Ye Yunfei could tell that this Heavenly Thunder Chan Master bore him no ill will.
“You two should head back first. I'm all right now.” Ye Yunfei said to Ji Yan and Ji Yue. “Thank you for being willing to step up and help me.” He added gratefully.
In such a situation just now, it was truly remarkable that these two women had stayed behind to help him.
“Very well then. Ji Yue, let's go.” Ji Yan nodded and spoke to Ji Yue.
“Su Fei, do be careful.” Ji Yue, also knowing Ye Yunfei was now safe, said her farewell.
“Don't worry, I will. You two be careful as well.” Ye Yunfei replied.
“You can rest assured. The Zhao Family and the others won't dare do anything to us. After all, our Ji Family isn't easy to bully either. Moreover, experts from our Ji Family have also arrived in Lantai City.” Ji Yan stated.
With that, Ji Yan and Ji Yue turned and left.
“Su Fei, you are indeed more suited than I to be the senior brother of Ziwei Sect.” After walking a few steps, Ji Yue suddenly turned back, her beautiful eyes fixed on Ye Yunfei as she spoke, before she followed Ji Yue and departed into the distance.
Ye Yunfei couldn't help but chuckle softly. It seemed Ji Yue had finally conceded to him.
Not long after, under Heavenly Thunder Chan Master's guidance, Ye Yunfei arrived at a vast compound north of Lantai City.
Upon entering the compound, row after row of monks sat cross-legged, all disciples of the Great Thunderclap Monastery.
“Young Master Su, this way.” Leading the way ahead, Heavenly Thunder Chan Master brought Ye Yunfei deep into the compound, arriving at a small courtyard.
This courtyard was not large in area, but the spiritual energy here was startlingly dense. Several Buddhist formations had been set up within, gathering various essences and energies from the heavens and earth, concentrating them into this courtyard.
In the center of the courtyard was a small pool. Sitting cross-legged in the pool was a desiccated monk, his skin entirely golden, radiating dazzling Buddhist radiance.
At a glance, Ye Yunfei recognized that this monk was precisely the one he had freed when cutting open the stone at the Four Directions Trading House's gambling den!
The water in that small pool was holy water blessed by Buddhist dharma, offering immense benefits to anyone cultivating Buddhist techniques.
At this moment, that old monk was motionless. His form was withered, with no flesh or blood remaining, only a layer of dried-out skin wrapped around bones—utterly a skeleton.
However, Ye Yunfei knew this old monk still harbored a wisp of life force; he was not completely dead.
To have endured to this day through such vast stretches of time, this old monk's vitality was truly astonishing.
Moreover, one could imagine that he must have been a top-tier expert who shook the world in his day.
An expert of a generation, fallen into such a lonely state to become a skeleton today—one couldn't help but sigh.
“Greetings, High Master. As you instructed, I have brought Young Master Su.” Heavenly Thunder Chan Master walked to the side of the pool and bowed respectfully to the old monk within it.
The Buddhist radiance on the High Master's body surged intensely for a moment, showing a reaction.
“Greetings, Senior.” Ye Yunfei performed a courteous gesture.
However, the old monk did not offer any response.
“Young Master Su, you may not be aware. A faint strand of life force remains in the High Master's body, but it is exceedingly weak. Over these past two days, we have exhausted all our stock of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, yet we've been unable to restore the High Master's vitality. Currently, the only way for me and the High Master to communicate is through our Buddhist skill of Mind Transmission, exchanging messages. It was the High Master who instructed me to invite you here.” Heavenly Thunder Chan Master explained to Ye Yunfei.
“I see.” Ye Yunfei nodded. Mind Transmission was indeed an advanced Buddhist mystical power.
“For what purpose has the High Master invited me here?” Ye Yunfei asked.
“The High Master invited you for two reasons. The first is to personally thank you. If you hadn't freed the High Master from the stone, who knows how long he would have had to wait before seeing the light of day again. The second reason is that the High Master knows you are a Geomancer and wishes to ask for your help in setting up an Earth Formation. He hopes to gather earth essences to nurture and rejuvenate the vitality of his physical body. Of course, once the matter is accomplished, our Great Thunderclap Monastery will certainly offer a handsome reward.” Heavenly Thunder Chan Master replied.
