Ye Yunfei was initially very interested in the Jinhua Divine Hall before him. After all, it was the famed residence of the Jinhua God, and it was bound to contain some extremely precious treasures at the Deity level.
However, it seemed this divine hall would be very difficult to enter. Moreover, with so many powerful experts gathered here, the competition was simply too fierce. This was especially true for the top masters from the ancient forces like Heavenly Elder Daoist Temple, the Great Ancient Clan, and Little Western Temple; Ye Yunfei couldn't even perceive how strong they truly were.
In comparison, if he could seize this opportunity to find the seclusion site of the Myriad Methods Merchant House's ancestor, the rewards might be even greater.
Not long after, Duan Rong led a group of Myriad Methods Merchant House members to slip away discreetly, followed covertly by four of the merchant house's Demigod experts.
Ye Yunfei had his two Soul Power Planets remain behind to control Zhang Wei and Chen Chong, keeping them near the Jinhua Divine Hall to observe the situation. This way, if anything unusual happened there, Ye Yunfei would know immediately.
"Esteemed friends, what do you think of my proposal? Let us join forces to break in together first. Once inside, we can rely on our own abilities to divide the treasures found within!"
As Ye Yunfei was leaving, he once again heard the voice of that Dark Faction expert.
"That Jinhua Divine Hall is too mysterious. I don't dare probe it myself. I believe even these relatively strong experts will find it extremely difficult to force their way in. A fearsome battle is about to erupt here next. These gathered powerhouses will undoubtedly battle that palace to earth-shattering extremes in order to gain entry," Hun Lao said to Ye Yunfei. The residence of a Deity was not a place so easily stormed.
"Let's not worry about here for now. We should go search for that ancestor of the Myriad Methods Merchant House's seclusion site. Perhaps we'll find something worthwhile," Ye Yunfei replied, feeling somewhat expectant.
Soon, they returned to the abandoned continent from before.
A gaunt old man, his entire body shrouded in a grey robe, was already waiting there. Based on Duan Rong's memories, Ye Yunfei knew this gaunt elder was the Ancient Diviner of the Myriad Methods Merchant House. This Ancient Diviner was a master of deduction, highly valued by several of the merchant house's core elders.
"We pay our respects to the Ancient Diviner!"
Duan Rong led the Myriad Methods Merchant House members forward, bowing respectfully.
The four Demigods from the merchant house also revealed themselves, stepping forward to greet him. Their attitude towards the Ancient Diviner was one of great respect.
"Alright. From now on, everyone will follow my guidance to jointly search for our ancestor's seclusion site," the Ancient Diviner said with a nod, his voice clear and sonorous.
As soon as he finished speaking, he swept his hand, and a longsword emanating rolling divine light appeared, suspending itself above his head.
"That's a Peak-Level Demigod magical artifact!"
Ye Yunfei observed the dazzlingly bright longsword and immediately recognized its rank.
"This longsword is an artifact our ancestor used before achieving Deity status. It carries an aura left by our ancestor. We can follow the guidance of this sword to find his seclusion site," the Ancient Diviner explained to the others.
Then, the Ancient Diviner pointed with a finger, and an ancient altar flew out from within his body. He moved his body slightly, sitting cross-legged on the altar. The longsword hovered above his head, radiating dazzling divine light.
The Ancient Diviner took out a large batch of specialized tools and materials for divination and deduction, and placed an altar table before him. He then began to perform his deduction arts.
Dense, interlocking streams of mysterious talisman scripts burst forth continuously from his body, drilling into the surrounding space, and then permeating across the entire continent.
"Alright. Starting now, I will tell you which locations to search. You must go immediately upon my instruction. The faster, the better," the Ancient Diviner declared to everyone.
"Please rest assured, Ancient Diviner. We will cooperate fully," an Advanced Demigod spoke up.
Before long, the Ancient Diviner suddenly pointed.
"Go check that location!" he shouted.
"Duan Rong!"
The Myriad Methods Merchant House Advanced Demigod immediately looked towards Duan Rong.
"Everyone, follow me!"
Duan Rong waved his hand and immediately led several dozen Myriad Methods Merchant House Heavenly Immortals, rushing towards the location indicated by the Ancient Diviner. A Initial Demigod also followed.
However, after searching that area, they found nothing. Soon after, the Ancient Diviner pointed to another location, and Duan Rong promptly took his men there.
Thus, in the time that followed, under the guidance of the Ancient Diviner, the Myriad Methods Merchant House members scoured the abandoned continent.
"Our friends from the Myriad Methods Merchant House, you're quite clever, sneaking back here again," a voice rang out half a day later.
A group of people had suddenly rushed into this continent. Their leader was a tall, skinny figure in a green robe who looked almost like a bamboo pole. Behind the green-robed elder were five Demigods and a large group of Heavenly Immortals.
