The harshest part of winter was about to yield; in the coming days, the most important season of the year, spring, would arrive once more.

And yet, He Yiming had remained within the Lingxiao Palace for a full three months now, spending even this year’s Spring Festival within those venerable halls.

The customs here mirrored those of the Northwest: the Spring Festival was considered the paramount holiday. During that period, the entire city resonated with cheer and laughter, a sound that even diluted the ache of homesickness in He Yiming’s heart.

Still, this was the first Spring Festival He Yiming had celebrated far from the Northwest, leaving him feeling rather melancholy. But he knew, as his strength continually advanced, that journeys away from home were inevitable. The dream of returning to He Family Village for the New Year every year had become an impossible, lingering hope.

The farther one progressed on the path of martial arts, the more one had to relinquish. He Yiming felt this truth keenly now.

But since he had made this choice, he would walk the path straight ahead, without hesitation. And this path, truth be told, was already one of no return…

Stepping outside, He Yiming gazed into the distance, his sight seemingly piercing through boundless space to land upon the He Family Village he missed so deeply.

“Brother He, missing home?” Jin Zhanyi’s familiar voice drifted from afar.

He Yiming withdrew his gaze and admitted frankly, “Yes, a little.”

Jin Zhanyi approached and gave a light clap on his shoulder. “You’ll get used to it.”

He Yiming managed a wry smile and shook his head. In his heart, he knew he would eventually become accustomed to it, but would the man he became then still be the man he was now?

Jin Zhanyi was something of a veteran traveler on this road, understanding that these things could not be forced; only when one let go internally could the knot be untied. Perhaps only after a century, when most of his friends and relatives had passed, would He Yiming resemble other Innate realm experts, dedicating himself wholly to seeking breakthroughs in the martial way.

“Brother He, have you seen any breakthrough during your month of seclusion?” Jin Zhanyi deftly changed the subject.

Jin Zhanyi knew well the immense difficulty He Yiming had encountered while practicing the Dingzu technique; it was for this very reason that He Yiming had announced his seclusion a month prior. Now he was out, but his demeanor suggested the problem remained unsolved.

Indeed, a helpless smile touched He Yiming’s face. “Brother Jin, I have exhausted every method I could conceive, yet I still cannot locate the three corresponding fixed points within the Five Elements Ring.” He sighed softly. “Unless the cycle of the Five Elements ceases, how can one find fixed points upon this perfect circle? But if the Five Elements halt, can it still be called the Five Elements Ring?”

Jin Zhanyi hesitated, unwilling to offer an offhand judgment.

He Yiming’s talent was unique. The ability to cultivate the Five Elements concurrently was a phenomenon unheard of, even across the entirety of Da Shen. While a few such talents had appeared throughout history, the most famous was the founding ancestor of the former Five Elements Sect. After ascending to the Divine Path, he had roamed the world with the divine artifact, the Five Elements Ring, rarely meeting an equal.

But that was ancient history now. He Yiming, cultivating the Five Elements simultaneously, was currently vexed by the puzzle of achieving the Dingzu.

After a moment of thought, Jin Zhanyi said regretfully, “Brother He, if you did not cultivate the Five Elements concurrently, this issue could be solved with ease.”

He Yiming paused, “Why?”

Jin Zhanyi pointed toward the high pagoda. The morning sun streamed over its peak, casting a vast shadow that enveloped the courtyard where He Yiming and the others resided.

“If you only cultivated three elements, you could directly enter the Armory and select a suitable divine weapon to infuse. Given your aptitude and talent, you would certainly achieve this effortlessly.”

He Yiming looked up at the pagoda as well, then smiled. “Brother Jin, I believe you are mistaken. Your humble friend is not a disciple of the Lingxiao Palace.”

Jin Zhanyi waved a hand dismissively. “I know that. However, Lingxiao Palace and the Northwest Heavenly Pool share a millennium of close friendship. If you selected a divine weapon here, the Heavenly Pool would naturally compensate us with one in return. Or, when you become a Venerable, the Palace Elders would invite you to become an Honorary Venerable, and if you agreed, Lingxiao Palace would certainly not be stingy with a divine weapon.”

He Yiming let out a sigh of resignation.

In fact, Jin Zhanyi had intentionally or unintentionally brought up the matter of the Honorary Venerable position several times over the past three months.

Even He Yiming, if he were duller, would have understood Jin Zhanyi’s meaning by now. However, his feelings toward Lingxiao Palace were exceedingly complex. If he hadn’t possessed the Nine Dragon Furnace, and if Venerable Zhuo Shengfeng hadn't discovered him during the intrusion into the armory that night, he might have already agreed.

But as it stood, a shadow of worry lingered in his heart: if his connection with Lingxiao Palace became too intimate, and he inadvertently exposed his secrets, then forget about an Honorary Venerable position—they might relentlessly hunt him across the world until his final breath.

