"Who are you?
Why are you blocking my way?"
The Demon Race member controlled by Ye Yunfei stopped and asked the five Heavenly Immortals with an annoyed expression.
Within the Chaotic Void Sea, the Demon Race was a race of formidable strength. Those who emerged from the Demon Capital, in particular, carried an unshakeable confidence wherever they went. Few were usually willing to provoke them.
"So it's a friend of the Demon Race. We are members of the two great merchant houses—the Myriad Methods Merchant House and the Eternal Fortune Merchant House. We are working together ahead to deal with a common enemy.
To prevent the enemy from escaping, we've temporarily sealed off this area. Please understand, friend of the Demon Race, and take a detour," one of the advanced Heavenly Immortals stepped forward and said, his attitude still relatively respectful.
"What a nuisance. I didn't expect us of the Demon Race to be obstructed while traveling outside. It seems our Demon Capital has been too low-key in recent years," the Demon Race member manipulated by Ye Yunfei said angrily.
At the same time, both Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao released their Soul Power to sense the vast area ahead, searching for the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm's presence.
"I faintly detect at least five Demigods ahead," Hun Lao sent a sound transmission to Ye Yunfei.
"Indeed. To deal with the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm and the other high-ranking members of the Golden Dragon Merchant House, they actually dispatched five Demigods. It seems the Myriad Methods Merchant House truly intends to wipe out the Golden Dragon Merchant House completely," Ye Yunfei said with a cold laugh.
"It's probably because the Golden Dragon Merchant House developed too quickly, infringing upon the Myriad Methods Merchant House's interests, which brought about this mortal calamity.
These merchant houses place great importance on profit. Once there's a conflict of interest, they are likely to act mercilessly without hesitation," Hun Lao replied.
"Please don't misunderstand, friend of the Demon Race. We really did seal off this area to prevent our enemy from escaping. Here's a small token of our sincerity, consider it compensation from our Myriad Methods Merchant House to you," at that moment, the advanced Heavenly Immortal who had spoken earlier waved his hand and tossed over a spatial ring.
The spatial ring contained some Heavenly Immortal-level magical treasures, energy crystals, and some elixirs.
Since the Demon Race member controlled by Ye Yunfei was at the Perfect Heavenly Immortal realm, the treasures offered by the Myriad Methods Merchant House's advanced Heavenly Immortal were all at the Heavenly Immortal level.
"Fine then," Ye Yunfei controlled the Demon Race member to accept the spatial ring, then turned and walked back, grumbling all the way.
Meanwhile, Ye Yunfei was inside the Phantom Tower, his Soul Power sensing all the movements outside.
"I can faintly sense the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm's aura. He's indeed ahead, but he should already be completely surrounded," Hun Lao suddenly said to Ye Yunfei.
"Yes, I can feel his aura now too," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"This Jinhua World Cluster has gathered so many Demigods; who knows what major event is about to occur. I'd better not reveal my identity for now.
How about this: I'll take control of someone from the Myriad Methods Merchant House, then use their identity to find a way to approach the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm," Ye Yunfei thought for a moment and said.
Originally, with Ye Yunfei's current strength, as long as he didn't encounter a Perfect Demigod, he could fight freely. Particularly against Primary and Intermediate Demigods, Ye Yunfei wouldn't fear them at all. Saving the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm would be simple—just charge straight in.
But Ye Yunfei didn't want to expose his identity yet, so he chose not to charge in directly.
At this moment, Ye Yunfei was already far away from the five Heavenly Immortals who had blocked the road.
Ye Yunfei maneuvered the Demon Race member to a secluded, uninhabited location, then emerged from the Phantom Tower. He performed Geomancy, communed with the earth energy and earth laws in the surrounding space-time, and quickly constructed more than a dozen Earth Formations.
Then, under the cover of these Earth Formations, Ye Yunfei melded into the void and stealthily moved once more towards the previous direction.
After cultivating the Chaos Burial Method and with his Geomancy skills continuously improving, Ye Yunfei could now freely control the Earth Formations he constructed, moving them as he wished through space.
