They were five Dao Origin Realm cultivators clad in black, dense corpse energy rolling off their bodies. They had emerged from the Land of Life and Death and were heading swiftly into the distance.
Ye Yunfei exchanged a glance with Situ Kong'er before stealthily giving chase.
Less than half an hour later.
Ye Yunfei employed Spatial Teleportation, appearing instantly behind the five Dao Origin Realm figures.
"Who's there?"
Sensing a sudden presence behind them, the five men startled and spun around.
Boom!
A terrifying wave of Soul Power erupted from Ye Yunfei's head.
Immediately, the five men found themselves immobilized, their voices choked, suppressed by the dreadful Soul Power energy as terror filled their faces.
With Ye Yunfei's current Soul Power intensity, he could already handle Crushing Origin Realm experts. Using it against Dao Origin Realm cultivators was sheer overkill!
Without hesitation, Ye Yunfei sealed all five men and teleported them into the Phantom Tower.
Moments later, Ye Yunfei brought the five men out of the Phantom Tower and entered it himself.
One of the men placed the Phantom Tower on his person.
This man was actually Situ Kong'er in disguise!
Shortly after.
The five men re-entered the Land of Life and Death.
Stepping into the Land of Life and Death, they saw range upon range of mountain ridges undulating in the distance, each exuding an eerie aura. Surging waves of corpse energy shot skyward, dyeing a vast expanse of space pitch-black.
Looking around, squad after squad of Corpse Soldiers and mounted patrols roamed the mountains and forests.
Vague yet powerful auras also lurked deep within the woodlands.
"The Land of Life and Death was originally a forbidden zone within the Central Divine Land. Yet the Corpse World, in order to cultivate corpses here, simply claimed it for their own. How tyrannical," Situ Kong'er remarked, sending a Sound Transmission to Ye Yunfei as he observed the Corpse World personnel.
"The Corpse World is not only one of the superpowers of the Central Divine Land, but also has connections to the Netherworld, having inherited its traditions. So they've always been accustomed to such domineering ways," Ye Yunfei replied.
Situ Kong'er and the other four Corpse World men advanced deeper into the Land of Life and Death. They saw increasingly more Corpse Soldiers and Corpse World forces patrolling everywhere—the defenses were extremely tight.
"Master, the corpse-nourishing grounds are just ahead!"
Suddenly, one of the men transmitted to Ye Yunfei.
The five Corpse World men captured by Ye Yunfei earlier had all been subdued using the Marionette Soul String secret art, becoming his slaves.
"Let's go take a look," Ye Yunfei said to Situ Kong'er.
"Agreed."
Situ Kong'er and the other four men headed towards the Corpse-Nourishing Land.
A moment later, they arrived outside a valley.
This valley was quite large, enclosed by seven black mountain peaks. Within the valley, vast plumes of corpse energy continuously rose, the nauseating stench carrying far and wide.
Squadrons of Corpse Soldiers stood guard all around, packed densely.
Situ Kong'er and the other four Corpse World men strode directly into the valley.
"Halt! This is the Corpse-Nourishing Land. State your purpose here!"
Suddenly, an old man in black appeared, blocking their path and speaking solemnly.
"Commander Wu ordered us to fetch some aged corpse energy," the man beside Situ Kong'er promptly answered.
So it turned out, these five men captured by Ye Yunfei were all subordinates of Commander Wu. Commander Wu had sent them to nearby cities to procure resources, never expecting they would be encountered and subdued by Ye Yunfei.
"Since you are truly Commander Wu's men... very well."
Upon hearing this, the old man ceased his interrogation. With a flicker, he retreated to a dense thicket by the side, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes to rest.
Situ Kong'er and the four men walked into the valley.
Immediately, sinister winds howled, black mists swirled, and streams of bone-chilling cold air rushed against their faces. Faintly, they could hear the agonized wails of vicious ghosts and tortured spirits, sending chills down one's spine.
"So cold! My Soul Body feels like it's about to freeze solid!"
Situ Kong'er couldn't help but shiver, exclaiming aloud.
