Chapter 220: Welcoming

All Novels || Martial God
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A flock of pigeons flew overhead, their golden bodies like fans, fanning in the scent of sunlight.

Beneath the pigeons, the neighing of horses echoed, and a troop of about twenty fast riders galloped from a distance, heading towards the capital of Kairong Country.

Among them, there were not only strong, middle-aged men but also an old man with white hair and beard.

As the city gate of Kairong Country's capital came into view, everyone whistled, and the fast horses immediately slowed down.

The leader turned around and said, "Granduncle, we've finally arrived."

The old man was none other than Grand Master Xie Zhien of the Fire Crow Country's Xie Family. Although he was a powerful master at the peak of the tenth layer of Inner Energy in both systems, he was, after all, old. Moreover, he wasn't an Innate expert and hadn't yet guided Heaven and Earth Qi into his body. Thus, after this long journey, he appeared particularly fatigued, even more so than some of the younger practitioners of the seventh layer of Inner Energy who were traveling with the family.

At this moment, he gazed at the city wall and let out a long sigh, saying, "Nuanhang, I'm old now, I can't keep up with you anymore."

Xie Nuanhang quickly comforted him, "Granduncle, this time, if you successfully break through to the Innate Realm, you'll be able to guide Heaven and Earth Qi into your body. Naturally, you'll recover to your youthful state."

Xie Zhien was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "I don't know why, but the closer I get, the faster my heart beats. I'm always worried that I won't be able to break through the limit and will waste a great opportunity."

Xie Nuanhang's expression subtly changed. Although He Yiming had promised to help Xie Zhien reinforce his Meridians, breaking through to the Innate Realm still depended on the old man's own strength. If the old man's confidence faltered at this moment, then he would certainly not be able to advance smoothly.

And after this protection and reinforcement from He Yiming, it was unlikely that he would have the patience to do it a second time.

So, for the Xie Family, this was essentially the last chance.

As the current family head of the Xie Family, Xie Nuanhang naturally understood the importance of Innate experts to the Yu Family. At this moment, his expression changed twice, and he comforted him, "Granduncle, your Fire-Wood Art has reached the pinnacle of perfection. If even you cannot succeed, then no one in this world will be able to."

Xie Zhien looked at the boldly speaking Xie Nuanhang in surprise, then understood his concern and chuckled, "Nuanhang, don't worry. I know this isn't just about me, so I will do my utmost..." He paused, his expression more solemn and serious than ever before: "Only death!"

Xie Nuanhang's heart trembled, knowing that the old man had made up his mind.

This time, if he succeeded in breaking through to the Innate Realm, then all would be well. But if he failed, he would not give up even if his Meridians were completely severed.

To be placed in a desperate situation and then find life was not a resolve that anyone could make. However, for Grand Master Xie Zhien's age, this might actually be the best approach.

Xie Nuanhang's lips trembled twice, and he finally said no more. The group spurred their horses towards the city gate.

***

Inside the Inner Courtyard, He Yiming and Yuan Lixun were diligently cultivating in their room.

Since Yuan Lixun's injury, He Yiming had been meticulously changing her bandages and diligently overseeing her cultivation of Water Element Cultivation Technique.

As he put it, he wasn't entirely confident about concocting the Youth Retaining Pill. However, he was reasonably certain he could help Yuan Lixun ascend to the Innate Realm.

The prerequisite, though, was that Yuan Lixun had to cultivate her Inner Energy to the peak of the Tenth Layer.

For this purpose, He Yiming would absolutely not be stingy with Golden Pills. As soon as Yuan Lixun's injuries had recovered slightly, he had her swallow an Energy Golden Pill, and she devoted herself to refining its medicinal properties.

For masters above the Tenth Level of Inner Strength, the Energy Golden Pill had little effect, but for Yuan Lixun, who was at the seventh layer of Inner Energy, it had an unimaginably profound effect.

Under the stimulation of this Golden Pill's medicinal power, Yuan Lixun's Inner Energy advanced by leaps and bounds.

