The sun had completely vanished below the horizon. A full moon hung high above the opposite mountain ridge, bathing the land in the silver-white glow of a clear night, lending the entire landscape an eerily lifelike quality.
In the courtyard, He Yiming and Yu Jinglei had already been waiting for a long time.
Before them sat a spread of food and wine—not extravagant, perhaps, but certainly decent—yet neither man had touched their chopsticks, sitting in silence beneath the open night sky.
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept past, and Zhou Datian’s figure drifted in like a ghost, subtly ethereal.
He moved gracefully to the opposite side of the table and settled into his seat with an air of casual elegance.
Observing his movement, even He Yiming had to concede that, provided one was not his enemy, the man’s actions appeared remarkably refined.
Yu Jinglei smiled faintly, reaching out to grasp his wine cup and pouring a measure for all three vessels. “Brother Zhou, come. A toast to putting all past grievances behind us.”
He Yiming also raised his cup, understanding that unless he made a clear declaration, Zhou Datian would never easily reveal what he knew.
Seeing their actions, Zhou Datian broke into a smile of delight.
However, how much sincerity lay beneath that expression was a secret known only to the heavens.
The three cups clinked together, and all three drained their contents in one gulp.
The wine prepared by Tianchi Mountain for experts of their caliber was undoubtedly the finest earthly vintage. But for He Yiming, drinking any wine was like a bull chewing peonies—he couldn't discern any true flavor.
Perhaps this was simply inherent, something beyond forceful change.
Zhou Datian set down his cup and said in a deep voice, “Brother Yu, Brother He, you two should surely know the purpose of my visit today.”
He Yiming nodded slightly. “Brother Zhou speaks of the Five Elements Rings, I presume.”
“Indeed, precisely the Five Elements Rings.” Zhou Datian’s face grew exceedingly grave. “What is spoken from my mouth today, you shall take into your ears. No matter how you seek verification in the future, please do not implicate me in the matter.”
Hearing the solemnity in his tone, He Yiming and Yu Jinglei exchanged a glance, a sliver of confidence blossoming between them.
If even this great master of the Three Flowers Realm was so cautious, there must be some substantial evidence involved.
He Yiming took a deep breath. “Brother Zhou, rest assured. No matter how we verify this later, our investigation will never reveal your name. If I violate this oath, may I never advance to the Three Flowers Realm.”
His expression was equally profound, without the slightest hint of a smile. Given He Yiming’s current age and cultivation, being permanently blocked from reaching the Three Flowers Realm would be a fate far worse than death. This vow instantly reassured Zhou Datian, though Yu Jinglei, standing beside He Yiming, visibly paled.
However, seeing the resolute determination in He Yiming’s eyes, Yu Jinglei could only let out a long sigh and shake his head in resigned silence.
“Brother He, are you aware of the origins of the Three Great Powers of the Northwest?” Zhou Datian asked solemnly.
He Yiming shook his head without hesitation. “I have focused solely on arduous cultivation, truly lacking the time to divert my attention.”
Zhou Datian opened his mouth slightly, offering a wry smile. “Brother He is already the Grand Master protecting the Tianluo Nation, yet you are unaware of the origins of the Three Great Powers. Truly…” He shook his head. “In truth, behind each of the Three Great Powers, there currently resides a Venerable.”
He Yiming paused, momentarily surprised. “Kairong Nation has one as well?”
“Of course,” Zhou Datian confirmed gravely. “If the Kairong Nation were not backed by an expert of that caliber, their royal family would have been forced to abdicate long ago.”
He Yiming frowned slightly. “But as far as I know, the highest-ranking master in the Kairong Nation’s Hall of Masters, hailed as the First Man of Kairong, is merely Zhan Tianfeng.”
“Zhan Tianfeng…” A flicker of disdainful cold laughter crossed Zhou Datian’s face. “A mere Celestial Aperture realm cultivator who hasn’t even condensed the Second Flower—how dare he be called the First Man of Kairong.”
A sharp light flashed in He Yiming’s eyes, and he immediately thought of those nameless, ancient powerhouses cultivating diligently on Tianchi Mountain, a realization dawning upon him.
“Brother He, regarding the true strength of the Kairong Nation, you can ask Brother Zhu of the main lineage on Tianchi Mountain. I believe he would not deceive you with empty words,” Zhou Datian said, his smile vanishing. “What I speak of today is merely an old legend. Whether it will assist Brother He remains to be seen.”
He Yiming immediately composed himself, his spirit focused and still. “Brother Zhou, please elaborate.”
“In ancient times, the Venerables of the Three Great Powers were all acquaintances, and they had clashed many times throughout their lives. Only after they each attained the status of Venerable did they withdraw from the world, no longer concerning themselves with mortal affairs,” Zhou Datian recounted slowly, his eyes holding a trace of wistful vision, as if the three powerful figures were standing right before him.
He Yiming sighed softly. Three powerful figures competing against each other, and all ultimately ascending to become Venerables of the Three Flowers Apex—it was indeed a magnificent tale. If known, it would shake the entire Northwest.
Yet, clearly, these three Venerables were not the type to boast of their achievements, which was why even He Yiming had never gleaned a hint of the story.
He Yiming’s expression suddenly froze. He looked up, his eyes burning with clarity.
