"The so-called Three Flowers Converge at the Crown means harnessing the energy of heaven and earth, centering on three core cultivation techniques of different attributes, in order to finally form the tripod stance of the three flowers." Yu Jinglei sighed deeply, his voice laced with profound reluctance. "For over a hundred years, I cultivated both water and wood affinities, yet in the end, I only managed to condense two flowers, never truly mastering the power of the third element. Hmph, without the Three Flowers Converge at the Crown, a lifetime of effort amounts to nothing. My achievements stop here."

He Yi Ming caught the deep regret woven into his senior brother's voice. Though he wished to offer some comfort, he found himself speechless.

Such matters required one to resolve things internally. Unless one, like Shui Xuanjin whose lifespan was drawing to a close, had completely severed all ambition for martial cultivation, no amount of persuasion from others would truly help.

After a moment of melancholy reflection, Yu Jinglei slapped his forehead, a hint of embarrassment creeping in. "Junior brother, look at me, an old fool, rambling about such things to you?"

He Yi Ming shook his head repeatedly. "Since we are fellow disciples of the same sect, why be so formal, Senior Brother?"

Only then did Yu Jinglei relax. Yet, looking at He Yi Ming, so young yet already ascended to the First Heaven Realm, his heart churned with complex emotions. If not for the stimulus provided today by He Yi Ming, Yuan Lixuan, and the inscrutable Bai Lingba, he wouldn't have become so sentimental, unleashing decades of pent-up frustration all at once.

However, having voiced the deepest uncertainty and unwillingness hidden in his heart, he suddenly felt much better.

"Senior Brother, are you so certain that Mu Jintian's grandson will definitely reach the Three Flowers Converge at the Crown in the future?" He Yi Ming asked, his tone grave.

Yu Jinglei hesitated. "Most who advance through sheer personal effort are innate experts with compatible dual affinities. No matter how they cultivate, their achievements are limited to the two elemental techniques they used upon reaching the Innate Realm. Even for someone like myself who luckily advanced to the First Heaven, reaching the peak means only condensing and forming the dual flowers. However..." He paused, his voice firming. "If someone, upon breaking into the Innate Realm, cultivated three elements simultaneously rather than just two compatible ones, then after breaking through to the First Heaven, with relentless effort and accumulation of innate energy, they could, within a few decades at most, naturally condense three truly formless yet substantial flowers centered around their three different techniques. This is the Three Flowers Converge at the Crown."

He Yi Ming nodded silently, his tone cold. "You mean, only after breaking through to the First Heaven does one have a chance to become a true master of the Three Flowers Converge at the Crown?"

"Precisely." Yu Jinglei nodded quietly.

He Yi Ming’s gaze shifted. He chuckled. "Senior Brother, if that is the case, you needn't worry too much. Even if I help him successfully impact the Innate Realm, achieving the First Heaven is another matter entirely."

Although He Yi Ming’s own progression to the First Heaven seemed relatively smooth, it would be vastly different for anyone else.

Yu Jinglei offered a wry smile. "Junior brother, if this person were not Mu Jintian's grandson, it would be one thing. But since he is related to Mu Jintian, and Zhuo Wanlian values him so highly—even accompanying him here personally to await you—I am certain that once he becomes an Innate Master, he will surely be taken in by the premier sect of the Northern Frontier Ice Fields and become a core elder there. His breakthrough to the First Heaven will virtually be a certainty."

He Yi Ming opened his mouth, initially harboring doubt, but then suddenly remembered Yuan Lixuan.

Since this world possessed Genetic Fluid and Innate Golden Elixirs capable of helping Yuan Lixuan directly advance to the Innate Realm, it was highly plausible that the foremost sect of the Northern Frontier Ice Fields, with its deep foundations, also possessed some rare treasure capable of assisting in ascending to the First Heaven.

A moment later, He Yi Ming asked calmly, "Senior Brother, what do you want me to do?"

