"So there's nothing to fear. Come on, let's continue!"
Ye Yunfei said to Hun Qian.
Within this Small World, aside from the more than eighty members of the Soul Race, there were a large number of living beings from various other races. However, all these beings from other races were controlled by the Soul Race—they were all slaves!
This was the terrifying aspect of the Soul Race. A single Soul Race member could control a large group of beings from other races for their own use.
Of course, each Soul Race member wouldn't reveal themselves lightly, hiding instead within the bodies of other beings.
Ye Yunfei was only able to accurately find one Soul Race member after another because Hun Qian was leading the way.
Not long after, Ye Yunfei and Hun Qian found another Soul Race member.
This member controlled beings from a large clan, hiding deep within the clan's headquarters to undergo secluded cultivation.
Ye Yunfei used the Hidden Shadow Secret Art, taking Hun Qian with him as they advanced deep into the clan headquarters, sensing the specific location of that Soul Race member.
Due to the powerful effect of the Hidden Shadow Secret Art, no one discovered Ye Yunfei's traces.
"Master, the final eleven Soul Race members are all the Soul Emperor's trusted aides. Their strength far surpasses us ordinary members.
Moreover, once a fight breaks out, they could notify the Soul Emperor at any moment!
We must be careful."
Hun Qian reminded Ye Yunfei.
According to Hun Qian, including the Soul Emperor, there were twelve Soul Race members remaining in this Small World.
Eleven of them were the Soul Emperor's trusted aides.
"Alright. We need to move fast, finish them off in the shortest time possible, then we won't have to fear."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
Boom...
Ye Yunfei secretly broke through several Formations, then punched through the stone door of a secret chamber and charged inside.
An elderly man sat cross-legged within this chamber.
This old man was the clan's patriarch.
In fact, this old man had long been possessed by a Soul Race member!
Whoosh...
Ye Yunfei and Hun Qian immediately launched a furious attack, simultaneously releasing vast, surging Soul Force Energy alongside various Soul Power martial techniques, all aimed at the old man.
While executing Soul Power techniques, Ye Yunfei also slashed out with a sword light, instantly shattering the old man's physical body.
A Soul Race member emitting a terrifying aura appeared, glaring furiously at Ye Yunfei and Hun Qian.
Roar...
The Soul Race member let out a furious roar, endless Soul Force Energy erupting from its mouth like a boundless ocean crashing towards Ye Yunfei and Hun Qian.
"Attack together! Finish him with the utmost speed!"
Ye Yunfei shouted.
The next moment, Ye Yunfei executed the Time Reversal Technique, while Hun Lao unleashed a secret art that twisted and sealed space, directly pinning the Soul Race member in place.
Although this Soul Race member's Soul Force Energy was formidable, in terms of time and space, he was far inferior to Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao, momentarily unable to break free from the combined seals of time and space.
Ye Yunfei and Hun Qian released all their Soul Force Energy, continuously bombarding the Soul Race member's body.
Swish...
As the Soul Race member panicked and tried desperately to struggle, the Soul-Nourishing Tree appeared above his head, casting down tens of thousands of branches, leaves, and roots, directly binding the now-immobile Soul Race member like a trussed-up chicken.
The Soul-Nourishing Tree then unleashed terrifying refining energy, quickly beginning to refine the Soul Race member's body.
Aaaaah...
The Soul Race member struggled desperately, but it was too late.
The Soul-Nourishing Tree had already completely suppressed him!
Moments later, Hun Qian and Ye Yunfei's two Soul Bodies appeared, together with the Soul-Nourishing Tree, dragging the now utterly weakened Soul Race member into Ye Yunfei's Soul Sea.
Shortly after, the Soul Race member was completely refined by the Soul-Nourishing Tree.
Ye Yunfei felt his own Soul Force Energy rise yet another significant notch!
"This Soul Race member truly was much stronger than the ones we killed before, and his body contained far more energy!"
Ye Yunfei laughed.
"Heavenly Soul Crystals!
Master, that spatial ring contains Heavenly Soul Crystals!
These are precious resources specifically used for cultivating Soul Force Energy, incredibly valuable!
They must be a reward from the Soul Emperor! Only the Soul Emperor possesses these Heavenly Soul Crystals!"
Suddenly, Hun Qian pointed at a spatial ring in the corner of the chamber, shouting in pleasant surprise.
