A short while later, inside the conference hall of the Heavenly Dao Academy.
A group of people, including Chu Ji, Dean Sima, the Fifth Elder of the Tang Clan, Tang Boguang, the Houtu Sect Leader, Hong Bai, Wu Hua, and others, had gathered here.
"Everyone, I intend to establish a faction called Qingyun Palace.
Those willing to join are welcome.
Those who are not, it doesn't matter — it won't affect your relationship with me," Ye Yunfei said loudly, sweeping his gaze across the crowd.
"The Tang Clan is willing to join," the Tang Clan's Fifth Elder was the first to declare.
"The Houtu Sect is willing to join," the Houtu Sect Leader chimed in.
Before the Star Nation's army had besieged the Heavenly Dao Academy, the Tang Clan and Houtu Sect had already sent their forces to aid the Academy in facing the enemy.
"Dean Sima..." The other high-ranking members of the Heavenly Dao Academy all looked towards Dean Sima.
"Our Heavenly Dao Academy is also willing to join," Dean Sima said after a moment's hesitation and a deep breath.
Turning to the other Academy elders, he said, "Everyone, only by following Ye Yunfei can our Heavenly Dao Academy achieve better development. Otherwise, we will forever be stuck here in the Beihuang Domain."
"Yes. We all agree to join Qingyun Palace," the other Academy elders all nodded in agreement.
At this moment, the only one in the hall who hadn't voiced their stance was Chu Ji. Everyone's eyes turned towards him.
"Young Master Ye, I am willing to join Qingyun Palace," Chu Ji said after exchanging brief, telepathic consultations with a dozen or so other Star Bridge Realm experts by his side.
"Young Master Ye, of course, we are willing to join Qingyun Palace too!" Hong Bai and Wu Hua both declared loudly.
"Excellent! Everyone, Qingyun Palace is officially established!" Ye Yunfei stood up and proclaimed.
With a thought, Ye Yunfei sent the Giant Arm out.
Immediately, an extremely terrifying aura of energy subtly permeated the hall, filling their hearts with dread.
"Everyone, this senior will serve as Qingyun Palace's Supreme Elder from now on," Ye Yunfei announced.
An arm? The people in the hall were all somewhat startled. However, they soon recalled the news about Ye Yunfei wreaking havoc in Miao Capital accompanied by an arm. They all understood that this arm possessed terrifying power.
"We pay our respects to the Supreme Elder," Chu Ji led the way, and everyone bowed towards the Giant Arm.
"At ease. From now on, we're all on the same side," the illusory figure of a burly man emerged from the Giant Arm and spoke.
Seeing the illusory figure of the burly man made everyone feel a bit less shocked.
"Elder Chu Ji, Dean Sima, Fifth Elder Tang, Elder Tang Boguang, Sect Leader, Hong Bai, Wu Hua, the seven of you shall serve as Qingyun Palace's Elders from now on.
As for the rest of you, you will all hold high-ranking positions within the Palace. The specifics of your assignments will be decided by these seven Elders.
Does anyone have any objections?" Ye Yunfei said.
"No objections," everyone nodded.
"Kid, the position of Palace Master of Qingyun Palace undoubtedly falls to you," the burly man's phantom floating upon the Giant Arm chuckled.
"That goes without saying. Young Master Ye, you shall be the Palace Master of Qingyun Palace henceforth," Chu Ji nodded.
"I will serve as Palace Master for the time being," Ye Yunfei said after a moment's thought.
"What about me? What position do I get? Kid, give me a position to play around with too; life is too boring these days."
Right at that moment, suddenly, a tree approximately three meters tall appeared beside Ye Yunfei and spoke.
Hun Lao!
The seal on the first level of the Heavenly Dao Tower had been broken by Ye Yunfei, allowing Hun Lao to come and go as he pleased.
A spirit tree? Seeing Hun Lao, everyone in the hall was dumbstruck.
"Everyone, let me introduce this senior. This is Hun Lao, he is one of us," Ye Yunfei had no choice but to introduce him.
"Kid, if he can be a Supreme Elder, I want to be a Supreme Elder too. And what's more, I want to be one rank above him," Hun Lao extended a tree branch, pointing it at the Giant Arm.
"Who is this guy? He actually wants to outrank me!" The burly man's phantom on the Giant Arm was not having it.
"Don't you dare question me. The number of bridges I, this old-timer, have crossed is far greater than the roads you have walked!" Hun Lao declared.
"Let's not argue, you two. Both of you will be Supreme Elders, with neither ranking above the other," Ye Yunfei hurriedly interjected.
He transmitted a private message to the burly man: "Hun Lao has a remarkable background. Don't bicker with him."
