Book 3 Chapter 38: Kicking the Door - Martial God

Chapter 38: Kicking the Door The sky was clear and blue, not a cloud in sight, with distant mountains adding a touch of elegance to the horizon. The gentle breeze carried warmth, and the azure sky seemed so pristine that it felt as though a slight effort could squeeze water from it, so fresh and ethereal! Yet, the weather felt somewhat ominous, as if something foreboding was about to happen, unsettling the heart. Within the capital city of Kai Rong, there lay a sprawling estate. Residing within were envoys from Tu Fan, one of the three major powers of the northwest, alongside Kai Rong. The number of envoys was not small, but what truly captured the attention of all in Kai Rong was the presence of eight super masters, all at the innate realm, within this delegation. Even the Grandmaster Hall of Kai Rong had only ten innate masters. Thus, when these eight innate experts arrived, they instantly became the focal point of the entire Kai Rong. Moreover, the group included Mu Jintian, famed as the foremost expert below the innate realm. Therefore, although many attendants of Kai Rong were stationed outside the estate for security, no one ever believed anyone would dare to provoke them here. ※※※※ It was midday, the sun blazing overhead, with an unbroken expanse of blue sky. In the distance, two figures approached, walking straight towards the estate. Their pace was unhurried, each step measured as they advanced. Yet their arrival was enough to put everyone on alert. To the guards of Kai Rong, whose internal energy had reached at least the sixth level, these two appeared too suddenly, too unexpectedly. Particularly the leading figure – every step he took seemed to carry the weight of a thousand catties. As his foot pressed heavily onto the ground, all who watched felt a shudder within. This person exuded an overwhelming sense of terror, as if he were not a mere man, but some ancient beast of ten or even a hundred tons, whose every step made the earth tremble. Witnessing such a bizarre sight, even the dullest of minds would know this person came with ill intent, not to be trifled with. Though the soldiers on duty felt their scalps tingling, they braced themselves to step forward and question the intruders. However, as they took those steps to intervene, they found themselves suddenly immobilized. The closer they got to this figure, the more they could feel the vast, nearly boundless pressure emanating from him. This pressure seemed to hang over them like a mountain. Could anyone carry a whole mountain forward? The answer was clear; thus, regardless of their duty, the guards became rigid within ten meters of the intruder, unable to move a muscle. That intruder was none other than He Yiming. He was in an exceptionally peculiar state of mind. Since leaving Yuan Lixun's room, a colossal, uncontainable anger had entirely overtaken his emotions. He once believed that upon achieving the innate realm, his self-control would preclude any wild emotional swings. But at that moment, he realized he was gravely mistaken. Seeing the whip marks caused him pain, as if the whip struck not Yuan Lixun's face, but his own heart. If there was the slightest possibility, he would rather take her place, knowing how much Yuan Lixun treasured her beauty. Even with the elixirs of master healers and the assistance of his wood-element innate technique, there would likely be a minute scar left behind. The thought of Yuan Lixun's future unhappiness over this scar pained him greatly. When the weary Yuan Lixun had finally fallen asleep, as He Yiming exited the room, the flood of emotion exploded within him. His spirit, heightened by overstimulation, expanded his auditory range. Centered around him, the amount of world energy he could influence increased continuously. With the furious, wave-like surge of anger, his internal energy erupted forth, manifesting as a tangible force. Within a certain radius, his heightened spirit and surging energy created a massive force field. Anyone entering this field would succumb to his oppressive might, feeling their heart race, mouth dry, and unable to approach. Only Xie Mingjin, whom he acknowledged, could closely follow behind without being deeply affected. Finally, under the watchful eyes of many, he confidently arrived at the estate's gate. Throughout this journey, all tasked with guarding the entrance tried to impede them, yet none succeeded. Despite their numbers reaching into the thousands, not one could come near He Yiming. Behind He Yiming, Xie Mingjin followed, his face full of admiration, finally understanding the true meaning of subduing the enemy without battle. In the face of true power, such ordinary men, no matter how numerous, were like ants, utterly insignificant. Before the