After Du Huan left, Ye Yunfei closed his eyes and continued his research on that formidable black Seal Layer.
After this period of immersed in focused study, Ye Yunfei had gained a preliminary understanding of this black Seal Layer. However, he was well aware in his heart that cracking it would be far from simple, as it contained a vast number of highly sophisticated Formations and restrictive arrays.
"With Dark Ancestor's capabilities, he definitely couldn't have created such an incredibly sturdy Seal Layer on his own. He must have either received guidance from a master or invited others to help him set it up," Ye Yunfei couldn't help but remark to Hun Lao.
"Yes, I believe so as well," Hun Lao agreed.
During this time, Hun Lao had stayed by Ye Yunfei's side, assisting him in researching the Seal Layer. Even the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm had perched on one of Hun Lao's branches, diligently aiding Ye Yunfei in his study.
Both Hun Lao and the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm possessed profound attainment in spatial arts—in certain aspects, Ye Yunfei even fell short of them—which was precisely why Ye Yunfei had specifically asked for their help.
"Indeed. I'm quite familiar with the old dog Dark Ancestor's abilities. He shouldn't be capable of setting up such a sturdy and ingenious Seal Layer," the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm chimed in after hearing Hun Lao's words, nodding in agreement.
"Your guess is correct. This Seal Layer indeed wasn't set up by Dark Ancestor, but by a doppelganger his master dispatched here to assist him," a voice suddenly sounded from nearby just as the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm finished speaking.
Then, an old man, accompanied by a youth, slowly appeared.
"Du Fan, when did you get here?" Ye Yunfei exclaimed with pleasant surprise upon seeing the youth.
"My Master brought me here just now," Du Fan replied as he walked over to Ye Yunfei.
"Esteemed senior's techniques of geomancy are truly profound. I couldn't sense your arrival at all," Ye Yunfei said with a hint of astonishment, addressing Du Fan's master.
"Of course. My Master's skill in geomancy is undoubtedly the highest within this pocket of space-time. Even you can't match him in this aspect," Du Fan remarked with evident pride. It was clear that he deeply revered his master.
"Enough, let's skip the unnecessary words. Ye Yunfei, I've come here mainly because I promised Du Fan I would lend my aid in cracking this Seal Layer before his departure, to restore this region of space-time's connection to the outside world," the old man, whose expression was placid and unreadable, said plainly as he assessed Ye Yunfei.
"Du Fan, you plan to leave the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds as well?" Ye Yunfei shifted his gaze to Du Fan.
"Yes. My Master intends to take me away from this region of space-time. Before leaving, however, I wished to contribute something here, as it is my homeland, after all. Hence, I requested my Master's assistance in breaking this Seal Layer," Du Fan nodded.
"It seems everyone is leaving," Ye Yunfei couldn't help but sigh softly. He knew he could not prevent it. Moreover, it was a good thing for his friends to venture beyond this region into a broader world to pursue greater development.
"Dark Ancestor's master is a top-tier expert within the Dark Faction. He sealed this stretch of space-time using a grand spatial sealing technique of the Dark Faction; its might is formidable. However, this Seal Layer has been in place for a very long time; a significant amount of its energy has dissipated, so we might still have a chance to dismantle it. Starting now, I will research this Seal Layer together with you, and we will combine our efforts to find a method to break it," the old man said after stepping closer to the black Seal Layer and releasing a pulse of his Soul Power to sense its nature.
This old man understood that Ye Yunfei was now among the most powerful top-tier experts within this region of space-time and thus did not underestimate him.
"I shall rely on your esteemed guidance then," Ye Yunfei replied.
Having such a master proficient in geomancy offer his aid to help dismantle the Seal Layer was precisely what Ye Yunfei desired.
In the time that followed, Ye Yunfei and the old man jointly researched the dark Seal Layer before them. Naturally, Hun Lao and the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm followed Ye Yunfei's lead in studying how to crack the black Seal Layer as well.
The old man covertly sensed Hun Lao and the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, then inquired about their identities from Du Fan. Learning that Hun Lao was the legendary Chaos World Tree filled him with immense shock. The identity of the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm also left him astonished.
The Chaos World Tree and the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm race were legendary and extremely rare beings for the vast majority of the world's populace.
Unaware of its passage, half a month slipped by. The Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds had now entered an era of profound peace. Across worlds and races, people lived and worked contentedly, with virtually no conflicts to speak of.
