Two days later.
Ye Yunfei entered a vast expanse of barren land, a seemingly endless stretch of barren earth under a crimson sky, where swirling red dust clouds swept across the landscape.
"Is Senior Cai Feng's original form buried somewhere in this land?"
Ye Yunfei steered the green flying vessel into this desolate territory, sweeping his gaze across the horizon as he couldn't help but ask.
"Yes.
This place is actually a Forbidden Land on the Feixian Continent, known as the Celestial Gold Forbidden Land. Legend says that in a very ancient era, there was an immensely powerful empire here called the Tianjin Imperial Dynasty, ranking among the top superpowers on Feixian Continent, a force that teemed with experts.
However, for unknown reasons, this mighty empire suddenly vanished.
And this land was the territory of the Tianjin Imperial Dynasty.
After the Tianjin Imperial Dynasty disappeared, this area evolved into a Forbidden Land, said to be a place brimming with ill omens.
Following its disappearance, many beings ventured here, hoping to find any treasures or legacies left behind by the powerful dynasty, but the majority of those who intruded perished within. Gradually, few dared to recklessly enter."
Xuanlong Daozhang spoke up from beside him.
"The Tianjin Imperial Dynasty... could it be related to that legendary race?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but think of a mysterious race.
"Well then, we'll take this opportunity to explore this Forbidden Land and see what ill omens lie within."
Ye Yunfei laughed.
"Within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, the number of such Forbidden Lands is simply countless, not worth exploring. Besides, you've gained so many resources lately, you're hardly lacking cultivation materials. Our main task is to first excavate Cai Feng's original form and then focus on reviving her.
We can come back and explore slowly if there's time later."
Xuanlong Daozhang said.
He was most concerned about Cai Feng's body and her revival, and thus wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble.
"Don't worry, I will definitely help Senior Cai Feng revive successfully."
Ye Yunfei smiled.
The green flying vessel continued deeper into this crimson-red expanse.
Along the way, they could see collapsed mountain peaks, dried-up riverbeds, plains crisscrossed with wide fissures, and the ruins of once-great cities.
It was evident this land had once been bustling and prosperous.
But now it had become a desolate, broken wasteland devoid of life.
"Hmm?
What are those?"
Suddenly, Ye Yunfei saw numerous thick stone pillars standing upright on a flat crimson plain ahead, each hundreds of meters tall, alongside massive foundations paved with giant stone slabs. It looked like the foundation of some colossal altar.
"It seems like the ruins of some structure, little brother. Do you sense something amiss?"
Xuanlong Daozhang asked curiously.
"Look at the patterns carved on those stone pillars."
Ye Yunfei said.
Hearing Ye Yunfei's words, Xuanlong Daozhang immediately focused his gaze on those thick pillars towering hundreds of meters high.
Indeed, he saw that each pillar was carved with strange, humanoid figures. They were extremely tall, and remarkably, their bodies sprouted an assortment of golden weapons at irregular intervals — swords, blades, spears, halberds...
Some even seemed to have various magical treasures growing from their forms!
"What race are these beings from?"
Xuanlong Daozhang couldn't help but ask curiously.
"If I'm not mistaken, they should be true-blooded, purest lineage members of the Celestial Gold Race."
Ye Yunfei pondered for a moment before answering.
"The Celestial Gold Race?"
Xuanlong Daozhang was taken aback.
"Yes, it's a very ancient and rare race.
The bodies of Celestial Gold tribesmen are not flesh and blood, but a unique metallic form.
They are different from us humans. While we consume various foods, Celestial Gold tribesmen consume various metals."
Ye Yunfei explained.
"Their bodies are a unique metallic form?
Doesn't that make them similar to Yellow Path True Gold? It's said that Yellow Path True Gold, after absorbing sufficient natural essence over eons, develops sentience and becomes a living being.
Is it the same for the Celestial Gold Race?"
Xuanlong Daozhang asked.