grand gate, He Yiming raised his hand without hesitation, a hand gleaming with a metallic hue that inspired fear and signified enormous, unmatched strength. That hand, under the gaze of all, landed heavily upon the massive bronze door with a force akin to a thousand catty. Time seemed to halt in that instant. Everyone felt an eerie sense of comprehension, as if He Yiming's strike contained an incomprehensible power. Their hearts and very bodies trembled, as if the strike had landed on them directly. The next moment, a massive explosion sound echoed throughout the estate. The tall bronze door burst open as if it were papier-mâché, unable to withstand the ultimate force it had been subjected to. Shards of wood and bronze splintered into the air, hurtling into the doorway. He Yiming raised his head, his voice thunderous as a bolt from the blue, seemed to resound directly from the core of every listener. "Bu Xingcong, come out and meet your end..." The rumbling voice cracked like a giant thunderbolt, and the entire estate fell silent, with only the endless echoes lingering in the air. Inside the estate, Bu Xingcong, holding a seductive woman in his arms, was leisurely watching dancers perform. Her supple waist and beautiful face captivated his attention. At that moment, he had long forgotten about his failed hunt and his street-side assault. To him, the prestige lost from the failed hunt was much more significant than the incident on the street. But as he indulged in pleasure, he suddenly heard that piercing, soul-chilling roar. His body shook, and the wine cup in his hand fell. Not until the endless reverberations ceased could he regain a semblance of calm, yet his face had already lost all color. Just hearing that voice and sensing its power, he immediately understood that it belonged to an innate expert. Only such an expert could achieve this level. Without a second thought, he leaped up, roughly pushing aside the woman he held, fleeing like a panicked dog from his room. Previously, to avoid restrictions, he'd chosen a room far from Mu Jintian. But now, he wished that distance were nonexistent, for only by reaching Mu Jintian's side would he truly feel safe. ※※※※ Stepping into the estate, He Yiming's aura reached its zenith. Centered around him, the pervasive world energy rippled like an unstoppable tide. Figures flickered, and in the blink of an eye, seven individuals had surrounded him. These seven were all elderly without exception, yet their essences were far mightier than those of ordinary people. Their energies had a faint yet constant link with the world around them. He Yiming looked forward and immediately recognized Su Jun. Even without introductions, he understood these were the seven innate masters from Tu Fan accompanying Mu Jintian. Su Jun glanced at the scattered debris, sensing the palpable terror radiating from He Yiming, his eyes narrowing as he spoke gravely, "Master He, you’ve stormed here, demanding the life of our prince. Is this how your country extends hospitality?" He Yiming responded with an arrogant smile, "I am not of Kai Rong, nor do I care for notions of hospitality." His voice turned icy, "Hand over Bu Xingcong, and I will leave. Otherwise..." Another old man, his countenance dark, sneered, "If we refuse, do you plan to kill us all?" Although the aura radiating from He Yiming was indeed terrifying, there were still seven innate experts present. Even Mu Jintian, known as the foremost below the Heaven Rank, wouldn't dare act so recklessly. However, the old man's words essentially tied everyone's fate together, a sign that after sensing He Yiming's formidable presence, he wasn't confident in handling him alone. A chilling smile spread across He Yiming's lips as he scanned the faces of the seven innate experts. "If killing you is the only way to find Bu Xingcong, then... you can die." As the word "die" left He Yiming's mouth, his body moved. It was as if he vanished in an instant; Su Jun and the others lost sight of him entirely. A complex mix of anger, humiliation, and awe simultaneously flashed through the eyes of the seven innate experts. Before He Yiming truly acted, not even they considered he would dare strike first against seven equally matched experts. For a moment, they all had an epiphany. Regardless of the outcome, He Yiming's reputation would spread across the northwest. This kind of boldness and confidence had surpassed theirs; perhaps only Mu Jintian could match him. A mist suddenly appeared before everyone's eyes—a manifestation of He Yiming's martial prowess taken to the extreme, molding the sensation of mist into his moves, creating an illusory spectacle. The seven innate experts, though lacking experience in jointly confronting a single opponent, naturally drew together in response to He Yiming's