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Chapter 254: Gathering Together
🕑 Added 2025-06-25 20:37:46 +0000 UTCAll Novels || Martial God
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In the boundless depths of the mountains, there are countless beautiful sceneries and countless deep canyons.
At this moment, within a secluded valley, a figure swiftly darted across. His movements were incredibly light, like a nimble animal, reaching extreme speed.
However, this person was a genuine human. He arrived in the valley like a flying bird, suddenly stopped, stretched his neck, and a sharp, long howl erupted from his mouth.
This sound was like a pack of wolves howling at the moon on a moonlit night, and even in broad daylight, it still sent shivers down one's spine.
Before his long howl had subsided, several figures flashed into view from ahead.
Each of them moved with extreme speed, and their movements were unique, seemingly identical to the giant wolves of the jungle. Similarly, strange facial markings covered their faces, completely obscuring their features beneath these eerie colors.
"Yishibao, what's wrong with you?" One person frowned, dissatisfied, "We're here hiding to avoid prying eyes. Aren't you afraid of exposing our whereabouts and being punished by Ambassador Suo Ge if you're so careless?"
The person who had rushed from a distance was indeed Yishibao, who had suffered a setback on Hengshan Mountain and returned as quickly as possible.
At this moment, he gave a wry smile and said, "Yimaoer, I just wanted to find Ambassador Suo Ge as soon as possible. Is he not here?"
A faint voice suddenly echoed from behind him: "I am here."
Yishibao quickly turned his head. Behind him, a person and a beast had appeared without him realizing.
The one with crossed arms resting on his chest was naturally Suo Ge, the Totem Ambassador of the Wolf Totem Clan. Beside him was a huge red wolf, even larger than the previous giant wolf.
This red wolf was covered in red fur, but its limbs were adorned with rings of earthy yellow patterns. However, these strange colors not only did not detract from its overall beauty but seemed to add a unique flair, making it appear even more majestic.
Yishibao's gaze first briefly fell on the red wolf, then he immediately bowed deeply.
From his demeanor, his attitude towards the red wolf was far more respectful than towards Suo Ge.
Everyone present regarded this scene as normal. In the Wolf Totem Clan, they worshipped the Wolf Clan Spirit Beast. And the Spirit Beast beside Suo Ge was this generation's Wolf King. In terms of status within the clan, it was likely even higher than Suo Ge's.
"Yishibao, what exactly happened? Also, where is the Spirit Wolf that was with you? Why is it missing?" Suo Ge sternly asked, and especially after the red wolf let out a peculiar sound, his expression became somewhat grim: "The Wolf King said he smelled the scent of death. Could something have happened to the Spirit Wolf?"
Yishibao gave a bitter smile and said, "Respected Red Wolf King, Ambassador Suo Ge, I indeed suffered a defeat on this trip. If the Spirit Wolf hadn't sacrificed itself to save me, I almost wouldn't have made it back."
Suo Ge's expression changed slightly, saying, "Impossible. With our Wolf Clan's movement techniques, if one wishes to escape, even a Single-Line Sky Realm expert from outside the mountains couldn't catch up to you, let alone the Spirit Wolf."
Yishibao's face immediately filled with bitterness, saying, "Ambassador Suo Ge, the Spirit Wolf is more likely dead than alive."
Suo Ge's eyes sparked with intense light. Even when he had lost his Totem, his eyes had never held such a sharp intensity.
"How was the Spirit Wolf injured?" Suo Ge spoke seemingly casually, but everyone knew that he was merely forcibly suppressing the rage in his heart.
Yishibao recounted in detail what happened after they were discovered invading Hengshan Mountain, then said, "After I exchanged blows with that He Yiming, he pursued the Spirit Wolf. I originally thought the Spirit Wolf's speed would surely shake him off. But to my surprise, after five days, there's still no trace of the Spirit Wolf. And only two of our six disciples returned safely, one of whom was severely wounded."