Ye Yunfei flicked his sleeve, retrieving the spatial ring, then took out over a hundred pieces of black, glossy crystals.
Each crystal emanated dense Soul Force Energy and laws of the soul.
"Indeed, these are good treasures.
I'll share some with you."
Ye Yunfei sent fifty Heavenly Soul Crystals before Hun Qian.
"Master, they're too precious!
I dare not accept them!"
Hun Qian exclaimed in astonishment.
"Take them for cultivation.
Your strength is too weak."
Ye Yunfei said.
This Hun Qian was now Ye Yunfei's slave. The stronger he became, the greater the benefit to Ye Yunfei.
Compared to Ye Yunfei's current level of Soul Power, Hun Qian was indeed quite weak.
"Many thanks, Master!"
Hun Qian hurriedly expressed his gratitude.
Ye Yunfei sent the remaining Heavenly Soul Crystals before the Soul-Nourishing Tree, which refined them in moments.
"These Heavenly Soul Crystals are truly excellent treasures!"
Feeling his Soul Force Energy rise another notch, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but be overjoyed.
"Master, the Soul Emperor still has ten trusted aides.
Let's continue hunting them."
Hun Qian said to Ye Yunfei.
"Good!"
Ye Yunfei nodded.
Thereafter, Ye Yunfei and Hun Qian continued dealing with the Soul Emperor's other ten aides.
During the process, Ye Yunfei was extremely careful, continuously using the Hidden Shadow Secret Art to meticulously conceal his aura.
Ye Yunfei believed that with his current strength, combined with the bloodline of the Shadow Fiend race he possessed, the Hidden Shadow Secret Art he deployed was already extremely profound. Even experts at the Heavenly Emperor level would find it difficult to detect him in a short time unless they were forewarned.
Next, Ye Yunfei and Hun Qian joined forces to kill one Soul Race member after another.
Ye Yunfei's current Soul Power level was already immensely powerful, plus he had the Soul-Nourishing Tree. The Soul Emperor's ten aides were simply no match for Ye Yunfei, and they were all ultimately refined and absorbed by the Soul-Nourishing Tree!
Simultaneously, Ye Yunfei acquired another large batch of Heavenly Soul Crystals, splitting them fifty-fifty with Hun Qian, and refined them all.
Ye Yunfei's Soul Force Energy soared once more!
With a mere thought from Ye Yunfei, vast surges of Soul Force Energy would erupt, covering heaven and earth like ten thousand charging warhorses or successive tsunamis, causing the surrounding space to twist and distort.
"How do you think my current Soul Force Energy compares to the Soul Emperor's?"
Ye Yunfei asked Hun Qian.
"Master, to be honest, although your Soul Force Energy is now extremely strong, it still falls a bit short compared to the Soul Emperor's.
However, Master, you possess the Soul-Nourishing Tree.
Therefore, you should already be capable of fighting the Soul Emperor."
Hun Qian calculated and answered truthfully.
"Then that's good.
Where is that Soul Emperor? Let's go find him now!"
Ye Yunfei was itching to give it a try.
"The Soul Emperor is in the Soul Fortress.
All the Soul Race members in this Small World know the Soul Emperor resides in the Soul Fortress.
Come, Master, I'll take you there now."
Hun Qian said, then soared into the air, heading in a specific direction.
A day later, Hun Qian brought Ye Yunfei before a tall, black palace.
"Master, this is the Soul Fortress."
Hun Qian pointed at the black palace ahead and said to Ye Yunfei.
"Let's go!
We charge in and kill!"
Ye Yunfei steeled his heart and led the charge towards the black palace.
Hun Qian followed behind.
"Halt!
This is the Soul Emperor's forbidden ground! Trespassers die!"
The moment Ye Yunfei and Hun Qian arrived before the Soul Fortress's main gate, a group of beings appeared, aggressively surrounding them.
These beings were all slaves of the Soul Emperor!
Boom...
With a thought from Ye Yunfei, vast, surging Soul Force Energy rushed out like a boundless sea, spreading forward.
Instantly, all the beings ahead were pinned in place by Ye Yunfei's terrifying Soul Force Energy, unable to move.
Soul Forbidding Art!
"Die!"
Ye Yunfei uttered softly.
Pfft pfft pfft...
The Soul Bodies of those beings exploded one after another.
Whoosh...
