A slight smile played across his lips. He Yi Ming spoke in a clear, loud voice, "Brother Zhang. What is the meaning of this?"

His tone was utterly level, devoid of any hint of reproach, which immediately eased the anxiety in Zhang Bailin and the others.

Zhang Bailin hastily replied, "Senior He, all these spirit beasts were slain by your hand. Junior and the others have discussed it, and we wish to present you first with the inner cores and items taken from the thousand-year spirit beasts. As for the remaining five innate spirit beasts, they carry too many items, making it inconvenient to handle right now. However, please rest assured..." He paused, though a sharp ache resonated deep in his heart, his outward demeanor betrayed no sign of it, "We have already cataloged everything else. At your slightest command, you may take them whenever you wish."

He Yi Ming let out a soft laugh. "He recalls once saying that everything this time, save for the Sacred Beast, was divided among you. He Yi Ming would take none of it."

Zhang Bailin and the others inwardly smiled bitterly. Though they had all heard this statement, after witnessing He Yi Ming’s true power, anyone who still took those words seriously was simply courting death.

Chen Linxi stepped forward. He bowed respectfully, "Senior, these spirit beasts were slain by you. Our very lives are, in essence, saved by you; otherwise, we would have certainly perished at the hands of the Sacred Beast this time. Therefore, these are but a small token of our gratitude; please, accept them with grace."

His words were entirely sincere. Had there only been a few innate spirit beasts among the horde, they might not have been able to defeat them, but they could have managed an escape. But with a Sacred Beast present, even if they scattered in flight, perhaps fewer than half would have survived to see another dawn.

He Yi Ming shook his head slightly. With this single exertion, securing the harvest of one Sacred Beast had already satisfied him completely. Frankly speaking, those six innate inner cores were perhaps not even something He Yi Ming truly coveted.

This was the disparity born of different levels of personal strength and cultivation realms, leading to vastly divergent perspectives.

In He Yi Ming's eyes, a Sacred Beast inner core was indeed a valuable treasure. Ordinary innate inner cores, however, were somewhat trivial—a chicken rib, as it were. But in the eyes of Zhang Bailin and his peers, innate inner cores were treasures worth risking their lives for, while a Sacred Beast inner core was something they dared not even dream about.

"Brother Zhang, since He Yi Ming has already spoken, you should put the items away," He Yi Ming said, a faint smile gracing his lips, yet his tone was undeniably firm.

To say his heart remained completely unmoved by the sight of six innate inner cores would be a lie. But for the sake of such paltry things, he would not break his own word. He Yi Ming was incapable of such hypocrisy.

Of course, if before him lay six Sacred Beast inner cores, or even one top-tier Sacred Beast inner core, He Yi Ming would certainly accept them with a gracious smile, going with the flow.

Zhang Bailin opened his mouth, a faint flush rising on his cheeks. Though inwardly excited, he still dared not readily agree. The gulf in strength between them was simply too vast. Until he could fully discern He Yi Ming's true intentions, he dared not commit to anything rashly. Who knew if He Yi Ming was testing them? Should he agree too readily, the consequences could be endless.

With a soft snort, He Yi Ming's expression tightened slightly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. He spoke coldly, "Does Brother Zhang and Brother Chen’s worthy couple dare to doubt the word of He Yi Ming?"

The three of them simultaneously shuddered, shaking their heads frantically, protesting that they dared not.

He Yi Ming sighed inwardly. Low-level cultivators were indeed habitually meek and overly cautious when facing those on higher tiers. They were like that, and wasn't he the same in his past?

However, his fortune lay in possessing the Chaos Dantian; after several years of relentless struggle, he had finally ascended to the pinnacle of the Human Dao, never again needing to gauge others' moods before acting.

This thought softened He Yi Ming’s heart. He lowered his voice, "These things are of little use to me now. If you need them, He Yi Ming can hunt more at any time. You should keep them."

Only then did Zhang Bailin and the other two relax. They acknowledged him and carefully put away the six innate inner cores.

Having perceived the goodwill in He Yi Ming's words, the three were naturally overjoyed. Chen Linxi and his wife, in particular, had planned to spend ten years searching the Northern Frontier for two innate inner cores. They never expected that after only a little over a year in the region, they would have already exceeded their goal.

Six innate inner cores—even if divided fairly, they could expect to receive at least four.

Naturally, they harbored thoughts regarding the inner core of the thousand-year spirit beast as well, but this was not the moment to bring it up. Only after they departed the city could they slowly discuss the distribution plan.

A flicker of envy crossed the eyes of Yi Zhongtian and Xu Jun. They had understood the trio's intentions the moment they entered the room with Zhang Bailin. Moreover, these two experts from the Ice Palace wholeheartedly agreed with that assessment.

Though these spirit beasts seemed to have been killed by them, no fool could ignore who the true decisive force was. After witnessing He Yi Ming's martial prowess, Yi Zhongtian even felt a fleeting urge to persuade Zhang Bailin to relinquish these innate inner cores. However, Zhang Bailin, seasoned by years in the martial world, was highly perceptive; he had already made the wisest decision without needing any prompting from Yi Zhongtian.

