Inside the Phantom Tower, Ye Yunfei sat cross-legged, cultivating the Puppet Soul Threads.
The Soul Tree hovered above his head, erupting with a powerful suction force that absorbed the Soul Power energy contained within the nearby Soul Law Crystals, Nightmare Stones, and Soul Stones.
As the absorbed energy increased, Ye Yunfei's Soul Power level slowly rose.
A day later.
"This time, I've managed to condense thirty Puppet Soul Threads!"
With a thought from Ye Yunfei, thirty soul threads shot out from his soul sea, suspending themselves around his head, emanating an eerie aura.
These soul threads could be used to control the soul bodies of other beings or for direct combat; their uses were vast!
"Time to raise my cultivation realm."
Ye Yunfei vaguely sensed the opportunity for a breakthrough in his spiritual energy realm.
Thus, he retrieved a pill cauldron and refined several elixirs to assist with the breakthrough.
Next, Ye Yunfei began to assail the next realm.
Inside the Phantom Tower…
One month later, Ye Yunfei broke through to the mid-level Transformation Dao realm.
Two months later, he broke through to the late-level Transformation Dao realm!
"That's enough for now."
Ye Yunfei ceased his assault on the next realm.
"Master, Lantai City is ahead," Hu Miao suddenly announced.
"Good."
Ye Yunfei exited the Phantom Tower and stepped outside the flying boat.
Before him lay a vast city.
"Master, I'm tired of staying in the Phantom Tower, I'd like to move around outside a bit," Hu Miao said to Ye Yunfei.
"Alright, let's enter the city together."
Ye Yunfei stored the flying boat and walked into the city with Hu Miao.
The city streets were filled with a large number of young martial artists, each possessing a noble bearing, the elite among the younger generation of the Eastern Barrens who had come here to participate in the Lesser Lantai Gathering.
As a member of the Ancient Celestial Fox race, Hu Miao was innately charming and possessed a particular mesmerizing allure. As she walked down the main street, her steps and enchanting grace immediately drew waves of astonished exclamations.
Most young men couldn't seem to take their eyes off her upon seeing her.
After entering the city, Ye Yunfei took out a jade slip and sent a message to Ji Yue.
A short while later.
"Su Fei, you've finally come!"
Ji Yue, following the information Ye Yunfei sent, sought him out and cried out joyfully upon seeing him.
"Who is she?"
Spotting Hu Miao, Ji Yue couldn't help but be taken aback.
Known as the most beautiful goddess in Ziwei Sect, Ji Yue naturally possessed exceptional beauty, yet she felt not the slightest sense of superiority when facing Hu Miao.
The Ancient Celestial Fox race was innately skilled in seduction arts; every movement, every word, even a single glance or expression could captivate men!
"I am master's servant," Hu Miao said with a smile.
"A servant? If I'm not mistaken, you should belong to the demon race. Why are you willing to serve Su Fei as a slave? Did Su Fei coerce you?" Ji Yue asked, stunned.
She sensed demonic power emanating faintly from Hu Miao. As Hu Miao had spent most of her previous time inside the Phantom Tower, this was Ji Yue's first time meeting her.
"Sister Ji Yue, you've misunderstood. I am following master of my own free will," Hu Miao chuckled.
"What is going on here? Su Fei, I warn you, the Eastern Barrens Demon Race is not to be trifled with. In these past few days, the Eastern Barrens Demon Race has launched a fierce offensive, hunting down Heavenly God Palace forces everywhere, inflicting heavy casualties on them. Rumors say that a draconic roar emerged from the depths of the Sky Demon Forest, leading some to speculate that the Demon Race's grand elder from a thousand years ago might still be alive. The Palace Master of the Heavenly God Palace has already issued an order for their forces to withdraw and to cease provoking the Eastern Barrens Demon Race. Su Fei, if you truly used some underhanded method to control this demon race sister, I urge you to release her immediately. If the Eastern Barrens Demon Race were to investigate, not only you, but even Ziwei Sect would be implicated!" Ji Yue said with a grave expression.
"Oh? The Heavenly God Palace forces have already withdrawn?" Hearing Ji Yue's words, Ye Yunfei was somewhat surprised.
He had been cultivating inside the Phantom Tower for the past couple of days and was unaware of recent events in the Eastern Barrens.
