"Master, there are more people seeking your medical expertise."
One day, as Ye Yunfei was refining pills within the Phantom Tower, he suddenly received a sound transmission from the Patriarch of Meng.
Thus, Ye Yunfei emerged from the Phantom Tower and arrived at the main hall.
A dozen or so men of short stature but thick, robust builds were waiting inside.
Apart from these men, there was also a stone coffin placed in the hall!
"They're actually members of the Earth Core Race!"
Ye Yunfei recognized their origins immediately—they were the legendary dwellers of the Earth's core.
Earth Core dwellers generally lived deep within the earth. Within the heart of many landmasses, complete and independent worlds often existed, and the Earth Core people inhabited such worlds.
Ye Yunfei's gaze fell upon an old man in gray robes among them. All the other men clustered around him, clearly indicating his distinguished status.
"Master Liuyun, our clan's elder Wizard has been injured. We have come to seek your aid, Master Liuyun."
The old man in gray robes stepped forward, cupping his fists toward Ye Yunfei as he spoke.
Boom!
As he spoke, the old man flicked his sleeve, opening the lid of the stone coffin.
Inside lay an old man with a pale face, completely motionless.
The elder in the coffin appeared extremely ancient, his skin covered in wrinkles like old tree bark.
"Master Liuyun, the Elder Wizard's condition was caused by..."
The gray-robed elder began to explain.
"No need to speak. I know the cause of his affliction."
Ye Yunfei waved his hand dismissively.
"Master Liuyun, you truly know the Elder Wizard's condition?"
The gray-robed elder was slightly surprised and hopeful.
To identify the cause of the illness at a single glance gave him hope for a cure.
"Divulged heavenly secrets. Suffered the backlash."
Ye Yunfei slowly uttered eight words.
"Exactly so! Master Liuyun truly lives up to their reputation!"
Hearing Ye Yunfei's words, the gray-robed elder and the other men perked up, utterly delighted.
Indeed, this elder Wizard had suffered severe backlash during a divination process, leading to his grave injury.
"Can he be cured?"
The gray-robed elder asked, his voice trembling.
The Elder Wizard held an extremely high position within the Earth Core Race, often more revered than the clan chief himself!
Many significant clan matters were decided by the Elder Wizard!
"He can be cured, but the difficulty is somewhat great. His overzealous divinations have damaged the core of his Soul Body."
Ye Yunfei used his Soul Power to sense the Elder Wizard lying within the coffin, then nodded as he spoke.
"Master Liuyun, if you can cure the Elder Wizard, we will definitely offer a reward that satisfies you!"
Hearing it was possible to treat him, the gray-robed elder said excitedly.
"These are a token of our goodwill, presented to Master Liuyun in advance."
The gray-robed elder flicked his finger, and a spatial ring landed before Ye Yunfei.
"All are Jie-level herbs!"
Ye Yunfei's Soul Power perceived its contents, and he couldn't help but feel immense joy.
The Jie-level herbs he had brought back from the Cangmang Sea had almost been exhausted. He never expected to receive another batch now.
"Do you have many of these herbs?"
Ye Yunfei couldn't help but ask.
"If Master Liuyun can cure the Elder Wizard, I can provide ten times this amount.
Besides herbs, there are also a number of heavenly treasures.
Such as Millennial Yin-Condensing Root, Earth-Spirit Nectar, Seven-Soul Bodhi Water, Yellow Path True Gold, and other treasures."
The gray-robed elder replied.
Ye Yunfei was somewhat taken aback by his words.
"You've brought Yellow Path True Gold?
How much?"
Ye Yunfei asked.
Yellow Path True Gold was a rare and precious treasure, extremely difficult to obtain.
"Master Liuyun, please see."
The gray-robed elder waved his hand, and over a dozen large stones radiating brilliant golden light appeared in the hall. Each was over a meter tall, steady as a mountain, with an imposing aura.
They were indeed all Yellow Path True Gold!
What was even more surprising was that these over a dozen chunks of Yellow Path True Gold were gently undulating, as if they were alive.
"Haven't these pieces of Yellow Path True Gold developed their own consciousness yet?"
Ye Yunfei examined them and couldn't help but ask.
