He Yiming raised his head, and a strange smile flickered in his gaze directed toward him. Upon seeing that smile, even Zhou Datian, with his two centuries of worldly experience, couldn't help but feel a flush of uncomfortable heat on his face.

However, this feeling lasted only for an instant before he completely cast it aside. "Brother Zhou, Brother He, both of you are talents of this age.

Since you have already exchanged blows, perhaps it is best to let this matter rest here," Yang Hao quickly stepped forward to mediate. Although the exchange between the two sides lasted only a few breaths, the sheer danger involved and the display of their formidable strength had sent Yang Hao's heart soaring and plummeting like a roller coaster, leaving him utterly unsettled.

But by this point, even if he were slower to realize things, he knew that He Yiming's cultivation was definitely not that of a newly advanced Yixiantian, as the rumors suggested. His only thought was: rumors kill people...

This He Yiming, even if not quite equal to Zhou Datian, could not be far behind him. While utilizing the power of the Heavenly Pool Main Peak to shatter the Flower of Earth might have been somewhat opportunistic, it was absolutely not something an ordinary Yixiantian could achieve.

If Yixiantian experts could shatter the tangible flowers of a Sanhua expert merely through battle techniques, then this world would truly descend into chaos. He was now certain: He Yiming must have broken through Yixiantian long ago, and that rumor?

Perhaps a year and a half ago, what He Yiming truly advanced to wasn't Yixiantian, but the condensation of his second tangible flower. Yet, looking at He Yiming’s countenance, Yang Hao deeply doubted his actual age.

In a daze, he recalled the Pharmacist from the Hengshan lineage, that old man over a hundred years old, who also possessed the appearance of a youth. However, the finer the margin between the two sides, the less he wanted them to fight.

If the gap were too large, the stronger party could easily control the battle. But if they were closely matched, even neck and neck, then accidents in combat were far too easy to occur.

If either of these two were injured or killed, it was a consequence he could not bear. Zhou Datian’s eyes locked tightly onto He Yiming, as if he hadn't heard Yang Hao's words at all.

But this time, within those eyes, there was no longer any trace of disdain; instead, they were filled with anticipation, excitement, and a powerful will to fight. "Weapon, then..." He Yiming murmured, forcing down the urge to glance toward Bai Lingba.

He then looked up and said, "Very well. I share that intention." Yang Hao's expression immediately turned extremely grim.

"Gentlemen, are you doing this without giving our Heavenly Pool Main Lineage any face at all?" He Yiming and Zhou Datian both turned to look at him, yet upon them both was an irrepressible desire to battle. Zhou Datian suddenly laughed.

"Brother Yang, although we are a branch, we still belong to the Heavenly Pool sect. Does Heavenly Pool Mountain really have rules restricting sparring between fellow disciples?" Yang Hao paused, inwardly lamenting.

To encourage diligence among the disciples in the mountain, Heavenly Pool Mountain not only lacked such rules but actively encouraged sparring. Sensing the intense fighting intent between the two, he instantly understood that even if he tried to intervene now, it would be exceedingly difficult.

With a long sigh, though knowing it might be largely futile, he still offered a warning: "Gentlemen, please remember that internal strife is an absolute taboo for any sect. I urge you to consider carefully before proceeding." With that, his figure flickered, and he retreated.

Zhu Baqi's brow furrowed deeply as well. He turned his gaze.

"Nephew Yu, please lead the Hengshan disciples back another hundred meters." Yu Xichen quickly responded, and without even needing the order, the disciples swiftly withdrew. Being able to witness a battle between masters was certainly a good thing for them.

But when that good thing threatened their lives, self-preservation took priority. Zhou Datian retreated several steps again.

He reached behind his back and pulled, immediately revealing a wrapped bundle. It was a rectangular bundle, one that He Yiming was not unfamiliar with; he had used a similar wrap when storing his Great Saber in the past.

The difference was that He Yiming’s package had been at least a meter long, whereas Zhou Datian's was only half that size. Zhou Datian flicked his wrist, and the bundle obediently unfurled, releasing three short staves that flew out.

He reached out and seized them, handling them as if he had rehearsed the motion thousands of times. Connecting these three staves were sections of chain—it was actually a peculiar weapon: a three-section staff.

Zhou Datian’s hands spun, and with incredible dexterity, he joined the three sections into one long staff about two meters in length. Seeing this weapon, He Yiming’s expression turned rather odd.

Only then did he realize that besides his own Great Saber, someone else also wielded a similar weapon. Of course, this Three-Section Staff and the Great Saber had differences, and the methods of application could not be lumped together.

"Brother He, I have long heard of your Great Saber, famed as the most domineering external weapon among Xiantian experts," Zhou Datian said solemnly. "The Blazing Fire Staff in my hands, though only two meters long, wishes to meet your Great Saber today." He Yiming shook his head slightly.

"My apologies, I fear I must disappoint Brother Zhou." Zhou Datian paused, inquiring, "Why?" "I hurried up the mountain and did not bring my Great Saber. I ask for Brother Zhou's understanding." Zhou Datian's face slowly grew displeased.

