A gentle breeze swept through as the sun, bit by bit, receded from the mountain peaks, as if driven away by the dusky, ash-red atmosphere. The entire forest gradually hushed, everything settling into stillness.

Yet, precisely at that moment, a colossal sound erupted from the mid-air.

It arrived like the roar of an enraged thunder, echoing through the mountains with an endless reverberation. The sound, like the beating of ten thousand war drums, made every face turn pale.

Inside the Welcoming Pavilion halfway up the slope were gathered the foremost experts of the First-Tier Heaven from various regions. However, upon hearing this sound, which was akin to a thunderous roar, even they felt their souls tremble.

"Who dares? Show yourself to me..."

Following the deafening crash that spread wave after wave, a strange voice arose from a patch of green shade along the mountain path.

"As expected of the foremost sect in the Northwest..."

Although this voice lacked the earth-shattering power of He Yiming's outburst, it carried an ethereal, elusive quality, audible with perfect clarity even amidst the thunderous noise.

In terms of sheer force, the underlying power displayed by this voice was indeed no less formidable than He Yiming’s thunderous bellow.

The complexions of the gathered First-Tier Heaven experts shifted again. He Yiming’s fierce shout had already demonstrated power sufficient to shock them. Yet, they had not anticipated that someone else had drawn near without them even realizing it, save for He Yiming himself.

For a moment, a subtle, almost indescribable emotion flickered in their gazes toward He Yiming.

Unbeknownst to him, at this juncture, even those who had previously harbored doubts about his strength now cast aside all contempt, regarding him truly as a preeminent figure among the First-Tier Heaven masters.

Yang Hao suddenly let out an angry snort. His figure flashed like lightning, and he plunged into that secluded, shaded stretch of road.

He Yiming frowned slightly. Among this gathering, Yang Hao and Zhou Datian were the only First-Tier Heaven experts who had managed to condense the Three Flowers. Since even Yang Hao had taken action personally, the others felt it inappropriate to join the assault.

A sharp shout immediately echoed from the woods, followed instantly by an unbroken barrage of booming sounds as fists and palms clashed.

Although the masters from the main branch of Tianchi—like Zhu Baqi—felt their honor slighted and wished to quickly subdue this intruder, in the presence of He Yiming and others, they could not resort to ganging up on a single person. They could only await the outcome of the struggle within the grove.

A moment later, an angry grunt sounded, and two figures shot out simultaneously.

One was naturally Yang Hao, who executed a mid-air turn and soared back before the crowd like a great bird. However, upon landing, he did not press the attack again, seemingly holding back out of caution after feeling the opponent's formidable strength during their exchange.

The second figure circled lightly in the air, giving the impression of a cloud drifting high above. At the same time, the onlookers understood why Yang Hao had ceased fighting: the opponent’s movement technique was so gracefully ethereal that they could not fully pin him down. Unless everyone attacked together, no single person could manage this miraculous, nimble body method.

Despite the sheer numbers of First-Tier Heaven experts present, no one could bring themselves to suggest that they all attack one man simultaneously.

Slowly, this newcomer descended to the ground.

The gazes of He Yiming and the others locked onto him. He was a man with a face like polished jade, appearing only in his early thirties, yet his brow was set with an air of innate superiority. His sweeping glance was as sharp as a blade, piercing straight to the heart, as if his eyes could see through everything, allowing no secret to escape him.

The crowd silently praised him inwardly. But these were all powerful First-Tier Heaven masters; even those slightly weaker would never reveal a hint of timidity upon first meeting.

Naturally, due to their esteemed identities, they would not rely on superior numbers to overwhelm the opponent through sheer aura. If they did, it would be no different from attacking him directly.

A flush crept over Yang Hao’s face—perhaps from the preceding clash, or perhaps from the shame of not detecting the man earlier. He cupped his hands slightly. "I am Yang Hao of Tianchi Mountain. May I ask your esteemed name, and your purpose for visiting the main peak of Tianchi?"

As the strongest master among the hosts, it was naturally his duty to issue the greeting.

The newcomer smiled faintly and announced in a clear voice, "I am Jin Zhanyi, paying my respects to the esteemed masters of Tianchi."

Though he spoke of paying respects, he merely gave a slight nod, indicating that his innate arrogance was deeply ingrained in his very bones.

The expressions of the assembled masters immediately became rather strange. They had just been discussing this person, and now he had appeared directly before them.

Yang Hao paused, then let out a wry smile, feeling a sense of relief.

He had rushed in to exchange blows with Jin Zhanyi, and while no decisive victor had emerged, Yang Hao felt, deep down, that he had been at a disadvantage.

Though this feeling was extremely subtle, it had extinguished his will to continue the attack. Only upon hearing the man's identity now did he sigh in relief: this was the universally acknowledged number one figure beneath the Venerable rank in the Lingxiao Palace. It was understandable, then, that Yang Hao was no match for him.

Zhu Baqi also breathed a sigh of relief. "So it is Brother Jin from Da Shen. We have heard your name often enough."

