A feeling of genuine, heartfelt gratitude flooded He Yiming’s chest. He spoke earnestly, “Brother Bai, thank you very much.”

“No need for formalities,” Bai Lingba suddenly stated. “I have some bad news, and I hope you can maintain your composure after hearing it.”

He Yiming paused slightly, his gaze immediately becoming suspicious. Bai Lingba had never spoken to him like this before. He asked in a deep voice, “What news?”

“Your Twin Hooks and Great Broadsword are gone, along with the piece of energy stone and the Four-Colored Jade from the spatial dimension,” Bai Lingba continued calmly, as if recounting a matter that had nothing to do with him.

He Yiming instantly recalled the scene just moments before, where both of Bai Lingba’s hands had transformed into the heads of the Twin Hooks and the Great Broadsword. He knew clearly that this situation must involve Bai Lingba.

“Where did they go?” He Yiming asked, keeping his expression neutral.

Among these four items, the other three were inconsequential, but the Great Broadsword was a weapon He Yiming absolutely had to possess. Without this terrifying weapon by his side, He Yiming felt as though he was missing something fundamental; even his confidence felt less substantial than before.

“I fused them,” Bai Lingba stated decisively.

He Yiming scrutinized Bai Lingba, noting that the entity was clearly larger than before.

The Great Broadsword, four meters long and weighing three hundred and sixty jin, had actually been ‘eaten’ by Bai Lingba...

For a moment, He Yiming’s heart was filled with a complex mixture of emotions, leaving him speechless.

After a long silence, he took a deep breath. “Why?”

“Based on my analysis, within the Great Broadsword and the Twin Hooks, there exists a peculiar type of metal. This metal possesses an incredibly good resistance to fire. Simultaneously, the Four-Colored Jade has a powerful catalyzing and fusing effect. Used in conjunction with the energy stone, it allows my body’s resistance to fire to reach a new peak,” Bai Lingba explained calmly.

He Yiming’s heart stirred, and he understood immediately. “So, you ‘ate’ them, and then came looking for me to take me out, correct?”

Bai Lingba nodded silently.

He Yiming looked at him, and a faint smile finally touched the corners of his lips. He reached out and slapped Bai Lingba heavily on the shoulder. “I understand, Brother Bai. Thank you.”

This was only the second time he had expressed thanks to the same individual.

Although Bai Lingba had not explicitly stated why he desired a stronger resistance to fire, He Yiming knew the reason perfectly well.

Losing the Great Broadsword was regrettable, but if it was lost for such a cause, He Yiming would never feel regret.

Seeing the candid and clear look in He Yiming’s eyes, Bai Lingba asked with doubt, “You truly aren’t angry?”

“Why would I be angry?”

“The Great Broadsword is your weapon. Losing it will slightly reduce your strength.”

After spending this time with He Yiming, Bai Lingba understood perfectly the position the Great Broadsword held in He Yiming’s heart. This was also the true reason for his hesitation outside the cavern.

He Yiming let out a hearty laugh. “Brother Bai, if the Great Broadsword is gone, I can collect materials and forge another. But to know your intentions through the sacrifice of a weapon… that is worth it.”

Bai Lingba’s gem-like eyes flickered with bright light, and he seemed to be calculating something once more.

He Yiming frowned slightly. “Brother Bai, your original expression was very human-like, but when your eyes light up like that, it becomes less so.”

The light in Bai Lingba’s eyes seemed to pause suddenly, piquing He Yiming’s curiosity. Could it be that Bai Lingba also experienced momentary mental halts?

After a while, Bai Lingba lifted his head. “I was never human to begin with.”

He Yiming rolled his eyes slightly. “Fine, I know you’re not human; no need to flaunt it.” He pointed ahead. “It’s quite hot here. And heaven knows if anything else will change. We should get out soon.” Saying this, he led the way out.

Bai Lingba followed behind him, murmuring in a voice only he could hear, “I was not showing off.”

The two swiftly traversed the mountain tunnel. Now knowing this being was Bai Lingba, He Yiming no longer needed to conceal anything. Under the infusion of his True Qi, the Flower of Fire bloomed like a vibrant red blossom, exuding immense power and tightly shielding him.

Around him, any wave of heat exceeding a certain temperature automatically converged into the Flower of Fire. This ability to walk freely within the earth-fire filled He Yiming with profound novelty.

However, this did not cause him to slow down, because he had once felt that incredible, powerful energy of the subterranean earth-fire. If even a tiny spark of that earth-fire emerged, the Flower of Fire He Yiming had currently manifested would stand no chance of resisting it.

Only by moving far away from this place was the sensible course of action.

Soon, the two arrived at the spot where they had first separated. A hundred meters ahead of them was the entrance leading out of this desolate area.

Only then did He Yiming finally breathe a long sigh of relief.

Months ago, when he parted ways with Bai Lingba here, he had entered the cavern to cultivate with the conviction that he was facing a near-certain death. It was less about abandoning life and death, and more about a final desperate gamble when all other avenues were exhausted.

