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Chapter 217: Masters' Exchange Meet
🕑 Added 2025-06-12 19:56:40 +0000 UTCAll Novels || Martial God
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The biggest characteristic of northern courtyards is their size.
The temple where Zhan Tianfeng resided covered an extremely large area. If one were to tour it, even spending a day and a night, it would only be a superficial glance.
He Yiming and the nine Innate powerhouses, including Shui Xuanjin, from different small kingdoms, arrived here under the guidance of Mao Lieguang.
The location of the Masters' Exchange Meet was not originally planned here, as no one dared to disturb Zhan Tianfeng's quiet cultivation. However, this time, two more Single-Line Sky Realm powerhouses suddenly appeared, and the situation naturally changed.
Zhan Tianfeng personally ordered the grand event to be held at his residence, and naturally, no one dared to object.
Mao Lieguang, walking ahead, chuckled and said, "Brother He, and friends, this is the garden personally collected and planted by Grand Tutor Zhan. It is a sacred place in our Kairong Country. Please take your time to admire it."
Shui Xuanjin and the others, like He Yiming, were entering this mysterious temple for the first time.
Although they all knew that such a place existed in Kairong Country, this was their first time actually setting foot inside.
Their gazes occasionally darted towards He Yiming, knowing that this treatment was entirely due to his presence.
And He Yiming, walking on this path formed by various trees, felt a strange, inexplicable sensation.
Here, the most exquisite part was naturally the area where Zhan Tianfeng resided.
Several hundred meters away from there, there were patches of trees transplanted from various places.
These trees, some towering like canopies, some like inverted golden hooks, or extending branches in welcome, listening to the murmuring pine winds, sometimes low and lyrical, sometimes joyfully high-pitched, sometimes softly whispering, truly offered a unique charm.
As He Yiming walked through this patch of forest, his gaze lingered on these trees. He could even feel the unique aura emanating from these colossal trees.
At this moment, he recalled the Medicine Garden in Hengshan Mountain. Only in such a place, most suitable for the growth of wood elements, could he sense a similar aura.
His steps involuntarily slowed, and his mind drifted slightly. In his mind, strange patterns appeared.
In these patterns, the only constant was a person.
This person, throughout the four seasons, diligently cultivated techniques in this environment. Every time he cultivated, he would absorb Heaven and Earth Qi from the outside through these trees.
Decades of continuous cultivation had given this person extremely high attainments in the way of wood. At the same time, in the process of this person's cultivation, a win-win situation was achieved with these trees. Not only did his Wood Element True Qi surge like a vast sea, but even the large trees here benefited greatly, growing robustly and extraordinarily.
"Brother Mao, your country's tree-planting method is truly unique..." Zhao Ruipei said with a smile. "If I'm not mistaken, these Shuiyang Trees should be unique plants from the East. If transplanted to our Northwest, less than one in a hundred would survive. Yet this Shuiyang Tree has grown to such an extent here, which is certainly not the work of a single day."
His words carried a tone of sighing, as if greatly perplexed by this.
He Yiming's heart stirred slightly, and he vaguely thought of something.
No matter how much power, wealth, and status Zhan Tianfeng possessed, he wouldn't inexplicably transport Shuiyang Trees thousands of miles to this place.
And looking at this patch of forest, although not very large, it contained a wide variety of trees, almost a comprehensive museum of species.
A bizarre thought instantly flashed through his mind.
Could it be that Zhan Tianfeng intentionally collected and planted these trees, and that these numerous trees provided crucial benefits for his martial arts cultivation?
Unconsciously, everyone had already passed through the forest, and even if He Yiming was reluctant, he couldn't just turn back or stop there.
Soon, everyone finally arrived at the courtyard where Zhan Tianfeng was rumored to be in secluded cultivation.
Except for He Yiming, everyone was visiting for the first time. When they saw the simple place, they all felt strange, and then a few of them had a realization in their eyes. They knew that Zhan Tianfeng was actually a persistent ascetic.
However, in the path of cultivation, there are countless different methods and attitudes, and asceticism may not be suitable for everyone. And those masters who can reach the Innate Realm all have their own unique cultivation insights, and they may not necessarily envy this difficult cultivation method.
At this time, six of the Innate powerhouses from the Kairong Country Masters Hall had already arrived. Apart from Zhan Tianfeng, the others were not in the country, and thus unable to attend.
A moment later, Zhan Tianfeng had already walked out of the inner room.
When he entered the room, everyone respectfully bowed and greeted him, not daring to show any slack.
After all, the Innate powerhouses present here were all within the sphere of influence of Kairong Country. Before they advanced to Innate, Zhan Tianfeng was already a renowned Innate master. When they, with immense perseverance and luck, stepped into this rank, Zhan Tianfeng had gone a step further, achieving the Single-Line Sky Realm.
Zhan Tianfeng...
These three words were like an unshakable mountain, constantly pressing on everyone's hearts. At the same time, this man, almost a legend in everyone's eyes, was also the stabilizing force of the entire Kairong Country.