Suo Ge's eyes flickered with a strange light, and he murmured, "With the Spirit Wolf's speed, it shouldn't have been caught."
Yishibao also gave a helpless, wry smile. However, he couldn't have imagined that on Hengshan Mountain, there would be an Innate expert who had grasped the true essence of the Power of Wind. Of course, He Yiming had not displayed this ability in front of him, so Yishibao was unaware that besides cultivating five elements, He Yiming was also proficient in Ice and Wind True Qi.
After a long while, Suo Ge let out a long howl. He sternly said, "You met He Yiming and exchanged blows?"
Yishibao nodded repeatedly, saying, "That He Yiming is indeed excessively young, and he truly possesses three of the Basic Five Elements powers."
When He Yiming fought Yishibao, he only used Earth Element and Metal Element power, but when he and the Spirit Wolf exchanged breaths, he used genuine Water Element power. Moreover, the powerful might brewing within the half-formed Flower of Water was the main reason Yishibao chose to flee.
"Only three elements?" Suo Ge asked in surprise.
"He only displayed three elements, but..." Yishibao's eyes flashed fiercely, "He personally admitted that he indeed possesses all the powers of the Basic Five Elements."
As soon as he said this, the eyes of the Totem Emissaries around him all revealed astonishment. Although they had been mentally prepared beforehand, they also knew that in this world, exaggerated and mythical news was still countless.
Rumors spreading were definitely not a rare occurrence. But now, when their companion brought back confirmed news, their hearts were truly stirred.
It turned out that in this world, there really was such a gifted person who could possess all the powers of the Basic Five Elements simultaneously.
Suo Ge gently stroked the red wolf's neck beside him. The red wolf closed its eyes, enjoying it leisurely. After a moment, he asked in a deep voice, "Did you find the Totem?"
"Before we were discovered, the Red Wolf had already confirmed that the Totem is on Hengshan Mountain," Yishibao said without hesitation.
The faces of many Totem Emissaries were filled with anger. At this point, everyone was certain that He Yiming was the one who entered the Divine Temple and stole the Totem that night.
Suo Ge nodded expressionlessly and said, "We will wait here for a few days until the other ambassadors who are gathering information return, then we will all go to Hengshan Mountain together."
Most people's eyes showed excitement. The Deep Mountain Totem Clan had not emerged from the mountains for over a hundred years. If they did not make their presence known again, they might truly be forgotten by the people outside the mountains.
However, not everyone thought so. A female Totem Emissary said in a deep voice, "Ambassador Suo Ge, if we just rush there like this, I'm afraid it will cause an irreconcilable feud between the Wolf Totem Clan and Hengshan Mountain."
Yishibao snorted angrily, "Ambassador Halin, don't you want to retrieve the Totem?"
Halin shook her head slightly and said, "The Totem is our clan's sacred object; it must be retrieved no matter what. We can first approach them with courtesy, and if they are willing to return the Totem to its rightful owner..."
"No more," Suo Ge suddenly interrupted Halin. Although his voice was calm, the murderous intent contained within it was unprecedentedly strong: "Our Totem clan absolutely cannot tolerate insults. This He Yiming must die." He paused, his gaze sweeping across everyone's faces, and said, "Actually, with his talent, once we knew about him, whether he stole our Totem or not became irrelevant. Don't you agree, Brother Snake..."
A strange hiss emanated from a dark corner, and a trace of fear appeared in everyone's eyes simultaneously.
Halin sighed and said no more. The others, however, showed the same "of course" expression.
Although the Totem clan resided deep in the mountains, they were not without ambition for the outside world.
For He Yiming to reach the Single-Line Sky Realm at his age not only stimulated the hearts of all the experts in the Northwest but also made the Totem clan ambassadors who received the news tremble with fear.
Such an expert, destined to become an enemy in the future, must be stifled before he fully matures.
Therefore, whether He Yiming was "that person" was no longer important...
Below the high mountains, a beautiful and colorful wonder.
