"Senior, I have indeed cultivated the inheritance of Master Jian Shenzi," Ye Yunfei respectfully replied.
Ye Yunfei somewhat suspected the elderly man before him might be the legendary God of Nothingness. This was a Deity from a bygone era! Furthermore, according to legends, the God of Nothingness was among the most outstanding deities of that time. Such a powerhouse, even if only a trace of his projected form remained, would surely possess terrifying strength. And even if the old man wasn't the God of Nothingness himself, he must have a close relationship with him.
In any case, he was definitely no ordinary figure.
"Very good. I hadn't expected that the sword dao inheritance of Master Jian Shenzi would truly still be passed down within the world," the old man said, having been continuously sensing the sword energy cultivated within Ye Yunfei's body. Hearing Ye Yunfei's words, he nodded, a note of gratification in his tone.
"It seems this Senior knows Jian Shenzi!" Ye Yunfei thought inwardly. "Could they be powerhouses from the same era?"
Thinking this, Ye Yunfei suddenly somewhat understood why that terrifying pressure he had been under had vanished without a trace moments before. It was highly likely this elder before him had lent him a hand out of regard for Jian Shenzi.
"Many thanks for your help, Senior!" Realizing this, Ye Yunfei hurriedly bowed respectfully towards the elder.
"Young man, you need not be so polite. Back then, I knew Master Jian Shenzi, and to account for it, I even received benefaction from him once. Both your talent and state of mind are excellent! Master Jian Shenzi should have no regrets with an inheritor like you," the old man said.
"Alright, young man, I shall send you off from here now. The opening period of this Void Secret Realm will end very soon," the elder said after sizing Ye Yunfei up from head to toe.
"Consider the items out there my greeting gift to you. Originally, each person could only take a small portion, but out of regard for Master Jian Shenzi, I now give all of them to you," the elder added.
Treasures upon the three stone tables—indeed, everyone had taken a small portion, but the vast majority had fallen into Ye Yunfei's hands. That was primarily due to this elder's intervention.
"The Void Secret Realm's opening period is about to end?" Ye Yunfei was somewhat startled to hear this.
Of course Ye Yunfei did not wish for the realm's opening to end so quickly; he had planned to continue exploring and treasure-seeking, harvesting more artifacts.
"Alright, I shall send you off now. Not only you—everyone else must depart this place as well," the old man said.
"Senior, then this junior shall take his leave." Although Ye Yunfei was intensely curious about this elder and very much wished to exchange a few more words, perhaps learning his true identity, seeing the other had issued a verbal dismissal, he felt it impolite to ask further and thus cupped his fists and spoke.
"Young man, remember, the beings of this world number more than millions upon millions. Without attaining godhood, all living beings are ultimately mere ants. Strive in your cultivation—the path you must tread is still very long," the elder whispered.
"Many thanks for your instruction, Senior. This junior will most certainly remember!" Ye Yunfei quickly replied.
"Without attaining godhood, one is ultimately an ant. This Senior speaks truly. For deities, I'm afraid most living beings of the world are merely ants," Ye Yunfei thought inwardly.
BOOM!
The next moment, a powerful teleportation energy swept forth, enveloping Ye Yunfei's form before directly teleporting him away.
Almost at the same time, everyone within the square outside the stone hut discovered a powerful teleportation energy suddenly descending from the sky, enveloping them and transporting them away.
"What's going on? Are we being driven away?"
"It couldn't be because that surnamed Ye kid took all the treasures and opportunities here, so the restrictions automatically teleported us out, could it?"
"Who knows what treasures and opportunities are inside that stone hut. Could it be that surnamed Ye kid snatched all of those as well? Too much! He's monopolizing everything!"
...
Most people within the square were extremely unwilling. They had worked hard to reach this place, yet the benefits were almost entirely taken by Ye Yunfei alone.
Soon, everyone found they were already standing outside the mountain.
Everyone upon the mountain had been driven out.
Next, everyone saw a shimmering barrier of light rise, enveloping the entire peak.
"Can't we continue climbing? I feel like I could still climb higher," someone said unwillingly.
Climbing higher meant the possibility of harvesting even more treasures.
A middle-aged man acted directly. He summoned a magical treasure and hurled it forward, smashing against that barrier of light.
In the end, the treasure was directly rebounded back. The terrifying rebounding force shattered the man's physical body into pieces, leaving only a single trembling Soul Body suspended in the air.
This was a complete Heavenly Immortal, yet his own treasure had destroyed his fleshly form. Seeing this, who among the others would dare step forward and take action?
"Liu Laolao, I don't seem to see Young Master Ye. Could he still be atop the mountain?"
