"Just somewhat familiar," Ye Yunfei replied with a smile.
"For Earth Concealment Gate to have caught your attention like this, it certainly means your geomancy arts must be at a level far from poor," the Remnant Soul remarked.
At that moment, Zhan Qing was still in conversation with the yellow-robed man.
"Since Brother Zhan thinks so highly of me, very well, after the exploration of the Void Secret Realm is over, I shall make some time to visit your clan's headquarters," the yellow-robed man finally agreed to Zhan Qing's request.
"That's wonderful! Brother Dongguo, as an accomplished disciple of Earth Concealment Gate, I heard your geomancy arts have already caught up to the level of the older generation masters within the sect. For Brother Dongguo to agree to help our Zhan Clan is truly excellent!" Zhan Qing immediately responded excitedly.
"Brother Dongguo, this is a small token from our Zhan Clan. Regardless of whether Brother Dongguo comes to assist our clan later, you must accept this gift," Zhan Qing said enthusiastically, producing a spatial ring and offering it to the yellow-robed man.
After modestly declining for a while, the yellow-robed man accepted the spatial ring.
"The Zhan Clan wants to recruit Earth Concealment Gate," those nearby saw the trick, though no one was particularly surprised. Earth Concealment Gate housed many accomplished geomancers, masters of geomancy arts. Many major forces within the Chaotic Void Sea wished to befriend and recruit them.
At this time, other young geniuses were also seeking out objects of their desire, chatting with them. Those young talents from major sects with deep backgrounds or formidable strength were almost all surrounded by a large crowd, proving immensely popular. In the world of martial artists, regardless of location, the strong were respected; those with formidable strength were always more popular.
Ye Yunfei saw at least twenty or so young Immortals on that square.
"Seems the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds truly are remote and backward. The world outside is far more powerful, with so many young Immortal experts here," Ye Yunfei couldn't help but inwardly sigh.
Ye Yunfei stared intently at that yellow-robed man for a very long time. However, since this yellow-robed man had not executed any geomancy arts, Ye Yunfei could not perceive just how high his geomancy level might be.
"Look! Young experts from the Dark Faction are here!" someone nearby suddenly called out softly.
Ye Yunfei's heart stirred. Turning his head, he saw a dozen young beings exuding monstrous black mist stepping through the air as they approached. All were from the Dark Faction!
Ye Yunfei discovered among this dozen Dark Faction young beings, there were actually four Immortal experts.
"They actually sent four young Immortals. It seems the Dark Faction is truly strong," Ye Yunfei transmitted to the Remnant Soul.
"The Dark Faction is indeed formidable. Thinking back to our era, the Dark Faction's overall strength definitely did not lose to the Seven Core World Clusters. Moreover, the Dark World Cluster where the Dark Faction headquarters is located is entirely populated by them—a single race occupying an entire world cluster. That situation is somewhat terrifying. Though the Seven Core World Clusters have strong overall power, these seven clusters are divided into many different major factions, each with their own interests and struggles. They aren't as united as the members of the Dark Faction within the Dark World Cluster. So, even the major factions of the Seven Core World Clusters are unwilling to provoke the Dark Faction lightly. You've provoked them; you must be careful as you travel the Chaotic Void Sea in the future," the Remnant Soul said.
"When faced with the enemy, stand firm in battle. Since I've already offended the Dark Faction, I'll just take things as they come. Often, hiding won't solve the problem," Ye Yunfei thought for a moment before replying.
"It seems Meng Song hasn't come to this gathering," Ye Yunfei searched the entire city once more but did not find the white-robed man he had encountered back in the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds.
At this time, most of the young geniuses in the city gathered in small groups, drinking, drinking tea, chatting; the atmosphere was quite lively. It was relatively rare for someone like Ye Yunfei to be sitting alone in a corner, speaking to no one.
"Brother, why are you sitting here sullenly alone? Today, many young geniuses have gathered from across the Chaotic Void Sea. Why not take this chance to befriend heroes from across the lands?" At that moment, a young man who looked a bit careless and nonchalant suddenly sat down beside Ye Yunfei and spoke to him proactively.
"Let's do this, brother, I'll drink a toast to you, so we can get to know each other. I'm from Tianma World Cluster, name's Sima Bei." This young man poured himself a cup of wine, raised it towards Ye Yunfei and said.
