As the old man uttered those three words, He Yiming immediately knew his presence had been seen through.

His heart sank, filled with deep vexation, for he couldn't fathom how the other party had managed to discover him.

What he was employing at that moment was far more than a simple illusion; surrounding him was a layer of illusory power born from the combination of Cloud Mist Power and the art of obfuscation.

The former Xu Zili had been unable to penetrate the Cloud Mist Power within the Cloud and Mist Secret Manual, which gave He Yiming strong confidence that unless one possessed the inherent talent for Cloud Mist, no one could possibly see through his illusionary technique.

It was precisely this combination of the illusory technique—fusing Cloud Mist Power with obfuscation—and his earth-burrowing skill that had given He Yiming the courage to attempt this venture.

But unexpectedly, the other party had detected his existence with just a second glance. This outcome filled him with immense dread while simultaneously causing great dejection.

Could it be that this Venerable before him possessed the Cloud Mist talent? If so, his luck was truly terrible.

However, since he had been called out by name, He Yiming naturally would not remain foolishly rooted to the spot. His figure trembled slightly, and the space before him instantly warped. His form shot toward the doorway like a bolt of lightning.

At this moment, he had pushed his speed to its absolute limit. Yet, just as he was about to burst through the door, his forward momentum abruptly halted. Then, applying subtle force with his feet, he rapidly retreated.

The instant He Yiming made his move, the elder also stirred. His speed was likewise incredibly swift, managing to intercept and block the doorway just ahead of He Yiming.

Pressed tightly against the wall behind him, He Yiming inwardly groaned.

He had already tested it before arriving; this magnificent pagoda was wondrous, and even his full-force strike could never shatter it.

Under the elder's piercing gaze, the only avenue for escape was that narrow doorway. But looking at the old man’s grim expression, He Yiming’s spirits plummeted.

"A formidable technique of obfuscation," the old man's voice was steady and powerful. "If I were not intimately familiar with this environment, I might truly have been fooled."

He Yiming started slightly, and his inner frustration deepened. Only then did he realize that his transformation technique hadn't failed; it was simply that the other party was too familiar with the location, knowing precisely where every single item was placed.

Under these circumstances, no matter how he altered the illusory technique—the fusion of Cloud Mist Power and obfuscation—he could not deceive the elder.

With a quiet sigh, He Yiming cursed his bad luck internally, though his eyes darted around, seemingly searching for an alternative escape route.

The elder snorted softly. "There’s no need to look. Here, aside from the door behind this old man, you are utterly cornered."

He Yiming retracted his gaze, altering his tone to one tinged with hoarseness. "May I ask your esteemed name, sir?"

The old man smiled proudly. "I am Zhuo Shengfeng."

He Yiming's gaze sharpened. "So, you are Zhuo Shengfeng. I never imagined you've remained in seclusion here for so many years. Truly patient."

As he spoke, he was secretly calculating the background of this Zhuo Shengfeng, who seemed to possess a significant bearing.

Zhuo Shengfeng glanced coldly at He Yiming. "My withdrawal from the world was naturally to seek further advancement. Since you have heard my name, you should obediently submit."

He Yiming shook his head slightly, crouching low, his eyes narrowed. An aura of ferocious tension, like that of a wounded wild beast, emanated from him.

This wave of imposing presence washed over Zhuo Shengfeng, causing his brow to furrow deeply.

He let out a cold snort. "Do you truly wish to fight me?"

He Yiming’s heart stirred. "Senior Zhuo is perhaps willing to let me go?"

"Indeed, I can let you pass, but you must give this old man an explanation," Zhuo Shengfeng stated slowly.

He Yiming was greatly puzzled, and the aggressive aura around him naturally weakened slightly.

Given the other party’s status as a Venerable, his promise carried a degree of credibility.

He hesitated for a moment, then asked gravely, "What explanation do you require?"

Zhuo Shengfeng stared deeply at him, enunciating each word clearly: "How did you manage to enter this place without my knowledge?"

He Yiming immediately understood, realizing why the old man had stalled and bargained for so long without attacking—it was this specific concern weighing on his mind.

Since He Yiming could sneak in once, he could do so a second, or even a third time. Even if nothing was missing this time, the future was uncertain. Moreover, the adjacent room housed weapons of divine quality. From any perspective, Zhuo Shengfeng needed to know the method of entry.

He offered a wry smile, shaking his head helplessly. "I regret, but I cannot tell you."

Zhuo Shengfeng’s face remained expressionless; he seemed to have anticipated this.

