The reclusive Elder Ren and Elder Du stood some distance away, not daring to get too close for fear of disturbing Ye Yunfei.
"Formation Activate!"
With a light shout, Ye Yunfei stomped the ground with one foot.
Boom…...
Following Ye Yunfei’s shout, the entirety of Jin Peak suddenly trembled violently.
Then, this tremor transmitted outward.
Boom…...
The other four main peaks within the Tianyuan Sect's headquarters also began to shake simultaneously.
At the same moment.
In the large central plaza where the climbing competition had been held, amidst the peaks, the Heaven Ascension Ladder flickered indistinctly, beginning to reveal itself once more. Shrouded in mist and clouds, it emitted five-colored divine radiance, an exceptionally wondrous sight.
Then.
Boom, boom…...
The five main peaks all shook in unison, actually beginning to bloom with dazzling light.
Faintly, mysterious and profound laws manifested upon the five peaks, silhouetted by the clouds and mist like radiant ribbons of light.
Vast amounts of rich terrestrial energy gushed forth from beneath the ground of the five main peaks.
Terrestrial energy was essentially a special type of spiritual energy.
As massive amounts of this energy continuously surged out, the Spiritual Qi within the Tianyuan Sect's headquarters began to grow increasingly dense.
In just a few moments.
The density of Spiritual Qi within the Tianyuan Sect headquarters had increased by no less than twofold!
Moreover, it wasn't just the Spiritual Qi that had grown richer.
This entire region now also overflowed with a great abundance of the Five Elements’ Laws. Inconspicuously, they were remodeling the entire area.
This environmental change affected all martial artists within the Tianyuan Sect headquarters.
"Ah!
I've been stuck at this bottleneck for a year of bitter cultivation without being able to break through. But now, I've suddenly achieved the breakthrough!"
"Huh?
How have I suddenly reached the Minor Accomplishment stage in this set of Eighteen Heavy Earth Palms?!
The power I can unleash now is several times greater than before!"
...….
Throughout the Tianyuan Sect headquarters, joyous exclamations of surprise began to ring out.
"Huh?
What's going on? The Spiritual Qi within our Tianyuan Sect's headquarters has suddenly become this rich!"
The higher-ups of the Tianyuan Sect, with their higher cultivation realms and stronger power, felt the changes even more distinctly. One by one, they emerged from their cultivation chambers, their faces filled with shock.
At the summit of Jin Peak.
Standing at a high vantage point, the reclusive elder and Elder Du could gaze out over the entire Tianyuan Sect headquarters, taking in every detail of the previous changes.
Both men trembled all over with excitement.
Feeling the increasingly dense Spiritual Qi surrounding them and gazing at the swirling ribbons of profound, dazzling light encircling the five main peaks, the two elders knew that the ancient formation had indeed been activated.
"Even just this change in the environment alone will allow the overall strength of our Tianyuan Sect to achieve massive improvement!
The legendary ancient formation truly lives up to its name!" Elder Ren exclaimed, extremely agitated.
"It feels… as if my realm is about to break through!
I've been stuck at this level for a full decade.
And now, there's actually hope for a breakthrough!
This ancient formation is truly extraordinary!" Elder Du cried out in joy.
He was at the Early Stage of the Profound Realm. A breakthrough would take him to the Mid Stage!
"This ancient formation contains extremely profound Five Elements’ Laws.
And many of the cultivation techniques and martial skills within the Tianyuan Sect are primarily of the Five Elements attributes. Therefore, after the formation’s activation, it will bring two major benefits.
First, cultivation within the Tianyuan Sect headquarters will now lead to easier realm breakthroughs.
Second, comprehending the sect's martial techniques and formulas will become easier.
I believe that within three years at most, the Tianyuan Sect's overall power will double.
Moreover, this formation also possesses another function.
That is, formidable defensive capabilities.
Once its defensive functionality is activated, forget experts of the Profound Realm—even a Saint Realm powerhouse would not necessarily be able to breach our defenses."
Ye Yunfei stated calmly.
Hiss!