At a corner of Hengshan Mountain, beneath a giant peak, there was a large sloping decline. Although it was winter, small waterfalls could still be seen cascading here.
In front of the waterfall, He Yiming sat quietly.
He had been sitting here for seven days and seven nights, silently gazing at the waterfall. His entire being seemed to have merged with this piece of heaven and earth.
A wind blew from an unknown direction. The water from the waterfall, carried by the wind, created countless small stars, rising slowly like floating light smoke, enveloping the air like swirling thin mist. This beautiful white waterfall was like a group of mischievous children, innocently and lively bouncing down the mountain peak with their bare little feet, scattering upon landing like white lotuses.
He Yiming, who was in meditation, suddenly looked up. His gaze was directed into the distance, and faintly, there was a hint of an unpleasant feeling.
He had already instructed them not to disturb him as much as possible while he was cultivating and comprehending the Dao.
And he had already prepared hundreds of Bigu Pills, which, with his current physique, were enough to sustain him for over a year.
Although he didn't actually intend to stay there for a year, being interrupted in his cultivation after only seven days was, in any case, an unpleasant matter.
A moment later, Lu Zhengyi arrived like a large bird. He stopped a hundred meters away from He Yiming.
Looking at He Yiming sitting cross-legged in front of the waterfall, a strong sense of shock suddenly welled up in his heart.
In his perception, it seemed as if He Yiming had vanished.
In this picturesque landscape, there seemed to be no trace of He Yiming. He was as if he had turned into a mass of air, without a single hint of aura.
At this moment, Lu Zhengyi even doubted his own eyes. Although his eyes told him that He Yiming was sitting perfectly fine not far away, he had a strange feeling as if it were an illusion.
"Elder Lu, have the Wolf Totem people arrived?"
He Yiming's voice drifted over, faint and clear, even in the deafening environment of the waterfall, as if completely unaffected.
Lu Zhengyi shook his head as if waking from a dream, "Supreme Elder, the Wolf Clan people have not arrived yet, but the Innate masters from Kairong Country, Tianluo Country, and Fire Crow Country have."
He Yiming finally turned his head and asked in surprise, "Among the smaller nations, are there only two?"
According to his prior estimates, Kairong Country would definitely not escape this. As for Tianluo Country and Fire Crow Country, their relationship with him was not shallow, so it was a certainty that their Nation Protecting Masters would personally come. However, the absence of the other masters from the Small Kingdoms Alliance was quite unexpected for him.
Lu Zhengyi nodded slightly, "Kairong Country, as one of the three major powerful nations, must send people for both reason and sentiment. But the other countries are different."
He Yiming's brows furrowed slightly. Lu Zhengyi was unaware of the Small Kingdoms Alliance's affairs, so his thoughts were naturally different from his own.
Lu Zhengyi suddenly seemed to remember something and said, "Supreme Elder, the people from Kairong Country this time are quite intriguing."
He Yiming was greatly surprised and asked, "Who are they?"
"Mao Lieguang, second only to Senior Zhan Tianfeng in the Masters Hall, and his disciple Cheng Fu." Lu Zhengyi's voice held a trace of surprise, "I originally thought they would only send two ordinary Innate masters to perfunctorily handle it, but since these two have come, it's definitely not a perfunctory act."
He Yiming was also puzzled in his heart; the arrival of the people from Kairong Country truly exceeded his expectations.
The personal arrival of these two Innate experts, second only to Zhan Tianfeng within Kairong Country, fully displayed Kairong Country's supportive attitude towards Hengshan Mountain. Even those most dissatisfied with Kairong Country could find no fault.
His heart stirred, He Yiming stood up and said, "Let's go meet them together." With that, he lightly lifted his feet and walked down with effortless grace.
Lu Zhengyi followed closely, and the two quickly left the area.
In just a moment, they arrived at the main hall of Hengshan Mountain's Main Peak. Before they even reached it, they heard hearty laughter coming from inside.
