Book 3 Chapter 31: One Against Six - Martial God

Chapter 31: One Against Six Early in the morning, the sun, shy as a maiden, hid behind a curtain of clouds. The weather didn't seem particularly bright, yet two convoys departing from different places had finally reached their destination. Kai Rong, ever since it rose to prominence hundreds of years ago, had been one of the three major powers among the northwestern nations. Their rise resulted in replacing the then-ruler of this land, pushing the previous dynasty into the background. He Yiming had once read about this historical period, but all accounts were rather vague. It seemed as though the rulers of the previous dynasty admired the ancestors of the Zhan family of Kai Rong, resulting in a voluntary abdication. Although the books described this event in an idealized manner, He Yiming knew it was utter nonsense. Regardless of the reasons behind the historical changes, one thing was certain: Kai Rong indeed possessed the exceptional strength worthy of being one of the three major powers. The capital of Kai Rong was also renowned as one of the most magnificent cities in the northwest. Upon his arrival, He Yiming was utterly awed by the grandeur and landscape of the city. When such a grand convoy arrived at the gates, naturally, someone came to inquire. Fortunately, anyone with a discerning eye could readily see that every member of the convoy was a master, a true expert. Thus, they treated them with respect, avoiding the typical, bullying extortion associated with ordinary city gate guards. Especially after Mao Liguang's attendant revealed the Master Hall title, everything went smoothly, and the inquiries quickly ceased. Even sitting in the carriage, He Yiming could feel the formidable reputation and overwhelming prestige of the Master Hall in this city. Once in the city, the group rode directly down the central avenue—roads typically reserved for nobility and dignitaries. In many cities among the western nations, such roads existed. The more grand and prestigious a city, the more such roads it had, and the more elaborate the protocols were. In contrast, a small town like Taicang County had far fewer restrictions. Finally, they arrived at a grand mansion within the city—one specifically allocated by Kai Rong to host foreign dignitaries. As protectors of their respective nations, He Yiming and the others naturally held the most esteemed status, and hence received the highest level of hospitality. After entering the mansion and putting away his belongings, He Yiming's ears subtly twitched with rhythm. He had "heard" that within this city, there were quite a few innate-level experts, with three places hosting the most. One of these was the grand mansion they inhabited. He did not recklessly eavesdrop further, as he didn't want to become the target of many. Having escorted everyone there, Mao Liguang excused himself but invited them for a tour of Kai Rong's Master Hall in three days. He Yiming readily accepted the invitation—he, too, wanted to witness the renowned Ten Great Innates of Kai Rong. No sooner had they settled in when Shui Xuankin walked in, beaming with laughter. "Brother He, I'm planning to visit some old friends. Interested in coming along?" the elder asked hopefully. He Yiming was puzzled, "You have friends here?" "Indeed. This time, the innate exchange in Kai Rong involves participants from Tufan Nation, known for some unique items rare across the northwest. Thus, many innate masters from Kai Rong's various subordinate nations have come, including a few old acquaintances of mine," Shui Xuankin explained, his eyebrows suddenly raising with boldness. "I don't expect to gain something extraordinary this time, but I do wish to see my old friends one last time and remind them that even without me, Tianluo Nation should not be underestimated." He Yiming nodded slightly, grasping the elder's true intentions. Even in his final days, the elder cared deeply for the future of Tianluo Nation and had not stopped working towards its prosperity. Having understood this, He Yiming naturally couldn't refuse. As he walked through the vast mansion side by side with the elder, He Yiming's acute hearing had long detected seven innate experts gathered in one room. Shui Xuankin was heading towards that very room. Suddenly, a peculiar thought flashed through He Yiming's mind. Within this room were the protector masters from Kai Rong’s subordinate nations. With additional innates from Tufan Nation and the experts of Kai Rong’s Master Hall, nearly thirty innate experts congregated within Kai Rong’s capital. Such a significant assembly of power, perhaps only a great nation like Kai Rong could orchestrate such a gathering. Were these masters to appear in the capital of a smaller nation, the ruler would