Especially after the Yīn Seed was annihilated and the Dark Faction destroyed, the recurring cataclysm that had once devastated generations found itself stripped of its source. Across all worlds and races in this region of space-time, it felt as though a massive stone pressing down on their hearts had finally been lifted, granting them true relaxation.
"All of this is owed to Young Master Ye! If not for him, our region of space-time might have been eradicated by the Dark Faction. Young Master Ye has saved our Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds!"
"Indeed, had Young Master Ye not intervened and vanquished the Dark Faction, the World-Destroying Wars would likely still be raging!"
"Young Master Ye is a great benefactor to all living beings in our region of space-time!"
…...
Within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, across nearly every realm and every race, Ye Yunfei's name was spoken, evoking gratitude for the peace and stability he had brought to this region of space-time.
In some worlds, ordinary mortals had even built shrines specially dedicated to worshiping Ye Yunfei. His deeds spread far and wide, reaching even mortal kingdoms where Ye Yunfei was depicted as the immaculately sacred Deity of salvation who had rescued the entire stretch of space-time.
On a certain day, half a month later, the old man abruptly broke his focus and said to Ye Yunfei, "Young Master Ye, I think I may have conceived a method to break through this Seal Layer."
"Esteemed senior, I've also developed some preliminary insights, but I am uncertain if they are viable," Ye Yunfei answered.
For this past half-month, Ye Yunfei had simultaneously studied the black Seal Layer and honed his Formation skills. Not only had his proficiency advanced, but he had also developed initial conceptions about dismantling the Seal.
"Oh? It appears you have gained some insights as well—excellent. Good. Then, let us compare our knowledge, then join forces to see if we can shatter this dark Seal Layer," the old man replied, his voice carrying a tone of appreciation as he looked at Ye Yunfei.
And so, the two began discussing their research revelations from the past half-month.
Three days later, the pair finally managed to collaboratively deduce a way to break through the black Seal Layer.
"Young Master Ye, in truth, relying solely on the two of us in our attempts to dismantle this Seal would feel a bit strained. If only we could find one more expert of comparable caliber to you and me, we could form a triangular assault formation and force open a few of this Seal Layer's crucial connecting nodes in a short time. That would make things much smoother," the old man suggested.
"Yes. Sadly, at present, it seems we lack such an expert," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Ye Yunfei, Master, we could help you," Du Fan, who had been watching nearby, offered.
"No, your strength isn't sufficient yet. You cannot provide significant assistance for the moment. You'll offer peripheral assistance instead; it should still serve some utility," the old man said, shaking his head.
"We can only try to assemble as many people as possible to combine our powers for the breakthrough. Finding another expert whose abilities match ours will prove difficult at this juncture," Ye Yunfei concluded.
"Only then that is left," the elder agreed.
"Perhaps... I can help."
Just then, a placid voice suddenly echoed through the spacetime in the distance. Looking up, Ye Yunfei saw a dignified and handsome young man striding towards them with poised, agile steps. In the blink of an eye, he arrived before Ye Yunfei.
"How is this possible? Am I seeing things?" Ye Yunfei stared at the impressive-looking youth, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Abruptly, a specific figure from the past surfaced in his mind, filling him with profound astonishment and a flicker of disbelief.
"Big Brother!"
Following the young man, a teenage girl also arrived before Ye Yunfei, calling out excitedly.
"Xue'er? You came?" Ye Yunfei responded with pleasant surprise.
This young girl was named Xue'er—her true name, Tang Xue. She was the princess of the Tang Clan from Beihuang Domain within Xuanhuang Starfield, Canghuang Realm.
She had an older brother named... Tang Yang!
Tang Yang also bore another title: the founder of Hudao Academy on Tianxuan Continent, Guardian Sage!
When Ye Yunfei left Tianxuan Continent long ago and arrived in Canghuang Realm's Tiandao City of Xuanhuang Starfield, he met Tang Xue, subsequently encountered the remnants of the Tang Clan, and helped them re-establish themselves. Under Ye Yunfei's shelter, the Tang Clan later thrived within Canghuang Realm.
When Canghuang Realm came under assault from the Dark Faction not too long ago, Ye Yunfei had already dispatched aides beforehand to evacuate all of Canghuang Realm, delivering them to Tianpo Realm. This included the Tang Clan.
He never anticipated that Tang Xue would be here now!