Enveloped by over a dozen Earth Formations and vast amounts of dense earth energy, Ye Yunfei soon returned to his previous location.
With the concealment provided by the Earth Formations and earth energy, combined with Ye Yunfei using a masterful stealth secret technique, the five Heavenly Immortals from before could not sense his presence at all.
Ye Yunfei's Soul Power swept over, and he quickly located those five Heavenly Immortals.
All five were hidden in different spots within this void, each concealing their auras.
Ye Yunfei, as if unseen by gods and ghosts, appeared behind the advanced Heavenly Immortal who had spoken to him earlier.
"Humiao, now!" Ye Yunfei said to Humiao.
Humiao immediately unleashed Illusion Arts. Numerous, densely-packed illusionary realms appeared around the head of the advanced Heavenly Immortal, instantly flooding into his soul sea.
Ye Yunfei lightly stomped his foot, and a massive Earth Formation instantly appeared, sealing this advanced Heavenly Immortal within.
This advanced Heavenly Immortal now found himself in one bizarre illusion after another. He had no idea what was happening, couldn't distinguish direction, and was both shocked and furious. He tried to mobilize his own Soul Power to resist.
But before he could react, two Soul Force Planets appeared simultaneously in his soul sea, one to the left and one to the right. They whistled towards his Soul Body and instantly devoured it.
Since Ye Yunfei had already laid an Earth Formation sealing off this area of space, and this advanced Heavenly Immortal had his Soul Body devoured in an instant, there was basically no commotion.
The other four Heavenly Immortals nearby merely glanced over in surprise, then ignored it as nothing seemed amiss.
Thus, Ye Yunfei completely took control of this Myriad Methods Merchant House advanced Heavenly Immortal.
After devouring his Soul Body, Ye Yunfei obtained all of his memories.
"There are indeed a total of five Demigods ahead.
Two are from the Eternal Fortune Merchant House, and three are from the Myriad Methods Merchant House.
All five are Initial Demigods.
Also, to track the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, the Myriad Methods and Eternal Fortune Merchant Houses hired assassins from an organization called the Sun-Moon Tower.
The assassins of the Sun-Moon Tower excel in secret techniques like locking onto soul auras and capturing spatial traces. That's why they've been able to lead the people from the two merchant houses in relentless pursuit of the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm.
Without the Sun-Moon Tower assassins, the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm would have long since shaken off the pursuit!"
After acquiring the memories of this advanced Heavenly Immortal, Ye Yunfei immediately learned many things.
Next, Ye Yunfei controlled this Myriad Methods Merchant House advanced Heavenly Immortal and approached another Myriad Methods Merchant House Heavenly Immortal nearby. Before that one could react, he used two Soul Force Planets to devour his Soul Body.
Although a single Soul Force Planet could only control one being for action, the Soul Force Planets could be reused cyclically. After devouring the Soul Body of a creature, its physical body could be stored. When needed, a Soul Force Planet could transform into its Soul Body to manipulate its physical form.
Thus, even though Ye Yunfei only possessed three Soul Force Planets currently, these three could be used repeatedly to devour numerous Soul Bodies. With each Soul Body consumed, the energy of the Soul Force Planet would grow stronger, and in the future, it could perfectly simulate these already-consumed Soul Bodies.
Following this, Ye Yunfei used the same method to devour the Soul Bodies of the remaining three Heavenly Immortals.
After devouring the five Heavenly Immortals' Soul Bodies, Ye Yunfei knew even more.
Of these five Heavenly Immortals, three belonged to the Myriad Methods Merchant House, and two belonged to the Eternal Fortune Merchant House.
Ye Yunfei stashed the bodies of four of the Heavenly Immortals into the Phantom Tower. Then, using a Soul Force Planet to manipulate the body of one of the advanced Heavenly Immortals, he began walking forward.
Not long after, Ye Yunfei arrived above an expanse of vast land.
This land appeared to be a desolate ruin.
Looking out, broken walls and debris were scattered everywhere, and shattered bricks and stones covered the ground. It was evident this land had once been extremely prosperous, and likely hosted many large-scale cities in some ancient era.
