Yet, both of their faces held expressions of utter bewilderment, as if they hadn't grasped the meaning of Ao Mianxing’s statement.

Slowly, a flicker of suspicion crossed Ao Mianxing’s face. “Could it be that the God-Path expert from the West was not invited by any of you?”

Ma Yu frowned slightly. “Brother Ao, interactions between Eastern and Western cultivators are mostly non-existent. Moreover, you are quite right; this is a matter for our Eastern world, and it is certainly not a place for the West to meddle.” There was a distinct air of arrogance in his tone. “Brother Bao and I would certainly not have done such a thing. As for Brother He…” A faint smile crossed his face. “Do you think, given his ties to the West, that he would even have the inclination to invite them?”

Ao Mianxing nodded slowly, and his expression immediately softened.

He Yiming observed their expressions and conversation, sensing a deep-seated apprehension among them regarding the Western powerhouse. The tension that had been building was made suddenly strange again by Ao Mianxing’s query.

“Brother Ao, which Western God-Path expert are you referring to?” He Yiming asked in a deep voice.

Ao Mianxing hesitated for a moment. “I do not know him personally, but judging by his appearance, he is definitely a Westerner.”

A collective jolt went through the assembled group. Bao Yanzhu asked with alarm, “It has only been just over a year. Has someone in the West actually broken through the Human Path limit?”

The process by which Yuan Lixun and the others advanced to the God Path was irreplicable and held no real representativeness, so they had not expected anyone in the West to ascend to the God Path in such a short span of a little over a year.

He Yiming’s eyes flashed with a sharp glint as he meticulously observed the colossal Tree of Life.

Ao Mianxing’s expression had registered two extremely subtle pauses, and during these moments, the wood element energy of the Divine Tree underwent a subtle, peculiar shift. Each time this change occurred, Ao Mianxing could detect the trail of a God Path master. Both Ma Yu and the other, yet unseen, Western God Path master had their whereabouts thus exposed.

At this point, He Yiming understood that the reason Ao Mianxing could track their movements so accurately must be linked to the Tree of Life. However, seeing that Bao Yanzhu and the others seemed entirely unaware, this capability must have been a recent discovery.

After all, in a world where vitality had been depleted for over five thousand years, it was not surprising that life, upon its resurgence, would possess some strange new powers.

“Elder Wei, go in my stead and extend an invitation to this person,” Ao Mianxing murmured after a moment of thought, specifying a location. “Regardless of this person’s intentions, since they are already here, we cannot appear discourteous.”

Wei Jinshun softly acknowledged the order, but everyone knew that when Wei Jinshun suddenly materialized at the path of someone in transit, the shock and fright experienced by that person would be breathtaking.

He Yiming chuckled suddenly. “Brother Ao, your sect’s Tree of Life is becoming increasingly adept at understanding human nature. Truly commendable.”

Ao Mianxing looked at He Yiming with surprise, then let out a hearty laugh. “Since the power of Heaven and Earth recovered, the Divine Tree’s appearance has transformed day by day, acquiring many new abilities. As long as one communicates with the Divine Tree using Five Elements cultivation methods, any God Path expert who steps into this Blessed Land will be detected by the Tree, and the information relayed to me.”

It was only then that the others realized: it wasn't that Ao Mianxing had suddenly gained profound, distant perception, but rather the credit belonged to the Tree of Life, possessing infinite, potent vitality.

“Hoo… smack.”

A peculiar sound abruptly rang out. Everyone turned, their expressions shifting to a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

Bao Zhu—the Treasure Pig—had sprawled across the table, shamelessly devouring the immortal fruit before it. Although the little creature was not large at the moment, its mouth, when stretched to its absolute maximum, was certainly substantial. After several fierce bites, it completely swallowed the fruit whole.

Seemingly quite satisfied with the taste, it smacked its lips a few times, its small eyes darting around mischievously as it eyed the tables set before the others.

He Yiming shook his head with a wry smile. He reached out, gave a gentle tug, and immediately pulled Bao Zhu up from its seat, placing it on his lap. He knew the little creature’s nature; if left unchecked, it would likely devour every single immortal fruit.

Even Ao Mianxing’s eyes held a trace of jealousy and envy upon witnessing the intimate and undisguised way He Yiming interacted with Bao Zhu.

Bao Zhu was a Divine Beast, and among them, the most peculiar—a Divine Beast possessing the power of transformation. To be able to interact with it so casually was truly unbelievable.

Outside the valley, figures flickered. Wei Jinshun and a tall young man with a full head of blond hair walked slowly toward them.

Though this person looked young, the world-weariness in his eyes told the onlookers he was well over a hundred years old. He Yiming’s eyebrows lifted slightly; he had already recognized the man’s identity.

But precisely because of this recognition, his expression became rather peculiar at that moment.

