He Yiming felt a surge of surprise, knowing the elder was clearly concealing something, undoubtedly something crucial. Still, since the old man chose not to speak, He Yiming had no intention of pressing the issue.
To his surprise, after a moment's consideration, the elder decided to volunteer the information himself.
“Brother He, I once read in an ancient text that it is generally impossible to forge a pure Profound Iron Divine Weapon.”
He Yiming started slightly, blinking twice, feeling a mixture of amusement and frustration.
If you, elder, knew that forging a pure Profound Iron Divine Weapon was impossible, why have you lingered here for a full forty years?
However, the very next moment, He Yiming understood; this elder must possess a remedy, or he would surely have departed long ago.
Clearing his throat lightly, He Yiming ventured, “Brother Chu, if my guess is correct, you must have already found a way to circumvent that problem.”
Chu Haozhou nodded faintly. “Indeed. That ancient text also recorded that to truly refine a genuine Profound Iron Divine Weapon, the assistance of the vital blood from an Arch-tier spirit beast is required for even a chance of success,” Chu Haozhou stated, emphasizing each word.
A flash of insight struck He Yiming, and he exclaimed in surprise, “The Unicorn White Horse?”
Chu Haozhou’s expression remained unchanged, but the look in his eyes was incredibly complex. He seemed to be muttering to himself, “I don’t know the origin of that white horse, but since it possessed divine abilities comparable to my own while still in its Innate Body state, I can confirm it must be some type of Arch-tier spirit beast.”
He Yiming wholeheartedly agreed with the elder’s assessment; the origins of this white horse were certainly not simple.
Having battled the thousand-year spirit beasts of the Deep Mountain Totems, He Yiming was well aware of the power these Innate Spirit Beasts wielded.
The Red Wolf King, the Stone King, and the Fox-Bear belonging to Xiong Wuji were all top figures among the Innate Spirit Beasts. But compared to the Unicorn White Horse, they amounted to nothing.
Even though they shared the Innate Spirit Beast physique, the gap between them was equivalent to the difference between a Venerable and a frontline expert among humans.
Therefore, this white horse must be some unknown Arch-tier spirit beast.
“Brother Chu, what are your intentions? Do you require the White Horse’s life?” He Yiming asked gravely.
He couldn't help but consider whether he should agree if Chu Haozhou asked him to help slay the white horse.
Logically, as a human, and considering Chu Haozhou’s act of imparting knowledge to him, he ought to assist in dealing with the white horse, both morally and ethically.
Even though the white horse was incredibly swift, working together with the others—especially with Baobaozhu and the Hundred and Eight Transformations—their chances of success were quite high.
Even if the white horse had thick skin and tough flesh, capable of withstanding Chu Haozhou’s fists, it would be unlikely to withstand the Five Elements Ring and the Great Halberd.
Moreover, Chu Haozhou had specified he only needed the vital blood. Thus, after the white horse died, its horn, hide, and inner core could likely fall to his possession. This proposition seemed worth exploring, no matter how one looked at it.
However, the thought vanished from He Yiming’s mind as quickly as it appeared, forcibly suppressed.
For some reason, the moment this thought surfaced, he also thought of Baobaozhu.
This little fellow had always been alone; though it followed the Hundred and Eight Transformations, that taciturn companion likely offered little joy. In recent days, Baobaozhu had been riding the white horse, circling the island wildly. Even He Yiming could see that it had become significantly more cheerful than before.
If Baobaozhu knew the white horse died by his hand…
He Yiming truly dreaded imagining what the little creature might do.
Having left the Northwest for a year, He Yiming had grown accustomed to Baobaozhu’s presence. Even when not physically near, the pig was certainly nestled upon the Hundred and Eight Transformations.
Therefore, if Baobaozhu were to leave him because of this, He Yiming would regret it immensely.
Letting out a soft sigh, He Yiming suddenly froze, having clearly heard Chu Haozhou across from him also heave a long sigh.
They both looked up simultaneously, a hint of oddity in their gazes toward each other.
After a long silence, the two men who had been wordless suddenly broke into shared, wry laughter. Chu Haozhou finally said, “Brother He, this is a matter between me and the White Horse. Unless I can defeat it using my own strength, I will not take its vital blood.”
He Yiming’s facial muscles twitched slightly. What kind of stipulation was this? Did forging a Profound Iron Divine Weapon have such restrictions?
His mind shifted. “Brother Chu, is that manual you read still with you?”
Chu Haozhou looked slightly puzzled. “Why do you ask about that?”
He Yiming chuckled, “I’d like to see precisely how one goes about successfully forging the Profound Iron Divine Weapon.”
Chu Haozhou’s expression turned rather strange. “Are you also setting your sights on the Unicorn Horse?”
He Yiming waved his hands repeatedly. “The Unicorn Horse is what Brother Chu has his eye on; of course, this junior wouldn’t covet it. But surely, there isn’t just one Unicorn Horse under the heavens.”