Hearing this, Ye Yunfei understood why these monks had invited him. They wanted him to help set up an Earth Formation.
Right at that moment, Heavenly Thunder Chan Master's expression shifted slightly as he respectfully looked towards the old monk in the pool. Clearly, the old monk was communicating with him again.
“Young Master Su, the High Master just informed me that he has two Geomancer implements to gift to you. These two implements were collected by the High Master in his past days and have been stored in a spatial treasure on his person ever since. Now, gifting them to you can be considered finding them a proper home.” Heavenly Thunder Chan Master said.
As soon as his words fell, a humming sound filled the air.
Two objects shot out from within the old monk's body in the pool and floated before Ye Yunfei.
A yellow long whip, and an aged, well-used compass whose original color one could faintly discern had been a pale gold.
“Such profound Earth-attribute laws!” Ye Yunfei was somewhat astonished.
Moreover, Ye Yunfei also discovered that these two implements contained a large number of restrictions within, all related to Geomancer techniques.
“They are indeed artifacts of our Geomancer lineage, and undoubtedly forged by a highly accomplished Geomancer of ancient times!” Sensing the aura of the two implements, Ye Yunfei thought to himself.
“Young Master Su, this is the High Master's goodwill. Please accept them. These artifacts are of no use to us Buddhists. Only in Young Master Su's hands can they serve their true purpose.” Heavenly Thunder Chan Master urged.
“If that is the case, then I will courteously accept rather than refuse the offer.” After a moment's thought, Ye Yunfei replied.
“Heavenly Thunder Chan Master, please help me stand guard. After I refine these two artifacts, I will immediately set up an Earth Formation to gather earthly qi and help the High Master nurture his body's vitality.” Ye Yunfei stated.
“Yes!” Heavenly Thunder Chan Master was overjoyed to hear this.
“Right. I will provide a list of medicinal ingredients. Please collect the ingredients and materials on the list accordingly—the more, the better. I will refine some medicinal pills to see if I can help restore the High Master's vitality.” After another thought, Ye Yunfei retrieved a jade slip and began using his Soul Power to imprint the names of various medicinal ingredients and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures onto it.
“Young Master Su, are you perhaps an alchemist?” Heavenly Thunder Chan Master sounded a bit doubtful.
He didn't quite believe Ye Yunfei could truly refine useful pills to restore the High Master's vitality. Ye Yunfei was simply too young. Even if he truly was an alchemist, his skill in pill refinement was likely limited.
“Young Master Su, if you truly possess a pill formula capable of helping the High Master recover his vitality, I can make arrangements to invite several of the most renowned alchemists in the Eastern Barrens to come and assist with the pill refinement. With our Great Thunderclap Monastery's reputation, we do have that much face.” Heavenly Thunder Chan Master said cautiously.
Then, he suddenly received a transmission of intent from the old monk within the pool.
“Young Master Su, the High Master instructs me to proceed fully according to your wishes.” A few breaths later, Heavenly Thunder Chan Master said to Ye Yunfei.
“That's good then.” Ye Yunfei finished inscribing a detailed list onto the jade slip and handed it to Heavenly Thunder Chan Master.
“Guards! Provide strict protection for the High Master and Young Master Su's safety!” Upon receiving the list, Heavenly Thunder Chan Master declared in a clear voice.
Immediately, over a dozen monks entered the small courtyard and sat down cross-legged in its corners.
“What is going on? Could it be that someone would dare cause trouble on the Great Thunderclap Monastery's turf?” Seeing this, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but frown slightly.
“Young Master Su may not be aware. There is a force that does not wish for the High Master to be revived. These past two days, mysterious experts have attempted to attack this place multiple times, trying to destroy the High Master's physical form.” Heavenly Thunder Chan Master answered.
“Oh? The High Master should be an ancient figure. In this current era, he shouldn't have any enemies, should he? Someone actually wants to act against him?” Ye Yunfei was somewhat curious.
“They are likely people from the Corpse World. The Corpse World and our Buddhist sects have been mortal enemies since ancient times. The High Master is a powerful expert from the Buddhist sect in antiquity. Once revived, his strength will undoubtedly be formidable. Naturally, the Corpse World is unwilling to witness a significant increase in our Buddhist sects' power.” Heavenly Thunder Chan Master answered.
“So that's how it is.” Ye Yunfei understood at once.