Seeing He Yiming’s brow furrow, Jin Zhanyi finally could not restrain himself. “Brother He, I sense you hold some… misunderstanding regarding our sect. Our sect and the Northwest Heavenly Pool have enjoyed amicable relations for thousands of years. Even Venerables maintain private connections; the exchange of Honorary Venerable status has never been rare across generations.” He paused, lowering his voice slightly. “To speak plainly, our Palace Master, in his youth, once accepted a request from the Heavenly Pool and served as an Honorary Venerable for your sect.”

He Yiming looked up sharply, disbelief clouding his eyes.

Jin Zhanyi cleared his throat. “Naturally, that is no longer the case now. Since the Palace Master took stewardship of Lingxiao Palace, he could not continue as your sect’s Honorary Venerable. But if even an elder of his stature could serve as an Honorary Venerable, what reason do you still have to hesitate?”

He Yiming’s smile grew more bitter. He did indeed have concerns, but these reservations could not be spoken aloud.

Jin Zhanyi had spoken at length, yet He Yiming remained stubbornly silent, like a jar sealed tight. Jin Zhanyi grew quite disheartened; if not for their strong personal bond forged over several months, he would have long since stormed away in frustration.

With a helpless sigh, Jin Zhanyi fixed him with a stern glare. “Brother He, I must ask you: since you arrived here, we have treated you as an honored guest. What dissatisfaction remains regarding Lingxiao Palace?”

He Yiming felt a deep pang of shame. Jin Zhanyi’s words were hardly an exaggeration. Since his arrival, not only had Jin Zhanyi constantly kept him company, but he had also opened the entire library of martial arts texts to him. Though He Yiming had yet to resolve the Dingzu issue, Lingxiao Palace had certainly treated him with utmost courtesy and exhausted all efforts.

Lowering his gaze to the Five Elements Ring, an idea suddenly sparked in He Yiming’s mind.

He looked up, his expression righteous. “Brother Jin, I know your intentions are good. However, I cannot give you an answer just yet.”

Jin Zhanyi’s heart lifted. This was the first time in three months that He Yiming had conceded even slightly, a genuinely good piece of news for him.

“Brother He, do you need time to consider? That’s fine. How long do you need to decide?” Jin Zhanyi asked with a cheerful smile.

“Twenty years.”

“Twenty…” Jin Zhanyi’s eyes nearly bulged out. Twenty years to consider? Suddenly, he recalled something, and understanding dawned on him. “You plan to make your decision only after you head to the Totem Tribe, correct?”

He Yiming nodded slightly, but inwardly he thought, I was forced into this by you…

Jin Zhanyi raised his eyebrows and declared loudly, “Brother He, we at Lingxiao Palace are not cowards who shy away from trouble. Once you become an Honorary Elder, we will absolutely not stand by idly.”

He Yiming slowly waved his hand. “Brother Jin, you know this is a personal feud between me and the Totem Tribe. I do not wish to involve a sect.”

Seeing that Jin Zhanyi was about to press further, He Yiming abruptly flicked his sleeve. “Brother Jin, my decision is made. Please, say no more.”

His words sounded so noble and righteous that he was moved by them himself. In that moment, he actually felt a degree of gratitude toward Xiong Wuji; without the twenty-year pact with that brute, navigating this situation smoothly would have been far more difficult.

Jin Zhanyi gazed at him deeply, then finally nodded heavily. “Very well. Since you have decided, I will not urge you further. However, in twenty years, I, Jin, will accompany you. Even if the Totems deep in the mountains are a den of dragons and tigers, I will subdue them and force them to yield respectfully.”

He Yiming was stunned, staring at Jin Zhanyi dumbfounded. “Brother Jin, this matter has nothing to do with you, nor with Lingxiao Palace.”

Jin Zhanyi laughed heartily. “This matter certainly has nothing to do with Lingxiao Palace, but it concerns one of Jin’s brothers.” His gaze sharpened. “Rest assured, within twenty years, I, Jin, will certainly advance to the Venerable realm. I absolutely will not hold you back.”

He Yiming felt a surge of emotion. This was the second person to pledge to accompany him to the deep mountain Totems.

Furthermore, Jin Zhanyi had spoken those words before achieving the Venerable realm. This gesture of friendship was enough for He Yiming to engrave it onto his heart forever.

His expression shifted constantly. The man was showing genuine, sincere friendship, and how could he fail to feel it?

Yet, the secrets he carried were far too numerous. Before possessing absolute self-preservation strength, he truly dared not invite too much unnecessary entanglement.

Jin Zhanyi slapped his forehead. “Brother He, Venerable Gao has stated that the three months are up, and we can now depart for the Central Great Plain. His eyes glittered. “This is an excellent opportunity, a catalyst for breakthrough—for me, and for you as well.”

He Yiming paused slightly. “Brother Jin, my issue is unlikely to be resolved merely by engaging in combat.”

Jin Zhanyi chuckled wryly. “Brother He, I am not expecting you to grasp it through fighting. However, from what I know, among the masters heading to the Central Great Plain this time, there might be one person who can offer you some assistance.”

He Yiming’s eyes brightened. “Who?”

“Yu Wuchang of the Da Shen Imperial Family.”