At the same time, Tianpo Realm, within the three thousand great and small worlds.
Inside a small mountain village.
Mr. Liu stood on top of a low hill behind the village, his gaze seemingly piercing through space as he looked towards distant times and spaces.
"I've been secluding myself here for so long, yet I still cannot make the breakthrough to Deity.
This Tianpo Realm was also a world where Deities were born in ancient times. Yet, throughout these years, though I've been utilizing the energy and laws of this space for contemplation, meditation, and searching for the lingering traces of divine aura left behind by Deities in this realm, and have gained some minor insights, I have always been unable to break through to Deity.
Could it really be, as the legend says, that the Fortune to Become a God within the Chaotic Void Sea has been exhausted, that we have entered the Post-Deity Era, and beings of this era must seize enough of the Deity Fortune to Become a God to be qualified to ascend to Deityhood?"
After gazing out for a moment longer, a ripple finally appeared on Mr. Liu's previously placid expression. He sighed and spoke slowly.
"With Rong'er's current physical condition, without achieving Deity, I will never be able to truly cure her.
It seems, for Rong'er's sake, I too must contend for this so-called Deity Fortune."
Mr. Liu continued speaking to himself.
Next, Mr. Liu found the village chief, gave some instructions, then left behind a clone to accompany Rong'er. His true body left the small mountain village and entered the Chaotic Void Sea.
During this time, elsewhere in the Chaotic Void Sea, many Perfected Demigods who had diligently pursued Deityhood for years but remained unsuccessful were similarly gazing at the vast cosmos, uttering words much like Mr. Liu's.
For the sake of breaking through to Deity, these Perfected Demigods didn't know how much time and effort they had expended, yet they had never succeeded!
Meanwhile, Ye Yunfei was traveling through the Chaotic Void Sea towards the direction of the Tianyan World Cluster at a steady, unhurried pace. He passed through one World Cluster after another along the way. If he felt any World Cluster was worth a visit, he would teleport everyone out of the Phantom Tower to have a look and enjoy the sights.
Hu Miao loved such bustling activity the most, and of course was unwilling to miss out.
Peng Rou and her brother had slightly more experience roaming the Chaotic Void Sea than Ye Yunfei, and they were quite familiar with the World Clusters along this route, so they acted as guides for Ye Yunfei.
On this day, Ye Yunfei brought everyone to visit a World Cluster called the Wangxing World Cluster. Just as they were enjoying themselves thoroughly, a grim-looking elder suddenly appeared in the distance, his cold eyes fixed on Peng Rou, her brother, and Ye Yunfei.
"Young Master Shen's guess was correct, that little bitch Peng Rou really is still with that kid, and it looks like she's planning to bring him back to the Tianyan World Cluster!
However, since I've discovered them, they won't have a chance to return to the Tianyan World Cluster!"
After confirming the identities of Peng Rou, her brother, and Ye Yunfei, the old man revealed a cold sneer at the corner of his mouth, his voice barely audible.
Then, this elder directly vanished, merging into the space beside him.
"Something's over there. Seems like someone was spying on you."
Hun Lao suddenly spoke to Ye Yunfei.
As the Chaotic World Tree, Hun Lao's Soul Power perception abilities weren't necessarily stronger than Ye Yunfei's, but he was extremely sensitive to space. Even the slightest spatial fluctuation could be captured instinctively by him.
"That's right. I sensed it too, in that direction. Someone was observing you just now."
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm also spoke up.
Ye Yunfei's Soul Power energy extended towards that direction and sensed that the spot where the old man had stood indeed held faint spatial fluctuations. It was obvious someone had just moved through space away from that spot.
"Perhaps it was a powerful expert from this World Cluster who happened to pass by. Seeing we are strangers, they just observed us a bit. Let's just be careful."
Ye Yunfei thought for a moment and spoke.
However, to be safe, Ye Yunfei still decided to leave this World Cluster immediately.
