"Big Brother, the Heavenly Dao Academy headquarters is just up ahead. However, things don't seem quite right; there seem to be many groups lying in ambush in the surrounding area. These people likely harbor ill intentions."
Within the spaceship, Yang Xiaohu suddenly spoke.
By now, the ship was drawing ever closer to the Heavenly Dao Academy headquarters.
"We'll pay them no heed for now," Ye Yunfei said, his gaze sweeping over the regions around the headquarters before a cold smile appeared on his lips.
Ye Yunfei had long anticipated that the founding ceremony of Qingyun Palace would inevitably draw trouble.
Soon, the spaceship landed within the Heavenly Dao Academy headquarters.
"Sect Master, you've finally returned!" Chu Ji, Headmaster Si Ma, Jiao Tu, and a group of other high-ranking figures immediately crowded around him.
"My thanks for your hard work," Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
"How are the preparations?" he asked.
"Everything has been readied. From now on, this will be the headquarters of our Qingyun Palace. The territories occupied by the various halls, the resources required, and the personnel assignments have all been arranged. Furthermore, the various rules and regulations of Qingyun Palace, including the rewards and penalties system, have been drafted. They are awaiting your review, Sect Master, and can then be formally implemented," Chu Ji reported.
"Excellent. Qingyun Palace is already beginning to take shape. Senior Chu, henceforth, the general affairs of the sect shall be decided by you and the other Elders through discussion. Unless there is some important major event, there is no need to report every single matter to me," Ye Yunfei said.
"Understood," Chu Ji nodded.
"Sect Master, there are only half a day left until the auspicious date and time for our Qingyun Palace founding ceremony. Several days ago, I dispatched invitation letters to all forces in the Northern Wastes Domain. However, we have yet to receive any responses," Chu Ji added.
"Pay them no mind. We can simply hold the founding ceremony ourselves," Ye Yunfei replied with a faint nod.
"Sect Master, we have received word that some factions plan to make a move against us during our founding ceremony. Moreover, over the past few days, several groups have been lying in ambush around the headquarters, and their intent is far from good," Chu Ji informed.
"I am already aware. Let them come. Our Qingyun Palace founding ceremony happens to be lacking some sacrificial offerings for heaven and earth. They shall serve as the perfect tribute," Ye Yunfei said nonchalantly.
He then turned and left.
Chu Ji trembled slightly upon hearing this. "It seems a terrible battle is inevitable during the founding ceremony. Everyone must prepare themselves," he said solemnly, his gaze sweeping over the other high-ranking figures. The others all nodded.
* * *
At this moment, Ye Yunfei had already arrived on the mountain peak allocated to Wu Heishan.
Due to Ye Yunfei's influence, Wu Heishan, Dugu Huan, Long Yingying, and others had all been assigned peaks abundant in spiritual energy.
Ye Yunfei landed outside Wu Heishan's cultivation cave dwelling.
"Not bad. You've been putting in the work," Ye Yunfei observed, discovering Wu Heishan was inside seclusion cultivation.
"Boss!" Wu Heishan suddenly sensed Ye Yunfei standing outside the cave and was overjoyed. He immediately stopped cultivating, his figure flickering as he rushed out.
"Boss, it's been ages since you came to see me! You have no idea how much I've missed you," Wu Heishan fawned, his face full of flattery.
"Mid-stage Soul Formation Realm. Very good," Ye Yunfei said, sensing Wu Heishan's cultivation realm. He discovered Wu Heishan had actually broken through to the mid-stage of Soul Formation Realm! For most ordinary youths, such a cultivation speed was already astonishing. However, the Grand Law of Stars Ye Yunfei had imparted to Wu Heishan was far superior to any technique in this cosmos. So, it was not strange for Wu Heishan to possess such speed.
"Go and summon Dugu Huan and the others. I want to see everyone's progress," Ye Yunfei instructed.
"Alright! I'll call them right away!" Wu Heishan nodded and took to the sky, flying towards several nearby mountain peaks.
A short while later, several figures arrived, landing before Ye Yunfei. Yuan Dayong, Wen Zi, Long Yingying, Ye Xue, Du Fan, Jiang Yanran, and Xue'er had all come.
"Boss! Something bad happened! That kid Dugu Huan ran off! He left a letter, for you!" Wu Heishan hurried over to Ye Yunfei, handing him a jade slip.
Ye Yunfei was taken aback for a moment before activating the jade slip.
