At this moment, Bing Xiaotian grew more and more surprised as he fought. The feeling He Yiming gave him was profoundly different from ordinary people; he seemed less like a physical entity and more like a figure composed only of mist and cloud.

Based on Bing Xiaotian's centuries of life experience and combat knowledge, he could already tell that He Yiming must be employing some special combat technique, one that centered on Cloud and Mist cultivation—a mastery of the ethereal and the concrete that rendered him elusive.

Even within the Ice Palace, Cloud and Mist techniques were exceedingly rare. Although some related martial skills had been passed down, few in thousands of years had ever managed to master them fully.

This was because, just like the Profound Cold Physique for ice-attribute practitioners, these techniques could never reach their apex without that specific innate constitution. Most water-attribute cultivators possessed only standard water talent, and the probability of manifesting either a Profound Cold Physique or a Cloud and Mist Physique was minuscule—perhaps not even one appearing over several centuries.

Bing Xiaotian felt a wave of complex emotions. Yuan Lixun possessing the Profound Cold Physique had already been a delightful surprise. But He Yiming was even more incredible. The sheer number of unique constitutions he embodied suggested he was favored by heaven and earth itself, stirring a deep sense of jealousy even in Bing Xiaotian.

Sensing the shift in the valley’s water-attribute divine power, Bing Xiaotian’s expression drastically changed, for he vaguely perceived that He Yiming had begun attempting to manipulate the divine power residing there. Though not yet fully successful, a glimmer of the potential was already visible.

Upon realizing this, Bing Xiaotian was nearly struck with terror.

If He Yiming were merely absorbing some water divine power, Bing Xiaotian would not have worried, no matter how much was absorbed.

Since its inception, the Ice Palace had been constructed under the direction of the Divine Path predecessors to form the Seven-Colored Palace, specifically designed to contain and draw in water divine power.

Thousands of years of water divine power had accumulated here. Even with an enormous capacity, He Yiming would be fortunate to absorb even one ten-thousandth of it.

However, if he could control the water divine power here, it would undoubtedly spell disaster for the entire Ice Palace.

In that instant, he cursed inwardly, Di Shitian, you old fool, you have killed me...

Taking a deep breath, Bing Xiaotian discarded all pretense of composure and roared, "Everyone! He Yiming is beginning to gain control of the water divine power here! I urge you all to strike together and sever his cultivation!"

The expressions of the assembled group changed drastically. Controlling a vast divine power that exceeded one's limit could indeed unleash incredible might, but the inevitable consequences were well known to all.

Moreover, if He Yiming succeeded in mastering this divine power while mentally unstable, the first victims would likely be the very attackers surrounding him.

After exchanging glances, a decision was reached almost instantaneously.

In unison, the four figures flickered, transforming into whorls of wind, lightly piercing the melee.

This time, five peak Human Dao experts joined forces. Though they did not intend to kill He Yiming, the combined power of five converging forces was immense.

With a deafening crash, He Yiming's body was blasted into fragments, shattering within the sea of mist without even a chance to resist. Yet, in but an instant, he reappeared, but this time, an unexpected transformation occurred.

Around the area, five separate masses of cloud and mist surged simultaneously, then instantaneously coalesced to form five distinct versions of He Yiming.

Liu Changju’s eyes widened in fury, "What kind of sinister Cloud and Mist technique is this? Brother Bing, your Ice Palace is the ancestor of water-attribute cultivation methods. Can you discern the real body?"

Bing Xiaotian shook his head gravely. "My memory recalls ancient texts stating that Divine Path experts proficient in cloud and mist arts could manifest countless forms, inexhaustible and endless. If he possesses..." Bing Xiaotian’s voice grew steadier, "he must possess a Divine Path text concerning Cloud and Mist."

The others were inwardly astonished; the prestige of the Divine Path was deeply ingrained and unshakable in their hearts.

"Brother Bing, Brother He has not yet stepped into the Divine Path," Ao Borui stated coldly. "If we act without restraint, surely we can slay him here and now?"

"No," Bing Xiaotian replied without hesitation. "He is Lixun’s husband. If we take his life, do you think Lixun will still divert the light of the divine artifact, the Ice Glaze Mirror, for us?"

Ao Borui was instantly struck speechless.

After the five He Yimings appeared, they made no offensive moves but slowly drifted within the mist. Observing their actions, everyone knew he remained immersed in his cultivation. Still, sensing the increasingly powerful and bizarre changes in the valley’s divine power, a chill crept into their hearts.

Bing Xiaotian sighed deeply. "This state of epiphany is rare for him, but unfortunately, we cannot allow him to continue absorbing the water divine power here, or the consequences will be unimaginable."

