"Using these corpses for cultivation?"
Ye Yunfei was taken aback.
"Yes.
This is actually a tradition of our race.
When a member of our clan falls, after undergoing the Purification Ritual, their remaining body is used for the cultivation of their fellow clansmen.
This is because the amount of rare metals our race requires for cultivation is immense, and the needed metals are of high grade, making cultivation resources exceedingly difficult to find.
Therefore, every fallen clansman yields their body to serve as a resource for their brethren's cultivation.
This is a longstanding tradition.
Young Master Ye, you are a benefactor of our race and naturally have the right to use our clansmen's bodies for cultivation.
So, please do not stand on ceremony. Select a portion of high-quality clansmen bodies to cultivate the Transform Body into Artifact technique," the Great Elder said to Ye Yunfei.
"Young Master Ye, the Great Elder is right. There is no need for politeness.
After the Purification Ritual, these clansmen's bodies will be stored as cultivation resources for our race.
Please, select some for your cultivation," the other four Elders also urged.
"Since that's the case... very well."
Ye Yunfei thought for a moment, then nodded, deciding not to decline.
Most of these Celestial Gold Race bodies were composed of rare metals; they were indeed extremely precious and excellent materials for body tempering.
"Here's an idea, Young Master Ye. I will personally select a batch of clansmen bodies for you. I know which metals are most suitable for cultivating the Transform Body into Artifact technique," the Great Elder suggested.
"Very well.
I'll trouble the Great Elder with that," Ye Yunfei said.
Subsequently, the Great Elder personally selected a batch of bodies to gift Ye Yunfei.
There were over seven thousand in total!
Each one was carefully selected, of superior quality!
"Esteemed Elders, I plan to enter seclusion immediately to cultivate the Transform Body into Artifact secret art," Ye Yunfei announced.
For Ye Yunfei at present, improving his strength was of paramount importance.
"Good.
We will return to the Small World to bring out a group of clansmen to establish an outpost in this Tianjin Forbidden Land," the Great Elder replied.
After some thought, Ye Yunfei returned to the underground palace below, found a corner, entered the Phantom Tower, and began cultivating the Transform Body into Artifact secret art.
At the same time.
In the sky above the Feixian Continent, within a floating palace...
"Palace Master, the majority of the forces we sent into the Primordial Continent and Canghuang Realm have fallen!"
An Elder came before the Heavenly God Palace Master to report.
"What happened!"
The Heavenly God Palace Master's expression darkened.
"Palace Master, please listen."
The Elder hurriedly spoke and detailed the events within the Primordial Continent and Canghuang Realm.
"I never imagined it would bring out the Ancient Covenant again."
After listening, the Heavenly God Palace Master's face grew even more somber.
"Palace Master, we should refrain from sending anyone else into those lower worlds. Otherwise, if we draw the attention of the Ancient Covenant to our Heavenly God Palace, it will be troublesome.
The origins of the Ancient Covenant are shockingly ancient and utterly mysterious. Our Heavenly God Palace should avoid provoking them," the Elder said quietly.
"Yes. We should avoid provoking the Ancient Covenant as much as possible from now on."
After a moment's thought, the Heavenly God Palace Master nodded.
In fact, he had once been hunted by the Ancient Covenant. That time, he was fortunate that an ancestor of the Heavenly God Palace had vouched for him, allowing him to escape.
Afterwards, that ancestor had sternly warned him never to provoke the Ancient Covenant again, or else no one would be able to protect him.
"There's a piece of yellow cloth possessing immense power at the headquarters of the Ziwei Sect in the Primordial Continent?
Just what kind of magic treasure is that?" the Heavenly God Palace Master frowned.
"Could it be... an imperial treasure left behind by Ziwei the Great Emperor?" he muttered to himself.
An imperial treasure?!
The surrounding higher-ups of the Heavenly God Palace paled.
"It seems the Ziwei Sect still retains some hidden depths. However, leave it be for now," the Heavenly God Palace Master said.
"Palace Master, our people captured a number of beings from the Primordial Continent who are connected to Ye Yunfei. They have been brought to the Feixian Continent.
We can use these beings to deal with Ye Yunfei," the Elder reported.
"Good.
Send people to spread the news immediately, letting Ye Yunfei know those beings are in our hands.
Given Ye Yunfei's personality, upon receiving the news he will certainly come to rescue them. Then we simply wait for him to deliver himself to us," the Heavenly God Palace Master sneered.
"Rest assured, Palace Master. I will see to it at once," the Elder nodded.
