"This pill should be kept for later, when I need to break through a cultivation bottleneck," Ye Yunfei said as he stored the blood-red pill hovering before him.
"First, take me to where Zidan Valley keeps its scriptures and classics."
Ye Yunfei addressed the Valley Master.
Soon, the Valley Master led Ye Yunfei to Zidan Valley's scripture repository. Ye Yunfei entered and proceeded to browse through all the pill refining manuals stored within.
Half a day later, nearly all the remaining members of Zidan Valley were gathered before Ye Yunfei. The recent battle had burned away almost half of Zidan Valley's forces, leaving behind about half.
"All of you," Ye Yunfei began, his gaze sweeping slowly over the assembled crowd, "since you have chosen to submit to me, remember your words. From now on, Zidan Valley will serve as the Ziwei Sect's Dan Hall, and you are all part of the Ziwei Sect. Of course, the name 'Zidan Valley' may continue to be used."
No one dared to voice an objection.
"Let me reiterate, I do not welcome traitors," Ye Yunfei emphasized. "If any of you ever betray the Ziwei Sect in the future, there will be no mercy—only death."
"Next, I will personally explain the Dao of Pill Arts to you, focusing mainly on our Ziwei Sect's pill refinement heritage. The pill arts you currently cultivate are, in fact, all part of the ancient legacy passed down by our Ziwei Sect. However, many points have been misunderstood, and some of the more core mental cultivation methods have been lost."
Following this declaration, Ye Yunfei spent an entire day specially explaining the various pill refinement legacies of the Ziwei Sect to Zidan Valley's alchemists.
"So that's how it is! Indeed, there were many things we misunderstood before!"
"Excellent! Listening to Senior Brother Su Fei's explanations feels like clouds parting to reveal the sun! My pill arts have improved significantly!"
"A single speech from Senior Brother Su Fei brings greater rewards than decades of my own arduous practice!"
The alchemists of Zidan Valley listened, completely spellbound. Some among them had harbored discontent towards Ye Yunfei in their hearts, but after listening to his explanations for a day, each one had become filled with admiration.
"Alright. If you have any questions, ask them now. I'll answer them on the spot. Otherwise, I will be leaving Zidan Valley soon," Ye Yunfei finally concluded his explanations and announced the beginning of a Q&A session.
"Senior Brother Su Fei, I've always had a question about fire control..."
"My control during the liquid condensation stage has never been good. Is it my technique that's wrong..."
Alchemist after alchemist eagerly raised their questions to Ye Yunfei, who answered them one by one before the entire group. Those who received answers beamed with joy.
After a full day and night, Ye Yunfei concluded his pill arts teachings and entered the Phantom Tower. There, he refined a large batch of pills.
He then gathered all of Zidan Valley's high-ranking members.
"I will now give each of you a bottle of pills. After consuming and refining them, you can make a breakthrough in a short period," Ye Yunfei announced.
To the sole surviving Supreme Elder, he said, "After your breakthrough, you will reach the Heaven Position realm. From then on, you shall be Zidan Valley's Patriarch, responsible for safeguarding this place." The man was originally at the peak of the Ocean-Heavens Realm. There had been three Supreme Elders, but only one remained.
"Yes, Master," the Supreme Elder replied respectfully. He was under the influence of the Puppet Soul Thread Secret Art, harboring absolute submission towards Ye Yunfei in his heart. Unless the art was broken, he would never betray.
"The rest of you will also break through in the near future after consuming my pills. Zidan Valley's strength will not be far off from what it was before," Ye Yunfei said, looking at the others.
Just then, a steward hurried over to report, "Senior Brother Su Fei, there is a group outside claiming they have come to Zidan Valley to request pills. I see demonic energy emanating from their bodies; they might be from the Demon Race. The Heavenly God Palace is currently hunting the Demon Race all over the Eastern Barrens. Should we allow these Demon Race members to enter?"
"The Demon Race is here seeking pills?" Ye Yunfei was somewhat surprised.
After a moment's thought, he instructed, "Alright, tell them it's not convenient for them to enter. Ask them what pills they need, have them report the names, and then go wait somewhere nearby."
Now that the forces of the Heavenly God Palace were hunting the Demon Race everywhere, allowing their members into Zidan Valley could bring unnecessary trouble. However, for the sake of the Vermilion Bird Princess, Ye Yunfei decided to help them.
"Understood," the steward nodded and left.
After a short while, the steward returned, carrying a jade slip inscribed with the names of over a dozen different pills, with a relatively large quantity requested for each. All were Transformation-Grade pills, and all were suitable for healing Demon Race members.
"It seems they are seriously injured," Ye Yunfei deduced after a glance at the pill names.
Refining Transformation-Grade pills was naturally effortless for Ye Yunfei. He entered the Phantom Tower, refined a large batch of the requested pills, and handed them to the steward to deliver to the waiting Demon Race group.
"I am about to leave," Ye Yunfei then said, summoning the Valley Master. "Dispatch several high-ranking members immediately to the Ziwei Sect headquarters in Yan Country. Establish contact with the Ziwei Sect and inform Sect Leader Liu about everything that has happened here at Zidan Valley."
"I understand, Master," the Valley Master replied.
"The Lesser Lantai Gathering is about to begin. It's time to head there," Ye Yunfei said to himself. After giving his final instructions, he retrieved the Green Flying Boat and set off towards the location of the Lesser Lantai Gathering.
The Green Flying Boat was extremely fast, swiftly carrying him far from Zidan Valley.
Rumble…
Suddenly, sounds of battle erupted from a certain direction ahead.
"Hahaha… Did you demons really think you could escape right under the nose of our Heavenly God Palace? Stop dreaming! Like stray dogs, you've fled for so many days, only to be found by us in the end!" A wild laugh rang out.
"The Demon Race forces have been intercepted by the Heavenly God Palace again," Ye Yunfei thought to himself.
"You all protect the young lady and get her out of here! I'll hold them off!" a voice cried out.
"The Vermilion Bird Princess!" Ye Yunfei's expression shifted involuntarily. That voice belonged to the elderly woman he'd heard in the peach blossom forest!
"Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, let's go take a look," Ye Yunfei immediately summoned the silkworm.
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm appeared before Ye Yunfei and then activated its ability to traverse space, carrying Ye Yunfei rapidly towards the commotion. Ye Yunfei's own spatial energy level was already very high, not inferior to the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm's. However, the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm possessed unique racial heritage, its ability to traverse space was unparalleled, leaving even Ye Yunfei temporarily willing to concede its superiority.
Soon, the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm brought Ye Yunfei to a mountaintop.
In the mountain valley region below, numerous forces were locked in fierce combat.
"Vermilion Bird Princess, we meet again. Last time, a human brat helped you, allowing you to escape by luck. This time, your fortune will not be so great. Moreover, I have already ordered an investigation into that brat's whereabouts. Once his origins are discovered, his entire clan—nine generations—will be executed. Not just a backwater place like the Eastern Barrens; even in the entire Primordial Continent, few dare to provoke our Heavenly God Palace," a voice declared.
"Lü Wuque!"
Hearing this, Ye Yunfei's face darkened.