At the headquarters...
Ye Yunfei transported everyone out from within the Phantom Tower.
When Ye Yunfei announced that the matter had been satisfactorily resolved and that everyone could continue to reside at the Tianyuan Sect headquarters from now on, waves of cheers erupted throughout the Tianyuan Sect grounds.
"Zhou Mu, you don't need to return to Yuanyue City anymore. Stay at the Tianyuan Sect from now on," Ye Yunfei said to Zhou Mu.
"Stay at the Tianyuan Sect? Brother Fei, can I really?" Zhou Mu couldn't help but feel thrilled.
It was worth knowing that the Tianyuan Sect was one of the Four Great Sects of the Great Qin Empire, and had always been the most coveted martial cultivation holy land for all the youth of the empire.
"Heh, Zhou Mu, if you don't mind, from now on, you will be my final closed-door disciple," the Reclusive Elder immediately spoke up, addressing Zhou Mu.
He knew Zhou Mu was a brother recognized by Ye Yunfei. Taking Zhou Mu as his disciple would make Ye Yunfei regard the Tianyuan Sect even more favorably.
"Since that's the case, Zhou Mu, pay your respects to your master," Ye Yunfei nodded.
It was a hundred times better for Zhou Mu to stay at the Tianyuan Sect to cultivate than to return to Yuanyue Academy.
"Disciple pays his respects to Master!" Zhou Mu did not hesitate, immediately prostrating himself on the ground.
"Zhou Mu, these things are my gifts to you." Ye Yunfei took out several spatial rings and handed them to Zhou Mu.
These spatial rings contained a large amount of martial cultivation resources, including spirit crystals, spirit herbs, spirit pills, magic treasures, and various types of heaven-and-earth spirit treasures.
"Thank you, Brother Fei!" Zhou Mu didn't stand on ceremony, accepting them directly.
"Train hard. Don't make me lose face," Ye Yunfei patted Zhou Mu on the shoulder and laughed.
"Brother Fei, don't worry. I promise I won't disgrace you!" Zhou Mu replied loudly.
"Master Ye Yunfei, Yuesu intends to remain at the Tianyuan Sect from now on, focusing on cultivation," the Empress Dowager suddenly walked up to Ye Yunfei and said.
This recent experience had made her fully understand that in a martial artist's world, without formidable strength, one could only be slaughtered at the mercy of others.
Therefore, she no longer had any lingering attachment to the imperial authority of the Great Qin Empire.
"Mm, that's good too," Ye Yunfei thought for a moment before replying.
"Haha, Empress Dowager, welcome to the Tianyuan Sect. Starting now, you are one of our Tianyuan Sect's Reclusive Elders, with a status equal to my own." The Reclusive Elder was overjoyed and burst into hearty laughter.
"Elder Zhang, from now on, you will also stay at the Tianyuan Sect," Ye Yunfei said to Elder Zhang.
Elder Zhang was formerly a member of Luohai Trade Consortium and was skilled in management. Having him stay at the Tianyuan Sect would help the sect develop rapidly.
"Master, I understand," Elder Zhang nodded.
"These fifteen Shadow Beast Kings will be under your control from now on." With a wave of his hand, Ye Yunfei transported the fifteen Shadow Beast Kings out of the Phantom Tower, positioning them beside Elder Zhang.
Entrusting these Shadow Beast Kings to Elder Zhang was what made Ye Yunfei most at ease.
Because Elder Zhang had been completely subdued by Ye Yunfei and could harbor no treacherous thoughts.
Next, Ye Yunfei separated fifteen strands of Soul Power and injected them into Elder Zhang's soul sea. This way, Elder Zhang could control these fifteen Shadow Beast Kings.
Added together, the Reclusive Elder, the Empress Dowager, Elder Zhang, and the fifteen Shadow Beast Kings meant the Tianyuan Sect now possessed the equivalent of eighteen Saint Realm experts!
Such overall strength was vastly superior to what it had been before.
One day later.
A shocking piece of news spread rapidly through the Eastern Region.
Two Venerable Ones from Hudao Academy personally announced that Ye Yunfei had become a candidate student of Hudao Academy, and from this moment on, no one was permitted to act against the Ye Clan members or the Tianyuan Sect.