As he said this, a look of confident composure spread across He Yiming’s face.
Chu Haozhou appeared full of suspicion. “Brother He, please forgive my ignorance, but where else might an Arch-tier spirit beast exist?”
He Yiming pondered for a moment. “Since Brother Chu recognizes the Yin Malevolent Qi, you must have also visited Ghost Cry Ridge, correct?”
Chu Haozhou nodded solemnly, the memory of his past sojourn into Ghost Cry Ridge sending a shiver down his spine even now.
He Yiming raised his eyes slightly. “Brother Chu, do you know the true cause of the Thousand Year Cataclysm?”
Chu Haozhou scoffed dismissively. “Naturally, no one below the Venerable realm knows. But once one achieves the Venerable rank, few remain ignorant of it.”
He Yiming nodded slowly, emphasizing each word. “Then, do you think that great serpent above qualifies for the title of Super Spirit Beast?”
“Of course…” Chu Haozhou’s expression abruptly changed, and the look he gave He Yiming was filled with strangeness.
It was the look one gives someone approaching death.
After a long pause, Chu Haozhou coughed heavily. “Brother He, if I heard correctly, you are contemplating targeting the Dragon Serpent?”
He Yiming smiled inscrutably. “Brother Chu, you are well aware of the Dragon Serpent’s might. Do you truly believe that is something I can handle?”
Chu Haozhou shook his head without hesitation, but after a brief delay, he couldn’t resist asking, “Since Brother He has no intention of targeting it, why mention it?”
This time, He Yiming offered no explanation, maintaining a reserved smile.
In truth, he was secretly regretting bringing it up. While he didn't possess the Dragon Serpent’s vital blood, he held something far more precious: the shed horn of a deceased Dragon Serpent.
Before a Dragon Serpent naturally sheds its horns, all its vital essence and energy are channeled into the pair. Extracting just one segment would contain Dragon Serpent vital blood far superior to that of the Unicorn White Horse.
After all, a naturally deceased Dragon Serpent, even if it hadn't fully transformed into a true Dragon, was at least second only to a Divine Beast. In any case, it was far more formidable than the Unicorn White Horse, which only possessed the Innate Body.
However, in his moment of self-satisfaction just now, He Yiming had let slip a hint of his knowledge, and now he felt a pang of regret.
Chu Haozhou watched the smiling, silent He Yiming. A moment later, a look of sudden realization dawned on his face.
He Yiming started slightly, growing suspicious amidst the elder’s knowing, half-smile.
“Brother Chu, what is it…”
Chu Haozhou laughed heartily. “Brother He, may I ask if you have ever met the Dragon Serpent atop Ghost Cry Ridge?”
He Yiming hesitated for a moment. “I have.”
Although the Dragon Serpent he met was merely a section of its tail, it still counted as an encounter.
Chu Haozhou sighed deeply. “Brother He, you may not know this, but prior to you, every single person who encountered the Dragon Serpent, even powerful experts who reached the Venerable realm, perished. Not a single one managed to withdraw unscathed.”
He Yiming nodded slowly. “This junior has heard whispers of that, but my escape was merely due to sheer luck.”
That was the absolute truth. If Baobaozhu hadn't been nearby at the time, He Yiming wouldn't have been absolutely certain of his escape.
Yet, with the Hundred and Eight Transformations alongside him, and possessing the Heaven-Overturning Seal and the Nine Dragons Furnace, he might still have found a way to survive.
Chu Haozhou laughed several times. “But luck is also a form of strength, Brother He.” He paused, then continued, “Your special physique, Brother He, being able to absorb the Yin Malevolent Qi without harm—that is already an immense blessing. Perhaps…” A sharp light flashed in his eyes, “Perhaps you could ask the Dragon Serpent for some vital blood?”
He Yiming was utterly perplexed. “Ask for vital blood? From that giant python?”
An extraordinarily bizarre image suddenly materialized in his mind.
That serpent, so massive it almost crushed the entire mountaintop, opening its enormous, vast, and majestic eyes. Before those eyes, a tiny human figure knelt, begging for a single drop of blood.
When the human raised their head, He Yiming realized it wasn't him, but Baobaozhu, who was always by his side…
Shivering violently, He Yiming couldn't fathom why such an utterly impractical thought would suddenly occur in Chu Haozhou’s mind.
Shaking his head, he offered a bitter smile. “Brother Chu is certainly jesting.”
Chu Haozhou burst into hearty laughter, filled with deep emotion. “Brother He, I once believed that humans and spirit beasts were inherently irreconcilable enemies, but now I realize that is not an absolute truth.”
Listening to his resonant voice, He Yiming nodded repeatedly.
He also recalled the Deep Mountain Totem tribe. Although he had deep-seated enmity with the masters of that clan, nearly to the point of mortal hostility, he could not deny that he was envious of the thousand-year spirit beasts belonging to the Totem lineage.