Hundred and Eight turned and left without a word. This strange departure baffled everyone, including Franklin.

It wasn't until the one wielding the Forked Sword Divine Light soared away that the others realized the renowned Ancestor of the Yellow Springs had simply vanished from Star Island.

Franklin’s lips trembled slightly. He had witnessed countless bizarre incidents in his life, but he regretted to say, this was a first.

Indeed, the tempers of those at the pinnacle of the Human Dao were exceedingly peculiar, for they never felt the need to care about the opinions of the world.

In their eyes, everyone beneath their own tier was nothing more than ants they could crush at will.

Yet, when facing peers of equal standing, they knew how to temper their pride and interact as equals.

But the Ancestor of the Yellow Springs’ behavior today left him deeply perplexed. No matter how much he speculated, he could never have guessed that the very individual with whom he had just lingered in conversation, forging the most crucial agreement, was, in fact, a complete impostor.

Franklin frowned, considering whether to abandon the Venerables present and pursue the Ancestor of the Yellow Springs.

After all, in his view, the Ancestor of the Yellow Springs was infinitely more significant than these newly ascended Venerables. All of them combined weren't worth half of the Ancestor.

However, the moment his body shifted, he felt a massive, unimaginable aura erupt from the lightning domain.

Although this aura had always existed within the lightning zone, it felt distinctly different after the Ancestor of the Yellow Springs departed.

This aura now carried a potent battle intent, and if Franklin was not mistaken, that intent was directed squarely at him.

His Holiness the Pope frowned. He had no desire to clash with an unknown, top-tier Sacred Beast. But at this moment, it seemed he had no other choice.

Given his status, how could he possibly flee when challenged by such a powerful entity?

Still, deep confusion remained in his heart.

What exactly was the connection between the Sect Master of the Yellow Springs, who had already left, and the top Sacred Beast within that lightning?

He Yiming turned back, his heart surging with mixed joy, just in time to see the eyes of the White Horse of Lightning open.

In the eyes of both man and horse shone intense delight. Though they had been separated for only a few days, it felt like an eternity to them.

He Yiming and the White Horse of Lightning had never undergone the ritual of bonded Sacred Beasts within the Totem Clan, yet the depth of their bond was in no way inferior to that of the human-beast pairings there.

Together, they had navigated countless perilous situations and shared boundless joys. They possessed a profound, unspoken synchronicity; they were an inseparable whole.

Thus, the moment He Yiming’s gaze met the White Horse of Lightning’s, they could clearly sense the deepest longing and concern in each other's hearts, and they were thrilled to be reunited so quickly.

The White Horse of Lightning moved, rising to its feet. It shook its body a few times. Though the distant lightning still crackled, around He Yiming and the horse, not a single spark of electricity remained.

It was as if a protective shield against the power of lightning enveloped them, rendering them immune to its threat.

A flicker of pleasant surprise crossed He Yiming’s face. Witnessing such miraculous control over electricity, he understood that the White Horse had successfully mastered all its inherent power.

So, while purple lightning still flashed outside, warning others away, the space around the White Horse of Lightning had become the quietest place imaginable.

The Five Elements True Qi Armor on his body rippled, then slowly dissolved, melting into starry motes that reabsorbed into his frame.

When He Yiming wore the armor, it even enveloped Bao Zhu. Once the armor dissipated, Bao Zhu immediately leaped in front of the White Horse of Lightning. It flapped its front hooves, gesturing wildly, seemingly complaining about something to the horse.

He Yiming’s expression shifted slightly. He recalled the scene at Ghost Cry Ridge. The situation now was strikingly similar to that time.

Except then, the target of Bao Zhu’s cajoling had been one of the most powerful, recognized peak Sacred Beasts of the era—the Dragon Snake of Ghost Cry Ridge.

Now, the one being faced was its good friend, the White Horse of Lightning.

However, the White Horse of Lightning was entirely different now. The power of its aura, though still lacking compared to the Dragon Snake that had resided in Ghost Cry Ridge for millennia, had already surpassed the strongest experts among humans.

As Bao Zhu squeaked and gestured its arguments, sharp light flashed in the White Horse of Lightning’s eyes.

Using the unique language shared among Sacred Beasts, Bao Zhu recounted everything that had transpired between He Yiming and Franklin, adding liberal embellishments. Of course, in Bao Zhu’s mind, He Yiming was good, and anyone opposing him was naturally bad. Thus, it unsparingly criticized the Pope of the Western Temple in the manner peculiar to Sacred Beasts.

Anyone could tell by the powerful fighting spirit rapidly erupting from the White Horse of Lightning just how successful Bao Zhu's narrative had been.