"These pieces of Yellow Path True Gold have been sealed by a special secret technique, so they haven't truly developed consciousness yet.
Precisely because they lack consciousness, they are more convenient to use. They can be used for artifact refinement or for body tempering."
The gray-robed elder replied.
"The Earth Core Race is indeed an unimaginably wealthy race."
Ye Yunfei couldn't help but sigh.
"How do you know we are of the Earth Core Race?"
The gray-robed elder and the other dozen men were greatly alarmed, staring at Ye Yunfei with wary eyes.
It was well known that the Earth Core Race had long been reputed as the wealthiest race among the three thousand Greater and Smaller Worlds.
Within the Earth Core Worlds where they dwelled, there existed all sorts of rare treasures not found in the outside world, each of immense value.
Moreover, the Earth Core Race was naturally adept at treasure-hunting and especially loved collecting all kinds of treasures, hoarding them in their vaults for leisurely appreciation, earning them the moniker of misers.
The Earth Core Race possessed a racial inheritance—an extraordinary sensitivity towards all kinds of treasures under heaven. Even from afar, they could sense them in advance.
Precisely because of this, many factions and experts within the three thousand Greater and Smaller Worlds liked to rob the Earth Core Race!
Thus, the Earth Core Race was generally very low-key.
"I recognized your origins at first glance."
Ye Yunfei answered lightly.
"I will help you cure him.
However, his Soul Body has suffered quite severe backlash. The treatment process will require at least two to three days."
Ye Yunfei answered.
"Then we must trouble Master Liuyun greatly!"
The gray-robed elder was overjoyed.
"Find them a place to settle."
Ye Yunfei said to the Patriarch of Meng, who stood beside him.
"Yes."
The Patriarch of Meng assented.
Ye Yunfei, meanwhile, waved his sleeve, lifting the coffin from the hall and teleporting it into the Phantom Tower. Then he returned to his secret chamber and began treating the old Wizard.
The old Wizard's primary injuries were to his Soul Body, caused by excessive divination. His Soul Body had been forcibly invaded and damaged by the laws of Samsara, causality, and space-time.
Ye Yunfei first refined a large batch of medicinal pills, then set up a Soul-Gathering Grand Formation to begin healing the old Wizard.
During the treatment, Ye Yunfei even transmitted a portion of his own Greenwood Emperor Body energy to nourish the old Wizard's Soul Body.
After three days, aided by these combined methods,
the old Wizard finally awoke.
"Your Soul Body's injuries have mostly healed. For the remainder, rely on your own slow recuperation."
Ye Yunfei said to the old Wizard.
"Many thanks, Master Liuyun, for your life-saving grace."
The old Wizard stood up and bowed deeply to Ye Yunfei.
Though he had been unconscious, given his mastery of divination, he had a clear grasp of events.
"Elder Wizard, you're all right!"
When Ye Yunfei and the old Wizard arrived in the main hall, the gray-robed elder and the other dozen men were utterly excited.
"Master Liuyun, these are your rewards!"
The gray-robed elder flicked his finger, and six spatial rings landed before Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei collected the six spatial rings, his heart feeling somewhat aflame.
The Earth Core Race truly lived up to being a wealthy race; their largess was too extravagant!
"Master Liuyun, beware the Corpse World."
The old Wizard suddenly said to Ye Yunfei.
"Elder Wizard, do you know something?"
Ye Yunfei asked curiously.
"The Netherworld intends to expand its Corpse Sources. Recently, it has been extensively gathering Corpse Sources across various Greater and Smaller Worlds.
Every time the Netherworld undertakes such collection, it spells a dreadful disaster for the worlds involved. Innumerable living beings are tragically implicated and perish as a result."
The old Wizard sighed softly.
"Are you saying the Corpse World in the Eastern Barrens is backed by the Netherworld?"
Ye Yunfei was somewhat startled.
"The Netherworld has branches in many worlds.
The Corpse World is the Netherworld's branch within the Primordial Continent."
The old Wizard replied.
"So it truly is so."
Upon hearing this, a sudden clarity dawned within Ye Yunfei.
In fact, Ye Yunfei had long suspected a connection between the Eastern Barrens' Corpse World and the Netherworld.