After hearing Ji Mofan Shu’s words, He Yiming couldn't help but look utterly bewildered. In his memory, he didn’t recall ever doing anything that warranted such gratitude from Ji Mofan Shu. Yet, he trusted that a peak expert of the Human Dao wouldn't flatter others out of mere fear, so Ji Mofan Shu’s sentiment had to be genuine.

Forcing a smile, even He Yiming wasn't sure what expression he was wearing at that moment. However, the expression struck Ji Mofan Shu as somewhat profound and inscrutable.

He let out a soft sigh. "Brother He, do you know where that puppet originated from?"

He Yiming hesitated for a moment. "If I haven't mistaken it, that should be the Old Ancestor of the Yu Family, correct?"

"Precisely, that puppet is indeed the Old Ancestor of the Yu Family." A complex shade crossed Ji Mofan Shu's eyes. "After immense effort, I refined the corpse of the Yu Family's Old Ancestor into the Five Elements Puppet. I entrusted it to Hao Xue, hoping he would shine brilliantly in the conflict between East and West. Who knew he would encounter Garfield in the Southern Frontier, and that Garfield would shamelessly attack and forcibly seize the Five Elements Puppet."

He Yiming’s face displayed a look of sudden realization, and he asked in a deep voice, "Did Brother Hao Xue relay this to you?"

Ji Mofan Shu shook his head, his face etched with regret, even showing undisguised remorse in his eyes: "Hao Xue was my most outstanding descendant, but he was implicated by me this time, ultimately losing his life in the Southern Frontier." He sighed deeply, "All of this was caused by the Five Elements Puppet. If it weren't for this puppet, Garfield would never have moved against a junior who had just advanced to the Venerable rank."

He Yiming nodded slightly, though his heart was already blooming with triumph. Since the Yellow Springs Old Ancestor had fixed this narrative, he certainly wasn't foolish enough to step forward and correct the man's mistake.

As Hao Xue and Garfield were already dead, and the only surviving Five Elements Puppet was merely a façade—the interior having long been replaced by the Divine Dao Coagulated Blood Man—this secret would remain buried with He Yiming forever, known to no one else.

In truth, Ji Mofan Shu’s real purpose in giving the puppet to Hao Xue for command was to have him assassinate He Yiming in the Southern Frontier. However, this fact absolutely could not be revealed now. Hao Xue's death, along with the immense loss of the puppet, still caused Ji Mofan Shu great pain, and fundamentally, He Yiming could not be absolved of responsibility.

But He Yiming was no longer the Five Qi Great Venerable he could once pursue across thousands of miles. If they were truly to clash now, the hunter and the hunted would certainly have to switch places.

The Icelandic Millennium Phenomenon was due to appear imminently. Therefore, regardless of Ji Mofan Shu's inner desires, he had no other choice but to yield and concede defeat in this manner.

Di Shitian smiled slightly. "Since both of you have reached an understanding, I shall witness that, before we depart the Northern Frontier, neither side shall engage in further conflict. Should anyone violate this agreement, I will certainly summon all my peers to seek justice together."

As he uttered those final words, his tone became quite stern. Although He Yiming and Ji Mofan Shu’s martial cultivation was not beneath his own, they both felt a slight chill.

Because they knew that if they truly broke their promise, this seemingly twenty-something old man would stop at nothing to invite every peak expert of the Human Dao to jointly hunt down the oath-breaker.

If all the peak Human Dao experts in the world converged here, even He Yiming would have no confidence in facing them as an enemy.

Unless he truly advanced to the Divine Dao realm, or the power of Heaven and Earth suddenly multiplied a hundredfold, even if he managed to kill a few, he would ultimately perish.

The two men exchanged glances; whatever thoughts churned beneath the surface, they both slowly nodded and agreed.

After all, Di Shitian had mentioned that once the Icelandic phenomenon vanished, if they were still alive, this constraint would naturally dissolve. By then, they could fight until the heavens and earth turned dark, and no one would be there to accuse them.

After a long moment, Ji Mofan Shu suddenly stood up. "Gentlemen, please continue your chat; I shall retire for a rest." He nodded towards Di Shitian. "Give me a call when you head towards the Northern Frontier; I will travel with you."

Di Shitian smiled with satisfaction. "Gaining the alliance of Sect Master Ji Mofan significantly increases our chances."

Ji Mofan Shu chuckled, said no more, and turned toward the edge of the cliff. With a flicker of his form, he vanished.

He Yiming’s brow furrowed slightly. "Does he reside on the mountain?"

Di Shitian nodded slightly. "Indeed. Sect Master Ji Mofan is currently staying in the courtyard of the Divine Calculator." He paused. "Brother He, I know there have been some unpleasantries between you and him, but let's put them aside until the opening of the Icelandic realm."

He Yiming curled his lip. "Rest assured, I have given my word."

