With that, Ye Yunfei turned and left.
"Hun Lao, is there any way to harvest the essence of this Blackroad Mystical Ironwood?"
As he passed through the vast expanse of the Blackroad Mystical Ironwood forest, Ye Yunfei looked at the towering trees that scraped the heavens and couldn't help but ask.
"It's very difficult.
Blackroad Mystical Ironwood is a sacred wood born from the condensation of heaven and earth's essence. It's incomparably hard. The iron pith of the Blackroad Mystical Ironwood, used for artifact forging, is hidden deep within the tree's body and is always in a state of fluid motion.
To refine the iron pith from Blackroad Mystical Ironwood requires highly experienced master artifact-smiths, and they must also possess immense power.
If an ordinary expert tried to forcibly extract the iron pith, the pith would likely escape into the surrounding world the moment the tree trunk was split open, returning to its original source and transforming back into the energy and laws of heaven and earth.
In short, it's very difficult."
Hun Lao thought for a moment before replying.
"Alright then."
Ye Yunfei was somewhat disappointed.
"By the way, artifacts forged using the iron pith of Blackroad Mystical Ironwood must be quite powerful, right?"
Ye Yunfei asked curiously.
"Of course.
Artifacts forged using the iron pith of Blackroad Mystical Ironwood definitely do not belong to the Earth Immortal tier. At the very least, they are Golden Immortal tier artifacts, and many Heavenly Immortal tier artifacts also require its use for their creation."
Hun Lao answered.
A short while later, Ye Yunfei left that world.
"Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, you take the Phantom Tower and return to the previous rendezvous point.
I need to cultivate in seclusion for a while."
Ye Yunfei said to the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm.
He then entered the Phantom Tower.
"Head Manager Lu!"
Ye Yunfei approached a group of people.
"Master Ye!
Thank you for rescuing us!"
A middle-aged man immediately stepped forward, expressing his gratitude.
"You're too kind, Head Manager Lu. If anything, you all suffered this misfortune because you were dragged into my affairs."
Ye Yunfei hurriedly replied.
This middle-aged man was Lu Yugang, the Chief Manager of the Four Directions Trading Company in the Hongmeng Continent.
Besides Lu Yugang, others also came forward one after another to give their thanks.
These people were precisely those whom Ye Yunfei had entered the Colorless Abyss to rescue along with Di Ming.
"Everyone, I have a batch of cultivation resources and treasures here which I will now distribute among you. Use them for your cultivation."
Ye Yunfei took out a large quantity of cultivation resources, piling them up into small mountains that exuded a breathtaking aura.
These people had been carried around by Di Ming within a spatial treasure during their recent flight, and Di Ming had ultimately fallen into the Five Immortals Poison King's hands. It could be said they had been living in constant fear, long bereft of cultivation resources.
Ye Yunfei's recent harvests had been extremely bountiful, with all kinds of cultivation resources beyond counting. What he casually took out now represented unimaginable wealth to ordinary martial artists.
After distributing those cultivation resources, Ye Yunfei spent a little more time with Lu Yugang and the others before finding a secluded spot within the Phantom Tower to sit cross-legged.
"I wonder what treasures Elder Lu gifted me inside this space ring."
Ye Yunfei took out a space ring, feeling a flicker of anticipation.
He then extended his Soul Power perception into it.
"What grade are these crystals…"
The next moment, Ye Yunfei perceived an enormous pile of energy crystals, radiating astonishing levels of pure energy.
These energy crystals seemed to be of a higher grade than any Ye Yunfei had ever encountered before!
"They must be Heavenly Immortal grade energy crystals at the very least… even Divine Crystals?"
Ye Yunfei wondered inwardly.
Previously, while in the Hongmeng Continent, Ye Yunfei had already come across energy crystals referred to as Divine Crystals. However, he now knew those weren't true Divine Crystals but rather Immortal Crystals suitable for martial artists of the Immortal Realm.
The energy contained within these energy crystals before him was far superior; they were at the very least Heavenly Immortal grade crystals.
Furthermore, there were all varieties of energy crystals, a truly comprehensive collection!
"Earth Immortal artifacts, Golden Immortal artifacts… heavens, Heavenly Immortal artifacts!"
Next, Ye Yunfei saw many artifacts—Earth Immortal grade, Golden Immortal grade, and even Heavenly Immortal grade!
Although Ye Yunfei had never personally witnessed a Heavenly Immortal grade artifact before, he could roughly deduce it.
"Heaven-Devouring Foot, Earth-Lacking Palm, World-Crushing Finger…"
Ye Yunfei saw two technique jade slips and immediately perceived their contents. He discovered a foot technique, a palm technique, and a finger technique.
"The levels of these three martial skills are extremely high, and their power must be equally terrifying."
Skimming through them briefly, Ye Yunfei felt both shock and delight.
"And there are all sorts of elixirs—for healing, for energy replenishment, for cultivation assistance, for detoxification, for unlocking innate talent…
Truly all manner of resources, and each of a very high grade!"
Ye Yunfei continued inventorying, his tone tinged with excitement.
"Also many natural treasures whose names I cannot identify for now.
This space ring gifted to me by Elder Lu not only has an enormous internal volume but is almost completely filled. It's truly too precious!"
Ye Yunfei was a bit awestruck.
Among the treasures in this space ring, there were many he had never seen nor heard of before. Undoubtedly, they were extremely high-grade treasures!
"At our first meeting, Elder Lu gifted me such an immensely valuable present!"
After completing his inventory, Ye Yunfei knew the combined value of the wealth within this space ring was immeasurable.
"With so many resources and treasures, it's time for me to properly boost my strength."
Ye Yunfei murmured to himself.
"First, the physical body!
I possess so many artifacts now. Let me fuse a batch of Earth Immortal grade artifacts!
It's been a long time since I last cultivated the As One With Artifact secret art.
Also, my Nine Palaces Totem Wheel should be enhanced.
The quantity of various cultivation resources I possess now is immense. This time, I'll let the nine divine beasts feed until they're satisfied."
Saying this, Ye Yunfei took out an astonishing quantity of cultivation resources, released the nine divine beasts, and let them devour them.
He then brought out a batch of Earth Immortal grade artifacts and began employing the As One With Artifact secret art to fuse them.
As time passed, the number of Earth Immortal grade artifacts Ye Yunfei fused continued to increase.
The nine divine beasts, having consumed massive amounts of cultivation resources, began radiating increasingly powerful auras.
"We're almost back at the rendezvous point!"
Inside the Phantom Tower, roughly two or three months later, the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm suddenly sent a mental message.
"But something's off. There seem to be a lot more Dark Faction forces active in this area all of a sudden."
It added.
"Oh? Is that so."
Upon hearing this, Ye Yunfei was inwardly startled.
This area was the agreed rendezvous point for Light Faction members. For Dark Faction forces to appear here now was definitely not normal.
"It looks like Light Faction forces are confronting the Dark Faction forces."
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm reported.
"Seems the Dark Faction discovered the Light Faction members and has come to surround and exterminate them."
Ye Yunfei thought for a moment before stating.
"Very well. This time, we'll kill to our heart's content."
Ye Yunfei walked out of the Phantom Tower and declared aloud.
Huang Shang and the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm both possessed extremely potent methods now. Moreover, Ye Yunfei's own strength had greatly improved recently. He held no fear whatsoever for ordinary Dark Faction forces.