As for what Ai Wenbin said, though He Yiming held some reservations, he had no intention of arguing. He genuinely wanted to see the ultimate mystery behind the so-called Three Flowers Convergence. If this secret held little consequence for ordinary people, then he wouldn't mind sharing it with Yuan Lixun.

Ai Wenbin extended his hand, and a strange fluctuation suddenly surged within his palm, followed by a wisp of white vapor rising like mist or cloud.

He Yiming was slightly startled; the moment the opponent deployed his inherent true qi, He Yiming immediately discerned a crucial detail. This venerable master of the Three Flowers Convergence was utilizing not the power of the Five Elements, but the qi of Wind and Cloud. Around him, a cloud actually formed, a vapor seemingly capable of enveloping everything within it. However, this mist was not static; within it, a gentle wind blew with a steady rhythm. As the substantial force of the wind intensified, the cloud and mist became increasingly elusive, making them difficult to grasp. Yet, what truly astonished He Yiming was the realization that within this semblance of genuine wind and cloud, he sensed a power both immense and solid. It seemed that within the ethereal haze of wind and mist resided an unyielding, rock-solid strength.

He paused slightly, closing his eyes. He quietly sensed the entirety of it. A moment later, He Yiming opened his eyes. His gaze was piercingly bright, and he declared, "Wood, Wind, Cloud…"

A hearty laugh echoed from within the swirling vapor. Ai Wenbin boomed, "Sharp eyes! Few can discern the three flowers I cultivate in such a short time, and you are the only one who has seen the essence without yet achieving convergence."

As he finished speaking, everything before their eyes began to shrink at an incredible speed. The drifting clouds and the fierce winds, as if receiving an unspoken command, converged toward Ai Wenbin’s hand.

In mere moments, everything reverted to normal, except that in Ai Wenbin’s hand now rested a peculiar, elongated weapon. This weapon seemed neither strictly gold nor wood; its head was slightly thicker, and its body was smooth and round, resembling a young sapling that had not yet fully matured.

He Yiming weighed the object in his mind, understanding that wielding this rare weapon would surely require a corresponding specialized cultivation technique. However, a question immediately surfaced: where exactly had Ai Wenbin produced this weapon from? When the Three Flowers Convergence elder first appeared, his hands were visibly empty; he certainly did not have a sheath hanging from his armpit. And this weapon was over two meters long. Aside from the fact that there were no apparent detachable sections, even if there were mechanisms involved, it seemed impossible for him to have concealed it where no one could see.

A subtle thought crossed his mind. Although his expression remained unchanged, he secretly suspected that perhaps Ai Wenbin possessed a spatial artifact of his own?

Zhu Baqi exclaimed excitedly, "Master, you haven't brought out the Cloud-Emerging Staff in nearly a century."

Ai Wenbin sighed softly, his hand gently stroking the shaft of the staff. His tender manner suggested he was caressing a lifelong beloved companion rather than a powerful weapon. However, neither He Yiming nor Zhu Baqi found this strange; this was the true regard martial artists held for their own arms. That said, He Yiming glanced back toward the courtyard, recalling Hundred and Eight who had already merged completely with the Great Halberd. If he had to ask that entity to caress the Great Halberd with such tenderness...

He Yiming shook his head, swiftly banishing that terrifying notion from his mind.

Ai Wenbin spoke softly, "He Yiming, do you know the origin of this weapon?"

"This junior does not know, I request guidance from you, Elder," He Yiming replied respectfully, though his gaze swept over the elder once, unable to locate where the presumed spatial artifact was concealed.

Ai Wenbin chuckled, "This staff is named the Cloud-Emerging Staff. It is forged from one of the heavenly materials and earthly treasures, the Cloud-Emerging Wood, which grows exclusively on Cloud-Emerging Isle in the Great Shen of the East. Legend says this spiritual wood requires thousands of years to reach such a state; it is one of the finest materials for a wood-element treasure in the Five Elements of Heaven and Earth."

He Yiming nodded slightly, his eyes revealing undisguised envy.

Ai Wenbin’s smile faded, replaced by a grave expression. "The reason I succeeded in condensing the Three Flowers is entirely due to the merit of this object."

He Yiming was slightly stunned and looked intently at the Cloud-Emerging Staff, yet he perceived nothing unusual. He genuinely could not understand what was so remarkable about this staff that Ai Wenbin held it in such high regard. Even if it was his most cherished weapon, surely he wasn't exaggerating so casually? He glanced toward Zhu Baqi, only to see the old man nodding slowly, his face alight with agreement.

He Yiming sighed inwardly; they were indeed a master and disciple who shared a deep bond.

As if sensing He Yiming's thoughts, Ai Wenbin offered no defense, merely extending the Cloud-Emerging Staff toward him. "Try it."

He Yiming hesitated briefly, then respectfully took the Cloud-Emerging Staff. He channeled his true qi into it, only to discover abruptly that his qi could not penetrate the wood at all.

