"Then we'll just take it. Since we've already made a move, there's no need for politeness."
After hearing the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm's words, Ye Yunfei nodded and suddenly reached out, swiftly grasping the black-and-white rod in the white-robed figure's hand.
The moment Ye Yunfei's palm came into contact with the rod, he felt endless waves of death energy and Death Laws pouring forth, trying to erode his physical body and Soul Body.
However, Ye Yunfei's physical constitution was exceptionally robust. With a forceful clench of his hand, the vast power of his body instantly erupted. While utilizing his physical strength, Ye Yunfei also unleashed his Mental Force energy. Surging Mental Force energy, like raging tides, continuously bombarded the white-robed figure.
Moreover, Ye Yunfei activated several other Daos and Laws he had cultivated, including the Yin-Yang Laws, pouring them all upon the white-robed figure to suppress it.
While Ye Yunfei was attacking the white-robed figure, Hun Lao, Huang Shang, the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, Hu Miao, and the others coordinated with all their might.
Especially the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm. Knowing Ye Yunfei wanted to seize the black-and-white rod, he immediately employed all his methods, unleashing two or three types of secret spatial arts and techniques from his race lineage.
Under the fierce onslaught of Ye Yunfei and his companions, the white-robed figure momentarily froze, standing immobilized.
Ye Yunfei gripped the rod and pulled hard, successfully snatching it away. Then, without looking back, he dashed towards the direction of the city gates.
A low growl of anger emanated from the white-robed figure. He quickly regained movement, transforming into a streak of white light as he pursued Ye Yunfei with astonishing speed.
Simultaneously, all the ghosts in the vicinity grew enraged as well, rushing to attack Ye Yunfei from all sides. Furthermore, Ye Yunfei heard the Undead Song resonating through the city becoming louder and clearer.
The eerie Undead Song was saturated with the aura of death. Every note in the melody seemed profoundly sinister, directly attacking the Soul Bodies of living beings. It caused dizziness, a chill from soul to body, and made one shiver uncontrollably.
Since Ye Yunfei was already relatively close to the city gates at this point, many other individuals had also rushed into this area.
Now, faced with so many enraged ghosts and influenced by the piercingly clear Undead Song, many couldn't help but cry out in fear.
Among them, those with relatively weaker Soul Force energy or less firm willpower found their Soul Bodies being assailed by the song, causing them to clutch their heads and scream in agony.
"We need to get out of here, fast! That fellow is chasing us from behind. This is his territory. Although we managed to subdue him earlier by catching him off guard, he's now furious and will likely use his deepest, reserved skills against us," Hun Lao said to Ye Yunfei.
The white-robed figure behind them was moving with shocking speed, swiftly closing the gap.
"No need to worry. He won't catch up to us," Ye Yunfei replied with a smile.
As he spoke, he stamped his foot. A large Earth Formation instantly appeared beneath him, erupting with billowing earth energy that blocked the path of the white-robed figure.
Simultaneously, a Teleportation Earth Formation materialized under Ye Yunfei's feet. Carrying his body, it instantly transported Ye Yunfei to the city gates.
In a flash of movement, Ye Yunfei shot out through the city gates.
He had just emerged outside when the white-robed figure, accompanied by a dense tide of ghosts, arrived at the city gates. However, he did not give chase beyond. Instead, he halted.
"Nine-Yang Ancient Scripture... Very well. I'll consider it a favor to that lineage and let this young fellow off," the white-robed figure murmured softly, watching Ye Yunfei's figure rapidly receding into the distance beyond the gates.
"However, that artifact of mine is a sinister object not to be taken away so casually," the white-robed figure added lightly before gradually vanishing.
By now, Ye Yunfei had already exited the city gates and was speeding away along the stone path. In moments, he was far from the ancient city.
Yet, right at this moment, Ye Yunfei suddenly felt a surge of powerful energy erupt from the rod in his grasp. It struggled fiercely, attempting to wrench itself free from his hand and fly back towards the city he had just left.
Caught off guard, Ye Yunfei nearly stumbled backward as the rod pulled him.