"So it's a Seven Evils Gather Yin Land!"
Ye Yunfei couldn't hide his surprise.
This valley was actually a perilous terrain called the Seven Evils Gather Yin Land. The surrounding seven black peaks were known as the Seven Evils. They perpetually gathered the Yin-attribute energies between heaven and earth, funnelling them into this valley.
Consequently, the valley was saturated with formidable Yin energies.
"Master, there are many similar Yin-gathering lands like this within the Land of Life and Death," one of the men transmitted to Ye Yunfei.
"No wonder the Corpse World had to seize the Land of Life and Death. These are naturally perfect lands for nourishing corpses!" Ye Yunfei exclaimed with a sigh.
The valley's expanse was vast. Everywhere, coffins were neatly stacked one upon another—at least several thousand of them!
At the valley's depths, there were also ten black pools, their waters dark and glistening. Corpses bobbed within these pools, rising and sinking in an eerie scene.
"Master, these are Corpse Nurturing Pools. The water within is processed from special Yin-attribute materials using particular methods, and sophisticated Yin-gathering formations are also arranged. These ten Corpse Nurturing Pools are the areas within this valley with the heaviest Yin concentration," one of the men explained.
"Corpses submerged in these pools for a certain period are then retrieved, placed into those coffins, and transported to corpse-refining caves. The refinement caves contain many Corpse Refinement Craftsmen. After being processed by them, these corpses become Corpse Soldiers," the man continued.
"It seems the Land of Life and Death is one of the Corpse World's main corpse-refining sites," Ye Yunfei remarked after hearing this.
"Yes. Over the years, the Corpse World has engaged in many campaigns and obtained a huge number of corpses. A significant portion of these were sent here for processing into Corpse Soldiers," the man confirmed with a nod.
Having stayed here for a long time, he was quite familiar with the situation.
"These corpse energy concentrations should be extremely beneficial for the Netherworld Yin Blade—prime nourishment," Ye Yunfei thought to himself, his gaze fixed on the ten Corpse Nurturing Pools.
"Are there any experts stationed within these Corpse-Nourishing Lands?" Ye Yunfei inquired via Sound Transmission to the four Corpse World men, while simultaneously extending his Soul Power senses around him.
"Master, the corpses here have yet to be refined into Corpse Soldiers. Living beings shouldn't linger here for too long, as their life energy can disturb the corpses, adversely affecting the refinement process. Therefore, nobody stays here permanently. Defensive forces are all posted outside," one of the men answered.
"I see. So the art of corpse refinement has quite a few taboos. Well, this just makes things convenient for me," Ye Yunfei chuckled. Upon sensing with his Soul Power, he indeed confirmed there were no living souls within this valley.
Thus, Ye Yunfei retrieved the Netherworld Yin Blade. Pointing a finger, he sent the blade shooting out to plunge into one of the Corpse Nurturing Pools.
Whoosh...
The Netherworld Yin Blade erupted with immense suction, beginning to devour the concentrated corpse energy within the pool.
The corpse energy within this pool was exceptionally dense and exceedingly pure.
Previously, Ye Yunfei had used the Netherworld Yin Blade to absorb corpse energy from Corpse Soldiers. However, the quantity and quality of energy within Corpse Soldiers paled in comparison to that found within these Corpse Nurturing Pools.
Ye Yunfei observed that the aura radiating from the Netherworld Yin Blade began to surge at a startling pace!
"This is truly an unexpected boon. The Corpse World must have many such Corpse Nurturing Pools here. If I let the Netherworld Yin Blade drain the corpse energy from all of them, its power is bound to undergo a phenomenal increase!" Ye Yunfei thought inwardly.
According to the Holy Son of the Flying Sky Yin Monkey Tribe, the Netherworld Yin Blade was personally bestowed by the Nether King, ranking among the most famed treasures of the Netherworld. Its true potential was utterly terrifying. Only, after being buried underground for an immeasurably long time, its energy had severely depleted. If it could replenish sufficient energy, it might one day regain its peak strength!