“That's right! The decree of the Third Prince represents the might of our Heavenly God Hall. Wherever it arrives, all living beings must kneel to receive the order!”
A middle-aged man declared in an authoritative voice.
“What?
You want me to kneel to receive it?”
Hearing this, a cold sneer couldn't help but form on Ye Yunfei's face.
“Ye Yunfei, kneel at once! I am about to proclaim the decree of the Third Prince!
If you do not kneel to receive it, it will be deemed as disrespect towards our Heavenly God Hall, and the consequences will be severe.”
Seeing that Ye Yunfei still hadn't knelt, the middle-aged man became displeased, his face darkening.
“What is the Heavenly God Hall?
Who is this Third Prince?
What does any of that have to do with me?
Get lost!”
By now, Ye Yunfei couldn't restrain himself any longer and spoke coldly.
“What did you say?”
The middle-aged man was stunned upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words.
“How dare you! You dare to disrespect the Heavenly God Hall!
Our Heavenly God Hall is one of the top ten major powers within the Chaotic Void Sea. Our mighty reputation resonates across every world cluster; none would dare disrespect us!
Ye Yunfei, perhaps because you've always been confined within this backward, isolated corner of spacetime, you remain unaware of the prestige of our Heavenly God Hall.
Allow me to enlighten you: in this desolate region, a Golden Immortal might represent the pinnacle of cultivation. However, within our Heavenly God Hall, a Golden Immortal isn't even qualified to serve as a mere deacon.
The two Patriarchs of our Heavenly God Hall at the peak of our strength are both Perfected Demigods. Once they break through, our Heavenly God Hall will become a super power guarded by a true Deity, one capable of ruling over the entire Chaotic Void Sea!
Now, do you understand the power of our Heavenly God Hall?”
The middle-aged man's voice was filled with authority.
“Bragging. Even for Perfected Demigods, breaking through to become a true Deity wouldn't be that simple.
Seemingly only a step separates a Demigod from a true Deity, yet it is precisely this step that countless Demigods within the entire Chaotic Void Sea spend their entire lives bitterly cultivating and seeking, only to fail to find the gate of entry in the end. It's nowhere near as easy as this fellow makes it sound.”
The Remnant Soul inside Ye Yunfei curled its lip in disdain.
“Senior, is it truly that difficult to become a real Deity?”
Hearing his words, Ye Yunfei felt a flicker of curiosity and asked.
“Difficult!
Extremely difficult!
Who knows how many Perfected Demigods in this world cultivate for tens of thousands of years, hundreds of thousands of years, or even millions of years, only to remain at a standstill without a shred of progress?
Those beings who ultimately succeed in becoming true Deities are without exception blessed individuals, born of exceptional talent, fortune, opportunity, and other various factors. In short, among all the Perfected Demigods I knew back in my day, not a single one succeeded in breaking through to become a true Deity.”
The Remnant Soul sighed.
“Ye Yunfei!
You must think carefully. It is your fortune that our Third Prince has taken notice of you. Once you join our Heavenly God Hall, you will have the opportunity to receive training and cultivation from us. Your future is limitless, and from then on, no one in the entire Chaotic Void Sea would dare provoke you lightly.
Do you even know? Among the world clusters scattered throughout the Chaotic Void Sea, just how many young living beings dream day and night of joining our Heavenly God Hall, exhausting every possible means yet finding no opportunity?
The Third Prince said that as long as you surrender that Yin Seed and immediately follow me to assist him in exploring the Void Secret Realm, then as long as you can contribute a bit and earn some merit, once you return to the Heavenly God Hall, the Third Prince will surely reward you heavily. Upon arriving at the Heavenly God Hall headquarters, you can directly become a core disciple, receiving focused and high-level cultivation.
Alright, I've said my piece.
So then, will you kneel now to receive the decree?
My patience is wearing thin.”
That middle-aged man stared down at Ye Yunfei with a condescending gaze, asking slowly, his expression seeming to indicate his belief that Ye Yunfei would lower his head and submit.
And truly, within his understanding, throughout the entire Chaotic Void, who knows how many young beings fantasize about joining the Heavenly God Hall, thereby leaping over the dragon's gate like a carp, transforming into a disciple of a super clan or sect and achieving a leap in status and standing!
As for Ye Yunfei, he was merely a junior from a backward world cluster; facing such an opportunity, how could he possibly not cherish it properly?
“So, it seems this Third Prince has his sights on the Yin Seed too. No wonder he sent someone to recruit you.”
Hearing the middle-aged man mention the Yin Seed, Hun Lao came to a sudden realization and immediately sent a Sound Transmission to Ye Yunfei.
“Indeed, that Third Prince came precisely for the Yin Seed.”
Ye Yunfei nodded.
“Get lost.