Gazing into the distance at this abandoned land, one could still see the marks left behind by many ancient cities after enduring the erosion of wind and rain over the long river of time.
"The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm must be hiding somewhere in this land," as soon as Ye Yunfei arrived above it, Hun Lao transmitted.
"Yes, I can already see a spatial marker he left over there," Ye Yunfei replied with a nod.
Ye Yunfei saw that the vast, barren land before him had been completely encircled, sealed off layer upon layer.
Large numbers of powerful Heavenly Immortals lurked within the space surrounding this land, and many formations had also been laid down.
There were also many faintly visible figures moving about searching the land—undoubtedly looking for the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm.
Ye Yunfei also sensed the presence of five Demigod experts.
"What secrets does this world hold?
Why did the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm hide here?" Ye Yunfei felt somewhat puzzled as he looked at the vast expanse before him.
Ye Yunfei could tell that although this land was heavily surrounded and many formations were in place, the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm should have been capable of breaking out given his abilities.
The proficiency of the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm race in spatial secret arts was not an empty boast; their spatial techniques were truly unique.
Furthermore, since following Ye Yunfei, the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm had access to sufficient cultivation resources and spent most of its time inside the Phantom Tower. Its cumulative cultivation time had actually grown quite long, and its bloodline had undergone repeated upgrades. Its current strength was actually equivalent to a Perfect Heavenly Immortal, and in its most adept areas of spatial energy and spatial laws, it had long since approached the level of a Initial Demigod.
Therefore, Ye Yunfei knew this land likely couldn't confine the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm. Unless something here attracted him, keeping him from leaving.
"This land is strange!" Thinking this, Ye Yunfei began scrutinizing the vast land below. Soon, a surprised expression appeared on his face.
Because while the surface of this land looked like a desolate, barren ruin with little life force remaining, underneath it, numerous Earth Dragons were hidden—not just many Gold Dragons, but also Five-Colored Earth Dragons.
Moreover, besides housing many Earth Dragons, this land concealed an astonishing amount of vitality.
"What kind of terrain is this?
It's as if this vast land itself is a grand, large-scale Earth Formation!
I've never encountered an Earth Formation of such scale before!"
The more Ye Yunfei looked, the more astonished he became.
All the Earth Formations Ye Yunfei had encountered or personally constructed before had only utilized small patches of land within a limited area.
Although Ye Yunfei could now use Geomancy to create a plot of land, he could only create relatively small ones. Compared to the vast land before him, the difference was immense.
It was hard to imagine what level of Geomancer would be capable of constructing such an astounding, large-scale Earth Formation encompassing an entire expanse of land.
"It must be a legendary Godly Master!
Only a Godly Master would possess such power to transform a whole stretch of land into an immense Earth Formation!
What an earth-shattering, monumental feat!" Ye Yunfei felt somewhat awed as he gazed at this land—barren on the surface but brimming with astonishing vitality within.
Right at this moment.
"Why have you come inside?
Weren't you assigned to guard the periphery?"
Just then, a figure appeared in the distance and instantly arrived before Ye Yunfei.
This was an old man at the Perfect Heavenly Immortal level.
Based on the memories he had obtained earlier, Ye Yunfei knew this old man was an Elder of the Myriad Methods Merchant House, holding a relatively high position and often accompanying the higher-ups.
"Elder Duan, some members of the Demon Race outside want to force their way in. We're almost unable to hold them back!" Ye Yunfei controlled the Myriad Methods Merchant House advanced Heavenly Immortal to report.
"Demon Race members trying to barge in?" Elder Duan frowned slightly.
Generally, most beings in the Chaotic Void Sea were unwilling to provoke the Demon Race because their overall strength was formidable, their temperament was volatile and fierce, and they held grudges fiercely.
"Come, lead me out to see," Elder Duan said without suspicion.
Because the Myriad Methods Merchant House advanced Heavenly Immortal controlled by Ye Yunfei showed no flaw.
Ye Yunfei controlled this advanced Heavenly Immortal to lead Elder Duan outside.
