"Seven Seniors, to be honest, our Qingyun Palace has made many enemies. The Pang Clan, the Miao Clan, the Jietian Sect, and the Yin Corpse Valley—these four forces all hold grudges against me. They are bound to send people to deal with both me and Qingyun Palace.
In particular, the Jietian Sect and the Yin Corpse Valley are far stronger than our Qingyun Palace.
From now on, the circumstances facing our Qingyun Palace will be extremely difficult.
Therefore, Seven Seniors, you must understand that joining our Qingyun Palace is not a good choice."
After some thought, Ye Yunfei spoke openly.
"Palace Master Ye, what do you mean by that?
Could it be you think we Seven Great Bandits lack courage and a sense of responsibility?
Rest assured, once we join Qingyun Palace, no matter what difficulties the palace faces, we will advance and retreat together with it."
One of the elders among the Seven Great Bandits spoke up.
"That's right.
Palace Master Ye, to be frank, the main reason we seven old-timers wish to join Qingyun Palace is that we have high hopes for you.
At such a young age, you possess such strength and methods. Your future is undoubtedly limitless.
We seven are different. We are all old now, and among our descendants, none have achieved anything.
Given our identities, no major power in the Tianluo Star Sea would be willing to accept us.
It is rare to find a newly established force like Qingyun Palace with such limitless prospects. It is precisely our best possible home."
Another elder said.
"Exactly. To put it bluntly, we seven all want to turn over a new leaf."
Yet another elder added.
"Palace Master Ye, please take us seven in."
Yang Tianhu also spoke.
"Grandpas..."
Standing to the side, Yang Xiaohu listened to his seven grandfathers' words, utterly dumbfounded.
At this moment, he vaguely understood that his seven grandfathers had recognized Ye Yunfei's potential and wanted to follow him.
"Very well. Since you seniors wish to join Qingyun Palace, how could I possibly refuse?
From now on, you are the seven elders of our Qingyun Palace, with a status similar to Senior Chu Ji's."
After some consideration, Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Thank you, Palace Master Ye!"
Upon hearing this, the Seven Great Bandits were extremely excited.
In fact, their desire to join Qingyun Palace was not a momentary impulse but a decision they had reached after discussion.
Although all seven were Heavenly Thunder Realm experts, belonging to the top tier in the Tianluo Star Sea, their reputations were not particularly good, and their status was far lower than that of superpowers like the Pang Clan.
They couldn't even match the influence of first-rate forces like the Miao Clan!
Furthermore, as they aged, the Seven Great Bandits had gradually grown weary of their former lives of plundering and looting everywhere and had long contemplated how to change their ways.
Now, after discussion, they realized that joining Qingyun Palace seemed an excellent choice.
If nothing else, Ye Yunfei was a seventh-grade Saint-Grade Pill Master! That alone made him worth following!
In the Tianluo Star Sea, the status of a seventh-grade Saint-Grade Pill Master was almost on par with the leaders of several superpowers!
Moreover, the strength and methods Ye Yunfei had displayed had also greatly impressed them.
Ye Yunfei had also guessed the reasons behind the Seven Great Bandits' desire to join Qingyun Palace.
Although personal interests played a part, Ye Yunfei could tell these seven were people of genuine character, and so he agreed.
"Palace Master Ye, rest assured. Since we have chosen to join Qingyun Palace, from now on, we will advance and retreat together with it."
Yang Tianhu declared.
"That's good to hear."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Let it be this way: your joining of Qingyun Palace will remain confidential for now.
Qingyun Palace will face numerous powerful enemies in the near future.
The seven of you shall act as a secret force for our Qingyun Palace, operating in the shadows, revealing yourselves only at critical moments.
This will have a better effect."
After thinking, Ye Yunfei proposed.
"That works too.
Palace Master, you can rest easy. Sudden ambushes and guerrilla warfare—these are things the seven of us excel at!"
Yang Tianhu said.
"Palace Master, we also command a sizable group of men under us. From now on, they will also merge into Qingyun Palace."
Yang Tianhu added.
"Alright."
Ye Yunfei nodded, feeling very satisfied with the Seven Great Bandits' pledge.
After all, the Seven Great Bandits had operated in the Tianluo Star Sea for a long time; their overall strength was certainly not weak.
With the Seven Great Bandits and their followers joining, Qingyun Palace's strength directly increased by a significant margin!
"Among you seven, two are late-stage Heavenly Thunder Realm, three are mid-stage, and two are early-stage.