"No, the Celestial Gold Race is different from Yellow Path True Gold.
Yellow Path True Gold is metal that has gained spirit; the sentience born within it is somewhat akin to the artifact spirit of a magic treasure — it's a treasure gaining consciousness.
But the Celestial Gold Race is inherently a living race, a tribe that from birth possesses metallic bodies and sentience.
However, it's said that the favorite food of Celestial Gold tribesmen is Yellow Path True Gold. There's even a saying that Yellow Path True Gold is actually the metal gradually evolved from the corpses of fallen Celestial Gold tribesmen.
But I don't know the specific truth.
Actually, I've encountered members of the Celestial Gold Race before and come into contact with their inheritance. But I suspect the ones I met weren't true-blooded members with pure lineage."
Ye Yunfei replied.
"Yellow Path True Gold could be evolved from the corpses of Celestial Gold tribesmen?
Little brother, you've encountered Celestial Gold tribesmen?"
Xuanlong Daozhang was greatly shocked.
These secrets about the Celestial Gold Race were something he was hearing for the first time.
At this moment, he felt like a junior, while Ye Yunfei seemed like a truly experienced senior with vast knowledge.
"This seems to be the ruins of an altar. Let's take a detour and not provoke it."
Ye Yunfei sensed that those thick stone pillars seemed to emanate an eerie aura, one he couldn't quite decipher for the moment, so he decided to avoid disturbing it for now.
"Is there danger here?"
Seeing Ye Yunfei's serious expression, Xuanlong Daozhang felt a stir and asked.
"I can't figure it out either. Anyway, let's detour around it."
Ye Yunfei said, then controlled the flying vessel to take a different route, continuing deeper into this crimson, desolate land.
At the same time.
Above the Feixian Continent, within a certain space, inside a floating palace.
"Palace Master, you failed to capture that brat Ye Yunfei again this time?
Has that boy grown to such a level now, that even you, Palace Master, cannot subdue him face-to-face?"
The old wizard of the Heavenly God Palace asked solemnly.
"Yes, that boy's growth speed is too fast.
He can now easily deal with beings at the Heavenly Boundary Realm level.
Also, I actually had a chance to capture him and obtain the Heavenly Dao Tower this time, but who would have thought he'd produce a small golden Buddha statue that unleashed an attack at the Half-Emperor level, blocking me for a moment, and allowing him to seize the opportunity to escape.
Another reason he escaped from right under me is that a Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm was with him, aiding his getaway."
The Heavenly God Palace Master's face was extremely grim as he spoke.
As he talked, he waved a hand, materializing the image of a small golden Buddha statue before him.
"Wizard, look. What kind of treasure is this?"
The Heavenly God Palace Master asked.
"This is a legendary treasure from the Buddhist sect, called a Buddha Body Seal.
It is an extremely domineering artifact, said to be capable of sealing an attack equivalent to the full force of a high-ranking Half-Emperor."
The old wizard studied it for a while before finally recognizing it and speaking.
"Buddha Body Seal!"
The Heavenly God Palace Master's face darkened.
If it weren't for this Buddha Body Seal, Ye Yunfei would never have escaped this time!
"Palace Master, we don't know how many of these Buddha Body Seals Ye Yunfei possesses. If he has a whole batch of them, dealing with him will become even more difficult."
The old wizard frowned.
The Heavenly God Palace Master's expression flickered between dark and unsettled.
"Who would have thought... a mere ant from back then could reach such heights in such a short time, that even Half-Emperors cannot apprehend him."
The old wizard couldn't help but sigh deeply.
"Have our men entered the Canghuang World and the Hongmeng Continent and started apprehending people?"
The Heavenly God Palace Master suddenly asked.
"Palace Master, I've just received word. Our men have officially begun operations in both the Canghuang World and the Hongmeng Continent to apprehend targets.
I believe soon a large number of beings closely related to Ye Yunfei will be captured and sent to the Feixian Continent."
An Elder nearby promptly answered.