"Yes, my older brother brought me to meet you. He said we must thank you for your care toward our Tang Clan all these years." Tang Xue gestured toward the youth beside her, adding, "This is the Ye Yunfei you sought. Years ago, he lent us his hand to re-establish our Tang Clan; without his aid, we could never have reached our current scale."
"Xue'er, do you mean... is he truly your older brother?" Ye Yunfei's gaze swept across this youth who looked both unfamiliar yet oddly familiar. If this youth was genuinely Tang Xue's older brother, then he was Tang Yang... which meant he was also the Guardian Sage!
The founder of Tianxuan Continent's Hudao Academy!
Back when Ye Yunfei first left Tianxuan Continent for Xuanhuang Starfield, his greatest ambition had been to locate Guardian Sage. However, Ye Yunfei had never been able to trace a single lead or clue regarding him.
Even after leaving Canghuang Realm, Ye Yunfei had sent people searching for Guardian Sage but ultimately garnered no results.
How shocking it was that Tang Xue would abruptly bring a youth claiming to be Tang Yang, the very person Ye Yunfei had continuously searched for all this time!
It was all too sudden!
"Yes. I am Xue'er's brother, and my name is Tang Yang. Also, Hudao Academy on Tianxuan Continent is indeed my creation. I heard you've been looking for news of me all these years," the youth explained directly to Ye Yunfei.
"So then... you're Hudao Academy's founding Honored Founder, Guardian Sage?!" Ye Yunfei gazed at the youth before him and asked with brimming excitement.
"Correct. It's me," Tang Yang smiled and nodded.
"Honored Founder, I pay respects to..." Ye Yunfei, overcome by emotion, immediately wanted to salute him.
"No need for any of that," Tang Yang interjected swiftly, his gesture summoning forth a powerful and vast energy field that lifted Ye Yunfei's body and prevented him from bowing. "Though I am indeed Hudao Academy's founder and you once were a student of that academy, you now rank among the mightiest top-tier experts within this region of space-time. Your status differs from bygone days. Moreover, you have shown grace to our Tang Clan. Therefore, refrain from addressing me as Honored Founder. How about we treat each other as equals and call each other brothers?"
"What powerful energy!" Ye Yunfei felt the potent energy surge and couldn't help but feel astounded within.
"This Guardian Sage's power appears immense—probably not inferior to yours!" Feeling the energy exuded by Tang Yang, even Hun Lao sent a secret voice message to Ye Yunfei, equally stunned.
"Treat as equals? But that seems hardly proper... regardless of everything, I was once an academy student; how could I equate myself with its honorable founder?" Ye Yunfei hastily declined upon hearing Tang Yang's proposal.
"Brother Ye, let alone everything else, the fact alone that you have aided our Tang Clan entitles you to be considered my equal. Especially my younger sister Xue'er... had you not stepped forward and rescued her, it's unknown whether she would have survived until now. In this world, Xue'er is my dearest blood kin; since you saved her, you are my most treasured benefactor. Therefore, from this moment forth, you and I shall treat each other as equals and address each other accordingly. It is decided," Tang Yang declared unequivocally.
"Then I guess that..." Ye Yunfei remained hesitant.
For all these years, Guardian Sage had remained a revered elder figure within Ye Yunfei's heart.
"Big Brother, just listen to my Elder Brother's suggestion. Calling him Honored Founder will only make him seem antiquated; it would grow awkward each time we meet or exchange words. No sense in that," Tang Xue commented toward Ye Yunfei.
"Xue'er speaks reason," Tang Yang affectionately patted Tang Xue's head, his gaze filled with doting tenderness.
Although Tang Xue had already bloomed into an elegant, poised young woman, in his eyes she remained the beloved little sister who trailed after him incessantly and peppered him with every little thing.
In the calamity that struck their Tang Clan back then, Tang Yang lost both his parents, leaving Xue'er his sole remaining kin. She carried immeasurable significance for him.
After returning this time, his first action was locating Tang Xue. Learning about Ye Yunfei from her narrative, he brought Tang Xue directly to express his gratitude to Ye Yunfei.
"Honored Founder... back then, exactly where did you disappear to..." Ye Yunfei gazed steadily at Tang Yang standing before him and couldn't resist voicing his long-term curiosity.
"Call me Brother Tang," Tang Yang gently reminded.
"Alright then... Brother Tang," Ye Yunfei relented upon hearing him and smoothly altered his address.