A faint smile also appeared on He Yiming's face. Most others, upon learning of the opponent they were about to face, would be filled with worry. Only Elder Brother Shui could produce such genuine, carefree laughter.
This was because he had already seen through life and death, so he did not dwell on his own mortality. And no one else could achieve this besides him.
When He Yiming flashed into the hall, everyone stood up simultaneously.
Whether it was the hosts, Medicine Daoist and the others, or the guests, Mao Lieguang and his group, there was no hesitation.
He Yiming smiled faintly and said, "Thank you all for coming from afar. I, He, apologize for not coming to meet you."
Everyone naturally said "no need to apologize." He Yiming's gaze swept over the faces of the four, but his heart felt a bit dissatisfied. Kairong Country and the Small Kingdoms Alliance's attitude towards him stirred a different feeling from the bottom of his heart.
That night, a grand banquet was held on Hengshan Mountain to entertain the four visiting Innate experts.
Medicine Daoist recounted the events that had transpired once more. Although there were no concealments in the letters sent to each person, how could it compare to Medicine Daoist's personal explanation?
More importantly, the letter did not mention the Spirit Wolf eating people or He Yiming's decision to kill the Spirit Wolf and share its flesh.
Therefore, when this news was announced, everyone immediately understood that the conflict between Hengshan Mountain and the Wolf Totem was already irreconcilable.
Of course, everyone's reactions to He Yiming's decision differed.
Although Mao Lieguang didn't say anything, he disagreed in his heart. How could a few ordinary disciples compare to the Spirit Wolf of the Wolf Totem?
He Yiming's actions truly cut off the last possibility of reconciliation with the Wolf Totem.
However, Cheng Fu greatly approved of He Yiming's actions. This could be seen from the spirited look on his face.
As for Shui Xuanjin and Ting Shi Guang, their hearts were filled with emotion. If their situations were reversed, they might truly not dare to make such a drastic decision.
This matter had nothing to do with their courage; it was purely due to individual strength.
If they also had a strong backing like the Hengshan Mountain lineage, or even Heavenly Lake Mountain, then the situation would be different.
Late at night, the banquet had been completely cleared away. Shui Xuanjin and Ting Shi Guang came together to He Yiming's room.
They did not hide anything, but directly explained their intentions.
"Younger Brother He, the other masters of our Small Kingdoms Alliance aren't unwilling to come, but rather, they dare not," Shui Xuanjin said helplessly, "Our two countries, Tian Luo and Fire Crow, both have two Innate masters. Even if one perishes here, there will still be another to hold the fort. But the other countries are different."
His words were simple but immensely heavy, fully revealing the mindset of the Small Kingdoms Alliance.
He Yiming smiled faintly and said, "Elder Brother Shui, I understand."
Seeing He Yiming's smiling face, Shui Xuanjin still wanted to explain something, but in the end, he sighed deeply and finally fell completely silent...
Far away, in a secluded forest where few people ventured.
Two old men had just received an urgent secret letter from the outside world.
This secret letter should have reached them earlier, but because these two old men had gone into the mountains, it was delayed until now.
Yu Jinglei read the contents of the letter, and couldn't help but exclaim "Not good!" in anger, "Zhu Baqi, you sent me deep into the mountains to gather information, aren't you clearly trying to trap me?"
Zhu Baqi hastily read the letter and gave a wry smile, "Brother Yu, how could I have guessed it was for this reason? You've wronged me."
Yu Jinglei snorted angrily, stomped his foot, and shot out like a bird in flight. He pushed his speed to the limit, rushing towards Hengshan Mountain.
Only his unwilling roar remained there: "Zhu Baqi, if anything happens to He Yiming, I'm not done with you."
Zhu Baqi had a helpless expression. He slapped his forehead and said, "This old fellow, still has such a bad temper even in his old age." Although he complained, he also raced off in the direction Yu Jinglei had departed, with a speed that was by no means inferior to that Single-Line Sky Realm expert.
