"It shouldn't be possible. We've been guarding this place the whole time, and we've been paying almost constant attention to the entrance and exit of this Small World. If they came out from inside, they couldn't possibly have escaped our senses."
The Five Immortals Sect Master shook his head.
"The more than ten formations I placed near the entrance and exit haven't reacted at all during this period. Those dozen or so formations have completely sealed off the area of space around the Small World's entrance. If anyone wanted to come out from inside, they'd have to break those formations first before they could leave. Since those formations haven't shown any reaction, it proves no one has come out."
Ghost Formation Grandmaster spoke up.
"At present, it seems the most likely situation for Su Qingluo and that kid is that they've already died within that mountain hamlet. Or, even if they aren't dead, they're trapped inside that Small World and can't get out. The entrance and exit of this Small World were sealed personally by that mysterious expert. I estimate that even we Earth Immortals might not have the capability to enter and leave freely.
In any case, whether Su Qingluo is dead or trapped inside this Small World, either outcome is good for us. What we fear most is that she's already quietly left this Small World, but the likelihood of that situation is extremely low."
Sect Master Li thought for a moment before speaking slowly.
"Sect Master Li, you hired us to help you pursue and kill that girl. Now, even though we haven't killed her, we've spent so much time and effort on this matter during this period. How should this account be settled? You can't have us putting in effort for nothing, can you?"
A black-robed elder suddenly spoke up.
Among these twelve Earth Immortals, only five belonged to major forces from the Main World. The other seven had been hired at great expense to help.
Back then, Sect Master Li had made an agreement with these seven Earth Immortals that after Su Qingluo was killed, they would receive a very substantial reward. But now, Su Qingluo hadn't been killed, and it didn't seem like they'd get a chance to kill her personally anymore. So these hired Earth Immortals had started bargaining with Sect Master Li.
"But, when we first agreed, it was after killing Su Qingluo that we'd pay you the reward. Now, we haven't killed Su Qingluo..."
Upon hearing the Earth Immortal's words, the Five Immortals Sect Master immediately refuted.
The reward to be paid to these seven Earth Immortals had been agreed upon to be shared jointly by several major forces from the Main World. The Five Immortals Sect also had to bear a portion. But up until now, they hadn't even touched a single strand of Su Qingluo's hair, let alone killed her. So, of course, the Five Immortals Sect Master was unwilling to pay the reward.
"What do you mean by that? Are you saying we deserved to waste so much time and effort for nothing?"
The black-robed elder said angrily.
The other six hired Earth Immortal experts also all showed anger.
These seven hired Earth Immortal experts all belonged to the Tianpo Realm. Each was arrogant and unruly, not willing to retreat even half a step.
"Everyone, no need to worry. Even though we didn't kill Su Qingluo with our own hands, we will pay a portion of the reward. We definitely won't let you waste your time and effort for nothing."
Sect Master Li thought for a moment, then quickly spoke up.
"Sect Master Li..."
The Five Immortals Sect Master looked at Sect Master Li.
"Sect Master Li, you plan to pay them the reward? But they haven't helped us kill Su Qingluo at all."
Monk Taishan couldn't help but send a mental message to Sect Master Li to ask.
"Everyone, look at the bigger picture. Even though they haven't helped us kill Su Qingluo, these are seven Earth Immortal experts—a very powerful force.
Next, after we return to the Main World, we'll be preparing to deal with the Reincarnation Palace with full force. The Reincarnation Palace has an ancient heritage and profound foundations. The Reincarnation Old Ancestor is hailed as one of the strongest top experts in our Main World—not someone easy to deal with. So it's necessary for us to befriend these seven Earth Immortal experts. Later, if we join forces and still can't handle the Reincarnation Palace and the Reincarnation Old Ancestor, we can send people to the Tianpo Realm to invite these seven Earth Immortal experts to the Main World to help us deal with the Reincarnation Palace.
Don't you think if we have seven more Earth Immortal experts helping us deal with the Reincarnation Palace, our chances of success will be much greater? When we destroy the Reincarnation Palace, its wealth and territory will be divided among us. By then, I'm afraid we'll be able to profit handsomely."
