"Huang Tianfeng, from this moment forward, you are the Great Elder of the Sacred Temple!"
Shangguan Han turned to Huang Tianfeng and declared.
"Master, I cannot!
How could I, a mere Late Stage Dao Entry Realm cultivator, serve as Great Elder? I'm afraid I won't command respect," Huang Tianfeng responded, startled.
The position of Great Elder ranked first among all elders, second only to the Temple Master himself.
For a Late Stage Dao Entry Realm cultivator to become the Sacred Temple's Great Elder held little persuasive power.
"If I say you're capable, then you're capable!
Anyone who refuses to submit to you is directly opposing me, Shangguan Han!" Shangguan Han stated firmly.
Having just reclaimed his position as Temple Master, Shangguan Han's first priority was to cultivate a group of his own trusted aides.
This Huang Tianfeng was the perfect candidate!
"Master, I truly cannot..." Huang Tianfeng protested, utterly lacking confidence at the prospect of suddenly becoming the Great Elder.
"Rest assured," Ye Yunfei suddenly spoke up. "Your accumulation is more than sufficient. I will have you reach the Early Stage of the Dao Molding Realm within the day."
What?
Upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words, everyone present couldn't help but look at him, expressions filled with doubt.
Is this kid boasting?
Many thought to themselves.
"This..." Huang Tianfeng was also disbelieving and unsure how to respond.
After all, a Dao Molding Realm expert represented the top tier of power within the Canghuang Realm, figures standing at the very apex of the pyramid.
Throughout the Canghuang Realm, who knew how many Dao Entry Realm cultivators desperately trained their entire lives, yet ultimately failed to break through to the Dao Molding Realm.
Huang Tianfeng himself had been a Late Stage Dao Entry Realm expert for several hundred years now. He had lost count of the attempts he'd made to break through to Dao Molding Realm, only to fail each time.
Deep down, he had long since given up hope!
Now, Ye Yunfei was claiming he could make him a Dao Molding Realm expert within the day? It simply wasn't possible.
"I accomplish what I set out to do," Ye Yunfei said calmly. "You've been stuck at Late Stage Dao Entry Realm for at least several hundred years. Your accumulation is sufficient.
What you lack is merely the right catalyst."
"Haha...
Huang Tianfeng, aren't you going to thank him!
You've stumbled upon the greatest fortune of your life today!" Shangguan Han laughed heartily.
While others doubted Ye Yunfei's ability to help Huang Tianfeng break through, Shangguan Han believed it wholeheartedly!
He was long accustomed to Ye Yunfei's extraordinary capabilities!
"Thank you, Young Master!" Huang Tianfeng said.
However, internally, he still held little faith.
"Can this kid really make Huang Tianfeng break through to Dao Molding Realm within the day?" one Ancestral Elder transmitted his thoughts to the other.
"It's most likely false.
He's probably just young and brash, talking big.
Although, this young man's combat power is quite bizarre. He definitely has an astonishing background. We should avoid clashing with him as much as possible."
"At any rate, he's someone Shangguan Han brought back. Now that Shangguan Han is the Temple Master, this young man technically falls under our banner. There's no need for conflict.
But what about Lü Wutian?
A fierce battle between Shangguan Han and Lü Wutian is inevitable!"
The first Ancestral Elder nodded.
"Let's assess the situation for now."
The other Ancestral Elder pondered for a moment before replying.
At that moment, Shangguan Han, accompanied by Huang Tianfeng, the Ice Demon, the grey-robed elder, the Blood Clan Clone, and a group of newly allied Sacred Temple personnel, began purging the loyalist forces of Lü Wutian, the deceased Great Elder, and the Second Elder.
Shangguan Han showed no mercy toward the trusted aides of Lü Wutian, the Great Elder, and the Second Elder—he simply killed them outright!
With the help of the Ice Demon, the grey-robed elder, the Blood Clan Clone, and Ye Yunfei, it wasn't long before Shangguan Han had completely taken control of the Sacred Temple headquarters.
Shangguan Han immediately issued orders, recalling some of his former subordinates to fill the vacancies left by the purged loyalists of Lü Wutian and the two elders.
Simultaneously, he ordered a strict lockdown on all information regarding the events that had transpired at the headquarters!
Because if Lü Wutian found out, it would surely alert the snake.
