The moonlight softly bathed the small woods in the backyard. Thin branches mirrored the hazy moon, while a few distant, cold stars flickered in the sky with a subdued glow, casting a faint, ethereal tint over the land.

The night was profoundly silent, and a faint, unknown fragrance was carried in by the breeze, lulling one easily into slumber.

The main peak of the Hengshan range stood tallest among all the summits, serving as the most crucial location for the entirety of Hengshan.

With the massive withdrawal of Hengshan disciples this time, the largest number of them were gathered upon the main peak. Under these extraordinary circumstances, Yu Xichen had issued orders for the disciples to take up rotating night watches. While they hadn't yet reached the extreme of a guard post every three steps and a sentinel every five, the atmosphere was drastically different from the former relaxed environment.

A patrol team of three disciples moved along the mountain path with vigilant gazes, their eyes as sharp as eagles in the sky. After six fellow disciples had gone missing, anyone would be on the utmost alert.

Yet, just after their patrol passed, in a shadowed corner, several faint black silhouettes suddenly materialized.

They were concealed with extreme subtlety, so much so that even the patrolling disciples failed to detect their presence.

These few dark figures crept forward stealthily. They advanced in a half-crouch, and leading the way was a massive black wolf.

Although this black wolf was immense in stature, it moved with surprising agility.

Its four paws landed without a sound; its entire body seemed utterly weightless, perhaps even lighter than a swallow.

Moments later, the dark figures had reached the mountainside, and not a soul had discovered their trail from beginning to end. Although the night-watch disciples were proceeding with extreme caution, the giant wolf had already scented the human presence before they drew near.

Neither the openly patrolling guards nor the lurking hidden sentinels could mask the scent emanating from their bodies.

In the nose of this colossal wolf, all human presence shone vividly clear; none could escape its notice.

It was precisely due to relying on this highly perceptive, semi-sentient giant wolf that the dark figures behind it could so easily evade all overt and covert posts and arrive here successfully.

Suddenly, the leading giant wolf stopped, its nostrils twitching rapidly, and a strange glint flashed in its pair of blue eyes.

The old man accompanying the giant wolf brightened, stepped forward, and whispered, "Is it near here?"

The giant wolf opened its maw, revealing its tongue, and panted a few times with a trembling breath.

As if it could understand the old man's words, its large head nodded up and down.

A look of utter ferocity instantly flooded the elder's face. He hissed hatefully, "It is indeed around here. Our luck is the best; we haven't made this trip for nothing."

The men behind him exchanged glances, excitement blazing in every eye. No one could have imagined their team would complete their mission so smoothly.

The instant they pictured the immense rewards they would receive for such a great service to their clan, uncontrollable ecstasy surged through them, making the markings on their faces stand out even more distinctly.

However, just as they were beside themselves with excitement, a soft voice suddenly broke the quiet: "Gentlemen, welcome to the Hengshan lineage."

Though not loud, the voice was steady and powerful, sounding as if it were spoken right beside everyone's ears.

Everyone was greatly startled. They whipped their heads around, staring toward the direction the sound had come from.

There, standing behind them, was a young man in flowing blue robes, hands clasped behind his back, regarding them with a hint of mockery. In his eyes was a light that chilled them to the bone.

"Awooo…"

A low sound rumbled from the giant wolf's throat, yet while its gaze held fierce malice, it was mixed with a degree of confusion.

Its great nose was sniffing deeply, as if hesitating over something.

Since this person appeared, the giant wolf had scented the air around him, but before he materialized, it had detected absolutely nothing—a situation that naturally baffled it completely.

But alas, though it could comprehend human speech, it could not express itself in the human tongue. It could only bare its teeth and threaten in its own way.

The person who appeared was, naturally, He Yiming.

While contemplating his art of misdirection, he had suddenly heard several faint, almost imperceptible sounds.

The 'Ears of Wind' profound technique was indeed unmatched in the world. While it offered little in martial power, in terms of reconnaissance, few other arts could surpass it.

Upon hearing those exceedingly faint noises, He Yiming immediately understood that intruders had covertly entered the mountain.

If they were Hengshan disciples, they would naturally walk openly along the mountain paths; therefore, the identity of those sneaking in cautiously was self-evident.

Far from feeling any dread at their arrival, He Yiming was overjoyed.

It was a case of finding something without looking for it.

With a subtle shift of his body, he had left his grandparents' courtyard and, employing an even lighter martial art, arrived behind them.

As a Xiantian master, He Yiming deliberately suppressed all of his aura. In this state, his body was like a piece of inert wood, devoid of even a trace of scent, making it impossible for the giant wolf to detect him.

The old man showed a slight startlement and turned, his eyes flashing with sharp light as he confronted He Yiming.

He Yiming’s gaze swept over them one by one, finally confirming that they indeed hailed from some kind of totem tribe.

At the very least, outsiders would not bear such bizarre facial markings.

"Who are you, and why have you come to my Hengshan lineage?" He Yiming asked in a deep voice. "Furthermore, are the six missing disciples of Hengshan in your custody?"

