More beings continued to arrive, venturing into this tranquil yet strange secluded paradise.
Everyone could see that this place was far from simple. So after arriving, none dared to act presumptuously; instead, they carefully navigated this serene world.
At that moment, Ye Yunfei and Su Qingluo had reached the lakeside.
A small deer was drinking water by the lake, entirely at ease.
In the center of the lake, a small boat drifted with the wind. An old man, clad in a rain cape, sat quietly fishing at the bow.
When Ye Yunfei and Su Qingluo passed by the lake, the small deer didn't seem disturbed, and the old man on the boat appeared not to have noticed them.
Ye Yunfei and Su Qingluo felt as if the two of them were completely ignored!
Ye Yunfei studied the small deer for a moment, then looked towards the old man in the lake.
First, Ye Yunfei released his Soul Force energy to sense the old man, but found nothing. The old man seemed to be an ordinary, un-cultivated human.
"Perhaps I should try using my Mental Force energy!"
A thought suddenly struck Ye Yunfei, and he activated his Mental Force energy, directing his perception toward the old man.
Mental Force energy differed from Soul Force energy; it could often perceive things that Soul Force energy could not.
"Are you using Mental Force energy?"
Su Qingluo, sensing the release of a unique energy from Ye Yunfei, couldn't help asking curiously.
Ye Yunfei had only begun cultivating Mental Force energy formally after re-encountering the master of Sky-Burial Grave upon entering the Tianpo Realm. Previously, during his time in Canghuang Realm and Tianxuan Continent, he had never cultivated it.
Therefore, Su Qingluo was unaware that Ye Yunfei cultivated Mental Force energy until now when he used it.
"Yes.
This is indeed Mental Force energy," Ye Yunfei replied with a smile.
"I never thought you could cultivate Mental Force energy," Su Qingluo said softly.
She had once seen an introduction to Mental Force energy in ancient scriptures passed down within the Reincarnation Palace. So she knew Mental Force energy was a special kind of energy, extremely difficult to cultivate.
If one lacked innate talent in this area, no matter how powerful their strength or keen their comprehension, achieving success was very difficult.
By this time, the Mental Force energy Ye Yunfei had projected had reached the small boat in the lake's center, perceiving the old man.
"Hmm?"
The old man, who had been ignoring Ye Yunfei and Su Qingluo the whole time, suddenly reacted now. He turned his head to look at Ye Yunfei, studying him curiously.
"Young man, you have traveled far to come here. What is it you seek?"
A voice sounded directly in Ye Yunfei's mind.
Ye Yunfei was surprised to discover that the old man was actually communicating with him using Mental Force energy.
"Elder, we have come here for the Heavenly Immortal Soul Fruit," Ye Yunfei thought for a moment, then answered truthfully.
"The Heavenly Immortal Soul Fruit...
Do you greatly desire to obtain it?" the old man asked after seeming lost in thought for a second.
"If there is a possibility, I will strive for it.
It depends on fate," Ye Yunfei was momentarily stunned, then replied.
"There will come a day when you realize these are all just external possessions.
The tranquility of the mind and spirit is the only thing truly worth pursuing," the old man sighed softly.
"Young man, you possess talent in the area of Mental Force energy, but your tempering of the mind and spirit is still insufficient.
Mental state plays a decisive role in the cultivation of Mental Force energy," the old man added.
"Thank you for the guidance, Elder," Ye Yunfei hurriedly responded.
"Elder, what is this place?
Does the Heavenly Immortal Soul Fruit truly exist here?" Ye Yunfei then asked.
"Do not ask me.
I know nothing.
Right now, I simply wish to enjoy the pleasure of fishing," the old man shook his head, then closed his eyes, ceasing any further communication with Ye Yunfei.
"He spoke to you?"
Seeing Ye Yunfei and the old man's expressions, Su Qingluo was somewhat astonished.
"Yes," Ye Yunfei nodded and briefly told Su Qingluo about his exchange with the old man.
"He's too mysterious.
Let's go. We should avoid provoking him for now," Su Qingluo thought it over and said.
"Alright," Ye Yunfei nodded.
So Ye Yunfei and Su Qingluo circled around the lake before them and headed towards the distant mountain hamlet.
Because that mountain hamlet occupied the centralmost position of this secluded paradise.