"Trouble! Everyone, be alert! It's people from the Eternal Fortune Merchant House! They are also here to find our ancestor's seclusion site! The Chief Executive has ordered that once we locate our ancestor's seclusion site, our Myriad Methods Merchant House is to claim all treasures within. If the Eternal Fortune Merchant House dares to compete, show no mercy! Take action directly!" The Ancient Diviner of the Myriad Methods Merchant House looked at the green-robed elder with alarm and immediately sent a Sound Transmission to all members of his merchant house.
It turned out that before the Myriad Methods Merchant House ancestor's death, he went into secluded cultivation with another seriously injured Deity—a close friend—to recuperate. That other Deity was the ancestor of the Eternal Fortune Merchant House.
The ancestors of the two great merchant houses had been the best of friends. Back then, they had encountered formidable enemies together. Fighting side by side, they paid a heavy price but ultimately slew their foes. Then they sought out a hidden location together to enter secluded cultivation and heal their wounds.
However, the injuries of both Deities were too severe. In the end, they perished together at that secluded cultivation site.
The descendants of the two merchant houses, based on clues left by their ancestors, learned of these events. Both merchant houses had been secretly searching for the location where their ancestors had cultivated in seclusion prior to their demise. Not long ago, they had both simultaneously traced the clues to this Jinhua World Cluster.
"So the Myriad Methods Merchant House wants to monopolize the treasures left behind by the two Deities," Ye Yunfei thought to himself.
"The Eternal Fortune Merchant House likely has the same idea. If the seclusion site of the two merchants' ancestors is truly found, I'm afraid a fierce battle will erupt between their people," Ye Yunfei mused further.
In the time that followed, members of both merchant houses searched the abandoned continent for their ancestors' seclusion site.
Before, when the two merchant houses collaborated to chase down the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, their relationship had been harmonious. Now, however, they were at odds, with hidden lethal intent brewing.
The green-robed elder from the Eternal Fortune Merchant House was their Diviner, surnamed Liu, revered by his people as Diviner Liu.
This Diviner Liu had also brought a magical artifact once used by the Eternal Fortune Merchant House's ancestor. Based on the residual aura within this artifact, he began performing deductions.
Guided by Diviner Liu, the Eternal Fortune Merchant House members searched back and forth across the abandoned continent.
Finally, both Diviners focused their attention on a mountain range region within this abandoned continent.
This particular mountain range region was precisely the same area where the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm had hidden when being chased before.
Both Diviners then simultaneously sent Sound Transmissions to their respective merchant house members.
The forces of both merchant houses sprang into action, charging towards this mountain range region from all directions. Eventually, they all entered this vast mountainous terrain.
"These Diviners from the two merchant houses are quite capable, managing to zero in on this area," Ye Yunfei thought silently.
At this time, both the Ancient Diviner and Diviner Liu arrived within the mountain range. The two Diviners each sat cross-legged on their own altars, continuously performing deduction arts. Masses of densely-packed talisman scripts flew from their bodies, permeating the surrounding space as they conducted a detailed deduction and perception of this mountain range.
Ye Yunfei initially considered using Geomancy Technique to search this mountain region but decided against it. These two Diviners were not only skilled in deduction arts, but their perceptual abilities were also bound to be formidable. It would be easy for them to detect his actions.
Roughly an hour later, the magical artifacts hovering above the two Diviners simultaneously vibrated intensely, emitting even more dazzling radiance.
Then, the gazes of both Diviners simultaneously fell upon a particular bald, bare mountain peak located in the center of the mountain range.
This peak was precisely situated at the very heart of this region—tall and sharply pointed.
Ye Yunfei immediately noticed the movements of the two Diviners, and his gaze also turned towards that peak.
"There truly is something odd about that mountain peak!"
Proficient in Geomancy Technique, Ye Yunfei had a deep understanding of all sorts of topography. With a single glance, he recognized the uniqueness of that peak. This mountain did not just stand out within this mountain forest region; even relative to the entire abandoned continent, it occupied an extremely special position—almost like the core array point of a large-scale formation!
At this moment, the two Diviners soared into the air simultaneously, arriving instantly before that mountain peak, positioning themselves on either side, left and right. Members of both great merchant houses followed the Diviners, rushing to surround the peak.
"Everyone, prepare yourselves! Our ancestors' seclusion site is most likely located within this mountain peak!"
All members of the Myriad Methods Merchant House received the Ancient Diviner's Sound Transmission, and their spirits were instantly invigorated.
The two Diviners began a detailed deduction focused on the mountain peak.