The old man laughed heartily and spoke in a very awkward, half-learned manner: "You ask who we are, yet I would much rather ask who you are."

He Yiming stood tall and replied offhandedly, "I am He Yiming of Hengshan."

"He Yiming? You are He Yiming?" The elder was first taken aback, then asked with a mix of surprise and delight.

He Yiming was greatly intrigued, sensing the peculiar tone in the man's voice, and wondered inwardly if this person had come to Hengshan specifically looking for him.

"Indeed, I am. You are from... the Wolf Totem tribe, correct?"

He Yiming glanced at the giant wolf, his brow furrowing slightly as he spoke.

The giant wolf had moved like a phantom on its journey, its aura completely undetected even by He Yiming. However, now that it had been named, it suddenly manifested an extraordinarily potent life force. In He Yiming's memory, this intensity seemed almost comparable to the Twin-Headed Spirit Beast he had encountered before.

Possessing such a vast life aura, it was naturally one of the Spirit Beasts.

This was the first time He Yiming had seen humans and a Spirit Beast coexisting peacefully, which naturally sparked his curiosity.

The elder raised his eyebrows. "We indeed hail from the great Wolf Totem Tribe." He nodded a few times while looking at He Yiming. "Yes, you are indeed very young."

He Yiming was slightly taken aback; the man spoke so disjointedly. It seemed these barbarians dwelling deep in the mountains were indeed difficult to deal with. He snorted coldly, "Sir, you are also a Xiantian master; surely you are not an unknown figure in the Wolf Totem Tribe."

"Hmph, I am Yi Shibao, one of the Wolf Totem Emissaries. Do not forget that," the elder said chillingly.

He Yiming nodded slightly. To be honest, all these men bore similar facial markings. Without close acquaintance, the chance of misidentification was quite high.

But since he was a Xiantian master, once the aura was memorized, there was virtually no chance of error.

"You enter my Hengshan lineage without cause, wandering about sneakily in the night—what business do you have?"

Yi Shibao sneered, "Without cause? Haha, I hear you outsiders have a saying: 'Politeness demands reciprocity,' and another: 'To give nothing in return for a gift is impolite.' We have come here today for precisely that reason."

He Yiming's brow furrowed deeply upon hearing this. Both sayings originated from the distant Great Shen Empire in the East, but hearing this man use them was completely unexpected.

His expression turned cold. "Emissary Yi Shibao, has someone from our Hengshan lineage visited the Wolf Totem Tribe?"

Yi Shibao burst into laughter. "You finally admit it."

He Yiming helplessly rolled his eyes. When had he admitted anything? Seeing the man's matter-of-fact manner irked him subtly.

Yi Shibao suddenly stepped forward one pace and launched a punch as swift as lightning.

He had been relaxed before attacking, showing no premonition, but once he moved, his strike was as fast as lightning, leaving no room for retreat—this method was essentially a sneak attack.

He Yiming roared in anger. After his battle with Sima Yin, He Yiming had developed little fondness for such tactics.

He blocked downward, instantly unleashing a sharp burst of Xiantian True Qi. Intending to teach the opponent a lesson, he immediately struck with powerful Metal-element True Qi.

A piercing sound of wind slicing through the air erupted. Yi Shibao's face instantly changed dramatically. He let out a strange cry, abruptly retracted his hand, and then leaped away with lightning speed. The entire movement was so fluid it was almost aesthetically pleasing.

He Yiming was slightly surprised. While mid-air, the man managed to suddenly borrow force to evade, and the technique he used—that blindingly fast, yet bizarrely angled, bouncing motion—felt vaguely familiar to him.

While he was hesitating, he suddenly felt the temperature in front of him skyrocket, giving rise to an intense feeling of danger.

He glanced over; the giant wolf had opened its mouth, and within that massive cavern, a blood-red orb of light was already taking shape.

He Yiming's expression shifted slightly. The breath attack of a Xiantian Spirit Beast—its power gave even him pause.

He swayed his figure slightly in place, his toes momentarily twisting in different directions at lightning speed.

The giant wolf's breath attack immediately halted, its eyes filled with profound distress.

Although He Yiming hadn't moved from his spot, his movements conveyed an ultimate degree of tension. The Spirit Beast could sense that if its breath failed to strike He Yiming, it would face a devastating counterattack.

Moreover, it sadly realized that after He Yiming's seemingly casual series of twitches, it had developed an inability to lock onto the target. Thus, the breath attack was effectively stuck in its throat, unable to be expelled.

It felt like a thick phlegm lodged precariously in its neck, causing it extreme discomfort.

Yi Shibao suddenly let out a low roar and lunged again, but this time his movements were even stranger, his entire body seemingly hunched lower.

He Yiming's eyes brightened; he finally understood why the posture looked so familiar.

At this moment, Yi Shibao resembled an old wolf preparing a pouncing attack—cunning and savage.