Although the area was filled with people tightly encircling the land, since both the controlled advanced Heavenly Immortal and Elder Duan were from the Myriad Methods Merchant House, no one paid them any mind.
Before long, Ye Yunfei guided Elder Duan back to the spot where he had dealt with the five Heavenly Immortals earlier.
"Where is this Demon Race member you mentioned?" Elder Duan swept his perception and asked.
However, before he could finish speaking, Ye Yunfei, Humiao, and Hun Lao all acted together, employing their own techniques and secret arts. In less than a breath's time, they had completely suppressed Elder Duan.
Ye Yunfei simultaneously controlled three Soul Force Planets, which instantly appeared and devoured Elder Duan's Soul Body.
Elder Duan didn't even understand what had happened before his Soul Body was consumed.
After devouring Elder Duan's Soul Body, Ye Yunfei obtained his memories and learned even more.
From Elder Duan's memories, Ye Yunfei learned that shortly before, the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm had barged into that barren land and was then completely surrounded.
What surprised Ye Yunfei was that even before the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm arrived, that barren land had already been heavily guarded by people from the Myriad Methods Merchant House.
"Could it be... the ancestral graves of the Myriad Methods Merchant House are within that land?
Did the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm truly intend to dig up their ancestral graves and that's why he went in?" Hun Lao couldn't help but speculate after Ye Yunfei shared this situation.
"This guy..." Ye Yunfei was somewhat speechless.
Next, Ye Yunfei used one Soul Force Planet to manipulate Elder Duan's body and reentered the vast land.
Elder Duan walked into the land and joined the other Myriad Methods Merchant House members in the search, not arousing any suspicion.
The five Demigod experts hidden nearby merely glanced at Elder Duan before ignoring him.
Although Elder Duan was only a Perfect Heavenly Immortal, he was highly valued by several core higher-ups of the Myriad Methods Merchant House. During this pursuit of the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, Elder Duan was ostensibly one of the main leaders on the Myriad Methods Merchant House side, while their Demigods remained concealed in the shadows, rarely showing themselves.
With Elder Duan's body under his control, Ye Yunfei began searching all around the land for traces of the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm.
Soon after, Ye Yunfei discovered a very well-hidden spatial marker.
This spatial marker pointed to a specific location within this vast land.
Ye Yunfei knew this was a marker the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm had left specifically for him. So, controlling Elder Duan, he headed in the direction indicated by the marker.
Not long after, they arrived at a region of bare, bald mountain ridges.
This ridge area was densely packed with peaks of varying heights. Each peak was utterly devoid of vegetation, dark in color, and appeared extremely desolate.
"This is a formation within a formation!
That is, within a large-scale Earth Formation, smaller-scale Earth Formations exist. Formations within formations, interlocked and interconnected," Ye Yunfei examined the desolate mountain ridge region before him, somewhat astonished.
"The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm's aura is growing stronger!
It seems he really is within this mountain ridge area!" Hun Lao transmitted to Ye Yunfei.
At that moment.
"Elder Duan!"
Over a dozen Heavenly Immortals from the Myriad Methods Merchant House flew over. They were responsible for searching this area. Seeing Elder Duan arrive, they came to pay their respects.
"Well, any findings?" Ye Yunfei controlled Elder Duan to ask.
"Not yet.
We've already combed this area several times over, but found no trace of the Golden Dragon Merchant House leadership," one Heavenly Immortal answered respectfully.
"Alright then, go search the nearby areas in detail.
Everyone, be diligent. Don't slack off," Elder Duan said.
Following Elder Duan's instruction, the dozen Myriad Methods Merchant House Heavenly Immortals headed toward the surrounding areas.
Elder Duan then walked into the mountainous ridge area ahead.
"The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm really is here," entering the ridge area, Ye Yunfei soon sensed a freshly left spatial marker from the silkworm and said with a smile.
This spatial marker had just been inscribed by the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, indicating it was nearby.
"Where are you? I'm here," Ye Yunfei sent a sound transmission towards that spatial marker.
Since the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm had just inscribed this marker here, contacting it would immediately alert the silkworm.
"You've finally come," Ye Yunfei had just sent the transmission when he received a response from the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm.