The little Spirit Beast’s fur slowly settled down, and the terrifying aura that had enveloped it vanished inexplicably. It then bounced its way over to He Yiming, snorting softly, seemingly asking for praise.

He Yiming blinked several times, finally certain that he hadn't been mistaken.

The Spirit Beast before him was still that same lively, adorable creature, albeit one tinged with greed and curiosity.

Even having witnessed it firsthand, He Yiming still found it impossible to reconcile the creature with the terrifying aura it had just exuded.

Gently stroking the Spirit Beast’s fur, He Yiming murmured to himself, "Was that you calling out just now?"

The Spirit Beast immediately nodded repeatedly. Its simple, honest appearance sparked a strong sense of amusement in He Yiming, but thinking of the horrific aura that had surrounded it moments before, he simply couldn't bring himself to laugh.

Sighing lightly, He Yiming frowned. "Little fellow, what exactly is your origin? Even that massive python shows you respect."

He Yiming actually knew that the great python hadn't retreated because it was scared off by the Spirit Beast’s martial power. After all, the difference in their sizes was vast, and their strengths were worlds apart. While the aura around the Spirit Beast was indeed terrifying, that was at best a manifestation of innate talent.

If anyone claimed the Spirit Beast could defeat the python, even if it meant killing He Yiming himself, he wouldn't believe it.

Therefore, there could only be one reason for the python’s retreat: the Spirit Beast's background.

He Yiming carefully lifted the Spirit Beast into his hands, examining it meticulously—up, down, left, and right—before finally saying, "I know now…"

The Spirit Beast’s movements instantly stiffened, its small, round eyes widening, revealing a trace of tension.

He Yiming’s expression was grave. "You... are not an ordinary pig."

With a thud, the Spirit Beast tumbled from He Yiming's hands, landing heavily on the ground, then immediately sprang up as if powered by springs.

Its wide-open eyes were filled with inexpressible anger. However, when it looked up, it saw that He Yiming had already looked away, mumbling to himself, "Whether you are a normal pig or an extraordinary one, you are still my treasured beast."

The Spirit Beast paused; the anger in its eyes vanished, replaced by a wide, silly grin.

"Brother Bai, I'll leave the Spirit Beast with you; I’m heading out now." With a slight shift of his body, He Yiming was already racing toward the outside of Ghost Cry Ridge once more.

This time, no force whatsoever obstructed his departure. His speed was astonishing; he left the dense fog in just a few bounds. The speed achieved while tunneling underground simply couldn't compare to moving across the surface.

While tunneling might be superior when navigating winding mountain ranges, trying to escape over long distances across open plains by burrowing was pure fantasy.

Leaving Ghost Cry Ridge, He Yiming let out a long breath, casting aside all lingering doubts. Then, he sprinted toward the distant cliff with incredible speed.

His ears twitched subtly; even as he ran toward the precipice, he had already caught the sound of movement nearby.

This was a master—a true, top-tier master. This master was hurrying toward the sheer cliff above He Yiming from not too far away.

A smile suddenly broke across He Yiming’s lips—a smile full of confidence and joy.

Because he recognized the movement technique the person was employing; it was identical, without the slightest difference, to the one Gabrie had used when pursuing him.

Gabrie, that Venerable One from the West, was meeting him again.

However, this time, He Yiming felt no fear whatsoever!

His pace abruptly quickened. This was not achieved through utilizing peak wind-elemental power, but purely through the strength of his physical body. Yet, the speed achieved solidly surpassed many of his previous top speeds.

Since ascending to the rank of Venerable One, it seemed all of He Yiming’s powers and skills had undergone some kind of breakthrough, truly elevating him to an entirely new realm.

Although this power amounted to nothing compared to that massive python, he knew he was fundamentally different from who he was before.

Stomping heavily on the cliff face with his feet, He Yiming soared upward, coming to rest steadily atop the summit.

It was only then that Gabrie rushed up.

His body halted instantly, and the look in his eyes as he regarded He Yiming was tinged with surprise and uncertainty.

But even if he were chopped into mincemeat, Gabrie would never believe that He Yiming could have fully materialized the Five Elements Ring in just ten days. So, although he sensed some change in He Yiming’s bearing, the Venerable One’s usual air of arrogance remained on his face.

"You actually managed to get out alive?" Gabrie asked, astonished.

He Yiming scoffed. "Did my survival disappoint you, my lord?"

Gabrie burst into laughter. "On the contrary, I am exceedingly pleased that you survived. It’s just that one thing puzzles me: since 'It' has awakened, how did you manage to escape?"