"Master, are we leaving this fast? I think the scenery in this World Cluster is quite unique. I still wanted to roam around and sightsee a bit more."
Hu Miao felt a little regretful.
"The Chaotic Void Sea is so vast, and the number of World Clusters that exist is immense. We'll have chances to visit many different World Clusters in the future."
Ye Yunfei replied with a smile.
Then, Ye Yunfei brought Hu Miao and Peng Rou's siblings and turned to head outwards towards the chaotic space beyond.
Peng Rou and her brother now followed Ye Yunfei's lead in all matters, so when Ye Yunfei said they were leaving, they didn't ask for a reason.
But at this moment.
"You've been marked."
Ye Yunfei suddenly received Hun Lao's voice transmission.
"Yes, I've been marked. The other party should be experts at the Caelestial Immortal level."
Ye Yunfei responded with a cold laugh.
Just now, Ye Yunfei had suddenly sensed several strands of powerful Soul Power energy probing in his direction.
Those few strands of Soul Power energy were extremely hidden, faint and elusive, hard to detect. Evidently, the other party was using some profound Soul Power secret art to probe their group.
But with the formidable strength of Ye Yunfei's Soul Power perception, he captured it instantly.
"Seems they are coming for us," Ye Yunfei thought to himself.
Merely a few Caelestial Immortals already held no real pressure for Ye Yunfei. Without mentioning anything else, just the nine divine beasts of his Nine Palaces Totem Wheel were already capable of battling advanced Caelestial Immortals.
One could say that with Ye Yunfei's current comprehensive combat strength, dealing with experts at the Caelestial Immortal level presented little difficulty.
In fact, Ye Yunfei currently quite wished to find a few Caelestial Immortals to thoroughly test his current battle prowess.
"Young Master Ye, something feels off. We seem to have been marked, and I feel it might be people from the Shen Family."
Peng Rou suddenly sent a voice transmission to Ye Yunfei.
"Oh, you sensed it too?"
Ye Yunfei was somewhat surprised, because Peng Rou's Soul Power energy was far weaker than his and Hun Lao's.
"Because I am quite familiar with the Shen Family's cultivation methods and martial techniques, it's easy for me to sense the energy signature of Shen Family members."
Peng Rou replied.
"I see," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Don't worry. If Shen Family people want to come looking for trouble, let them come."
Ye Yunfei transmitted back.
"Young Master Ye, I think it's best if you try to avoid conflict with the Shen Family as much as possible, to yield if you can.
The Shen Family is an ancient family within the Qancang World Cluster with extremely deep heritage and formidable overall strength."
Peng Rou said to Ye Yunfei.
"If it weren't for me, Young Master Ye, you wouldn't have made an enemy of Shen Jie at all. To say it plainly, I have implicated you, Young Master Ye.
From now on, Young Master Ye, you should try your best not to come into conflict with Shen Family members. Once I return to my family, I will report the matter. I believe our Peng Family's ancestors will step forward to handle this matter and get justice for me."
Peng Rou said to Ye Yunfei.
"Rest assured. My principle is: if others don't provoke me, I won't provoke them. But if others insist on provoking me, then I will keep them company to the end.
My enmity with Shen Jie wasn't because of you; it was because he actively came to provoke me. So you don't need to feel guilty."
Ye Yunfei answered in a flat tone.
As he spoke, Ye Yunfei, Hu Miao, and Peng Rou's siblings had already left the Wangxing World Cluster, traveling at a steady pace through the boundless chaotic void of the Chaotic Void Sea.
Ye Yunfei's nature had always been such—when his own strength was sufficient, there was no need to yield to enemies.
At this moment, a group of people had quietly appeared behind them, numbering roughly over a hundred. Shen Jie was among them.
"I never imagined that little bitch Peng Rou, who always puts on a virtuous front, pretending to be so pure, is now actively seducing a pretty boy and even wants to take him home! How shameless!