The burly man nodded and did not speak further.
"Alright then, kid, I'll give you face and won't fight with him," Hun Lao said.
Turning to the others in the hall, he said, "Aren't you all going to come pay your respects to this Supreme Elder?"
"We pay our respects to Supreme Elder," the others in the hall hurriedly bowed.
Having a tree serve as a Supreme Elder made everyone feel rather strange.
"Palace Master, when should we announce the establishment of Qingyun Palace to the outside world?" Chu Ji inquired.
"One day from now," Ye Yunfei replied after thinking for a moment.
Ye Yunfei intended to first help the Giant Arm fully restore its strength. Once this Giant Arm returned to its peak power, it would be equivalent to a Thunder Transformation Realm expert!
Having a Thunder Transformation Realm master as a guardian could produce a tremendous deterrent effect. Within the Heavenly Net Star Sea, the vast majority of factions and experts were unwilling to provoke a Thunder Transformation Realm master.
"Then where shall we establish the headquarters of our Qingyun Palace?" Chu Ji asked another question.
"We'll temporarily base it at the Heavenly Dao Academy," Ye Yunfei said.
Next, Ye Yunfei sent out several hundred Imperial Realm slaves from within the Phantom Tower. These were Imperial Realm slaves he had subdued more recently.
By now, the number of Imperial Realm slaves under Ye Yunfei's command was approaching a thousand!
"Alright, everyone should make thorough preparations. The specific day-to-day affairs of Qingyun Palace will be handled by the seven Elders," Ye Yunfei instructed.
He then left the hall with the Giant Arm, found a quiet chamber, and entered the Phantom Tower.
"Senior, now I will concoct a batch of pills to completely heal the injuries of your arm and restore it to peak strength," Ye Yunfei said to the Giant Arm.
He then took out a massive quantity of resources, including large amounts of herbs, elixirs, spirit stones, and various natural treasures.
All these resources had been plundered from Miao Capital! The resources accumulated by the Miao Clan over countless long years had been nearly halved by Ye Yunfei's looting!
Ye Yunfei took out his pill cauldron and began alchemy.
Five days later.
Ye Yunfei had concocted a large batch of pills.
"Kid, thank you!" The Giant Arm was extremely excited.
It then began refining and absorbing the medicinal power of these pills.
"Elder Chu Ji, this bottle of pills is for you. You've been stuck at the late Star Bridge Realm for a very long time. It's time for a breakthrough."
Ye Yunfei brought Chu Ji and all dozen or so of Chu Ji's trusted aides into the Phantom Tower. Chu Ji's cultivation was at the late Star Bridge Realm. Those trusted aides all possessed Star Bridge Realm cultivation as well — some early stage, some mid-stage.
"These pills can allow your cultivation to directly break through," Ye Yunfei said, handing over over a dozen bottles of pills to each of them respectively.
"This bottle of pills... can allow our cultivation to directly breakthrough?!" Chu Ji received his pill bottle, half-believing, half-doubting.
"Yes. Just trust me," Ye Yunfei smiled.
"Alright! Palace Master, I believe you!" Chu Ji nodded.
Chu Ji and the dozen or so Star Bridge Realm experts found a secluded spot and began refining the pills.
"Dan Jun, from now on, you are the Hall Master of Qingyun Palace's Dan Hall. You are to train a group of alchemists. In the future, lead Dan Hall and be responsible for supplying pills to Qingyun Palace," Ye Yunfei brought Dan Jun into the Phantom Tower and instructed.
"Understood," Dan Jun nodded.
After arriving in the Profound Yellow Star Domain, under Ye Yunfei's guidance, Dan Jun's alchemy skills had improved with incredible speed. He was now a Ninth Grade Grand Pill Master! Such progress was something even Ye Yunfei found remarkable.
"Huang Shang, come over and help as well. Let the three of us concoct a batch of pills together."
Ye Yunfei summoned Huang Shang, and the three of them began concocting pills together. Ye Yunfei had already long ago taught his Multi-Cauldron Pill Refining Method to both Huang Shang and Dan Jun.
Huang Shang could now simultaneously manipulate ten pill cauldrons for alchemy.
Dan Jun could simultaneously manipulate fifteen pill cauldrons for alchemy.
With three people working together, the speed of pill production was extremely fast.
Inside the Phantom Tower, two days later.
Chu Ji and the dozen-plus Star Bridge Realm experts all achieved breakthroughs.
Chu Ji reached the early stage Sea Splitting Realm!
One month later.
"Haha... The injuries to this arm of mine are finally completely healed. I've returned to peak strength!" A hearty laugh echoed within the Phantom Tower.