Book 3 Chapter 25: Leaving the Mountain - Martial God

**Chapter 25: Leaving the Mountain** In the spacious hall, He Yi Ming exhaled a long breath as though it were endless. Once he fully expelled this breath, his tightly closed eyes opened. His gaze wandered around the room and finally settled on Yuan Li Xun, who was also cultivating her inner strength beside him. At this moment, Yuan Li Xun also had her eyes closed, the vigorous inner strength circulating ceaselessly within her, gradually reaching its peak. He felt the powerful and abundant water-based energy that permeated around him. These forces were attracted from all directions as he cultivated his water-based true energy. Moreover, He Yi Ming noticed that although it was the same water-based energy, it exhibited different frequencies. This mysterious frequency could be fine-tuned through the speed and skill of cultivation. After such adjustments, the surrounding water-related forces of heaven and earth seemed to more closely harmonize with Yuan Li Xun’s aura. Particularly, as she cultivated, there was a faint sense of unity between heaven and man. Although Yuan Li Xun was not an innate strong practitioner and couldn’t absorb the external celestial energy, she was cultivating a water-based art. Thus, when He Yi Ming concurrently cultivated with innate water true energy, she gained some benefits to a certain extent. In the short term, it might not be noticeable, but over time, Yuan Li Xun’s progress not only increased significantly, but more importantly, her physique seemed to undergo a certain transformation in this peak concentration of water energy, making her more attuned to the water forces permeating everywhere in the external world. Of course, this might just be an illusion, but He Yi Ming knew that the beginning of communicating with the outside world started with such illusory feelings. If Yuan Li Xun could continually cultivate in such an environment, when she reached the pinnacle of the tenth layer of inner strength, advancing to the innate realm would be a hundred times easier than for others. However, this method was too extravagant and couldn’t be broadly popularized. After all, not every innate practitioner would go to such great lengths to nurture the next generation, and besides He Yi Ming, probably no one else could easily fine-tune the skill they were cultivating without affecting their own cultivation progress. Feeling Yuan Li Xun’s cultivation progress, a look of satisfaction gradually appeared on He’s face. Then, he took out a jade bottle from his pocket, containing an Extreme Golden Pill. He hesitated for a while, unable to make up his mind. Slowly, Yuan Li Xun finished her cultivation and opened her bright eyes, immediately noticing the pondering He Yi Ming. “What are you thinking about, Young Master?” He Yi Ming put the jade bottle back into his pocket, saying, “Nothing much, I was contemplating whether to give you the Extreme Golden Pill.” Yuan Li Xun was slightly taken aback, “More Golden Pills?” He Yi Ming laughed helplessly. Golden Pills were such precious items, that others wished in vain to get their hands on even one. But he understood; for this reason, Yuan Li Xun was somewhat cautious when taking them. After all, before following He Yi Ming, she could never have imagined experiencing such an incredible life. “We’ve already been here at Hengshan for five months, haven’t we, Li Xun?” “Yes.” He Yi Ming nodded, “Though you’ve only consumed one Energy Pill, you’ve now achieved the peak of the sixth layer – a testament to your hard work.” Yuan Li Xun solemnly said, “Young Master, I know that the rapid progression of my training is all due to your efforts.” He Yi Ming smiled faintly, knowing it was indeed due to him. He provided the Energy Pill, created the best environment for daily training, and resolved any obstacles encountered along her cultivation path. Thanks to all these incredible advantages combined, they achieved their current state. Within merely five months, she advanced from barely stepping into the sixth layer to reaching its pinnacle. This pace even surpassed He Yi Ming’s own past training speed by about a month. Of course, given how much He Yi Ming had invested, achieving such remarkable results was only natural. After contemplating for a moment, He Yi Ming said, “Li Xun, now that you’ve reached the pinnacle of the sixth layer, you need to devise a way to break through this bottleneck.” His voice turned serious, “If you consume an Extreme Golden Pill now, you can certainly advance smoothly. However, the pill’s potency is overwhelming, and it’s only during the first dose that it exhibits its maximum effect. With each subsequent use, its efficacy diminishes. Therefore, I hope you can reserve the Extreme Golden Pill for when you’re about to break through the tenth layer.” Without hesitation, Yuan Li Xun nodded, “I leave everything to you, Young Master.” Her words were spoken naturally, evidently unconcerned about her own cultivation progress, entrusting it all to him. He Yi Ming touched his nose, chuckled, “While you’re at ease, I won’t let you linger at this stage for too long.” Yuan Li Xun responded, having gained so much strength since following He Yi Ming, she was completely satisfied. Just then, He Yi