Ye Yunfei entered the second layer of the Heavenly Dao Tower, following Hun Lao to one of the palaces within.
In an iron cage at the center of the palace, a grey-robed elder sat cross-legged, but his face was contorted, and his body trembled violently as he endured immense pain.
Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao arrived beside the iron cage, looking at the elder within.
“Impressive. When the seal left by Guhuang Great Emperor erupts, its pain reaches deep into the soul and is unbearable. Yet you are able to sit unmoving. Your resolve is remarkable. As expected, the experts of the Tianying Clan are extraordinary,” Ye Yunfei said, staring at the grey-robed elder.
He felt somewhat speechless; this grey-robed elder before him actually belonged to the Tianying Clan.
In the Tianxuan Continent, there was a Tianying Small World where a Tianying Wang and a few elders, all in remnant soul states, lived in seclusion along with a group of Tianying Clan youths in slumber.
The Phantom Tower that Ye Yunfei possessed was borrowed from that Tianying Wang.
“Young man, who are you? What is your relationship with Gu Huang? Could it be... you are Gu Huang’s disciple?” the grey-robed elder suddenly opened his eyes and glared furiously at Ye Yunfei.
Boom...
A terrifying pressure that reached an extreme erupted, forcing Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao to retreat over a dozen steps.
Fortunately, most of the energy pressure released by the elder was neutralized by the iron cage. This was because the cage was engraved with many sealing charms and was crafted from special materials capable of blocking energy.
“I am not Guhuang Great Emperor’s disciple,” Ye Yunfei shook his head.
“Since you are an elder of the Tianying Clan, I will not make things difficult for you. Here is a deal: I will impart to you a method that can relieve the pain caused by the activation of the seal within you.” Ye Yunfei said.
“You truly have such a method? Why would you help me?” Hearing Ye Yunfei’s words, the grey-robed elder couldn’t help but be taken aback.
“Because you are of the Tianying Clan, and I have ties with the Tianying Clan,” Ye Yunfei replied.
After speaking, Ye Yunfei pointed a finger and sent a bundle of Soul Power information in front of the elder.
Perceiving this bundle of Soul Power information, the grey-robed elder was both startled and overjoyed. He discovered that the information contained within it truly described a method to relieve the pain from the seal’s eruption! He immediately began practicing according to the method within.
“Kid, what are you doing? Weren’t we here to blackmail him?” Seeing Ye Yunfei’s actions, Hun Lao was a bit dumbfounded and asked aloud.
“As I said, I have ties with the Tianying Clan, so I won’t blackmail him,” Ye Yunfei replied.
“Blackmail? You intended to come and blackmail me?” At this moment, the grey-robed elder had already relieved the pain within his body and stood up. Hearing the conversation between Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao, he couldn’t help but ask.
“However, being capable of countering the seal left by Gu Huang, you certainly could have come to blackmail us prisoners trapped here. Young man, what is your relationship with Gu Huang?” the elder asked.
“I have no particular relationship with Guhuang Great Emperor,” Ye Yunfei shook his head.
“Is Gu Huang alive or dead now?” the elder asked again.
“I don’t know the answer to that question either,” Ye Yunfei shook his head again.
Even Hun Lao did not know whether Guhuang Great Emperor was alive or dead, so Ye Yunfei certainly couldn’t know.
“Very well. Then, you mentioned having ties with our Tianying Clan. What exactly is the story there?” the grey-robed elder inquired again.
Hum!
A small tower appeared before Ye Yunfei—it was none other than the Phantom Tower.
“My clan’s Phantom Tower! How did it end up in your hands!” Recognizing the Phantom Tower at a glance, the grey-robed elder was utterly astonished.
“This was gifted to me by the current Tianying Wang,” Ye Yunfei answered.
“The current Tianying Wang gifted it to you? Young man, have you been to our Tianying Realm? How is our Tianying Clan developing now?” the grey-robed elder asked three questions in a row.
He had been imprisoned in the Heavenly Dao Tower by Guhuang Great Emperor for an exceedingly long time and was unaware of the current state of the Tianying Clan.
“The Tianying Clan is currently in dire straits. Tianying Wang and a few grand elders are only in remnant soul states. Almost the entire clan has been massacred; only a few thousand youths remain. Although not completely annihilated, they are very close to extinction,” Ye Yunfei replied truthfully.
“What exactly happened to our Tianying Clan! Why were we massacred! Who is the culprit!” the grey-robed elder roared fiercely, his rage soaring to the heavens.
“I do not know who the culprit is. Tianying Wang did not tell me. Furthermore, the remaining members of your Tianying Clan are no longer in the Tianying Realm but are living in seclusion within a Small World. It was there that I encountered Tianying Wang. However, Tianying Wang has now left that Small World with them, heading to a higher-level world.” Ye Yunfei proceeded to briefly recount his interactions with Tianying Wang, simultaneously simulating the soul auras of Tianying Wang and the Tianying Clan’s grand elders.
“So you truly have connections with our Tianying Clan.” After listening to Ye Yunfei’s account, the grey-robed elder’s gaze towards him softened considerably.
Given the elder’s Soul Power level and his understanding of the Tianying Clan, he could naturally discern the truth in Ye Yunfei’s words. Moreover, in his view, a young human like Ye Yunfei must have genuinely interacted with Tianying Wang to possess such a deep understanding of the Tianying Clan.
“I never imagined our Tianying Clan would face such a fate today. Who exactly wants to annihilate our Tianying Clan! What a pity... I am imprisoned here, unable to go out and seek revenge!” The grey-robed elder heaved a long sigh to the heavens.
This elder belonged to the same era as Guhuang Great Emperor. Within the Tianying Clan, his seniority was far higher than the current Tianying Wang. Moreover, the fact that he was qualified to be imprisoned here by Guhuang Great Emperor meant his strength was undoubtedly terrifying!
“Where is Gu Huang? Summon him immediately! I will apologize to him. I never meant to provoke him back then. I wish to reconcile with him; he can name any conditions! I want to leave here and avenge the blood-soaked enmity of my Tianying Clan!” The grey-robed elder addressed Hun Lao.
“Both of us are unaware of Guhuang Great Emperor’s whereabouts,” Ye Yunfei shook his head.
“So I am to remain imprisoned here forever?!” The grey-robed elder roared angrily.
“Young man, help me escape! I can give you anything you desire!” The grey-robed elder suddenly looked at Ye Yunfei and said.
“I cannot help you escape,” Ye Yunfei shook his head.
This elder had been imprisoned here by Guhuang Great Emperor; Ye Yunfei naturally would not release him so easily.
“Without Guhuang Great Emperor’s consent, no one shall even think of leaving this place!” Hun Lao shouted sternly.
“If you won’t release me, then I will overturn this place!” the elder bellowed furiously.
Rumble…
As soon as his words fell, terrifying energy, like a bursting mountain flood, surged violently from within his body in torrents.
Clang! Clang!...
Waves of energy pressure crashed against the iron cage like raging tides, relentlessly attempting to break through.
“SUBDUE!”
At that moment, a majestic figure manifested, let out a thunderous shout, and extended a palm pressing down towards the grey-robed elder.
“Guhuang Great Emperor!” Seeing this majestic figure, Hun Lao immediately cried out in excitement.