You don't want your secret to be revealed by others, right?

Behind the tea table sat a young man dressed in white as snow.

His skin was fair, a smile graced his lips, and his long hair was also pure white, simply held up with a plain white jade hairpin. Although his attire was modest, he seemed as though he was dressed in the most splendid and noble ceremonial robes, his entire demeanor exuding an indescribable nobility and refined elegance.

"Please, sit. The tea I just brewed, this 'Heart Snow,' is a rare and fine tea. Qi Zhewu, you are in for a treat."

The white-haired young man's movements as he brewed the tea were filled with grace, and his smile was warm and inviting, as if he were hosting an old friend he had not seen in years.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for the tea," Qi Zhewu said, sitting down somewhat anxiously.

"It's just a cup of tea."

The white-haired young man shook his head with a smile, personally handing Qi Zhewu a cup of tea.

Qi Zhewu carefully sipped the tea, then spoke, "Your Highness, as you predicted, after I presented those demands, the Seventeenth Prince indeed became angry. He even said in my face, 'If not for the Eye of Heaven, I'd have killed you,' I believe he truly harbored the intent to kill."

"He worries about the Eye of Heaven? Is it true or false?" the white-haired young man gently smiled and asked, "Did he have a chance to kill you?"

"If he had wished to kill, he certainly had the opportunity," Qi Zhewu nodded, "I was sealed by Duke Heng's spatial binding at that time and was completely defenseless."

"Oh?"

The white-haired young man slightly nodded, "It appears he is indeed somewhat calm. He might have sensed that someone was trying to test him."

Qi Zhewu suddenly realized, "Your Highness suspects that the Seventeenth Prince is also a man of unpredictable fate?"

He could not help saying, "But isn't he a prince from the Xiahong Clan? Born under the favored watch of the Eye of Heaven, how could a person of unpredictable fate be beloved by the Eye of Heaven? And even less likely to reincarnate as a prince."

"It's just a guess," the white-haired young man smiled, "If you are not to die of old age, it seems you may be killed by this Seventeenth Prince."

Qi Zhewu's expression changed.

"Do not mind it, life and death are but reincarnations."

The white-haired young man gently patted his shoulder, "You have followed me for many years. If he kills you, then I will kill him, to keep things fair."

"But Your Highness, if you were to kill the prince..." Qi Zhewu voiced his concern.

"No matter," the white-haired young man chuckled and shook his head, "Practice makes perfect; after all, it's not the first time."

"It's just a pity that the Duanmu Clan was also eradicated by the Crown Prince for conspiring with the Demon Clan; otherwise, Your Highness wouldn't have such difficulties." Qi Zhewu sighed, "Heaven is blind."

The white-haired young man chuckled softly, raised his head, his gaze seeming to penetrate everything. He met the eyes that looked down upon all beings, and with a subtle mocking tone, said, "When has Heaven ever been sighted?"

...

That evening.

Before the Hour of the Rat, Lin Yue arrived at the gate of Duke Heng's residence, followed by Baili Fengzhi.

"Your Highness, the treasure you spoke of, is it scheduled for the Hour of the Rat?" Baili Fengzhi asked.

"Correct, it cost a thousand Earth Merits."

Lin Yue slightly nodded, "I completed the three challenges before reaching the Four Symbols Peak and also gained just over a thousand Earth Merits, but it won't be quick to earn more. I hope this Martial Art Shell does not disappoint."

"A thousand Earth Merits?" Baili Fengzhi had little concept of it.

Lin Yue casually mentioned, "I've looked at the exchange list, and those precious first-grade Spirit Pills are valued at just over a dozen Earth Merits."

"Is Earth Merit so valuable?" Baili Fengzhi quickly understood, visibly surprised.

"The true value of the Martial Art Shell is ten thousand Heavenly Merits. Even though it's just activated simply once, it still costs a thousand Earth Merits—truly absurd," Lin Yue remarked.

This Martial Art Shell was not even available in the Ancestor Hall, clearly a treasure essential for Martial Cultivators.

However, he had also inquired that the Ancestor Hall possessed another treasure that aided in Martial Arts cultivation, its effects reportedly rivaling the Martial Art Shell. He thought to give it a try later.

Before long, a figure cloaked in a gray robe appeared at the gate of Duke Heng's residence, not even a bit of skin visible, their face also concealed by the shadow of the gray robe, revealing only a pair of eyes.

"Gray-robed Divine Envoy." Lin Yue slightly raised an eyebrow.