Fortunately, he had succeeded.

Looking back now, his heart was filled with emotion, past events flashing before his eyes, instilling in him a sense of reverence for fate.

“He Yiming.”

A calm voice interrupted He Yiming’s thoughts. He turned around in surprise and asked, “Brother Bai, what is it?”

It was rare for Bai Lingba to initiate conversation, so he naturally listened with rapt attention.

“You don’t need to forge the Great Broadsword anymore.”

He Yiming paused slightly, completely unprepared for Bai Lingba to bring up this topic so casually.

Making a sweeping gesture, He Yiming chuckled. “Brother Bai, you have never used a weapon, so you cannot understand the deep feelings we cultivators have for our own arms.” He stated solemnly, “To me, the Great Broadsword is more than just a weapon; it is my companion, the most trustworthy one.”

There was one thing He Yiming did not say.

If Suoge hadn't explicitly demanded the Great Broadsword, He Yiming might not have let Bai Lingba take it.

Deep down, he had intended for the Great Broadsword to share his life and death. But if, after his death, this weapon were to fall into Suoge’s hands, it was better given to Bai Lingba to take back to Hengshan.

Bai Lingba nodded slightly. “I just wanted to tell you that the Great Broadsword did not actually disappear.”

He Yiming’s eyes brightened. “You have the ability to… spit out the Great Broadsword?”

Bai Lingba seemed momentarily stunned by the question. After a long pause, he replied, “The Great Broadsword and the Twin Hooks have merged into my body, completely refined and digested, becoming a part of my physical form. Naturally, they cannot be separated.”

He Yiming looked at his slightly bulkier frame. “I understand. You certainly ate your fill.”

Bai Lingba looked at him blankly and finally ceased speaking.

However, in the next instant, He Yiming’s eyes widened again.

Before him, Bai Lingba began to change. His body elongated and rounded rapidly, as if in the blink of an eye, he vanished. Standing where he had been was the familiar sight of He Yiming’s beloved… Great Broadsword.

Yet, compared to the former Great Broadsword, there seemed to be subtle differences.

Firstly, the length of the Great Broadsword definitely exceeded four meters, and the blade was also a circle thicker than before.

Just as Bai Lingba had grown larger after fusing the items, the Great Broadsword had become longer and thicker.

He Yiming’s mouth fell open in an unseemly manner, wide enough to fit his own fist.

He shook his head, a wry smile playing on his lips. Was this Great Broadsword truly the one he knew?

He stepped back a few paces to observe it closely.

The tip of the blade rested against the ground without being stabbed into it, yet even so, the entire Great Broadsword stood perfectly upright, as if it maintained its balance automatically.

Though he knew Bai Lingba possessed miraculous powers, the sheer degree of this unbelievable transformation still left He Yiming with a sense of disbelief.

He coughed lightly. “Brother Bai, is that you?”

“Yes.”

A clear voice emanated from the upright Great Broadsword.

He Yiming’s eyes glazed over slightly. It was merely a casual question, but a sound coming from a weapon could frighten most people away.

Looking at the Great Broadsword standing silently within the earth-fire, a thought suddenly struck He Yiming: in this world, besides himself, perhaps no other person would dare wield this weapon.

After some hesitation, He Yiming reached out and grasped the blade.

In his heart, he had developed a confidence in Bai Lingba, a sense of trust. While it hadn't reached the level of absolute faith, this feeling of trust was undoubtedly growing the longer they spent together.

The moment He Yiming’s hand closed around the blade, a strange color flashed in his eyes.

Familiarity—that intensely familiar sensation—returned once more. Although the Great Broadsword had undergone a colossal transformation, the moment his hand touched it, he felt a connection as if it were part of his flesh and blood. Just like before, the weapon did not feel like a mere piece of metal, but rather an extension of He Yiming’s own arm.

At the far end of the Great Broadsword, it felt as if it were the tip of his own fingers, evoking a deeply etched sense of emotion.

His True Qi flowed, entering the Great Broadsword.

There was no obstruction, not the slightest sense of oddity; it was as if his arm had suddenly grown four meters longer. This sensation was even more pronounced than it had been with the old Great Broadsword.

He inhaled deeply, and a flood of inventive ideas surged uncontrollably in his mind.

He Yiming, having already condensed two tangible Flowers, possessed a degree of control over his True Qi that was beyond anyone’s imagination.

Even when True Qi was channeled into the Great Broadsword, he could control it as he wished.

However, what he intended to do now was astonishingly audacious, so even he lacked absolute certainty.

His eyes locked onto the front section of the Great Broadsword, and vast tides of True Qi poured into it like a flood.

This was the Great Broadsword, yet it was also Bai Lingba’s body, but regardless of what it was, it offered no resistance to He Yiming’s True Qi, allowing it to circulate freely along the blade and actively ceding control.

