A long, resonant laugh echoed, and a figure strode confidently around the bend of the mountain face.
He Yi-ming glanced at the newcomer. His brow furrowed slightly; this person’s features were distinct—deep-set eyes, a high nose, and a faint hint of yellow in his irises.
One look at his appearance was enough to tell that he was not of Eastern descent.
He Yi-ming snorted coldly. “A powerhouse from the West. I wonder what I should call you.”
The man smiled arrogantly. “This seat is Gabriel.”
He Yi-ming nodded slightly. “Then it is Lord Gabriel. May I ask what brings you here?”
Gabriel’s eyes sharpened as he gazed at He Yi-ming. “This seat is here specifically to wait for you.”
As he spoke, he strode forward without hesitation, stopping only when he was three zhang away from He Yi-ming.
He Yi-ming looked utterly perplexed. “Lord Gabriel, do you know who I am?”
“Of course, I know. You are the young master from the Great Shen of the East. You are a friend of Jin Zhanyi, named He Yi-ming, correct?” Gabriel stated coldly.
A flicker of surprise crossed He Yi-ming’s face; this man had indeed come specifically for him.
Gabriel suddenly let out a deep sigh. “The East truly is the nexus of spiritual energy, producing talents endlessly, a veritable sea of masters. Both Jin Zhanyi and you are so young, yet you have both broken through the limits. If this seat is not mistaken, you must have successfully vaporized your Divine Weapon by now, correct?”
He Yi-ming felt a chill deep within. Initially, he hadn't taken this elder seriously.
He had detected his presence almost immediately upon arriving here, and judging by the aura he currently emitted, he seemed to be no more than an ordinary Heavenly Passage expert.
However, after exchanging just a few words with the old man, the fact that he could instantly discern He Yi-ming’s current realm startled him.
He Yi-ming maintained a neutral facade. “Indeed. I was fortunate enough to have just succeeded in vaporizing it.”
Even as he spoke, his ears subtly twitched, his spirit intensely focused, quietly monitoring the fluctuations of the old man’s aura.
The next moment brought a surge of horror to his heart.
Outwardly, the elder only projected the aura of a Heavenly Passage expert, but when He Yi-ming dedicated his entire attention to him, he realized that the old man’s cultivation was unfathomably deep. Even He Yi-ming could not see through the elder's true power. Among the true powerhouses He Yi-ming had fought, only the likes of Venerable Zhuo Shengfeng, who guarded the Armory of the Lingxiao Palace, had ever given him a similar feeling.
Instantly, He Yi-ming understood. Standing before him was no mere Heavenly Passage expert; this was a genuine Venerable Lord.
He inwardly cursed the Western Venerable for being so secretive, concealing his cultivation, undoubtedly with ill intent.
He had managed all of this with extreme subtlety; his ‘Flawless Hearing’ skill, in particular, was excessively potent, so much so that even Gabriel across from him had not detected the full extent of his true strength being revealed.
A strange light shone in Gabriel’s eyes. He suddenly said, “This seat has a matter to inquire about. I ask that young friend answer truthfully.”
He Yi-ming laughed out loud. “Please, Lord, ask away.”
“As far as this seat knows, everyone who enters the Ghost Cry Ridge can stay for at most one month. Yet, you, young man, seem to have been inside for a full five days beyond that limit.” Gabriel’s voice carried a serious tone. “A normal person who doesn’t emerge after a month will inevitably descend into madness, yet you remain clear-headed and even managed to vaporize your Divine Weapon. Why are you completely unafraid of the Yin Sha energy within?”
A hint of amusement crossed He Yi-ming’s mind. This old Western fellow certainly had sharp insight, immediately grasping the most valuable question once He Yi-ming appeared.
If a method to resist the Yin Sha energy within Ghost Cry Ridge could be discovered, the chances of advancing would undoubtedly increase significantly.
Yet, this old man, perhaps having been a Venerable for too long and having grown accustomed to flattery, was actually asking such a question? Only an absolute fool would answer that honestly.
His thoughts raced. He coughed lightly. “Since a senior asks, this junior shall be direct.”
Gabriel immediately focused his attention, a slight tension even entering his demeanor despite his power. This matter was too critical; if the entire West grasped this secret, the pinnacle fighting strength of the West might completely surpass the East in a thousand years, suffocating them.
He Yi-ming declared loudly, “This junior once read in an ancient text that by acquiring one specific item and swallowing it, one could become immune to the black mist of the Ghost Cry Ridge.”
Gabriel waited expectantly for a long moment, but seeing that He Yi-ming remained silent, he urged him on. “What item?”
He Yi-ming put on a serious expression. “A powerful Divine Weapon.”
Gabriel paused, startled. “Swallow a powerful Divine Weapon?”
He Yi-ming nodded emphatically. “Precisely. If you, respected elder, do not believe me, try it out. If, after swallowing a Divine Weapon, you still fear the Yin Sha energy in the Ghost Cry Ridge, then this junior accepts all blame.”