He had gained some understanding of the Xiahong Clan's Imperial Family. Besides the Patrol Envoys of the Heaven Patrol Alliance who served the Xiahong Clan, there was also the Royal Family Tributor Hall and ten Divine Envoys of unknown origins.

Each of the ten Divine Envoys was clad in robes of seven colors: black, white, and gray, each color representing one Divine Envoy.

The one before him was the gray-robed Divine Envoy.

"Seventeenth Prince."

A deep, hoarse voice emanated from beneath the gray robe, "I am commanded to deliver the Martial Art Shell here, to activate it once for Your Highness."

"Very well," Lin Yue nodded.

The gray-robed Divine Envoy warned, "Your Highness, please be aware that once activated, the Martial Art Shell can only maintain its effect for three hours. Before reaching the Peak of the Four Symbols, the Divine Soul has not yet transformed, and each usage will cause a slight tremor to the Divine Soul. Therefore, one must rest for over a month before it can be used again. Hence, it is best that Your Highness uses the Martial Art Shell when encountering a bottleneck or initial difficulties."

"I understand."

Lin Yue slightly nodded.

He was currently in a state of initial difficulty.

The most formidable Killing Skill could at most help him cross the threshold into the Martial Arts True Self. Further progress would depend on himself.

Like the Thirteen Flames, the Wind and Fire Realm was already perfected. Relying solely on the external motivation from the Wind and Fire Realm to stimulate one's potential was already at its limit.

With no forward path, it was time to create his own, shifting from seeking external help to internal.

In simple terms, it's about delving from the superficial appearances of the Wind and Fire Realm to understanding its essence, until even the Divine Soul is transformed and the body becomes more suited to the explosive nature of the Wind and Fire Intent, leading to transformation.

—This is what is called the Martial Arts True Skill.

Typically, it's after breaking through the Three Talents Heaven Barrier that one begins to comprehend the Heaven and Earth Law, grasping the powers of the law, making it easier to understand the essence of the natural mysteries of heaven and earth.

Yet, Lin Yue hadn't broken through the Three Talents Heaven Barrier but was already seeking the essence, which was exceedingly difficult.

But if successful, the benefits could be astonishing.

After breaking through the Three Talents Heaven Barrier, one can sense the various laws between heaven and earth. However, these laws are not distinctly separate but intertwined, leading to frequent misperceptions yet remaining unaware, gradually drifting away from the true path.

After all...

Attempting to comprehend and understand the vastness of heaven and earth with the human mind is an act of overestimating one's abilities.

The goal set by the Main Hall Master for Lin Yue was to make him understand the essence through the mere superficial appearance of the intent, despite not being able to sense the Heaven and Earth Law.

Although this was rough and cumbersome, the advantage was not being influenced by the chaotic Heaven and Earth Law.

However, Lin Yue got stuck at the first step.

He must grasp a hint of the essence to gradually create his own Martial Arts True Skill. Even the entrance was very tough.

Thus, he hadn't made much progress over the month.

He only hoped that the Martial Art Shell could help him.

"By the way,"

Lin Yue suddenly looked at the gray-robed Divine Envoy and asked, "Does the three-hour effect of the Martial Art Shell correspond to the physical body's experience of time, or the mind?"

"It is naturally the body," said the gray-robed Divine Envoy.

Lin Yue slightly raised an eyebrow, but a thought had already formed in his mind. He immediately said, "Let's begin."

Without the gray-robed Divine Envoy taking out any treasure, he simply waved his sleeve, and a wave like a Divine Thought Transmission fully entered Lin Yue's body.

"Boom!"

At this moment, Lin Yue suddenly felt a roaring within his soul, his perception of his body became extremely sharp, his mind trembled, and for the first time, he entered such a calm state, his perception of the world remarkably clear.

An unprecedented calm settled in his heart, like a lake without wind, where any breeze could cause ripples.

"This state..."

Lin Yue didn't say more, instantly turned around, and activated his movement technique to disappear like a gust of wind.

In a single breath, he had returned to the Cultivation Chamber in Qinghu Inn.

Then, he took out a black jade coffin and immediately entered the Illusion World within it.

...

By the fire, a burly man in animal skin—Human Ancestor—was roasting meat. Seeing Lin Yue appear, he couldn't help but laugh and say, "Kid, train well today, strive to make progress early... Eh? What a peculiar state, what is this?"

"I used a treasure to help consolidate my Martial Arts Heart, making it easier to enhance my Martial Arts Realm."

Lin Yue sensed the changes in his mind and spirit, and immediately said, "Indeed, here my consciousness operates twelve times faster compared to the outside world. My efficiency has improved twelvefold, equivalent to maintaining for thirty-six hours!"