His prestige within the sphere of influence of Kairong Country was comparable to Shui Xuanjin's role in Tianluo Country, and even surpassed it.
Therefore, when everyone truly stood before him, although their hearts were filled with emotion, their respect for him came from the heart, without any pretense.
Zhan Tianfeng wore a gentle smile on his face, greeting everyone one by one.
However, everyone could easily see that he indeed regarded He Yiming with special attention, and even the seating arrangements were carefully considered.
The entire room was ingeniously arranged with chairs placed in a circular pattern.
There were three chairs in the very center, and behind these three chairs were scattered seats, subtly divided into three sections.
Of course, in the very center of all the chairs, there was also a large round table.
Although this arrangement looked somewhat strange, it was clear to everyone.
At Zhan Tianfeng's invitation, He Yiming hesitated only slightly before openly sitting on one of the three central chairs. Shui Xuanjin and the others then successively took their seats behind him.
In the past, although Shui Xuanjin was the oldest among all the Innate powerhouses, he would not have been able to sit in the first chair.
After all, among the Innate, ranking was not based on age but on individual strength.
But at this moment, when He Yiming sat down, the other masters in the Small Kingdoms Alliance quietly waited for Shui Xuanjin to take his seat. Only after he sat down did they follow the previous order and sit down one by one.
Although this movement was subtle and not obvious, in Shui Xuanjin's heart, it was quite exciting.
He looked at He Yiming's not-particularly-tall back, understanding in his heart that his opportunity was entirely due to him...
After everyone was seated, they didn't immediately take out their items but instead chatted and laughed, the atmosphere harmonious.
However, everyone's gaze occasionally turned towards the main door, waiting for the masters of Tufan Kingdom to arrive.
After a meal's worth of time, everyone's eyes lit up one after another. They all sensed several powerful auras approaching from a distance.
Not long after, led by Zhuo Wanlian and Mu Jintian, the Innate masters from Tufan Kingdom appeared.
Zhuo Wanlian laughed heartily and said, "Brother Zhan, Brother He, you've arrived early."
His appearance was rough, and his voice was as loud as thunder. However, he only greeted the two Single-Line Sky Realm powerhouses present. As for the other Innate masters, he was aloof and paid no attention to them whatsoever.
However, facing such an arrogant person, everyone could only exchange bitter smiles, and had no other thoughts, accepting it calmly.
Zhan Tianfeng and He Yiming both stood up and greeted him. Afterward, their gazes all fell upon Mu Jintian, who was behind him.
Not only the two of them, but everyone in the room focused their gaze on him. At this moment, Mu Jintian seemed even more captivating than his senior brother, Zhuo Wanlian.
Since his debut, Mu Jintian had undergone countless battles, with the number of his defeats being negligible. He was now at the peak of the Hundred Scattered Heavens Realm, just one final push away from the Single-Line Sky Realm.
But at this moment, he suffered the greatest defeat of his life, with even his blood relative, Bu Xingcong, dying right before his eyes.
How great was the psychological impact of all this on him? Although He Yiming had said that Mu Jintian would definitely break through his current realm, that was only a guess. Now that he appeared before them, he naturally had to assess him with his own eyes.
When everyone's gaze fell on Mu Jintian, they saw him smile calmly, then bow slightly and say, "Mu Jintian greets Senior Zhan, Brother He, and all masters."
His demeanor was neither humble nor arrogant, even in front of the two Single-Line Sky Realm powerhouses.
And He Yiming also sensed that his heart was truly calm, not forcibly suppressed. Even when facing He Yiming, his eyes were peaceful, without the slightest hint of hatred or malice.
For a moment, He Yiming suddenly felt a strange sensation. He said clearly, "Brother Mu, when you return this time, will you be entering secluded cultivation to break through to the Single-Line Sky Realm?"
Mu Jintian's face finally showed a trace of surprise, then he laughed wryly, "Brother He has excellent eyesight. After this matter is concluded, I will return to the sect with my senior brother and attempt to break through to the Single-Line Sky Realm."
His words were still extremely calm, as if this was not something closely related to his vital interests, but merely an insignificant small matter.
Everyone's expressions changed slightly, and they looked at Mu Jintian with envy.
For these Innate masters, what could be more enticing than advancing to the Single-Line Sky Realm?
Moreover, Mu Jintian was only a little over one hundred and twenty years old this year. To attempt to break through to the Single-Line Sky Realm at this age was truly the mark of a genius among geniuses.
However, when everyone's gaze fell on He Yiming, it inevitably carried a strange look.
If Mu Jintian was a genius among geniuses, then what was He Yiming, who advanced to the Hundred Scattered Heavens Realm at fifteen and the Single-Line Sky Realm at seventeen?
Zhan Tianfeng, after a slight moment of distraction, smiled and said, "I wish Brother Mu success in his endeavors and a smooth promotion."
Mu Jintian bowed deeply and said, "Thank you, Senior Xie, for your kind words."
Everyone took their seats once more, but the way they looked at Mu Jintian had subtly changed. They vaguely felt that perhaps in another ten or twenty years, Tufan Kingdom would gain another top-tier master of the Single-Line Sky Realm.
