"Ye Yunfei, that's wonderful! You can also enter Hudao Academy! In the future, we'll have the chance to see each other often." Su Qingluo was overjoyed, speaking to Ye Yunfei.
"Hmph! Brat, don't blame me for not warning you. Even if you become a candidate student of Hudao Academy, you are still unworthy of our Su Family's young lady. Whether you can pass the final assessment and become a formal student is still uncertain. Moreover, Hudao Academy has thousands of members; even if you manage to become a formal member, so what? Only the most supreme and prodigious geniuses on this continent are worthy of our Su Family's young lady. Therefore, I warn you—from now on, you are not permitted to approach Qingluo again. Qingluo, we are leaving!" The black-robed elder snorted coldly, then swung his sleeve, conjuring a gale of spiritual energy that lifted Qingluo.
"Farewell, you two Venerable Ones," the black-robed elder said, offering a slight bow towards the two Hudao Venerable Ones.
Then, with Qingluo in tow, he shot up into the sky. Rong Popo gave Ye Yunfei a glare before also soaring upwards.
"Ye Yunfei, I'll wait for you at Hudao Academy!" Su Qingluo looked back at Ye Yunfei, her voice filled with reluctance.
Soon, the black-robed elder, Rong Popo, and Su Qingluo disappeared beyond the horizon.
The valley now held only Ye Yunfei and the two Hudao Venerable Ones.
"My thanks for your assistance, you two Venerable Ones," Ye Yunfei said, performing a salute towards the two.
After all, these two Hudao Venerable Ones had helped him survive the recent crisis. Therefore, Ye Yunfei felt genuinely grateful.
"No need for formalities, Ye Yunfei. Have you heard of our Hudao Academy?" asked one of the Venerable Ones, who was slightly taller with a lean, long face.
"Somewhat," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Our Hudao Academy specifically recruits the most talented young geniuses across this continent. After observing you for several days, Ye Yunfei, we have concluded that you meet the criteria. Therefore, we came specifically to recruit you as a candidate member of our academy," that Venerable One stated.
"I appreciate your good intentions, you two Venerable Ones, but I likely won't be joining Hudao Academy," Ye Yunfei said after some thought.
"Why?" Upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words, the two Venerable Ones were utterly flabbergasted.
Hudao Academy was the most prestigious academy on this continent, and also one of the most powerful forces. Countless young geniuses across the land yearned to join the academy, hoping for a chance to rise abruptly to prominence. Now, someone was actually refusing to join!
"Ye Yunfei, you should think this through clearly! Joining Hudao Academy is a tremendous opportunity for you—an opportunity to completely alter your destiny!" said the taller Venerable One.
"Ye Yunfei, you may not yet understand what joining Hudao Academy would mean for you. Let me put it this way: as a student of the academy, you would have the chance to access the continent's most supreme cultivation techniques and martial arts. You could obtain vast quantities of cultivation resources, such as spirit stones, elixirs, and various Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. There would be a group of seasoned, experienced powerhouses dedicated to guiding you and resolving your various doubts and difficulties on the martial path. You would also have opportunities to enter many secret realms across the continent for training and experience. Furthermore, some of the most outstanding students can even leave the continent, going to the Outer Domains for cultivation and adventure," added the other Venerable One.
"Ye Yunfei, I am truly at a loss with you. Time and again, countless young geniuses, upon learning that we are Hudao Venerable Ones, would beg, weep, and even kneel, pleading to join Hudao Academy. And you? It's as if the two of us are pleading with you!" the taller Venerable One chuckled and scolded.
"Ye Yunfei, I warn you, if you miss this opportunity, you will regret it for the rest of your life!" said the other Venerable One, his tone carrying a hint of exasperation, as if lamenting iron could not become steel.
"Ahem… Venerable Ones, it's not that I think Hudao Academy is undesirable. I have other reasons," Ye Yunfei explained, feeling somewhat grateful for their enthusiasm.
"Oh? What reasons, Ye Yunfei? Tell us," both Venerable Ones were taken aback.
The two of them considered Ye Yunfei far too outstanding and were reluctant to miss out on such a promising student. Thus, they remained remarkably patient with him. If it were any other young genius who refused like this, they would have long since turned and left in displeasure.
"I must guard the Ye Family members and the Tianyuan Sect. They are too weak. Now that I have offended so many major forces of the Eastern Region, the Ye Family and Tianyuan Sect are implicated and could face retaliation from those powers at any moment. In such a situation, how could I possibly leave them behind?" Ye Yunfei explained.
"So that's the reason," the two Venerable Ones exclaimed in realization.
"That's easy to handle. Our Hudao Academy has a tradition of protecting the families of our students. We will immediately announce to the entire Eastern Region that you, Ye Yunfei, are a candidate student of Hudao Academy, and that no individual or any force is to lay a hand on the Ye Family or Tianyuan Sect. Anyone who dares to violate this will be challenging our Hudao Academy. With that, I believe no one in the entire Eastern Region would dare to move against your family and sect again," the taller Venerable One declared.
"If that's possible, then that would be excellent," Ye Yunfei replied, pleasantly surprised.
"This matter is very simple. Rest assured. So now, Ye Yunfei, are you willing to join our Hudao Academy?" inquired the other Venerable One.
"Yes," Ye Yunfei nodded.
If the safety of the Ye Family and Tianyuan Sect could be guaranteed, Ye Yunfei's greatest concern would be alleviated. Furthermore, joining Hudao Academy brought only benefits, no downsides. Therefore, Ye Yunfei ceased his refusal.
"Hahaha… excellent. However, for now, you are only a candidate student of Hudao Academy. To become a formal student, you must still pass an assessment. This is your identity token. We will notify you when the assessment begins. Remember to report punctually when you receive the notice. By the way, you can call me Venerable Zhenfeng. He is Venerable Haotian," said the taller Venerable One, handing a golden token to Ye Yunfei.
"Understood," Ye Yunfei accepted the token.
"Venerable Ones, regarding the Ye Family members and Tianyuan Sect…" Ye Yunfei asked.
In Ye Yunfei's mind, the safety of his family and sect remained his top priority.
"Haha, Ye Yunfei, don't worry. We will honor our promise. I will make the announcement to the entire Eastern Region immediately," Venerable Zhenfeng laughed.
"Then, I thank you both deeply, Venerable Ones," Ye Yunfei said gratefully.
"Very well, Ye Yunfei, we are leaving. Wait for our notification," Venerable Haotian said.
Then, the two Hudao Venerable Ones shot into the sky simultaneously, vanishing beyond the horizon in an instant.
After the two Venerable Ones departed, Ye Yunfei also left the valley and returned to the Tianyuan Sect Headquarters.
Ye Yunfei discovered that the people who had been lurking around the Tianyuan Sect Headquarters earlier had already left.
Previously, those major forces had not only laid an ambush with overwhelming numbers in that valley to deal with Ye Yunfei, but also stationed a large group of men around the Tianyuan Sect Headquarters. In case they failed to capture Ye Yunfei in the valley, they would immediately move against the Tianyuan Sect and Ye Family.
However, those powers never could have imagined that Ye Yunfei had already teleported all the Ye Family members and the Tianyuan Sect personnel into the Phantom Tower.
The Tianyuan Sect Headquarters was now completely empty.