Xiong Wuji gazed deeply at He Yiming, as if trying to sear the image of his face into his memory forever.

Then, he lightly patted the towering giant bear beside him. This yellow bear had become exceptionally docile after He Yiming expelled the strange Earth Flower that had exerted such immense pressure on it.

Although it still sported a slightly bared-teeth grimace, the assembled congenital powerhouses watching from the high platform perceived the beast as somewhat of an empty threat now.

He Yiming’s Heaven Overturning Seal had shattered its four limbs, but it hadn't truly subdued the creature. After all, for a powerhouse deep in the state of enlightenment, any incredible event that transpired seemed justifiable.

While most individuals interrupted during their enlightenment merely lost an excellent, perhaps even once-in-a-lifetime, opportunity for martial advancement, there were always exceptions.

Whether it was spitting blood and dying halfway through enlightenment, or suddenly being divinely aided to strike down a vastly superior master only to be completely oblivious afterward—all these scenarios fell within the realm of comprehensibility.

Thus, the moment He Yiming emerged from his enlightened state, the Fox-Bear Spirit Beast, having consumed the Qilin Blood, instantly bristled with murderous intent, unwilling to accept defeat and ready to try again.

It wanted to test if He Yiming could still unleash that unbelievable Heaven Overturning Hand Seal.

However, when He Yiming expelled the Earth Flower, and it assumed its peculiar form, the Fox-Bear Spirit Beast’s arrogance vanished instantly. If its massive body hadn't betrayed its location, it would likely have bolted elsewhere already.

"Brother He truly possesses remarkable skill. This Xiong acknowledges the lesson," Xiong Wuji bowed with a cupped fist. "Henceforth, the Totem Clan will not interfere in the matters between Your Excellency and the Wolf and Serpent Clans. I take my leave."

He Yiming’s eyebrows lifted slightly as he smiled. "Brother Xiong, this is ultimately the main peak of Tianchi. It is not a place where you can simply arrive and depart as you please."

Though sharp light flickered in Xiong Wuji’s eyes, he showed no indication of wanting to fight He Yiming.

He laughed heartily, "Brother He speaks rightly, but unless your sect's Venerables intervene, I genuinely cannot imagine who else could detain me."

Ai Wenbin frowned slightly. He valued his status and understood why the Totem Clan had dispatched this powerful Totem Ambassador who had not yet ascended to Sainthood. If the Venerables of Tianchi were to detain him, it would likely provoke a full-scale backlash from the entire Totem Clan.

He Yiming smiled faintly. "Does Brother Xiong not find himself overly confident?"

Xiong Wuji’s gaze sharpened, and he stated seriously, "Brother He, if it were a fair, one-on-one confrontation, we might not be your match. But if we intend to leave, you absolutely cannot stop us."

He Yiming lowered his gaze to the ground and said softly, "The art of burrowing. This is not the first time I have encountered it." A trace of cold amusement touched the corner of his mouth. "The Red Wolf King and the Stone King, which one of them wasn't skilled in burrowing, and yet, which one managed to escape my grasp?"

Xiong Wuji’s expression instantly faltered, a subtle panic stirring in his heart. If this claim had come from anyone else, he would have dismissed it. But He Yiming had the track record to back it up, having personally admitted to killing those two millennium-old mutated spirit beasts. To claim he held no reservations now would be a complete falsehood.

Suddenly, He Yiming looked up, a gentle smile gracing his face. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, upon seeing that smile, Xiong Wuji felt a chill run from the base of his skull.

"Brother Xiong, how about a wager?"

Xiong Wuji said gravely, "Name it."

"The two of us will engage right here. If you manage to leave the main peak area without my permission, I lose. But if you cannot achieve this within one hour, you lose."

Xiong Wuji blinked, rapidly calculating in his mind. Though his appearance was rugged and his features exceptionally resolute, he was actually a sharp-witted individual; otherwise, he wouldn't have been dispatched here alone.

"Brother He, will your sect's Venerables intervene?" Xiong Wuji asked slowly.

He Yiming shook his head. "This is a matter between you and me. If anyone else interferes, then I concede defeat."

Upon hearing this, even the crowd on the high platform couldn't help but whisper among themselves. They had all witnessed the Fox-Bear Spirit Beast’s masterful technique of burrowing. The only reason He Yiming managed to slam it into the earth and severely wound it earlier was due to the element of surprise. If the beast had intended to burrow and flee, they truly didn't know what countermeasure could be employed.

Xiong Wuji pondered for a long moment, unable to conceive of any method He Yiming possessed to counter the Fox-Bear Spirit Beast’s burrowing ability.

He gritted his teeth and announced loudly, "What are the stakes for the winner and the loser?"

"If I lose, I will accompany you to the deep mountains," He Yiming said with a smile.

Ai Wenbin, Yu Jinglei, and others friendly with He Yiming all changed expression slightly; this wager was too monumental. Given the enmity between He Yiming and the Wolf and Serpent Totems, if he ventured into the deep mountains now, the chance of returning alive would be nonexistent.

Xiong Wuji’s expression grew more serious. Since the opponent proposed such terms, the reciprocal conditions must surely be equally severe.