At the same time.
Within the headquarters of the Sword Emperor Pavilion...
"Reporting to the Pavilion Master, our forces have captured some members of the Mao Clan in Tianxiong Region and brought them back to the headquarters."
In a great hall, a senior official reported to the Pavilion Master.
"How many were captured?"
The Pavilion Master asked.
"Approximately over a hundred, most of them young disciples of the Mao Clan," the senior official replied.
"Only over a hundred?
What's the meaning of this? Didn't I order the capture of the entire Mao Clan?" the Pavilion Master said.
"The Mao Clan's hiding place was extremely well-concealed and hard to find. By the time we located them, their entire clan had already fled. That group of over a hundred Mao Clan youths were captured because they revealed their tracks while training outside.
Pavilion Master, our investigation showed that Ye Yunfei has ties with the Mao Clan; he once stood up for them.
We can try using these over a hundred Mao Clan youths to lure Ye Yunfei out," the senior official suggested.
"Just over a hundred Mao Clan youths... I don't know if Ye Yunfei would show himself for so few.
But it's worth a try. It would be best if we can lure him out."
The Pavilion Master pondered for a moment, then nodded.
"Very well. I will handle it immediately," the senior official said, bowing.
Not long after, both the Heavenly God Palace and Sword Emperor Pavilion began to spread their respective messages.
In some strategically important cities, notices were even posted, addressing Ye Yunfei directly.
The notice posted by the Heavenly God Palace essentially stated that a number of beings connected to Ye Yunfei from the Primordial Continent were now in the hands of the Heavenly God Palace forces and would all be executed one month hence.
The notice from the Sword Emperor Pavilion stated that a number of people from the Mao Clan of Tianxiong Region were imprisoned within the Sword Emperor Pavilion headquarters and would also be executed one month later!
"It seems both major powers, the Heavenly God Palace and the Sword Emperor Pavilion, want to draw Ye Yunfei out!
That young fellow has offended two major powers simultaneously. He's in big trouble!
These two powers definitely won't let him go easily!"
"A junior provoking two major forces at once and still surviving to this day... one can't help but admire that. But he won't come to a good end in the long run."
...
The notices posted by the Heavenly God Palace and Sword Emperor Pavilion stirred discussions among many beings.
Simultaneously, a group of beings quietly arrived outside the spatial barrier of the Feixian Continent.
"Everyone, this is our second entry into the Feixian Continent.
This time, Matriarch Long has issued a strict order: we must kill that brat named Ye Yunfei.
Otherwise, there's no need for us to return."
A middle-aged man said gravely.
"Senior Brother Xiang, dealing with that brat is easy. But what if that Yandi intervenes to help him?
We are no match for that Yandi," one of the beings said.
"Exactly. That Yandi was terrifying. Even though it was just an avatar, we couldn't even put up a fight against him!"
"With him present, trying to deal with that boy is extremely difficult."
...
The others chimed in.
"Everyone, don't worry.
This time, I long ago sent people to infiltrate the Feixian Continent in advance and subjugated a number of local Feixian Continent powers, specially tasked with gathering information for us.
I've received word that Yandi has long since disappeared.
So, we need not concern ourselves with Yandi.
Moreover, Ye Yunfei's current situation is somewhat unfavorable; he is being hunted by forces from two major powers.
Perhaps we won't even need to act; the forces of those two major powers might kill Ye Yunfei for us.
This time, we must be even more low-profile than last time. Ideally, we can use the native beings of the Feixian Continent to eliminate Ye Yunfei. Even if we must eventually take action ourselves, we must find the most opportune moment. We will not act unless absolutely sure; but once we do, we must dispatch Ye Yunfei with the utmost speed and then leave the Feixian Continent immediately.
Of course, the best scenario is one where we don't need to act personally; we can aid those two major powers' forces in dealing with Ye Yunfei from the shadows."
Senior Brother Xiang said.
"In any case, as long as we are careful, nothing will happen.
Alright, let's enter the Feixian Continent now."
Senior Brother Xiang led the group of beings and quietly infiltrated the Feixian Continent.
At the same time.
In a certain location within the 3,000 Worlds...
"Reporting to Heavenly Emperor Tian Luo, I have collected and compiled all relevant information regarding all beings named Ye Yunfei within those worlds of the 3,000 Worlds accessible to us for investigation. Please review it, Heavenly Emperor."
A hunchbacked old servant reverently proffered a jade slip to an old man.
That old man was Tian Luo!