He Yiming's heart stirred; he immediately understood that these Eastern and Western Venerables must all be aware of the great python's existence and deeply comprehend its power, which is why they dared not cross that line.

Smiling faintly, He Yiming asked, "Lord Gabrie, have you ever met 'It'?"

Gabrie's expression shifted slightly, and he snorted angrily. "Nonsense! If anyone had met 'It,' no one would have survived."

He Yiming chuckled inwardly, thinking, Well, I have seen It. Though it was just a flick of the tail, I suppose that counts as an introduction. And not only did I survive, but I also carry a shed horn from the great python.

Of course, he preferred to keep these words buried deep within his heart.

Gabrie’s eyes suddenly lit up. "He Yiming, I repeat my old offer: hand over the method for resisting the Yin Sha energy, and I can grant you safe passage."

He Yiming let out a soundless laugh. "Gabrie, we in the East have a saying: 'To speak boastfully without substance.' Today, I will show you the true meaning of that phrase."

He took a deep breath, strode forward, and threw a punch straight toward Gabrie's chest.

In this punch, he channeled every ounce of vital energy he could gather in an instant.

This was the very first punch he had thrown in actual combat since ascending to the Venerable rank. This single blow contained his power, held back by nothing.

The surrounding air seemed to solidify, and an intense, binding force permeated every inch of space.

Gabrie’s expression changed sharply. Though he was reluctant to believe it, he could not misidentify the power of this punch and the restrictive force it generated—only a true Venerable One could unleash such an attack.

In just a moment of stunned realization, the force of He Yiming’s punch arrived at his chest.

Gabrie shrieked, crossing his arms hastily into a defensive posture, only to be struck by an unimaginable surge of massive power exploding between his hands.

He shot backward, leaving over ten deep footprints in the earth before managing to stabilize himself.

At this point, his eyes were filled with sheer terror, and he looked at He Yiming as if gazing upon an ancient behemoth, completely awestruck.

Ten days ago, in their previous fight, Gabrie clearly recalled that He Yiming's materialized Divine Weapon was barely substantial.

But in a mere ten days, not only had He Yiming thoroughly advanced to the Venerable realm, but the might of this single punch seemed to surpass even that of Gabrie, an elder who had been a Venerable for decades.

His only thought now was: is this fellow still human? He Yiming laughed aloud, the sound carrying an indescribable sense of exhilaration. With a sweep of his wrist, a torrent of mist surged forth, instantly taking the shape of the Five Elements Ring.

Gabrie’s eyes finally widened. Witnessing the entire process of He Yiming materializing his Divine Weapon, he was finally convinced that the person before him was not merely a powerful expert who had just grasped the secret of weapon materialization, but an authentic Venerable One.

He Yiming flicked his wrist, and the Five Elements Ring began to spin violently. Holding the Ring high, he poured his entire vital energy into it.

The outer layers of the Five Elements Ring spun ceaselessly, their infinite radiance dazzling and brilliant, as if scattering a rain of light across the sky, crashing down upon Gabrie indiscriminately, head to toe.

Gabrie’s face changed drastically. Without hesitation, he thrust out both hands. Mist immediately appeared on these hands as well, rapidly condensing into a sword and a shield.

A broad, heavy sword and a shield large enough to almost completely obscure his body.

This was standard equipment for a typical Western powerhouse, yet the ability to forge such implements to the level of Divine Weapons demonstrated that the forging prowess of Westerners was in no way inferior to that of the East.

Gabrie wielded the large shield, intercepting the overwhelming downpour of light rain. Although his shield grew faintly hot, not a single drop got through. Just as he felt a slight easing, a massive force struck him. Looking closely, he saw that He Yiming had suddenly raised the Five Elements Ring high and slammed it fiercely onto his great shield.

A colossal force slammed into him, forcing him to retreat backward again, losing his footing.

He Yiming, pressing his advantage, did not relent. He swung the Five Elements Ring relentlessly, much like hammering a nail, refusing to give Gabrie a moment's peace.

Gabrie's shield was too large; no matter how he maneuvered it, He Yiming could easily find a target to strike. With every impact, He Yiming’s fighting spirit soared higher, and the crushing sense of helplessness he felt facing the great python vanished completely.

The confidence that had nearly shattered while being pursued by the python was now being rebuilt, bit by bit, upon this poor Venerable One from the West.

He used this pitiable Venerable Master as a stepping stone, forging his own powerful and unshakable conviction anew.