The moment the question left his lips, he understood. With He Yiming's profound martial cultivation and a Willpower realm reaching the Ninth Heaven, his perceptions naturally far surpassed his own.

Though He Yiming had never met the Sect Master, the fact that he could sense a powerhouse of that caliber meant at least one Human Dao pinnacle expert had arrived at the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

"Where?" Hao Tong pressed, not waiting for an answer.

He Yiming glanced downward, his expression shifting slightly. With a soft 'hmph,' his form blurred, and he instantly vanished from the spot.

Hao Tong and the other two paused, startled. By the time they reacted, He Yiming was gone, and the room door, unnoticed, stood ajar.

The three exchanged glances, a knot of unease tightening in their stomachs. They bolted from the room, silently praying that a confrontation between human kings would not result in a disastrous misunderstanding.

He Yiming moved like a phantom, leaving the Tongtian Pagoda without his feet touching the ground. Though he passed countless Lingxiao Treasure Hall disciples, none could possibly detect his trace; even if he flashed before their eyes, they remained oblivious.

He had left in such haste because he sensed two immense auras, which had initially been heading straight for the Pagoda, suddenly veer off course towards the residence of White Horse Lightning and Bao Zhu.

He Yiming didn't know why two Human Dao pinnacle experts had descended simultaneously, nor could he guess the identity or status of the second arrival. But he knew one thing: if these two managed to truly anger White Horse Lightning, cleaning up the mess would be difficult.

Just as he cleared the Pagoda, he heard a long, challenging neigh echoing in the distance.

He Yiming’s heart sank; White Horse Lightning was indeed provoked.

If the intruders peering into Jin Zhanyi’s dwelling had merely been ordinary Venerables, White Horse Lightning’s arrogance would have dictated ignoring them entirely—a policy of turning a deaf ear and blind eye.

But these were two Human Dao pinnacle masters, each possessing power sufficient to stand against White Horse. Upon sensing their approach, the Divine Beast blood within White Horse boiled, triggering a rare, proactive challenge.

His face tightening, He Yiming inwardly groaned. This was the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, Jin Zhanyi’s home ground. If White Horse unleashed a torrent of thunderous, lightning-laced rain here, Jin Zhanyi would surely berate him to death.

Though their power levels now diverged significantly, the friendship forged over many years remained untainted. He Yiming firmly believed that given Jin Zhanyi’s talent, he would one day reach his current realm. He valued this friend, whom he had known since the Three Flowers realm, immensely.

He exerted a slight force with his feet, launching himself forward like a bolt of lightning. In the blink of an eye, he arrived at Jin Zhanyi’s courtyard, standing before White Horse Lightning, whose eyes gleamed intensely.

"Magnificent movement," a hearty compliment sounded from ahead.

He Yiming reached out and rested a hand on the horse's neck, sending a pulse of his Will to calm the creature.

The horse muttered in dissatisfaction but did not defy He Yiming's intent, though the challenging gleam in its beautiful large eyes intensified.

He Yiming offered a wry smile and turned his gaze.

Before him stood two middle-aged men.

The one on the left was slightly taller, possessing a square forehead that shone like polished glass. Beneath thick eyebrows, a pair of somewhat deep-set eyes concealed wisdom and understanding.

The one on the right appeared slightly older. His somewhat round face was fringed with a beard of bristly stubble; though his nose was high, his eyes were not particularly large; his hair was thick, yet his skin was fair—an overall impression of contradiction.

Regardless of their appearances, simply standing before him exuded an extraordinary might. Even He Yiming had to admit that both their martial cultivation and their bearing were in no way inferior to the two Human Dao pinnacle masters from the West.

However, He Yiming was no longer the untested youth he once was. Even facing such masters, his aura showed no sign of yielding.

He inclined his head slightly toward them, his tone even and respectful: "Thank you for the praise. May I ask who you two are?"

The man on the left smiled faintly. "I am Old Master Zi Luli, and this is my old friend, Ao Borui."

He Yiming started inwardly. He had already deduced their identities—they must be among the few Human Dao pinnacle experts in the world. Yet, to him, these names were utterly unfamiliar. After cultivators reached the Ninth Heaven realm, they were addressed universally as 'Sir,' perhaps with their title prefixed. Thus, their actual names were rarely known; He Yiming certainly wasn't fully aware of them.

A slight, insincere smile touched He Yiming's lips. "It is an honor to finally meet you both."

The two were such astute observers of human nature that they instantly recognized He Yiming’s perfunctory politeness. However, given their breadth of mind, they certainly wouldn't hold a grudge over such a trivial matter. Zi Luli chuckled, "I oversee the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, and Brother Ao guards the Grotto-Heavens, but we both merely hold titular positions now, long detached from worldly affairs."