A flicker of emotion crossed He Yiming's mind: truly worthy of the Wolf Totem; even their movements mimicked a wolf.

However, facing a master of the Bai San Tian realm, He Yiming wasn't overly concerned. He casually waved his hand, but this time the swing of his palm was steady and dense, as if he had transformed into the very earth beneath his feet, exuding an unshakeable aura.

Faced with the intensely peculiar attack style of the wolf clan, He Yiming chose the most steadfast Earth-element technique. He wanted to see what trump cards this opponent still held that might interest him.

Desiring to secretly learn peculiar martial arts upon seeing them was simultaneously his greatest virtue and his most serious flaw.

"Hoo..."

The fiery breath was finally unleashed. The giant wolf's eyes cleared completely; the feeling of being suspended in mid-air had vanished.

As long as this breath was expelled, regardless of success or failure, it felt an immense release.

When He Yiming first journeyed to Hengshan and encountered the fiery breath attack of the Twin-Headed Spirit Beast, he had to exert tremendous effort to disperse or evade it.

But now, his eyes flickered over the rapidly approaching fireball, a cold smile touching his lips. True Qi circulated ceaselessly within his body, and immense power instantly gathered at his throat.

Then, he opened his mouth, imitating the giant wolf, and exhaled with a "Hoo."

The giant wolf, possessing intelligence nearly matching humans, nearly believed it had encountered a companion when it saw this.

What He Yiming expelled was a mist of water vapor.

This vapor coalesced in mid-air into a white flower, though this flower was fragile and its color extremely pale.

The flower and the fireball met in the air, emitting a peculiar sound, like vast water extinguishing fierce flames, or intense fire rapidly boiling water dry.

The next instant, the Water Flower and the fireball vanished from their positions, leaving only a slowly rising wisp of white smoke to testify to the violent collision.

He Yiming's eyes shone with a bright light. When he first witnessed the Twin-Headed Spirit Beast's breath attack, he had been deeply envious, having wished he too possessed such an ability.

After advancing to the Yi Xian Tian realm this time, Yu Jinglei demonstrated the power of transforming the intangible into the tangible through dual flowers, which immediately gave He Yiming a sense of sudden enlightenment.

Although his attempt today to condense a Water Flower failed, he gained some insight. Spraying the Water element True Qi from his mouth proved incredibly powerful; even the fiery breath attack that had previously left him helpless was extinguished by this incompletely formed Water Flower.

At this moment, He Yiming yearned intensely for the true realm of the Three Flowers Gathering at the Apex.

If he could truly achieve the 'Three-Legged Stance' and complete the fully formed Three Flowers realm, the power of the breath attack he commanded would surely far surpass that of these Spirit Beasts, perhaps not even inferior to the mutated Spirit Beasts that had lived for thousands of years.

In a brief daze, a bizarre scene flashed through his mind.

Himself and a Spirit Beast standing opposite each other, breathing torrents from their mouths, the air filled with unending explosions, lightning flashing across the sky, and endless torrents of water and fire...

He shivered violently; that thought was truly terrifying!

"Metal, Earth, Water... You truly possess the foundational power of the Five Elements," Yi Shibao suddenly shouted fiercely, his voice thick with resentment and venom.

He Yiming smiled coldly. This ability of his was already known throughout the world; there was no need to hide it.

"Indeed. Do you have any further guidance, sir?"

Fierce light flashed in Yi Shibao's eyes, indicating he hated He Yiming to the core. However, he knew that he and his group were no match for him. He abruptly pursed his lips and let out a long, piercing cry.

The howl was sharp and strange, bearing a resemblance to the howl of a lone wolf.

Following this, Yi Shibao turned and fled toward the distance with maximum speed.

Once this man exerted his full power, his movements were barely distinguishable from a wolf's, giving the illusion of misdirection even from afar.

He Yiming smiled coldly. If he let this man escape just like that, he would be unworthy of being a Yi Xian Tian master who had grasped the true meaning of Wind power.

However, just as he was about to leap up, the giant wolf behind him also transformed into a gust of fierce wind and fled in another direction.

He Yiming's body was already airborne, but just as the giant wolf intended to escape, He Yiming's figure swiveled.

This was a Xiantian Spirit Beast; in comparison, its value far exceeded that of the fleeing elder.

Several long howls echoed from the foot of the mountain; clearly, Pharmacist Daoist and the others had heard the commotion here and were rushing to reinforce.

He Yiming's voice carried far: "Someone is fleeing toward the northwest; it's a Xiantian realm expert, leave him to you." Even as he spoke, his movements didn't slow, pursuing the giant wolf down the mountain.

Their speed was naturally extreme, and they soon entered the dense forest below the mountain.

Only then did He Yiming's ears begin to twitch violently. Within his range of surveillance, there were no other powerful presences, nor were any watchful gazes directed toward this area.

His eyes flashed with piercing light, his mind intensely focused. Everything in the world seemed to resolve into lines of force.

His figure vanished abruptly, reappearing the next instant directly in front of the running giant wolf.