Di Shitian let out a soft sigh. "Truthfully, with you and that puppet, Sect Master Ji Mofan’s martial strength is no longer that crucial to us."

He Yiming was momentarily stunned, a flicker of incomprehension entering his gaze. If the Yellow Springs Old Ancestor was indeed an insignificant factor, why had Di Shitian invested such effort and even personally intervened to mediate?

Seemingly reading the meaning in He Yiming's eyes, Di Shitian offered a helpless, wry smile. "The Thousand-Year Icelandic Realm is the most coveted place for all Nine Heavens experts, but it is also the place we fear the most. No one knows if we can truly force open the path to the island, nor if, once inside, we can advance to the Divine Dao as wished. Thus, thousands of years ago, an unwritten rule formed among all peak Human Dao experts: advance together, retreat together."

He Yiming’s eyebrows arched slightly; he was beginning to grasp the implication.

The benefit of advancing together was sharing the rewards, but it also meant sharing the calamity. Success meant universal celebration; failure meant shared misfortune—no one could remain aloof.

Di Shitian paused before speaking slowly, "This time, we have the highest confidence of entry, so not a single Nine Heavens expert from the world can be missing."

He Yiming was inwardly surprised. Just two days ago, this old man was advising him to carefully consider entering; how had he changed his mind so quickly?

Di Shitian looked at him and said gently, "Consider this, Brother He: If all of us enter, but ultimately cannot leave, and only Ji Mofan Shu remains here, what might the result be?"

He Yiming’s expression instantly darkened. Those powerful sects had the protection of their ultimate powers; even the Yellow Springs Old Ancestor might not be able to annihilate them. But what about the He Family Manor...

He believed that if such a thing occurred, the He Family Manor would surely be leveled by the Yellow Springs Old Ancestor.

Di Shitian cast him a meaningful glance. "Brother He, you are the Grand Elder of our Tianchi lineage, and the Chief Guest Elder of the Lingxiao Treasure Hall. You have known the Li father and daughter of Glazed Island, and the Qilian Twin Demons of the Grotto-Heaven Paradise since you were Venerables. Moreover, Yuan Lixun is the Guardian Elder who inherited the replica divine artifact, the Ice Mirror, in the Ice Palace. Therefore, if you were unwilling to enter, no one would truly object."

He Yiming’s face shifted with myriad emotions as he slowly nodded, having understood the old man's intent from his tone.

He actually wanted He Yiming not to enter the Icelandic realm, but to remain outside.

Among the super-sects of the East, he maintained quite close ties with most of them. Perhaps only the Totem Clan and the Yellow Springs Old Ancestor viewed him with deep apprehension, or stood in opposition.

But apart from them, even those with minor conflicts didn't hold mortal hatred. If five peak Human Dao experts agreed that he didn't need to enter, and if he himself wished to stay behind, it was likely no one would object.

However, He Yiming's brow furrowed tighter and tighter. To ask him to abandon this once-in-a-millennium opportunity—would he truly accept that willingly?

After a long silence, He Yiming sighed deeply. "Brother Di, let us discuss this matter later."

Di Shitian did not press him. As a top-tier cultivator, he completely understood He Yiming's current state of mind. Shaking his head slightly, he felt a wave of emotion.

He Yiming was still too young. If he were already two or three hundred years old, with most of his peers and kin long dead, he wouldn't have a choice. But for a youth not yet thirty, whether to enter that bizarre and unpredictable Thousand-Year Icelandic Realm was indeed a difficult decision.

He slowly stood up and walked step by step to the other side of the cliff.

"Come and look..."

He Yiming complied and walked over. This side of the cliff did not lead to the platform at the base of the mountain, but rather to a mysterious place truly shrouded in thick fog.

When he stood there and looked down, the hairs on his body instantly stood on end.

A powerful aura, one that felt like the genesis of the world itself, shot straight up from the unfathomable depths of the cliff. That imposing might seemed ready to cleave him in two at any second.

His body swayed slightly, but He Yiming quickly stabilized himself.

His current martial cultivation was vastly different from before. Although he felt this immense aura, he managed to withstand it.

A flicker of astonishment crossed Di Shitian's eyes, deeply surprised by He Yiming's reaction: "Brother He has remarkable composure. You are the first person since advancing to the Divine Dao to stand at this spot observing the Metal Divine Power without retreating."

He Yiming’s spirit sharpened. He could indeed sense the incredibly sharp, piercing feeling of the Metal element within the aura emanating from below the cliff. But for it to be something below the Divine Dao rank that couldn't be easily endured seemed utterly unexpected.

Di Shitian let his smile fade, his tone becoming calm. "Brother He, beneath this cliff is the source of the Metal Divine Power. You shall meditate and cultivate here."

He Yiming bowed deeply to Di Shitian, composed his mind, and said sincerely, "Thank you, Brother Di."

Ps: Only four chapters today. Tomorrow and the day after are Saturday and Sunday; White Crane will update three times, sigh...