Prior to this day, despite sharing the objective of slaying He Yiming, their status as Venerables—even for Ding Liyin, the assassin Venerable from the Yellow Springs Gate—meant none of them had ever contemplated joining forces against him. Yet, now, merely ten days later, they were compelled into a reluctant alliance. Facing He Yiming at this moment, they all experienced a sensation akin to gazing up at an insurmountable mountain. This was the power, the overwhelming sensation brought forth by unmatched strength. This feeling was forged in the crucible of genuine combat, far more direct than any derived from reputation or prestige. Under such immense pressure, when He Yiming casually issued his challenge to all three, despite the profound humiliation and boiling rage within them, the three Venerables invariably chose the same path. It was uncertain who initiated it, or perhaps all three Venerables stepped forward simultaneously. They advanced slowly, subtly encircling He Yiming.

“Be cautious, both of you,” Elder Li Yuan suddenly spoke. “The weapon this man wields is the Five Elements Ring, a supreme artifact from the former Five Elements Sect. Its power is unparalleled in this world; his formidable might is inextricably linked to this artifact.”

Ding Liyin’s eyes instantly narrowed, a sharp gleam flashing within them. Gabri, on the other hand, widened his eyes in astonishment. Although he had long suspected that He Yiming’s formidable strength was related to the divine weapon in his hands, he never imagined it would be one of the legendary artifacts. He swallowed hard. “An artifact? This is actually an artifact…” In his eyes resided unconcealed greed and terror, yet his voice carried a subtle undertone of fear and hesitation.

Elder Li Yuan and the others, being shrewd and seasoned veterans, immediately detected the subtle shift in his tone. Elder Li Yuan quickly coughed lightly. “Lord Gabri, this is certainly not the true artifact, merely a replica. Surely you don’t believe a mere Venerable could actually forge a genuine artifact, do you?”

Gabri’s old face flushed, but having suffered greatly at He Yiming’s hands, he was like a bird startled by the twang of a bowstring. Moreover, deep down, he pondered: since the bizarre feat of forging an artifact replica within ten days had occurred, perhaps a Venerable forging a true artifact wasn't entirely impossible. Furthermore, since this item was a replica of a divine weapon, the power it could unleash would be vastly superior to ordinary formidable weaponry. Could the three of them, joining forces, truly prevail?

After being used as a mere stepping stone by He Yiming, having been repeatedly sent flying, Gabri’s former fortitude and courage had completely evaporated. Just as he felt apprehension gnawing at him, struggling to continue, he suddenly met He Yiming’s gaze. Within that look, he distinctly perceived a flavor of disdain. Gabri’s body trembled slightly, and he immediately clenched his jaw, completely casting aside the nascent thought of retreat. Since embarking on the path of martial cultivation, roaming the West for over two hundred years, whether as a Venerable or before achieving that rank, he had always been regarded as a supreme existence by all others. When had he ever imagined that one day he would be scrutinized with such a gaze? Within his heart, a colossal flame suddenly ignited—a fire of indignation, capable of incinerating all traces of weakness and decadence. He straightened his chest, mist churning around his hands, and his heavy sword and shield instantly materialized.

Sensing Gabri’s sudden surge of fighting spirit, Elder Li Yuan and Ding Liyin, though bewildered, were inwardly elated. These two veteran powerhouses had clearly discerned the decline in Gabri’s aura. While he was still prepared to fight, they harbored little hope regarding the extent of his actual combat power. Now, a sudden turn of fortune—Gabri’s resolve and fighting spirit erupting unexpectedly—naturally filled them with ecstatic joy. After exchanging a look, the three Venerables, without further words, conveyed their next intention to He Yiming through action alone. ※※※※

Observing the cautious demeanor of the three Venerables, He Yiming felt immense pride. Before entering Ghost Cry Ridge, he could never have envisioned such an incredible transformation taking place. He inhaled deeply, his spirit instantly heightened to an unprecedented peak. Even when facing the Great Python, he hadn't felt this exhilarated. After all, the gap between him and that massive serpent was too obvious; even fighting desperately offered little prospect of a clear outcome. However, facing the three Venerables now, relying on the special amplification ability of the Five Elements Ring, he certainly held a chance of victory. Therefore, this moment represented the zenith of his excitement. Moreover, he vaguely felt that if he could secure victory, or at least safely disengage from this battle today, he would truly possess the necessary self-preservation capabilities for his future journey to the deep mountain Totems. At this moment, He Yiming mentally categorized these three as powerhouses among the Totem Tribes. He intended to discover the absolute limits of his capability under their combined assault. If not for this, he wouldn't be foolish enough to insist on fighting all three simultaneously.