I have absolutely no interest in your Heavenly God Hall, nor do I intend to join.
Go back and tell your Third Prince that the Yin Seed no longer exists.”
Ye Yunfei cast a faint glance at the middle-aged man, spoke plainly, then turned to leave without giving him another thought.
“Kid, you simply don't appreciate what's offered to you! Seeking death!”
The middle-aged man finally lost his composure, roaring fiercely.
Boom….
The yellow Edict in his hand was directly activated, shooting into the air and releasing a massive energy pressure that instantly caused the surrounding void to boil.
Rumble rumble….
The yellow Edict continuously enlarged, carrying a terrifying energy pressure as it pressed down toward Ye Yunfei.
This energy pressure was incredibly potent, making Ye Yunfei secretly alarmed and causing him to involuntarily frown.
“This is an Edict personally written by a Heavenly Immortal, carrying the energy pressure of that Heavenly Immortal.”
The Remnant Soul explained.
“So that's the reason.”
Looking at the yellow Edict pressing toward him, Ye Yunfei adopted a serious expression.
Ye Yunfei was aware that his current combat power, although quite considerable, only qualified as having barely touched the level of a Heavenly Immortal, roughly equivalent to an Initial-stage Heavenly Immortal. If he encountered some particularly powerful Heavenly Immortals, he wouldn't necessarily be a match.
“You can use the Nine-Step Divine Dragon Movement I taught you to confront this Edict. With your current strength coupled with the movement skill, you should just barely be able to withstand the energy pressure of a Heavenly Immortal.”
The Remnant Soul advised Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei listened and nodded, immediately executing the Nine-Step Divine Dragon Movement, swiftly advancing nine consecutive steps forward.
Rumble rumble….
As Ye Yunfei strode forward one step after another, the surrounding Chaotic Void immediately boiled in response to his actions.
All the energy and laws of this Chaotic Time-Space continuously converged toward Ye Yunfei, blessing his body, causing his power to instantly skyrocket.
Boom boom….
Ye Yunfei threw punches directly, combining the Nine-Step Divine Dragon Movement with his bodily strength to head-on resist the golden Edict.
A flurry of over a dozen punches followed. Ye Yunfei and the golden Edict clashed continuously, causing the boundless void to sway and tremble. The space-time near the center of the battle crumbled incessantly, with countless space-time fragments swirling wildly.
“A Heavenly Immortal is truly formidable! Merely an Edict personally written holds such dreadful power!
If a real Heavenly Immortal expert personally arrived, wouldn't it be far more terrifying!”
Sensing the attacking might of the golden Edict, Ye Yunfei was secretly alarmed.
Originally, Ye Yunfei thought that with his overall current strength, even if he encountered a Heavenly Immortal-level opponent, he could engage in a proper battle. Even if he couldn't achieve victory, he could at least protect himself.
But now Ye Yunfei understood his previous estimation of himself had been a bit inflated; Heavenly Immortal-level experts were far stronger than Golden Immortals!
“How is this possible?
In such a backward, sealed-off corner of spacetime, how could such a monstrous junior appear!
He can actually resist the Edict of our Heavenly God Hall!
Even though this is merely a Heavenly Immortal-level Edict, its power is considerable. He's not retreating half a step!
I'm afraid even I couldn't accomplish this!”
Seeing this scene, the middle-aged man couldn't help but feel utterly shocked, finding it hard to believe.
After all, this golden Edict was personally written by a formidable Heavenly Immortal-level expert from the Heavenly God Hall. It possessed immense power, sufficient to suppress any Golden Immortal-level cultivator, even those Perfected Golden Immortals might not necessarily be able to resist it head-on.
“Ye Yunfei, do you truly intend to defy the decree?”
The middle-aged man yelled at Ye Yunfei sternly.
Ye Yunfei remained silent, his two fists continuously blasting toward the golden Edict, punch after punch.
Suddenly, as if its energy had been depleted, the golden Edict was sent flying backward by one of Ye Yunfei's punches.
“How is this possible?!”
The middle-aged man stood dumbfounded.
With a single step, Ye Yunfei closed in on this middle-aged man.
“Kid, just you wait!
You dare defy the decree and even attack the Edict of our Heavenly God Hall! This is a crime that defies Heaven itself!
You will bear the full wrath of our Heavenly God Hall!”
Seeing Ye Yunfei display such fearsome combat power, the middle-aged man dared not engage Ye Yunfei. Leaving behind a harsh warning, he turned and fled.
“You won't escape.”
Ye Yunfei sneered.
Boom boom boom….
Ye Yunfei deployed the Nine-Step Divine Dragon Movement and gave chase. After taking nine consecutive steps, the middle-aged man suddenly felt his body grow immensely heavy, utterly incapable of moving any further. Standing there, his face filled with terror.