indiscriminate attack. In an instant, observers were treated to a surreal sight. Seven innate experts appeared trapped, surrounded by a cloud-like presence that spread throughout the space. Witnessing such an unfathomable scene, everyone felt a sense of disbelief—was his power so overwhelming that seven innate experts could not contend with him? Inside the shrouding mist, the seven masters felt a profound unease. Though they had long outgrown youthful impulses, a surge of vigor and confidence, reminiscent of their younger years, slowly welled within them. Even those unfamiliar with He Yiming could surmise his background from his youthful appearance. Provoked at their doorstep by a mere seventeen-year-old who boasted of killing them all—such arrogance naturally incited their disdain and loathing. Regardless of the circumstances, the dignity of the strong cannot be desecrated... The seven innate experts collectively turned serious, exuding formidable fighting spirits. Their innate qi flared wildly. They aimed to demonstrate with raw power that the united might of seven experts could not be resisted by any peer. Seven different attributes of innate qi burst forth, piercing great holes in the mist shrouding the space. Through one such opening, a phantom-like figure materialized before Su Jun. Rooted in a deep stance, Su Jun's hand turned fiery red like hot iron. His fire-element innate technique was executed to perfection, surging forward to engulf He Yiming as if to incinerate him entirely. But at that moment, Su Jun caught a glimpse of He Yiming's mocking smile. Inexplicably, a shadow loomed in Su Jun's heart, as if he witnessed an overwhelming tidal wave. A boundless ocean, like a celestial river crashing from the heavens, extinguished the very flames with a deluge. Cries of alarm erupted beside Su Jun as two other innate experts realized He Yiming secured absolute advantage in a single exchange and might indeed slay Su Jun on the spot. In battles among innate experts, if one's technique counters and gains the upper hand, relentless pursuit leading to a tragic demise is not unheard of. Recognizing Su Jun's dire situation, they set aside pride and joined forces to save him. Seeing He Yiming neutralize Su Jun's fire qi with water qi, they countered with wood and earth elemental techniques. On the left, one cultivated a sturdy earth-element qi to directly counter He Yiming's water affinity. On the right, another’s arm, resembling gnarled tree roots, unleashed power rivaling that of his companion. All seven, including Su Jun, believed He Yiming would only halt his pursuit and retreat. Yet simultaneously, they saw the radiant gleam in He Yiming's eyes, his sneer growing wider. He neither withdrew nor continued his mist-like footwork, instead crossing both hands to confront the two challengers. A strange sensation sparked in the minds of those watching. Could he possibly aim to use water-element techniques against earth and wood qi? If not for He Yiming's overwhelming aura, they might have questioned his sanity. "Boom..." As the three exchanged blows, the innate experts from Tu Fan turned pale. He Yiming's right hand suddenly became emaciated, withering and unleashing a force that shattered the opponent’s earth qi. Simultaneously, his left hand was as firm as steel, crushing the other's wood qi effortlessly. He seamlessly shifted his inner energy from the ceaseless flow of water to the vibrant life force of wood and the unyielding might of metal. The transformation was abrupt, without the slightest forewarning. Su Jun and the others were finally aware of why He Yiming had such confidence in challenging them. This ability to instantly shift attributes exceeded the capabilities of those at the Hundred Scattered Heaven level and had never been seen, even among the strongest. He Yiming's prowess sent ripples of shock through them. With a confident roar, He Yiming advanced, his eyes locked on the most formidable among them, Su Jun, as if there was an endless ocean of killing intent flowing from him. The remaining four, unwilling to hesitate, struck back; their elemental qi flooded towards He Yiming like a tidal wave. Yet He Yiming pressed forward without a single retreat, as if confronting a clear path rather than a formidable barrier of innate experts. "Boom, boom, boom, boom..." With four resounding clashes, the innate experts staggered back one after another. In these exchanges, He Yiming seamlessly transitioned through all the five elemental energies. Each attacker felt their strength countered. At this moment, He Yiming appeared godlike; his aura soared to unprecedented heights, even surpassing the combined might of the seven innate experts. (Continued in next chapters, for more visit www.qidian.com. Support the author, embrace genuine reading!)