The courtyard in the Northern Lands was, above all else, vast. Within the temple grounds where Zhan Tianfeng resided, the area spanned an immense acreage; if someone were to tour it, even spending a full day and night, they would only manage a superficial glance.

He Yiming and the nine other Xiantian realm experts hailing from various smaller nations, led by Mao Lieguang, arrived here. The location for the Grandmasters' Exchange was not originally set here, as no one dared disturb Zhan Tianfeng’s seclusion.

However, with the sudden appearance of two experts at the Yixiantian (First Heaven) realm this time, the circumstances naturally shifted. Zhan Tianfeng himself issued the decree to host this grand gathering at his residence, and naturally, no one dared voice an objection.

Mao Lieguang walked ahead, chuckling amiably, "Brother He, esteemed friends, this is the garden personally ordered collected and cultivated by Grand Tutor Zhan. It is considered a sacred ground of our Kai Rong Kingdom.

Please take your time to admire it." Shui Xuanjin and the others, like He Yiming, were entering this mysterious temple compound for the first time. Although they knew such a place existed within the Kai Rong Kingdom, this was their first time actually setting foot inside.

Their gazes occasionally darted toward He Yiming. They all understood that this privilege was entirely thanks to him.

At this moment, as He Yiming walked along the grand avenue formed by diverse trees, he felt an inexplicable, peculiar sensation. The most vital part of this place was undoubtedly the area where Zhan Tianfeng lived.

Several hundred meters away from that core, there were clusters of trees transplanted from various regions. These trees—some spreading like canopies, others curving like inverted golden hooks, still others seeming to welcome guests with outstretched branches—listening to the sudden low chanting, then cheerful singing, then murmuring soliloquies of the pine winds, truly possessed a unique charm.

As He Yiming passed through this jungle, his eyes lingered on the trees. He could even sense the distinctive aura emanating from these colossal specimens.

In that instant, he was reminded of the medicinal garden within Heng Mountain. Only in places most conducive to Wood Element development could he perceive a similar aura.

His steps involuntarily slowed; his spirit felt slightly dazed. Strange patterns began to form in his mind.

In these patterns, the only constant was a single individual. This person cultivated his martial arts within this environment through all four seasons.

Every time he trained, he absorbed the external world's vital energy through these very trees. Decades of unwavering practice granted this person profound attainment in the Way of Wood.

Furthermore, during his cultivation, a win-win situation developed with the trees. Not only did his Wood Element true energy surge like the sea, but the great trees here also benefited immensely, growing robustly and becoming extraordinary.

"Brother Mao, your kingdom's methods of arboriculture are indeed unique..." Zhao Rupei said with a smile, "If I am not mistaken, these poplars must be species unique to the East. If transplanted to our Northwest, perhaps one in a hundred would survive.

Yet this poplar has grown to this extent here; that is certainly not the work of a single day." His words carried a tone of wistful wonder, as if deeply puzzled. He Yiming’s heart stirred; he vaguely suspected something.

No matter how much power, wealth, or status Zhan Tianfeng possessed, he wouldn't have transplanted poplars from thousands of miles away for no reason. Moreover, looking at this stretch of forest, though not massive, it housed an astonishing variety of tree species—it was practically a complete museum.

A bizarre thought flashed through He Yiming’s mind. Could it be that Zhan Tianfeng specifically gathered and planted these trees because the multitude of species offered crucial benefits to his martial cultivation?

Unconsciously, everyone had passed through that forest. Even if He Yiming felt reluctant, it was improper to immediately turn back or linger there.

Soon, everyone reached the courtyard where Zhan Tianfeng was rumored to be in seclusion. Except for He Yiming, this was the first visit for everyone else.

When they saw the simplicity of the place, they felt a sense of strangeness, followed by a glimmer of understanding in the eyes of a few. They realized that Zhan Tianfeng was actually a tenacious, ascetic cultivator.

However, in the pursuit of cultivation, there are countless different methods and attitudes; asceticism is not suited for everyone. Masters who have reached the Xiantian realm all possess their unique cultivation insights and wouldn't necessarily envy such a grueling path.

At this moment, six of the Xiantian masters from the Kai Rong Kingdom's Grandmasters' Hall had already arrived. Apart from Zhan Tianfeng, the rest were currently outside the kingdom and unable to attend.

A moment later, Zhan Tianfeng emerged from the inner chambers. As he entered the room, everyone respectfully bowed and greeted him, not daring to show the slightest slackness.

After all, the Xiantian experts present here were all within the sphere of influence of the Kai Rong Kingdom. Before they advanced to the Xiantian realm, Zhan Tianfeng was already a world-renowned grandmaster of that level.

When they painstakingly and fortunately joined that rank, Zhan Tianfeng had already advanced further, achieving the Yixiantian realm. Zhan Tianfeng...

Those three words felt like an immovable mountain, perpetually pressing upon the hearts of everyone present. Simultaneously, this man, who seemed almost mythical to them, was the very cornerstone of the entire Kai Rong Kingdom.