What they hadn't expected was that 'Mr. He' was truly a man of his word—even when presented with six innate inner cores, he refused them without changing his expression.

At this moment, their hearts were filled with profound feeling, and their respect for He Yi Ming climbed yet another step.

Yet, they remained unaware that if the items on the table were not six innate inner cores but six Sacred Beast inner cores, He Yi Ming would surely have accepted every last one without uttering a word of refusal.

"Brother Yi, He Yi Ming has a small favor to ask." He Yi Ming stated calmly.

Yi Zhongtian's face immediately grew serious. He replied in a deep voice, "Senior He need only command. Even if this junior cannot fulfill it, I will report to our sect elders and ask them to act."

He Yi Ming had already demonstrated terrifying martial cultivation. A figure like this was someone the Ice Palace would bend every effort to befriend. Thus, Yi Zhongtian instantly felt energized. If they could secure this person as an honorary guest of the Ice Palace, it would be a win-win situation for both him and the sect.

He Yi Ming smiled faintly. "It is nothing major, really." He paused, thinking for a moment, then continued, "He Yi Ming came to the Northern Frontier to visit a friend, but we became separated on the journey, and I have lost my bearings. I see many local Northern Frontier people in Peng City, so I must ask Brother Yi to find me a guide."

Yi Zhongtian nodded, slightly disappointed. So, it was merely a request to dispatch an escort. But then his eyes lit up—if the guide could lead him to his destination, then he could potentially discern the man's identity as well.

His face immediately broke into a broad smile. "Senior He, rest assured. While I may not have authority over many matters, this is simply a small exertion. In Peng City, most people are natives of the Northern Frontier, many of whom have experience traversing the entire region. I will arrange it immediately and promise not to disappoint you."

He Yi Ming nodded slightly, quite satisfied with his demeanor.

Xu Jun suddenly spoke up, "Senior, this junior is also a native of the Northern Frontier and a Patrol Envoy of the Ice Palace. I am intimately familiar with all the human settlements in this region. If you require it, this junior would be honored to serve as your guide."

He had initially been consumed by avarice, hoping to seize that one Sacred Beast inner core. But after personally dissecting the Sacred Beast Grizzly Bear, he finally experienced the unbridgeable chasm of power between himself and Senior He. Consequently, his attitude underwent a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree reversal. Not only had he completely abandoned that impractical notion, but now he was determined to forge connections with He Yi Ming by any means necessary.

Zhang Bailin and the other two exchanged glances. To have the Patrol Envoy of the Ice Palace serve as a guide—this Mr. He was truly too powerful. An overwhelming wave of envy surged through them.

He Yi Ming pondered for a long moment. "The Patrol Envoy of the Ice Palace is responsible for overseeing matters across the entire Northern Frontier, correct?" As he spoke, he recalled the supplementary knowledge Di Shitian had hastily crammed into him. During their brief discussion about the Ice Palace, though Di Shitian had only used a few sentences to explain the function of a Patrol Envoy, it had left a profound impression.

Because, in the unique environment of the Northern Frontier, a Patrol Envoy undeniably held a position of significant importance. They were effectively the eyes, ears, and voice of the entire Ice Palace, representing the Ice Palace's honor and reputation externally.

Although He Yi Ming was self-assured, out of respect for Yuan Lixun, he felt uncomfortable accepting this offer.

"Brother Xu, you are a dignified Patrol Envoy of the Ice Palace. If He Yi Ming asked you to personally guide me, and word got out, wouldn't people laugh at He Yi Ming for being overly presumptuous?" he said with a slight smile.

Xu Jun quickly shook his head. "Senior He, you may not be aware, but the Ice Palace has had regulations for thousands of years: if a Venerable Great being enters the Northern Frontier Ice Field, all Patrol Envoys must personally attend to them, responsible for arranging all lodging and itineraries along the way." He stated earnestly, "This junior is merely carrying out orders; you need not have any scruples."

A look of surprise flashed across He Yi Ming's face. He shifted his gaze to Zhang Bailin.

Although this man was an outsider, his familiarity with the Ice Field far surpassed his own.

Zhang Bailin considered for a moment, then finally said, "Senior, Brother Xu speaks the truth. In the past, whenever a Venerable Great being arrived in the Northern Frontier, unless they chose to conceal their movements or explicitly refused escort, all Patrol Envoys were certain to make arrangements that provided complete assurance."

He Yi Ming responded slowly. Since this was standard procedure and not an exception, he saw no need to be overly delicate.

He nodded toward Xu Jun. He Yi Ming said in a deep voice, "In that case, I shall trouble Brother Xu."

Xu Jun was inwardly ecstatic. "You are too kind, Senior. May I inquire where you intend to travel? This junior will make arrangements immediately."

"I am going to the Northern Frontier Ice Palace," He Yi Ming said with a placid smile.

Xu Jun: "..."

Yi Zhongtian: "..."

Zhang Bailin and the others: "..."