"Sister Ji Yue, rest assured. Master really hasn't coerced me; I willingly chose to follow him," Hu Miao said, covering her mouth with a giggle.
"Really? Why would you willingly follow Su Fei?" Ji Yue, seeing Hu Miao's expression, seemed somewhat convinced and asked.
"Because master is very charming! Sister Ji Yue, spend some time getting to know my master, and you'll slowly discover his charm. Perhaps, by then, you'll be like me, willingly following him too," Hu Miao said with a laugh.
"I don't want to get to know him," Ji Yue said, her face involuntarily flushing red.
"Alright, Su Fei, come with me. I'll find you a place to stay so you can rest properly. The Lesser Lantai Gathering only starts tomorrow. Remember, most of the young people who have arrived in Lesser Lantai City these past few days are young geniuses from major forces across the Eastern Barrens. Each has significant backing, so you absolutely must not offend people recklessly. Otherwise, I won't be able to protect you! With your strength and background, it would be very easy for those young geniuses from major forces to deal with you!" Ji Yue earnestly advised, her expression serious.
"Huh? Su Fei, when did you break through to the late Transformation Dao realm?" Suddenly, Ji Yue noticed the spiritual energy fluctuations on Ye Yunfei's body and was greatly astonished.
When she had left Ziwei Sect, Ye Yunfei was only at the Initial Dao Establishment realm. In such a short time, he had actually broken through to the late Transformation Dao realm! This speed of advancement was a bit frightening.
"However, even at the late Transformation Dao realm, you have no chance of making it onto the Lesser Prodigy Ranking. This session of the Lesser Lantai Gathering has attracted large numbers of young geniuses from various major powers. The competition is too fierce. Even I probably have no chance of competing for a ranking on the Lesser Prodigy Ranking," Ji Yue said with a bitter smile and a shake of her head.
"You must be Ji Yue from the Ji Family. Tell me, where is my cousin Zhao Lingfeng?" A young man in white clothes strode over, his gaze pressing down on Ji Yue.
"You're Zhao Tianyu of the Zhao Family!" Seeing this young man, Ji Yue was somewhat startled.
This was a very famous young genius of the Eastern Barrens Zhao Family, far stronger than Zhao Lingfeng.
"Since you know who I am, answer my question honestly," Zhao Tianyu said arrogantly.
"Hmph! Zhao Tianyu, how audacious of you! Daring to bully Ji Yue in the middle of the street! Do you truly think us descendants of the Ji Family fear you?" A graceful figure in pink clothes approached lightly, her willow-shaped brows furrowing angrily as she glared at Zhao Tianyu.
Ye Yunfei had seen this woman before: a young genius of the Eastern Barrens Ji Family, Ji Yan.
"My cousin Zhao Lingfeng went to Yan Country supposedly because of your Ji Family's Ji Yue. Now that he is missing, of course I need to question Ji Yue for answers. Ji Yue, tell me honestly, what exactly happened to Lingfeng!" Zhao Tianyu shot a sharp gaze towards Ji Yue as he asked.
"Zhao Tianyu, what do you mean? Are you implying that Zhao Lingfeng's disappearance is related to Ji Yue? After leaving Ancient Sage Gu Yao's tomb, Ji Yue returned directly to our Ji Family headquarters and has only just emerged now. What does Zhao Lingfeng running off to Yan Country have to do with Ji Yue? Can your Zhao Family blame our Ji Family descendants whenever one of you goes missing? I warn you, the descendants of the Ji Family are not to be bullied!" Ji Yan sternly rebuked, her imposing aura forcing Zhao Tianyu to take a step back.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Tianyu's face flushed bright red with suffocated anger, momentarily unsure how to respond.
"What's there to argue about. I killed Zhao Lingfeng long ago with a single sword stroke," Ye Yunfei thought with a cold laugh.
"Kid, you're not a member of the Ji Family. You're hanging around with Ji Yue. Are you from Ziwei Sect of Yan Country?" Zhao Tianyu's gaze suddenly fell upon Ye Yunfei as he asked coldly.
"That's right. He is from Ziwei Sect. However, his strength is weak. Zhao Lingfeng's disappearance has nothing to do with him," Ji Yue took a step forward, placing herself protectively in front of Ye Yunfei.
"Although she is determined to take my position as senior brother, she still cares about my safety," Ye Yunfei looked at Ji Yue's back and gave a slight, approving nod.