Jin Zhanyi smiled slightly, but everyone could clearly see that his smile held an undisguised arrogance, creating a palpable distance as if pushing others a thousand miles away.

Those who could ascend to the First-Tier Heaven were all martial powerhouses, each harboring a proud heart. A collective dissatisfaction arose among the assembled group toward Jin Zhanyi.

Zhu Baqi frowned slightly, forcefully suppressing his sudden displeasure. "Brother Jin, why have you come alone this time? Where are the others from your sect?"

Jin Zhanyi raised his eyebrows. "They are too slow. Thus, I came alone." His gaze swept over the group, finally settling on He Yiming. "The main branch of Tianchi Mountain, hailed as the foremost sect in the Northwest, truly harbors dragons and crouching tigers. You have not disappointed this humble visitor."

Yang Hao and Zhu Baqi’s faces flushed slightly. If He Yiming had not been present, the others truly would not have detected the man’s approach. If Jin Zhanyi had waited until all the people from the Da Shen Kingdom had arrived before revealing himself, the reputation of the Tianchi main branch would have been utterly ruined.

He Yiming’s silent gaze met the other’s, and he instantly sensed the potent confidence and undisguised provocation in Jin Zhanyi’s eyes.

He offered a faint smile and calmly turned his head away, showing no inclination to retaliate.

Jin Zhanyi was momentarily taken aback. His provocation had failed to elicit the expected response, making him even more curious. However, he would never mistake He Yiming for a coward; he simply could not fathom He Yiming’s intentions, wondering why he refused to engage.

In truth, He Yiming was equally curious about Jin Zhanyi. But since this man hailed from Da Shen and was currently facing the Tianchi main branch, if He Yiming were to step forward and engage him rashly, he risked immediately offending others. This thankless endeavor was something he wished to avoid.

The atmosphere grew quite awkward, and just then, He Yiming’s ear twitched again. He smiled faintly. "Brother Jin, your honored guests from your nation have arrived. Shall we descend to welcome them?"

Jin Zhanyi’s eyes suddenly brightened. He remained silent for a breath, then a look of surprise spread across his face. He then looked at He Yiming and nodded heavily, articulating each word distinctly: "Remarkable hearing. May I inquire as to your esteemed identity...?"

"I am He Yiming, merely an insignificant nobody. Please, lead the way."

He Yiming bowed slightly and started walking down the mountain first. The others exchanged glances, complex emotions swirling in their eyes.

Since Jin Zhanyi had stated it, he had clearly confirmed the arrival of the Da Shen contingent. Yet, they had listened silently, sensing with all their focus, and still detected nothing. This proved that He Yiming and Jin Zhanyi were indeed superior to the rest in this aspect.

Fortunately, He Yiming’s demonstration had been slightly more outstanding, which allowed the others to salvage a sliver of face. Otherwise, they truly would have been unable to look the visitors in the eye this time.

Yang Hao forced a laugh. As the designated welcoming party, he could not afford to be impolite.

"Brother Jin, let's descend together."

Jin Zhanyi glanced back at He Yiming’s retreating figure, his eyes full of interest. He smiled. "Very well, Brother Yang, please."

Yang Hao and the others walked together with forced smiles, each man harboring his own private thoughts.

In the past, when the Da Shen Empire sent representatives for the Sect Founding Ceremony, although no Venerables arrived, the First-Tier Heaven experts who did come were always seasoned and steady individuals. However, the current Jin Zhanyi was clearly an exception, and dealing with such a person gave even Yang Hao a headache.

The group moved swiftly, reaching the foot of the mountain in mere moments. Strictly speaking, given their status, meeting them halfway up the slope would have sufficed. But seeing Jin Zhanyi’s arrogant bearing, none of them cared to engage in pleasantries; since He Yiming had descended, they naturally followed.

Upon reaching the base, the others began to vaguely hear some commotion. They exchanged looks, finding He Yiming increasingly profound and unfathomable.

Jin Zhanyi seemed accustomed to Yang Hao and the others ignoring him. With his hands clasped behind his back, he stood at the foot of the mountain, gazing up at the soaring peak, seemingly inhabiting a completely different world from the rest of the group.

Not long after, several dozen figures finally appeared within their sight.

Apart from the few Tianchi disciples leading the way, the rest were clad in garments strikingly different from the customs of the Northwest. These clothes were exceedingly luxurious, even causing He Yiming’s eyes to light up momentarily.

However, what truly captured He Yiming’s attention was the elder leading the procession.

This old man, though appearing quite aged, was brimming with vigor, enveloped by a powerful and abundant life aura. Sensing the cultivation levels emanating from them, He Yiming finally understood why only First-Tier Heaven experts were sent to welcome them: the arriving party consisted of masters of the same caliber, with no Venerables who had achieved the Three Flowers Apex present.

Ps: Just finished typing up two chapters to send over. I plan to sleep this morning, and there should be another chapter around 1:30 PM, with three more tonight.

Six chapters today—I keep my word.

Only two days left until the deadline, brothers and sisters, please do not hold back the Moon Tickets in your hands. Cast them for Bai He. Thank you.