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Chapter 183: Abduction
🕑 Added 2025-05-29 18:58:42 +0000 UTCAll Novels || Martial God
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The Western Kingdoms, though not small, were significantly inferior compared to the distant Great Shen.
This disparity was not only evident in land area and the living standards of the people; even the level of cultivators between the two regions seemed to have a certain gap.
Therefore, the official language of Da Shen Country was widely welcomed by the great aristocratic families in the Northwest. Those ancient families with over a hundred years of heritage had specialized teachers to impart knowledge in this area.
In comparison, the He Family Fort in Taicang County was indeed far behind.
Although He Yiming's skill was indeed not impressive, Yuan Lixun at least had some ability. When He Yiming copied the characters from the blueprint and then gave them to Yuan Lixun, she translated the content with great ease.
Hohhot Mountain…
This was the name of the most important mountain on the map.
The Book Collection Pavilion of Hengshan Mountain held nearly a hundred thousand books. He wondered how the esteemed predecessors of Hengshan Mountain had managed to collect all these volumes.
Here, Yuan Lixun actually found legends about Hohhot Mountain and surrounding maps.
When she presented that map to He Yiming, his eyes immediately lit up. Because the topographical map depicted on it was remarkably similar to the map he had obtained from Lu Xinwen.
Of course, due to different scales and different cartographers, there were still considerable discrepancies.
But He Yiming was already certain that Hohhot Mountain was definitely the target he was looking for.
This massive mountain was located in a remote, sparsely populated area of Kairong Country. Like Hengshan Mountain, it was hidden within the seemingly endless mountain ranges.
He Yiming transcribed all the place names on the map and successfully translated them, already forming a general concept in his mind. He just waited for the day he would travel to Kairong Country to explore it further.
"Young Master, can your lesson for today begin?" Yuan Lixun closed her book and asked with a smile.
He Yiming sighed lightly and nodded slightly.
Yuan Lixun took out the books she had already prepared, her slender, delicate hands gently brushing over the pages as she began to teach the Great Shen characters.
Time spent with Yuan Lixun was incredibly enjoyable, and happy moments were always fleeting.
Soon, the day's lesson ended, and for He Yiming, he had also mastered a few new phrases and idioms.
Once everything was complete, He Yiming took her back to Spirit Medicine Peak.
Although Spirit Medicine Peak was right next to Main Peak, it would take Yuan Lixun some time to return smoothly on foot. In He Yiming's embrace, however, the speed was incomparable.
After escorting Yuan Lixun to the courtyard entrance, He Yiming continued towards the mountain peak to see Medicine Daoist. Yuan Lixun, on the other hand, went in alone. She needed to prepare dinner and naturally couldn't stay by He Yiming's side the entire time.
A moment later, He Yiming entered the cave dwelling on the peak. His gaze shifted, and he immediately saw an open stone door. Entering it, He Yiming immediately saw the medicinal herbs prepared on the ground.
These medicinal herbs had been prepared by Medicine Daoist in advance for him. Upon arriving here, he could immediately begin refining elixirs.
He flipped through the medicinal herbs, picking up the sheet of paper on top.
This was a task Medicine Daoist had assigned him. The elixir to be refined today, though not taking long, was a step up in difficulty compared to previous elixirs.
The name of this elixir was very simple: Insect Repelling Pill. When used, one only needed to dissolve a little bit of it in water and then spray it on the body, which would make most insects avoid it like the plague.
This elixir seemed very simple, but it was not easy to refine. Especially if several special floral dew ingredients were mixed incorrectly, the resulting elixir would be incredibly pungent. That smell might be more effective in repelling insects, but it guaranteed that no one would use it.
He Yiming squatted down, carefully examining the medicinal herbs. A moment later, a satisfied smile appeared in his eyes.
Although limited by experience, his ability to discern and identify medicinal herbs was far from comparable to that of a true alchemist. However, he had his own unique method.
As long as his hand lightly touched the medicinal herbs, he could sense how vital the herbs contained.
Using this method to assess the quality of medicinal herbs was a privilege of a Wood Element Innate master, combined with He Yiming's special physique. Even Medicine Daoist himself was far inferior to him in this regard.
The medicinal herbs Medicine Daoist had prepared for him were all of excellent quality, with an abundance of vitality, absolutely top-tier among their kind.
He picked up the medicinal herbs, then slowly placed them into the Bronze Cauldron in the Pill Refining Room according to a certain procedure. Under the soaking of dew, these medicinal herbs were slowly undergoing subtle mixed changes. After about a quarter of an hour, He Yiming kicked the Earth Fire door open, and the roaring power of the Earth Fire once again began to rage in the Pill Refining Room.
Once the alchemy officially began, the slight smile on He Yiming's face completely disappeared. He immediately devoted all his energy to it.
Inside his body, two different cultivation methods ran in parallel: one was the Innate Withered Wood Technique, and the other was the Innate Raging Fire Technique.