In a certain location near the mountain, Liu Laolao led a small party. Both Xiao sisters, Huanhuan and Yueyue, were among them, as were Peng Rou and her younger sibling. They were all searching everywhere for Ye Yunfei's figure, but had yet to spot him. Thus, Xiao Yueyue couldn't help but ask Liu Laolao anxiously.
"There should be no one left upon the mountain peak. Let's keep searching," Liu Laolao said, looking towards the mountain peak covered by the barrier of light in the distance.
"But I've just searched all over and haven't seen Young Master Ye! Could something have happened to him?" Xiao Yueyue continued.
Hearing Yueyue's words, Liu Laolao's expression turned somewhat grim. She knew Ye Yunfei had offended many major powers. If he had encountered powerhouse experts from those great forces upon the peak and a fight broke out, it was hard to say nothing would happen.
"Given Young Master Ye's strength, he shouldn't meet with misfortune easily," Liu Laolao comforted Yueyue.
"Hmph! Old crone, we meet again!"
At that moment, a voice sounded not far away.
"Oh no!"
Liu Laolao's heart couldn't help but sink.
Zhan Yuan stood upon the head of a large, strange lion not far away, staring at Liu Laolao and the others, a cold smile on his face.
Accompanying Zhan Yuan were several dozen members of the Zhan Family. Among them were six or seven Heavenly Immortals, the strongest being two complete Heavenly Immortals!
One could say half of the powerhouses the Zhan Family had sent into the Void Secret Realm were here!
Beside these members of the Zhan Family trailed all sorts of combat beasts—aerial birds, ferocious beasts, each emanating an imposing aura.
"Hmph! What is it you people from the Zhan Family intend? Our Xiao Family people are here too! You had best not act recklessly, otherwise our Xiao Family definitely will not let this go lightly!" Liu Laolao snorted coldly.
Even as she spoke, Liu Laolao immediately released Soul Power energy, searching for the figures of the Xiao Family troops.
She had been searching for Ye Yunfei all along, so she hadn't paid attention to the Xiao Family people.
That was because Liu Laolao had previously had disagreements with them.
However, there were simply no Xiao Family members in the vicinity.
"Old crone, are you looking for your Xiao Family people? Let me tell you honestly: your Xiao Family people have already left. They cannot protect you any longer," Zhan Yuan sneered upon seeing Liu Laolao looking around.
They've left?
Liu Laolao's heart sank further. She had previously seen quite a few Xiao Family people also come to this mountain peak; she hadn't expected they would all depart so quickly.
"Honored uncles, please act. Both Xiao Huanhuan and Xiao Yueyue are here—seize them and bring them back!"
Zhan Yuan pointed at the two sisters and spoke to several Heavenly Immortal experts from the Zhan Family.
"Move!"
One of the Zhan Family middle-aged men waved a hand. The Zhan Family members all moved forward with their combat beasts, surrounding Liu Laolao and the others.
"We need to leave!" Liu Laolao immediately sent a voice transmission to those beside her.
She understood that if a fight broke out, her side would definitely not be a match.
"Wanting to flee now is too late!" The faces of those from the Zhan Family wore cold smiles, and someone mocked in a sneering tone.
The combat beasts of several members of the Zhan Family were flying beasts. Standing upon their backs, they shot through the air at terrifying speeds.
"Your Zhan Family can wait! This account, our Xiao Family will settle with your Zhan Family sooner or later!" Liu Laolao waved her sleeve, scooping up everyone around her. Her voice was filled with anger.
Liu Laolao was an Intermediate Heavenly Immortal who had cultivated many profound movement techniques of the Xiao Family, so her speed was extremely swift. In but an instant, she had covered a great distance.
"You won't escape!"
Suddenly, a complete Heavenly Immortal from the Zhan Family stood upon the back of a fiery-red flying bird and swooped forth at a frightening speed, leaving fiery-red afterimages in the air.
Before Liu Laolao could react, that fiery-red flying bird had already closed in from behind.
"This is dire!" Liu Laolao sensed the aura emanating from that bird's body: it carried with it potent spatial energy. This indicated this fiery-red bird excelled in spatial energies, which was why its speed was so terrifying.
"You'll be staying."
That Zhan Family complete Heavenly Immortal reached out a hand and pressed downwards towards Liu Laolao through empty space.
Liu Laolao immediately felt terrifyingly powerful energy descending upon her body. Her movements began to grow difficult.
At the same time, that fiery-red flying bird swiftly charged toward Liu Laolao. It looked as if a giant crimson sword meant to smash through her form.
"This is catastrophic!" Liu Laolao's face paled slightly. She understood that if she was struck by this fiery-red bird, not only would she suffer, but Xiao Huanhuan and the others would all meet calamity as well—none would escape unscathed.