“Brother Zhou, you mention the Three Great Powers and three Venerables. Could it be that the Five Elements Rings are connected to one of them?”
Zhou Datian sighed, not answering directly, but the expression in his eyes already confirmed He Yiming’s suspicion.
“Exactly who is it, and how did you determine this?” He Yiming asked coldly.
At this point, he understood why Zhou Datian had been so extraordinarily cautious. Discussing matters concerning the three Venerables was something even he dared not speak of lightly.
“Brother He, you are aware of the secret rivalry between our Three Great Powers,” Zhou Datian explained calmly. “It is precisely because of this constant tension that the Tu Fan Nation has embedded numerous spies within the other two nations. Over centuries of accumulated intelligence, we discovered and synthesized one crucial piece of information.”
“What information?”
“They are gathering Heaven and Earth Supreme Treasures,” Zhou Datian stated with gravity.
He Yiming frowned slightly, a trace of annoyance flashing in his eyes. “Brother Zhou jokes. Surely any capable entity would spare no effort in collecting Heaven and Earth Supreme Treasures, wouldn’t they?”
Indeed, putting aside the Three Great Powers, even Shui Xuanjin of the Tianluo Nation had amassed a warehouse full of treasures. While the quality might have been questionable, the sheer quantity was considerable.
Zhou Datian chuckled darkly. “Collecting ordinary Heaven and Earth Supreme Treasures would be one thing, but one nation has been unscrupulously gathering the materials required to forge the Five Elements Rings, and thirty years ago, they were nearly complete in their collection.”
Brilliant light suddenly erupted from He Yiming’s eyes. Immense pressure radiated from his body. Zhou Datian’s face shifted slightly; feeling this almost irresistible pressure, he thought with shock that He Yiming’s power had indeed advanced significantly in just a few months.
This monster—how on earth does he cultivate?
Slowly, the resentment in He Yiming’s heart subsided.
He knew Zhou Datian would not speak without cause. Information of this nature could only be gathered and compiled by nations locked in mutual hostility.
“They gathered the materials; does that guarantee successful refinement?” He Yiming asked in a low voice.
Zhou Datian smiled but did not speak, instead shifting his gaze to Yu Jinglei.
Yu Jinglei hesitated for a moment. “Elder He, as far as this old man knows, there was indeed a Venerable in the past renowned as the Northwest’s foremost master craftsman. However, whether he could successfully replicate the Five Elements Rings, I cannot guarantee…”
Zhou Datian laughed heartily. “Brother Yu is correct. Since the disappearance of divine weapons like the Five Elements Rings, countless master artisans across the world have attempted to copy them. Yet, those who succeeded are few and far between. But to my knowledge, neither the Five Elements Sect of Great Shen nor any other renowned refining master in the world has managed to successfully forge the Five Elements Rings.”
He Yiming raised his eyebrows slightly. “Why?”
Zhou Datian dropped his smile, his expression becoming serious. “The Five Elements Rings, as the name suggests, are the harmonization of the Five Elements into a single ring. When forging this ring, not only are the material requirements extremely strict, but the process also demands the infusion of Five Elements power. Even the slightest oversight, a failure to achieve absolute balance, results in all previous efforts being wasted. Although this ring may not rank first on the Divine Weapon ranking list in terms of sheer destructive power, when measured by forging difficulty, it is unquestionably ranked number one.”
He Yiming lowered his gaze. He understood the implication of the words spoken.
If the forging process was so incredibly difficult, then the Five Elements Ring he had seized from the masked man must indeed be the genuine article.
Zhou Datian slowly rose, bowing slightly. “Brothers He and Yu, I have said what needed to be said. As for what remains, I leave it for you to ponder. However, I do have one piece of advice, which I hope Brother He will accept.”
“Please, Brother Zhou,” He Yiming replied with measured calmness.
Though his inner world might be tumultuous, his outward composure was terrifyingly steady.
Sincerity filled Zhou Datian’s gaze. “Brother He, all Three Great Powers have Venerables overseeing them. Before you advance to the Venerable realm, and possess the strength to suppress Venerables of the same rank, please… think twice before taking action in any matter.”
With that, he bowed again and then gracefully departed.
He Yiming watched him go, his eyes shifting with inscrutable calculations, deep in contemplation.
Yu Jinglei approached cautiously. “Elder He, his words can be listened to, but not entirely trusted.”
He Yiming gave a faint, dry laugh. “I understand, Elder Yu. I will not commit an act of striking stone with an egg.”
Yu Jinglei felt slightly relieved, but the worry etched between his brows did not entirely vanish. If Zhou Datian’s words held true, they were facing a formidable Venerable. The mere thought of the might and power possessed by a Venerable made Yu Jinglei’s head throb with anxiety.
Suddenly, He Yiming’s calm voice broke the silence. “Elder Yu, which nation did the Northwest’s former foremost master craftsman originate from?”
Yu Jinglei answered reflexively, “The Northwest Kairong Nation.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized his mistake. He looked up quickly, only to see He Yiming gazing into the distance, murmuring faintly, “Kairong…”
For some inexplicable reason, Yu Jinglei was reminded of He Yiming’s relentless, thousand-mile pursuit of the Totem Clan. Looking at the coldness in He Yiming’s eyes, the chill in Yu Jinglei’s heart deepened.