He Yiming reached out, gently stroking the neck of the White Horse of Lightning.

He felt the unwavering conviction and resolve emanating from the lightning-steed. After a moment of hesitation, he finally gave up the idea of stopping it.

Though the White Horse of Lightning had once managed to chase away the Ancestor of the Yu Family, what use was an Ancestor who had lost his wits, couldn't wield his Divine Weapon, only knew how to fly using Divine Light, and possessed only the basic power of the Human Dao peak? How could such an entity compare to a true peer?

Therefore, now that the White Horse had successfully mastered all its innate power, He Yiming also wished to witness the outcome of a true battle between it and a peak Human Dao expert.

Furthermore, He Yiming had an undeniable reason not to retreat.

On this solitary island were Jin Zhanyi, the Li family father and daughter, and the Venerables from the lineage of the Northwest Celestial Lake. He Yiming simply could not abandon them.

The White Horse of Lightning was now his final hope!

He pulled his hand back, his eyes filled with fighting spirit. But he did not mount the horse; instead, he allowed the horse to challenge the Human Dao pinnacle expert using its own strength alone.

This was the pride of the White Horse—the arrogance of the Divine Beast blood flowing through its veins, which brooked no insult.

The surrounding lightning initially intensified, trending toward an even greater storm, but the moment He Yiming and the White Horse made their final decision, all the flickering electricity vanished abruptly, revealing He Yiming and a magnificent, snow-white steed with a purple horn atop its head, standing where the lightning had been.

The eyes of Jin Zhanyi and the others lit up. Indeed, this was the legendary Sacred Beast said to possess immeasurable power, and this Sacred Beast seemed significantly stronger than before.

Franklin’s gaze fell upon the White Horse of Lightning, his face filled with astonishment. His eyes locked onto the horse with sharp intensity, as if beholding the object of his deepest desire.

He Yiming’s heart stirred, and he asked with a light smile, "Your Holiness the Pope, do you know its origin?"

The White Horse of Lightning’s history was deeply mysterious. He Yiming knew nothing of it beyond the fact that it was close to Bao Zhu and possessed Divine Beast blood. Seeing the expression on the face of this knowledgeable old man, he couldn't help but harbor a sliver of hope.

Franklin pondered for a moment. Perhaps out of respect for the White Horse of Lightning, he held nothing back, nor did he refuse to answer.

“In the most ancient section of the Temple, there are murals that have been passed down since the Divine Age ten thousand years ago. These murals contain records of creatures like this. Legend holds that this being is called a Unicorn in the West, an emissary of the power of Light walking the mortal realm. In your East, however, it is revered as a Dragon Horse,” Franklin sighed softly. “Unicorns vanished from the West thousands of years ago, so to see one again today is truly a great fortune.”

He Yiming raised his eyebrows slightly. Dragon Horse—a horse flowing with the bloodline of the Divine Dragon. That was certainly an apt description.

The lightning-steed let out a soft neigh. Having already judged this man in its heart to be a villain, it certainly wasn't inclined to show him any kindness.

Franklin let out a hearty laugh, a fierce light igniting in his own eyes.

An opportunity to battle an equal peer was, for them, an experience not to be missed.

Powerful true qi began to flow from Franklin’s body; he had adopted a posture of treating the encounter with utmost seriousness.

“Edwin, you all should leave this place,” Franklin said in a deep voice.

As a Human Dao pinnacle expert, he understood the extent of the influence their clash would have on their surroundings. If he were to utilize his Divine Power, the consequences would surely be unimaginable.

Therefore, his first priority was to send Edwin, the hope of the Temple, off the island. Only then could he fight without restraint.

However, He Yiming’s eyes brightened, and he laughed loudly, “Your Holiness the Pope, if Lord Edwin wishes to depart, then I request Brother Jin and the others accompany him.”

Silence descended upon the gathered company, even their breathing growing faint.

Franklin’s face darkened, for he knew that once this opportunity was lost, gathering them all up again would be impossible. But he knew even more certainly that if he refused this condition, Edwin would never have a chance to leave.

After a moment’s consideration, he thought of the powers these individuals represented. If anything untoward happened to them here...

Franklin sighed deeply and conceded, “All of you, go.”

He Yiming could scarcely believe his ears. But it was only for an instant before he composed himself.

He glanced toward Jin Zhanyi and the others. These aged experts were remarkably astute and immediately understood his decision.

Casting a hard look at Franklin, Jin Zhanyi whispered, “Take care…”

He turned and was the first to step toward the departing island.

In mere moments, no Venerables remained except for He Yiming.

PS: Going to buy train tickets now, wondering if there will be many people... sigh... Four updates today, continuing to ask for votes, thank you.