But at this moment, Liu Laolao discovered she seemed unable to resist.
The strength of this Zhan Family complete Heavenly Immortal before her was too immense, and with the aid of his combat beast, she simply was no match.
"Senior, I've come to support you."
Just as Liu Laolao was inwardly lamenting her predicament, she suddenly received a voice transmission.
"Young Master Ye, you've arrived!"
Receiving this transmission, Liu Laolao couldn't help but show an expression of delight.
Next, an invisible shackle descended from the heavens, suppressing the body of that Zhan Family complete Heavenly Immortal. His form sunk downwards.
"What is this?! Did you employ some demonic art?"
That complete Heavenly Immortal from the Zhan Family cried out in alarm and fury, struggling with all his might while glaring at Liu Laolao. He suspected it was Liu Laolao who had invoked this invisible shackle upon him.
"Senior, please enter my spatial treasure."
Ye Yunfei appeared beside Liu Laolao and spoke.
Without hesitation, Liu Laolao brought Xiao Huanhuan and the rest, teleporting them all into the Phantom Tower.
"It's you, surnamed Ye brat! Roar! Every time I'm about to seize those Xiao Huanhuan and Xiao Yueyuan little sluts, you come out and ruin it! Despicable! Surnamed Ye brat, I'll shatter your body into ten thousand pieces!"
The moment Ye Yunfei appeared, Zhan Yuan in the distance spotted him and couldn't help but roar with fury. Seeing Liu Laolao and Xiao Huanhuan's group suddenly vanish, he immediately guessed they had surely entered some spatial treasure upon Ye Yunfei's person.
"Honored uncles! That surnamed Ye brat is trying to save them! Stop him!" Zhan Yuan angrily shouted.
"Brat! What sorcery did you just employ?!"
After that Zhan Family complete Heavenly Immortal violently shook off the Heart Force Lock, he charged towards Ye Yunfei with overwhelming killing intent.
Other members of the Zhan Family also surrounded Ye Yunfei from all directions.
"That brat has repeatedly opposed our Zhan Family! Kill him!"
A Zhan Family powerhouse loudly yelled.
"You want to kill me? Very well. I no longer need be polite."
Ye Yunfei chuckled coldly. Then he activated his Time Boots, his figure moving. In an instant he shifted position, causing many from the Zhan Family to lunge into empty space.
Next, Ye Yunfei simultaneously deployed both the Heart Force Lock and the Intangible Heart Force Sword, attacking over a dozen Zhan Family members at once.
Under the assault of the Heart Force Lock and Intangible Heart Force Sword, those dozen Zhan Family disciples all simultaneously stiffened, expressions of pain surfacing on their faces.
These disciples of ordinary strength within the Zhan Family simply could not withstand the Heart Force techniques Ye Yunfei unleashed!
While deploying these Heart Force techniques, Ye Yunfei swung a hand as if cutting. A brilliant sword light swept out horizontally. Where it passed, over a dozen Zhan Family members were sliced into nothing but shattered pieces. Even their Soul Bodies shattered into fragments.
"Brat! You're courting death!"
Witnessing this, members of the Zhan Family all had eyes blazing with fury. That complete Heavenly Immortal who had acted against Liu Laolao trembled with rage even more intensely.
The crimson fiery bird beside him let out a shrill cry, leaving behind streaks of red afterimages as it tore through space, instantly colliding before Ye Yunfei's position.
Ye Yunfei, with his Time Boots activated, was also moving at incredible speeds. His form flashed, dodging that fiery-red bird.
At that moment, Ye Yunfei's fight with the Zhan Family members had long since alarmed many people. Everyone watched intently.
"That surnamed Ye brat is over there!"
Suddenly, a Yao Crown Prince from the Demon Capital spotted Ye Yunfei. He immediately shot into the air, chasing towards Ye Yunfei.
At nearly the same moment, over a dozen powerhouses soared into the sky, following the Demon Crown Prince towards Ye Yunfei's direction.
These powerhouses had all been searching for Ye Yunfei's whereabouts. They were the very ones who had entered that square, reached the vicinity of the three stone tables, and personally witnessed Ye Yunfei taking all treasures from those tables.
If one were to say nothing else, merely those several hundred Divine Crystals were enough to make anyone's eyes turn red with greed, let alone those spatial rings and technique jade slips. Undoubtedly, they held astonishing value.
Faced with such treasures, no one was willing to give up lightly. Those capable of entering that square and reaching the three stone tables were all formidable figures from various major powers.
As these powerhouses issued orders, their faction members all moved en masse, pursuing Ye Yunfei.