"From now on, the Luohai Trading Company's affairs will remain under your charge as before. Everything continues as usual."
Ye Yunfei spoke to Ren Xuantang.
"I understand, Young Master Ye," Ren Xuantang nodded in acknowledgement.
"I will be in closed-door cultivation over the next few days. Use the Trading Company's channels to help me collect a batch of Five Elements attribute treasures. Ideally, they should be swords possessing Five Elements attributes. The more the quantity, the better. Also, gather a batch of formation resources; similarly, the greater the quantity, the better," Ye Yunfei instructed.
"Ah, yes, one more thing. Send people to Great Qin Empire to check on the situation of Tianyuan Sect and my Ye Family clansmen," Ye Yunfei added.
He knew that once news of his 'death' had spread, the plight of Tianyuan Sect and the Ye Family would likely have been grim. Therefore, Ye Yunfei urgently wanted to know their current circumstances.
"Understood," Ren Xuantang replied promptly before swiftly leaving the secret chamber.
Inside the chamber, Ye Yunfei sat cross-legged and began his closed-door cultivation.
This time, his primary focus was to break through his Spiritual Power realm.
Rumble...
As Ye Yunfei circulated the Nine-Yang Scripture within his body, the resounding torrent of Spiritual Power instantly boomed forth with majestic, heaven-shaking roars.
This secret chamber was the finest within the Luohai Trading Company headquarters. Several Spirit Gathering Formations were laid out here, making the spiritual energy exceptionally rich.
Three days later.
Boom...
An extremely potent Spiritual Power pressure emanated from Ye Yunfei's body within the chamber, causing the entire room to tremble incessantly.
"Middle Stage Saint Realm," Ye Yunfei slowly opened his eyes and murmured to himself.
Over these three days, Ye Yunfei had broken through to the Middle Stage of the Saint Realm in a single breath. Possessing the Chaos God Vein and cultivating the Nine-Yang Scripture, breaking through in Spiritual Power realms was as simple as eating and drinking for him! However, what Ye Yunfei pursued was not the speed of breakthroughs but the solidness of his Spiritual Power foundation.
After concluding his cultivation session, Ye Yunfei left the chamber and sought out Ren Xuantang.
"Young Master Ye, these are all Five Elements attribute treasures, plus a batch of formation resources," Ren Xuantang said, handing over a dozen spatial rings to Ye Yunfei.
"Very good," Ye Yunfei accepted the spatial rings, sweeping them with his Soul Power before nodding in satisfaction. True to its reputation as a major commerce-focused power, the resources Luohai Trading Company had procured were not only abundant in quantity but also high in grade. Among them were several dozen true weapons, even including a few ancient weapons!
Ye Yunfei's request for Ren Xuantang to procure these Five Elements treasures was primarily for reforging and enhancing the Five Elements Spirit Swords.
The power unleashed by the Five Elements Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation depended on two factors: first, the grade of the Spirit Swords; second, the Spiritual Power of the wielder.
Carrying the dozen spatial rings, Ye Yunfei left Luohai City and ventured into a stretch of deep, untamed mountains nearby. He spent an entire day searching before finally locating a place rich with the aura of the Five Elements — a secluded valley.
Surrounding this valley were precisely five mountain peaks, subtly corresponding to the Five Elements.
"Excellent. The geography here is just right for setting up a Five Elements Spirit-Drawing Formation," Ye Yunfei surveyed the valley, a pleased expression on his face.
He had once conducted in-depth studies on the world's various topographies and terrains, and also possessed considerable attainment in formations. Therefore, setting up a Five Elements Spirit-Drawing Formation around this valley was not difficult.
Thus, Ye Yunfei began his work.
Hu Miao, Huang Shang, and Elder Zhang all emerged to help.
First, they refined a large batch of Five Elements Formation Flags.
Then, they constructed five altars on each of the five surrounding peaks, each altar corresponding to one attribute — Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth.