A sharp glint flashed in Yu Jinglei's eyes. "Junior brother, you only agreed to reinforce his meridians and guard him during the breakthrough. As for the attempt to reach the Innate Realm, that relies purely on his own effort. If he fails midway, no blame whatsoever will fall upon you."

He Yi Ming remained silent for a long while, then finally smiled and asked, "Senior Brother, how do you assess my own talent?"

Yu Jinglei was momentarily stunned, then spoke with genuine sincerity: "Junior brother's talent is absolutely the pinnacle among everyone I have ever seen. Even describing it as unprecedented and inimitable would not be an exaggeration."

He Yi Ming raised his eyebrows, an ineffable arrogance coloring his expression.

After weathering several years of storms, He Yi Ming was no longer the bewildered youth who first emerged from the lake. He had clashed with countless powerhouses, and every victory had instilled in him immense confidence. Now, his eyes shone with a brilliance that even Yu Jinglei could not fathom.

"Senior Brother, Master Mu Jintian's grandson is sixty-eight years old, while I am not yet twenty. Even if he is fortunate enough to advance to the First Heaven, or even reach the Three Flowers Converge at the Crown, I will leave him far behind, just as I am doing today."

The muscles in Yu Jinglei’s face twitched subtly. Looking at the boldly spirited He Yi Ming, his own heart swelled with emotion. Such heroic spirit—how long had it been since the Hengshan lineage saw such bold pronouncements?

Vaguely, Yu Jinglei sensed that the future resurgence and fame of the Hengshan lineage would depend on this young man. What if Mu Jintian's grandson reached the Three Flowers Converge at the Crown? By then, He Yi Ming would have reached an unimaginable realm.

A Hundred Scattered Heaven at fifteen, First Heaven at seventeen... Furthermore, with such a Grand Elder in the Hengshan lineage, how prosperous and powerful would the sect become in a few decades?

Yu Jinglei let out a long breath. Feeling the intense, soaring spirit emanating from He Yi Ming, his mind suddenly cleared. He laughed heartily, "Junior brother is correct; it was my small-mindedness."

He Yi Ming smiled faintly, never bringing the subject up again. Changing the topic, he asked, "Senior Brother, how are you so sure that Brother Bai has already reached the realm of Three Flowers Converge at the Crown?"

Upon mentioning Bai Lingba, Yu Jinglei’s face immediately grew solemn. He glanced in the direction where Bai Lingba resided before lowering his voice. "I exchanged a palm strike with him. His palm force was majestic and oppressive, like a mountain crashing down. His bones and sinews are as hard as diamond, absolutely unattainable for an ordinary Innate expert. Even Brother Mu’s wood affinity cultivation, honed for over two centuries, could barely resist it; his arm was nearly broken by that single strike. Furthermore, Zhuo Wanlian’s cold True Qi is immensely powerful, yet it only managed to spread across Elder Bai's surface, unable to penetrate his body at all. Coupled with his ability to hover mid-air—all these abilities surpass the scope of a First Heaven expert. It would be unbelievable if he hadn't already reached the Three Flowers Converge realm."

He Yi Ming listened with an extremely strange expression, yet offered no rebuttal.

The strength of Bai Lingba was indeed far beyond human comparison. His body being hard as diamond—that was stating the obvious... Without even meridians or flesh, composed entirely of some bizarre liquid metal, how could it not be hard? To contend with human bodies with such a physique, if it couldn't cause significant disadvantage to humans, then this excellent body would have been for naught.

As for his body resisting Zhuo Wanlian’s cold True Qi, that was even less surprising. If the frigid air from the dark green jade bottle, which even He Yi Ming found difficult to endure, couldn't freeze him, then Zhuo Wanlian's cold energy, which was several tiers lower in intensity, certainly wouldn't manage it.

However, Bai Lingba's ability to hover mid-air was displayed for the first time. To move at that speed and then stop abruptly in the air... Although He Yi Ming's mastery of wind element power had advanced several steps, he wasn't entirely certain he could achieve that level of control. At least, he couldn't do it with the same seemingly effortless manner as Bai Lingba.