Above the Ancient Diviner's head hovered a dazzlingly bright longsword. Above Diviner Liu's head floated a five-story golden pagoda. Both were Peak-Level Demigod magical artifacts, items used by their respective merchant houses' ancestors before they achieved Deity status, still bearing traces of their original owners' auras. These two Diviners were precisely performing their deductions based on these residual auras within the artifacts.
A short while later, roughly another half an hour, the artifacts above the two Diviners' heads suddenly began to tremble violently. Then, they transformed into two streaks of flowing light and shot fiercely toward the mountain peak ahead.
Everyone watched the two artifacts intently, their hearts pulsing with excitement.
Soon, the two artifacts flew to a specific spot on the peak and came to a halt.
The onlookers watched in astonishment as a tall figure emerged from within each of the two artifacts.
"It's the ancestor! It's an embodiment formed from the remnant Soul Power energy left within the artifact by our ancestor! The residual soul imprint within the artifact must have sensed its true body and thus took physical form!"
Both Diviners exclaimed in exhilaration.
After appearing, the two tall figures walked to a position halfway up the mountain's slope and simultaneously pushed with their hands.
BOOM…
A deep, earth-shaking roar emanated from that location.
The crowd was then startled to see a tall spatial portal slowly materialize at that spot, emanating rolling divine radiance.
At this moment, everyone was thrilled to the extreme.
They had finally found the place they were looking for!
By now, the two tall figures had already entered through that spatial portal.
"Let's go, we're heading in!"
The Ancient Diviner abruptly stood up from his altar and shouted, his figure flashing as he rushed forward, leading the charge towards that glowing portal.
The members of the Myriad Methods Merchant House soared into the air one after another, unleashing their movement techniques as they sped at full pace towards the luminous portal.
"We must go in immediately!"
At the same moment, Diviner Liu of the Eternal Fortune Merchant House also yelled out loud, leading his merchant house's members as they surged towards the glowing portal on the mountain peak ahead.
The forces of the two great merchant houses reached the portal almost simultaneously.
The Ancient Diviner and Diviner Liu charged at the forefront of their respective groups, arriving before the luminous portal at the same time.
However, neither Diviner recklessly rushed inside. Instead, they both suddenly halted their steps.
They understood that within this spatial portal before them lay the seclusion site where two Deities had spent their final moments. It was bound to be perilous, and barging in carelessly would be extremely dangerous.
"Diviner Liu, this is our ancestor's seclusion site. If we simply reveal our identities, our ancestor shouldn't make things difficult for us," a Demigod from the Eternal Fortune Merchant House said to Diviner Liu.
"Regardless, we must remain cautious. The seclusion ground of a Deity is not to be trespassed lightly," Diviner Liu said gravely, his expression somber.
"This artifact belongs to our ancestor. If we follow behind it while simultaneously releasing the energy we normally cultivate with, our ancestor should be able to recognize us," Diviner Liu spoke after glancing at the artifact above his head. His gaze then turned to the Ancient Diviner.
After all, it was not just the seclusion site of the Eternal Fortune Merchant House's ancestor inside, but also that of the Myriad Methods Merchant House's ancestor. If the descendants of both merchant houses entered together, perhaps it would be safer. The two Deities would likely not harass their own descendants once they recognized them.
"Good! Let us enter together," the Ancient Diviner said with a nod after looking at the artifact above Diviner Liu's head.
Then, both Diviners urged their respective artifacts forward, flying just ahead of them, and they rushed into the luminous portal, following closely behind their artifacts.
The Demigods of both merchant houses then brought their respective followers in after the Diviners.
All participants released their energies. This was because both merchant houses had their own inherited techniques; the energy they cultivated was passed down through the lineage from their ancestors.
The next moment, the two artifacts entered the portal first. Then, the two Diviners followed them in. After them came the Demigods of both merchant houses, and then the rest of the members from both sides.
Thus, led by the two Diviners, members of both great merchant houses filed into the portal one after the other.
Duan Rong led the Myriad Methods Merchant House members following behind several Demigods.
Since Duan Rong's soul body had already become one of Ye Yunfei's Soul Power Planets, Duan Rong was essentially equivalent to a clone of Ye Yunfei now.
"Don't expose yourself too early. After all, inside lies the seclusion site of two Deities. Wait until safety is confirmed before making your move. Moreover, when you do act, it's best to eliminate those Demigods one by one. If you let them join forces and unite against you, you'll spend far more time and energy dealing with them. Those two old Diviners are likely also at the Demigod level in terms of actual combat strength; they probably aren't weak," Hun Lao sent a Sound Transmission to Ye Yunfei.
Hun Lao knew that to seize the treasures left behind by the two Deities, Ye Yunfei would definitely act against the members of both merchant houses, primarily focusing on their Demigods.
"Understood! I will wait for the best moment to make my move against them," Ye Yunfei nodded.