Winter was a beautiful princess, noble and reserved. Sometimes, she would dance with her magical veil, sending gusts of biting cold wind sweeping by.

Yet, the winter atop Penglai Immortal Isle was noticeably milder than that on the mainland or in the Northwest.

Even high in the mountains, there wasn't the bone-chilling cold one used to feel.

Standing outside the alchemy cave on Refining Pill Mountain, He Yiming stretched with rare languor. A wave of emotion washed over him. Ever since agreeing to Zhan Hongtu's request, He Yiming had rushed to the alchemy chamber of the Qian Shan Sect and begun refining the Innate Golden Elixirs.

With the strength of a Venerable, using the Fire of Flowers to control the furnace temperature completely, while He Yiming couldn't guarantee a hundred percent success rate, the resulting yield was far superior to what any ordinary Innate expert alchemist could achieve.

Out of thirty sets of materials, with only four being ruined, he had successfully forged a full twenty-six Innate Golden Elixirs.

This outcome not only greatly satisfied He Yiming, but Zhan Hongtu, who had been prepared for a massive outlay, was ecstatic. From that moment on, a peculiar look entered his eyes whenever he regarded He Yiming.

However, even if given more courage, he would never dare harbor any designs against He Yiming.

Having finished refining all the materials, He Yiming walked out of the cave, taking thirteen Innate Golden Elixirs as his fee. As he looked up at the sky, the gratitude he felt towards Venerable Hao Tong and the Daoist of Medicine was beyond words.

Without the meticulous guidance of the Daoist of Medicine, he would never have grasped the fundamental knowledge of the Dao of Elixirs. Similarly, during his time in the Lingxiao Palace, if Elder Hao Tong had not imparted all his accumulated knowledge of the Pill Dao without reservation, He Yiming would certainly never have achieved his current level of attainment.

At that instant, a certain resolve within him grew ever firmer.

Repay kindness with gratitude, and settle grievances with vengeance. Those two seniors who had provided him with such immense assistance would certainly be repaid adequately in the future.

His figure shifted slightly, and he sped down the mountain. Although his speed couldn't compare to lightning, reaching the Huo Residence at the foot of the mountain wouldn't take much time.

The mansion previously occupied by Dong Mingrui and others was even larger than the Huo family's estate in the small town, yet it had now been entirely taken over by the Huo family.

However, Huo Leqing had solemnly instructed that the entire backyard of the Huo Residence belonged solely to Mr. He, and besides the servants who came regularly to clean, only Huo Dongcheng was qualified to enter it at any time.

When He Yiming returned, Huo Dongcheng had long been waiting. Upon seeing He Yiming arrive, he immediately stepped forward respectfully, "Senior, Grandpa Zhang has been waiting for you in the residence for three days."

He Yiming was puzzled. Zhang Haitai clearly knew he was refining pills on the mountain, yet he had come here to wait—it was quite inexplicable.

He nodded subtly. Huo Dongcheng immediately understood his meaning, turned, and invited Zhang Haitai inside.

After Zhang Haitai entered, he immediately bowed deeply to the ground and announced loudly, "Senior, this is an invitation from our sect's Ancestor Master, please examine it."

When the two first met, Zhang Haitai had even addressed He Yiming as a brother. Now, thinking back, he broke out in a cold sweat. If he had known He Yiming’s identity, he wouldn't have dared do so even if it meant death.

But after learning of He Yiming's status, Zhang Haitai and Huo Leqing also understood that it was He Yiming who had rescued Huo Hongsheng from the storm. As for why Mr. He entered the storm, that was not for them to surmise.

He Yiming paused slightly, took the invitation, and couldn't help but laugh wryly. The invitation was Zhan Hongtu's formal request for him to travel to Sea Sky City together. What made him both smile and frown was that there wasn't just one invitation, but three in total. Besides the one he and One Hundred and Eight had received, another was addressed to White Horse Lightning.

He nodded slightly. "Go and reply to Brother Zhan. Tell him that in ten days, this one will accompany him to Sea Sky City."

Zhang Haitai was overjoyed and immediately assented. In front of He Yiming now, he felt completely out of his depth. After receiving the answer, he quickly took his leave. It wasn't until he had departed the Huo Residence that he finally let out a long breath, sighing inwardly with deep emotion.

The feeling when facing a Venerable was undeniably different.

After Zhang Haitai departed, Huo Dongcheng stepped forward and murmured, "Senior, you are also going to Sea Sky City?"

He Yiming was quite amicable toward him. "That’s right. Since I have come to Penglai Immortal Isle, I naturally must visit around a bit."

Huo Dongcheng gritted his teeth, suddenly bowed deeply, "Senior, this junior knows you agreed to Lord Zhan Venerable's request entirely because of our Huo family. Dongcheng will never forget this immense kindness."

He Yiming asked in surprise, "Who told you that?"

"Ancestor and Grandpa Zhang," Huo Dongcheng replied solemnly.

He Yiming smiled. "They worried too much. My journey there is simply because I wish to see Sea Sky City." He pursed his lips slightly and said seriously, "If you wish to repay me, then cultivate diligently under my esteemed friend. If you can advance to the Venerable rank one day and inherit his mantle, I will be extremely happy."

"Senior, rest assured, this junior will certainly not disappoint your expectations."

Huo Dongcheng's eyes faintly shone with firm and hopeful belief.