Zhan Tianfeng's gaze swept over them, and he said clearly, "Since everyone has arrived, let the exchange meeting begin."
Mao Lieguang immediately stood up from behind him and came to the round table, saying, "Since you all have come to Kairong, let us, as your hosts, present something unworthy first."
He clapped his hands, and several big men walked in from outside the house.
These men were all in high spirits, with steady footsteps, and showed no timidity even in front of many Innate masters.
Each of them held a golden tray, on which were placed some strange items.
Some were picked and dried herbs, some were refined elixirs, some were finished Treasure Tools, and some were small, light, and peculiar trinkets whose strange properties were not apparent.
They placed the golden trays they were holding one by one onto the large round table in the center of the room, then bowed and retreated.
He Yiming's gaze swept over the items twice, and a hint of surprise finally appeared in his eyes.
Among the many items there, he actually found a type of herb.
If he remembered correctly, the name of this herb was Huangjing.
This herb's uses were not widespread, and it even carried a slight toxicity. However, this herb was an indispensable ingredient for refining the Youth Retaining Pill.
In the Medicine Garden of the Hengshan Mountain lineage, although many rare herbs were cultivated. However, there were still quite a few missing to gather enough ingredients for refining the Youth Retaining Pill, and Huangjing was one of them.
He secretly sighed, fortunate that he had learned a great deal about the Dao of Alchemy in Hengshan Mountain and recognized many valuable herbs. Especially those rare herbs not cultivated in the Medicine Garden, he had remembered them mostly under the urging of Medicine Daoist, otherwise, even if Huangjing appeared before him today, he would probably not recognize it.
Mao Lieguang pointed at the golden trays on the table and said, "Everyone, these items are treasures we selected from the national treasury. Please feel free to choose whatever you need."
Shui Xuanjin and the others immediately stood up. They silently walked around the round table, pausing for a moment if they were interested in a particular item.
Everyone seemed to be adhering to a certain rule, and even the arrogant Zhuo Wanlian and the calm Mu Jintian were no exception.
After a moment, someone finally made a move.
It was Xu Zechun, an Innate master from the Small Kingdoms Alliance. He took out a pale yellow stone from his arms, placing it next to a golden tray containing a Jade Bottle.
He Yiming had long understood the rules here: if one fancied something, one would take out what they deemed worthy of exchange and place it next to the desired item.
If the other party was willing to exchange, the transaction was successful. If the other party deemed it unworthy, they would take back their item.
Of course, if multiple people fancied the same item, the owner would choose the most suitable item from all offerings for the exchange.
Throughout this process, everything proceeded quietly, without any clamor.
Since the first person had made a move, everyone else no longer held back. In just a moment, several more people took out their items and placed them next to the golden trays of the items they fancied.
Mu Jintian also fancied a certain herb. He took out a Jade Bottle and placed it next to the golden tray, then returned to his seat, not bothering to look at any other items.
As for Zhuo Wanlian, although he circled around once, he finally shook his head slightly, seemingly disdainful of the items.
However, his attitude did not provoke resentment from the others. After all, as a Single-Line Sky Realm powerhouse, he was different from a Hundred Scattered Heavens Realm powerhouse; at the very least, there was a huge gap in their discerning eyes.
He Yiming cautiously observed for a long time, and he discovered an interesting phenomenon.
That is, once one person made a move, even if a second person was interested in the same item, they would not easily make a move.
He pondered for a moment, and immediately understood. There were quite a few items here, and even if each person fancied two items, it would be more than enough.
Given this, unless they truly encountered a must-have item, they would not force the issue.
Having realized this, He Yiming did not dare to delay. He immediately took out a wooden box, gently opened it, and placed it next to the tray of Huangjing.
He Yiming was now a Single-Line Sky Realm powerhouse, and his every move immediately drew everyone's attention.
Upon seeing the contents of the wooden box, everyone exchanged glances, and a thought simultaneously flashed through their minds: He Yiming was indeed determined to acquire the Huangjing.
The item in the wooden box was a treasure He Yiming had chosen from the Tianluo Country treasury.
It was a rare and precious fruit, the Linmu Fruit.
Not only could it be used as an herb, but if directly consumed, it also had certain benefits for Innate powerhouses cultivating Wood Element Art.
In terms of preciousness, this item was indeed superior to Huangjing.
A glint flashed in Zhan Tianfeng's eyes. He looked over in surprise, and in response to Mao Lieguang's inquiring gaze, he imperceptibly nodded.
Mao Lieguang immediately understood, but his face remained expressionless.
Some people had already returned to their seats, while others continued to wander around the round table. Several still looked hesitant, clearly having taken a liking to more than one item. However, it seemed they were either short on funds or the items they prepared were expensive, so they were unwilling to exchange.
A full quarter of an hour later, everyone had returned, and on the round table, four-fifths of the golden trays had items placed beside them.
This showed that the items Mao Lieguang had brought out were indeed very popular.