"If I am fortunate enough to win, I ask Brother Xiong to mediate for me and grant me twenty years of reprieve," He Yiming stated earnestly. "For twenty years, please ensure the Totem Clan does not trouble me. After twenty years, He Yiming will absolutely enter the deep mountains to pay my respects to the Wolf and Serpent Clans."

A flash of spirit ignited in Xiong Wuji’s eyes. After a long silence, he said, "Brother He, the Wolf and Serpent Clans each have their own strong figures; they are not within my capacity to restrain."

He Yiming smiled, seemingly unconcerned. "If you cannot restrain them, then you shall pay with your life."

The atmosphere in the arena grew tense once more. Upon hearing this naked threat, both Xiong Wuji and the Fox-Bear Spirit Beast’s eyes flushed slightly red. However, their apprehension towards He Yiming was also unprecedentedly strong, preventing any immediate resort to drawing weapons.

"Twenty years…" Xiong Wuji murmured the duration softly.

He Yiming stated clearly, "Indeed. After twenty years, this humble one will certainly travel to the deep mountains to fulfill today's pledge."

Xiong Wuji looked at him quietly, and finally spoke, "Agreed."

The moment the word left his mouth, he extended his hand. The terrifying, massive yellow Fox-Bear Spirit Beast had appeared behind him at some unknown point, and its enormous paw touched Xiong Wuji’s outstretched hand.

Then, with incredibly swift speed, they vanished.

Beneath their feet, the earth churned as they instantly burrowed into the ground. Although the scene below the surface was invisible from above, the experts who had reached the Peak Heaven Realm could faintly sense the Fox-Bear Spirit Beast moving at tremendous velocity underground, soon to exit the main peak area.

Their gazes immediately turned to He Yiming, wondering what method he possessed to track this man and bear beneath the earth.

He Yiming pointed a finger, and the Earth Flower emitting a golden-yellow radiance in mid-air suddenly exploded, fragmenting into countless tiny specks of golden light, like scattered starlight.

These tiny lights then poured entirely into He Yiming’s body.

This transformation was incredibly fast, completed almost the instant the Fox-Bear Spirit Beast burrowed. By the time the congenital experts shifted their focus, they only saw the final sliver of golden light entering his form.

Once all the light had dissipated, He Yiming moved, and then he too vanished.

The tens of thousands of Houtian cultivators outside the arena gasped aloud, marveling at how impossibly fast Senior He’s movement technique was. Truly worthy of the super-expert who defeated Xiong Wuji and his Fox-Bear Spirit Beast.

However, on the high platform, silence fell once more. This included the ordinary congenital experts, the Peak Heaven masters, and even Ai Wenbin and the others at the highest tier.

Finally, someone couldn't resist speaking softly, "The art of burrowing? How did he achieve that?"

Although the man’s voice was not loud, those capable of standing on the high platform were no ordinary individuals. Everyone heard him clearly. But the same question echoed in their minds: How could a Three-Flower realm expert, one who had not reached the pinnacle of Convergence nor fully merged with the power of Heaven and Earth, gain recognition from the world's energy to travel underground?

Suddenly, they recalled the incident where He Yiming had stepped down and sent the Fox-Bear Spirit Beast flying with a single palm strike. Some eyes began to gleam with a strange light: Could He Yiming truly be a monstrous beast in human skin? Otherwise, how could he perform feats achievable only by mutated spirit beasts?

Ai Wenbin let out a long breath. "He indeed possesses the ability to burrow."

After He Yiming proposed that strange wager, many had already guessed that he might have such a talent. But it was only a suspicion. Among masters of previous generations, abilities akin to burrowing were typically exclusive to Venerables. At least, prior to He Yiming, no Three-Flower realm expert was known to have performed anything similar. Therefore, when He Yiming actually employed the burrowing technique, the onlookers found it difficult to accept.

Li Mingxuan stated solemnly, "Venerable Ai, it seems you anticipated this."

Ai Wenbin sighed softly. "Venerable Li, there is something you are unaware of. When He Yiming condensed the Flower of Fire, he walked unharmed through raging flames. Thus, since he has now condensed the Flower of Earth, possessing the ability to burrow does not seem impossible."

Li Mingxuan's expression finally shifted slightly. "He Yiming walked through a sea of fire before?"

"Indeed, the Fire Cave within the eight-hundred-mile volcano range in the south," Ai Wenbin said seriously. "Protected by the Flower of Fire, he traversed the subterranean flames and exited the cave."

Li Mingxuan fell silent, then suddenly looked at Yuan Lixun beside her and asked, "Lixun, are you worried?"

Her question was abrupt, but Yuan Lixun understood perfectly.

"Mistress, I am not worried."

"Why?"

"I believe in his strength."

Li Mingxuan opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing. However, within her heart, a profound transformation was taking place.

Ps: Seven chapters totaling twenty-one thousand words, all updated today. Damn, I'm exhausted. Baihe is going to sleep now and will wake up at midnight to check the results. Last month, that fatty caught up in the final few hours. Baihe really doesn't want the same thing to happen this month. Especially since Tudou and Guanguan below are-level figures; a single call from them can garner a thousand votes in a few hours, and during the double monthly ticket period, that figure easily exceeds two thousand. So, brothers, if you still have monthly tickets, please don't hide them away… Also, tomorrow is double period again; Baihe asks for the guaranteed monthly ticket minimum. The more monthly tickets, the more motivation Baihe has. Thank you!