Respected uncles of the clan, just attack directly. Capture that little bitch Peng Rou! I'm going to make her taste my power properly!
Heh heh, I believe it won't be long before she becomes obedient and submits to me!
As for that surnamed Ye kid, I'm going to tear his body to shreds with my own hands! No, I can't let him die so easily. I'm going to employ the cruelest punishment methods our Shen Family has to make him experience all kinds of torment and pain, completely regretting why he ever made an enemy of me!
This is the consequence of crossing me, Shen Jie!"
Shen Jie stared at Peng Rou and Ye Yunfei, his teeth gritted as he spoke, his face twisted into a terrifying snarl.
"Don't worry. Just a lowly kid from a remote World Cluster who dares to provoke our Shen Family. Such ignorant arrogance destined him to a bad end."
A middle-aged man with a cold face said in a condescending tone, gazing at Ye Yunfei from afar.
This was a Perfected Caelestial Immortal. As soon as his words fell, this middle-aged man's speed suddenly increased.
Powerful spatial energy emanated from his body. Every step he took seemed to shrink the spatial distance ahead, leaving behind trails of afterimages.
In a few moments, he had chased close behind Ye Yunfei and the others.
*Rumble…*
An immensely powerful immortal energy instantly suppressed this entire area of space. Peng Rou, her brother, and Hu Miao simultaneously felt their bodies suddenly become heavy, as if countless gigantic, invisible divine mountains were descending from above to crush their forms.
"Not good! It really is Caelestial Immortal experts from the Shen Family!" Peng Rou couldn't help but blanch.
"Hahaha…
Little bitch Peng Rou, did you really think just because you've attached yourself to this kid, I'd be out of ways to deal with you?
Now there's no escape left for you. Be obedient and come back with me. Starting now, you can be my concubine and warm my bed for me every day."
Shen Jie's vicious laughter sounded from behind as he also caught up.
"Shen Jie, you Shen Family people are going too far! Do you really intend to openly attack my brother and me?
Aren't you afraid our Peng Family ancestors will come to settle accounts with your Shen Family!"
Enraged, Peng Rou's willow-leaf brows shot up as she loudly berated him.
"Shen Jie, I will absolutely never let a despicable scoundrel like you bully my sister!"
Protectively anxious for his sister, Peng Fang stepped forward, shielding Peng Rou.
"With just your, the two of you, with your level of strength? It's simply not enough to be seen. I advise you not to struggle pointlessly; it's useless.
Peng Rou, if you can obey me obediently and please me well, perhaps I might consider sparing your little brother here. Otherwise, I'll start with him first."
Shen Jie glanced at Peng Fang with a contemptuous gaze, simply not considering him as any threat.
He was a Primary Caelestial Immortal, while Peng Fang was merely a Golden Immortal.
*Rumble…*
While speaking, Shen Jie released a surge of energy to suppress Peng Fang. Peng Fang immediately felt pressured, stumbling backward continuously, unable to steady himself.
Ye Yunfei flicked his sleeve, and a mighty, raging force surged forth, slamming towards Shen Jie.
Ye Yunfei's current physical strength had already reached 180,000 Jiao—absolutely terrifying—not something Shen Jie could possibly withstand.
"How is this possible?! Save me, quickly!"
Sensing the endless terrifying power crashing towards him, Shen Jie paled, shouting for help.
How could he have imagined that Ye Yunfei, with just a casual flick of his sleeve, could possess such power? He didn't have the strength to resist at all.
The Shen Family middle-aged man who had chased them first also slightly changed expression, stepping forward to release his own immortal energy in a counter-force.
*Rumble…*
Ye Yunfei's physical power and this middle-aged man's immortal energy collided. The impact of these two formidable forces instantly triggered a chain of violent energy explosions at the collision point. The time and space at that location were instantly destroyed, forming dark spatial rifts.
"Damn it! How can he be this strong!"