"Halt!" Ye Yunfei roared. The physical power within his body poured forth, entirely focused on suppressing the rod.
Hun Lao and the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm immediately activated their spatial secret arts, sealing and compressing the space around the rod.
A powerful attractive force emanated from the distant city, acting upon the rod, attempting to summon it back.
"No need to guess; it must be that fellow meddling," the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm shouted.
"Let's work together to suppress this rod. He absolutely cannot take it back," the silkworm declared, appearing beside Ye Yunfei. His body radiated rolling golden light interwoven with intricate spatial runes. These profound runes intertwined, forming a large golden net that enveloped the rod.
"Spatial Severance!" Hun Lao called out softly.
He activated an advanced spatial secret art of his race. An intangible, transparent spatial blade manifested, swiftly revolving around the rod. In moments, it forcibly severed and isolated the space containing the rod from the surrounding space.
"I've successfully severed the space containing this rod completely. Hurry and move," Hun Lao said to Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei also felt that the space around the rod had been cleanly cut away, separated from the surroundings. Clutching the rod, Ye Yunfei raced forward along the stone path. Flight was impossible on this path; one could only rely on physical prowess to travel.
"This young lad is audacious, to actually dare take an artifact of our Samsara line," a voice murmured from a corner deep within the city before silence resumed.
By now, Ye Yunfei was already far from the city behind him.
"Good news. It seems that fellow has stopped summoning the rod. Quickly, begin refining it," Hun Lao advised Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei also sensed that the rod in his hand had calmed.
"Right. I'll refine it now," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, take charge of the Phantom Tower. Go into hiding. Continue onward after I've refined this rod," Ye Yunfei instructed the silkworm. He then entered the Phantom Tower and sat cross-legged. The black-and-white rod hovered before him, emitting thick death energy and an aura of mortality.
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, carrying the Phantom Tower, transformed into a faint, flickering golden light that settled in a corner of the stone path. Activating a spatial stealth technique, he vanished completely.
Inside the Phantom Tower, Ye Yunfei examined the black-and-white rod before him, then extended his Soul Power energy to probe its interior.
Despite its eerie aura of death, in essence, it was still an artifact.
Soon, Ye Yunfei's Soul Power energy successfully penetrated the rod's interior.
"All things on the Samsara Path belong to the undead. All living beings should step aside," a voice spoke the moment Ye Yunfei's consciousness entered. A figure robed entirely in white, wearing a tall, pointed, strange white hat appeared within. Its sinister, blood-red eyes stared at Ye Yunfei.
"Cease these mystical theatrics. This artifact now belongs to me. Be wise and depart willingly. Otherwise, do not blame me for being harsh," Ye Yunfei coldly stated, knowing full well the white-robed figure before him was a Soul Power imprint.
However, the white-robed figure, surrounded by rolling yin winds, lunged toward Ye Yunfei's consciousness that had entered the artifact.
"If that's the case, then I have no choice but to act," Ye Yunfei said chillingly.
As his words fell, Ye Yunfei executed Soul Sword. A longsword emanating powerful Soul Power energy howled as it streaked toward the white-robed figure.
Simultaneously, another sword condensed from potent Mental Force energy appeared from another direction, striking at the white-robed figure—this was the Formless Heart Sword.
Soul Sword and Formless Heart Sword attacked from both sides. Moreover, a set of invisible shackles descended from above the white-robed figure's head, directly suppressing its form.
Ye Yunfei had previously managed to hold his own against the white-robed figure in the city. Now, facing merely a Soul Power imprint, he quickly gained the upper hand.
In the end, the white-robed figure within the long rod was shattered into nothingness by the Soul Sword. Ye Yunfei then began imprinting his own Soul Power mark upon the long rod.
At the same time, deep within the distant city...
"That young rascal has truly taken my artifact for himself. Just wait, kid. Perhaps one day we shall meet again. At that time, I will settle accounts with you thoroughly," a voice echoed from the city's depths.
"Sobbing Staff."
After refining the rod, Ye Yunfei learned its name.
