with Yu Jinglei and insights from mountain water paintings, his blade technique grew even more formidable and extraordinary. The three attackers were evidently well-coordinated. One ceased his assault, stepped back, and turned to face He Yiming. This individual wielded a massive double-handed broadsword. Although not as exaggerated as the Guan Dao, it was still a heavy weapon by any standard. As soon as he lifted the broadsword, he sensed the Guan Dao's overwhelming force, surpassing his endurance limit. His eyes widened, and he spat out a string of unrecognizable words in panic. But He Yiming paid him no heed, his blade continuing its relentless descent. "Clang..." A resonant clash of metal echoed. The man's entire body shuddered, struggling to maintain balance, and he staggered backward with each step, rapidly retreating. His finely forged broadsword bore a rice-grain-sized chip. The Guan Dao's momentum remained undeterred, moving seamlessly towards the second opponent. The second black-robed man turned, also holding a broadsword. Encountering the advancing blade, he too faltered and was forced to retreat. Under the brute strength of He Yiming’s Guan Dao, though angered and startled, he couldn’t help avoiding its edge. The third black-robed man sighed inwardly. The opponent, already severely wounded, needed just a moment more, and they would have succeeded in their mission. But faced with overwhelming, encompassing killing intent from behind, he dared not delay any longer. With dexterous movements, he spun. Swift and agile, he wielded a delicate rapier. Under true energy control, the rapier, akin to a venomous snake, maneuvered aiming for He Yiming. However, before he could strike, the Guan Dao twitched slightly, meeting his sword’s tip at an ingenious angle. The man's face contorted with pain, and he retreated hastily, unable to maintain his grip. He Yiming stood with resolve, eyes blazing—a single swing had sent three Innate masters fleeing. Behind him, the besieged man gaped at the scene, filled with elation. The power of one swing was fierce beyond belief...