It was impossible to tell how much time passed before the flying boat finally came to a stop.
"Young Master Su, we’ve arrived."
The Seventh Elder spoke.
The Seventh Elder and Ye Yunfei then stepped out of the flying boat.
Not far ahead, a spatial gate stood.
Ye Yunfei knew this spatial gate was the entrance to the underground world.
"Young Master Su, here we are."
The Seventh Elder then took the lead, walking toward the spatial gate.
"Incidentally, Young Master Su, our Earth Core Race has always been isolated from the outside world. This entrance is our greatest secret..."
Just before reaching the spatial gate, the Seventh Elder hesitated slightly before speaking to Ye Yunfei.
"Seventh Elder, rest assured. I will absolutely not reveal it to anyone outside. Please trust me on this."
Understanding his concern, Ye Yunfei replied.
The Earth Core Race was an exceedingly wealthy race. If the outside world learned the location of the entrance to their world, it was certain that many ill-intentioned factions and powerful individuals would come looking for trouble. That the Earth Core Race was willing to allow Ye Yunfei to come here this time was already an immense honor and a profound gesture of trust. Placing faith in the wrong person would expose the Earth Core Race to enormous risks!
Ye Yunfei naturally understood this point.
"I certainly believe in you, Young Master Su. Let’s proceed inside."
Hearing Ye Yunfei’s words, the Seventh Elder nodded in response.
He then led Ye Yunfei into the spatial gate.
A wave of spatial teleportation energy enveloped them, pulling them into a spatial teleportation passageway.
Moments later.
Ye Yunfei found himself in an unfamiliar world.
This was a Small World, its scale roughly equivalent to the Tianxuan Continent.
The Seventh Elder brought Ye Yunfei descending from a high altitude onto a continent—this continent was where the Earth Core Race lived.
"Young Master Su, please come, quickly! Our Chief and the old Wizard are waiting inside."
The Seventh Elder led Ye Yunfei to the front of a magnificent palace.
"Haha, Young Master Su, we meet again."
The old Wizard was already leading a group of high-ranking Earth Core Race members out from within the palace to greet them, his demeanor extremely enthusiastic.
"Young Master Su, your fame precedes you. Meeting in person now only proves your reputation is well-deserved!"
A middle-aged man standing beside the old Wizard stepped forward to bow to Ye Yunfei.
"Young Master Su, this is the Chief of our Earth Core Race."
The old Wizard introduced.
Then, the old Wizard and the Chief personally invited Ye Yunfei inside the palace.
Within the palace, a sumptuous banquet had long been prepared. Each dish was exquisitely crafted from various rare and precious ingredients. The wine in the cups was brewed with Earth Spirit Milk and various prized medicinal herbs. There were also large quantities of spirit fruits seldom seen in the outside world.
"The Earth Core Race truly is an incredibly wealthy race."
Ye Yunfei observed the array of precious foods on the banquet table and inwardly mused.
Ye Yunfei transferred Ji Yue, Hu Miao, the Ice Devil Man, and the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm out of the Illusory Tower so they could partake as well.
"So much delicious food! Wonderful!"
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm stared at the table laden with precious dishes, his eyes practically shining. Transforming into a streak of golden light, he darted toward the food. In the blink of an eye, he had consumed over half the items on the table. The surrounding Earth Core Race members watched, utterly dumbstruck.
"Bring more food! Let our guest eat to his heart's content!"
Seeing this, the old Wizard hurriedly instructed.
"You're a good old man."
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm said contentedly.
During the banquet, Ye Yunfei used Sound Transmission to inform the old Wizard and the Chief about Ji Yue's condition and his purpose for coming.
"We do possess quite a few Soul Power type Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, but I don't know if they would be of use to Miss Ji Yue,"
The old Wizard thought for a moment before replying.
"In that case, Young Master Su, if you would kindly wait a moment, I will immediately send someone to inventory our treasury. Once we have a clear count of the Soul Power-type treasures our race possesses, I'll prepare a list for you. You can see if any are suitable."
The old Wizard then added.
"Excellent! I am endlessly grateful!"
Ye Yunfei said gratefully.
"If we're being honest, my old life was saved by you, Young Master Su. There's no need to stand on ceremony with me."
The old Wizard said.
Soon, two Earth Core Race elders received the old Wizard’s orders. They left the banquet midway and headed for the treasury.
Not long after, the two elders returned carrying a jade slip, which they handed to the old Wizard.
"Young Master Su, please take a look."
The old Wizard handed the jade slip to Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei accepted it and directed his Soul Power into the slip. Inside was a list recording the names of various Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, all of them treasures containing Soul Power.
"Celestial Soul Bamboo, Spirit-Reviving Water, and Nine-Aperture Soul Ginseng—these three treasures should have some effect. However, they still won't be able to restore Senior Sister Ji Yue's soul to health."
Ye Yunfei carefully read through the detailed list in the jade slip and thought to himself.
It had to be said that the types of Soul Power type Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures collected by the Earth Core Race were numerous, and all were precious. Yet, those truly useful for Ji Yue were few.
Not a single one was capable of truly curing Ji Yue’s soul.
This left Ye Yunfei somewhat disappointed.
After pondering, Ye Yunfei used Sound Transmission to request the three treasures—Celestial Soul Bamboo, Spirit-Reviving Water, and Nine-Aperture Soul Ginseng—from the old Wizard.
The old Wizard nodded and immediately had the two elders from before return to the treasury to retrieve the three treasures and deliver them to Ye Yunfei.
"Young Master Su, the Earth Core Continent has a forbidden land called the Wilderness-Forest. Inside are many Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures that even our Earth Core Race cannot obtain.
