Xiong Wuji’s face was etched with intense solemnity. He fully understood that Zhu Baqi’s detailed explanation wasn't born from fear of him personally, but rather from apprehension regarding the vast power structure of the Totem Clan he represented.

Several thoughts flashed through his mind instantly; Xiong Wuji already believed Zhu Baqi's account. Given his status and the gravity of the occasion, if Zhu Baqi dared utter falsehoods now, he would never be able to show his face in public again.

His gaze slowly swept across the high platform, and Xiong Wuji spoke in a deep voice, “I wonder, which one among you is He Yiming of Hengshan.”

Hearing his name called out directly, He Yiming couldn't help but offer a wry smile. He strode to the edge of the platform and said, “I am He Yiming. Brother Xiong, what counsel do you seek?”

The sheer youthfulness of He Yiming’s appearance immediately caused another ripple of excitement among the crowd.

Zhu Baqi had already stated that He Yiming’s hands were stained with the lives of hundreds of Totem Clansmen, including ten Totem Emissaries, two Grand Emissaries, and two mutated spirit beasts from a thousand years prior.

What a terrifying achievement—one the onlookers below could barely dare to imagine, naturally inspiring deep awe in them.

Xiong Wuji’s eyes flashed with sharp light as he locked onto He Yiming. Behind him, the massive yellow bear, which had remained silent since arriving, suddenly lowered its posture, emitting a ferocious growl laced with savage intent.

Taking a step back, Xiong Wuji reached out to gently stroke the giant bear’s head, seemingly to calm its agitation.

“Brother Xiong, your spirit beast seems quite displeased with me,” He Yiming remarked cheerfully, though there was no hint of mirth in his eyes.

While the Totem Clan held no affection for him, He Yiming felt no warmth towards them either.

Xiong Wuji scoffed, “My companion senses the scent of slaughter on you. The Red Wolf King and the Stone King indeed fell by your hand.”

He Yiming nodded slightly. “A keen nose, even sharper than the Red Wolf King’s.”

Xiong Wuji remained expressionless. “Regardless of whether someone framed him or not, you undeniably slew my Totem kinsmen.”

He Yiming laughed heartily. “I was peacefully residing in Hengshan when your Totem kinsmen attacked without provocation. Am I supposed to simply await death?” As he spoke, his voice grew deeper, yet his volume remained undiminished, the potent killing intent within it in no way inferior to Xiong Wuji’s.

Xiong Wuji lowered his head and suddenly stated, “The right and wrong of this matter are now irrelevant. I only wish to know if Suoge and the others were killed by you alone, or if they succumbed to superior numbers.”

He Yiming’s expression turned cold. “Naturally, I acted alone. If you doubt me, you are welcome to test it.”

Xiong Wuji looked up, his eyes sparking brilliantly, as if he had been waiting precisely for those words.

However, before he could speak, Ai Wenbin’s loud voice cut through the air: “Xiong Wuji, what is the purpose of this question?”

Even facing a Summit Venerable, Xiong Wuji dared not be presumptuous, yet he showed no sign of fear, responding neither subserviently nor arrogantly: “Before I arrived, the Great Elder of the Qilin Clan informed me that if a Totem disciple falls in fair combat, it means their skills were lacking, and the matter should be settled privately between the Wolf Totem Clan, the Snake Totem Clan, and Tianchi. But if Suoge and the others were killed while besieged by many, it signifies an act of war against the entire Totem Clan by outsiders, and we will defend our honor to the death.”

Ai Wenbin frowned, though a measure of relief washed over him. “How do you intend to judge that now?”

“I have met Suoge and She Ru several times and am intimately familiar with their strength,” Xiong Wuji’s voice was deep and resonant, like the striking of a massive drum, each word hitting its mark: “If two cultivators below the Venerable level from your sect can jointly defeat me, it will prove that Suoge and the others died in a fair engagement.”

This declaration caused an immediate uproar, and many disciples looked upon him with undisguised hostility.

Below the Venerable level meant all experts at the Innate Realm's peak. This man dared to challenge two masters of that level single-handedly; naturally, it drew everyone’s attention.

Ai Wenbin’s face darkened. He glanced from the man to the bear, then suddenly said, “You mean being able to defeat you and your companion, the Yellow Bear?”

Xiong Wuji straightened his chest, his bearing magnificent. “The Totem Grand Emissaries have always achieved unity between man and beast; they are inseparable.”

Only then did the crowd understand, their gazes converging on the enormous, three-meter-tall yellow bear. Everyone knew it was a spirit beast, but the true extent of the power manifested by such human-beast unity remained a mystery to most.

Jin Zhanyi suddenly shot to his feet. “Elder Ai, please allow me the honor of stepping forward to fight.”

Ai Wenbin hesitated, but then Li Mingxuan spoke from beside him: “Nephew Jin, the main lineage of Tianchi is abundant with talent, and He Yiming is a rising star. As our guest, you ought to remain an observer and need not engage.”