The Soul-Nourishing Tree manifested, generating a startling suction force that drew in all the Soul Body fragments, refining and absorbing them for its own use.
"Master, your Soul Power level is immensely powerful now!
Someone of my level, you could finish off in an instant!"
Hun Qian flattered.
"Let's go, we head inside!"
Ye Yunfei charged into the palace ahead with Hun Qian.
The terrifying Soul Force Energy released by Ye Yunfei transformed into churning, earth-shattering waves that crashed into the fortress. Wherever they reached, the Soul Bodies of the beings instantly exploded.
The Soul-Nourishing Tree floated above Ye Yunfei's head, continuously devouring and refining the Soul Body fragments of those beings.
"How is this possible?!
This human boy actually possesses a Soul-Nourishing Tree!"
Moments later, a middle-aged man who appeared graceful and poised appeared, staring at the Soul-Nourishing Tree above Ye Yunfei's head with great shock.
"Master, careful! He is the Soul Emperor!"
The moment Hun Qian saw the middle-aged man, he was startled, instantly shrinking behind Ye Yunfei and shouting loudly.
"Haha...
What fortune! Human boy, thank you for delivering this Soul-Nourishing Tree to me!
You may die now!"
The middle-aged man laughed wildly.
The next moment.
Whoosh!
This middle-aged man had already arrived before the Soul-Nourishing Tree. Opening his mouth, thick black ropes surged out, aiming to ensnare the Soul-Nourishing Tree.
"I was waiting for you to make a move!"
Ye Yunfei, having prepared long ago, roared.
Heavenly Soul Sword, Thought-Drain Flower, Puppet Soul Thread Secret Art, Soul Forbidding Art…
Ye Yunfei instantly unleashed six or seven profound Soul Power martial techniques, launching a ferocious assault on this Soul Emperor.
Simultaneously, the Soul-Nourishing Tree also attacked. Under Ye Yunfei's direction, tens of thousands of its roots continuously enlarged, resembling thick, emerald-green dragons twisting and entangling to slaughter the Soul Emperor.
Ye Yunfei's two Soul Bodies appeared simultaneously, both charging to the Soul Emperor's front before engaging in close-quarters combat.
At the same time, Ye Yunfei also executed the Time Reversal Technique, while Hun Lao unleashed spatial secret arts to seal the Soul Emperor.
At this moment, Ye Yunfei had truly brought out all his means, engaging in a desperate fight to the death with the Soul Emperor!
Ye Yunfei understood clearly that as a Heavenly Emperor of the Soul Race, his Soul Power level must be far stronger than that of ordinary Heavenly Emperor experts!
This was a life-or-death battle!
"Master, I'll help you!"
Seeing Ye Yunfei's bravery, Hun Qian was also greatly emboldened. Gritting his teeth, he charged forward to fight desperately alongside Ye Yunfei against the Soul Emperor.
"Roar…
Boy, you dare to provoke me? You're simply seeking death!"
The Soul Emperor roared furiously.
One had to admit, this Soul Emperor's strength was truly terrifying.
The fearsome Soul Force Energy released from his body caused Ye Yunfei's two Soul Bodies to shudder with intense pain, even cracking in places.
Hun Qian, in an even worse state, was repeatedly blasted, spurting mouthfuls of black Soul Blood.
"Soul Soldiers Manifestation Art!"
During the battle, the Soul Emperor roared.
Clang clang…
Tens of thousands of black long blades appeared, filling the sky and earth like a violent black rainstorm, slashing towards Ye Yunfei and Hun Qian.
Aah…
Hun Qian let out a miserable scream as his body was torn limb from limb, severed into over a dozen pieces!
Ye Yunfei's two Soul Bodies were also pierced with dozens of bloody holes.
Only the Soul-Nourishing Tree remained unharmed. Its branches, leaves, and roots danced together, entangling all those black long blades before refining them.
"Damn it! The Soul-Nourishing Tree indeed counters our Soul Race!
However, this Soul-Nourishing Tree belongs to me now!"
The Soul Emperor's body was also pierced by the Soul-Nourishing Tree in many places, causing intense pain and provoking a furious roar.
"There's hope for victory!"
Seeing this scene, Ye Yunfei felt his spirit lift.
Whoosh whoosh…
The Soul-Nourishing Tree intensified its attack, even charging directly to ram the Soul Emperor.
