A short while later, the Zhan Family's two Intermediate Heavenly Immortals and those Warbeasts with Intermediate Heavenly Immortal strength had successively shaken off the restraints of the Mental Force Lock. They activated their movement techniques, desperately chasing after Ye Yunfei.
Then the Zhan Family's two Primary Heavenly Immortals and the Warbeasts with Primary Heavenly Immortal strength also recovered and joined the pursuit.
"No good, that brat escaped!"
At this moment, the other Zhan Family members and the Black Wind Group people finally reacted, seeing Ye Yunfei disappear into the distance in an instant, and cried out one after another.
What had happened just now was too sudden, and Ye Yunfei's movement speed was simply too fast.
Those Golden Immortal-level cultivators first saw all the Heavenly Immortal experts suddenly change expression, letting out roars of anger and revealing pained looks.
Then they were forced to retreat by the energy released by these Heavenly Immortal experts in their enraged state. Finally, they saw Ye Yunfei depart like a bolt of lightning.
This series of abrupt changes happened too suddenly and too quickly for the Golden Immortals to react.
It wasn't until the Heavenly Immortal experts started chasing Ye Yunfei that these Golden Immortals began following in pursuit.
"Dammit, this kid really does have a Mental Force type magic treasure! The attack he used just now was definitely a Mental Force attack!"
The four Heavenly Immortals from the Zhan Family and the one from the Black Wind Group—five Heavenly Immortals in total, along with seven or eight Warbeasts at Heavenly Immortal level—were all chasing Ye Yunfei with all their might. Recalling the various rumors about Ye Yunfei, one of them cursed furiously.
The events that had occurred not long ago in the city brimming with Mental Force had long since spread among the members of these major powers.
The Zhan Family's two Intermediate Heavenly Immortals exerted their maximum possible speed, pursuing relentlessly. They did not want the news of today's events to reach the ears of the Xiao Family's upper echelon.
There was also a gigantic eagle, its pair of wings flapping with robust power. Its flying speed was extremely fast; each flap left a huge afterimage in its wake.
"Brat surnamed Ye, you have offended our Zhan Family. From now on, there won't be a place for you in the entire Chaotic Void Sea!"
Zhan Yuan stood atop the head of the lion wreathed in red flames. That lion seemed proficient in spatial energy, running at incredible speed. Each leap forward covered a large distance with spatial flickers.
Over a hundred Warbeasts followed behind Zhan Yuan, unleashing sky-filling bestial majesty. It made one feel as if they had stepped into a primordial world.
"Ye Yunfei, I swear I will personally tear your body to shreds! Only then will my hatred be satisfied!"
The middle-aged man from the Black Wind Group trailed behind, glaring with venomous eyes at Ye Yunfei's back which grew more distant with each moment. He spoke through gritted teeth.
He had already been wounded by the Formless Heart Sword attack just now, filling him with extreme hatred towards Ye Yunfei.
However, his movement speed was inferior to the Zhan Family's two Intermediate Heavenly Immortals, so he could only follow from afar.
"Our Black Wind Group and this brat are already mortal enemies; reconciliation is utterly impossible. If we don't eliminate him early and allow him to continue growing, the consequences are unthinkable."
Besides anger, a trace of worry began to surface in this middle-aged man's heart.
He understood that with the talent Ye Yunfei had displayed and his current strength, if he continued to grow, he would undoubtedly reach an even more terrifying height in the future. By that time, the Black Wind Group would likely be no match for him at all.
"In truth, our Black Wind Group should never have accepted Zhan Yuan's mission in the first place. For this mission, we've already lost so many members. Even if we eventually receive the reward Zhan Yuan offered, it wouldn't compensate for the losses. It's a terrible bargain."
This thought occurred to the middle-aged man, and he felt some regret.
"Liu Laolao! Great!
Everyone has finally escaped danger."
Inside the Phantom Tower at this time, Xiao Huanhuan and Xiao Yueyue rushed over excitedly the moment they saw Liu Laolao and the other Xiao Family members. They embraced Liu Laolao's arms, speaking happily.
"That young man actually managed to break through the siege and bring us out!"
At this moment, Liu Laolao and Third Aunt's attention was fixed on the outside.
The series of events left them somewhat incredulous.
Not long ago, their Xiao Family group had been trapped within a tight encirclement, believing escape impossible and fearing the worst.
