Great Qin Empire, Xiaoyao Pavilion Headquarters.
Inside a grand and imposing hall.
The Master of Xiaoyao Pavilion and a gathering of high-ranking members were assembled within the hall.
Every face was grave.
In these past few days, various pieces of news concerning Ye Yunfei had continuously reached them, leaving the Pavilion's upper echelons wide-eyed and utterly astounded.
In particular, the news that Ye Yunfei had single-handedly wiped out fifteen sects outside the Tianyuan Sect headquarters weighed heavily on their hearts.
They were keenly aware that every one of those fifteen sects was far stronger than the Xiaoyao Pavilion.
Didn't that mean Ye Yunfei could annihilate their Pavilion with minimal effort?
Once Ye Yunfei learned that Xiaoyao Pavilion had defected to the Huangtian Sect and was even helping them monitor his movements and those of the Tianyuan Sect... they feared serious trouble would soon be knocking on their door.
"Master," one of the higher-ups in the hall sighed. "Perhaps... we shouldn't have provoked Ye Yunfei in the first place."
The Master of Xiaoyao Pavilion remained silent.
"Humph! What's there to fear? In my opinion, with the backing of the Huangtian Sect, we have absolutely no need to fear Ye Yunfei. Have you all forgotten the legends that the Huangtian Sect likely has experts of the Manifestation Realm presiding over it? A mere Ye Yunfei, no matter how talented, could never be a match for them. Moreover, during this time, Ye Yunfei has offended so many prominent clans and sects. Do you truly believe those major powers will simply let him be? Just wait and see. Retribution from those forces will arrive swiftly. Ye Yunfei will be hard-pressed just dealing with that; where would he find the time to target our Xiaoyao Pavilion?" This statement came from a middle-aged female Daoist nun – none other than Elder Ding.
"Elder Ding has a point," the other high-ranking members nodded in agreement.
"Mn. Let us hope so," the Pavilion Master also nodded.
It was at this moment.
Suddenly.
"Your analysis sounds thorough and reasonable.
A pity... it's wrong.
Because I, Ye Yunfei, always repay grudges. Your Xiaoyao Pavilion has offended me. Even if I were hard-pressed myself, I would still make time to settle this account."
A calm, unhurried voice drifted in from outside the hall.
And then.
A young man with refined features strode into the hall, his hands clasped behind his back.
At the sight of this young man, a heavy silence fell over the hall.
"Ye Yunfei!"
Then, every high-ranking member of Xiaoyao Pavilion leapt to their feet, their gazes filled with shock as they stared at Ye Yunfei.
They had just been discussing him moments ago. Never did they imagine he would appear right before their eyes in the very next instant!
"Ye Yunfei! How did you get in here?!" Elder Ding's face changed dramatically, disbelief etching her features.
This was the Xiaoyao Pavilion's headquarters. Security layers existed both outside and inside. Yet, Ye Yunfei had suddenly appeared in this hall without any commotion whatsoever from outside.
Clearly, no one had detected his presence.
For Ye Yunfei, the formidable defenses of the Xiaoyao Pavilion Headquarters seemed like nothing; he had walked right in as he pleased!
"I walked in," Ye Yunfei replied with a faint smile.
"Ye Yunfei, how dare you! Why have you intruded upon our Xiaoyao Pavilion?!" Elder Ding demanded sharply.
"You're too noisy," Ye Yunfei said indifferently.
*Ssshhh!*
A jet-black sword ray shot from Ye Yunfei's body, swift as lightning. It instantly swept across Elder Ding's neck.
*Crunch!*
Under the stunned gazes of the other Xiaoyao Pavilion higher-ups, Elder Ding's head rolled from her shoulders.
"Ye Yunfei, our Xiaoyao Pavilion... we bear you no enmity..." The Master of Xiaoyao Pavilion trembled, his face pale with fear, his voice shaking.
*Buzz, buzz...*
Ye Yunfei gave no answer. He raised a hand and pointed. The hum of blades rang out as his Five Elements Spirit Swords slashed forward.
