"I am willing."
The little girl was taken aback for a moment, then nodded.
She somewhat understood Ye Yunfei's meaning. Once she was refined and devoured, it meant she would forever be controlled by his will, becoming akin to one of his artifacts. She might even lose her current clear, independent consciousness. Because after being refined by Ye Yunfei, she would become a part of his consciousness, no longer an independent life form. In short, if she were refined by Ye Yunfei, this little girl would cease to exist in this world.
Yet, hearing her words, Ye Yunfei hesitated.
The consciousness born from the Canghuang Origin energy before him had likely endured countless long years, only now managing to give rise to such a clear, independent awareness. To devour and refine her now felt wrong to Ye Yunfei.
Boom…
At that moment, the giant hand high in the sky was about to smash down onto the ground. In a blink, the entire Heavenly Beast Forest would be utterly annihilated.
"If you truly cannot bear to devour and refine her, then temporarily fuse with her. Borrow the Canghuang Realm's origin energy for now to fend off that terrifying fellow. Among the methods I passed on to you before, there is a secret art that allows temporary fusion with all manner of living beings in the world. You, enter Ye Yunfei's body immediately and let him control your energy to fight."
It was then that Hun Lao suddenly spoke up.
"Alright. Do as Tree Grandpa said."
Ye Yunfei gritted his teeth and agreed.
In truth, only by completely refining and devouring the little girl could Ye Yunfei truly utilize the Canghuang Origin for combat, wielding it with full freedom. But Ye Yunfei truly could not bring himself to do such a thing!
"Okay."
The little girl obeyed Ye Yunfei's words without question, immediately executing the secret art transmitted by Hun Lao. She plunged headlong into Ye Yunfei's body, merging with his physical form.
Ye Yunfei immediately felt a clear connection to the Canghuang Realm's origin energy.
At this moment, Ye Yunfei felt the energy he possessed skyrocketing at a terrifying, linear pace!
Previously, holding the little girl's hand only allowed him to borrow a portion of the Canghuang Realm's origin energy. But now, Ye Yunfei found he could borrow most of the realm's origin energy!
"It's been so long since I've experienced such powerful energy!"
Ye Yunfei clenched his fists and exhaled heavily.
Then, he abruptly looked up, his gaze fixed on the giant hand rumbling down from above, his fighting spirit boiling.
Boom…
The Canghuang Realm's origin energy surged in like a vast tide, flooding into Ye Yunfei's body.
Ye Yunfei's stature also grew continuously, transforming in an instant into a giant who seemed to hold up the heavens and tread upon the earth.
Boom…
Ye Yunfei launched his attack directly. With a single punch, one could see suns and moons rotating within his palm and fingers, surrounded by flickering starlight.
Having borrowed most of the Canghuang Realm's origin energy, Ye Yunfei's strike could cover the heavens, sever star domains—truly mighty and incomparable.
Boom…
Ye Yunfei's fist collided with the giant hand descending from the sky.
"Hmm?"
The Palace Master couldn't help but make a soft sound of surprise.
He could naturally see that Ye Yunfei was borrowing the Canghuang Realm's origin energy, but the combat awareness, experience, and skill displayed by Ye Yunfei shocked him as well.
"Kid, you are quite a mystery. You don't seem like someone from a lower world. Even in the Hongmeng Continent, I doubt any youth could compare to you. But what of it? Hand over the Heavenly Dao Tower, and perhaps I'll spare your life. Otherwise, regardless of your extraordinary background, you cannot escape death."
The Palace Master spoke with cold indifference.
His vision was extremely sharp, spotting at a glance that Ye Yunfei must have an extraordinary origin. But he didn't take it to heart. After all, he was a terrifying powerhouse among the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds; few forces in the world could catch his eye.
"Enough idle talk. If you want to fight, then fight!"
Ye Yunfei soared into the air, surrounded by a swirling, dense aura of energy oppression, resembling a giant standing in the heart of a hurricane.
As his voice faded, Ye Yunfei attacked directly, unleashing a high-level sword technique. A sharp killing intent surged upward.
Clang! Clang!
Billions of sword energies appeared instantly, their murderous aura overwhelming the heavens!
Clang! Clang!
In the starry void, sword energies flashed like rainbows. Hundreds of millions of sharp sword energies interweaved, forming a sheet of eternal, indestructible light that surged toward the Palace Master.
"Interesting. It seems you, kid, truly have an immense background. You definitely can't be from this lower world!"
Boom…
Suddenly, crimson feathers erupted from the surface of the Palace Master's body, clanging metallically. Countless scarlet feathers gathered, weaving into two sharp red wings that slashed forward.
For a moment, crimson clouds surged to the sky, sword energies flowed like a sea, clashing unceasingly within this region of the starry void. Terrifying explosions of energy nearly reverberated throughout the entire Canghuang Realm.
"This fellow is too strong. Even with most of the Canghuang Realm's origin energy, I still can't defeat him."
After just one exchange, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
At this moment, Huang Shang and Hu Miao, carrying the Phantom Tower, were transporting the members of Qingyun Palace into it.
Some members of Qingyun Palace had already been killed. Chaos reigned throughout the headquarters, with personnel scattered everywhere. Thus, though Hu Miao and Huang Shang moved about with the Phantom Tower, constantly gathering scattered people and demon beasts from various parts of the Heavenly Beast Forest. All the demon beasts within the Heavenly Beast Forest were members of Qingyun Palace and could not be abandoned.
