With a thunderous rumble, the thick dust covering the statue was blasted away, and its appearance began to change gradually. Apart from its original two arms, four more slowly extended from its torso, one after another, adopting various mysterious forms and postures.
From both of the statue's shoulders, two heads each grew out.
It was now a statue of a Deity, brilliant with divine light, with three heads and six arms, radiating terrifying pressure and laws!
Boom...
A vast, resonating sound like that of a giant bell reverberated within the temple, shaking even a person's Soul Body.
"It really is the Founding Patriarch!"
Situ Kong'er cried tears of joy, trembling with excitement all over.
He had seen this exact image countless times in the ancient texts left behind by the Miaoshou Gate, and he recognized it at a glance: this three-headed, six-armed statue before him was indeed the patriarch of his sect!
"Brother Su, how did you know?"
Situ Kong'er looked at Ye Yunfei with a grateful expression.
Not only did Ye Yunfei know that the statue within this dilapidated little temple was the Founding Patriarch of the Miaoshou Gate, he also knew the method to awaken the patriarch. This left Situ Kong'er utterly bewildered.
"Don't worry about that for now. Don't get up without your Patriarch's command," Ye Yunfei said.
"The Patriarch's command? Brother Su, are you saying there's a Clone or a soul imprint left behind by the Patriarch within this statue?" Situ Kong'er exclaimed, both shocked and overjoyed.
At that moment, a terrifying pressure suddenly surged forth from the dazzling statue, immediately immobilizing Situ Kong'er.
"You are indeed a descendant of our Miaoshou Gate."
A voice filled with the vicissitudes of time emanated from the statue.
"Disciple Situ Kong'er pays his respects to the Founding Patriarch!" Situ Kong'er cried out excitedly.
"Tell me about the Miaoshou Gate's current situation," the voice spoke again, vibrating the surrounding space slightly.
"Patriarch, our Miaoshou Gate... its situation is not good..." Situ Kong'er hesitated briefly before answering.
He then gave a rough account of the sect's current state.
It could be said the Miaoshou Gate had thoroughly declined. Now, there were only two members left: Situ Kong'er and his master.
"I never imagined the Miaoshou Gate would decline to such a state," the voice couldn't help but sigh after hearing Situ Kong'er's tale.
"The sect I painstakingly founded back then cannot just vanish from this world. From now on, the heavy responsibility of revitalizing the Miaoshou Gate rests upon you. Now, I shall impart to you the core legacy of the Miaoshou Gate."
"Thank you, Patriarch, for the inheritance!" Situ Kong'er was moved to the extreme.
The core legacy of the Miaoshou Gate, personally bestowed by the Founding Patriarch—it was far too precious!
Rumble...
At that moment, a terrible pressure began spreading towards Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei smiled faintly and led Hu Miao out of the small temple.
It was clear the Miaoshou Gate Patriarch did not want any outsiders present during the transmission. After all, this was a sect's core legacy, its most crucial foundation, not meant for outsiders.
In truth, given Ye Yunfei's level of insight and his collection of various advanced techniques and martial skills, he wasn't particularly interested in the so-called core legacy of the Miaoshou Gate.
Ye Yunfei's memory contained numerous advanced cultivation methods and secret arts—even Emperor-ranked techniques—though many required reaching a corresponding cultivation realm before they could be practiced.
Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao waited outside the temple for a full day and night before Situ Kong'er finally emerged.
"Brother Situ, you've had quite the harvest, I presume," Ye Yunfei asked with a smile.
"Brother Su, there are no words sufficient to express my gratitude. That I was able to find the Patriarch's statue is entirely thanks to your help. I've decided to consider you a true friend! From now on, wherever you have need of me, I will go through fire and water for you without hesitation!" Situ Kong'er performed a deep bow to Ye Yunfei as he spoke.
"There's no need for such formality," Ye Yunfei replied with a smile.
Ye Yunfei understood Situ Kong'er's character. If he said this, it meant he truly regarded Ye Yunfei as a friend.
Although Situ Kong'er was famously known for his tricks and scams, Ye Yunfei knew he was one who robbed the rich but not the poor, and always took only possessions, never lives. He'd even proactively helped the weak on occasion.
He had a touch of a righteous rogue about him. This was also the main reason why Ye Yunfei was willing to befriend him.
"From now on, this place is a forbidden land for your Miaoshou Gate. Here's what I'll do: I'll help you lay down some Formations to protect this ancestral temple and this mountain peak, to keep outsiders away. How does that sound?" Ye Yunfei thought for a moment and said.
"Brother Su, you can do that? That would be fantastic!" Situ Kong'er couldn't help but be overjoyed at Ye Yunfei's suggestion.
"I know a little," Ye Yunfei chuckled lightly, taking out a large batch of formation materials and beginning the setup.
Under Ye Yunfei's direction, Hu Miao and Situ Kong'er also helped lay down the Formations.
At the same time.
Central Divine Land, Tianyou Tomb Headquarters.
"Su Fei from the Eastern Barrens... truly unexpected. After operating in the Primordial Continent for over a thousand years, our Tianyou Tomb is now being provoked by a junior like this," said a shadowy figure seated in the center of a dimly lit palace. Its aura was abyssal and profound, appearing as though it existed hidden within the void, flickering in and out of visibility.
Several masked figures in black robes stood in orderly formation before this shadow.
"This lad came to the Central Divine Land right after arriving from the Eastern Barrens and immediately threw his weight around against our Tianyou Tomb, as if he doesn't hold us in any regard at all. Mobilize all methods to find him immediately, and let him know what consequences await those who dare provoke our Tianyou Tomb," the shadowy figure said in a frosty voice.
"We understand."
The black-robed figures in front answered in unison before turning and leaving the palace.
"Wait."
The shadow spoke up again.
"Inform Corpse World of this matter."
"Yes."
One of the black-robed men replied.
Half a day later.
Corpse World Headquarters.
"That kid is too audacious, actually daring to come to the Central Divine Land," a middle-aged man clad in a tall black crown and black robe said slowly, his hands clasped behind his back, his face filled with imposing dignity. He stood atop a mountain peak roiling with thick miasmic energy.
"Our Corpse World has suffered too many losses because of this Su Fei. We've stood tall in the Primordial Continent for countless years, yet now we've been made such a mess by a junior. If this continues, our Corpse World will become a laughingstock."
The middle-aged man spoke coldly.
"Spare no expense to hunt Su Fei down in the Central Divine Land!" the man continued.
"Yes, I shall make arrangements immediately," an elder beside him replied respectfully.
Not long after, within an opulent palace at Corpse World Headquarters.
"What?! Su Fei of the Eastern Barrens' Ziwei Sect has come to the Central Divine Land?! Good! Excellent! I was planning to go to the Eastern Barrens to settle accounts with him. I never thought he'd come here instead! Issue the order: use all my connections to find that kid! This time, I will personally seek my revenge!"
A young man with a pale face ground his teeth in fury.
Had Ye Yunfei been present, he would have recognized this youth immediately—he was the Fifth Prince of the Corpse World, who had previously led the Corpse World army in an attempt to conquer the Eastern Barrens.