At this point, He Yiming also understood why, when he first met Medicine Daoist, the old man had specifically inquired whether he had taken Golden Pills.

Because for an isolated sect like the Hengshan Mountain lineage, which had been passed down for over three thousand years, it didn't seem difficult to quickly cultivate a peak Acquired Stage master.

However, such peak Acquired Stage masters, because their cultivation journey was smooth and they hadn't encountered any obstacles or hardships, even if they advanced to the peak of the Tenth Level of Inner Strength, breaking through to the Innate Realm would be much more difficult than for disciples who had steadily progressed step by step through their own efforts.

But He Yiming was different. He had made up his mind to have Yuan Lixun reach the peak of the Tenth Level of Inner Strength as quickly as possible, and then, under the White Stone, give her an Innate Golden Pill.

The White Stone's radiance was extremely peculiar. While it didn't significantly boost the speed of Innate True Qi, it possessed an unimaginable special effect on the recovery of True Qi and stamina. Furthermore, sitting under the White Stone's light, the barrier to breaking through limits seemed to become much weaker.

Although it was far from as exaggerated as his own, it was still a world of difference compared to attempting to break through to the Innate Realm under normal circumstances.

At this moment, He Yiming had finished his cultivation. Since advancing to the Single-Line Sky Realm, not only had the True Qi in all his acupoints condensed into a single strand, but the concentration of this True Qi was also gradually condensing, like a fist that was tightening more and more.

And only a fist that had reached a certain level could unleash the most powerful might.

However, what truly concerned him was Yuan Lixun, who sat beside him.

This young girl was completely immersed in her cultivation. Compared to before, her attitude was much more earnest, clearly striving countless times harder than she used to.

Seeing her like this, He Yiming couldn't help but inwardly chuckle.

Before, when he asked her to cultivate, she would obey, but there was always a hint of going through the motions. Because she truly didn't believe that she would ever advance to the Innate Realm. So, her current cultivation speed was already very satisfactory to her.

However, when her face was injured and she learned that only by becoming an Innate expert and guiding Heaven and Earth Qi into her body could she potentially remove the scars, she became incredibly dedicated to her cultivation.

Even when He Yiming wasn't paying attention, she would actively cultivate, striving to maximize the medicinal effects of the Energy Golden Pill within her body.

The drastic change in the same person before and after was truly astonishing and hard to believe.

It was at this point that He Yiming realized that everyone had their own weaknesses. If one could grasp these weaknesses, then there would be no need for further urging; they would diligently and proactively complete the assigned tasks like old oxen.

Suddenly, He Yiming's ears twitched. He heard a faint sound from outside the courtyard. Listening closely, he immediately recognized it: Xie Mingjin had arrived and was speaking in a very low voice with two servants in the courtyard.

He smiled slightly, looking at the still diligently cultivating Yuan Lixun. With a slight push of his feet, he quietly left his spot.

In a few bounds, he abruptly appeared before the group.

The two servants were in a dilemma, unsure whether they should announce the visitor. Although He Yiming had stated that no one should disturb him during his cultivation, Xie Mingjin was clearly different. At least, as long as He Yiming hadn't alienated him, no one dared to disregard his influence with He Yiming.

However, at that moment, their eyes blurred, and then they saw He Yiming, which filled them with joy. Since the master himself had arrived, they no longer had to worry.

He Yiming nodded to Xie Mingjin, and the two walked a few steps closer. He Yiming asked, "Grand Master Zhien has arrived?"

Xie Mingjin knew that He Yiming possessed the Clairaudient Ear skill, so he wasn't surprised that He Yiming knew his purpose. At this moment, he nodded slightly and said, "Elder Brother, our family members have arrived. They say Grand Uncle, Eldest Uncle, and Father have reached the North City Gate, but they are being denied entry."

He Yiming was surprised and said, "Your uncles also came? This is making too much of a fuss." He pondered for a moment, then smiled, "Mingjin, come with me to welcome your uncles."