Slowly, he extended one hand. As he did so, the very air around them seemed to congeal. Though separated by some distance, He Yiming felt an immense pressure radiating towards him, as if his body were firmly locked in place.

He Yiming was utterly aghast. Although he had encountered several Venerables at Tianchi, even Li Mingxuan had only entertained the thought of teaching him a lesson, never attacking with full force.

But Zhuo Shengfeng now displayed his full power. Under the oppression of his True Qi, the binding force descended like a colossal mountain.

This was the true strength of a Venerable—an overwhelming power.

When facing Jin Zhanyi’s binding force, He Yiming could still fight back openly, using the sharp essence of the Metal element to carve out a bloody path and completely shatter the constraint.

However, upon encountering Zhuo Shengfeng’s restrictive power, He Yiming dismissed any notion of a direct clash.

Unless his Great Saber was in hand, attempting to meet force with force would be suicidal.

With a flip of his wrist, a Forked Sword instantly materialized in his hand. The moment this sinister weapon appeared, He Yiming clearly saw Zhuo Shengfeng’s pupils contract, followed by a flicker of annoyance. As this change occurred, even the surrounding binding force subtly shifted.

Although He Yiming couldn't fathom the reason for this sudden, obvious loss of composure, this was undoubtedly an excellent opportunity.

The Forked Sword in his hand suddenly vibrated, weaving three dazzling black sword blossoms in the air.

These three sword blossoms thrust out almost physically, striking precisely at the three weakest points where the surrounding space converged.

Zhuo Shengfeng’s expression shifted slightly; a trace of astonishment even appeared in his eyes.

This person’s cultivation had clearly not reached the Venerable realm, yet his three strikes had all hit the thinnest points of the surrounding restraint field.

A thought flashed through his mind: this person’s cultivation must have reached the pinnacle of the Apex state.

With a cold snort, Zhuo Shengfeng tightened his wrist, causing the invisible gripping force to violently contract toward the center.

It was like hauling in a fishing net from the ocean, squeezing inward, allowing the water to slip through the holes while trapping only the fish.

Since the binding force had changed its nature, the three strikes launched by He Yiming became futile. Other than the momentary, violent sparks where the sword blossoms clashed with the restraint, they accomplished nothing further.

Zhuo Shengfeng’s face remained outwardly impassive, but his gaze was locked onto his opponent.

He wasn't worried that the man could escape his grasp entirely, but he was deeply aware of a terrifying rule within the Yellow Springs Sect: if he couldn't capture this man alive and force out the method of infiltration, then even tearing him limb from limb would be a greater loss than gain.

However, just as the man appeared completely ensnared by the binding force, Zhuo Shengfeng was struck by a sudden, ominous premonition.

He Yiming’s body swayed slightly, like a fallen leaf dancing in the wind.

Then, he transformed into a gust of wind, flowing out through a gap in the net.

Zhuo Shengfeng’s expression moved slightly. His seemingly simple grab had utilized his absolute maximum, ten-tenths of his strength. Yet, the opponent’s movement technique was so uncanny, his comprehension of Wind Power so profound, that he had slipped through the grasp.

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes again. Zhuo Shengfeng simultaneously extended both hands, but just as he prepared to seize the target, his face changed drastically, and infinite rage flared in his eyes.

The moment He Yiming shook off his binding force, he shot like a flash toward a nearby bookshelf. Without even looking, he snatched a wooden box from the shelf, gave it a slight flick, and sent it spinning like a pair of Fire Wheels toward Zhuo Shengfeng.

Every book in this room was a priceless treasure. Zhuo Shengfeng was responsible for guarding the arsenal, and allowing these books to be destroyed would deliver a fatal blow to his reputation.

He gently pushed with both hands. Although He Yiming flung the wooden boxes like raindrops, under the effortless rotation of Zhuo Shengfeng's palms, every box was softly nudged toward a corner of the room. Even the hidden force He Yiming applied to the boxes was easily nullified.

This level of powerful control was something He Yiming had to concede defeat to.

However, there were simply too many wooden boxes in the room, and the angles He Yiming threw them from were exceptionally tricky. Each box contained potent True Qi; if Zhuo Shengfeng missed even one, it was guaranteed to shatter, and the fate of the books inside would be sealed.

A moment later, Zhuo Shengfeng was forced to move. His figure darted out like lightning, lightly pushing several wooden boxes sideways into the corner.

But in that brief instant, He Yiming had already shot out through the doorway.

A cold light flickered in Zhuo Shengfeng's eyes. As if fully prepared, he turned and made an ethereal grab toward the fleeing He Yiming.