"Sect Master, I recognize this youngster. He is Ye Yunfei from the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds! During the previous exploration in the Void Secret Realm, many major factions hunted him, and both his appearance and Soul Body aura were made public at that time. That's how I recognize him!"
At this moment, a man suddenly stepped forward and spoke.
"Ye Yunfei from the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds! So it's him! When did he run off to the Fire Realm, and how did he get involved with the remnants of the Fire Clan!" a Source Fire Sect elder gritted his teeth upon hearing this.
"The Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds... could that be the legendary ancient World Cluster that has already declined? And what exactly is Ye Yunfei's background?" the Source Fire Sect Sect Master asked gravely.
This Sect Master had always been in closed-door cultivation and, although he knew of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds and was aware that the Dark Faction had once nurtured a Yin Seed there, he hadn't paid much attention to Ye Yunfei.
"Sect Master, have you forgotten? Previously, the Dark Faction secretly nurtured a Yin Seed within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds. That Yin Seed was rumored to potentially contain energy and laws left behind by ancient Deities from those worlds. At that time, many factions wanted to seize it, but in the end, it fell into the hands of a young lad from the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds — Ye Yunfei. Although this Ye Yunfei is young, he is said to possess extraordinary talent, ranking among the most important prodigies of the younger generation. Moreover, this kid is utterly arrogant, frequently provoking various major factions. Many have sought to settle accounts with him. Who would have thought he'd now come to provoke our Source Fire Sect!" the elder replied.
"So that's how it is. I did hear that the Dark Faction nurtured a Yin Seed in the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, which later ended up in a young man's hands. So it was this Ye Yunfei." The Sect Master nodded upon hearing the elder's words, his expression somewhat unpleasant.
"That kid is definitely hiding in the Fire Realm right now. If we want to deal with him, we'll have to wait until he leaves before we can make our move," a high-ranking member said with a grim face.
The Fire Realm now had the Fire Clan ancestor's energy form stationed there. No one dared to approach.
"No. Since we already know this kid's origins, it's easier to handle. He can run, but his sect can't. Since he's from the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, we'll send people there to investigate his connections. We'll arrest everyone related to him. Then, we won't have to worry about him not complying," another high-ranking member stated.
"It's not that simple. This kid has offended far too many major factions. Many have long wanted to deal with him. If it were that easy, those other factions would have already used this method against him," yet another high-ranking member added.
"Regardless, this kid has caused such massive losses to our Source Fire Sect. If we do not take revenge, all members of our sect will be disgraced before our ancestors. From now on, employ every force and every method to deal with that youngster."
After thinking for a moment, the Sect Master slowly declared.
"Sect Master, I understand. I will make arrangements immediately. I'll send scouts to lurk near the Fire Realm and report immediately once Ye Yunfei emerges. At the same time, I will dispatch a team to head out at once to ascertain the kid's connections within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds and arrest everyone related to him."
An elder next to him, hearing the Sect Master's words, immediately spoke up. This elder was the Sect Master's confidant, whom the Sect Master always entrusted with tasks first.
"Sect Master, should our Source Fire Sect continue to dispatch armies to expand territories and vie for territory?" a Grand Elder asked the Sect Master.
"Not for the time being. Maintaining our current territories will suffice. We now need to guard against the Fire Clan coming to seek revenge," the Sect Master shook his head.
Upon hearing the Sect Master's words, all of the Source Fire Sect's high-ranking members wore somewhat unpleasant expressions.
Three of the Source Fire Sect's four Grand Elders had died, and the Founding Sect Ancestor's energy form had also been destroyed, causing a drastic decline in power. The Fire Clan, on the other hand, had the energy form of an ancestor personally stationed there. The Source Fire Sect no longer had the strength to confront the Fire Clan.
Meanwhile, in the Fire Realm, within the valley where Ye Yunfei was in seclusion cultivating, for a full two months, Ye Yunfei had been cultivating in closed-door retreat in this valley.
During his cultivation, Ye Yunfei took out batch after batch of precious cultivation resources, continuously refining and absorbing them.
Within Ye Yunfei's dantian, a fiery dragon the size of a fist struggled fiercely, trying to escape. But this fiery dragon was already sealed and couldn't break out.
There was also a ball of light, radiating rolling golden light, suspended at the center of his dantian. This was the light sphere representing the Second Yang of the Nine-Yang Ancient Scripture.
During this time, Ye Yunfei had been attempting to fuse that fiery dragon into this light sphere. Success in this fusion would mean he had successfully cultivated the Second Yang of the Nine-Yang Ancient Scripture.