Sect Master Li sent separate mental messages to the Five Immortals Sect Master, Monk Taishan, Prime Minister Wang, and Ghost Formation Grandmaster.
"Sect Master Li's words make sense! It doesn't matter if we pay some price, as long as we can befriend these seven Earth Immortal experts. When we deal with the Reincarnation Palace later, our confidence will be even greater!"
Prime Minister Wang, upon hearing Sect Master Li's words, immediately nodded in agreement.
"Sect Master Li, you truly are astute and farsighted! Very well, I agree! We'll do as Sect Master Li suggests!"
The Five Immortals Sect Master, after hearing Sect Master Li, also had a gleam in his eyes, then nodded in agreement.
"Everyone, how about this? I'll pay you sixty percent of the reward. That way, you won't have wasted your time and effort for nothing."
Sect Master Li declared loudly.
Subsequently, Sect Master Li, Prime Minister Wang, Monk Taishan, the Five Immortals Sect Master, and Ghost Formation Grandmaster each took out a batch of wealth and goods. After Sect Master Li finished counting, he distributed them among the seven Earth Immortal experts.
After receiving the reward, the seven Earth Immortal experts' expressions immediately became much more pleasant.
During this period, it had been their clones guarding here, while their true bodies had long been exploring and seeking treasures all over this secret realm. Now they had received sixty percent of the reward, so they were satisfied.
"Haha, everyone, this cooperation has been pleasant! My true body has sensed that the opening period of this secret realm is about to end. So we need to prepare to leave this secret realm at any time. Until we meet again!"
The black-robed elder laughed loudly, then turned, took a step, and instantly vanished into the distance.
The other six Earth Immortal experts from the Tianpo Realm also bid farewell and departed one after another.
"Everyone, next time if I need your help, I'll send someone to the Tianpo Realm to find you. I hope you'll leave a means of contact!"
Sect Master Li hurriedly called out loudly.
Swoosh!
The black-robed elder in the distance waved a hand. A jade slip for transmission flew back and landed before Sect Master Li.
"This is a message transmission jade slip I specially crafted. Send someone holding it to the Tianpo Realm, and you'll be able to find me. As long as you can pay a reward that satisfies me, you can come find me for help."
The black-robed elder left these words, then disappeared.
The other six Earth Immortal experts all also left a message transmission jade slip each.
"Later, if we need to, we can send someone to the Tianpo Realm at any time to invite these seven Earth Immortal experts to the Main World to help us! With these seven Earth Immortal experts aiding us, I believe dealing with the Reincarnation Palace will be a very easy matter!"
Sect Master Li said with a cold laugh.
"Alright, everyone, let's all prepare. We'll be leaving this secret realm soon."
Sect Master Li said.
Then these five Earth Immortal experts each left to find their true bodies.
A day later.
The opening period of this secret realm finally began to end. Everyone within the secret realm was expelled. Mysterious streams of energy and profound runes continuously appeared, starting to repel all outsiders.
In the end, all the people left this secret realm.
Following that, people from the Main World and those from special worlds began to leave the Tianpo Realm, returning to their respective worlds.
Overall, this expedition into the Ancient God Ruins for exploration and treasure seeking had yielded fairly good harvests for the vast majority of factions and individuals.
A large number of Small Worlds existed within the Ancient God Ruins, and almost every Small World contained abundant treasures and opportunities!
Everyone who entered felt quite satisfied!
Tianpo Realm, Giant Star, inside the Giant Clan's headquarters.
The Giant Clan Chief and the five elders had already returned to the headquarters.
After exiting the Ancient God Ruins, Ye Yunfei immediately moved the Giant Clan Chief and the five elders out from the Phantom Tower, allowing them to return on their own.
Ye Yunfei had also asked Su Qingluo to take action and use her divine abilities to forcefully erase from the Giant Clan Chief and five elders any lingering aura related to himself.
Ye Yunfei feared he might implicate the Giant Clan.
At parting, Ye Yunfei gifted a large batch of treasures to the Giant Clan and the five elders.
From the treasures obtained from the Great Strength Devil God, Ye Yunfei gave almost half to the Giant Clan Chief!
After the Giant Clan Chief and the five elders returned to the headquarters and took stock of the treasures Ye Yunfei had gifted them, they were extremely delighted.
