He Yiming hesitated for a moment. Seemingly grasping something, he asked, “Senior, are you suggesting that I should only begin forging the Five Elements Ring after I have fully condensed all Five Elements Flowers?”
Ai Wenbin burst into laughter. “To fully condense all Five Elements Flowers is no easy feat. Even for you, it will not be the work of a single day.”
He Yiming nodded slightly. Although his talent was already exceptionally blessed compared to others, fully condensing the five elements of Heaven and Earth into flowers was certainly not a simple task. While he possessed absolute certainty that he would reach this stage one day, only the heavens knew how long that day would be.
Ai Wenbin shook his head. “After achieving the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, not only will your lifespan increase significantly—allowing you to live past five hundred years—but the inherent power you possess will also undergo a world-altering elevation. Most crucially, once the gathering is successful, you can communicate with the power of the three elements of Heaven and Earth, granting you all manner of mystical abilities.”
He Yiming’s eyes brightened. “The ability to burrow through earth?”
Ai Wenbin let out a wry smile. “If you can comprehend the Earth Flower and successfully forge the Five Elements Ring, you will certainly be able to communicate with the power of Heaven and Earth. Burrowing through earth and penetrating walls will be child’s play for you.”
He Yiming nodded heavily. He had suffered greatly under the Red Wolf King’s earth-burrowing skill in the past, and truthfully, the ability he most craved was precisely that power. Hearing Ai Wenbin’s assurance, his heart even quickened its beat slightly.
“He Yiming, the Five Elements Ring can only unleash its most formidable strength when paired with the Five Elements Power. Though your Five Elements Ring is merely a replica, the fact that it can possess the Five Elements Power indicates its might is extraordinary, far beyond comparison with the Cloud-Dispelling Staff I hold. If you attempt forging immediately after comprehending the Earth Flower, the tripod supporting the structure will be formed by the Wind, Fire, and Earth flowers. Trying to enhance the Five Elements Ring’s capabilities later will become exponentially harder.” At this point, Ai Wenbin’s voice rose slightly, tinged with excitement: “If you can condense three tangible Flowers of the Five Elements in the initial forging, using them as the tripod, then when you later condense the remaining two tangible flowers, you can easily reforge the Five Elements Ring. Once the Five Elements Flowers are complete, paired with the Five Elements Ring…”
Ai Wenbin shook his head, a flicker of excitement in his eyes. “I have said all I need to say. How you choose to proceed is entirely up to you.”
With that, he shifted his tone. “He Yiming, Zhu Baqi, the Ancestor has commanded that the date for the Sect Founding Grand Competition be moved up by one year, to be held next May.”
Zhu Baqi started slightly. “Master, it is already December. May next year gives us only five months. I fear the various branches will have their original plans disrupted upon receiving the news.”
Ai Wenbin shook his head slightly. “This decision was made personally by the Old Ancestor. It seems the maturation of something from the Great Shen side has come early. You will travel to Mount Heng tomorrow and inform them of this news.”
Zhu Baqi was utterly speechless. He responded respectfully; even if he were ten times bolder, he would not dare question the Old Ancestor’s decree.
Ai Wenbin gave He Yiming a slight nod. His eyes were filled with expectant expression, but ultimately, he said nothing, turning and leaving.
Zhu Baqi offered He Yiming an apologetic smile, then quickly followed his master.
Catching up to his master, Zhu Baqi asked softly, “Master, just how immense is the power when the Five Elements True Qi is paired with the Five Elements Ring?”
Ai Wenbin snorted coldly. “How would I know.”
Zhu Baqi was dumbfounded, staring in surprise. “Master, you were just saying this yourself.”
“I only said the Five Elements True Qi can complement the Five Elements Ring; did I specify the extent of its power?”
Zhu Baqi pondered for a moment, finally shaking his head. Ai Wenbin had indeed never specified just how potent the power could become.
“Master, since you cannot be certain, why did you speak of it like that?”
Ai Wenbin stroked his beard. “Your teacher once read in an ancient text that the founding ancestor of the Five Elements Sect, the foremost sect in the Great Shen of the East, cultivated all five elements. The true Five Elements Ring was tailor-made for him. When the Five Elements True Qi is paired with the Five Elements Ring, it can stir up seas and overturn mountains, and…” He paused, looking up, speaking in a low voice that even Zhu Baqi could barely hear: “And, this might be the only method to achieve a breakthrough now that the Divine Path has withered.”
Zhu Baqi’s body trembled, and his expression became incredibly strange, filled with boundless longing.
※※※※
“Li Xun, I have kept you waiting,” He Yiming’s figure flashed, and he arrived on the large protruding rock overlooking the cliff edge.
Yuan Li Xun turned around. In the blowing mountain wind, the ribbons of her dress fluttered around her, and her snow-like skin was almost translucent. At this moment, He Yiming felt an extremely peculiar sensation: she seemed as if she could step into the wind at any moment and vanish from his sight forever.