While cultivating the Nine-Yang Ancient Scripture, Ye Yunfei also released the Vermilion Bird, letting it perch high in the sky, constantly absorbing the fire properties and fire energy from the surrounding world.
Such a worldly environment was perfect for the Vermilion Bird's cultivation.
As time passed, the fiery dragon began to slowly fuse into the light sphere at the center of Ye Yunfei's dantian.
"This cultivation technique is rather rare. It can actually simulate nine divine beasts. Could this be the legendary Nine Palace Totem Wheel? That is a secret technique of Nine Palace True Person, never to be transmitted. How did he obtain this technique? And he's cultivating it with quite impressive proficiency."
Within the ancestral land of the Fire Realm, Cui Hong was quietly recuperating in seclusion. In the previous battle, although he had destroyed the Source Fire Sect's Founding Sect Ancestor, he himself had also been injured. He had been recuperating during this period, but he also kept an occasional watch on Ye Yunfei.
Because Ye Yunfei's talent intrigued him.
While Ye Yunfei cultivated in seclusion within the Fire Realm, startling news began to spread throughout the Chaotic Void Sea.
It was said that a legendary ancient race, believed extinct, the Fire Clan, had suddenly emerged and occupied the Fire Realm. They formally announced to the outside world that the Fire Realm was now the Fire Clan's headquarters, and henceforth, no one was to enter the Fire Realm arbitrarily without permission.
This news shocked many, as everyone had always known the Fire Realm was actually the Source Fire Sect's territory. The sudden emergence of the Fire Clan and their occupation of the Fire Realm was akin to snatching the Source Fire Sect's territory.
However, because the Source Fire Sect tightly sealed the news, the deaths of its three Grand Elders and Founding Sect Ancestor were not leaked.
If the outside world learned that the Source Fire Sect had lost three Grand Elders, it would likely damage their reputation. Even factions with grudges against the Source Fire Sect might seize the opportunity to seek revenge.
After all, those four Grand Elders were considered the four trump cards of the Source Fire Sect. With three dead and only one left, their power had drastically declined.
Not long after the news of the Fire Clan spread, another startling piece of news captured everyone's attention: The long-secluded Blood Race had reappeared in the world!
The Blood Race was also an exceedingly powerful ancient race, once renowned for its ferocity—a somewhat evil race.
Because their cultivation method involved devouring the blood of beings from other races to strengthen themselves.
It was said that during a certain period in ancient times, the Blood Race provoked a powerful expert, who then nearly exterminated them, after which they vanished. Who would have thought they'd suddenly reappear now.
Then, several other ancient races or factions that had disappeared long ago continuously emerged. Although these races or factions had vanished for an extremely long time, even gradually fading from the world's memory, their sudden appearance showcased astonishing foundations and power, causing a sensation.
"The Thousand Ruins Forbidden Land has reappeared in the world! An old Daoist emerged from the Forbidden Land and defeated a Perfected Demigod in just two moves!"
"An heir of the Wujian Forbidden Land has also appeared, traversing the Chaotic Void Sea, displaying astonishing talent—as merely a Heavenly Immortal, they defeated a Mid-Level Demigod!"
...
As everyone marveled at the constant emergence of these ancient races and factions, some Forbidden Lands also began to reveal themselves one after another. Beings walked out from these Forbidden Lands, traveling through the Chaotic Void Sea.
"An heir of the Primordial Race has also appeared!"
Not long after, news spread that descendants of the Primordial Race had appeared in the world.
Actually, the Primordial Race was not a single race but subdivided into over a dozen races.
It is said each branch of the Primordial Race possesses an extremely ancient heritage, traceable back to the legendary previous era, making them arguably the oldest batch of races within the Chaotic Void Sea.
Of course, for most beings in the Chaotic Void Sea, the term "previous era" is a rather vague concept, hard to pin down to a specific age within remote antiquity.
"Recently, various major forces in the Chaotic Void Sea have been dispatching armies everywhere, engaging in wars to seize territory, creating chaos.
Now so many ancient races and factions have emerged one after another. It seems the Chaotic Void is heading toward another turbulent era. This is not good news for ordinary beings."
In a certain world within the Chaotic Void Sea, a white-haired old man sat cross-legged before a simple thatched hut. A sand tray was placed before him. After performing some calculations, the old man let out a light sigh.
Back in the Fire Realm, Ye Yunfei cultivated within the valley for a full three months.
