The Qilian Twin Devils simultaneously shook their heads. They were indeed twin brothers who had been companions for nearly three hundred years; even their movements were perfectly synchronized, appearing as if they were one entity.

During their recent battle, they had worn expressions of deep-seated hatred, as if wishing to kill the other. Yet, as soon as the fight ended, they instantly relaxed and quickly began to forge a rapport.

Although there was a considerable age gap between the four of them, they interacted as peers, and everything felt utterly natural.

Beyond the Innate Realm, the basis of their interaction was judged solely by each individual's martial cultivation.

It was impossible for a Venerable to integrate seamlessly with a group of First-Line Heaven experts. Even if these First-Line Heaven practitioners were all experts on the cusp of the Apex realm, as long as they had not advanced to the Venerable realm, they would not earn the recognition of a Venerable-level powerhouse.

In the eyes of martial artists, strength was the only tangible reality.

Fan Shuo wore unconcealable pleasure on his face. He flipped his wrist, producing another jade bottle, and offered it with a chuckle to Jin Zhanyi. "Nephew Jin, we troubled you and your companion this time. Here are ten Jiahuang Pills; please accept them."

Jin Zhanyi carefully accepted the jade bottle. Even with his composure, a hint of excitement flickered across his face.

Bowing deeply, Jin Zhanyi said, "Thank you, Venerable Fan, for your generous gift."

Fan Shuo waved his hand. "I noticed you seemed to have gained considerable insight just now. Do you feel you have the certainty to break past your limits?"

Jin Zhanyi offered a wry smile. "While this junior has gained some enlightenment, breaking through that final barrier still seems quite difficult."

Fan Shuo nodded slightly; Jin Zhanyi’s answer was not unexpected. It would have been the one to upset him if Jin Zhanyi could have achieved that step.

The Great Demon hesitated for a moment, then suddenly spoke, "Brother Jin, I have a proposal, though it might seem abrupt—please do not take offense."

Jin Zhanyi laughed heartily. "There is no need for formality between us; please speak your mind."

The Great Demon said solemnly, "Chaos has erupted in the West, and many masters are converging on the Central Great Plain. If Brother Jin were to participate in this conflict, perhaps your long-cherished wish could be fulfilled."

Fan Shuo frowned slightly. "Boss, don't speak nonsense."

Participating in the East-West war was undoubtedly a prime opportunity for martial advancement, but it was simultaneously fraught with extreme risk. Whether Jin Zhanyi was willing to go was no longer solely his own decision; it would certainly require the consensus of the Venerables within the Lingxiao Treasure Hall. The Qilian Twin Devils' suggestion, regardless of its benevolent intent, treaded on sensitive ground.

Jin Zhanyi understood this perfectly. He smiled faintly. "Venerable Fan, this junior had already decided. Immediately following this battle, I will head to the Central Great Plain." He then turned his head, his gaze sharp as he looked at the Qilian Twin Devils. "Gentlemen, three years from now, this Jin will certainly travel to the Realm of Life and Death. I hope to see both of you there again."

Gao Weiliang let out a hearty laugh and repeatedly cheered, while the others from the Lingxiao Treasure Hall displayed joyous expressions, seemingly thrilled by Jin Zhanyi's bold declaration.

The Qilian Twin Devils nodded slightly. The gazes of the three men met again, seemingly sharpening once more.

He Yiming felt a mixture of suspicion and uncertainty. He had heard of the Realm of Life and Death and knew it seemed closely linked to the Totem Clan. But he could not fathom why the three of them kept mentioning it. Could it be that they also intended to cause trouble for the Totem Clan?

If that were truly the case, He Yiming would not mind adding fuel to the fire, perhaps even stepping in decisively.

The intensity in the Qilian Twin Devils' eyes gradually softened. The Great Demon turned. "Brother He, if this old man is not mistaken, you have already condensed your fourth tangible flower."

He Yiming smiled and nodded. "That is correct. This little brother has indeed condensed the fourth tangible flower."

Everyone present showed a degree of surprise, and several looked quite displeased.

For the vast majority, condensing three tangible flowers was already the limit. Once reaching that stage, one needed to prepare for forming the tripod and eventually crowning the summit. But He Yiming possessed four tangible flowers before even achieving the tripod—this was an almost heaven-defying feat.

The Great Demon's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I would like to ask, Brother He, which three tangible flowers do you intend to use as your tripod?"

He Yiming answered without hesitation. "Naturally, the Five Elements Flowers."

His reply was swift and unhesitating. It wasn't a secret anyway; once his name was renowned throughout the world, this fact would be known by all.

The Great Demon’s gaze suddenly sharpened. "Brother He, I noticed your Metal Flower just now seemed different; it actually contained the power of the Five Elements. Is this correct?"

Fan Shuo’s eyebrows lifted slightly—so subtly it was almost imperceptible—before his gaze fixed intently on He Yiming. He himself did not cultivate all Five Elements; despite his strength and insight far surpassing that of the Qilian Twin Devils, discerning the Five Elements power within the Metal Flower at a glance remained beyond his capability.

He Yiming hesitated for a moment, then realized this matter could not truly be concealed from those with sharp eyes. Denying it outright would only earn him contempt.