Prepare yourselves well. I will help each of you break through one minor realm."
Ye Yunfei stated.
"Of course, this senior here has just broken through from mid-stage to late-stage Heavenly Thunder Realm and won't need another breakthrough in the short term."
Ye Yunfei's gaze fell on the fourth elder among the Seven Great Bandits.
Help us all break through one realm?
Hearing Ye Yunfei's words, the Seven Great Bandits were stunned, their eyes fixed on him.
Reaching their level of strength, breaking through another realm was incredibly difficult!
It was simply fraught with a thousand hardships and ten thousand difficulties!
Often, even decades or even a century of arduous cultivation might not guarantee another breakthrough.
But now, coming from Ye Yunfei's mouth, helping them break through one realm sounded as easy as inviting them for a meal!
"Palace Master Ye, are you serious?
I am currently late-stage Heavenly Thunder Realm. Breaking through another realm would mean the Sea Transformation Realm!"
Yang Tianhu took a deep breath and stared at Ye Yunfei as he asked slowly, both skeptical and harboring a sliver of hope.
One must know, once breaking through from the Heavenly Thunder Realm to the Sea Transformation Realm, life from then on would be on an entirely different level!
A Sea Transformation Realm expert already possessed the capability to leave the Tianluo Star Sea and roam freely across the vast cosmic starry skies!
Wherever a Sea Transformation Realm expert went, even in the Central Star Sea, they would have the right to be called a true expert!
"What I said is, of course, true.
However, breaking through from the Heavenly Thunder Realm to the Sea Transformation Realm is indeed extraordinary and carries considerable difficulty.
You two late-stage Heavenly Thunder Realm cultivators will need to undergo secluded cultivation within my spatial treasure for a period, repeatedly tempering your spiritual power and refining your foundation.
Then, I will personally assist you in making the decisive breakthrough to the Sea Transformation Realm in one go."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Excellent!
Palace Master, we will follow your arrangements completely!"
Upon hearing Ye Yunfei's firm reply, Yang Tianhu and the other elder trembled with excitement.
A Sea Transformation Realm expert!
This was the realm they had always dreamed of. The temptation was simply too great for them!
"Our decision to join Qingyun Palace was absolutely correct!"
At this moment, the Seven Great Bandits couldn't help but exchange glances, secretly communicating via voice transmission.
"In truth, what is a mere Sea Transformation Realm?
One day, when you stand atop the highest peak of this universe and then step beyond it, you will understand just how vast the world is and how immense space-time truly is.
Let alone the Tianluo Star Sea, even this universe we currently reside in is but a small pond within the Three Thousand Worlds."
Suddenly, Ye Yunfei clasped his hands behind his back, his gaze lifting towards the heavens as he spoke indifferently.
Hearing this, the Seven Great Bandits shuddered, exchanging horrified looks.
The sense of worldly vicissitudes and the passage of endless years conveyed in Ye Yunfei's tone was so profound and far-reaching, like the sigh of a wise elder who had witnessed the ebb and flow of mortal affairs after experiencing countless ages.
In this moment, the Seven Great Bandits felt that standing before them was not a young man but an ancient, wizened monster who had lived for endless years and already stood at the peak of the world!
"Palace Master, please rest assured. We seven will forever guard Qingyun Palace and follow you from now on!"
The Seven Great Bandits spoke simultaneously, their voices clear and resolute.
At this moment, they had completely decided in their hearts to follow this young man!
They had a feeling that in the future, this young man would likely lead them towards a peak in life they had never before imagined!
Following this, Ye Yunfei summoned Chu Ji and several core high-ranking members and informed them about the Seven Great Bandits joining Qingyun Palace.
Upon learning that the famous Seven Great Bandits had actually joined Qingyun Palace, Chu Ji and the others were both shocked and delighted.
Ye Yunfei then teleported Yang Tianhu and the second eldest among the Seven Great Bandits into the Phantom Tower, instructing them to seize the time to temper their spiritual power and prepare for their breakthrough.
Afterward, Ye Yunfei returned to his own secluded chamber, entered the Phantom Tower, and sat cross-legged.
There had been too many and too chaotic events lately. Both Ye Yunfei's mind and body needed a good period of quiet.
With a wave of his hand, Ye Yunfei retrieved six spatial rings, suspending them before him.
These six spatial rings had been gifted by the six elders he had encountered deep within the spatial rift near Liu'e Star.