Under the remote control of the immense True Qi, the tip of the Great Broadsword suddenly split open.

The blade, which was indomitable and had served He Yiming in countless victories and conquests, separated—not into two pieces, but into five equal segments.

He Yiming’s eyes shone brightly. He had never been so excited before, not even when he first broke through to the sixth layer of Inner Strength, nor when he advanced to the Innate Realm, nor when he ascended to the rank of a First-Tier expert. His current excitement surpassed them all.

True Qi continued to flood the segments, and the separated five blade tips slowly began to change, gradually morphing into five fingers. The section connecting the five fingers also underwent a miraculous transformation.

In mere moments, the first section of the Great Broadsword had transformed into a thick, incredible palm, like that of a giant.

He Yiming's hand held the central part of the blade, yet he felt as if this giant palm had grown directly onto him, capable of being commanded and directed by him, integrated as one entity.

With a slight shift of thought, the giant hand did indeed move. Guided by True Qi, the entire Great Broadsword, while remaining as hard as metal, possessed a strange new elasticity.

The entire Great Broadsword bent, and the giant hand approached his face, stopping one centimeter from his eyes.

A powerful downdraft hit him, but there was no fear or worry in He Yiming’s eyes; instead, they sparkled even more brilliantly.

Suddenly, the giant hand moved away from He Yiming’s face, clenched into a fist, and struck the stone wall several meters away.

With a resounding crash, a tremendous tremor echoed from the thick stone wall. Although it didn't pierce through, a section collapsed with a rumble, creating a huge opening.

He Yiming’s heart pounded. Relying solely on the power of his True Qi, he absolutely could not have achieved this effect. Even an attack using the Flower of Wind and Fire could not match this level of raw physical impact.

But True Qi combined with the Great Broadsword achieved it effortlessly.

He hadn't even used his full strength, yet the resulting power far exceeded his expectations.

The inherent power of the Great Broadsword transformed from Bai Lingba was likely comparable to the Flower of Wind and Fire. If the two were combined...

He Yiming gasped sharply, daring not to contemplate further.

After a moment of contemplation, under the control of his True Qi, the tip of the Great Broadsword’s fist flashed with a brilliant light, clearly visible even in the cavern consumed by the raging earth-fire and suffused with red light.

The entire Great Broadsword reappeared in his hand, its tip gleaming sharply.

He Yiming casually drew it across the ground, and the blade passed through, leaving a clear mark.

Seeing this, He Yiming was overcome with delight.

He had not used any True Qi just now; he had relied entirely on the inherent sharpness and hardness of the Great Broadsword to contend with the tough stone floor.

Yet, the result was that the stone floor and ground parted like tofu, without even making a sound, cut through by the Great Broadsword.

Looking down at the smooth incision, He Yiming was overjoyed beyond measure.

This cut was perfectly round, without a single speck of debris. Since the Great Broadsword’s inherent sharpness alone reached this level, He Yiming had nothing left to be dissatisfied with.

In comparison, although the original Great Broadsword’s blade was considered sharp, when set against this new one, it was clearly not in the same league.

By this point, he was certain that after fusing the Great Broadsword, the Four-Colored Jade, the Twin Hooks, and the energy stone, Bai Lingba’s own capabilities must have significantly improved.

And now, in the moment it transformed into the Great Broadsword and was wielded by him—

He Yiming was no longer fighting alone. He was equivalent to possessing the strength of two top-tier First-Tier experts, like the Human-Wolf combination of Suoge and the Red Wolf King, and the effect was multiplicative rather than merely additive.

He gently stroked the massive blade, breathing deeply.

This was the first time since ascending to the First-Tier Realm that he found it so difficult to suppress his intensely fluctuating emotions.

However, anyone else in his position would likely have appeared even less composed.

Wielding it a few times casually, the feeling of being connected by flesh and blood grew stronger.

While establishing such a connection with a piece of metal was inherently strange, the sensation was undeniably real.

Neither He Yiming nor Bai Lingba knew.

This method of linking two distinct types of life forms through True Qi as a medium had no precedent in all of history.

Because, in this world, there absolutely could not be a second Bai Lingba.

Vast amounts of True Qi permeated every corner of the Great Broadsword. Under his control, the weapon slowly began to shorten and thicken. In a moment, the blade was as thick as an elephant’s leg, but its length had shrunk to a pitiful degree.

As the True Qi shifted, the blade rapidly elongated until it became as thin as a thread, extending somewhere far beyond sight.

A strange look, the kind only a child possesses, appeared in He Yiming’s eyes. At this moment, he was no longer a First-Tier expert who had condensed two root Flowers; he had reverted to a child, a curious little boy delighting in examining his beloved new toy, playing to his heart’s content.

He forgot the perilous environment and the original purpose of his visit. His entire being was immersed in this new form of weaponry.

Until he fully grasped how to utilize the new Great Broadsword, he seemed to have no intention of leaving this place.