Perhaps, within the Wilderness-Forest, there might be Soul Power-type Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures useful for Miss Ji Yue."
The old Wizard could see Ye Yunfei's disappointment. After a moment's thought, he said this to him.
"The Wilderness-Forest?"
Ye Yunfei's heart stirred.
"The Wilderness-Forest is extremely dangerous. Under normal circumstances, our Earth Core Race wouldn't dare to venture in casually. However, if you, Young Master Su, wish to enter and take a look, I will personally lead some men to accompany you inside."
The old Wizard said.
"How dangerous is it?"
Ye Yunfei asked.
"I once led a group of our Earth Core Race's experts to charge inside. The result was half were killed or injured, and we fled in disarray.
Ever since, I gave the order forbidding any of our Earth Core Race members from entering the Wilderness-Forest again.
The Nine-Aperture Soul Ginseng was something I brought back from the Wilderness-Forest that time."
The old Wizard explained.
"In that case, I will go in alone and take a look.
There's no need for any of you to accompany me."
After some thought, Ye Yunfei said.
With his current strength and various trump cards, even if he encountered Origin Creation Realm experts, Ye Yunfei could retreat with ease, or even kill them.
The overall strength of the Earth Core Race wasn't very formidable. Their experts, including this old Wizard, weren't particularly strong.
Ye Yunfei could see that this old Wizard was a Chaos Origin Realm expert. A strength level like that wasn't much help to him anymore.
"Young Master Su, let me accompany you.
Although my strength isn’t great, I do possess a bit of divination ability. Perhaps at a critical moment, I can be of some assistance."
The old Wizard had discerned Ye Yunfei’s thoughts and spoke.
"Very well."
After thinking it over, Ye Yunfei nodded in agreement.
Unwilling to waste any time, Ye Yunfei immediately had the old Wizard guide them toward the direction of the Wilderness-Forest.
For Ye Yunfei, the most crucial matter now was finding a way to cure Ji Yue, and the sooner the better. Hence, he refused to squander any time.
The old Wizard produced a flying boat. He and Ye Yunfei boarded it and headed in one direction across the Earth Core Continent.
Ye Yunfei observed the terrain below: mountains, rivers, deserts, plains—all manner of geographical features were present, exuding an ancient and primal aura.
"Young Master Su, aside from our Earth Core Race, there is one very important race on the Earth Core Continent: the Tai King Tribe.
The Tai King Tribe, like our Earth Core Race, is considered a major power on this continent. However, this race is extremely reclusive and generally does not interact with our Earth Core Race.
Apart from the Tai King Tribe, a few other minor races also survive on the Earth Core Continent."
The old Wizard explained to Ye Yunfei.
"This continent has a Tai King Tribe presence?"
Ye Yunfei was startled.
Because the Tai King Tribe was a highly renowned race across the Three Thousand Worlds, dwelling within the Tai King Realm. The Tai King Realm was the true territory of the Tai King Tribe; he hadn't expected them to also exist on this continent.
"Young Master Su, ahead is the Wilderness-Forest."
After most of a day, the flying boat descended before a seemingly boundless expanse of primal forest.
Waves of dangerous aura drifted out from within.
"There are many naturally formed perilous lands and deadlands inside."
Ye Yunfei connected with the earth energy, extending his perception into the primal forest ahead. He quickly discovered numerous perilous lands and deadlands within.
With the improvement in his spirit cultivation realm, Ye Yunfei's Earth Divination Technique had also advanced significantly.
"Indeed. There are many dangerous topographical features within the Wilderness-Forest. A single moment of carelessness can trap you within. This is one of the perils of the Wilderness-Forest."
The old Wizard nodded.
"Wait for me here."
After a moment's consideration, Ye Yunfei took out the Rod-Spacing Disk and the Dragon-Driving Whip, directly submerging into the ground beneath to search for Earth Dragons.
Of course, Ye Yunfei did not enter the perimeter of the Wilderness-Forest itself, as unknown dangers lurked there.
With the aid of the Rod-Spacing Disk and the Dragon-Driving Whip, Ye Yunfei spent a day capturing a large number of Earth Dragons beneath the earth of the Earth Core Continent.
A day later.
"It's time. Let’s go in."
Ye Yunfei emerged from underground, appearing before the old Wizard as he spoke.
Right at that moment.
Rumble...
In the distance, a flying boat came rolling toward them, its released energy pressure exceedingly terrifying. Wherever it passed, the sky trembled and the earth shook.
"It’s the Tai King Tribe!
Ah, Young Master Su, I forgot to tell you something. The Tai King Tribe is skilled in crafting warships. These warships are capable of both attack and defense, their power is extremely formidable.
You must be very careful of the Tai King Tribe's warships!"
Gazing at the onrushing warship, the old Wizard’s eyes held a trace of gravity.
"Strange. These Tai King Tribe members normally only stay within their territory, never coming out. Why have they suddenly rushed to the Wilderness-Forest today?"
The old Wizard frowned and said.
"So it's the old Wizard of the Earth Core Race.
Go back. You cannot enter the Wilderness-Forest for now. Come another time."
In the blink of an eye, the warship arrived before the Wilderness-Forest. A flat voice transmitted from within.
"Why?
The Wilderness-Forest doesn't belong to your Tai King Tribe. What right do you have to stop me from entering?"
Hearing this, the old Wizard couldn't help but fly into a rage.
Although he harbored some wariness toward the Tai King Tribe, as the old Wizard of the Earth Core Race, holding high status and power, he absolutely could not tolerate such disrespect.
"It indeed is a warship of the Tai King Tribe."
Meanwhile, Ye Yunfei sized up the warship, silently acknowledging to himself.