undoubtedly be anxious and restless. As He Yiming and the elder neared the room, the aura within shifted subtly. He Yiming understood that the experts inside had sensed their approach and were quietly communicating among themselves. Since entering the city, He Yiming, like the others, had stopped concealing his immense presence. Although he hadn’t actively maintained it, it was still enough to be easily perceived by peers. Pushing the door open, Shui Xuankin wore a distinct smile, while the seven innate experts inside simultaneously cast their gazes towards them. The moment He Yiming stepped through the door, he immediately recognized only Ting Shiguang among the seven; the others were strangers to him. But as He Yiming looked up, the six strangers seemed to have reached a prior agreement. Their eyes suddenly lit up, bypassing Shui Xuankin and focusing directly on him. From their bodies, a powerful aura surged forth, and the collective force of the six innates pressed towards He Yiming as if a mountain were descending upon him. He Yiming's expression darkened slightly. He hadn't anticipated such a display of hostility, with them attempting to intimidate him right from the start. With a slight snort, He Yiming faced the overwhelming combined presence of those individuals without the slightest inclination to retreat. He responded with an even stronger aura, forcefully confronting the six with palpable might. The clash of their auras stirred the ever-present innate energy. Though the six had not exerted their full strength, their combined presence matched that of seven innate masters, generating considerable impact. A booming sound resonated from the void, creating a massive ripple of energy spreading in all directions. He Yiming stood with a cold smile, completely unafraid of the collective prowess of the experts. True qi surged fiercely within him, and his gaze carried an inexplicable pride. When Shui Xuankin suggested introducing him to a few old friends, He Yiming knew he was about to formally meet the protector masters from the surrounding smaller nations as Tianluo Nation's protector. At that time, he had already prepared himself to face challenges. Although the number and strength of challengers far exceeded his expectations, he felt an intense thrill in his heart. All of a sudden, He Yiming sensed the six innate experts’ aura diminishing rather than escalating after the initial clash. With a frown, he raised a hand and launched a straightforward strike towards the focal point of the earlier clash. Instantly, the room's temperature soared dramatically. In that moment, He Yiming’s mind conjured the relentless imagery of raging earth fire. Beneath the nine-storeyed pagoda, the endless underground flames emitted unimaginable heat. This was the core of the earth’s temperature—though lacking the volcanic eruption’s vibrant spectacle, the relentless heat manifested the mightiest power of fire. As his palm struck forth, the six innate experts’ faces paled dramatically, filled with grave discomfort. These individuals were known as their nations' protector masters and had known each other for many years. Any new protector master in a country had to earn their recognition and integrate into their circle, typically by undergoing similar trials. However, the circumstances today were different. Though they had not met He Yiming, his achievements over the past year, especially defeating Cheng Fu, were well-known and had spread far and wide. Moreover, what was even more astonishing, and also bewildering for them, was He Yiming's age, prompting them to act with greater caution. Thus, what would typically be a single person testing turned into six attacking simultaneously. They hadn't agreed beforehand, yet after making their move, they immediately sensed something was amiss. Following the clash of auras, they instinctively sought to withdraw. However, at that very moment, He Yiming suddenly took the initiative, attacking not just one of them but blatantly challenging all six at once. This seemingly arrogant act infuriated everyone. A shared thought crossed their minds—perhaps one couldn't best him alone, but surely together, they wouldn't fall to him... In an instant, the six previously restrained auras exploded once more, their combined force now even stronger than before. Six different types of true qi recklessly unleashed their power in the lavishly decorated room, colliding and blending, cancelling each other out or amplifying, creating an indescribably vast force field within the space. He Yiming's eyes lit up sharply. Others might feel the field's presence, but none sensed it as deeply as he did. His unique constitution made him especially attuned to the clashes of multiple qi attributes. In his mind, countless colors seemed to intertwine, forming a