Shaking his head slightly, He Yiming knew this was due to the gradual strengthening of the ice-element True Qi within Yuan Li Xun, causing a very subtle shift in her temperament.
Yuan Li Xun nodded slightly. Although she was taciturn, this quietude seemed perfectly suited to her aura, creating a feeling of naturalness.
He Yiming extended his hand, hesitating in mid-air for a moment, before finally reaching out and firmly embracing her seemingly boneless waist. The two sat down together on the platform.
He Yiming spoke volubly, recounting everything that had happened since their parting. Through his endless narration, Yuan Li Xun finally grasped the magnitude of the events he had endured.
The attack by the Totem Clan, the death of Shui Xuanjin, the chase spanning ten thousand miles, the condensation of the twin flowers, and the harrowing confrontation with the masked man—all were laid bare.
What surprised Yuan Li Xun the most was that Hundred and Eight had actually eaten the Great Broadsword and the Forked Sword. This was utterly unimaginable; she would never have believed it had He Yiming not given his solemn guarantee.
Finally, He Yiming stopped speaking. “Li Xun, the method for the Three Flowers Gathering that Senior Ai Wenbin mentioned is indeed quite incredible. Until you can advance to the Three Flowers stage, it is better that you do not know.”
He Yiming spoke these words with complete sincerity.
Forging Heaven and Earth Supreme Treasures into a part of one’s body—did that not mean all those experts at the Three Flowers Gathering had effectively become like Hundred and Eight?
Few people, if any, could hear this news and remain completely unmoved.
Furthermore, He Yiming understood why the past Ancestors had sealed off this knowledge.
It touched upon the core of every individual’s confidence.
Firstly, how difficult was it to find a treasured artifact forged from a Heaven and Earth Supreme Treasure, and one whose attribute matched that of a Three Flowers expert?
Even if one found it through sheer luck, forging that artifact into a part of the body…
Even He Yiming lacked absolute confidence, let alone others.
The decision of the past Ancestors indeed had its rationale. Had He Yiming not witnessed Hundred and Eight, he might have found this incredible claim harder to accept, and it could have affected him.
Yuan Li Xun nodded slightly. “Alright.”
Although her physical constitution had also undergone intense changes, and she had become one of the Innate Experts, she remained as before, giving He Yiming’s decisions her absolute, one-hundred-percent endorsement.
He Yiming smiled contentedly. “Li Xun, what did Li Xuan want to discuss with you?”
“Senior Li wishes to take me as her disciple.”
He Yiming’s body froze abruptly. Although the old woman’s attitude wasn’t exactly pleasant, she hadn't used her true weapons during their exchange, which, in any case, counted as showing mercy.
And truthfully, He Yiming had gained a profound understanding of her strength.
“Li Xun, what did she say?” He Yiming asked in a deep voice.
“Senior Li said I possess the Profound Cold Physique, a constitution seen only once in ten thousand years, which is slowly manifesting now that I’ve advanced to the Innate realm. If I study the ultimate skills of the Seven-Colored Ice Palace, not only will my cultivation speed be extremely fast, but due to the Profound Cold Physique, I will have no barrier to ice-element martial arts. My future achievements might even allow me to become the Palace Master of the Ice Palace.”
He Yiming’s eyes immediately lit up. He certainly understood the origin of Yuan Li Xun’s Profound Cold Physique.
But the fact that she would have no bottleneck when cultivating ice-element martial arts was simply staggering. However, thinking of himself, he soon relaxed. In the martial path, he too had never encountered any barriers; as long as the level of effort accumulated was sufficient, breakthroughs came naturally.
In this regard, he was vastly superior to a single-element Profound Cold Physique.
But if the Profound Cold Physique was one in ten thousand years, how many years would it take to see someone with his constitution?
He shook his head. “Li Xun, what conditions did she offer?”
“Senior Li said she could provide a dedicated place for my cultivation, offer me Heaven and Earth Supreme Treasures to consume, and prepare the most powerful artifacts in the Ice Palace for me,” Yuan Li Xun paused, then said calmly, “She promised me that everything within the Seven-Colored Ice Palace would be available to me, to be used as I wished.”
He Yiming felt a surge of excitement, trembling as he asked, “Did you agree?” Even though he already knew the answer, he couldn't help asking.
“I did not.”
“Why didn’t you agree?” He Yiming’s eyes nearly rolled back. Such favorable terms made even him tempted.
“Did you want me to agree?”
“Of course.”
“Good.”
“Huh? Good…” He Yiming awoke as if from a dream. “You agreed?”
“I originally said I would wait for your decision. Since you told me to agree, I naturally followed your instruction.”
He Yiming was speechless, gazing at Yuan Li Xun for a long moment before finally drawing her gently into his embrace. They leaned against each other, seemingly connecting heart to heart, remaining silent for a long time.