Jin Zhanyi’s face flushed twice before he managed to sit back down, though he was furious internally. Had he possessed even a sliver of confidence in defeating his opponent, he would have challenged long ago.

Ai Wenbin was also annoyed, but since the logic was sound, he found it difficult to argue. He surveyed the crowd and declared, “Xiong Wuji, I should allow He Yiming to face you. However, since you have barged into the Tianchi Grand Competition today, failing to issue a reprimand would make it seem as if Tianchi lacks strong figures. Very well, I will simply designate two Tianchi disciples to fight you. If you can defeat them, I will permit you to challenge Yiming.”

Xiong Wuji bowed deeply. “Thank you, Elder, for your consideration.”

Ai Wenbin let out a cold snort. “You need not thank me; I fear you won't even pass the first hurdle.”

A smile of absolute confidence touched Xiong Wuji’s lips. “As long as no Venerable steps forward personally, should I be defeated, the Totem Clan will no longer interfere in the grievances between the Wolf and Snake Clans and Tianchi.”

His words were powerful and rang with conviction.

For a moment, the entire square fell utterly silent. Apart from the whistling mountain wind, not another sound could be heard. Everyone was pondering: just how arrogant was this man?

Jin Zhanyi’s eyes glittered with intense fighting spirit. In any other setting, he would have immediately stepped forward without a word. But now, seeing the two Venerables nearby, he forcibly suppressed the impulse.

Ai Wenbin’s face was grim. “Good. Then let me see what capabilities a true expert of the Xiong Totem Clan possesses.”

Despite his considerable magnanimity, anger simmered within him. This Xiong Wuji showed entirely too little respect for the main lineage of Tianchi.

“Yang Hao, Zhou Datian. You two step forward.” Ai Wenbin pointed casually, and to an uninformed observer, he seemed to be selecting them without much thought.

But when he spoke those two names, every expert at the peak on the high platform understood immediately.

While there were over a dozen Innate Realm experts on the platform, aside from the enigmatic Jin Zhanyi and He Yiming—universally acknowledged as the foremost in the Northwest—Yang Hao and Zhou Datian possessed the highest martial cultivation.

Both had condensed the Three Flowers stage; although they had not yet reached the Summit stage, their combined strength was absolutely among the top tier of those at the same level.

Putting them together, even He Yiming would likely yield ground and admit they were too formidable.

Yang Hao and Zhou Datian stepped forward simultaneously, bowing. “Yes.”

Their thoughts differed. Yang Hao, a native disciple of the main lineage, had long been dissatisfied with Xiong Wuji’s arrogance; fighting now suited his mood perfectly.

Zhou Datian, however, felt like cursing. Although he had paid a heavy price attempting to foster goodwill with He Yiming, it was purely a strategy. In his heart, he held no affection for He Yiming whatsoever. When Xiong Wuji arrived looking for trouble, Zhou Datian had felt a flicker of schadenfreude. But now, in a matter of moments, he was inexplicably fighting on He Yiming’s behalf. This thought made him so depressed he felt like weeping aloud.

Yet, in this setting, even if he were ten times bolder, he dared not disobey Ai Wenbin’s command.

Though their inner thoughts diverged, the moment they stepped off the platform and stood shoulder-to-shoulder before Xiong Wuji, they instantly focused all their concentration. In their eyes, seemingly, only this man and his bear mattered.

Even though they were fighting two against one, they felt no sense of impropriety. The potent killing aura emanating from the yellow bear behind their opponent clearly indicated formidable strength; such intelligent spirit beasts were often harder to deal with than humans.

The three men and one beast stood facing each other across the platform, immense auras gradually spreading outward from them.

All the Houtian disciples sensibly retreated backward, leaving ample space for the impending confrontation. Fortunately, the main peak’s plaza was vast; otherwise, accommodating so many people would have left insufficient room for battle.

He Yiming’s gaze shifted, and he took half a step back. “Elder Yu, surely Elder Ai is not the only Summit Venerable in the main lineage of Tianchi?”

“Of course, there is more than one. Why do you ask?” Yu Jinglei replied without turning around.

“Since there is more than one, why are the others not present?”

Yu Jinglei shook his head with a slight smile. “Elder He, these are Venerable-level powerhouses; naturally, they focus on quiet cultivation. Unless it is the once-a-century Memorial Ceremony, where all Tianchi experts make an appearance, for a competition held every ten years, having a single Summit Venerable present is already quite remarkable.” He paused. “Had Venerable Li Mingxuan from the Ice Palace not arrived this time, Elder Ai likely wouldn't have appeared either.”

He Yiming then understood. He turned to look down at the confrontation below, where the clashing auras were growing increasingly intense.

Moments later, He Yiming and the other Innate experts grew solemn. Xiong Wuji and his yellow bear were, in the contest of sheer aura, subtly gaining the upper hand, firmly suppressing the two experts who had achieved the Three Flowers stage.

Ps: Two chapters posted first, five more to go...