"Brother He, without your fitting weapon, do you intend to spar with me bare-handed?" He Yiming let out a loud laugh. "Brother Zhou jokes.

Even if I were utterly clueless, I wouldn't do such a thing." He patted beneath his armpit. "I recently acquired a new weapon, and I've made some headway in its application.

I ask Brother Zhou to offer some guidance." Zhou Datian's heart tensed. He detected immense confidence in He Yiming's words.

Before engaging, he certainly would have scoffed, but now he dared not show the slightest contempt. His gaze swept over He Yiming's armpit, only vaguely discerning a circular shape, but what exactly it was remained unknown.

He Yiming smiled faintly and slowly unbuckled the strap over his shoulder. He opened the specially made sheath and grasped the central handle of the Five Elements Rings, drawing out this distinctively shaped weapon.

The attention of everyone immediately focused on this unique weapon. Even Zhu Baqi, though aware He Yiming possessed such a divine artifact, had never seen him use it.

Naturally, his heart was filled with anticipation. Zhou Datian's eyes were extremely grave.

He stared at the weapon, which seemed unremarkable yet possessed an entirely novel design, muttering inwardly. Even with his knowledge, he had never heard of any famous weapon shaped like this.

Yet, deep in his heart, a faint chill arose, as if he had encountered a description of a similar weapon somewhere before. However, he could not recall it immediately.

He Yiming was not surprised by this. The Five Elements Rings had not appeared for who knows how many years; who knew how many of these super-weapons, lost to history, truly existed.

It was entirely reasonable that Zhou Datian did not recognize it. The two tacitly retreated several paces each.

Within this range, only the three Heavenly Pool masters, Bai Lingba, and the spirit beast piglet hanging on his chest dared to remain still. As for the other Hengshan disciples, including Yu Xichen himself, they had already retreated far away.

Witnessing a battle of experts was a boon for them, but when that boon threatened their lives, they preferred survival. Zhou Datian once again gripped one end of his long staff with one hand.

The true essence within him erupted suddenly, and a powerful Fire element force instantly surged from one end of the staff to the other. Despite enduring such immense Fire energy, the Blazing Fire Staff showed no signs of cracking or failing; instead, there was a subtle effect of amplification.

He Yiming quietly observed this trace of Fire energy. To his surprise, as the Fire energy surged, the amplification effect seemed to become more pronounced.

He finally understood why this Three-Section Staff was named the Blazing Fire Staff—such a miraculous effect was indeed tied to intense flame. Zhou Datian opened his mouth, and tangible flowers—one after another—sprang forth.

Once these three tangible flowers appeared, they began to circle his body at a steady, unhurried pace. He was deploying his three assembled flowers right at the start, indicating his utmost resolve to fight with everything he had.

Although Zhou Datian's Flower of Earth had just been shattered once, these tangible flowers condensed from true essence would automatically reform as long as the owner lived and their true essence flowed. Sensing the powerful oppressive force exerted by the three flowers, He Yiming also grew solemn.

As the three flowers gradually manifested their tangible power, even He Yiming felt a strong constraining force. However, in He Yiming's eyes, beyond solemnity, there was boundless pleasant surprise and an eagerness to test it out.

He too opened his mouth, and two tangible flowers of different colors were expelled. A direct confrontation, showing no weakness...

When the two tangible flowers appeared, even Zhu Baqi, who had witnessed them before, couldn't help but draw a sharp, cool breath, along with several others. At this point, Yang Hao and Zhou Datian were certain that their previous loss was not unwarranted.

A confrontation between Three Flowers and Two Flowers—and one side was being careless while the other was fighting all out. It would be truly strange if Zhou Datian didn't suffer some hardship.

The moment the Flowers of Wind and Fire ascended, the constraining force pressing down on He Yiming mysteriously dissipated. With the tangible flowers locked in opposition, neither side could inflict direct suppression or harm upon the other.

Zhou Datian did not grow impatient. Vast true essence surged into his three flowers like a tide; the unparalleled pressure intensified once more.

Three flowers against two still held an absolute advantage. An old man who had lived for over two centuries would never pass up an opportunity.

Seeing the pressure on him gradually deepen, bringing with it the danger of being restrained again, He Yiming let out a cold snort. He raised his gaze, and the Flowers of Wind and Fire circling above his head began to rotate.

Wind and fire shifted, supported, and complemented each other... The wind boosted the fire's might, the fire utilized the wind's momentum; the two mutually reinforced, suddenly becoming perfectly integrated.

Zhou Datian's expression shifted slightly, and he sighed inwardly. Although his three tangible flowers were also part of a generative system, they lacked the complete Five Elements, making it impossible for him to control them with the same flawless mastery as his opponent.

However, in the next moment, something even more unbelievable happened to him. Those Flowers of Wind and Fire suddenly burst open.

Just as everyone stared in astonishment, they reformed in an instant. But this time, they did not condense back into two tangible flowers of Wind and Fire; instead, they reformed into layers of red petals tinged with green.

Everyone's eyes widened again, even the spirit beast piglet hanging on Bai Lingba's chest. It turned its head, seeming to finally notice that this person possessed something quite interesting as well.