It was then that He Yiming felt genuine reverence. They were, in fact, the Sect Master of the Lingxiao Treasure Hall and the Sect Master of the Grotto-Heavens.

Ao Borui’s gaze, sharp as his name suggested, retracted from White Horse Lightning. He said gravely, "A Human Dao pinnacle expert possessing a supreme Sacred Beast. You must be He Yiming, the one who caused such chaos in the Grotto-Heavens."

He Yiming offered a slightly awkward smile. "It was merely a minor friction. I ask Brother Ao to excuse it."

Ao Borui sighed deeply. "A minor friction cost my Grotto-Heavens a whole Grotto, injured over a thousand disciples. If a true conflict had erupted, I suppose you could have leveled the entire place with a wave of your hand."

Though his voice wasn't loud, it carried a distinctly aggressive undertone.

He Yiming's brow furrowed, about to speak, when three figures leaped in almost simultaneously. They were Hao Tong, Xu Xinghe, and Jin Zhanyi. Upon arriving, relief brightened their faces, and they spoke in unison: "Greetings to the Sect Master."

With the sudden upheavals on the continent and the fall of the two Ninth Heaven experts in the West, the impact on both Eastern and Western worlds was immense. Even Hao Tong dared not formulate an immediate strategy. Seeing the Sect Master returned, they were naturally relieved.

Zi Luli nodded slightly. "Brother Ao, He brother's actions were likely unintentional. If I estimate correctly, the Nine Dragon Furnace was stimulated by the aura of the Divine Tree, causing it to emerge and fight. I doubt He brother can be blamed for this."

Ao Borui let out a wry laugh. "You old fellow, now that he's your Guest Elder, you rush to defend him."

Zi Luli smiled silently, entirely acquiescing.

He Yiming gently stroked White Horse’s neck, though inwardly he felt it was neither here nor there; he merely wished to avoid a complete rift with the Grotto-Heavens out of consideration for the Qilian Twin Devils.

Ao Borui paused in thought. "He Yiming, since you have advanced to the Human Dao pinnacle, you are indeed qualified to fight me." He paused again. "You set a fire in the Grotto-Heavens. Whether intentional or not, it caused immense damage to our sect. Not only were a thousand disciples injured in the blaze, but the Tree God was also severely weakened, leaving the Twelfth Grotto-Heaven without sufficient vital energy, likely unable to fully recover for at least a century."

He Yiming’s eyebrows lifted slightly. Only now did he realize the severe consequences of the battle between the Nine Dragon Furnace and the Tree God. In Ao Borui’s position, he likely wouldn't be able to swallow such an offense either.

However, He Yiming was also conscious of his own rightness. He declared clearly, "Brother Ao, I ask your forgiveness, but if your sect's disciples had not sheltered my enemy back then, this outcome would never have occurred."

Ao Borui's face darkened. "Are you saying this outcome was deserved?"

He Yiming smiled faintly, offering no verbal reply, yet his expression clearly conveyed his meaning.

Ao Borui laughed in anger. "Brother He, young as you are, you are formidable indeed. Tell me, are you willing to spar with this old man?"

Hao Tong and the others exchanged glances, a hint of mischief flickering in their eyes. The news of the two Western powerhouses' demise had not yet spread. If the Ancestor of the Grotto-Heavens knew He Yiming had slain two experts of the same rank, it was doubtful if he would still possess the confidence and courage to issue a challenge.

He Yiming's hand paused, but before he could speak, White Horse took a slight step forward and let out a challenging neigh. After neutralizing a full twenty Thunder Shakers, White Horse Lightning was immensely confident. Though not possessing the complete set, twenty was still a terrifying number.

Zi Luli’s brow furrowed slightly, and his gaze fell upon White Horse Lightning. "Brother Ao, Brother He and his bonded Sacred Beast can indeed contend with a Qilin."

His words were subtle, yet they served as an unspoken reminder to Ao Borui: if he intended to fight He Yiming 'fairly,' the outcome would likely result in more losses than gains.

Ao Borui visibly paused, hesitation flickering across his face. He had been a Human Dao pinnacle expert for centuries, while He Yiming had only just ascended. Although the power levels of humans in the Ninth Heaven were nearly equal in raw strength, combat skills, experience, and divine weaponry were crucial factors in victory. Ao Borui was inherently proud; it was unthinkable for him to propose a one-on-one fight with He Yiming. However, fighting He Yiming while he rode White Horse—even if presented as 'fair'—was something Ao Borui utterly refused to accept. He had come to reclaim face, not to seek abuse.

P.S.: Only three updates today. White Crane asks for monthly tickets and recommendation votes. Thank you...