Vast cosmic energy surged into him through his Baihui point. The Five Elements Ring in He Yiming’s hands spun faster and faster; his aura began to swell rapidly, reaching an incredible height, even starting to exert a counter-pressure against the combined auras of the other three Venerables.

The faces of the three—Gabri, Li Yuan, and Ding Liyin—became exceptionally grave. They genuinely intended to kill He Yiming by joining forces, so their auras began to slowly merge, attempting to assimilate each other’s power systems and fuse as quickly as possible. Though this was their first coordination, the merging of the three Venerables’ auras resulted in a force so vast it was almost unimaginable. Yet, even their combined might was still slightly inferior to He Yiming’s singular aura in this contest. The three exchanged glances, unable to comprehend where He Yiming had summoned such overwhelming spiritual force from.

The strength of the aura determined the intensity of the mutual restraint imposed. During a major engagement, if one side’s restraining ability could surpass the other’s, they would naturally gain a massive advantage. For their combined power to be insufficient against He Yiming alone was something they found utterly unacceptable.

Elder Li Yuan’s eyes suddenly narrowed. He hissed resentfully, “The Five Elements Ring.”

Ding Liyin’s and Gabri’s gazes simultaneously shifted towards the Five Elements Ring. They saw the replica artifact flickering with tiny sparks of light, these lights blinking in and out of existence in an intimate relationship with He Yiming’s own breath. They immediately understood: He Yiming’s ability to dominate the contest of auras stemmed entirely from this replica artifact’s capabilities. If not for it, no matter how powerful He Yiming was, overwhelming one opponent would be his limit; suppressing the combined might of three was simply impossible otherwise. A flicker of greed appeared in the eyes of all three, and a thought crossed their minds: If only I could possess this thing.

A sharp, killing cry erupted from He Yiming’s mouth. It instantly pierced the sky, like a giant dragon soaring high, letting loose a heart-shaking roar after breaking free from the shackles binding heaven and earth. Endless rain of light scattered from the Five Elements Ring, every drop carrying crimson flames. Each spark seemed intelligent, surging toward the three Venerables at incredible speed.

Gabri instinctively recoiled, sheltering behind his great shield. Outside the shield, the torrential light-rain raged, yet it could not breach his defense. Ding Liyin flicked his wrist, unleashing his black sword. Before him, an infinite starry expanse materialized, countless stars shooting out like meteors, each one striking a spark of flame. Instantly, the area became a dazzling spectacle of starlight mingled with blazing fire. As for Elder Li Yuan, his method was simpler and more practical. Although he currently held only a long sword for use, with a light sweep, a sea of fire materialized before him. He was using fire to counter fire. The endless sparks fell into the fiery expanse, becoming mere points within the blaze, stripped of all threat.

However, the expressions of the three showed no relief; instead, they grew intensely grave. For they realized that He Yiming’s current attack, having been dispersed among three targets, had significantly weakened, achieving practically nothing tangible. But the targets were three combatants of the same rank. If all that offensive power had been focused on a single individual, no one could have weathered it easily. Their auras interwove, and in an instant, they understood each other's intentions. Gabri roared, charging forward first, raising his great shield high. Guided by the mutual energetic connection, Elder Li Yuan also let out a long cry, his long sword whipping out like a flood dragon emerging from the water, aiming toward He Yiming’s back. Simultaneously, a dark shadow flickered; even under the blazing sun, it radiated a chilling, ghostly aura. In an instant, he materialized on He Yiming’s other flank. The three Venerables’ attacks arrived near He Yiming at almost the exact same moment.

The Five Elements Ring spun at maximum velocity. In the next instant, countless afterimages materialized in the air; each afterimage was a Five Elements Ring. As these innumerable rings circled around He Yiming, forming a colossal wall of shadow, his figure was completely obscured.

“Boom…”

A tremendous explosion echoed from the central point of the countless illusory Five Elements Rings. The three Venerables were sent flying backward, each bearing slight scorch marks. But on the ground where He Yiming had stood, he had vanished. When the dust settled, a flash of movement on the ground revealed He Yiming reappearing. At the moment of contact, he had utilized an earth-drilling technique to hide himself. His gaze swept around, the sound of the Five Elements Ring spinning began anew, and his body shot into the air, swiftly pursuing Elder Li Yuan.