"Planting a Soul?"
Ye Yunfei was taken aback.
"Master may not be aware," the Holy Son explained. "Planting a Soul is jargon in corpse-refining circles. It refers to carving a Soul Power mark inside a corpse after its refinement is complete. It's akin to implanting a soul within the corpse; from then on, one can control it through this Soul Power mark and become its master."
"I see," Ye Yunfei nodded upon hearing this.
"Do you know how to Plant a Soul?" he asked the Holy Son.
"Of course," the Holy Son replied. "My clan's arts of refining and controlling corpses surpass even those of the Corpse World. Master, I'll transmit the technique to you immediately. Once you Plant Souls in these eight old corpses, you can control them."
After speaking, the Holy Son sent a strand of Soul Power information to Ye Yunfei. It was precisely the method for Planting a Soul.
Ye Yunfei began reading it immediately. Within moments, he had a basic understanding of the technique. With Ye Yunfei's insight and martial experience, mastering most techniques and secret arts under heaven was quite effortless. Besides, this soul-planting art wasn't overly complex.
"Master, these eight old corpses already have corpse-control talismans within them," the Holy Son said to Ye Yunfei. "You can simply Plant the Soul directly onto those talismans."
"Good."
Ye Yunfei's figure blurred as he appeared before one of the coffins. He began to perform the soul-planting technique, implanting a soul into the old corpse within.
A yellow paper talisman resided inside this old corpse's body, placed there beforehand by a Corpse World corpse-refining artisan.
"Success!"
A moment later, a pleased expression crossed Ye Yunfei's face. He had successfully planted a soul in the old corpse within this coffin.
Bang!
At Ye Yunfei's thought, the coffin's lid was violently slammed open from within. An old corpse wreathed in billowing corpse energy stood up, releasing a terrifying pressure of power that instantly enveloped the entire underground palace.
"Young Master Su, it's fortunate I escaped back then. Otherwise, today I would have become a mindless old corpse controlled by you as well," the green-robed elder said, watching with hidden alarm.
"Even if not controlled by me, these old corpses would eventually be controlled by members of the Corpse World. Their fate ends up the same regardless," Ye Yunfei replied with a smile.
"Indeed. If controlled by the Corpse World, they'd surely be sent everywhere to fight until exhausted," the green-robed elder agreed.
Ye Yunfei continued, applying the soul-planting technique to the remaining seven old corpses.
"Not good! Brother Su, a large force from the Corpse World is heading this way. Some among them possess terrifying strength!" Situ Kong'er suddenly exclaimed, his face changing.
"Yes, the high-level members of the Corpse World have arrived! They'll be here very soon," the green-robed elder nodded in confirmation.
"No matter. Let them come," Ye Yunfei said.
By this time, Ye Yunfei had successfully planted souls in six old corpses, leaving only two remaining. He thought for a moment, then took out a jade slip and began sending a message.
Simultaneously, with a thought, over two thousand Earth Dragons surged out from the Phantom Tower. They shot out of the underground palace and burrowed into the surrounding earth.
Ye Yunfei waved his hand. The Measuring Earth Plate flew out, erupting with dazzling radiance. It shot beyond the underground palace and began gathering earth energy, automatically arranging Earth Formations. Ye Yunfei had attached a strand of his own Soul Power mark to the Measuring Earth Plate, allowing it to automatically set up various Earth Formations according to his will.
He understood that the Corpse World experts stationed at the Land of Life and Death were about to arrive, and their numbers would likely be substantial. Thus, he needed to prepare for everything.
Soon, many Corpse World personnel in the peripheral areas of the Land of Life and Death received Ye Yunfei's message.
"The Master is summoning us! Head to the location of the First Corpse Refining Cave immediately!"
One batch after another of Corpse World forces began converging towards the First Corpse Refining Cave's location.
At the same time, Elder Yin and Qiu Zhanglao led a contingent of Corpse World experts, speeding forward and drawing ever closer to the First Corpse Refining Cave. Before long, they finally arrived, descending before the swamp.
"No! Something's happened!"
The moment they arrived, Qiu Zhanglao's face changed drastically as he cried out in alarm.
The swamp area bore clear signs of a recent battle, with wreckage everywhere and scattered bits of flesh, blood, and bone debris. Directly above the underground palace, a cleft had been torn in the ground.
"Surround this place!" Qiu Zhanglao roared, waving his hand.
Immediately, a large group of Corpse World experts swiftly fanned out, completely encircling the swamp.
"We're going in! They're below!"
Elder Yin released his Soul Power to sense for a moment before his face turned grim. His figure blurred as he prepared to use a movement technique to descend beneath the swamp.
However, at that very moment, several figures shot up from below, landing on the swamp's surface.
The one in the lead was none other than Ye Yunfei. His gaze swept coldly over the Corpse World's high-ranking members.
"Two at the Mind Star Realm," Ye Yunfei's eyes finally settled on Elder Yin and Qiu Zhanglao, his brow slightly furrowing.
These two elders possessed the greatest strength!
The realm above Tribulation Birth Realm was the Mind Star Realm!
Situ Kong'er, the green-robed elder, and that old corpse stood beside Ye Yunfei.
"Elder Yin, Elder Qiu! Look! It's that old corpse that escaped from the Number One Corpse Refining Grotto! It does have accomplices!" the Corpse World experts shouted upon seeing the old corpse.
"Brat, was it you who destroyed our Corpse World's Corpse-Nourishing Lands and Corpse-Nourishing Pools?" Elder Yin demanded through gritted teeth, his furious eyes fixed on Ye Yunfei.
He could tell Ye Yunfei was the central figure, as the others were clustered around him.
"Yes, all those Corpse-Nourishing Lands and Pools were destroyed by me," Ye Yunfei replied with a smile. "And I've destroyed this Number One Corpse Refining Grotto as well. Not a single one of the old corpses inside remains."
"Seeking death!"
Hearing Ye Yunfei's words and seeing his calm expression, the Corpse World high-ranking members were all enraged.
"You truly destroyed all eight of those old corpses?" Elder Yin asked, each word dripping with fury as his face contorted with rage.
"In any case, I've left none for you," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Brat, just who are you? How dare you provoke our Corpse World so flagrantly? Have you considered the consequences? The things you've done during this period will push you onto a path of no return. Not only you, but your sect, your family, all your friends and relatives behind you will face our Corpse World's reckoning and relentless pursuit!" Qiu Zhanglao's gaze burned like fire as he questioned Ye Yunfei, his voice heavy.
Since this group of Corpse World forces had mostly stayed within the Land of Life and Death, rarely returning to headquarters or venturing out, they had only heard in passing that the Corpse World had been hunting a youth named Su Fei all over the Central Divine Land some time ago, even losing three old corpses in the process. However, they hadn't paid much attention to Ye Yunfei's appearance or soul aura. Even now, they surprisingly still hadn't recognized him.
"Your Corpse World has been searching for me all along. Now that I stand before you, you still don't recognize me? I am Su Fei."
Ye Yunfei gave a faint smile as he spoke.