His prestige within the kingdom’s domain was comparable to, if not exceeding, Shui Xuanjin’s role in the Tian Luo Kingdom. Therefore, when everyone finally stood before him, though their hearts were filled with emotion, their respect was genuine and wholly unforced.

Zhan Tianfeng greeted everyone with a gentle smile. Yet, everyone could easily perceive that he held He Yiming in particularly high regard, even meticulously arranging the seating positions.

The entire room was uniquely set up, with the numerous chairs arranged in a circle. At the very center were three seats, and behind these three seats were scattered, lesser positions, vaguely divided into three sections.

Of course, in the absolute center of all the seating, there was also a large round table. Although this layout appeared somewhat odd, it was perfectly clear to everyone present.

At Zhan Tianfeng’s invitation, He Yiming hesitated only briefly before taking a seat among the three central chairs, openly taking his place. Shui Xuanjin and the others followed in order, sitting in the seats behind him.

In the past, although Shui Xuanjin was the most senior among the Xiantian masters, he could not claim the first seat. After all, ranking within the Xiantian realm was not determined by age, but by individual strength.

However, now that He Yiming was seated, the other grandmasters from the Small Nations Alliance quietly waited for Shui Xuanjin to take his seat. Only after he was seated did they settle down one by one, following their previous order.

Although this gesture was subtle and inconspicuous, Shui Xuanjin was quite moved. He looked at He Yiming’s back, which wasn't exceptionally tall, and understood that this opportunity he received was entirely due to He Yiming’s standing.

After everyone was seated, they did not immediately present their items but engaged in light conversation, creating an atmosphere of harmonious leisure. However, their gazes occasionally flickered toward the main entrance as they awaited the arrival of the masters from the Tu Fan Kingdom.

After the time it took to finish a small meal, everyone’s eyes brightened successively. They sensed several powerful auras approaching rapidly from a distance.

Not long after, under the lead of Zhuo Wanlian and Mu Jintian, the Xiantian masters from the Tu Fan Kingdom appeared. Zhuo Wanlian roared with laughter, "Brother Zhan, Brother He, you've arrived early!" His appearance was rough, and his voice resonated like thunder.

However, he only greeted the two Yixiantian experts present. As for the other Xiantian masters, he treated them coolly, clearly not regarding them highly.

Yet, facing such arrogance, everyone could only exchange wry smiles; they held no other thoughts and calmly accepted it. Zhan Tianfeng and He Yiming both stood up to greet him, and then their eyes shifted to Mu Jintian standing behind him.

It wasn't just the two of them; everyone in the room focused their attention on Mu Jintian. At this moment, Mu Jintian seemed even more conspicuous than his senior brother, Zhuo Wanlian.

Since his debut, Mu Jintian had fought countless battles, his defeats few enough to count on one hand. He was now at the peak of the Baisantian realm, just short of the final push toward Yixiantian.

But at this very moment, he had suffered the greatest defeat of his life; even Bu Xingcong, to whom he shared a blood tie, had died right before his eyes. The psychological impact of this was immense.

Although He Yiming had stated that Mu Jintian would surely break through his current realm, that was still merely speculation. Now that he was present, they naturally had to assess his condition personally.

As the crowd’s attention fixed on Mu Jintian, they saw him offer a calm smile, bow slightly, and say, "Mu Jintian greets Senior Zhan, Brother He, and all esteemed masters." His demeanor was neither servile nor overbearing, even when facing the two Yixiantian experts. Furthermore, He Yiming sensed that his heart was genuinely tranquil, not merely suppressing turmoil by force.

Even when facing He Yiming, his eyes held only calmness, devoid of any trace of hatred or resentment. Suddenly, He Yiming felt a strange impression wash over him.

He spoke out loudly, "Brother Mu, after you return this time, will you immediately enter seclusion to attempt the breakthrough to the Yixiantian realm?" A hint of surprise finally surfaced on Mu Jintian's face, followed by a self-deprecating laugh. "Brother He’s insight is sharp.

Once this matter concludes, I will return to the sect with my senior brother and attempt to break through to the Yixiantian realm." His words remained utterly composed, as if this matter, which intimately concerned his future, were nothing more than a trivial detail. The eyes of the assembled masters subtly shifted, their gazes toward Mu Jintian carrying envy.

For these Xiantian masters, what could be more enticing than advancing to the Yixiantian realm? Moreover, Mu Jintian was only a little over one hundred and twenty years old.

To attempt the Yixiantian breakthrough at this age marked him as a genius among geniuses. However, when the others’ gazes fell upon He Yiming, they couldn't help but carry a touch of strangeness.

If Mu Jintian was a genius among geniuses, what then was He Yiming, who reached Baisantian at fifteen and Yixiantian at seventeen? After a brief moment of distraction, Zhan Tianfeng smiled and said, "I am here to wish Brother Mu immediate success in your ascension." Mu Jintian bowed deeply.