Shaken and terrified, Shen Jie looked at Ye Yunfei with eyes filled with both apprehension and venomous hatred, extremely unwilling to accept this.
He was a Caelestial Immortal! Yet he had been forced back with just a single move from a Golden Immortal? This was utterly humiliating, hard for him to accept.
"A mere kid with Golden Immortal strength. How does he possess such formidable power? It seems he cultivates physical force," the Shen Family middle-aged man's gaze towards Ye Yunfei shifted slightly, no longer as contemptuous as before.
Just then, the other members of the Shen Family surged forward one after another, encircling Ye Yunfei and the others tightly.
Ye Yunfei scanned the group and discovered the Shen Family had a total of eight Caelestial Immortals present. The strongest was that same middle-aged man who had given chase first—a Perfected Caelestial Immortal.
Seeing so many Caelestial Immortal experts from the Shen Family, Peng Rou and her brother looked somewhat pale.
"Young Master Ye, the other side outnumbers us greatly and has many Caelestial Immortal experts. It's best if we look for an opportunity to break through the encirclement and flee, not to clash with them head-on."
Peng Rou transmitted urgently to Ye Yunfei.
"Don't worry. Leave it to me to handle," Ye Yunfei replied with a smile.
"To think such a young prodigy would emerge from that backward World Cluster among the three thousand great and small worlds. Truly rare. If you were really allowed to grow, someday you would undoubtedly become a formidable figure in the Chaotic Void Sea.
However, you provoked our Shen Family, which sealed your fate—you will have no chance to continue growing.
Today is the day you die!
Youngster, I hope you learn a lesson. In your next life, learn to never casually provoke people and powers you cannot afford to offend."
That middle-aged man looked at Ye Yunfei and spoke slowly.
Though Ye Yunfei had just displayed formidable power, in this man's view, even if a Golden Immortal was strong, it was limited. In a real fight, Ye Yunfei couldn't be his match as a Perfected Caelestial Immortal. Moreover, the Shen Family had eight Caelestial Immortals present; they vastly outnumbered him. If everyone swarmed him at once, Ye Yunfei wouldn't be able to withstand them even if he had three heads and six arms.
"You intend to kill me based just on the strength of this group?"
Ye Yunfei swept his gaze over the encircling Shen Family members, his expression flat as he answered with a cold sneer.
Seeing Ye Yunfei's expression, all the Shen Family members surrounding them grew furious.
The Shen Family was an ancient family within the Qancang World Cluster, possessing a heritage spanning extremely long ages. Though their overall power was not as great as in ancient times, within the Qancang World Cluster, they still enjoyed a certain reputation and were acknowledged as a powerful, major clan.
Under normal circumstances, even the top-tier forces within the Qancang World Cluster avoided provoking the Shen Family if they could. As a result, Shen Family members tended to carry themselves with considerable pride when traveling outside. Now, to be looked down upon like this by Ye Yunfei—naturally, these Shen Family people were extremely angry.
"A mere Golden Immortal, practically an ant in the eyes of our Shen Family, dares to speak such arrogant words!
Brat, I'll kill you myself!"
A Perfected Golden Immortal of the Shen Family standing towards the back couldn't hold back upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words. He moved, swiftly charging towards Ye Yunfei.
In his hand was a large golden blade radiating domineering blade light, looking awe-inspiring.
"Don't be reckless!"
The Shen Family's Perfected Caelestial Immortal exclaimed in shock, his figure flashing as he tried to rush forward to save the man. He knew that this Perfected Golden Immortal from his clan was absolutely no match for Ye Yunfei.
*Bang!*
Ye Yunfei's movements were far swifter than his. With a single punch, Ye Yunfei directly pulverized that charging Shen Family Perfected Golden Immortal into a bloody mist, which then scattered with the wind, leaving nothing behind.
Physical force of 180,000 Jiao, used to deal with a Golden Immortal—it was truly like using a cleaver to kill a chicken.