Xie Mingjin nodded blankly. He knew that He Yiming was willing to call him "uncle" and humble himself to welcome his father and the others, which was entirely for his sake. This deeply moved him. At this moment, he truly felt a profound gratitude towards He Yiming.

However, the fact that the entire Xie Family's all-out effort was dismissed by He Yiming as "making too much of a fuss" truly made him feel the extreme disparity between He Yiming and himself.

In front of He Yiming, he seemed to become increasingly insignificant.

However, he chuckled self-deprecatingly. In the eyes of a Single-Line Sky Realm expert, ordinary Hundred Scattered Heavens Realm experts, especially those who had not yet successfully advanced to the peak of the Tenth Level of Inner Strength, probably didn't amount to much at all.

The two walked side by side, and in a short while, they were out of the Embassy District.

A carriage swiftly approached them. The two coachmen in front of the carriage were actually two great masters of the ninth layer of Inner Energy. They looked at He Yiming with fawning smiles, pleading, "Master He, please get in the carriage. No matter where you wish to go, we will do our utmost to get you there."

He Yiming frowned slightly. He knew this was the consequence of his rampage at the Tufan Kingdom's embassy.

At this moment, probably everyone in the city knew about his conflict with Bu Xingcong and the final outcome. So, whenever he wanted to go out, someone would immediately offer their services. They weren't afraid of someone harming him, but rather that someone might be foolish enough to provoke his wrath again.

His expression darkened slightly, but seeing the fear in the eyes of the two men, He Yiming shook his head and stepped into the carriage.

These two were just following orders; why should he make things difficult for them?

Both coachmen showed expressions of gratitude. One of them gently asked, "Brother Mingjin, where does Master He wish to go?"

Xie Mingjin sighed inwardly, thinking how good it was to follow Elder Brother He; even masters of the ninth layer of Inner Energy were flattering them.

He cleared his throat and said, "North City Gate, quickly."

The two men's expressions changed. Since Xie Mingjin had ordered them to be quick, they dared not hesitate in the slightest.

One of them pulled out the large flag representing the Masters Hall from the carriage roof and waved it a few times in the air. The other yelled, his arm not moving an inch, yet with just the strength of his wrist, he wielded the long whip, making it crackle loudly.

The four magnificent steeds immediately galloped away, unrestrained, towards the North City Gate.

They were running in the middle of the main road, a place where ordinary people couldn't normally walk.

Under the continuous waving of one man's large flag, whoever saw it immediately moved to the sides. Even those arrogant and seemingly fearless scions of various families, who usually flaunted their power, now quieted down and obediently cleared the way.

With the lesson of Bu Xingcong fresh in everyone's minds, all those who were qualified to walk on the main road had received the most severe warnings. In recent times, even Imperial Family members dared not swagger down the middle of the main road.

And to be able to gallop so wildly and without restraint, in the entire capital of Kairong Country, there was probably only one person.

Therefore, all eyes looking at this grand carriage held a complex expression. Although the owner of this grand carriage had caused one of the Three Great Northwestern Powers, the Tufan Kingdom's envoy, to suffer a great loss and dared not even complain or seek revenge.

Unfortunately, this person was not the Nation Protecting Master of Kairong Country...

The carriage quickly passed through countless streets, and the North City Gate seemed to be already in sight.

He Yiming suddenly smiled and said, "Mingjin, your uncles are held up at the city gate. Go and welcome them in."

Xie Mingjin was startled, then responded excitedly. He lifted the curtain of the carriage and stepped out, saying, "Two Elder Brothers, my father and the others are stopped at the city gate by your country's soldiers. Please trouble yourselves to accommodate me."

The two coachmen smiled and agreed. Only then did they realize that Master He had personally come out to welcome the Xie Family members. It seemed that Master He not only had a good relationship with Xie Mingjin but also with the entire Huowu Xie Family.

Immediately, the status of the Huowu Xie Family in their hearts rose significantly.

***

At the city gate, Xie Nuanhang and the others wore expressions of displeasure.