As for the two Ancestral Elders, having already declared their support for Shangguan Han, they refrained from interfering and allowed him to act freely.
"Elder Huang, follow me into my spatial treasure."
Ye Yunfei took Huang Tianfeng into the Phantom Tower, instructing him to enter closed-door cultivation.
Then, Ye Yunfei personally refined a batch of high-grade pills and handed them to Huang Tianfeng for consumption and refinement.
These pills could assist Huang Tianfeng in breaking through his current bottleneck.
One month later (Phantom Tower time), on a certain day:
"I... I think I'm about to break through!" Huang Tianfeng suddenly exclaimed with intense excitement.
"Correct. You are about to break through.
Time to go outside."
Ye Yunfei smiled.
The next moment, Ye Yunfei and Huang Tianfeng emerged from the Phantom Tower.
Boom! Rumble...
Dark clouds had already gathered densely in the high sky, forming an oppressive, leaden layer.
This major disturbance quickly caught the attention of most people in the Sacred Temple headquarters, who hurried toward the commotion.
"No way!
It seems Huang Tianfeng really is about to break through!"
"How can this be?
Only half a day has passed! Did that young man actually make Huang Tianfeng break through?!"
Naturally, the powerful perception of the two Sacred Temple Ancestral Elders allowed them to sense this first, and they were utterly dumbfounded.
"Let's go see for ourselves!"
The two Ancestral Elders rushed out from their secluded cultivation spots, heading towards the location of Huang Tianfeng's tribulation.
Boom! Rumble...
At that moment, Huang Tianfeng's Lightning Tribulation officially began. Thick bolts of lightning descended from the heavens with majestic force.
Since Huang Tianfeng's accumulation was already sufficient and his foundation of spiritual power profoundly solid, handling this tribulation was not overly difficult.
One hour later:
Huang Tianfeng's Lightning Tribulation finally concluded.
"I've finally broken through to the Early Stage of the Dao Molding Realm!"
After the tribulation ended, Huang Tianfeng stood high in the sky, feeling the surging, vigorous spiritual power within his body. For a moment, it felt like a dream.
This was a day he had yearned for for hundreds of years!
He never imagined he would achieve the breakthrough successfully within just half a day!
"Hiss!
Huang Tianfeng really has broken through and become a Dao Molding Realm expert!"
In the distance, the two Ancestral Elders watched Huang Tianfeng's successful breakthrough and couldn't help but draw in a sharp breath, feeling immensely shocked.
Then, their gazes involuntarily shifted to Ye Yunfei, staring at him as if he were a monster.
"I thank Young Master for this rebirth-like grace!
Such great kindness is beyond repayment. From now on, wherever Young Master has need of me, wherever you wish to dispatch me, Huang Tianfeng will be at your beck and call!"
Huang Tianfeng flashed forward, landing before Ye Yunfei and performing a deep, respectful bow as he spoke solemnly.
Although he was now an Early Stage Dao Molding Realm expert, he dared not show the slightest arrogance before Ye Yunfei, only showing greater respect.
Half a day ago, he had personally witnessed Ye Yunfei effortlessly slaughter the Great Elder and the Second Elder!
"There's no need for formalities, Elder Huang. Just assist Temple Master Shangguan well in managing the Sacred Temple from now on."
Ye Yunfei said lightly.
"I will strictly obey your instructions, Young Master."
Huang Tianfeng replied respectfully.
"Young man, how did you accomplish this?"
At that moment, one of the Ancestral Elders couldn't resist asking Ye Yunfei.
They hadn't seen Ye Yunfei take Huang Tianfeng into the Phantom Tower to refine pills for him. All they knew was that half a day ago, Ye Yunfei said he would make Huang Tianfeng break through today, and half a day later, Huang Tianfeng actually did!
Ye Yunfei responded with a faint smile, offering no answer.
"You..."
The questioning Ancestral Elder felt somewhat embarrassed.
However, given Ye Yunfei's incredibly abnormal display, the two Ancestral Elders became even more unwilling to provoke him.
"For Shangguan Han's sake, let me advise you two: don't continue trying to force your way through your bottlenecks.
If you keep going like this, not only will you never break through to the Late Stage of Dao Molding Realm, but within a few years, you will suffer a qi deviation. At best, you'll lose all your cultivation and become paralyzed; at worst, you'll lose your lives."
