Demon Capital!
Ye Yunfei clenched his fists tightly, genuinely wishing to charge out and blast that Demon Capital expert with a single punch.
One could say this Demon Capital expert's words had crossed Ye Yunfei's bottom line. However, Ye Yunfei understood deep down that with his current strength, he was certainly no match.
"One day, I will personally blast this guy to pieces," Ye Yunfei swore inwardly, a surge of boundless killing intent welling up within his heart. "And starting from now, whenever I encounter members of Demon Capital, I will kill every last one I find!"
"Don't be impulsive!" Hun Lao, sensing Ye Yunfei's intense murderous intent, hurriedly advised via Sound Transmission. "This guy is strong. And if you show yourself now, you might attract even more Demigod experts. Because of the Yin Seed, you're basically a hot commodity in the eyes of all those Demigods."
"Don't worry," Ye Yunfei nodded. "My strength doesn't allow for rash actions now."
"It's just... even if I don't make a move, we'll be discovered soon anyway," he continued his mental message to everyone. "Everyone, get ready. On my command, we'll pool all our strength and escape together."
"Kid, I can sense your aura more and more clearly," sneered the Demon Capital expert just then, moving ever closer to Ye Yunfei's hidden location. "It seems my senses weren't wrong. You must be hiding here. I'll find you soon."
"Prepare to escape!"
Ye Yunfei knew he could wait no longer and sent the order via Sound Transmission to Hu Miao and the others.
Everyone grew extremely tense, their nerves wound tight, readying every method at their disposal to pool their strength and flee.
Just at that moment, Ye Yunfei suddenly perceived a mysterious and powerful energy descending from the higher void, instantly blanketing the very space he occupied.
Ye Yunfei was so startled his face paled, thinking the Demon Capital expert had found him and was about to make a move.
As Ye Yunfei prepared to charge out of his Formations-created Small World, a gentle voice suddenly whispered in his ear.
"No need to worry. I'll help you conceal your aura. He won't detect you."
"Who?" Hearing this voice, Ye Yunfei felt as if struck by lightning. His expression shifted drastically.
He had thought he was well-hidden within this Small World created by Formations, having used all sorts of methods to mask his aura, assuming he hadn't been discovered by anyone—for now.
But upon hearing this voice, he realized a mysterious entity must have found him long ago, and judging by everything, had been watching him all along! The thought that he had been under someone's surveillance this whole time sent a hair-raising sensation crawling over his skin.
Without a doubt, this mysterious presence watching him must be a terrifyingly powerful expert! After all, even those Perfected Demigods earlier hadn't been able to detect him. The Demon Capital expert had probably only caught a faint, wispy trace of his aura, which was why he'd returned here searching. So far, even the Perfected Demigods hadn't pinpointed his exact location! Yet, this mysterious being observing him could detect him. One could imagine how formidable its strength must be!
"A strange, mysterious energy is covering us!" the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm conveyed to Ye Yunfei in a surprised mental voice. "It's very bizarre—it seems to completely isolate the Small World we're in, severing it from the surrounding space! This technique is truly marvelous!"
"Everyone, be careful," Ye Yunfei mentally warned Hun Lao and the others. "A mysterious being has found us. It seems to be helping us, but its identity is unknown. We have no idea if it's friend or foe! In any case, we must be extremely vigilant."
At this moment, the Demon Capital's Perfected Demigod had gotten even closer to Ye Yunfei's position, but he suddenly halted. A puzzled expression crossed his face because he suddenly couldn't sense any trace of Ye Yunfei's aura at all.
"What's going on?" he muttered, his eyes scanning his surroundings. "That kid's aura vanished abruptly. Was my perception wrong? Is he not here after all? Or was he here earlier but already left?"
After a while, he shook his head, looking deeply disappointed. "That boy's aura is completely gone. Looks like he isn't here. Such a pity—another opportunity missed." With that, he turned, transforming into a streak of demonic light that instantly vanished into the distance.