Most of these treasures gifted by the Great Strength Devil God were related to body tempering, making them very suitable for the Giant Clan!
Moreover, Ye Yunfei also passed on several body tempering cultivation techniques obtained from the Great Strength Devil God to the Giant Clan Chief.
"With these treasures and the several body tempering techniques Young Master Ye passed on to us, our Giant Clan's overall strength will increase significantly! Especially those several body tempering techniques—they'll bring enormous benefits to our Giant Clan!"
The Giant Clan Chief said excitedly.
"That's right. Of course, credit for all this belongs entirely to Young Master Ye. Without Young Master Ye, given our capabilities, it would have been impossible for us to obtain the Great Strength Devil God's treasure trove!"
An elder said.
"Indeed. Speaking of which, Young Master Ye truly is a lucky star for our Giant Clan! He helped us exterminate the Giant Beast Clan, allowing our Giant Clan to truly rule Giant Star. Now he's gifted us so many treasures and several precious body tempering techniques!"
Another elder said.
"Young Master Ye is an eternal friend of our Giant Clan! Immediately notify the old shaman to record Young Master Ye into our Giant Clan's genealogy. Our Giant Clan, generation after generation, must remember Young Master Ye's kindness and forever regard Young Master Ye as a friend of our clan!"
The Giant Clan Chief pondered, then said solemnly.
At the same time.
The forces of several major factions from the Main World had already left the Tianpo Realm and returned to the chaotic void of the Three Thousand Worlds.
"Sect Master Li, that kid who was with Su Qingluo seems very unfamiliar. I think it's necessary to investigate his identity and origins and hold his backer forces accountable. His master-teacher's sect, his clan, and all people related to him must not be spared. We must execute his nine clans to make an example. That way, the world will know what kind of end awaits those who become enemies of our major factions."
The Five Immortals Sect Master suddenly spoke up.
"That's right! When we first surrounded Su Qingluo, if it hadn't been for that kid suddenly appearing and causing trouble, maybe we would have killed Su Qingluo right then! It's all because of that kid! Regardless of whether that kid is dead or alive now, we absolutely cannot spare his people! We must execute his nine clans to quell the hatred in my heart!"
Upon mentioning Ye Yunfei, Monk Taishan also gritted his teeth in hatred, speaking fiercely.
"That kid is indeed very unfamiliar. Even though he's only at the Emperor realm, he didn't seem simple, very clever and slippery. Moreover, his formation skills are quite good. For someone so young to possess such formation skill is very abnormal! I also suggest thoroughly investigating his background."
Ghost Formation Grandmaster also spoke up.
"Very well. Our few factions will jointly dispatch a group of experts to investigate that kid's origins. I feel that kid probably isn't from our Main World. How about this—divide forces into two groups. Send one group to investigate that kid's origins within the Three Thousand Worlds, and send the other group back to the Main World to investigate his origins."
Sect Master Li thought for a moment, then spoke.
Thus, these major forces immediately mobilized a group of personnel and began investigating Ye Yunfei's identity and origins within the Three Thousand Worlds.
Earth Immortal experts like Sect Master Li brought their respective faction's people and hurried back to the Main World.
At the same time.
Su Qingluo had already returned to the Reincarnation Palace headquarters.
Inside an ancient palace protected by layers upon layers of defensive formations.
"Hmph! Who would have thought that major factions like the Verdant Profound Sect, the Western Teaching, the Thousand Tang Empire, and the Five Immortals Sect had long secretly allied, meticulously planning to target my Reincarnation Palace!"
An elderly man clad in a white robe, with a refined face and five long strands of beard hanging down his chest, wore an expression of fury. With one palm, he instantly shattered a table before him into powder, which then scattered with the wind, completely vanishing into nothingness.
The small patch of space where the table had been was also instantly destroyed, turning into churning spacetime fragments.
However, the space within this palace was filled with special restrictions possessing powerful self-repair functions. In moments, it had repaired itself back to its original state.
This elder was precisely the strongest expert within the Reincarnation Palace—the Reincarnation Old Ancestor!
After stealthily returning to the Reincarnation Palace headquarters, Su Qingluo's first action had been to find the Reincarnation Old Ancestor to report.