Ye Yunfei suddenly swept his gaze over the two Ancestral Elders and spoke.
"What?
Boy, what are you saying!"
The two Ancestral Elders, upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words, underwent a drastic change in expression, their eyes locking fiercely onto him.
"Ye Yunfei, don't anger the Ancestral Elders. As Temple Master, I need their support," Shangguan Han immediately transmitted his voice, worried Ye Yunfei might provoke them too far.
"Haven't you two noticed that over the past few years, every time you attempt to charge your bottlenecks, your dantians and the various energy channels throughout your bodies experience sharp, stabbing pains? And this situation is growing increasingly severe. This is absolutely not normal.
It's because you're too impatient, too desperate to break through, constantly trying to force your way, and frequently consuming various violently potent pills in hopes of assisting the breakthrough.
You fail to realize that on the path of cultivation, haste makes waste. How is it that after cultivating your entire lives, you two have forgotten such a fundamental principle?"
Ye Yunfei spoke these words unhurriedly.
Hearing this, the two Ancestral Elders stood there, their gazes fixed on Ye Yunfei, their faces alternating between green and white, expressions shifting constantly.
"You..." Shangguan Han grew very tense, worried Ye Yunfei had completely infuriated the two Elders.
"Your words, young friend, strike like a morning bell and an evening drum, utterly deafening, thoroughly shaking us awake!
You are absolutely right. We have cultivated our whole lives yet forgot the simplest principle: haste makes waste.
Young friend, you are truly a fine teacher to us. Please accept our bow!"
After a long while, the two Ancestral Elders suddenly bowed deeply toward Ye Yunfei in unison, their attitudes extremely respectful.
"Ye Yunfei was actually right?"
Seeing this, Shangguan Han finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hmm. The fact that you two can comprehend this principle now is not too late.
There is still hope for recovery.
Had it been a few years later, even the presence of a Great Immortal wouldn't be able to save you."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Young friend, every single word you just said is completely accurate.
Over these past two years, not only when charging our bottlenecks, but even during our usual cultivation, we feel stabbing pains in our dantians and energy channels, growing increasingly severe.
For the past half year, we've practically been unable to cultivate at all.
Young friend, do you have any good suggestions?"
One of the Ancestral Elders looked at Ye Yunfei with hopeful eyes and asked.
"It's very simple. Address the root cause.
Your condition is primarily due to repeatedly forcing your bottlenecks and consuming many violently potent pills, causing damage to your dantians and energy channels. Simply repair your dantians and channels, and that will suffice."
Ye Yunfei explained calmly.
"How do we repair them?"
The two Ancestral Elders asked in unison.
"The repair is not difficult. However, I don't have time right now. I must hurry to the Su Clan."
Ye Yunfei said, looking toward Shangguan Han.
"Ye Yunfei, they are my Ancestral Elders. Essentially, they're on our side," Shangguan Han said.
"Right, right! We're all on the same side!"
The two Ancestral Elders nodded repeatedly.
"I just need to refine some pills to repair their channels.
However, I've already delayed over half a day here at the Sacred Temple headquarters. I must set off for the Su Clan immediately.
The two Ancestral Elders' injuries have persisted for several years. Even if they need treatment, waiting another day or two won't make a difference."
Ye Yunfei stated.
"Right! You really must go to the Su Clan!
Ancestral Elders, rest assured, I will definitely have Ye Yunfei help treat you!
But right now, Ye Yunfei truly has a crucial matter that requires him to go to the Su Clan. He cannot delay for even half a moment!
I'll be accompanying him to the Su Clan headquarters as well."
Shangguan Han said to the two Ancestral Elders.
"Very well, young friend. First, attend to your own matters!
Our situation is not urgent!"
Both Ancestral Elders nodded in agreement.
"Shangguan Han, rest easy. Both of us will fully support you as Temple Master.
From this moment on, Lü Wutian is a traitor of our Sacred Temple!"
One Ancestral Elder declared.
They needed Ye Yunfei's help for treatment, and since Ye Yunfei was brought back by Shangguan Han, it was only natural for them to curry favor with Shangguan Han.
"Ye Yunfei, wait a moment. Let me issue a few instructions, then we'll depart immediately for the Su Clan!"
Shangguan Han said to Ye Yunfei.