'Every Starry Sky Ancient Path leads to a different Small World. It looks like this place was a specialized training ground laid out by some ancient power in the past, now accidentally discovered,' Ye Yunfei speculated.
The Small World before him was vast and expansive. Majestic mountain peaks stood tall like gods and demons presiding between heaven and earth, ancient trees of towering height soared towards the clouds, brimming with vitality. Amongst the mountain ridges, thick ancient vines thick as water vats coiled and tangled with one another, impossible to tell how many years they had grown there, resembling coiling dragons. Numerous ferocious beasts and huge predatory birds of immense stature could be seen prowling through the mountains, their roars shaking the sky.
This was a primordial world, steeped in an untamed, savage atmosphere!
With a single glance, Ye Yunfei saw that the mountains were generously peppered with large quantities of precious medicinal herbs. And some of these herbs were rare varieties, difficult to find in the outside world.
'This Small World has remained hidden for many long eons, untouched by outsiders, so it has preserved an extremely pristine appearance. The sheer quantity of herbs alone makes exploring this place worthwhile,' Ye Yunfei spoke aloud.
At that moment, besides Ye Yunfei, many other young people also entered this Small World.
'Let's collect a batch of herbs first. Hu Miao, Huang Lao, come out and help,' Ye Yunfei said.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Huang Shang and Hu Miao materialized simultaneously. The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm also appeared.
'You gave me pills last time, and I've already finished them all. You need to refine a new batch for me,' the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm declared. For it, the pills refined by Ye Yunfei were potent supplements, beneficial for increasing its strength!
By now, aside from Ye Yunfei, even more people had entered this Small World. Those qualified to enter this fragmented Chaos Universe included not only the disciples of the Canghuang Realm's top twenty major powers, but each major power also brought along a large number of disciples from subordinate forces attached to them, adding up to a considerable quantity. Among them, the largest group was comprised precisely of those disciples from subordinate forces! These numerous young people entered different Small Worlds along different Starry Sky Ancient Paths for training and trials.
'That kid's right up ahead! Let's go over and make our move directly. A kid from some remote star sea is an insignificant role, no more than an ant. It's hardly worth mentioning. Look, let me go up there by myself. I'll capture him personally, then torture and kill him slowly,' someone from behind spoke up suddenly, his gaze fixed on Ye Yunfei, revealing clear killing intent.
'There's no rush. Cousin Jiang Jie is on his way. Cousin Jiang Jie gave orders to not act until he arrives. You know it too; Cousin Jiang Jie is currently competing for a spot among our Jiang Clan's new group of ten core inheriting disciples. He's eager to prove himself by gaining merits and showing the family what he's made of,' another person nearby whispered.
'Since Cousin Jiang Jie gave the order, we'll hold off for now. We'll just follow this kid first. The credit for capturing this kid should rightfully go to Cousin Jiang Jie. We shouldn't compete with him for it. We'll stick close, though, to make sure the kid doesn't slip away!' someone said.
Soon, over a dozen young men with cold, arrogant gazes and sneering expressions openly followed Ye Yunfei with swaggering steps.
'They're definitely from the Jiang Clan, or people sent by the Jiang Clan,' Ye Yunfei thought. With his powerful Soul Power, he could hear every word of their conversation clearly.
'Master...' Hu Miao looked at Ye Yunfei.
'Since they aren't making a move now, we'll wait too. Once more people gather, we'll slaughter them all together, save us the trouble,' Ye Yunfei said with a cold laugh.
Thus, Ye Yunfei, Hu Miao, and Huang Shang moved forward towards those mountain ridges up ahead, beginning to collect herbs.
A short while later.
'Master, so many herbs! I've already gathered several hundred Saint herbs, and dozens of them are already tenth-grade Saint herbs!' Hu Miao cried out excitedly, her face flushed.
'The herbs here haven't been harvested for so long, they're not just diverse in variety, but also very old in age!' Huang Shang was also collecting them non-stop.
'Haha... Kid, listen up. All the herbs I'm gathering here are a huge boost for me. Mark my words, these herbs I've gathered myself, you'll refine pills specifically for me!' the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm was also rapidly gathering herbs while loudly shouting at Ye Yunfei.
'Alright, don't you worry, I'm not greedy enough to snatch your herbs,' Ye Yunfei responded with a laugh.
Ye Yunfei, accompanied by Hu Miao, Huang Shang, and the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, continued deeper into the Small World, harvesting more and more herbs.
Meanwhile, the dozen-plus young men behind continued to follow brazenly, and were getting closer and closer to the three of them, a look of mockery in their eyes.
'Let them gather the herbs. There's no need for us to do anything. Because no matter how many herbs they gather, they'll all end up in our hands soon enough. So, right now, they're essentially doing the work for us,' someone spoke loudly, without any pretense or attempt to hide, even intentionally speaking so Ye Yunfei could hear.
'Haha, quite right. Since someone's serving us, we can just relax a bit.'
'Hmm. Who'd have thought such a tempting young lady would accompany this kid. Makes my heart itch.'
'Don't you dare do anything reckless. This little beauty is reserved for Cousin Jiang Jie's... appreciation.'
'Maybe Cousin Jiang Jie will share some leftovers with us after he's done.'
...
The dozen-odd young men shamelessly stared at Hu Miao, openly discussing her and laughing heartily. In their eyes, Ye Yunfei and his companions were nothing but fish on a chopping block, to be dealt with as they pleased.
'Senior Brothers of the Jiang Clan, we are disciples from Jade Gate Sect. We heard you senior brothers are hunting down some upstart fool. We came specifically to assist you!'
'We are disciples from the Azure Dragon Sect, we also came specifically to aid you Senior Brothers of the Jiang Clan!'
At this point, more and more young people flocked over. They were not disciples of the Jiang Clan, but from other factions, specifically coming to help. Most were disciples from forces subordinate to the Jiang Clan who, having heard about this matter, seized the opportunity to show their deference and flatter the Jiang Clan.
Gradually, the number of people following behind Ye Yunfei grew, reaching over forty or fifty.
'Master, the number of people trailing us is getting larger,' Hu Miao said to Ye Yunfei.
'Pay them no mind. Once everyone has gathered, we'll make our move together and slaughter our fill,' Ye Yunfei replied.
The Outside World.
Several flying ships floated stationary in the starry sky. The higher-ups of various major powers sat quietly aboard their respective ships. Their task was to wait for the disciples of their respective factions to complete their exploration and return, providing security upon their exit.
'Report to Fourth Elder, the target has been sighted. Our Jiang Clan disciples are already following him. Cousin Jiang Jie will personally make the capture and bring the kid out to be delivered to Fourth Elder for punishment,' a Jiang Clan disciple rushed out from within the misty channel, approached the Jiang Clan's flying ship, and reported to the Jiang Fourth Elder.
'Excellent work! Our Jiang Clan disciples truly live up to the name!' the Jiang Fourth Elder nodded in satisfaction.
'Hmph, kid. How dare you cause Old Fifth's death? I will make sure you regret ever being born, making you beg for death yet unable to attain it!' The Jiang Fourth Elder's face twisted into a vicious grin as Ye Yunfei's image surfaced in his mind.
At this moment.
A young man of noble bearing, tall and upright, leading a group, hurriedly entered the very same Small World Ye Yunfei was in.
'Where is that kid?' the young man asked coldly.
'Cousin Jiang Jie, the kid is up ahead. Our men are already shadowing him closely. He'll have no wings to fly away!' a Jiang Clan disciple approached to report.
'Good! Let's go and seize that kid!' Jiang Jie said coldly. With a wave of his hand, he led his group towards the direction where Ye Yunfei was located.