Hearing Ye Yunfei's words, both Elder Ren and Elder Du were greatly astonished.
This formation could actually resist attacks from Saint Realm experts!
Neither Elder Ren nor Elder Du harbored the slightest doubt about Ye Yunfei's words.
Both of them knew that Ye Yunfei was anything but ordinary. His understanding of this formation far surpassed their own.
"Excellent!
Truly fantastic!"
"Haha…...
Ye Yunfei, you truly are our Tianyuan Sect's lucky star.
Elder Du, my thanks to you.
It was you who brought Ye Yunfei back!
Ye Yunfei's arrival has given our Tianyuan Sect hope for a resurgence!"
The reclusive elder laughed heartily, his face flushed with excitement.
"Elder Ren, rest assured. At the appropriate time, I will transfer control of this formation to you," Ye Yunfei said to him.
"Oh?
Why is that?
Ye Yunfei, I feel that control of this formation would be better left in your hands.
You understand it far better than I.
Moreover, I am old.
The Tianyuan Sect will, sooner or later, belong to the younger generation."
Elder Ren was taken aback for a moment before replying.
"I told you, I will leave the Tianyuan Sect sooner or later.
My footsteps will not linger here in the Tianyuan Sect, nor will they linger in the Great Qin Empire, nor even in the Eastern Region…..."
Ye Yunfei clasped his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed distantly into the void, profound.
An elusive aura of weathered antiquity emanated from Ye Yunfei's body.
At this moment, Ye Yunfei did not seem like a young man at all. Rather, he resembled an ancient fossil who had witnessed the vicissitudes of the mortal world and the passage of eons!
"How is this possible?!"
The aged aura emanating from Ye Yunfei left Elder Ren and Elder Du utterly stunned, their mouths agape and speechless.
Right now, they experienced an extremely bizarre sensation.
It was as if, standing before Ye Yunfei, *they* were the youths!
"This young man… he is assuredly a hero among men!"
Elder Ren and Elder Du exchanged a glance, each seeing the profound shock mirrored in the other's eyes.
At this very moment.
Suddenly.
"Senior Brother Ye Yunfei! Senior Brother Ye Yunfei, a letter for you!
It's from Yuanyue City!"
Suddenly, A Niu's voice echoed from the distance.
Then, A Niu's figure appeared, running up towards the peak.
The moment Ye Yunfei heard this, he immediately moved. Multiple afterimages trailed behind him as he sped down the mountain.
Because a faint, ominous premonition had begun to stir within him.
Mere moments later.
Ye Yunfei stood before A Niu.
"Senior Brother Ye Yunfei, your letter!"
The moment A Niu saw Ye Yunfei, he immediately handed over a letter.
Ye Yunfei opened it.
Only a single line was written on the page.
The Imperial City Li Family has arrived in Yuanyue City. The Ye Family is in danger.
As soon as he finished reading the letter, Ye Yunfei's countenance drastically changed. A frighteningly potent killing intent erupted from his eyes.
"If anything happens to my Ye Family... I will annihilate the Imperial City Li Family!"
Ye Yunfei enunciated each word with chilling clarity.
An ice-cold, bone-piercing wave of killing intent radiated from his body.
"So cold!"
It was the height of a sweltering summer, the blazing sun high in the sky. Yet A Niu suddenly felt as if he had fallen into an icy cavern, shivering uncontrollably.
"Li Chaofan!
I will use you to start with my vengeance!"
Ye Yunfei knew—Li Chaofan must have sent news back to the Imperial City Li Family, prompting them to dispatch people to Yuanyue City to trouble the Ye Family.
Ye Yunfei employed his movement technique, heading directly for Water Peak.
However, upon reaching Water Peak, Ye Yunfei received news: Li Chaofan had left the Tianyuan Sect and returned to the Imperial City after the climbing competition concluded.
"Ye Yunfei, just what happened?"
Elder Ren and Elder Du, having chased after him the whole way, finally caught up and asked with concern.
"Honored Elders, what method could allow me to return to Yuanyue City in the shortest time, with the greatest speed possible?"
Ye Yunfei inquired urgently.