Suddenly, He Yi Ming recalled the moment Bai Lingba threw a punch earlier that day. The fellow's movements were extremely simple—no convoluted techniques, no dazzling footwork, nor mastery over any elemental attribute. When he attacked, it was direct: one punch after another, from head to toe. Yet, this simplicity, this approach of "the great path is simple," became the most difficult weapon to counter.

His expression gradually darkened. He Yi Ming had exchanged two moves with Bai Lingba in the cave, and in his memory, while Bai Lingba's punches were powerful, they didn't seem as terrifyingly potent as they were today. A thought that made him uneasy surfaced: Was Bai Lingba's strength also steadily increasing?

He gently raised his hand and touched his chest. There were two items here: one was the silver ring connected to his spatial world, and the other was the energy stone he paid as compensation when hiring Bai Lingba. At that moment, the image of Bai Lingba chewing on an energy stone flashed through his mind. A sudden thought struck him: Bai Lingba consumed one energy stone every two months. Was his progress linked to these stones...?

Seeing the unpredictable shifts in He Yi Ming’s expression, Yu Jinglei quickly offered comfort. "Junior brother, there's no need to worry too much. Elder Bai seems extremely obedient to you, clearly holding you in high regard." He paused, then asked with sudden hope, "Since Elder Bai is a solitary cultivator without a sect, perhaps we can invite him to join the Hengshan lineage?"

He Yi Ming gave a wry smile. Yu Jinglei was unaware of the true nature of their relationship. If he knew Bai Lingba wasn't human, he wouldn't be suggesting such an invitation; he'd likely flee as far as possible.

"Senior Brother, if Brother Bai joins the Hengshan lineage, what position would you offer him?"

"Naturally, the position of Chief Grand Elder," Yu Jinglei replied quickly. However, upon seeing He Yi Ming's suddenly strange expression, he seemed to recall something and quickly added, "Of course, if Junior Brother's cultivation advances greatly in the future and surpasses Elder Bai, then he can naturally claim that position."

He Yi Ming let out a soft laugh and shook his head. "Senior Brother, Brother Bai has lived in seclusion on the deep mountains... For a hundred years, he has been solitary and aloof. Asking him to join the Hengshan lineage will likely be extraordinarily difficult; let's not pursue this matter. As for myself, an honorary position as a Hengshan Grand Elder is sufficient. I have no interest in the Chief Elder position."

He secretly muttered 'that was close.' He had almost mentioned 'a thousand years' accidentally. But even if he had, Yu Jinglei likely wouldn't have believed it.

With a deep sigh, Yu Jinglei’s face was filled with regret. Yet, he secretly harbored doubts. He Yi Ming claimed not to care about the Chief Elder position, but who knew if he was sincere? His rejection of inviting Bai Lingba to join Hengshan might also stem from his own private motivations. However, these two thoughts merely flickered through his mind.

"Junior brother, since Elder Bai is so solitary, we cannot force him. But he seems quite congenial with you; you must strive to maintain a good relationship with him. He will undoubtedly be a great support for our Hengshan lineage in the future."

"I understand, Junior Brother." He Yi Ming replied casually. As long as he possessed energy stones, even if he wanted Bai Lingba to leave, the latter wouldn't go.

Yu Jinglei's expression turned serious. "Junior brother, now that you have advanced to the First Heaven, you qualify to enter Tianchi Mountain. There are less than two years until the next opening of the Treasure Hall. I hope you can participate alongside me then, allowing the Hengshan lineage to shine brightly."

He Yi Ming blinked, his gaze filled with suspicion. "Tianchi Mountain? What is that place..."

"Tianchi Mountain is the martial arts holy land for our entire Northwest, and it is home to the Northwest's premier sect." Yu Jinglei stood up and cupped his hands in the direction of a certain point. "The founding ancestor of our sect was a Grand Elder of Tianchi Mountain. It can be said that our sect is essentially one of the branches of Tianchi Mountain."

He Yi Ming was greatly surprised. "Senior Brother, why have I never heard of this before, and why is it not mentioned in the sect records?"