He Yiming nodded with a faint smile. He was quite satisfied with the actions of Zhang Haitai and Huo Leqing; these two old veterans knew their place, preventing his efforts from being in vain.

※※※※

Ten days later, Zhan Hongtu and He Yiming’s party departed Qian Shan City, heading towards Sea Sky City on the other side of the island.

On the entire Penglai Immortal Isle, the Sea Sky Gate was undoubtedly the most powerful sect. Its two Venerable Lords possessed unfathomably profound cultivation, and the territory they controlled was the most extensive among the three sects. The vast regions in the south and center of the island fell within their sphere of influence.

The Qian Shan Sect occupied the north of the island. As for the Lingjiu Valley, although they only controlled a little less than half of the central region, their headquarters were located within the Lingjiu Valley itself.

Not only did that place house a host of Innate Spirit Beasts called Lingjiu, but it was also the site of the largest medicinal valley on all of Penglai Immortal Isle. Their strength was actually greater than that of the Qian Shan Sect.

If the Sea Sky Gate didn't have two Venerables presiding over it, the Lingjiu Valley, leveraging the power of their Innate Spirit Beasts, might well be the strongest force on Penglai Immortal Isle.

Zhan Hongtu brought only a single disciple with him this time—Zhang Haitai, whom He Yiming knew intimately. As for the remaining two top-tier experts of the sect, he left them behind to guard against any contingencies.

He Yiming even knew that Zhan Hongtu had given explicit instructions: if he failed to return safely this time, the entire Qian Shan Sect would abandon their millennial foundation on the island, withdraw to other smaller islands to seek a chance to breathe, and wait for a future resurgence.

Because the group was small and everyone was at least an Innate expert, their speed was exceptional. In just three days, they reached the southern end of the island. This was despite the need to look after Zhang Haitai; otherwise, with the pace of a Venerable, they could have arrived in half a day.

Zhan Hongtu was very familiar with the local environment. He arrived at a high mountain and did not press onward but instead invited them to rest there.

He Yiming knew this must have a deep significance, so he readily accepted.

The next day, a strange bird cry echoed from the distant sky. The sound was strong and powerful, not inferior to that of a top-tier expert.

Subsequently, a black speck flew in from the sky, soon arriving atop the mountain peak.

It was a type of exotic bird, its body length already over thirty feet. While far less exaggerated than the Black Vulture King, it was still quite conspicuous.

He Yiming recognized it with a single glance: this must be one of the famed Lingjiu spirit beasts from the central Lingjiu Valley of the Immortal Isle.

Compared to the Black Vulture, both these spirit beasts shared the character 'Jiu' (vulture/eagle) and possessed some superficial similarities in appearance. But upon closer inspection, one could discern that the two were entirely different.

Seated on the Lingjiu’s back was a middle-aged woman. She had a gentle and kind face, appearing to be around forty years old, with eyes that curved slightly upwards at the corners, giving her a rare pair of phoenix eyes.

He Yiming marveled inwardly. Only now did he realize that the Venerable Lord of the Lingjiu Valley was actually a woman.

Zhan Hongtu laughed heartily and stepped forward. "Venerable Zhen, twenty years have passed since we last met. I trust you are well."

Zhen Wanqing stepped down from the Lingjiu, smiling faintly. "Venerable Zhan is still robust, and the Qian Shan Sect produces talents ceaselessly. As for this old woman, the days crawl by like years."

Zhan Hongtu looked surprised. "Venerable Zhen, why do you say that?"

Zhen Wanqing sighed deeply. "My Lingjiu Valley is merely tens of miles from the closest city belonging to the Sea Sky Gate. Moreover, the Sea Sky Gate keeps pressing closer step by step. I believe their intention is quite clear: they wish to unify the entire island and bring everything under the rule of the Sea Sky Gate."

Zhan Hongtu snorted coldly. "The three great Immortal Isles of the East Sea have always been the common property of all islands in the East Sea. Even in the Age of the Divine Dao, there was never any talk of unification. Lin Yi-wu is simply dreaming idly."

Zhen Wanqing shook her head slightly, her gaze drifting over He Yiming and the others. She asked with a smile, "Venerable Zhan, who are these distinguished guests...?"

Zhan Hongtu quickly introduced them. "This is Venerable He Yiming from the mainland. Venerable He’s cultivation level throughout his life is unpredictable, a feat beyond my ability to match."

Upon hearing this candid introduction, Zhen Wanqing's expression also shifted slightly, realizing that the recent rumors on the island were likely not baseless.

"This is Mr. One Hundred and Eight. Mr. Bai cultivates techniques even more unfathomable than the divine and ghostly; I have always held him in deep respect," Zhan Hongtu added with a wry smile.

Zhen Wanqing’s gaze locked onto One Hundred and Eight. After a moment, a flicker of shock crossed her eyes.

She could not sense any life aura emanating from One Hundred and Eight, a discovery that instantly instilled an inexplicable sense of dread in her heart.

"And this is the Sacred Beast White Horse Lightning. It is Venerable He’s close friend, and also his symbiotic spirit beast."

Zhen Wanqing’s gaze swept over the two people and the horse, and she executed a half-bow. "Lingjiu Valley's Zhen Wanqing greets all of you."

Her voice carried an undisguised hint of joy. The unexpected appearance of He Yiming and his group, along with their immense strength, had filled her with immense delight.

Ps: I'm only managing three chapters today and tomorrow, sigh... Starting the day after tomorrow, I will definitely reach fifteen thousand words.