In this world, while experts at the peak of the Human Dao like Zi Luli and Ao Borui knew of the existence of divine artifacts, and they had learned of their terrifying power through various channels, the collective knowledge of these individuals still paled in comparison to He Yiming's understanding. This was because his Five Elements Ring concealed a divine artifact: the Nine Dragon Furnace.

He Yiming was intimately aware of the might wielded by this foremost fire-element divine artifact; even the guardian Sacred Tree of the Grotto-Heaven and Blessed Land had sustained damage under its attack.

If the genuine divine artifact, the Ice Crystal Mirror, truly manifested on the North Sea Ice Island, the power it unleashed, even if somewhat inferior to the Nine Dragon Furnace, would certainly not be far behind.

At this level of power, forget a Grand Venerable at the Five Qi Unification stage—even one at the peak of the Human Dao could not possibly resist it.

Seeing He Yiming's face gradually darken, the two astute figures understood his thoughts immediately.

Ao Borui coughed lightly and said, "Brother He, the Ice Crystal Mirror is the divine artifact guarding the Ice Island. Our objective in going there isn't to destroy this artifact, but merely to open a channel for entry and exit within the Mirror's protective range."

He Yiming snorted coldly. "Brother Ao, are you aware of the might of a divine artifact? It is far beyond what the Human Dao realm can imagine. I do not believe a Grand Venerable of the Five Qi stage possesses the capacity to handle it. This matter, I absolutely do not approve of."

Ao Borui and Zi Luli frowned simultaneously.

Before this meeting, they had indeed heard rumors of He Yiming's successful breakthrough to the ninth level of the Human Dao Peak in the Southern Border's Glazed Island. But how much turbulence could a newly ascended ninth-level expert stir up against six masters of the same rank?

Thus, they had not paid much heed to He Yiming's feelings. However, after witnessing He Yiming unleash the power of the Light and Darkness Union and seeing the White Horse Lightning with their own eyes, this perception underwent a massive shift.

If this person could slay the two supreme experts of the ninth level from the West individually, then when facing the remaining few ninth-level masters, if he chose to break them one by one, who among them could possibly escape his deadly grasp?

Zi Luli sighed softly. "Brother He, I know of your connection with Miss Yuan, but do you know that Miss Yuan has already transmuted the North Sea Ice Palace's current foremost replica divine artifact, the Ice Crystal Mirror? And before she transmuted this divine weapon, she had already agreed to the request to open the Ice Island channel."

He Yiming chuckled coldly. "This request is your condition for exchange, isn't it?"

Zi Luli and Ao Borui remained silent, effectively defaulting to his assumption.

In truth, had it been anyone else, these Human Dao peak experts would never have cared about their opinions. For a powerhouse at the ninth level, if we created you, you must serve us. If it weren't for the necessity of having someone with a Deep Cold Physique use the replica artifact, the Ice Crystal Mirror, as a guide to open the channel, they wouldn't have expended so much vital energy to help Yuan Lixun advance to the Five Qi Grand Venerable stage.

But now, circumstances had dramatically changed; He Yiming’s sudden rise had thrown all their plans into disarray.

They could disregard the thoughts of Yuan Lixun and the other Five Qi Grand Venerables, and they could ignore a newly ascended ninth-level expert.

If He Yiming were merely an ordinary, fresh rookie at the ninth level, they certainly wouldn't hesitate to join forces and erase him.

But the current He Yiming was unexpectedly powerful. To face a Human Dao Peak expert who had killed two peers—it would be absurd not to feel apprehension.

He Yiming pondered for a moment. "Regarding this matter, I, He, will personally visit the Ice Palace in the future to give Lord Bing Xiaotian an accounting. However, the matter of putting Lixun at risk need never be mentioned again."

The faces of the two ninth-level experts immediately grew grim. Ao Borui sighed deeply. "Brother He, you must think this through carefully."

He Yiming’s gaze sharpened as he looked toward Ao Borui. This elder, who had just fought him, did not evade his stare now but met it with an earnest expression.

"Brother He, in order to enter the Thousand-Year Ice Island, we old fellows exhausted every effort, staking our entire fortunes. This time, to help Miss Yuan advance, not only did each of us expend massive vital energy, but the heavenly materials and earthly treasures used were countless." Ao Borui spoke slowly, his voice not loud but carrying a profound weight. "The Divine Dao realm is the ultimate pursuit for all Human Dao peaks today, and the reappearance of the Ice Island is the only chance in our lifetimes. If Brother He intends to obstruct this, you will be making an enemy of all the Human Dao ninth-level experts in the world. Therefore..." Ao Borui stood up and bowed deeply to He Yiming, adopting the most sincere posture. "I implore Brother He to think this through carefully."