“Elder He, do you recognize this man?” Ma Yu asked softly.

He Yiming nodded slowly. “If I am not mistaken, I encountered him in the Southern Border three years ago.” He paused, his expression growing stranger. “This person should be Edwin, the newly ascended Venerable of the Western Temple. I never imagined he would advance to the God Path in a mere three years.”

Everyone was momentarily stunned, then a look of sheer horror flashed in their eyes.

They understood He Yiming’s implication. The events that transpired in the Southern Border three years prior were known even to the older generation of God Path experts. This man had only been a newly ascended Venerable then—a peer on par with figures like Jin Zhanyi and the Twin Devils of Qilian.

Yet, this minor Venerable had advanced to the God Path in just three years.

Suddenly, a chill rose from the depths of their hearts. Such a development was utterly astonishing and difficult to believe.

Could this man’s innate talent and fortune be even more exaggerated than He Yiming’s?

In a few short moments, Wei Jinshun and Edwin entered the valley and approached the gathered group.

Edwin’s demeanor was extremely serious, his movements precise and formal. His face held a peculiar combination of haughtiness and deference, creating a unique and powerfully attractive aura.

Without looking aside, he gave a slight bow to the assembly. “Edwin of the Western Temple greets the Eastern powerhouses.”

Ao Borui nodded faintly and stated calmly, “Lord Edwin, since you have traveled so far, please take a seat.”

With his directive, disciples of the Five Elements Sect quickly brought a chair for Edwin. The wine, dishes, and pastries served to him were no less lavish than those for He Yiming and the others, with only one exception: he was not served the immortal fruit.

As the current Sect Master of the Five Elements Sect, Ao Borui’s action plainly expressed his disinterest in the Western powerhouse. The other God Path experts wore expressions of resigned acceptance.

The East and West were inherently adversarial; they certainly would not commit the foolish act of sharing their finest treasures with an enemy.

Edwin sat down without making a sound, though he felt profoundly vexed inwardly. He had only just arrived when he was intercepted, and to find so many God Path experts gathered here indicated they had been prepared. This left him completely unable to fathom how they had discovered his trail. Had he been tracked from the moment he stepped onto the Eastern Continent?

Furthermore, the God Path had supposedly vanished from the world for five thousand years—where had all these God Path experts sprung from?

“Lord Edwin, having traveled thousands of miles from the West to the Eastern Continent, what is your purpose?” Ao Borui asked, his expression tightening, getting straight to the point.

Edwin placed both hands on the sides of the table. His gaze swept over the faces of all the God Path experts before finally resting on He Yiming. He thought to himself that He Yiming’s mastery of the Five Elements Great Reincarnation Flower indeed confirmed his close ties to the Five Elements Sect; he hadn’t chosen the wrong place to come on this trip to the East. However, the only surprise was that He Yiming had actually advanced to the God Path.

He had traveled directly to the East from the Outer Seas, so he remained unaware of the major events of the past two years that had reshaped the entire world’s situation, and consequently, he did not know the origins of these God Path experts.

“I come from the West, specifically seeking Lord He Yiming,” Edwin stated without hesitation.

Even though He Yiming had ascended to the God Path, Edwin felt more confident in his own abilities.

He Yiming gave a dry laugh. “Lord Edwin, it seems we share no acquaintance, do we?”

Edwin’s face remained expressionless. “Lord He Yiming, have you forgotten the shame inflicted upon us before the Temple three years ago?”

After seeing Edwin advance to the God Path, He Yiming knew the matter could not be resolved peacefully. His smile did not waver. “The events of the past were Franklin’s self-inflicted humiliation. As for myself, I have already forgotten such a minor issue.”

A trace of anger finally appeared on Edwin’s face. His Temple regarded that incident as the greatest shame in ten thousand years. If not for that, they would not have deployed the Temple’s final trump card to send him on his journey to the Outer Seas.

But He Yiming dismissed it so lightly, claiming he had forgotten. Even knowing his opponent was provoking him intentionally, an uncontrollable surge of fury rose within Edwin.

“Lord He Yiming, I, Edwin, have come to the East specifically to avenge that disgrace.” He stood up abruptly, his eyes fixed sharply on He Yiming. “I wish to fight you, Lord. I ask that you grant me this battle.”

Although he desperately wished to slay He Yiming with his sword right then and there, with so many God Path experts present, he dared not make any rash moves. Otherwise, if all these God Path masters attacked together, he would not only fail to get revenge but would also find it impossible to escape.

Before He Yiming could reply, Ma Yu’s sinister voice cut in sharply. “Brother Ao, this Western God Path expert dares to act so arrogantly in the sacred grounds of the Five Elements Sect, so brazenly challenging your sect’s dignity. I truly cannot stand by and watch.”