Once the Wind and Fire flowers condensed, a powerful pressure gathered from all directions. The speed and efficiency with which they absorbed the energy of the surrounding heaven and earth actually surpassed Zhou Datian's advancing three flowers.

A trace of fear finally showed in Zhou Datian's eyes. Even his Blazing Fire Staff no longer granted him the absolute confidence he once held.

Nevertheless, the battle-hardened Zhou Datian instantly cast aside all distracting thoughts. He roared, and the long staff in his hand stabbed toward He Yiming like a viper.

He took one step, covering the hundred-meter distance, arriving before He Yiming, his staff point instantly aimed. He Yiming’s expression was cold and severe.

A crisp, pleasing hum sounded from his right hand. The outer ring of the strange weapon finally began to spin.

The true essence He Yiming infused was not excessively strong, but the performance of the Five Elements Rings was already powerful enough. The Five Elements true essence shuttled alternately within the specially made jade rings, endlessly generating, and five different colored rays of light suddenly erupted from the wheels, firmly locking onto the fire-like staff.

Fire against fire, equally powerful Fire element forces violently collided. The energy on the staff immediately showed signs of dispersal.

The amplification strength of the Five Elements Rings on true essence actually far surpassed that of the opponent's Blazing Fire Staff. The moment the staff and rings met, the Fire energy on the Five Elements Rings had already achieved a crushing victory.

Though the Blazing Fire Staff was a decent treasure, it was only decent; how could it compare to the Five Elements Rings? The powerful and ferocious weapon—the outer ring of the Five Elements Rings continued to spin.

The immense Fire energy, having just suppressed the Blazing Fire Staff, instantly transformed into a monstrous, wave-like Water element true essence. Water fighting Fire—these were two entirely different yet completely opposing true essence types.

The Fire energy on the Blazing Fire Staff, having just been suppressed by the Five Elements Rings, was immediately met by an enormous surge of Water energy. With no ability to resist, the Fire energy covering the Blazing Fire Staff completely vanished, and Zhou Datian, who held the staff, felt an overwhelming pressure transmitting through it toward him.

His heart was shaken, the feeling indescribable. The Blazing Fire Staff held considerable fame among all Yixiantian experts.

He had intended to use it to regain his lost dignity, so he was naturally full of confidence in it. But in their very first clash, he realized that his opponent's weapon, though seemingly simple with no sharpness, possessed unimaginable destructive power.

Before this weapon, the Blazing Fire Staff was like scrap metal, utterly incapable of mounting a real resistance. He smiled bitterly, but his hands and feet were swift.

He tightened his wrist, and the Blazing Fire Staff was drawn back. However, he suddenly discovered that accompanying the retreating staff was a fierce burst of Gold element true essence.

That aggressive, sharp, and piercing Gold element true essence had been unleashed from the Five Elements Rings. Zhou Datian was greatly alarmed.

He could no longer hold back. His mind raced, and the Earth element flower above his head instantly moved before him, rigidly blocking that strand of Gold element true essence.

But just as he breathed a sigh of relief, he saw He Yiming casually wave his hand. Following this, Zhou Datian watched as streams of five-colored light flew out from his opponent's strange weapon.

The destination of this light was singular: to strike his body by any means necessary. Zhou Datian flipped his wrist, and the long staff dragged away, transforming back into a chain-linked Three-Section Staff.

His two hands each grasped one end of the staff and began to swing it. A cacophony of strange sounds ensued as he moved the staff in an impenetrable defense.

One attack was launched from a distance, the other was a stationary defense. Under normal circumstances, He Yiming could not sustain this indefinitely, which was why Zhou Datian chose the strategy of defending first before attacking, even at the cost of his pride.

But he soon discovered that the true essence emanating from He Yiming's weapon seemed endless, showing no sign of exhaustion. Even more terrifyingly, that continuous true essence seemed to grow stronger, giving him absolutely no chance to catch his breath.

He cursed inwardly. What kind of weapon was this that possessed such mighty power, and how could He Yiming's true essence be so incredibly abundant, seemingly far deeper than his own?

After a few more moments, He Yiming still maintained a calm, unruffled expression, as if continually unleashing true essence had no effect on him whatsoever. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Zhou Datian's mind.

He recalled a book, an ancient text he had once read. That ancient text seemed to record a divine weapon, a famous artifact renowned throughout the entire world.

Instantly, his heart sank to the bottom; he no longer held any confidence in victory. He even began to wonder if He Yiming, holding this divine weapon, was merely playing with him, treating the encounter as a cat toying with a mouse.

Zhou Datian roared, and the three tangible flowers circling his body suddenly exploded. The surrounding air seemed to freeze completely in that instant; even the true essence unleashed by He Yiming’s Five Elements Rings could not pierce this momentary confinement.

Then, Zhou Datian retreated rapidly, returning to the exact spot where he had been standing before the fight began. At this moment, his face was ashen.

The arrogance that had once defined him was gone, replaced by a painful, almost suffocating voice as he spoke: "I... lost."