But now, Ye Yunfei had brought them all away, out of the Zhan Family's encirclement.
"What kind of dark sorcery did he use earlier? How could he restrain all the opponent's Heavenly Immortal experts at once?"
Recalling what just happened, Liu Laolao was deeply shaken.
"His movement speed is actually this fast. Even I might not necessarily outrun him."
Then, Liu Laolao realized how astonishing Ye Yunfei's speed was and couldn't help but be stunned.
"Huang Lao, are you done yet?"
At this time, Ye Yunfei had already arrived at the spot where Huang Shang had stayed behind and sent a Sound Transmission to ask.
BOOM!
Before Ye Yunfei's Sound Transmission finished, a patch of swamp nearby suddenly exploded. A large area of marshland blasted open, splattering muck and black, foul water everywhere, with towering black mist roiling into the sky.
Then Ye Yunfei saw a dark, gleaming ghostly body rush out from the exploded swamp area. It was Huang Shang.
"Let's go quickly!
I've provoked seven Crocodile Demons. All seven possess Heavenly Immortal-level combat strength, and their hide is thick and rough, impervious to blades and spears. They're very troublesome!"
The moment Huang Shang saw Ye Yunfei, he immediately sent a Sound Transmission.
"Crocodile Demons?
Are these crocodile demons outsiders who came in to explore and seek treasures, or are they natives here?"
Hearing Huang Shang's words, Ye Yunfei was taken aback for a moment before asking aloud.
"They are natives here. Moreover, I suspect this swamp holds more than just seven Crocodile Demons, so we must leave this place immediately! Otherwise, we might attract a swarm of Crocodile Demon attacks!"
Huang Shang arrived before Ye Yunfei and answered, already entering the Phantom Tower as he spoke.
"Natives here!
Then how did you provoke them?"
Ye Yunfei was a bit curious.
"While they were secluded in cultivation, I struck suddenly and stole the inner cores from all seven of them.
These inner cores are the essences they condensed through long periods of cultivation. Now that I've taken them, they'll fight me to the death."
Huang Shang answered. By the time he finished speaking, he was already inside the Phantom Tower.
BOOM BOOM BOOM…
Right at that moment, seven massive crocodiles suddenly burst forth from the previously exploded location, causing the swamp there to erupt once more. A pitch-black ground fissure opened up, splattering foul water and mud everywhere.
The seven crocodiles sensed Huang Shang's aura and pounced towards Ye Yunfei's location simultaneously.
"Indeed, each Crocodile Demon possesses Heavenly Immortal level strength!"
Feeling the energy auras emanating from these seven Crocodile Demons, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but secretly feel shocked. He turned and fled.
It wasn't that Ye Yunfei lacked confidence to deal with these crocodile demons; rather, since there was no deep-seated grudge, there was no need to fight them to the death. Additionally, the Zhan Family and Black Wind Group forces behind him were still in pursuit.
Sensing Huang Shang's aura upon Ye Yunfei's body, the seven Crocodile Demons were unwilling to let him go and gave chase.
These Crocodile Demons had huge bodies, like seven heavy small mountain peaks, churning up the swamp until it was earth-shattering. Their rumbling roars were overwhelming, and their momentum was terrifying.
However, these Crocodile Demons' speed simply couldn't match Ye Yunfei's. They were soon left behind at a distance.
"It seems your gains here were quite good. Your energy aura has risen significantly once more."
Noticing that the ghostly energy emanating from Huang Shang's ghost body had grown much stronger than before, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but smile as he commented.
"Of course! This swamp contains vast quantities of toxic gases and miasmas that have accumulated for over a thousand, even several thousand years. These are extremely useful for me; I've absorbed a lot.
Moreover, I'm refining and absorbing the seven Crocodile Demon inner cores I seized within my ghost body."
Huang Shang said proudly.
"What's going on?
It seems like many people are chasing you!
The Zhan Family?"
At this moment, Huang Shang sensed a large group of people pursuing in grand fashion from the direction Ye Yunfei had come.
"Correct. They are from the Zhan Family and Black Wind Group."
Ye Yunfei replied as he swiftly dashed into the distance.
Meanwhile, the Zhan Family's Heavenly Immortals caught up, arriving at the location where Ye Yunfei had met up with Huang Shang.
"So many Crocodile Demons!
And each possesses Heavenly Immortal level strength!"