Meanwhile, Ye Yunfei was already engaged in fierce battle with the Palace Master out in the starry void.
"Kill!"
Roused by the intensity of the fight, Ye Yunfei roared, unleashing all manner of cultivation techniques and martial skills. His energy boiled, displaying astonishing combat prowess. For a time, he fought intensely and evenly with the Palace Master.
"How is this possible?! Kid, you're merely borrowing a portion of this world's origin energy, yet you can fight me to this extent. The moves you're displaying are all exquisite, rare techniques from the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds! To my knowledge, it's impossible for any single faction or powerhouse to obtain them all at once! How can you possess so many rare techniques simultaneously?!"
The Palace Master was both shocked and furious.
During the course of the battle, every cultivation technique and martial skill Ye Yunfei employed belonged to the rare, high-level systems within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds. For so many advanced techniques to be obtained and mastered by a single individual, especially a junior, seemed absolutely impossible!
"Oh? Your eyesight isn't bad. Then try this move!"
Ye Yunfei sneered.
With a great shout that vibrated like a dragon's roar and tiger's roar, shaking the starry void, Ye Yunfei threw a punch. Behind him, a massive totem wheel surged and rose.
Roar! Roar!
Nine Divine Beasts simultaneously stepped forth from that wheel, roaring toward the heavens.
A primordial, barbaric aura spread.
At this moment, every living being in the entire Canghuang Realm—humans and beasts alike—prostrated themselves on the ground, feeling a terrifying suppression originating from the very depths of their bloodlines!
Boom! Boom!
The nine Divine Beasts radiated overwhelming killing intent as they trampled through the starry void, charging toward the Palace Master simultaneously. They resembled nine supreme demon gods striding out from antiquity, each step causing tremors across all realms and worlds.
"What technique is this?! I have never seen it before!"
The Palace Master stared at the nine Divine Beasts rushing toward him, feeling deeply shaken.
The more powerful and exceptional a master, the clearer they could see the fearsome nature of a technique like the Nine Palaces Totem Wheel!
"Master, we have transported all members of Qingyun Palace into the Phantom Tower."
It was then that Hu Miao's voice suddenly rang out within Ye Yunfei's Soul Sea.
"Good! Let's go!"
Ye Yunfei nodded, his figure flashing as he swiftly retreated. He took the Phantom Tower and then transported Hu Miao and Huang Shang into it as well.
Then, Ye Yunfei took a step forward, his figure vanishing directly from sight.
If they continued fighting here, the Xuanhuang Star Domain would definitely be destroyed. Therefore, Ye Yunfei needed to lure this Palace Master away.
The Palace Master was locked in fierce combat with the nine Divine Beasts when they all vanished abruptly.
"Kid, you cannot escape!"
Enraged, the Palace Master took a step forward, locked onto Ye Yunfei's aura, and gave chase.
A short while later, Ye Yunfei arrived at a remote area of the starry void. This region had no star seas, so any battle here would not cause excessive destruction.
"Old man, let us have a proper, intense fight."
Ye Yunfei let out a long cry. His fighting spirit materialized, rising like a sea of flames.
Boom…
The two sides once again engaged in fierce combat.
The techniques and martial skills Ye Yunfei displayed were extremely profound. The Palace Master, on the other hand, possessed a higher cultivation realm and formidable strength, coupled with significant combat experience.
For a time, they fought intensely and evenly.
Meanwhile, outside the Realm Barrier of Canghuang Realm, terrifyingly powerful figures stood observing the fierce battle taking place inside.
"The Palace Master has been inside for so long, and nothing has happened. What Ancient Covenant? It seems to be nothing but a deceitful legend."
"Indeed. Because of this vague and unfathomable Ancient Covenant, we, the powerful ones, dared not set foot in certain weak lower realms. Turns out we were deceived."
"Heh, now that it's been proven that the Ancient Covenant is fake, we have nothing to hold us back."
These powerhouses watched and discussed. Many of them were growing restless with anticipation.
"The Heavenly Dao Tower is a good thing, one that involves the secret to achieving the Emperor realm. We can't let the Heavenly God Palace monopolize it."
Suddenly, one of the powerhouses sneered and stepped towards the Realm Barrier of Canghuang Realm. With a single punch, he struck the barrier.
"In that case, let us enter as well."
Several other powerhouses, not wanting to be left behind, also threw punches or palm strikes at the Canghuang Realm's barrier, aiming to smash it and enter to seize the Heavenly Dao Tower.
Boom! Boom!
Terrifying, extreme-level attacks landed on the Canghuang Realm's barrier, which soon became shattered and ragged in the blink of an eye.
"It seems the Ancient Covenant has remained out of seclusion for too long, forgotten by the living beings of these Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds. Now is the time for the Ancient Covenant to emerge from seclusion once more and shake this world."
At that moment, at the edge of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, within an unknown Small World, inside an inconspicuous, humble temple, an ancient voice suddenly sounded.
The temple's colors were dim. No one knew just how many long aeons of time it had witnessed. Its original colors were long gone.
The interior of the temple was extremely simple, containing only an offering table covered in thick dust.
Upon that table rested quietly a single sheet of yellow paper.
The voice emanated from this very sheet of yellow paper.