After putting a considerable distance between himself and the area using his movement technique, the Demon Capital's Perfected Demigod glanced back, a wary expression on his face. "It seems a very powerful mysterious existence wanted to help that surnamed Ye kid. Who could it be?"
Watching the Demon Capital's Perfected Demigod depart instantly, Ye Yunfei didn't relax at all. On the contrary, he grew even more alert because an even more terrifying mysterious being was likely lurking nearby, watching his every move.
"We shouldn't move yet," Hun Lao transmitted mentally. "The guy from Demon Capital might be testing you. Even though he left now, he could still sneak back. We should stay hidden a while longer."
"Right. We'll wait a bit more," Ye Yunfei agreed. He remained hidden within the Formations-created Small World for another half a day. The Demon Capital's Perfected Demigod did not return during that time.
Half a day later, Ye Yunfei mentally informed Hu Miao and the others, "Now we prepare to leave! Everyone, you must coordinate with me to your fullest!"
As he spoke, he took out over a dozen formation flags and swiftly set up a high-level teleportation formation. Standing in its center, he waved a hand, retrieving all the formation flags and dismantling the isolation Formations.
*BOOM!* The teleportation formation beneath his feet activated instantly, beginning the process. Ye Yunfei's figure vanished in a flash. Less than a breath later, before the teleportation formation had even completed its work, Ye Yunfei activated his Space Teleportation Token, commencing another jump.
From then on, Ye Yunfei continuously fed a massive amount of spatial energy crystals into the Space Teleportation Token, performing one teleportation after another. He hurtled through the void towards distant space-time with astonishing speed.
"As expected of a being from that place of ancient heritage," a soft voice murmured from far behind, inaudible to Ye Yunfei. "Such techniques are quite remarkable."
After over a dozen consecutive jumps with the Space Teleportation Token, Ye Yunfei finally dared to stop and catch his breath. He used his Soul Power to probe the surroundings and, finding no one tailing him, finally sighed in relief.
"Such a close call," he thought. "We've traveled far now. Looks like that fellow didn't follow us."
"Who was that mysterious existence?" Hun Lao wondered aloud. "Why would it help you evade the Demon Capital expert's detection? Could it simply have been passing by and decided to help you on a whim?"
"Never mind that," Ye Yunfei said, relieved. "We're safe now."
However, no sooner had he spoken than a figure materialized slowly in front of him. It was a Daoist priest. His appearance was unremarkable, his gaze gentle, and he smiled as he looked at Ye Yunfei.
"Young man, don't be alarmed. I bear you no ill will," the Daoist priest said, his voice placid.
"Oh no!" Hun Lao was shocked. "This must be that mysterious presence from earlier! He actually followed us here!"
"Senior," Ye Yunfei took a step back but did not immediately use a movement technique to flee. In his heart, he understood: Since this Daoist priest could follow him here undetected, any escape attempt was surely futile. "I thank you for your earlier help. But, Senior, why are you following me?"
"I followed you," the Daoist priest smiled, "because I'd like to borrow the energy and laws within your body."
"Senior, what do you mean by that?" Ye Yunfei was startled and took another step back, full of caution.
"Could he mean he wants to devour you and seize your energy and laws?" Hun Lao transmitted frantically. "Be careful! This fellow harbors evil intentions!"
"Prepare for battle!" Ye Yunfei warned the others mentally.
"Young man, you misunderstood," the Daoist priest said, noticing Ye Yunfei's wariness. "As I said, I bear you no ill will. I merely wish to borrow the energy and laws within your body for some enlightenment. Don't worry—it won't harm you in any way. You need only release your energy and laws. I can even offer you some payment in return."
"Senior," Ye Yunfei ventured a question, "why would you seek enlightenment through my energy and laws? With your strength, mine must be negligible in your eyes."
"Not at all, young man," the Daoist priest explained, shaking his head. "The energy and laws within your body contain divine imprints left behind by the Deities of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds from ancient times. They are exceedingly precious. My Lightning Tribulation failed... and I find that hard to accept. I wish to gain some insight from the energy and laws you possess."