A faint smile touched the corner of He Yiming's mouth. "Brother Great Demon has excellent insight."

The gazes of the Qilian Twin Devils and Fan Shuo all converged on He Yiming. Their composure seemed to falter momentarily.

"Brother He, how did you achieve this?" the Great Demon asked solemnly.

He Yiming shrugged slightly. "This little brother inherently cultivates all Five Elements. After witnessing your Flower of Five Elements Reincarnation, I gained a slight understanding and incorporated a bit of the other four forces into it. It's merely a small trick, utterly incomparable to the true Flower of Five Elements Reincarnation."

He meant those words sincerely. Furthermore, the power of the Metal Flower he condensed was far inferior compared to the massive Metal Flower the Qilian Twin Devils had just materialized.

However, after hearing his explanation, the expressions of Fan Shuo and the Qilian Twin Devils grew even stranger.

Gao Weiliang and Du Wenbin exchanged a look of resignation, shaking their heads slightly as they simultaneously chose silence.

Fan Shuo's expression shifted mysteriously before he finally resumed his amicable smile. "Mr. He, since you came to Da Shen from the Northwest, are you planning to travel the realm?"

He Yiming looked at the smile on the Venerable's face and inexplicably felt a prickling sensation on his scalp. Being addressed as 'Mister' by a Venerable also gave him pause. Fortunately, having experienced so much, he wouldn't let any inner turmoil show on his face.

"Indeed. This junior came to Da Shen precisely to observe the different scenery compared to the Northwest," He Yiming stated honestly.

Fan Shuo’s smile grew gentler. "Well said. For an outstanding martial artist, the effect of locking oneself away is far inferior to traveling the world. Mr. He truly possesses great insight."

He Yiming kept his expression neutral, bowing slightly. "Venerable Fan, you flatter me." He inwardly grumbled, Is this old man flattering me or insulting me to my face? What insight do I possess? This is knowledge summarized by countless predecessors; every Innate expert understands this principle.

Fan Shuo waved his hand. "Mr. He, the territory of Da Shen is vast, filled with countless scenic spots, historical sites, and secluded valleys. However, the Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands of our Qilian are absolutely first-rate locations in the world. Among them, the Five Elements Grotto-Heaven is universally recognized as the foremost cultivation sanctuary. For someone with the Five Elements physique, the speed of cultivation here surpasses other regions by more than tenfold." At this point, he dropped his smile and turned serious. "Mr. He, I wish to invite you to visit Qilian. What do you think?"

Although He Yiming was deeply moved by the description, he became even more vigilant.

As the saying goes, unwarranted enthusiasm often hides malicious intent. If Fan Shuo was describing the Grotto-Heavens so compellingly and extending such an eager invitation, He Yiming wouldn't believe there wasn't a trick involved even if his life depended on it.

Smiling faintly, He Yiming showed a look of gratitude but also profound regret. "Thank you, Venerable Fan, but this junior already has prior engagements and cannot pay a visit at this time." Though he spoke politely, he had already decided there was no way he would go.

Fan Shuo hesitated for a moment. "May I ask what Mr. He's immediate plans are?"

He Yiming was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected this man to be so persistent, acting as if he wouldn't rest until his objective was achieved. His heart tightened. Glancing aside, he saw the smiling Jin Zhanyi, and his eyes lit up. "Venerable Fan, this junior has already agreed with Brother Jin to head West together to resist the enemy. This is a rare opportunity for tempering, so I ask for your understanding."

Fan Shuo's gaze shifted to Jin Zhanyi. Though the latter cursed inwardly, meeting Fan Shuo's questioning look, he nodded firmly. "We indeed made an agreement. Immediately after finishing our fight with the Twin Devils, we head to the Central Great Plain."

Fan Shuo finally sighed in disappointment. He then said, "Mr. He, cultivating all Five Elements alone marks you as exceptionally gifted. However, cultivating all Five Elements requires corresponding special techniques to unleash their most powerful might. If Mr. He ever visits the Grotto-Heavens in the future, please seek me out. I will certainly roll out the mats to welcome you and discuss matters together."

He Yiming felt a sudden surge of excitement. Out of everything the elder had said, this last point was the only one that truly held immense appeal for him. He understood that the elder might have sensed his perfunctory attitude and thus offered such a tempting lure. But this bait, for someone who commanded the power of the Five Elements, was too great. Even though he had resolved not to go to the Grotto-Heavens, in that moment, he couldn't help but feel moved.

Finally, he let out a long sigh internally, then stated gravely, "Venerable Fan, upon my return from the West, I will certainly pay my respects to you at the Grotto-Heaven."

A look of joy immediately appeared on Fan Shuo's face. He laughed heartily several times. "I shall certainly wait at Mount Qilian, just hoping, Mr. He, that you do not make me wait until my eyes are sore from looking!"

He Yiming managed a couple of awkward laughs in response.

Fan Shuo hesitated one last time before tossing the other jade bottle in his hand to He Yiming. "The journey West is quite perilous. Mr. He, please keep this bottle of pills with you; they might prove useful."

With that, he gave a slight bow to those around him and strode away purposefully. Behind him, the Qilian Twin Devils nodded slightly toward He Yiming and Jin Zhanyi before following closely.

A moment later, the three had vanished from sight, leaving no trace behind.