The Zhan Family's Heavenly Immortals couldn't help but reveal expressions of pleasant surprise upon seeing the seven Crocodile Demons rolling forth in pursuit of Ye Yunfei.
Heavenly Immortal-level Warbeasts were relatively precious for the Zhan Family. Although these seven Crocodile Demons weren't Zhan Family Warbeasts, the Zhan Family possessed a tradition: they could tame beasts and birds, turning them into Warbeasts.
"These seven Crocodile Demons possess immense strength, are impervious to weapons, and all have Heavenly Immortal-level combat prowess. If we can subdue them and take them back for domestication, they would be an extremely valuable asset for our Zhan Family!"
One of the Zhan Family's Intermediate Heavenly Immortals declared loudly.
"Leave part of the group behind to find a way to subdue these seven Crocodile Demons!"
One of the Intermediate Heavenly Immortals from the Zhan Family commanded.
Then, this Intermediate Heavenly Immortal led part of the Zhan Family's forces and the Black Wind Group members to continue pursuing Ye Yunfei, while the other Intermediate Heavenly Immortal led the remaining Zhan Family members to charge towards the seven Crocodile Demons.
"It seems the Zhan Family members want to target those seven Crocodile Demons."
Ye Yunfei's Soul Power was powerful, allowing him to clearly perceive every move of the Zhan Family forces behind him.
"The Zhan Family is a traditional beast-taming clan in the Chaotic Void Sea. Their family has a set of unique secret techniques specifically designed to deal with various beasts and birds. They might just have a way to handle these seven Crocodile Demons.
The title of a traditional beast-taming clan isn't bestowed without reason."
The remnant soul commented.
"Since they want to deal with these crocodile demons, I'll help them out a bit more."
Huang Shang suddenly reappeared, saying with a smile.
As soon as the words fell, Huang Shang abruptly dove into the swamp below, vanishing.
This swamp was filled with toxic gases and miasma, very dangerous. Even Heavenly Immortal-level experts were unwilling to be excessively exposed to these poisonous gases. However, for a Ghost Cultivator, these toxic gases and miasma were exceedingly rare cultivation resources.
Thus, Huang Shang was like a fish in water within this swamp—it was practically his own territory.
"Huang Lao, what are you going to do?"
Seeing Huang Shang's action, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but ask.
Although Ye Yunfei knew Huang Shang shouldn't be in any danger in such an environment, the Zhan Family and Black Wind Group pursuers were about to catch up. It was better to leave quickly now.
"There are over a dozen Crocodile Demons in secluded cultivation down here. They've all released their inner cores and are breathing in and out the toxic gases and miasma of this swamp. I'm going to steal their inner cores.
You go ahead and wait for me."
Huang Shang transmitted in reply.
"Alright then."
Ye Yunfei nodded, then activated his movement technique, charging forward.
A short while later.
BOOM BOOM…
Ye Yunfei discovered that in a large expanse of swamp behind him, Crocodile Demons were continuously bursting out one after another, blazing with fury and issuing furious roars.
Over a dozen Crocodile Demons, whose inner cores Huang Shang had suddenly stolen after their long and arduous cultivation, had been thrown into a complete rampage. They were now wildly searching the swamp for Huang Shang.
But Huang Shang employed a highly advanced Ghost Cultivator movement technique, transforming into a faint, almost imperceptible ghostly shadow hidden within the billowing black mist, drifting with the wind. The Crocodile Demons couldn't locate him for the moment.
"Another dozen or so Crocodile Demons!"
The Zhan Family members and Black Wind Group people chasing Ye Yunfei from behind were somewhat alarmed to see this dozen or so frenzied Crocodile Demons.
Suddenly, a faint, ghostly shadow appeared beside the Zhan Family and Black Wind Group forces.
"Who's there?"
The Intermediate Heavenly Immortal from the Zhan Family possessed exceptionally strong perception and sensed it immediately, casting a sharp gaze towards it.
"Hehe..."
The ghostly shadow let out a cold chuckle.
Then the Zhan Family members noticed the dozen-plus Crocodile Demons in the distance turning around as if gone mad, charging towards the Zhan Family and Black Wind Group forces.
"Prepare to engage!"
Sensing the energy fluctuations radiating from the dozen-plus Crocodile Demons, the Zhan Family and Black Wind Group forces all paled with fright.