"Your Lightning Tribulation failed?" Ye Yunfei mused, an astonishing idea dawning on him. He then asked cautiously, "Senior... are you perhaps the Master of Xiaoliang Temple?"
Upon hearing Ye Yunfei's question, Hun Lao was also profoundly shaken. "What?! He is the Master of Xiaoliang Temple? He should have been utterly destroyed by the divine flames during his Deity Ascension Tribulation! How could he be here?"
"You are correct. I am indeed the Master of Xiaoliang Temple," the Daoist priest replied with a light smile. "Young man, I hope you can keep this secret for me."
"Senior! So you truly are the Master of Xiaoliang Temple!" Ye Yunfei exclaimed, his heart shaking even more.
The Master of Xiaoliang Temple had not fallen during his Deity Ascension Tribulation! He was still alive! Should this news spread, the entire Chaotic Void Sea would be sent into an uproar!
"He tricked everyone!" Hun Lao marveled. "He survived the divine flames!"
After a moment's thought, Ye Yunfei asked, "Senior, when did you notice me?"
"Actually, I sensed you as soon as you arrived near where I was undergoing my tribulation," the Master of Xiaoliang Temple answered. "And I sensed the aura of the energy and laws within your body."
"So that's how it was!" Ye Yunfei was astonished. He had thought his movements were highly covert, but this Master had observed his every action clearly.
"Young man," the Master explained kindly, "I could sense you mainly because the energy and laws within you carry the aura of ancient Deities from the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds. I have some connection with those ancient Deities, so I am familiar with their aura. Otherwise, I might not have detected you either."
"I see," Ye Yunfei understood.
"You can rest assured," the Master added patiently, seeing Ye Yunfei's lingering wariness. "I received kindness from several ancient Deities of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds. I have fate with that place, and as you are from there, I hold no ill will towards you. The only reason I sought you out was to borrow the energy and laws within you."
The Master suddenly asked, "Do you happen to have cultivated a technique called the Supreme Primordial Heaven Body-Tempering Art?"
"Yes!" Ye Yunfei was startled again. "Senior, how did you know?"
Ye Yunfei had spent considerable time cultivating the Supreme Primordial Heaven Body-Tempering Art in the past. However, as his strength and cultivation realm grew, he focused more on other, more advanced techniques and skills. Consequently, his progress in that art had stalled. He hadn't expected the Master of Xiaoliang Temple to discern at a glance that he had trained in it.
"Earlier, when I sensed the condition of your physical body and cultivation," the Master replied, "I perceived the aura of that technique. Though I have not cultivated the Supreme Primordial Heaven Body-Tempering Art myself, it is part of the Daoist legacy. Our Xiaoliang Temple cultivates Daoist techniques—they share the same origin. Moreover, an ancient tome among the ancient texts preserved in our temple records this very technique. I once read it and thus have some understanding. Based on the energetic aura of your physique, I deduced you must have cultivated this technique."
"I see..." Ye Yunfei was deeply impressed. *This Master of Xiaoliang Temple is truly incredible! By simply sensing my physical body, he knew what techniques I have practiced.*
"However, young man," the Master continued, "your mastery of the Supreme Primordial Heaven Body-Tempering Art is still insufficient. You are far from realizing its true potential. This Art focuses on delving inwards, mining your own latent potential, awakening the divine treasures deep within your flesh. Cultivated to profound levels, it can unleash unimaginable power."
"So, here is my proposal," the Master said. "If you lend me your energy and laws for enlightenment, as compensation, I shall impart a Daoist mental technique to you. In the future, when you cultivate the Supreme Primordial Heaven Body-Tempering Art, you can coordinate it with this mental technique. It should prove beneficial and perhaps allow you to advance the Supreme Primordial Heaven Body-Tempering Art to a higher realm."
Ye Yunfei thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Senior, since you've stated it thus, it would be discourteous of me to refuse."
"Excellent," the Master of Xiaoliang Temple said with satisfaction. He pointed a finger, sending a strand of information infused with Soul Power directly into Ye Yunfei's sea of consciousness. "I will impart this Daoist mental technique to you now."