"Thank you, Senior, for your auspicious words." Everyone resumed their seats, but the way they regarded Mu Jintian had changed slightly from before. They vaguely felt that perhaps in another twenty years, the Tu Fan Kingdom would have another top-tier master at the Yixiantian level.

Zhan Tianfeng glanced around and announced loudly, "Since everyone has arrived, let this exchange commence." Mao Lieguang immediately stood up from behind him and approached the round table. "Since you have all come to Kai Rong, allow us hosts to make the first offering." He clapped his hands twice, and several strong men entered from outside the room.

These men were vigorous and walked with steady steps; they showed no timidity even in the presence of numerous Xiantian masters. Each held a golden platter upon which rested various peculiar items.

Some were herbs, picked and dried; others were already refined elixirs; some were finished artifacts; and there were also some strange, delicate trinkets whose uniqueness was not immediately apparent. They placed the golden platters they carried 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 before a look of surprise finally lit his eyes. Among the numerous objects, he actually spotted an herb.

If he recalled correctly, the herb was called Huang Jing (Solomon’s Seal Rhizome). This herb was not widely used, and it even possessed a slight toxicity.

However, it was an indispensable ingredient for refining the Youth-Preserving Elixir (Zhu Yan Dan). Although the medicinal garden of the Heng Mountain lineage cultivated many rare herbs, they still lacked sufficient quantities of ingredients to refine the Youth-Preserving Elixir, and Huang Jing was one of them.

He sighed inwardly, grateful that he had studied the Way of Alchemy extensively in Heng Mountain and recognized many precious herbs. Especially the rare ones not planted in the garden, he had memorized most of them under the watchful eye of the Medicine Daoist; otherwise, even if Huang Jing appeared before him today, he likely wouldn't have recognized it.

Mao Lieguang gestured toward the golden platters on the table. "Esteemed masters, these items are treasures selected from our national treasury.

Please feel free to select whatever you require." Shui Xuanjin and the others immediately stood up. They silently circled the round table.

If an item piqued their interest, they would pause momentarily beside it. Everyone seemed to be adhering to an unspoken rule; even the arrogant Zhuo Wanlian and the placid Mu Jintian were no exception.

After a while, someone finally made a move. It was Xu Zechun, a Xiantian master from the Small Nations Alliance.

He took out a pale yellow stone from his robes and placed it next to a golden platter holding a jade vial. He Yiming already understood the procedure: if one favored an item, they would place something they deemed worthy of exchange next to that item.

If the owner agreed to the exchange, the transaction was successful. If the owner felt it wasn't worth it, they would take the item back.

Of course, if multiple people favored the same item, the owner would choose the exchange they deemed most suitable from all the offerings. Throughout this process, everything proceeded quietly, without any clamor.

Once the first person acted, the others dropped their reserve. In a short while, several more people placed their items next to the golden platters of their chosen goods.

Mu Jintian also favored an herb, taking out a jade vial and placing it beside the platter, then returned to his seat, not sparing another glance at the other items. As for Zhuo Wanlian, although he circled once, he eventually shook his head slightly, seemingly disdainful of everything.

However, his attitude did not cause resentment among the others, as there was a significant difference in perspective between a Yixiantian expert and a Baisantian expert. He Yiming watched cautiously for some time and noticed an interesting phenomenon.

Once someone made an offer, even if a second person was interested in the same item, they would not easily make a counter-offer. He thought for a moment and immediately understood.

There were plenty of items available; even if each person wanted two, it should be more than enough. Given this, unless it was an item they absolutely had to have, they wouldn't force a trade.

Seeing this, He Yiming dared not delay. He immediately took out a wooden box, opened it gently, and placed it beside the platter containing the Huang Jing.

He Yiming was now a Yixiantian expert, and his every move immediately drew the attention of the crowd. When they saw the contents of the wooden box, everyone exchanged glances, a single thought flashing through their minds: He Yiming was determined to have the Huang Jing.

The item in the wooden box was a treasure He Yiming had selected from the Tian Luo Kingdom's vault. It was an extremely rare fruit, the Linmu Fruit.

It could be used as a medicinal ingredient, and if consumed directly, it also offered certain benefits to Xiantian masters cultivating Wood Element techniques. In terms of rarity and value, this item was indeed superior to the Huang Jing.

A sharp glint flashed in Zhan Tianfeng's eyes. He looked over in surprise, and when he met Mao Lieguang’s questioning gaze, he nodded almost imperceptibly.

Mao Lieguang instantly understood but showed no expression on his face. Some people had already returned to their seats, while others continued to hover around the round table.

A few appeared hesitant, clearly interested in more than one item, but perhaps constrained by their current holdings or because their prepared exchange items were too valuable, they refrained from offering. After a full quarter of an hour, everyone had returned, and next to four-fifths of the golden platters on the round table, there were now items placed.

This demonstrated that the objects Mao Lieguang brought out were indeed highly sought after.