Yu Jinglei chuckled wryly. "Junior brother, you may not know, but our ancestor founded the Hengshan lineage by leaving Tianchi Mountain because he disagreed with the Tianchi Mountain ancestor of that time. Three thousand years have passed; the two families have long reestablished contact, but Tianchi Mountain, as the main branch, might not think highly of us descendants of the branch lines. Since that is the case, why should we needlessly approach them, only to invite scorn?"

He Yi Ming opened his mouth. "Senior Brother speaks reasonably. Why have you changed your mind now?"

"In two years, it will be the decennial Grand Founding Ceremony of Tianchi Mountain. Countless branches distributed throughout the Northwest will send representatives, and ancestral rites will be performed. During this period, there will be exchanges of skill between the main branch of Tianchi and its various regional branches to display their excellence." Yu Jinglei glanced at He Yi Ming, his face flushed with excitement. "Junior brother, you have achieved the First Heaven at such a young age; your future is limitless. To miss this grand event would be a great disservice to all the past ancestors of our Hengshan lineage."

He Yi Ming looked at the old man's excited demeanor and couldn't help but smile wryly. He hadn't realized the elder possessed such a passionate side. However, Yu Jinglei was born in and raised within the Hengshan lineage, dedicating his entire life to its welfare. His life was firmly bound to Hengshan; anything that could bring fame to the sect, he would undoubtedly strive for without reservation. At this moment, He Yi Ming thought of Shui Xuanjin and his relationship with the Tianluo Kingdom as his lifespan waned—the situation was remarkably similar.

Yu Jinglei laughed heartily. "At the Tianchi decennial Founding Ceremony, there is also a major event, one that all branches anticipate the most." As he said this, his face held an expression of clear longing.

He Yi Ming was puzzled. "An event that Senior Brother values so highly certainly sparks my curiosity."

Yu Jinglei smiled mysteriously. "It’s nothing major, really. To encourage the cultivation efforts of the various branches in martial arts, the Tianchi main branch organizes a martial arts competition among the disciples of all branches during the every-ten-year Founding Ceremony."

The curiosity He Yi Ming had just developed instantly faded. With his current perspective, even a clash between the Innate Elders of various branches wouldn't necessarily move him, let alone the competition among mere disciples.

Seeming to notice He Yi Ming's lack of enthusiasm, Yu Jinglei shook his head slightly. "Junior brother, while the individual strength of these disciples might not be significant, any disciple ranking within the top hundred of their branch gains the qualification to read the texts in the Tianchi main branch's Scripture Pavilion. If one can break into the top ten..." His eyes immediately lit up. "The top ten disciples from any branch will each receive one Innate Golden Elixir."

A trace of excitement finally appeared in He Yi Ming's eyes. Entering the Scripture Pavilion of the Tianchi main branch was already a significant temptation for him, and the Innate Golden Elixir—even he couldn't help but be tempted. Although he had personally acquired the inner cores of more than one Innate Spirit Beast, and several Innate Golden Elixirs, no one ever had enough of such things.

"Senior Brother, are there any prerequisites for disciples participating in this gathering?"

"Any disciple from the regional branches who is under fifty years old and has never consumed any type of Golden Elixir is eligible to participate in the main branch competition." Yu Jinglei’s eyes shone brightly. "When I return to the mountain this time, I will have the promising disciples intensify their training, striving to place within the top ten in the competition. If we can secure just one Innate Golden Elixir, it would be a blessing from our ancestors."

He Yi Ming’s heart stirred. He repeated, "Senior Brother, any Hengshan disciple under fifty years old who hasn't consumed any Golden Elixir is eligible to participate in this competition?"

"Yes."

"Excellent! Senior Brother, please sign me up as well."

"Okay... wait, what did you say?" Yu Jinglei turned his ear, doubting his own hearing. Was he truly too old?

"Senior Brother, I am under fifty this year, and I have never consumed any Golden Elixir. I am also eligible to participate," He Yi Ming stated seriously.

Yu Jinglei: "............"

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