“Ye Yunfei, what do you intend to do!
You must consider carefully! I am the servant of the Third Prince of the Heavenly God Hall! If you dare show me disrespect, you are directly provoking the Third Prince! The consequences will be extremely severe!”
Seeing Ye Yunfei had already pursued him from behind, the middle-aged man screamed in fright.
“I don't care what prince you serve. Provoking me and thinking you can simply pat your bottom and leave? It won't be that easy.”
Ye Yunfei said with a cold laugh. Then, he unleashed his Soul Sword, directly invading the man's Soul Sea.
“Argh….”
The middle-aged man shrieked in agony. His Soul Body was struck by the Soul Sword and immediately sustained severe injuries.
Ye Yunfei stretched out a hand, grasping the middle-aged man and immediately sealing his cultivation.
This middle-aged man was a Perfected Golden Immortal, and moreover a Perfected Golden Immortal with ninety-nine returns. He had originally assumed that summoning a junior from a backward region based on his status and strength would be a simple matter. He never expected it to turn out like this.
“Kid! Do you even understand the consequences of treating me like this?!”
Under Ye Yunfei's control, the middle-aged man, both shocked and enraged, roared loudly.
But Ye Yunfei didn't even bother acknowledging him further, directly sending him into the Phantom Tower. Then, with a flash of his figure, he charged toward that golden Edict that had landed in the distance.
Rumble rumble….
Sensing Ye Yunfei's approach, the golden Edict immediately activated to release immense energy pressure, crashing toward Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei charged forward with swinging fists and continued pounding it. Another dozen or so punches later, he finally managed to fracture the golden Edict into two halves.
This Edict was essentially a refined treasure. The Heavenly Immortal expert from the Heavenly God Hall had managed to seal his energy within this Edict, able to activate it directly when needed. Ye Yunfei felt quite interested in this technique for refining treasures, so he deliberately kept this Edict aside, planning to study it carefully at a later time.
“Are you very interested in the method used to refine this Edict?
Truthfully, this technique existed even in ancient times, and its principle isn't particularly difficult. If you are interested, first study this Edict properly.
Afterward, I can offer you some guidance. By then, you should also be able to refine such a treasure.”
The Remnant Soul seemed to have seen through Ye Yunfei's thoughts and sent a Sound Transmission.
“Many thanks, Senior.”
Ye Yunfei stored the Edict away and gratefully said.
“It seems the time has come for the Void Secret Realm to open again.”
The Remnant Soul suddenly remarked.
“Oh? Senior, do you know of the Void Secret Realm?”
Hearing this, Ye Yunfei's heart stirred, and he asked.
Earlier, that middle-aged man had mentioned wanting Ye Yunfei to assist the Third Prince in exploring the Void Secret Realm.
“Of course I know of the Void Secret Realm. I even entered it myself to explore in the past.
The Void Secret Realm opens once every seven hundred years. Each opening attracts many Golden Immortals and Heavenly Immortals to enter. It's a rather good place for tempering and exploration.”
The Remnant Soul explained.
“The Void Secret Realm is said to be a mystical world abandoned during the previous epoch. It contains many treasures not found in the outside world, along with all sorts of bizarre and strange things. Generally, beings at the Golden Immortal and Heavenly Immortal levels who enter often find some gains.
However, the Void Secret Realm has one rule: beings above the Demigod level will be repelled once they enter. Therefore, only beings at the Heavenly Immortal level and below can enter.
Though such a rule isn't surprising; there are many secret realms in the world that impose restrictions on the strength of those who enter. This could be a natural law inherent to those secret realms, a self-preserving action, or it could be the result of restrictions laid down by powerful ancient masters.”
The Remnant Soul continued.
“You speak correctly, Senior. Indeed, many secret realms restrict the strength of the beings who can enter.”
Ye Yunfei nodded.
“Well then, are you interested in this Void Secret Realm?
Do you want to enter and take a look?
I think you could go and explore it. With some good fortune, you might harvest something valuable.”
The Remnant Soul said.
“I don't know if I'll go or not.
I still have to stay within this spacetime to find someone.
Moreover, I must protect this spacetime. The overall strength here is too weak. Once I leave, just the arrival of a somewhat decent expert would likely bring tremendous disaster to this spacetime.”
Ye Yunfei thought for a moment, then sighed.
“You fellow, far too attached to affection and righteousness.
There's a saying: 'Embracing Apath, Letting Go of Affection'. The higher one's realm, the more powerful a being becomes, the more one must learn to sever their emotions, desires, and attachments, abandoning that melancholic compassion for the heavens and sympathy for the people. Do you truly intend to protect the beings of this spacetime forever?
Such a thought is inadvisable!
Letting them live and perish by their own means is enough.”
The Remnant Soul stated.