Gabriel pondered for a moment, his face slowly darkening.
Although he spoke the language of the Great Shen, he was not entirely fluent. It took him a while to grasp the meaning of He Yi-ming’s statement.
If a normal person swallowed a Divine Weapon, they would undoubtedly die.
Sending a dying person into the Ghost Cry Ridge, of course, meant they would no longer fear the Yin Sha energy. Once he understood this, he realized the other party was merely mocking him.
His expression grew sullen. He let out a dry laugh. “Young friend certainly has high spirits, daring to play games even with this old man.”
He Yi-ming lifted his chin and spoke loudly, “Are you perhaps senile, sir? You are from the West, and I am from the East. Setting aside the fact that I possess no such secret method, even if I did, why would I tell you?”
Gabriel let out a short laugh. “Indeed, this seat may be a bit muddled. However, once I capture you, do you think I won’t be able to extract what I wish to know?”
He Yi-ming’s eyes shifted slightly, and he suddenly recalled Gabriel’s opening words. “You mentioned Jin Zhanyi earlier. Have you met Brother Jin?”
Gabriel snorted angrily. “That brat Jin Zhanyi is as slippery as a fish and cowardly as a rat. He only knows how to run and hide, never daring to fight this seat openly.”
He Yi-ming suddenly understood. “So, you are the Venerable Lord who pursued Brother Jin in the West back then…”
Gabriel paused, then smiled dismissively. “Since you have guessed it, this seat has no need to hide it any longer.”
As soon as he finished speaking, his imposing aura began to surge violently. In an instant, a powerful pressure, like a tidal wave, flooded the surrounding space.
This was undeniably the might of a Venerable. Even for the current He Yi-ming, resisting this imposing pressure made breathing momentarily difficult.
Gabriel unleashed his full presence, speaking deliberately, word by word: “Tell me the method to become immune to the Yin Sha energy, and this seat will spare your life today.”
His intent to kill had been firm, but witnessing He Yi-ming survive in Ghost Cry Ridge for over a month without succumbing to madness had subtly shifted his thinking.
He Yi-ming took a deep breath, and a massive wave of fighting intent rose from him as well.
Although his aura could not yet match that of his opponent on equal footing, firmly holding his ground was not an insurmountable task.
Above his head, at the Baihui point, seemingly endless Heaven and Earth energy continuously poured into his body, replenishing his expended True Qi to the maximum limit.
“This junior possesses no method to neutralize the Yin Sha energy. If Your Lord does not believe me, then there is nothing I can do,” He Yi-ming said, spreading his hands helplessly.
He truly had no such method, as no one else in the world possessed his miraculous constitution.
The ability to refine the Yin Sha energy and convert it into True Qi—that was absolutely unique in all creation.
Sensing He Yi-ming’s fighting spirit and resolve, Gabriel was not angered, merely curling his lip slightly. “It is fine if you refuse to speak. I will capture you alive and then let you taste the torment of the Soul Searching Art. Then, whatever you know, you will tell me everything without reservation.”
His voice was utterly calm, but the murderous intent contained within it was chillingly sharp.
He Yi-ming reached under his armpit and patted; the Five Elements Rings magically leaped into his hand.
“You couldn’t even capture Brother Jin, who is at the Cauldron Apex realm. How do you expect to take down He Yi-ming?” He Yi-ming challenged proudly. “Must all Westerners be as boastful as you are?”
A murderous glint finally flashed uncontrollably in Gabriel’s eyes.
The pursuit of Jin Zhanyi over a thousand li—only for the brat to slip away through various tricks and finally grasp the Art of the Ten Thousand Li Idle Stroll at the last moment—was, for a Venerable like him, the greatest shame of his life. Even in the Western world, only a handful dared to mention that incident to his face.
Now, He Yi-ming had mercilessly struck the fatal spot with his words, and the resulting fury was immense.
“Impudent child, you seek death!”
He spat those four words out hatefully, extending one hand to grab directly and openly towards He Yi-ming.
As this hand reached out, the immense surrounding pressure moved in tandem, as if obeying a command, squeezing towards He Yi-ming.
A powerful binding force converged from all directions, seemingly determined to trap him firmly in place.
He Yi-ming’s eyes brightened slightly. He gently swung the Five Elements Rings, causing a thin layer of mist to rise from them. This mist spread outward in all directions, aided by his True Qi.
With the assistance of this mist, He Yi-ming’s previously wavering aura stabilized, becoming rock-solid once more.
A mocking look flashed in Gabriel’s eyes. He shouted sharply, “Break…”
The surrounding pressure instantly doubled, as if in that moment, the massive stone had become a mountain peak, and the small stream had turned into a vast ocean. The powerful restraining force far exceeded He Yi-ming’s imagination.
At this point, He Yi-ming realized the true power of a Venerable going all out—it was incomprehensibly potent.
His knees bent slightly as he sank his stance, and a fierce, soaring cry suddenly burst from his mouth…