Three months later, he finally succeeded in fusing the fiery dragon into the Second Layer of the Nine-Yang Ancient Scripture.
BOOM... RUMBLE...
When the fiery dragon fused into the light sphere representing the Second Layer, a powerful surge of energy aura shot into the sky, causing this stretch of heaven and earth to tremble violently. The earth rumbled, wind and clouds churned, and the entire world seemed to boil.
"After fusing the fiery dragon into the Second Layer of the Nine-Yang Ancient Scripture, the power has indeed increased significantly!"
Ye Yunfei slowly opened his eyes, murmuring to himself.
"The Vermilion Bird's strength has also increased a lot during this time."
Ye Yunfei sensed the Vermilion Bird standing in the distance and nodded.
"It seems my realm is loosening. I can break through."
At this moment, Ye Yunfei suddenly felt his realm loosening.
"Good. I'll attempt to break through the realm."
After thinking it over, Ye Yunfei sat down cross-legged once more, starting to impact his realm.
Ten days later.
Ye Yunfei welcomed a tribulation of lightning.
Since the Nine-Yang Ancient Scripture was a Yang-aligned technique, and the Fire Realm brimmed with dense fire energy and fire laws, breaking through in such an environment was a good choice.
After experiencing a relatively large-scale lightning tribulation, Ye Yunfei successfully broke through to become a Mid-Level Heavenly Immortal.
The increase in realm also boosted Ye Yunfei's overall combat power.
"Young Master Ye, congratulations on your successful breakthrough."
After Ye Yunfei succeeded in his breakthrough, Cui Xia arrived and spoke.
In fact, during this time, Cui Xia had been staying near Ye Yunfei's secluded cultivation spot. Seeing that Ye Yunfei had passed the tribulation, she immediately came over.
"Just a Mid-Level Heavenly Immortal, not much to speak of," Ye Yunfei said.
"Indeed. For someone of your caliber, Young Master Ye, Mid-Level Heavenly Immortal isn't a significant realm," Cui Xia replied.
"Young Master Ye, the ancestor wants to see you."
Just then, the Grand Elder arrived and spoke to Ye Yunfei.
"Senior wants to see me?"
Ye Yunfei was taken aback. Cui Hong was an energy form of a Deity. The pressure Ye Yunfei felt in his presence was immense, so Ye Yunfei wasn't particularly keen on seeing him.
"Alright."
After a moment's thought, Ye Yunfei still agreed.
Because Ye Yunfei knew this was Fire Clan territory. If Cui Hong wanted to cause trouble for him, escape would be impossible.
Thus, led by the Grand Elder, Ye Yunfei entered the Fire Clan's ancestral land.
The entrance was located halfway up the previously mentioned tall mountain.
The Fire Clan's ancestral land was actually a Small World.
This Small World was now connected to the outside world, and during this period, vast amounts of fire energy and fire laws had replenished it, making it now an energy-rich world.
The Grand Elder led Ye Yunfei before a rather simple palace.
"Young Master Ye, the ancestor is inside. I won't enter," the Grand Elder said to Ye Yunfei.
"Alright then."
Ye Yunfei nodded, then entered the palace.
In the center of the palace, Cui Hong sat cross-legged, his expression calm and peaceful, appearing carefree.
"Young man, take a seat."
Cui Hong pointed to a meditation cushion in the hall and spoke.
"Thank you, Senior."
Ye Yunfei walked over and sat cross-legged on the cushion.
"Young man, it seems you've already fused that fiery dragon into the Second Layer of the Nine-Yang Ancient Scripture."
Cui Hong glanced at Ye Yunfei, nodded, and said.
"Yes. Thank you for gifting the fiery dragon, Senior."
Ye Yunfei replied.
"No need for thanks."
It was only with your help that our Fire Clan managed to break free.
The reason I called you here is mainly to perceive the energy and laws within your body."
Cui Hong stated.
"Perceive the energy and laws within my body?"
Ye Yunfei was taken aback again.
But he immediately realized it was probably because of the Yin Seed he had refined and absorbed earlier.
Previously, many Demigod experts had pursued him precisely because of that Yin Seed.
But this Cui Hong before him was an energy form of a Deity. Why would he want to perceive that Yin Seed too?
Ye Yunfei felt some doubt in his heart.
"Very well."
Senior, please go ahead."
Ye Yunfei willed it, releasing his energy and laws to form an energy sphere that rolled and surged before his body, rumbling with power.
Cui Hong's gaze fixed on the energy sphere in front of Ye Yunfei, examining it carefully.