The power of the Raging Fire Technique was naturally irresistible, like a prairie fire, and more importantly, this cultivation method had extremely obvious effects on the control of Earth Fire.
When He Yiming used this cultivation method, the temperature of the Earth Fire indeed changed according to his will. The Acupoints in his body emitted a red energy, as if even the chaotic blackness was illuminated.
This method of using Acupoints and cultivation techniques to control the temperature of Earth Fire was something he learned from Medicine Daoist. Although he had observed it several times before and asked some questions, this was his first time applying it to the Dao of Alchemy today.
Because before today, the elixirs Medicine Daoist had him refine were very simple, not requiring any subtle control over the heat. The nine settings on the pagoda switch below were enough for adjustment. And today's advanced Insect Repelling Pill was just right for him to practice with.
In addition to the Raging Fire Technique, the Innate Withered Wood Technique was also operating simultaneously, complementing each other perfectly.
An hour later, a joyful smile appeared on He Yiming's face. He kicked the Earth Fire off and then loudly said, "Elder Yao, how do you think I've done with my assignment?"
From beyond the open stone door, Medicine Daoist slowly walked in. His gaze did not fall on the Bronze Cauldron in front of He Yiming, but rather he sighed deeply and said, "Elder He, your fire control method actually bears some resemblance to mine. May I ask where you learned it?"
He Yiming smiled and said, "Of course, I learned it from you."
Medicine Daoist said suspiciously, "But I remember, I don't seem to have taught it."
He Yiming paused slightly and said, "You must be joking, old man. Last time, after you finished refining the Innate Golden Pill, didn't I ask you about that?"
Medicine Daoist's expression changed several times. After a moment, he said, "Elder He, could it be that after observing and asking those questions last time, you grasped the trick?"
He Yiming blinked twice, and said earnestly, "This thing is actually very easy to learn, there's no trick to it." He paused, and kindly added, "It's just chopping wood and making a fire, anyone should be able to master it after watching it once."
Medicine Daoist's facial muscles twitched imperceptibly, his face, which was decidedly inconsistent with his actual age, alternated between green and red. Hearing He Yiming compare using the Innate Raging Fire Technique to chopping wood and making fire, he didn't know whether to be angry or sad.
According to Medicine Daoist's estimation, even if he taught everything without reservation, He Yiming would still need decades of practice to initially master the fire control method of the Innate Raging Fire Technique. But seeing it today, He Yiming was already using it in a remarkably skilled manner. Although his technique was still slightly unpolished and far from his own seasoned and effortless control, it was definitely in the same vein as his own fire control art. With a few more practices, it would only be a matter of time before he rivaled him.
After a long time, Medicine Daoist sighed deeply. He finally understood that He Yiming not only possessed that almost legendary powerful talent in wood-element cultivation methods. He was also no less talented in the cultivation of fire-element techniques.
Reaching out, Medicine Daoist patted He Yiming deeply on the shoulder and said, "Elder He, your talent is so outstanding. If you don't dedicate yourself to the Dao of Alchemy, it would truly be a waste."
He Yiming chuckled. Seeing Medicine Daoist's expression, he vaguely guessed that his easily learning the fire control method was quite a blow to the old man. He sighed inwardly, if he had known this earlier, he wouldn't have used the Innate Raging Fire Technique.
Opening the lid of the Bronze Cauldron, over a dozen white elixirs rolled around inside.
Medicine Daoist glanced at them and said, "Flawless."
He Yiming nodded with satisfaction, smiling. An Innate master with both wood and fire element cultivation techniques indeed had a huge advantage in refining elixirs.
However, he didn't know that besides him, other wood and fire element Innate masters, though possessing advantages in the Dao of Alchemy that ordinary people could hardly match, were by no means as exaggerated as he was.
After receiving Medicine Daoist's appraisal, He Yiming asked a few more questions, then left happily.
Behind him, Medicine Daoist couldn't help but sigh repeatedly. Spending too much time with true geniuses inevitably struck others too hard. Especially those who had once prided themselves on being geniuses.
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He Yiming returned to the courtyard, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
He entered the room; everything inside was normal, seemingly without any abnormalities. But for some reason, He Yiming felt a strong sense of unease in his heart.
The smile that had just appeared on his face had completely vanished, replaced by a grave expression.
His gaze swept around the room, and his ears twitched rapidly and subtly a few times. Then, his expression finally changed.
Within this courtyard, he hadn't found any trace of Yuan Lixun.
During this period, He Yiming, apart from reading in the Main Peak Book Collection Pavilion, would return to his cave dwelling on Spirit Medicine Peak to complete the alchemy assignments given to him by Medicine Daoist. Then he would return home, have dinner, and then cultivate martial arts with Yuan Lixun.
This routine had formed a fixed pattern. Every day, when he returned from the Pill Refining Room, he would see Yuan Lixun's smiling face and the dishes best suited to his taste.
However, today, when he returned early, all of this was gone.
His figure flickered, instantly darting through the various rooms like lightning. But after circling once, his expression grew even darker.