Looking up sharply, He Yiming finally understood. This Cloud-Emerging Staff shared a similarity with his Five Elements Ring; once someone imbued their qi into it first, the second person would be rendered powerless.

"Test its might. You can do so without using your qi," Ai Wenbin stated calmly.

He Yiming acknowledged this and casually swung the Cloud-Emerging Staff toward a stone lion guarding the courtyard entrance. This strike was merely an effortless motion, containing no infused qi, yet even so, the moment the two met, it startled He Yiming. The stone lion, several times taller than a man, instantly shattered into fragments under this single blow, while the Cloud-Emerging Staff remained perfectly intact, not even showing a single fissure. Of course, this result was somewhat within He Yiming's expectations; if the Cloud-Emerging Staff couldn't even smash a stone lion, why would Ai Wenbin value it so highly?

Taking the long staff back from He Yiming, Ai Wenbin smiled slightly. "Watch closely."

He Yiming focused his vision, watching intently, and immediately his eyes widened. He had originally assumed Ai Wenbin was about to reveal a spatial artifact, but instead, in Ai Wenbin’s hands, the two-meter-long Cloud-Emerging Staff began to slowly liquefy. It melted away like a cloud, like a gust of wind, and simply flowed into his body, vanishing without a trace.

He Yiming’s mouth hung open. A chill ran down his spine, and his look toward Ai Wenbin became laced with outright terror. He Yiming was not surprised that Hundred and Eight could consume the Forked Sword and the Great Halberd, as that entity possessing shape-shifting abilities certainly had the capacity for such consumption. But Ai Wenbin was a human, a flesh-and-blood human, yet he could "eat" a weapon, and do so with apparent ease—this was something He Yiming could not calmly accept.

Taking a deep breath, He Yiming managed to suppress any melodramatic questions like, "Are you even human?" He forcibly subdued the fear rising within him and asked as calmly as possible, "How did you achieve that?"

Ai Wenbin gave an inscrutable smile and flipped his wrist. A stream of white airflow spread from his arm, and within a single breath, it took the exact shape of the Cloud-Emerging Staff, transforming into the genuine article. This was not a trick of appearing from nothingness, but the true manifestation of the Cloud-Emerging Staff emerging directly from his body.

"He Yiming, this is the greatest secret of the Three Flowers Convergence," Ai Wenbin sighed deeply. "Once the Three Flowers are condensed, one has stepped into the realm of Great Attainment in martial arts. To advance further, one must establish a tripod base with the Three Flowers and ultimately achieve their unification."

He Yiming’s eyebrows lifted slightly. "The Flower of Wind and Fire?"

"Yes, and no," Ai Wenbin replied with a knowing smile.

He Yiming was greatly surprised, his gaze carrying a hint of inquiry.

"The so-called Three Flowers are three tangible flowers of distinct attributes. And to fuse different-attributed tangible flowers into one, throughout history, aside from you, it seems no one else has managed it," Ai Wenbin remarked, glancing at He Yiming.

He Yiming’s face flushed slightly; he knew in his heart that his achievement in this regard was largely due to his peculiar constitution. Without it, he certainly could not have unified the Flowers of Wind and Fire.

"The predecessors in martial arts, through constant exploration, finally found a path to condensing the Three Flowers." Ai Wenbin flicked his wrist, and three powerful auras immediately burst forth from the Cloud-Emerging Staff. "Using a supreme earthly treasure as a guide, forge a treasured weapon, infuse it with true qi to temper and refine it. Using this as a catalyst, perhaps one can incorporate three different elemental energies into the treasured weapon and fuse them into one," Ai Wenbin stated with utmost solemnity. "If the treasured weapon can be successfully nurtured and refined, then that weapon can transform into one's own true qi, subsequently merging into the body, truly becoming one with the physique. At this stage, the three streams of true qi will become indistinguishable, completely fused, and the Three Flowers will possess the ability to communicate with the energies of Heaven and Earth, not only multiplying their power but also granting various miraculous uses. And this, truly, is the essential meaning of the Three Flowers Convergence."

A sharp glint flashed in He Yiming’s eyes. He stirred internally. "Elder, what about Venerable Li's Mist Sword?"

"She showed mercy," Ai Wenbin smiled faintly. "If she had brought forth the sword that had integrated into her body, even if you utilized the Flowers of Wind and Fire, you would not have been able to withstand even a moment."

He Yiming’s expression shifted dramatically. Only then did he grasp the true power of those who achieved the Three Flowers Convergence. Unless he risked everything and wielded the Great Halberd formed by Hundred and Eight, he stood no chance of contending with figures of this caliber. Even with the Great Halberd in hand, the odds of victory seemed slim, and escaping might be a significant issue.

After a moment of contemplation, He Yiming finally asked, "Elder, why did you advise this junior to temporarily halt the convergence of the Three Flowers?"

Ai Wenbin became serious. "Because of your innate cultivation of the Five Elements power, and this imitation of the Five Elements Ring." His tone carried an indescribable earnestness: "If you were to treat the Five Elements Ring as just another ordinary treasured weapon to be refined, it would truly be too great a waste."