A clear voice sounded from it. "Boss, life here is too peaceful. I feel my Saber Path can hardly advance any further like this. My martial heart will gradually be worn down. What I need is experience—brutal tempering between life and death! Boss, I am off to pursue my Saber Path! The day I achieve something in the Saber Path, I will return and continue to follow by your side."
It was unmistakably Dugu Huan's voice.
Ye Yunfei held the jade slip, remaining stunned for a moment.
"That rascal! He ran off without even saying goodbye!" Wu Heishan exclaimed.
"Perhaps... he is right," Ye Yunfei said softly. "The Saber Path is like the Sword Path; it demands inner enlightenment and realization. Sticking around here, he cannot pursue the Saber Path he desires. He must explore the outside world. With his talent in the Saber Path, his future achievements will certainly not be lacking. There's no need for us to worry about him."
Ye Yunfei understood Dugu Huan's reasoning. Staying here to cultivate was peaceful and calm, like a flower in a greenhouse. It lacked the bloody tempering between life and death. This environment made it difficult for Dugu Huan's Saber Path to progress.
In fact, everyone here lived under Ye Yunfei's protection! They lacked the brutal, demanding training that a true martial artist required.
*Perhaps I should let them go out for training more often, rather than keeping them sheltered. This isn't beneficial for their martial growth.* Ye Yunfei thought to himself.
Next, Ye Yunfei inspected everyone's strengths.
Yuan Dayong was at the early-stage Soul Formation Realm. Wu Heishan and Long Yingying were both at the mid-stage Soul Formation Realm. Wen Zi, Du Fan, and Jiang Yanran were all at the late-stage Soul Formation Realm.
Ye Xue and Xue'er were both at the mid-stage Primordial Soul Realm.
Among them, the fastest progress had been made by Long Yingying and Xue'er.
Since activating her Battle Clan bloodline, Long Yingying's realm had skyrocketed. The rate of her progress was simply unreasonable. Moreover, Ye Yunfei discovered that the spiritual energy within her body was very solid and her realm stable. Her rapid breakthroughs had not resulted in an unstable foundation, forcing Ye Yunfei to marvel at the potency of Battle Clan bloodline.
Xue'er, as the sister of Guardian Path Sage Tang Yang, possessed the Heaven Cold Body. After cultivating the Heaven Silkworm Cold Technique Ye Yunfei had imparted to her, her progress had been extremely rapid. She had now cultivated the technique to the second metamorphosis stage. Standing there, clean white silk threads materialized around her body—an exceedingly mystical sight.
"Your progress in cultivation realms is quite good, but you lack genuine tempering and experience. In the future, I will have Elder Chu arrange more expeditions for you outside," Ye Yunfei declared loudly.
* * *
"Brother!"
A little girl shot over from the distance like a bird and threw herself into Ye Yunfei's arms.
It was Xiao Fei.
Within the Qingyun Palace headquarters, Xiao Fei was already practically a little princess. Doted on by all members of Qingyun Palace, she was essentially untouchable. Everyone knew how Ye Yunfei had charged into Miao Capital to save his mother and sister, killing nearly half the Miao Clan's experts in the process. So, all knew of Ye Yunfei's immense affection for this little sister!
"Brother, you came back without even telling me," Xiao Fei pouted angrily.
"I've only just returned, haven't I?" Ye Yunfei laughed.
"I don't care! Brother, you have to spend time with me," Xiao Fei insisted.
"Alright, alright. I'll walk with you for a bit," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Great! Let's go quickly!" Xiao Fei grabbed Ye Yunfei's hand and dragged him away.
"Oh? Xiao Fei, your cultivation realm is already at the early-stage Minor Elixir Realm?" Ye Yunfei was somewhat pleasantly surprised.
"Brother, the pills you gave me were quite tasty. I've been eating them like candy and they're almost gone. Do you have any more?" Xiao Fei asked.
"Of course I do. Here."
Ye Yunfei took out a dozen or so more jade bottles and handed them to Xiao Fei for her to store in her spatial ring. Possessing the Vermilion Bird Divine Meridian, absorbing more pills wouldn't harm her.
Following this, Ye Yunfei accompanied Xiao Fei as they toured the headquarters, enjoying the mountains, rivers, and scenery. From the moment she was born, Xiao Fei had been trapped in the pitch-dark prison of the Miao Clan. Now that she finally had a chance to experience the outside world, everything seemed fresh and fascinating to her—the sunlight and air, flowers and trees, birds and butterflies...
Every time she encountered something that caught her interest, Xiao Fei would pester Ye Yunfei with endless questions.