"Right now, I don't want to drink, nor do I want to befriend anyone," Ye Yunfei glanced at the young man and replied indifferently. He had come here merely to see the strength of the young geniuses in the Chaotic Void Sea and to get a look at the disciples of Earth Concealment Gate. He hadn't planned on making friends.
"Brother, when traveling, more friends mean more paths ahead. There's no need to keep others at a distance," seeing Ye Yunfei's attitude, the man who called himself Sima Bei seemed a bit displeased.
"You drink it yourself if you want to," Ye Yunfei had no intention of entertaining him.
"Brother, are you looking down on me? I am, after all, a High Level Golden Immortal, stronger than you in realm and power. Aren't you afraid your attitude will anger me?" Seeing Ye Yunfei's cold demeanor, Sima Bei grew somewhat furious. His face darkened, and he glared as he spoke to Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei didn't even bother looking at him. A mere High Level Golden Immortal, how could Ye Yunfei care?
"Kid, you've already enraged me. Now I'm going to teach you a lesson! Or else, compensate me with a sum that satisfies me, otherwise this isn't over! Speak! Do you want to be beaten, or compensate me? Make your choice now!" Sima Bei immediately released his energy pressure, intending to suppress Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei's expression darkened. "You'd best not provoke me." he said coldly.
"Kid, you dare speak to me in that tone! Fine, I'll show you what I'm made of so you dare not underestimate me!" Sima Bei yelled.
The young beings around them saw the conflict erupt and looked over.
"That seems to be Sima Bei from Tianma World Cluster. Though this guy isn't particularly strong, he has quite the infamous reputation—cunning, greedy, lustful, a coward who preys on the weak. Whenever he encounters beings weaker than him, he often resorts to intimidation and extortion. I was forced to pay him once when my strength was still low. If it weren't for him being from that mysterious race, I'd have long since settled scores with him," someone not far away said softly.
"Get lost!" Ye Yunfei focused his will and unleashed a Soul Sword, attacking Sima Bei's Soul Sea.
Sensing the sharpness of the Soul Sword, Sima Bei's expression drastically changed. "Brother, please show mercy! I was just joking!" Sima Bei's attitude completely shifted.
But Ye Yunfei, having already made a move, had no intention of letting him off easily. The next moment, the Soul Sword had already invaded Sima Bei's Soul Sea.
"Brother, stop immediately! Let's talk this over! This is compensation for you!" In his urgency, Sima Bei directly produced a spatial ring and quickly handed it to Ye Yunfei.
"This fellow..." Ye Yunfei sensed the spatial ring and found that what was inside was quite valuable. After a moment's thought, he withdrew the Soul Sword. He had no significant feud with this Sima Bei. Unless necessary, there was no need to injure others.
"Thank you for your mercy, brother!" Sima Bei, finding Ye Yunfei had stopped the attack, let out a sigh of relief and spoke. Just now, facing Ye Yunfei's attack, he had truly felt the threat of death.
"So this kid is an expert hiding his strength! Though my realm is higher than his, his combat power seems far beyond mine! He must be a young monster from some major faction, just keeping a low profile, which is why he's drinking morosely alone. If I seize the chance to befriend him, maybe I can find myself a patron!" Sima Bei inwardly thought.
"Now get lost!" Ye Yunfei, having taken the spatial ring, spoke coldly.
"Brother, it was a clash before friendship now. I was indeed in the wrong before. Now having witnessed brother's formidable strength, I truly admire you immensely. So I feel we can properly befriend each other. After all, more friends mean more paths. Here, brother, a toast to you." Sima Bei did not leave, but with a thick skin, he wanted to continue chatting with Ye Yunfei.
At that very moment, a young woman hurriedly arrived before Ye Yunfei.
"Young Master Ye! So you're here, that's wonderful! Huanhuan and Yueyue are in danger! Originally, I came with them both to participate in this gathering. But when we were nearing our destination, we were intercepted halfway by members of the Black Wind Group. After a fierce battle between us three, we fled separately and thus became separated. I came here intending to seek help, but our Xiao Family members have yet to arrive. I don't know anyone else, so I had no idea who to turn to. Fortunately, I encountered you, Young Master Ye." That young woman hurriedly told Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei recognized this young woman; she was indeed a member of the Xiao Family. Back when Xiao Huanhuan, Xiao Yueyue, and the Xiao Family had reunited, Ye Yunfei had seen her.