Because he discovered that the contents of several rooms seemed to have been tampered with. However, the perpetrator was extremely careful, leaving almost no obvious flaws. But He Yiming's eyesight was extraordinary; from some extremely subtle dust traces, he had already discerned some clues.
No matter who touched the items in these rooms, it was not a good sign. He Yiming's heart grew increasingly uneasy.
After a moment of thought, he quickly put the Guan Broadsword, which was in the room, on his back, then turned and left the courtyard. In a few quick movements, he arrived at his Grandfather's house on Spirit Medicine Peak.
Facing the sudden appearance of He Yiming, He Wude naturally showed a happy smile. Although his grandson's entrance was somewhat unpredictable, it did not diminish his fondness for He Yiming.
He was currently living alone, as He Laibao had left Hengshan Mountain for He Family Village under his orders.
He was to bring He Quanxin to Hengshan Mountain, aiming to have him advance to Innate as quickly as possible.
After obtaining the Innate Golden Pill, both old men were fervent, and advancing to the Innate Realm was indeed better the sooner it happened. They naturally didn't want to waste any time.
"Grandfather, has Lixun been here?"
"No." He Wude affirmed, "What happened?"
"Lixun is gone." He Yiming said solemnly, "I have a very bad feeling."
He Wude's expression immediately turned serious. If Yuan Lixun had simply wandered off by herself, it would be nothing, but if He Yiming had a bad premonition, then he dared not take it lightly.
After all, Innate experts possessed the ability to communicate with Heaven and Earth Qi. Once they felt a stir in their hearts, something unpleasant would basically happen.
"Yiming, calm down." Since their last meeting, He Wude had already confirmed that Yuan Lixun's position in He Yiming's heart was probably no longer comparable to an ordinary concubine. If something truly happened, his grandson would absolutely not let it go.
He Yiming nodded slightly. He took a deep breath, the cool mountain air filling his lungs, and his somewhat agitated heart finally calmed down.
The moment he completely quieted down, his heart was like a crystal-clear diamond bead, without the slightest blemish.
At this moment, he unexpectedly entered a mysterious state that was difficult to describe in words.
Perhaps due to worry, perhaps due to anger, his spirit was concentrated to an unprecedented degree.
He Wude, standing before him, looked at Yiming in surprise. In his perception, his grandson seemed a little different from before, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly what was different.
He Yiming's ears twitched slightly. The frequency was not very fast, but the efficiency was far greater than before.
At this point, He Yiming finally understood that there was still immense potential to be unearthed in himself and the cultivation techniques he practiced.
However, at this moment, he had no mind to focus on this aspect, but rather directed all his attention to his ears.
Slowly, all sounds carried by the wind entered his ears, and this range was still expanding at a terrifying speed.
This was his first time using his full power since coming to Hengshan Mountain. Previously, due to Medicine Daoist and others, he dared not casually use his Clairaudient Ear miraculous skill on a large scale, but this time, he had no scruples.
He suddenly realized that the range he could hear this time far exceeded the limit he could reach when he was in the capital of Tianluo Country.
He understood in his heart that this was the achievement after his last epiphany.
Unbeknownst to him, his hearing, carried by the natural wind, had already monitored the entire mountaintop.
Whether it was the perplexed Medicine Daoist on the peak, or a couple in a certain home flirting, or even the faint sound of earthworms crawling and wriggling in a vegetable garden, all were subtly picked up by his ears.
At this moment, he suddenly had a feeling as if a deity was present in the world. As long as I want to know, there is nothing that can be hidden from me...
Finally, a voice from afar entered his ears.
The voice was extremely faint, so faint that it was almost a whisper, but the meaning contained within that voice made it thunder in He Yiming's ears.
"The Yuan Family girl has been secured, and she's placed in the cave. Let's hurry. If that person returns from refining elixirs, there might be trouble."
He Yiming's eyebrows subtly raised, falling into He Wude's eyes. The old man reacted swiftly, immediately saying, "Any clues? Take me with you."
Without a word, He Yiming reached out and pulled, a surge of True Qi passed through, carrying them like two large birds soaring away.
Under the enhancement of He Yiming's True Qi, they landed silently, and in an instant, had already sped towards the foot of the mountain.
Even carrying He Wude, He Yiming's speed was still lightning-fast, and his movements were extremely light, like a gentle breeze, making it difficult to detect.
A moment later, the two of them had already arrived at the foot of the mountain, unnoticed by anyone.
By this point, He Yiming was completely at ease, because he had already heard the very familiar sound of breathing in a cave.
Although from the breathing sound, he could tell that Yuan Lixun was unconscious, he was absolutely certain that Yuan Lixun had not suffered any harm.
Two steady sets of footsteps sounded, and then two people walked into the cave side by side. He Yiming hesitated for a moment and did not immediately make a move, merely imprinting the faces of these two people firmly in his mind.
They were two women in their forties or fifties. One of them had even reached the tenth level of the Acquired Stage. Although not yet at the peak like He Wude, she was not far from it.