Ming’s ears twitched intensely, revealing a mix of surprise and delight on his face. Having spent so much time with He, Yuan Li Xun naturally realized he heard something unexpected, judging by his expression, it was clearly good news. Indeed, He Yi Ming said aloud, “Li Xun, Lai Bao and Grandfather have entered the mountain. Let’s go greet them.” Yuan Li Xun quickly stood up. He Yi Ming reached out, taking her delicate hand in his large one, and together, they dashed out of the room like a swift wind. ※※※※ At the entrance of the Lingyao Peak, a group proceeded slowly. Leading them were several disciples from the main peak, with He Lai Bao and He Quan Xin in their midst. He Lai Bao was naturally familiar with Lingyao Peak, walking tall and proud behind the disciples, listening to them recount the recent changes in Hengshan. Events like foreign invasions, three innate practitioners entering with no return, and Elder He chasing enemies for two days and nights, ultimately returning victorious. (In truth, He Yi Ming only pursued for one day and got lost upon returning, taking three times as long to come back. However, he was too embarrassed to disclose the truth, so the story spread as a two-day pursuit and enemy slaughter.) The esteemed innate elders opened the Ancestor Hall, permitting He Wu De’s return, and officially invited He Yi Ming to be an innate elder of the sect. Moreover, Elder He assisted Lu Zheng Yi from Lingyu Peak in successfully advancing to the innate realm, becoming the sect’s fifth innate elder. As the disciples talked about these things, their expressions were animated, as if they had witnessed it all firsthand. Though these disciples were from the main peak, their admiration for the young Elder He from Lingyao Peak was boundless. He Lai Bao could hardly imagine that so much had transpired during his two-month absence. Listening to the continuous praises for He Yi Ming, he was elated, grinning ear to ear like a blooming daisy, far happier than if they were praising him. As for He Quan Xin, his gaze roved over the mountains, greatly admiring Hengshan’s naturally perfect environment for cultivation. Of course, hearing He Yi Ming’s achievements, he was equally thrilled. As the current leading figure of He Family Village, the greater He Yi Ming’s achievements, the more stable He Family Village’s position. As they neared the entrance of Lingyao Peak, their vision suddenly blurred, spotting a young man and woman standing before them. Not just these leading disciples, even He Lai Bao and He Quan Xin, both tenth-layer inner strength masters, hadn’t seen how they appeared. Their hearts skipped a beat, but upon seeing who it was, they relaxed, no longer surprised. For the sudden newcomers were none other than He Yi Ming and Yuan Li Xun. "Greetings, Elder He," the leading disciples bowed in unison. Though all of them were much older than He Yi Ming, none dared show any disrespect in the presence of the innate elder. Furthermore, they truly admired He Yi Ming, especially after he helped Lu Zheng Yi advance to the innate level, eliminating any lingering doubts about him. He Yi Ming waved a hand slightly, “No need for formalities.” The lead disciple respectfully said, “Elder He, Old Master Lai Bao and Mr. He Quan Xin have come to see you and Elder Wu De, so we escorted them here.” He Yi Ming acknowledged, “Thank you for your efforts.” The main peak disciples repeatedly claimed it was no trouble and then took their leave, each with an excited gleam in their eyes. For ordinary disciples, meeting a high noble innate elder of the sect, especially the youngest one with the greatest potential, naturally filled them with exhilaration and joy. After the group departed, He Lai Bao laughed heartily several times, saying, "Greetings, Elder He." He Yi Ming glanced exasperatedly at He Lai Bao, who resembled a mischievous old child, and said, "Grandpa Bao, are you mocking me?" He Lai Bao shook his head slightly and sighed, "Seventeen years. When the sixth young master first began learning inner strength, I knew you'd have a boundless future. But to reach this stage in just seventeen years is truly unbelievable." He Yi Ming's lips curled into a subtle smile. Without that fateful night of practice and the chance encounter beneath the lake, he wouldn't have achieved what he had today. However, he couldn’t share this experience with the old man, keeping it buried deep in his heart. He Quan Xin stepped forward, gazing at He Yi Ming with an unrestrained smile, "Yi Ming, you've done well. The future of our He family rests on your shoulders." He Yi Ming nodded lightly, acknowledging the responsibility he bore as a member of the He family village. He Quan Xin continued, "Yi Ming, my visit to the mountain wasn't just to follow Father's instructions to diligently practice inner strength and strive for an innate breakthrough. I also have a message to relay to you." Seeing his serious demeanor, He Yi Ming asked in surprise, "Uncle, is it something concerning our village?" He Quan Xin shook his head, "Master Shui Xuan Jin sent word from the capital, hoping you could visit before May this year." He Yi Ming was increasingly astonished. When he left the capital last year, he and Shui Xuan Jin had agreed on a two to three-year return