"Xiao Huanhuan and Xiao Yueyue have encountered the Black Wind Group again?" Ye Yunfei looked at the young woman before him and asked. His impression of the Xiao Family was not very good, so of course, he wouldn't simply believe whatever they said.
"Young Master Ye, what I'm saying is true. If you don't believe it, look," that young woman took out a jade slip and activated it directly. It immediately projected a series of moving images. In the images, three women were suddenly surrounded by a group of people, and a vicious battle erupted.
With one look, Ye Yunfei recognized those people as members of the Black Wind Group indeed. Among the three women, two were Xiao Huanhuan and Xiao Yueyue, and the third was the young woman before him.
"Where are Xiao Huanhuan and Xiao Yueyue now?" Ye Yunfei looked at the images before him, knowing these were real. That jade slip was a special audio-visual jade slip for recording images. With his current Soul Power, Ye Yunfei could certainly distinguish that the scenes recorded in this jade slip were all real and had indeed happened.
"I've become separated from them both. I don't know where they've gone now. The place where we encountered the Black Wind Group is very close to here. So after escaping those Black Wind Group members, I immediately fled here, because I thought with so many young geniuses gathered, those Black Wind Group members wouldn't dare to chase in here," the young woman said.
"What about the rest of your Xiao Family? Why didn't they come? Only you three?" Ye Yunfei thought for a moment before asking. Although the images just now were real and Xiao Huanhuan and Xiao Yueyue had indeed encountered the Black Wind Group, it was a bit unusual for this Xiao Family young woman before him to have escaped a Black Wind Group encirclement and arrived here. So Ye Yunfei did not fully trust her.
"Our Xiao Family members all went with a few Elders to visit a prominent clan in Tiange World Cluster, because our Xiao Family has had a deep generational friendship with this clan, ties that run very deep. Huanhuan and Yueyue didn't want to go, so they secretly slipped out with me, wanting to come participate in this gathering of young geniuses to broaden our horizons. Young Master Ye, I'm worried Huanhuan and Yueyue might be in danger now. They said your strength is formidable, that even Perfected Golden Immortals can be easily defeated by you. That's why I came over and told you immediately upon seeing you just now," the young woman replied.
"This girl's words aren't necessarily trustworthy," Hun Lao suddenly transmitted to Ye Yunfei.
"Regardless, Xiao Huanhuan and Xiao Yueyue are truly in danger right now. I should go take a look," Ye Yunfei thought for a moment and made a decision.
"Aren't you afraid this is a trap?" Hun Lao asked.
"I'll play it by ear, just be extra cautious. If I don't go, Xiao Huanhuan and Xiao Yueyue will definitely fall into the hands of the Black Wind Group," Ye Yunfei replied.
"The Xiao Family is also in Tiange World Cluster. Xiao Huanhuan and Xiao Yueyue's safety should be the responsibility of the Xiao Family to protect; it doesn't seem to be your concern. Moreover, you only met them by chance. Is it worth taking risks for the two of them?" Hun Lao advised again.
"Within the Xiao Family, there are those who want to deal with Xiao Yueyue and Xiao Huanhuan. So the Xiao Family can't necessarily protect them both. I'd better go take a look. After all, I did accept a payment from them before, agreeing to protect their safety. This counts as 'taking money, solving disasters' as the saying goes." Hearing Hun Lao's words, Ye Yunfei hesitated for a moment, but ultimately, his heart wouldn't allow him to turn away. He said softly,
"Master, don't advise further. Our Master's heart is soft; he can't bear not to save people," Hu Miao spoke up.
"Yes, his heart is indeed too soft," Hun Lao said with a smile.
"Alright. Now lead the way immediately, take me to the place where you encountered the Black Wind Group before," Ye Yunfei said to the young woman.
"Young Master Ye, you truly are a good person. I'll take you there right now. With Young Master Ye's strength, you'll definitely be able to rescue Huanhuan and Yueyue," seeing Ye Yunfei willing to go rescue them, the young woman was overjoyed and immediately replied.