The five Zhao Family elders were too fast. They arrived at the entrance of the treasure vault in less than the time it takes to draw a single breath.
"Not good! There really is a situation!"
The old man in the lead had a drastic change in expression, finally noticing movements within the vault. It seemed someone was moving around inside.
Boom!
He flicked his sleeve, swinging the vault door open and charged inside.
The other four elders immediately followed.
Inside the treasure vault at that moment, Ye Yunfei had just transferred Hu Miao and Huang Shang into the Phantom Tower and was preparing to leave when the five elders arrived.
Boom! Boom!…
Five terrifying energy pressures rolled forth, instantly sealing the space within the vault, solidifying it as solid as a slab of steel.
These five elders were top experts among the Zhao Family. Each of their strengths was utterly terrifying!
Ye Yunfei immediately cast the Hidden Shadow Secret Art, concealing his form.
"What's going on?! All the crystals in the vault are gone!"
The five elders stared at the completely empty vault, their hearts practically bleeding as they roared in unison.
This vault originally contained all the crystals mined from this mining area controlled by the Zhao Family over recent times. The quantity was immense, and half of them were Law Crystals! Among them were also many rare, special types of crystals!
"That space over there seems odd. Something is concealed there. Seal it off!"
One of the elders, detecting something unusual about the space where Ye Yunfei was hidden, was the first to react. He unleashed a billowing surge of energy, crushing towards it.
The other four elders also released their own energy, surging violently towards Ye Yunfei's location.
"Let's test the power of the Netherworld Yin Blade and the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Nether-Sealing Art!"
Ye Yunfei directly drew the Netherworld Yin Blade and swung it out. A rolling tide of black runes was born, spreading through the vault like a black tide.
An eerie sealing energy enveloped the entire space of the treasure vault.
Moments ago, this space had been sealed by the five Zhao Family elders, but now all of their sealing energy was disintegrated.
The five Zhao elders felt their bodies grow heavy, unable to move.
"Not good! This feels a bit like the aura of those ghost monkeys. Could it be those ghoul monkeys stole the crystals from this vault?" one of them exclaimed in shock.
"Be careful! They might still be hiding here!" another elder warned.
By this time, Ye Yunfei had already seized the chance to slip into space and flee instantaneously.
At the same moment, about a dozen miles away from this Zhao Family mining area, yin miasma blotted the skies as eight Flying Sky Yin Monkeys were passing by.
"The aura of our tribe's sacred object!
Over there! Move!"
One of the Flying Sky Yin Monkeys cast a vicious glance towards the Zhao mining area. In the next instant, its form shot forward, piercing through space towards the mining area.
The other seven Flying Sky Yin Monkeys immediately followed.
Within just over a dozen breaths, the eight Flying Sky Yin Monkeys arrived at the Zhao Family mining area.
At this moment, the five Zhao Family elders had conducted a thorough search of the vault, confirming there was nothing left inside. They reluctantly exited.
Coincidentally, the eight Flying Sky Yin Monkeys descended from the sky.
Kraa…
Miserable, sharp screeches resounded across the empty mining lands, echoing far and wide.
Eight overwhelming waves of sinister, murderous aura descended from above, instantly enveloping the entire Zhao Family mining area and making everyone's hair stand on end.
Many people with lower cultivation immediately collapsed to the ground, unable to get up.
"Not good! It really is those ghost monkeys!"
The five Zhao elders watched the eight Flying Sky Yin Monkeys descending from the sky, their faces turning pale one by one.
They could sense immediately—these eight Flying Sky Yin Monkeys were horrifyingly powerful!
Now, the eight yin monkeys had detected the aura of the Netherworld Yin Blade inside the vault and immediately turned and charged straight for it.
"Cease your rampaging!
This is the territory of our Zhao Family! It is not a place for you nether beings to run wild!"
Seeing the eight ghoul monkeys charge over, the five Zhao Family elders were furious.
