"Ye Yunfei is out!"
The moment Hu Miao pulled Ye Yunfei through the gates of the Illusion Palace, shouts erupted from the dense throng of people already surrounding it.
Standing at the forefront were Ximen Yi, Qin Yue, and Nangong Yong, backed by a large crowd of martial artists. After emerging from the palace themselves, the three had immediately gathered their forces and lain in wait here for Ye Yunfei.
"Ye Yunfei!" Qin Yue roared, leaping into action first. "You finally dared to show yourself! Outside the Illusion Palace, your death has arrived!"
Boom!
He threw a punch, his fist expanding as nine violet dragon phantoms materialized across its surface, surging forth to annihilate Ye Yunfei with rolling power.
Clang! Clang!
Ximen Yi took a step forward. Eighteen long swords shot out from within his body, forming a sword formation aimed at grinding Ye Yunfei to dust.
Rumble!
Nangong Yong, holding a radiant, whole-body-bright cross with both hands, brought it down toward Ye Yunfei with force as if splitting Mount Hua.
Having witnessed Ye Yunfei instantly kill thirty-two Acupoint Opening Realm experts inside the Illusion Palace, the three were deeply impressed and thus exerted their full strength from the outset.
"Kill!"
Seeing the trio go all out, the others, unwilling to be left behind, unleashed their movements and charged at Ye Yunfei.
There were at least several dozen Acupoint Opening Realm practitioners!
"Master, I'm going to use my illusions now!" Hu Miao sent a hurried mental message to Ye Yunfei.
The Mirage Pearl within her suddenly erupted with vast, billowing waves of Illusion Dao energy and Laws, spreading out in all directions like tidal waves.
Throughout this space, illusory scenes began to materialize.
"Beauties! So many beauties!"
"A peerless cultivation manual! I think I'm inside an ancient cultivation cave... there's a peerless manual right ahead!"
"Primary Dao artifacts! Heavens, I see hundreds of primary Dao artifacts! We're rich!"
"Xiao Fang? How... how have I returned to this little city from my youth, and see the first girl I ever loved? Xiao Fang, is it really you?"
...
Instantly, many martial artists, influenced by the Illusion Dao energy and Laws, became immersed in scenes of fantasy. Moreover, these illusions were tailored to their deepest desires, making them incredibly enticing and difficult to shake off.
Even Ximen Yi, Qin Yue, and Nangong Yong stiffened, confusion flashing across their faces. Clearly, they too had encountered illusions!
"Hu Miao, impressive!" Seeing this, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
"It's not me, it's this Mirage Pearl," Hu Miao said, sticking her fragrant tongue out at Ye Yunfei playfully.
"Let's go!"
Ye Yunfei took Hu Miao and instantly cast Spatial Teleportation, making a direct getaway. He knew that while the Mirage Pearl was powerful, Hu Miao had only initially fused with it; the amount of power she could currently wield was limited.
Sure enough.
Less than two breaths later.
"We're under an illusion!" Ximen Yi was the first to snap out of it, snarling furiously.
Then, the others also shook off their daze one after another.
"After him!"
Ximen Yi's figure flashed like a streak of sword-light as he pursued Ye Yunfei.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Everyone else gave chase as well.
However, Ye Yunfei was continuously employing Spatial Teleportation. Within moments, he had already left the Small World, emerging into the starry void outside.
"Chase him! Wherever he runs, we'll follow!" Ximen Yi took the lead, chasing out from the Small World. His movement speed was only slightly slower than Ye Yunfei's, allowing him to barely keep up.
The others, a vast and mighty group following behind Ximen Yi, continued the pursuit relentlessly.
Meanwhile, on another starry ancient path, a beautiful young woman was just emerging from a different Small World, heading towards the one housing the Illusion Palace.
It was Su Qingluo!
"Junior Sister Su, wait for me!" A woman called out, chasing after her from behind.
"Junior Sister Su, are you really planning to find that Ye Yunfei?" the woman asked, quickly catching up.
"Yes. I have to find him!" Su Qingluo nodded firmly.
On yet another starry ancient path.
"Increase speed! We wasted a lot of time earlier battling those demonic beasts while harvesting those few dozen Virtual-Grade herbs, so we couldn't reach that Illusion Palace in time. To think all those primary Dao artifacts fell into the hands of some kid with Heavenly Thunder Realm strength! We're going to find that boy now and take back those artifacts!"
A tall, lanky youth was leading a group of young martial artists on a hurried journey towards the Small World containing the Illusion Palace.
"Senior Brother Lu, I heard that even though the boy is only Heavenly Thunder Realm, he strangely managed to kill over thirty Acupoint Opening Realm experts," someone commented.
"Hmph! Someone at the measly Heavenly Thunder Realm, with strength akin to an ant, has his limits no matter how strong he is! These rumors are surely mistaken!" Senior Brother Lu scoffed disdainfully.
'No!' A girl with a gentle, ladylike demeanor not far behind thought to herself, a smile touching her lips. 'If it were anyone else, it might not be true. But if this happened to Ye Yunfei, it's perfectly normal!'
"Xiao Hui, catch up with me. Once I seize those primary Dao artifacts, I'll definitely pick a suitable one and give it to you," Senior Brother Lu suddenly slowed his pace, waiting for Xiao Hui to catch up.
"Senior Brother Lu, even if we obtain those artifacts, we'll have to hand them over to the sect. They won't belong to us," Xiao Hui replied calmly, carefully maintaining her speed without actually overtaking him.
"Hahaha... Xiao Hui, don't worry. I have some connections within the Purple Mountain Sect! I'll personally go and plead with several Elders in our sect, asking them to grant you one of the primary Dao artifacts. Of course, the prerequisite is that we manage to seize them—at least several pieces!" Senior Brother Lu declared.
"Senior Brother Lu treats Xiao Hui so well!"
"So envious! If only Senior Brother Lu would treat me like that!"
"Xiao Hui is so lucky!"
...
As soon as Senior Brother Lu finished speaking, many other Zishan Sect disciples chimed in. These were all his trusted subordinates, intentionally hyping up the atmosphere.
"Alright, let's speed up!" Senior Brother Lu waved his hand and led the Zishan Sect disciples forward at an increased pace.
Back with Ye Yunfei, he and Hu Miao had already traveled far from the Small World containing the Illusion Palace. They were preparing to embark on another starry ancient path, heading towards a different Small World.
Behind them, Ximen Yi, Qin Yue, and Nangong Yong clung close in pursuit, with a large crowd hot on their heels.
At that moment, high up in this expanse of starry void, a gigantic eye slowly materialized, watching this scene unfold.
"This young man is truly fascinating!" the eye murmured to itself. "Monstrously talented enough to be quite to my liking."
Just then, a trace of worry appeared within the eye.
"Why do I keep feeling something ominous, as if something bad is about to happen..."
At this same time, in a hazy expanse of void not far from this incomplete chaos universe.
A teleportation passage was constantly extending.
Inside the passage, over twenty elderly figures were being teleported. Each of them exuded sharp, intimidating auras.
"Everyone, our teleportation is about to conclude. We are about to enter that Trial Ancient Land!" one of the elders, tall and thin as a bamboo pole, announced clearly.
Hearing this, all the other elders visibly perked up, their spirits roused.