*Crunch, crunch, crunch...*
Five spiritual swords danced and circled within the hall. Wherever they passed, every last high-ranking member of the Xiaoyao Pavilion was slain.
The most powerful among these members was only at the late-stage Profound Realm. They were simply too weak before Ye Yunfei.
Utterly powerless to resist.
After killing these upper echelons, Ye Yunfei looted the Pavilion's treasury clean, then drifted away with unruffled ease.
As for Xiaoyao Pavilion's ordinary disciples, Ye Yunfei did not indulge in indiscriminate slaughter.
However, with all its leadership dead, the Xiaoyao Pavilion was effectively finished.
Soon after Ye Yunfei left the Pavilion's headquarters...
in a patch of space high above it, the air warped gently as two faintly discernible figures materialized, watching Ye Yunfei's receding back.
"This youngster... quite the memory for grudges. And a very heavy killing nature," one figure remarked.
"A heavy killing nature is precisely the kind of talent our Hudao Academy needs. How can one face the cruel foes from beyond our domains without a heavy killing nature?" the other figure retorted.
"True.
Many major forces in the Eastern Region will certainly move against this youngster soon.
I am a little curious.
How will he handle it all?
I find myself growing more and more interested in this little guy," the first figure said.
"Ha, then let's see just how he copes," the other figure chuckled.
Soon, stunning news spread throughout the Great Qin Empire.
All the leaders of the Xiaoyao Pavilion had been slain by Ye Yunfei alone.
Within a single day, every single disciple under the Pavilion's banner left.
Xiaoyao Pavilion, once one of the Four Great Sects of the Great Qin Empire, had completely faded into history.
---
Tianyuan Sect Headquarters.
Golden Peak.
Inside Ye Yunfei's small pagoda.
On the first floor.
Ye Yunfei sat cross-legged.
Hu Miao, Huang Shang, and Elder Zhang stood beside him.
"Master, those prominent clans and sects of the Eastern Region, especially the Chen Clan, the Xiao Clan, and the Huangtian Sect... they will likely come seeking trouble with Master quite soon," Elder Zhang said, a hint of worry in his tone.
"It is of no consequence. Let soldiers come, we shall block them. Let water flow, we shall dam it. If we truly cannot match them, then we simply leave. Besides, since we've already provoked them, fear will be of no use," Ye Yunfei said indifferently.
"As Master says," Elder Zhang bowed his head in acknowledgment.
"Master, in my opinion, we should just leave. What's so fun about holing up in the Tianyuan Sect Headquarters all the time? It'd be much more interesting if we just venture out into the world!" Hu Miao pouted.
"Leaving is easy enough for me.
But my Ye Family clansmen and the people of the Tianyuan Sect... it would be difficult to arrange for them," Ye Yunfei said.
"Then just let the Ye Family and the Tianyuan Sect people enter the Phantom Tower. Inside the Phantom Tower is akin to a Small World; it's large enough for them to live in," Hu Miao suggested.
"No. Having them live inside the Phantom Tower for a short time is feasible. But living in there for an extended period is out of the question. Cut off from the worldly laws, it would affect their cultivation negatively. Unless... I take them and leave the Eastern Region, going elsewhere to live. However, I, Ye Yunfei, do not have the habit of simply fleeing outright in the face of strong enemies. Even if I can't defeat them temporarily, I will at least... strip them of a layer of their hide," Ye Yunfei said, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes.
A chilling, murderous aura emanated from Ye Yunfei, causing the temperature within the entire pagoda to plummet by a dozen degrees in an instant.
"Elder Huang, during this period, I need you to refine a batch of Eighth-Grade Spirit Pills for me. Also, I will impart to you a scroll of the Primordial True Alchemy Scripture. Improve your alchemy level as quickly as possible. Strive to become a Ninth-Grade Alchemist, then break through to the Treasure Alchemist rank."
After speaking, Ye Yunfei pointed a finger, sending a stream of information condensed from Soul Power directly into Huang Shang's mind.
"Ye Yunfei, this Primordial True Alchemy Scripture... its value to me is immense. I thank you!" Huang Shang trembled all over with barely suppressed excitement after briefly perusing the scripture's knowledge.