"Kill!"
Ye Yunfei's two Soul Bodies also madly charged forward to attack.
"I'll fight you to the death!"
At this moment, Hun Qian reassembled his body, his face pale. Gritting his teeth, he charged forward again to attack the Soul Emperor.
This great battle was intensely fierce.
Soul Force Energy of extreme terror spread in all directions, causing this part of the world to shake violently. Everything in heaven and earth, including time and space, seemed suppressed by this Soul Force Energy.
Finally, under the combined assault of the Soul-Nourishing Tree, Ye Yunfei, and Hun Qian, the Soul Emperor grew weaker and weaker, his aura gradually fading.
"Aah…
Boy, you deserve to die!
My avatar is actually going to perish by your hands!"
The Soul Emperor appeared extremely unwilling, roaring angrily.
What?
Avatar?
Both Ye Yunfei and Hun Qian were dumbfounded upon hearing this.
After fighting for so long, their opponent was merely an avatar!
"Didn't you say I could already fight the Soul Emperor?
Why is it so difficult even against just one of his avatars?"
Ye Yunfei questioned Hun Qian.
"Master, calm your anger!
This slave deserves death ten thousand times over!
Earlier, I was only making a guess. I never thought I'd guess incorrectly!"
Hun Qian replied fearfully.
"Where is your true body?"
Ye Yunfei couldn't help asking.
"If my true body were here, you brat would have died long ago!
Damned… This avatar of mine has undergone countless trials, possessing at least one-third of my true body's strength—enough to stand its own ground—yet it's going to die at the hands of a nameless brat like you!
Boy, just wait. I've used a secret technique to imprint your appearance and Soul Body aura and transmit it across space to my true body.
Once my true body receives this information in the future, it will definitely not let you off!"
The Soul Emperor roared.
"So your true body isn't here!"
Hearing this, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief.
"Then die!"
Ye Yunfei roared.
Not long after, this Soul Emperor was tightly entangled by the Soul-Nourishing Tree, unable to move in the slightest.
"Boy, if not for your possession of the Soul-Nourishing Tree, you would never have defeated this avatar of mine!"
The Soul Emperor was extremely resentful.
But now he lacked the strength to struggle.
Whoosh…
The Soul-Nourishing Tree began refining this Soul Emperor.
Boom…
Ye Yunfei immediately felt his Soul Force Energy skyrocketing.
The Soul-Nourishing Tree also continuously grew, visibly increasing in height and size.
Only after a full day did the Soul-Nourishing Tree completely refine that Soul Emperor.
"I have now fully attained Heavenly Emperor level Soul Force Energy, haven't I?"
Sensing his current Soul Force Energy, Ye Yunfei said confidently.
"Let's search. This palace must contain some treasures!"
Ye Yunfei began searching the palace with Hun Qian.
"Heavenly Soul Crystals!"
Shortly after, they discovered a staggeringly large quantity of Heavenly Soul Crystals in an underground secret chamber.
The number was immense—well over a thousand pieces!
"So many Heavenly Soul Crystals!
Master, I estimate this is all the Soul Emperor's collection!"
Hun Qian's eyes gleamed.
These Heavenly Soul Crystals were extremely precious cultivation resources for the Soul Race.
"Split it fifty-fifty!"
Ye Yunfei flicked his sleeve, sending half the Heavenly Soul Crystals before Hun Qian.
Then Ye Yunfei brought Hun Qian into the Phantom Shadow Tower, spending several days to refine and absorb all these Heavenly Soul Crystals.
"Not bad. My Soul Force Energy has risen yet again."
Ye Yunfei felt very satisfied.
"This Tianpo Realm is truly wonderful. No wonder those two seniors recommended I come here."
Ye Yunfei said gratefully.
"That's only because you possess the Soul-Nourishing Tree. If anyone else had barged into this Small World, they'd probably have been wiped out by those Soul Race members long ago."
Hun Lao remarked, pursing his lips.
"True enough.
My luck is not bad."
Ye Yunfei laughed.
"Alright, there's nothing worth exploring in this Small World anymore.
Let's go check out other places."
Somewhat expectant, Ye Yunfei headed towards the entrance/exit of this Small World.
"By the way, do you know anything about Tianpo Realm?
What kind of world is this place?
Tell me."
Ye Yunfei asked Hun Qian.