Hu Miao, Xiao Hui, you should both be fine as well, right?" Ye Yunfei asked with a smile.
"I've been fine for a while now. After taking the elixirs you refined, Master, even the most severe injuries will heal," Hu Miao replied, sticking out her tongue playfully at Ye Yunfei.
"I'm fine too. Ye Yunfei, I actually planned to find a time to go back and visit you all, but I never imagined you'd end up coming here instead. By the way, what about my brother? How is he doing now?" Xiao Hui asked.
"Your brother is currently in the Xuanhuang Star Region of the Celestial Web Star Sea. I founded an organization called Qingyun Palace, with its headquarters in the Northern Wastelands of the Xuanhuang Star Region. You can go back and see your brother whenever you have free time," Ye Yunfei said.
"Is the name 'Qingyun Palace' a combination of yours and Sister Qing Luo's names?" Xiao Hui suddenly inquired.
"Yes," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"You really care deeply for Sister Qing Luo," Xiao Hui sighed softly.
Su Qingluo's cheeks flushed slightly with embarrassment. The moment she heard the name 'Qingyun Palace', she had understood its significance.
"Alright, let's go meet a senior who saved us," Ye Yunfei said.
Then, Ye Yunfei led Su Qingluo, Hu Miao, and Xiao Hui out of the Phantom Tower and exited the secluded cultivation cave.
"Are you all fully recovered?" As soon as Ye Yunfei and the three others emerged from the cultivation cave, the grey-robed elder approached and inquired.
"Senior, we are all fine now," Ye Yunfei answered.
"All of you were so severely injured earlier, yet you've completely healed in less than a day. Heh, youngster, it must be because of you, right? I find myself somewhat unable to see through you clearly," the grey-robed elder said, casting a surprised look at Ye Yunfei.
"You flatter me, Senior," Ye Yunfei paused briefly before responding.
"Don't worry—everyone has their own secrets. I won't pry into yours," the grey-robed elder continued.
"Despite declining for so long, our half of the Canghuang Realm can still give rise to young geniuses like you few. This indicates that our half of the Canghuang Realm holds hope for future revival, which is a good thing indeed. You must cultivate diligently. If opportunity arises, strive to contribute to our realm," the grey-robed elder examined Ye Yunfei and his companions with an encouraging tone.
"Half of the Canghuang Realm? Senior, what exactly is going on here?" Ye Yunfei asked, feeling puzzled.
"Sigh, this is an ancient secret of our Canghuang Realm, gradually forgotten by time. Youngsters like you probably don't know anything about it. Very well, since we have fatefully crossed paths, I'll explain it to you," the grey-robed elder sighed.
An ancient secret of the Canghuang Realm? Ye Yunfei, Su Qingluo, Xiao Hui, and Hu Miao were all somewhat curious.
"In truth, the Canghuang Realm you are currently in is not a complete cosmos, but rather a half-fractured universe. In ancient times, a terrible great war erupted within our Canghuang Realm. The beings inside the realm split into two factions for a final decisive battle. That war was waged with extreme ferocity, engulfing the entire cosmos. Almost all major powers participated! Ultimately, the Canghuang Realm itself shattered and split into two halves. These two halves began gradually separating, finally becoming isolated from each other and turning into two distinct universes," the grey-robed elder explained.
"Such a thing happened!" Su Qingluo exclaimed in astonishment. After all, the Su Clan was a famously prominent faction within the Canghuang Realm, and as a core disciple, she had never heard of this.
"Senior, what caused that war?" Ye Yunfei inquired.
"It was because of the Canghuang Origin. Certain great forces wanted to capture and absorb the Canghuang Origin, while other forces sought to protect it. Eventually, they divided into two factions, sparking a civil war," the grey-robed elder replied.
"So that's how it was," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"What is the Canghuang Origin?" Su Qingluo asked curiously.
"A realm's origin. Regardless of who can refine and subdue it, one can become a 'Son of the Realm', wielding invincible power within that cosmos," Ye Yunfei explained.
"Youngster, you are correct. I never imagined you would know about realm origins," the grey-robed elder remarked with some surprise.
"The half of the Canghuang Realm you currently inhabit belonged to the faction protecting the Canghuang Origin back then. However, the casualties suffered by our faction were overwhelmingly severe—almost all top-level experts perished. Toward the end of the war, before dying, many of our faction's top experts chose to self-detonate and also triggered numerous artifacts and defensive formations, intending to perish together with the enemy faction's experts. As a result, those top experts from the opposing faction retreated in advance. Later, the Canghuang Realm was blasted apart, fracturing into two halves. Yet, after all these years, members from the opposing faction have found their way back here once more. It seems they haven't given up," the grey-robed elder continued.
"The Canghuang Origin hasn't been refined yet, has it?" Ye Yunfei questioned.
"Not yet. If the Canghuang Origin had been found and refined by them, all life in our half of the Canghuang Realm would have long been exterminated," the grey-robed elder said.
"So then, those old geezers came in search of the Canghuang Origin?" Ye Yunfei clarified.
"Indeed. They certainly came seeking the Canghuang Origin. Their goal is to find and refine the Canghuang Origin so they can become invincible within the Canghuang Realm," the grey-robed elder confirmed.
"That makes sense," Ye Yunfei nodded, finally understanding the origin of the twenty or so elders from earlier. They came from the other half of the Canghuang Realm, crossing boundaries to seek the Canghuang Origin.
"Where is the Canghuang Origin? Is it located in our half of the Canghuang Realm?" Ye Yunfei probed.
"The Canghuang Origin vanished long ago; no one knows where it is now," the grey-robed elder sighed.
Cough! Right at that moment, the grey-robed elder suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, his aura appearing slightly weakened.
"Senior, your main body seems to be in a precarious situation," Ye Yunfei frowned.
"Yes, that opponent possesses formidable strength. My main body, even reinforced by soul avatars from comrades who perished long ago, cannot withstand them," the grey-robed elder sighed.
"Alright, you all should seize the opportunity to leave this starry expanse and return to the Canghuang Realm. The current circumstances are unfavorable. Once my main body is defeated, they'll eventually find this place—it is unsafe for you to remain here," the grey-robed elder said.
"However, even if we return to the Canghuang Realm, those old monsters will sooner or later breach it as well. They'll surely mobilize forces from the other half of the Canghuang Realm and invade our half," Ye Yunfei mused aloud.
"Yes, turbulence will engulf the Canghuang Realm, heralding a great calamity," the grey-robed elder lamented.
"All right, hurry and depart. Head in that direction to find the way out. I must go join the battle now. My main body is barely holding on, so this Soul Avatar can replenish some energy for it," the grey-robed elder instructed Ye Yunfei and his three companions.
With those words, the grey-robed elder turned and soared skyward, dashing toward the distant starry expanse.
"Senior, wait!" Ye Yunfei suddenly shouted.
"Is there something else?" the grey-robed elder turned and looked back at Ye Yunfei.
"Senior, I will join the battle as well!" Ye Yunfei declared.
"You will also join the battle?" The grey-robed elder was stunned.
"Young man, your courage is admirable. But with your current level of strength, you lack the qualification to participate. Your innate talent is outstanding; if you cultivate diligently, you will definitely surpass my own height of cultivation in the future," the grey-robed elder remarked.
Then, he turned away once more, preparing to leave.
"Senior, please trust me! I possess a secret technique that could prove hugely useful—perhaps even help you repel the enemies!" Ye Yunfei shouted urgently.