Liu Changju frowned deeply. "We cannot strike hard enough to kill him, nor can we break his Cloud and Mist technique. What do you propose?"

Bing Xiaotian said gravely, "Although the Cloud and Mist technique is infinitely variable, it possesses a fatal nemesis." With that, he called out loudly, "Lixun. Come in."

Yuan Lixun, waiting outside the valley, had been consumed by anxiety. Yet, she understood that if even Bing Xiaotian and the others could not solve the problem, her entry would be pointless and only make her a burden. Hearing the Sect Master’s summons at this moment, she entered without hesitation.

Bing Xiaotian nodded toward her. "Lixun, Brother He has entered a state of epiphany, but the location of his epiphany is wrong. If he absorbs too much divine power, the only outcome will be exploding and dying. Therefore, he must be stopped from cultivating further."

Yuan Lixun’s anxious gaze fell upon the five figures formed of mist. All color drained from her face. At this critical moment, the utmost power of the Profound Cold Heart Method manifested, bringing her absolute calm.

"I await the Sect Master's command."

"The greatest nemesis of the Cloud and Mist technique is the divine artifact, the Ice Glaze Mirror. What you wield is not the true divine artifact, but a replica, which should be just right to deal with Brother He currently," Bing Xiaotian said coolly. "Use your full strength. If you can stabilize his form, I will find a way to bring him back to his senses."

Yuan Lixun lowered her gaze slightly. "Yes."

A great weight lifted from her mind. She had nearly mastered the use of the replica Ice Glaze Mirror. If controlled properly, it certainly would not harm He Yiming.

Bing Xiaotian and the others stepped aside, retreating behind Yuan Lixun. Except for Bing Xiaotian, the others watched with a touch of curiosity in their eyes.

They had long heard tales of the Ice Glaze Mirror’s might and knew it was hailed as the premier ice-attribute divine artifact, yet none had ever witnessed it firsthand.

Taking this opportunity to see it now would provide them with valuable experience should they ever face the true Ice Glaze Mirror on Ice Island.

Yuan Lixun extended her fair, smooth hands, upon which fine, ripple-like light patterns slowly began to gather.

In just a breath, the light pattern stabilized completely. In her hands now rested an ancient, round mirror.

It was an exceptionally strange mirror; the moment it appeared, the world energy within the entire valley seemed to shift subtly.

The water divine power continuously pouring into He Yiming's dantian even showed a strange fluctuation. However, this minor disturbance was insufficient to draw He Yiming’s consciousness fully away from the Divine Path text.

Holding the Ice Glaze Mirror, Yuan Lixun hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and lightly flashed it in her hand.

A white light, like lightning, shot out, instantly striking one of the He Yiming figures.

That ethereal, seemingly transient form of He Yiming was instantly sealed in ice. Even the mist traversed by the white light solidified at that moment.

Bing Xiaotian sucked in a cold breath. Even he was witnessing the artifact’s power for the first time.

The attack intensity was enormous. While it might not achieve instant annihilation, it posed a significant threat even to them.

Yuan Lixun’s movements were swift; she continuously adjusted the angle of the Ice Glaze Mirror, releasing four more streams of white light that froze the remaining four He Yimings.

It was only then that a trace of surprise touched Yuan Lixun’s face. "Sect Master, Yiming is not here."

As her words faded, the five He Yiming figures shattered violently. A thin layer of water vapor coated the ground, and no new figures emerged from the seven-colored mist.

Bing Xiaotian forced a wry smile. "Clever boy. He hides well. I truly wonder where he learned the Cloud and Mist technique."

Liu Changju frowned slightly. "The Cloud Mist Clone Technique should belong to the Divine Path cultivation level. How can he execute it?"

The assembled group exchanged bewildered glances; this question seemed too difficult to answer.

As they pondered in silence, the power within the valley began to change rapidly once more.

Immense power converged towards the lake in the center of the valley. The seven distinct colors ceased to merge and instead reverted to the original configuration of crimson, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple rays of light.

Furthermore, the surface of the lake returned to its normal state. All this happened so quickly that before anyone could recover from their shock, it was entirely complete.

"Yiming..." Yuan Lixun cried out, a mixture of surprise and joy in her voice.

At this point, the only one capable of returning everything to normalcy could only be the culprit responsible for all the chaos: He Yiming.

The crimson water mist suddenly parted, and He Yiming strode out of the Seven-Colored Lake. His face showed unconcealable fatigue, contrasted sharply by an evident thrill of excitement and joy.

Ps: Seems like there’s only one day left, hold onto third place!