Because these Crocodile Demons all possessed Heavenly Immortal-level strength!
It was equivalent to over a dozen Heavenly Immortal experts simultaneously attacking them with wild frenzy!
Even the Zhan Family's Intermediate Heavenly Immortal grew highly tense, preparing to fight for his life.
"Huang Lao, using a Soul Power imprint to lure those Crocodile Demons to attack those guys is a brilliant plan."
Far ahead in the distance, Ye Yunfei, sensing the pursuing enemies being surrounded by over a dozen Crocodile Demons, couldn't help but smile as he commented.
"That Soul Power imprint of mine is extremely weak; even if discarded, the loss is negligible.
I've gained over a dozen more Crocodile Demon inner cores. My harvest is immense."
Huang Shang laughed as he spoke.
"Huang Lao, those Crocodile Demons' strength isn't weak. How did you manage to steal all their inner cores?"
Ye Yunfei was a bit curious.
"Didn't I tell you? The toxic gases and miasma in this swamp are, for us Ghost Cultivators, equivalent to our energy source, which we can directly absorb.
We Ghost Cultivators adore precisely this kind of Yin-damp energy. In such an environment, our Ghost Cultivator arts can perform beyond their usual level.
In short, we Ghost Cultivators are more suited to this environment than those Crocodile Demons. This place is practically our Ghost Cultivators' territory. I used a Ghost Cultivator movement art to hide within the toxic gases and miasma, drifting quietly with them to reach the side of those Crocodile Demons in cultivation. While they were cultivating, they would spit out their inner cores to bathe in the toxic gases and miasma. I could easily just take their inner cores."
Huang Shang explained.
"So that's how it is."
Ye Yunfei smiled.
"No more talk. I've discovered another location over there where over a dozen Crocodile Demons are hidden beneath, also cultivating. I'm going to go snatch all their inner cores, then lure them to attack the Zhan Family and Black Wind Group.
The Zhan Family really likes these Crocodile Demons, right? I might as well lead a whole swarm of them before them, and see if they can handle it.
You go wait for me outside the swamp."
Huang Shang said with a laugh.
As the words left his mouth, Huang Shang transformed into a ghostly shadow, rushing towards a distant location.
"Alright then."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
Then Ye Yunfei activated his movement technique, charging out of the swamp.
At this moment, the Zhan Family and Black Wind Group pursuers behind were besieged by over a dozen Crocodile Demons. For the time being, they had no capacity to pursue Ye Yunfei.
Shortly after, Ye Yunfei emerged from the swamp.
BOOM BOOM…
Ye Yunfei noticed that the commotion within the swamp behind him grew increasingly intense. Shockingly powerful roars rang out one after another, and surges of terrifying bestial majesty transmitted from afar.
"It seems Huang Lao has lured out even more Crocodile Demons.
Who would have thought this swamp was a nest of crocodile demons."
Ye Yunfei couldn't help but murmur to himself.
"I'll wait for Huang Lao here then."
Ye Yunfei found a secluded spot near the swamp, set up dozens of Formations, constructed a Formation space, and entered it.
Then he entered the Phantom Tower, appearing before Xiao Huanhuan and Xiao Yueyue.
"Young Master Ye, thank you for saving the members of our Xiao Family."
Xiao Huanhuan expressed her gratitude to Ye Yunfei.
"Young Master Ye, you are incredible! Even the Zhan Family's four Heavenly Immortals and so many Heavenly Immortal-level Warbeasts were no match for you!"
Xiao Yueyue's beautiful eyes were full of admiration.
"Young Master Ye, thank you for your life-saving grace."
Xiao Family's Third Aunt came before Ye Yunfei and spoke.
Liu Laolao, originally sitting cross-legged to the side with closed eyes to heal her injuries, stood up upon seeing Ye Yunfei enter.
"Young man, you truly made me see you in a new light. Before, I almost misjudged you. I never imagined you possessed such means and strength.
Thank you for saving the members of our Xiao Family."
Liu Laolao said.
Her attitude towards Ye Yunfei had become much kinder now.
After all, every single Xiao Family member here had been rescued by Ye Yunfei.
"Senior, you're too kind."
Ye Yunfei replied calmly.
Although Liu Laolao was an Intermediate Heavenly Immortal, to Ye Yunfei nowadays, an Intermediate Heavenly Immortal could hardly be considered a top-level expert.