Otherwise, it would be tantamount to provoking Hudao Academy!
Furthermore, experts possessing strength at the Yuan Foundation Realm or above were forbidden from attacking Ye Yunfei, and Flood-Grade Treasures could not be used against him either.
However, those at the True Manifestation Realm or lower could attack Ye Yunfei freely, with no holds barred regarding life or death!
As soon as this news broke, the entire Eastern Region was in an uproar.
"Ye Yunfei has actually been noticed by Hudao Academy and become a candidate student!"
"This is the rhythm of a meteoric rise and complete ascension!"
"Hudao Academy has actually stepped forward to protect Ye Yunfei's clan and his sect. This shows how much they value him!"
...
For a time, countless young geniuses across the Eastern Region were filled with envy.
Hudao Academy was the most elite academy on this continent. To be noticed by Hudao Academy was such an honorable thing!
"So what if he was noticed by Hudao Academy? Those at the True Manifestation Realm or below can attack him freely, with no regard for life or death. Just wait and see, Ye Yunfei won't live for long."
"That's right. Ye Yunfei has provoked so many major powers in the Eastern Region. The True Manifestation experts from those major powers won't let him off. No matter how strong he is, he's no match for a True Manifestation Realm expert."
...
There were also quite a few people who did not hold a favorable view of Ye Yunfei.
In any case, the name Ye Yunfei once again became the focal point of discussions across the entire Eastern Region.
Afterwards, another astonishing piece of news regarding Ye Yunfei began circulating.
Ten True Manifestation Realm experts, having laid multiple layers of traps to deal with Ye Yunfei, ended up with two being slain by him, forcing them to flee in utter disgrace!
Once this news spread, the shockwave it caused was even greater.
"Heavens! Has Ye Yunfei become that powerful? Even ten True Manifestation Realm experts couldn't defeat him?"
"That is far too exaggerated!"
...
The entire Eastern Region was feverishly discussing.
Tianyuan Sect Headquarters.
"Those at the True Manifestation Realm or below can attack me freely, with no holds barred. This is probably a kind of trial the two Venerable Ones left for me," Ye Yunfei remarked with a faint smile in his small pavilion.
However, for Ye Yunfei, as long as the safety of his Ye Clan members and the Tianyuan Sect could be guaranteed, that was sufficient.
No matter how many True Manifestation experts came, Ye Yunfei was unafraid. If he couldn't defeat them, he could just slip into space and leave.
This was precisely why Ye Yunfei had entered Tianying Hall previously to obtain the three secret treasures of the Tianying Clan.
The three secret treasures of the Tianying Clan had been of immense help to Ye Yunfei.
"My physical body still isn't strong enough. Moreover, while the Heavenly Demon Blood-Refining Body Art is simple, easy, and can be mastered quickly, it is ultimately an inheritance technique belonging to the True Demon Clan. Cultivating a True Demon Clan technique with my human flesh-and-blood body means I can never achieve the optimal results. The most obvious manifestation is the weak defense of my body. It can't withstand hits at all.
"A genuine body tempering expert possesses not only formidable physical strength but also perverse defensive capabilities. It seems I need to select a body tempering technique more suitable for myself."
Seated cross-legged in the small pavilion, Ye Yunfei pondered these thoughts.
"However, of the body tempering techniques I collected in my past life, there are at least several hundred. Which one should I practice?" Ye Yunfei continued to contemplate.
"Greenwood Emperor Body!"
Suddenly, a flash of delight crossed Ye Yunfei's face as he thought of this particular technique.
The Greenwood Emperor Body was reputed to be one of the top ten most formidable body tempering techniques across all Three Thousand Great and Small Worlds.
Moreover, it was a body tempering technique belonging to the Human Race.
It was a wood-attribute body forging art. Once cultivated to completion, the body would possess formidable defensive capabilities and recovery power.
Furthermore, upon mastery, it came with several additional physical divine abilities.
Even more wonderfully, the Greenwood Emperor Body possessed immense compatibility and could be cultivated alongside any other body tempering technique.
This meant Ye Yunfei could cultivate the Heavenly Demon Blood-Refining Body Art and the Greenwood Emperor Body simultaneously.
"Excellent! I'll go with the Greenwood Emperor Body!" Ye Yunfei declared to himself.