After arriving at the North City Gate, they were not allowed to enter the city smoothly. Instead, they were stopped by the gate guards.

These guards were a mixed bag, but there were some sharp-eyed individuals among them who could tell at a glance that this group was formidable. Observing their attire, they weren't from Kairong Country but rather retainers of some minor country's noble family.

So they immediately stopped Xie Nuanhang and the others. Regardless of whether Xie Nuanhang pleaded nicely or offered bribes, these people ignored them completely. Instead, they demanded that someone be sent inside to inform someone, and only with a guarantor could they enter. Until then, they had to wait where they were.

Xie Nuanhang and the others were accustomed to being influential in Fire Crow Country, never having received such treatment. But this was, after all, the capital of Kairong Country. Not to mention the numerous Acquired Stage masters gathered here, even a single Innate master from the Masters Hall could easily eliminate all of them seventeen or eighteen times over.

Therefore, besides sending someone into the city to notify Xie Mingjin, they had no choice but to remain outside the city, not daring to act rashly.

However, amidst their anger, they couldn't help but admire the strong psychological fortitude of the guards here.

Only the capital guards of the three great powers would appear so confident and persist in this manner, even when facing three Tenth Level of Inner Strength Acquired Stage experts.

A thought flashed through their minds simultaneously: when Fire Crow Country's soldiers possessed such confidence when encountering experts from other countries, that would be the true moment of Fire Crow Country's strength and prosperity.

However, just as they were filled with emotion, Xie Mingjin appeared within the city, accompanied by a tall, middle-aged man whose attire was quite distinctive.

As soon as the city gate soldiers saw the man's attire, they immediately bowed respectfully, looking even more deferential than if they had met their own fathers.

The man's gaze swept over them, filled with an unspoken authority. The city gate officers and soldiers, who had not shown any weakness in front of Xie Nuanhang, dared not meet his gaze.

"Let them in..."

With two short, crisp words, the city gate immediately swung open, and the guards on the city walls, who had been on alert, immediately relaxed.

Xie Nuanhang and the others sighed with emotion as they witnessed the guards' change from arrogance to deference.

Xie Mingjin stepped forward and said, "Grand Uncle, Eldest Uncle, Father, I've kept you waiting."

Xie Zhien and the others nodded in succession. Xie Nuanyi stepped forward, took his son's hand, and whispered, "Mingjin, which household is this gentleman from?"

Someone who could make these soldiers let them into the city without question was certainly not an ordinary person.

Xie Mingjin glanced behind him and whispered, "This Elder Brother is from the Masters Hall."

Everyone immediately showed solemn respect.

Within the entire sphere of influence of Kairong Country, who didn't know the formidable reputation of the Kairong Country Masters Hall?

Xie Nuanhang quickly cupped his hands and said, "So it is a distinguished person from the Masters Hall. Xie is truly disrespectful."

The man quickly stepped back and said, "Mr. Xie is too kind. I am just a humble coachman in the Hall; I dare not accept your greeting."

More than ten members of the Xie Family all gasped. A mere coachman already possessed the strength of the ninth layer of Inner Energy. This Masters Hall was truly a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, simply incredible.

They walked into the city. After turning a street corner, they heard a hearty laugh: "Grand Master Zhien, Elder Uncle Xie, Uncle Xie, how have you been?"

The Xie Family members were first startled, and several of them rubbed their eyes as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing. Only after they confirmed the identity of the person in front of them did they truly become overjoyed.

Xie Nuanhang stepped forward, bowing deeply to the ground, saying, "Master He, it is truly an honor that you have gone to such trouble to welcome us. The Xie Family is unworthy..."

Behind him, including Xie Zhien and Xie Mingjin, all bowed deeply. At this moment, their hearts were filled with extreme excitement.

Because they all understood that after today, the reputation of the Huowu Xie Family would ascend another level, and its future glory and prosperity would be just around the corner.

All Novels || Martial God

Chapter 221: Xie Family Innate