One day later, a simple Five Elements Spirit-Drawing Formation was finally completed.
Within the valley.
Ye Yunfei retrieved a large forging cauldron. With a flick of his finger, he sent Earthflame Fire shooting into the cauldron.
Whoosh...
Fierce flames roared to life within the cauldron.
Buzz buzz...
With a wave of his hand, Ye Yunfei summoned the Five Elements Spirit Swords, simultaneously casting them into the forging cauldron.
Then, he poured in a large batch of Five Elements attribute treasures. This included thirty-six true weapon-grade longswords and seven ancient weapon-grade longswords!
"Master, we'll stand guard for you!" Hu Miao said to Ye Yunfei.
"Good," Ye Yunfei nodded.
Thus, Hu Miao, Huang Shang, and Elder Zhang left the valley, standing watch for Ye Yunfei outside.
Rumble...
Inside the valley, flames churned and roiled within the cauldron, shooting terrifying heat into the sky.
Sitting motionless before the cauldron as if an old monk entering deep meditation, Ye Yunfei tightly focused his Soul Power on monitoring the internal situation.
In fact, artifact forging was more difficult than pill refinement! This was also why there were many alchemists in the world but relatively few artificers.
Boom...
Suddenly, at a certain moment, the five altars on the surrounding peaks began to tremble.
Streaks of Five Elements energies erupted from the altars, transforming into thick columns of 'wolf smoke' that rolled and surged toward the valley, gathering fiercely over the forging cauldron's location.
Finally, all these Five Elements energies poured into the forging cauldron, becoming nourishment for the forging process.
Rumble...
Even the five mountain peaks surrounding the valley began to shake violently.
Within a radius of several hundred miles, all existing Five Elements energies, drawn by the five altars, rushed toward the valley before flooding into the forging cauldron!
Time slowly passed.
Three days later.
Boom boom...
Within the valley, the forging cauldron trembled violently. Fierce flames erupted from inside, sweeping across the high skies.
"They are about to be forged!"
Ye Yunfei abruptly opened his eyes, his gaze revealing joy.
Then,
Ye Yunfei flipped his hand, summoning the Void Blade. He stabbed it towards his own chest.
Whoosh...
Streaks of vital essence blood continuously shot from Ye Yunfei's chest, falling into the forging cauldron.
The flames within the cauldron blazed even more intensely!
Moments later.
Buzz buzz...
Clear, resonant sword chimes suddenly rang out from within the cauldron.
At a certain moment.
Clang clang...
Five dazzlingly resplendent longswords shot into the sky. Their sword bodies were crystalline, their sword beams blindingly bright, inspiring awe and fear.
Buzz buzz...
The five swords, like five divine dragons, circled and danced in the air above the valley. Sword energy spread like an ocean, shaking the entire expanse of the heavens!
"Slash!"
Suddenly, Ye Yunfei pointed a finger and let out a soft shout.
Boom boom boom boom boom!
The five longswords slashed out like five radiant rainbows streaking across the heavens, cleaving towards a nearby dense forest.
Rumble...
Immediately, numerous towering ancient trees were incessantly shredded to pieces, the earth itself groaning and rumbling.
A few seconds later,
the entire massive stretch of forest was utterly flattened into ruins, a scene of complete devastation.
"Unbelievably powerful!"
Hu Miao, Huang Shang, and Elder Zhang gazed at the flattened forest, unable to hide their astonishment.
Buzz buzz...
The five Spirit Swords returned to hover around Ye Yunfei, gently vibrating as if possessed of life.
"Not bad at all," Ye Yunfei savored the five swords, unable to help but nod in satisfaction.
Compared to before, these five Spirit Swords were now at least a hundred times more powerful!
Ye Yunfei stored away the five Spirit Swords.
"Alright, let's return."
Ye Yunfei then led Hu Miao and the others back towards Luohai City.