Boom! Boom!…
The five Zhao Family elders erupted with power simultaneously and met them head-on.
A great battle erupted instantly.
In the distance, Ye Yunfei took a step, emerging from deep within space.
"Those eight Flying Sky Yin Monkeys... they wouldn't have come for the Netherworld Yin Blade, would they?"
Ye Yunfei thought to himself as he watched the distant battle.
"Those eight Flying Sky Yin Monkeys seem to have grown much stronger again. It looks like their strength is gradually recovering.
The Flying Sky Yin Monkey tribe is said to be nobility within the Netherworld. Their power is truly nothing ordinary."
Indeed, the five Zhao Family elders were now at a disadvantage, being forced back step by step under the assault of the eight yin monkeys.
"Kill!
Let's go together! Assist the five elders!"
A large group of Zhao Family members, led by several middle-aged men, charged forward.
Jie jie…
One of the Flying Sky Yin Monkeys moved, disappearing.
In the next moment, this yin monkey appeared in front of the oncoming Zhao force. It waved a single fearsome ghostly hand, and instantly, most of the Zhao fighters found themselves frozen in place, standing there with terror etched on their faces.
Then, with another wave of its hand, the skulls of dozens of Zhao clansmen were simultaneously pried open.
The yin monkey opened its mouth and sucked violently from a distance. The brains of those dozens of Zhao clansmen all flew out, swallowed into its maw.
"Stop!"
One of the middle-aged men, both shocked and furious, gripped twin silver battle halberds and charged to attack.
The Flying Sky Yin Monkey gave a strange, piercing laugh. Its form flashed as it grabbed the man's arms, then tore with brutal force, ripping his torso in half.
"Run!
No one stays here any longer!"
One Zhao elder bellowed.
For the eight Flying Sky Yin Monkeys, these Zhao fighters were far too weak—mere prey to be crushed.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Suddenly, three of the yin monkeys flickered, simultaneously closing in on the Zhao elder who had just shouted and attacking him together.
"Get away!"
The Zhao elder screamed in terror. The movements of the three yin monkeys were too fast—so fast he could hardly react.
Crack…
The next instant, the elder's body was ripped to shreds by the combined strength of the three Flying Sky Yin Monkeys, dying miserably on the spot.
"Retreat!"
The remaining Zhao elders were terrified, their souls nearly flying from their bodies as they turned and fled.
The other Zhao forces also desperately scrambled for their lives.
At this moment, one of the Flying Sky Yin Monkeys dashed into the vault, found no trace of the Netherworld Yin Blade, and rushed back out.
Suddenly, its gaze shot towards a distant location where Ye Yunfei was standing, as if it had discovered something.
And then—
Swoosh!
The Flying Sky Yin Monkey's form flashed, transforming into a flickering black speck as it shot towards Ye Yunfei.
"That Flying Sky Yin Monkey seems to have found me!"
Ye Yunfei was somewhat alarmed.
Rumble…
A terrifying, murderous aura approached from afar, and Ye Yunfei could feel its pressure from a great distance.
"Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, come out and carry me away!"
Ye Yunfei quickly called out, then entered the Phantom Tower.
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm appeared, carrying the Phantom Tower as it dove into the depths of space, vanishing in an instant.
"It seems these eight Flying Sky Yin Monkeys truly are searching for the Netherworld Yin Blade.
This blade must be exceptionally important to them.
But since it has fallen into my hands, they can forget about ever getting it back."
Ye Yunfei murmured inwardly.
Just then—
Ye Yunfei sensed a stirring and took out a jade slip.
It was the Vermilion Bird Demon King. He had sent a message, including the location of his current whereabouts.
Ye Yunfei immediately ordered the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm to head for the direction the Vermilion Bird Demon King indicated.
Kraa… Kraa…
Behind them, the eight Flying Sky Yin Monkeys soon lost all trace of Ye Yunfei's aura. They let out a series of strange, screeching cries that shook the heavens.