grand and profoundly mysterious pattern. A feeling surged through He Yiming that was beyond words—a bursting joy almost overwhelming. In a fleeting moment, he seemed to glimpse a source of power within the dazzling array. Yet, that feeling flickered away quickly as he snapped back to reality, perceiving the formidable, seemingly invincible force in front of him. The unified strike of six innate masters was far more intimidating than their combined aura alone. The ensuing clash was colossal; the sound surpassed even their prior confrontation. It was a collision of raw power—force against force, strength meeting strength. Multiple energy surges erupted from a single point, the previously calmed ripples once again expanding limitlessly outward. The sturdy house quivered as if struck by a massive tornado. As the energy waves grew more vigorous, the shaking intensified. Finally, at the peak of tension, the room succumbed to the relentless onslaught of so many innate experts, collapsing in a crashing spectacle. A breeze swept through, almost as if it possessed a will of its own, clearing the surrounding dust. Slowly, the dust settled, revealing several figures. Despite the room's collapse, none of the innate experts had moved from their spots. To them, a catastrophe lethal to ordinary folk posed no threat at all. Even massive beams falling couldn't touch them—merely a wave of the hand and they shattered or diverted the debris. Moreover, their circulating true qi formed a thin, transparent shield of the world’s power around them, providing protection. Though their shields were scattered, unlike Yilian Tian Masters or Jing Lei’s formidable barriers capable of deflecting cleavers, it was enough to fend off some dust. In that moment, amid the group, all faces but He Yiming's were painted with complex expressions. The gazes of the eight innate experts fixated on a single point. There, He Yiming stood proudly, exuding an air of supreme confidence and dominance. Not even the combined might of six innate experts forced him back a single step. Although aware that the six hadn't gone full force, his achievement was already laughable and unmatched within the company; none could measure up to it. Shui Xuankin inhaled deeply, feeling an increasing sense of pride. Every encounter with He Yiming brought unexpected delight. The first time, He Yiming intervened on his behalf, swiftly defeating Cheng Fu, elevating Tianluo Nation’s reputation to new heights. The second encounter saw He Yiming using a metal-based technique to defeat Mao Liguang, known for excelling in metal and earth elements. Now, for the first time representing Tianluo Nation, He Yiming's display exceeded all of Shui Xuankin’s expectations. One against six, holding his ground and countering the combined might of six innate experts. His unparalleled confidence alone demanded respect and admiration from all. Moreover, He Yiming achieved this. Against six, he neither retreated nor faltered. Finally, Shui Xuankin exhaled deeply, releasing the last burden from his heart. Old friend, I am old and can no longer fulfill my promise to continue guarding this nation. Yet, I have found a successor—a youth more powerful than I, who will take my place in defending this land... Amidst Shui Xuankin’s emotional wave, Ting Shiguang, too, stared wide-eyed. His facial muscles twitched, heavily regretful. A moment’s error, a wrong choice back then, let such a talent slip away. Could this be the fate of Huo Wu Nation? He Yiming laughed aloud, moving like lightning. Despite the recent clash, he showed no intention of stopping, his hands forming countless palm shadows, striking toward the six like a sky-twisting net. He moved like a fierce storm, exuding a daunting air, moving faster than anyone could track. In a stride, he was before one of them, his powerful palms descending in a blunt, relentless strike. The innate expert let out a strange cry, seemingly bemoaning why He Yiming picked him first. Yet, his actions were swift, raising both hands to counter with countless palm shadows. But at that moment, He Yiming's shadows vanished, leaving just two unadorned palms in a straightforward strike. The expert’s face turned gravely serious. Though a simple strike, it held immense worldly power, drawing surrounding forces into itself. In his mind, it wasn’t just a strike—it was a massive convergence of world forces directed at him. With a fearful yell, he marshaled all his strength, spinning like a top on one foot. Centered on him, immense world forces surged forth, seeming to compete with He Yiming’s strike. He unleashed his most potent life-preserving skill in that crucial moment. Unexpectedly, at his full burst, that overwhelming sense He Yiming instilled vanished. He watched as He Yiming’s strike grew smaller and smaller...