He Yiming felt a chill creeping into his heart; of course, he understood their meaning.

These ninth-level experts had expended such immense effort to cultivate Yuan Lixun into a Five Qi Grand Venerable, all with the final goal of opening the Ice Island channel. Now that they had finally succeeded, if someone obstructed them, it would mean cutting off the only path for these individuals to ascend to the Divine Dao. No matter who it was, they would never swallow such an insult.

His eyes half-closed, He Yiming began to meditate quietly.

Countless thoughts spun through his mind, the most prominent of which was to travel to the Northern Frontier Ice Palace and forcibly retrieve Yuan Lixun. Then, they could fly out to sea together, find some remote island, and wait out the storm for a few years. By the time they returned, these Human Dao peak experts, however enraged, would be helpless.

But this notion was dismissed as soon as it arose.

If he were only taking Yuan Lixun away, there would be no issue. But in Taicang County of the Northwest lay the entirety of the He Family Estate.

If these people vented their fury upon the He Family Estate, leveling the small estate would be as simple as lifting a finger.

Although these figures also possessed vast influence and might not resort to such mutually destructive actions, He Yiming dared not take the gamble.

A faint, sharp aura began to leak from him as impatience subtly surfaced in his heart.

Ao Borui and Zi Luli exchanged a glance. They remained seated calmly, yet their hearts were quite apprehensive. Their true energy flowed slowly; they were prepared to flee at any moment.

Although given He Yiming's relationship with their factions, he wouldn't strike them unexpectedly unless he had gone completely mad, the two of them maintained complete readiness in secret. Even Zi Luli was calculating not how to use his sect's Heaven-Penetrating Pagoda to block He Yiming, but how to immediately distance himself the moment He Yiming attacked, ensuring no calamity befell the ordinary disciples.

After a long while, under their watch, He Yiming finally opened his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Gentlemen, if Lixun uses the replica artifact to guide the true divine artifact, what will be the consequence for her personally?"

Ao Borui and Zi Luli both breathed a collective sigh of relief. Since He Yiming hadn't openly turned hostile, there was room for negotiation.

As long as they could secure his agreement for Yuan Lixun to go and open the channel, they would concede to any terms.

"Brother He, rest assured," Zi Luli quickly stated. "Although the Ice Crystal Mirror is the foremost ice-element divine artifact, for someone with a Deep Cold Physique, this artifact will not cause any harm. On the contrary, it will bring Miss Yuan certain benefits."

He Yiming paused slightly. "How do you know this?"

"Ancient records state that during the Divine Dao era, three individuals with the Deep Cold Physique appeared. Two of them fortunately became the contemporary masters of the Ice Crystal Mirror. As for the third, although his martial cultivation was lacking, upon encountering the Ice Crystal Mirror, the ice-element divine power within it cleansed and reshaped his tendons and marrow. In just a hundred years, he transformed from an ordinary acquired cultivator with mediocre talent into a Five Qi Grand Venerable." Zi Luli's face showed undisguised envy. "Anyone with the Deep Cold Physique who encounters the Ice Crystal Mirror only reaps immense benefits; no harmful effects have ever been recorded."

He Yiming relaxed a fraction. He knew Zi Luli would never deceive him on a matter of this nature.

Ao Borui smiled slightly. "Brother He, truthfully, describing the danger is difficult. If you are still worried, why not accompany us to the Ice Island when the time comes and witness Miss Yuan's grand feat firsthand?"

He Yiming laughed out loud. "It is better to accept your kind invitation than to refuse. Thank you, Brother Ao, for the suggestion."

Though his words were polite, his mind was already made up: he would absolutely go and see this renowned and mysterious Ice Island.

If everything was as they described—that the Ice Crystal Mirror on the island would bring tremendous benefits to Yuan Lixun—then he would not interfere. But if the opposite were true, and the artifact was detrimental to Yuan Lixun, then he would defy all the Human Dao peak experts in the world before allowing it to happen.

Yet, thinking of standing before six Human Dao peak experts and a top-tier Sacred Beast, He Yiming felt a creeping dread.

Could his strength, combined with that of the White Horse Lightning and the Divine Dao Blood Condensation expert, truly withstand the combined might of these individuals?

Several days later, He Yiming bid farewell to Jin Zhanyi and the others and set off back to the Northwest.

However, he remained unaware that shortly after his departure, the outcome of his battle with the Grotto-Heaven and Blessed Land ancestor, Ao Borui, had already spread across the world. Simultaneously, his fame soared to an unattainable height.