period. Yet, for Shui Xuan Jin to send someone with a message now indicated an urgent situation. A thought flashed through his mind: Could Master Shui's life force be reaching its end? He quickly dismissed the notion. Despite Shui Xuan Jin's two-hundred-year lifespan, barring battles with peers, living another three to five years looked achievable with his current energy. Even so, this news left him somewhat anxious. After welcoming them into the peak and introducing them to He Wu De, He Yi Ming headed to the main peak to report the matter to Yu Jing Lei. This elder immediately consented and personally met with He Quan Xin, offering him a few tips in passing. Although He Yi Ming was an innate practitioner, his youth made his knowledge and erudition incomparable to seasoned individuals like Yu Jing Lei. With Yu Jing Lei's insight and experience, just a hint was enough to enlighten He Quan Xin, who gratefully knelt in thanks. He Yi Ming seized the opportunity to express his wish to leave Hengshan for travel, fulfilling his desire to explore the world. Yu Jing Lei barely hesitated before agreeing. Noting He Yi Ming's surprise, he said, "In the innate realm, mere secluded cultivation is far from enough to break through. Only by traversing a thousand miles, experiencing the worldly dust and treacherous landscapes, might you find inspiration to surpass your limits upon seeing vast oceans and endless deserts." He Yi Ming pondered for a moment and doubtfully asked, "Uncle, did you travel after reaching the innate realm?" Yu Jing Lei nodded solemnly, "Indeed, I journeyed for a whole sixty years before smoothly advancing to the Yixiantian realm." With rare boldness in his eyes, he continued, "I traveled east to the Great Shen Empire, west to the Holy Alliance, south to the Southern Archipelago, and north to the polar ice fields." He Yi Ming couldn’t help but look at him with envy and a trace of longing, wishing he could replicate this journey. However, the thought of a sixty-year absence made him hesitate; such a period away might cause his parents intense longing. Nonetheless, he understood why Yu Jing Lei could understand Romia’s language. The elder's extensive travels allowed him to learn various dialects, making his multilingualism unsurprising. After entrusting his grandfather and uncle to Yu Jing Lei and the others, He Yi Ming, accompanied by Yuan Li Xun, departed the mountain. Before leaving, the Medicine Daoist gave him ten Extreme Golden Pills and a substantial amount of Energy Pills. After months of pill refinement, He Yi Ming understood that refining innate and Extreme Golden Pills required spirit beast inner cores. Yet, refining Energy Pills was far simpler. Rare herbs with age could achieve similar effects. Under the Medicine Daoist’s guidance, He Yi Ming himself produced two batches of Energy Pills. Though the herbs differed, the effectiveness of these pills rivaled that of those refined with spirit beast inner cores. ※※※※ After leaving Hengshan, He Yi Ming didn’t immediately return to the He family village. Since Shui Xuan Jin requested their presence before May, they had plenty of leisure time. After wandering the mountain roads for several days, they found themselves in a secluded, serene valley. This beautiful, remote area was hidden away in the mountains, a place they wouldn’t have found if not for once tracking a two-headed spirit beast. With May quickly approaching, the area remained deserted. Revisiting this familiar place evoked deep emotions within them. He Yi Ming arrived at the cliff hiding the giant stone, removing all coverings to reveal the massive white stone emanating a milky glow. The stone seemed dimmer while nestled in the cliffside. However, when they pushed it out to bask in the sunlight, it radiated a brilliant sheen, mesmerizing them. He Yi Ming looked up in astonishment at the scorching sun above, feeling a spark of insight. Could this white stone somehow be related to the sunlight above? But after some thought, he found no answers. Given his limited understanding, terms like solar energy and various rays meant nothing to him. He simply sensed a mysterious, unknowable connection. Under the milky glow of the stone, they began their cultivation. Half a month later, Yuan Li Xun successfully broke through the peak of the sixth layer of inner strength, advancing to the seventh layer. While the seventh layer might mean little to He Yi Ming now, it was a cause for great joy and excitement for Yuan Li Xun. Yet, to He Yi Ming's regret, for an innate practitioner, cultivating under the stone's glow seemed to make little difference. In the end, He Yi Ming again chipped off a few thumb-sized stone strips from the larger one, carefully storing them and insistently giving one to Yuan Li Xun. Though Yuan Li Xun showed little interest and even some apprehension towards the stone, she conceded, tying it around her neck at He Yi Ming's urging. After removing the stone strips, the giant rock continued to regenerate, closing its wounds. However, this time, neither He Yi Ming nor Yuan Li Xun panicked, merely marveling at the phenomenon. After returning the stone to the cave, covering it up once more, they left the secretive valley, finally making their way back to the long-missed county town of Taicang.