Su Qingluo had used a secret art of deduction passed down within the Reincarnation Palace and determined the Heavenly Immortal Soul Fruit was most likely located within that mountain hamlet!
"Remember, you must be polite and respectful towards all beings.
Also, if you encounter deities, pay respects. Maintain a pious heart,"
As Ye Yunfei circled the lake and began approaching the mountain hamlet step by step, the old man's voice sounded in Ye Yunfei's mind once again.
"Thank you for the guidance, Elder," Ye Yunfei was momentarily surprised, then hurriedly replied with respect.
Then, Ye Yunfei transmitted the old man's words to Su Qingluo via sound transmission.
"He was probably giving you a reminder," Su Qingluo thought for a moment, then said.
Just at that moment.
"Ah…"
A series of blood-curdling screams rang out.
Ye Yunfei and Su Qingluo immediately turned to look. They saw several bloody corpses lying beside the small deer at the lakeside.
In the distance, many beings were looking at the small deer with fearful eyes.
With a wave of her hand, Su Qingluo cast a technique that reversed the flow of time. Scene after scene appeared before them.
It turned out several beings had walked to the lake's edge. One of them directly manifested a massive energy hand, reaching out to grab the small deer drinking at the shore.
In response, a blinding layer of light erupted from the small deer's body, transforming into numerous sharp swords that instantly cut those beings into several pieces. Their Soul Bodies were directly annihilated, and they fell dead on the spot.
Among these beings, two were Initial True Immortals, and one was an Intermediate True Immortal. Yet they were all instantly slain!
The small deer appeared to have no energy fluctuations whatsoever, but its single attack was horrifyingly powerful, causing everyone present to show expressions of dread.
Right at that moment.
"Elder, may we speak in private?"
A being had set his sights on the old man fishing in the boat in the lake's center. He began walking across the water, heading towards the middle.
Suddenly, the figure of this being sank, actually falling directly into the lake water.
"Ah…
Help me!
Quickly save me!
I cannot swim!"
That being struggled desperately in the water.
What was going on?
This fellow was clearly a Initial True Immortal. Even walking on the bottom of the water, or simply staying submerged for a long time should pose no issue. Why was he now drowning?
That being flailed in the water for a few moments. Before his companions could rush over to save him, he sank straight to the lake bottom, vanishing from sight.
"What's going on?
I can't sense Vice Director Li at all!"
The dozen or so companions of that being rushed to the lakeside and released their Soul Force energy, only to find they could no longer perceive the being who had sunk into the lake.
"Should we go down to save Vice Director Li?" a middle-aged man in green asked his other companions.
"This lake is dangerous," another man beside him said in a fearful tone.
Witnessing this scene, everyone felt a chill creeping up their spines, becoming even more cautious.
"Be careful, everyone! Though everything in this place looks ordinary and unremarkable, in reality, dangers lurk at every turn!
Do not recklessly touch anything!" someone shouted.
Thus, as the other beings moved through this secluded paradise, they grew even more careful. Each moved as if facing a formidable enemy, not daring to touch anything carelessly.
"Be careful. This place is too bizarre.
Underneath a placid appearance, it hides terribly dangerous crises," Su Qingluo sent a sound transmission to Ye Yunfei, offering a warning.
"Being with you, I'm not afraid," Ye Yunfei grinned.
"This guy…" Su Qingluo's fair cheeks flushed pink, realizing Ye Yunfei was practically teasing her. She deliberately put on a stern expression and started walking towards the mountain hamlet ahead.
Boom… Boom…
Right at that moment, a group of figures radiating terrifying auras came rolling in, bursting into this tranquil secluded paradise.
Actually, twelve Earth Immortals arrived simultaneously.
They were precisely Sect Master Li, Prime Minister Wang, and other Earth Immortal experts.
Apart from these twelve Earth Immortals, there was also another group.
"It seems this is the core region of this Small World!
The Heavenly Immortal Soul Fruit is definitely here!" Monk Taishan exclaimed joyfully.
"Look! Su Qingluo! And that kid!
Over there!" The Five Immortals Sect Master pointed into the distance, speaking coldly.
"Those fellows have arrived too," Su Qingluo also saw Sect Master Li and the others, her pretty face darkening.