"What an inauspicious name," the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm couldn't help but complain upon hearing the name from Ye Yunfei.
"The name isn't important. I wonder about its power, though. Regardless, it was free. I'll test its might when there's a chance," Ye Yunfei said with a smile as he stored away the Sobbing Staff.
"I wonder how much longer this Reincarnation Passage stretches?" Ye Yunfei gazed ahead at the stone path extending into the unknown, with its misty, ambiguous space on either side.
"The difference between this Reincarnation Passage and the one in the Main World of the Three Thousand Grand Realms is truly vast," the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm sighed.
"Master, I think it's possible that the Reincarnation Passage in the Main World is abandoned, while the one we're traversing now is still in normal operation," Hu Miao suggested.
"That's plausible," Ye Yunfei was slightly stirred by Hu Miao's words.
A normally operational Reincarnation Passage naturally filled one with intense curiosity and a desire to explore.
"Regardless, we press on," Ye Yunfei stated.
He then increased his speed, hurrying forward along the stone path.
As he traveled, an Art Formula Jade Slip appeared within Ye Yunfei's Soul Sea.
This jade slip was precisely the one obtained earlier from the pill shop within the city. It recorded the alchemical insights and experiences of a certain Pill Master.
Ye Yunfei used one of his Soul Power planets to begin reading and comprehending the contents of this jade slip.
"It truly is alchemical knowledge and insights from the ancient era!" Before long, Ye Yunfei's expression lit up with pleasant surprise.
The alchemical traditions and insights documented within this jade slip did not disappoint. Not only were they exceptionally profound, but some of the pill-concocting philosophies and techniques were entirely new to Ye Yunfei, offering him significant inspiration.
Ye Yunfei kept one of his Soul Power planets continuously contemplating the alchemical heritage and insights within the jade slip while simultaneously advancing along the stone path.
An indeterminate amount of time later, Ye Yunfei suddenly noticed that the path ahead seemed to end.
An immense continent appeared before his eyes. Strangely, this continent was pitch-black, deathly silent, shrouded in pale mist, and emitted a chilling cold that brushed against one's skin.
The moment Ye Yunfei stepped onto this black continent, he was immediately assaulted by a wave of rolling death aura. The surrounding temperature plummeted drastically, making it feel as if he had entered the Underworld's realm of the dead.
In the distance stood one towering black mountain after another, their surfaces covered in layer upon layer of black profound ice.
Ye Yunfei discovered that entombed within these layers of black profound ice were numerous corpses.
These corpses wore attire of extreme antiquity. Besides humans, there were beastkin, demonkin, devilkin, and many other races.
Frozen within the black profound ice, emitting faint wisps of black mist, these beings appeared sinister and ghastly.
"What kind of place is this continent? It's packed with so many frozen corpses," Hun Lao remarked, somewhat astonished.
"Hun Lao, does your Chaos World Tree racial memory contain any information about this continent?" Hu Miao inquired.
"I haven't recalled anything related to this continent yet. In truth, even in ancient times, the Reincarnation Passage and Samsara paths were considered immensely mysterious, holding many secrets unknown to outsiders. Though our Chaos World Tree race has seen much of the world, we don't know everything," Hun Lao shook his head and replied.
Ye Yunfei walked across this black continent where bone-chilling cold permeated everywhere. The many mountains in the distance, their countless corpses encased in thick layers of black profound ice, presented a profoundly eerie sight.
Ye Yunfei noticed that quite a few individuals had actually arrived on this black continent before him and were now moving about.
"Look, over there is a patch of black flowers. No doubt they must be rare, precious medicinal herbs," a group of people in the distance shouted, rushing toward a mountain peak where a cluster of dark blossoms grew at its base.
"Those are the legendary Ghost-Faced Flowers! They say each blossom requires devouring vast amounts of souls to grow and bloom. Ghost-Faced Flowers can be used to concoct some high-grade Soul Power pills!" As the group neared the black flowers, they gasped in shock. In the center of each flower's petals grew a bizarre, dark, ghostly face. They quickly identified these legendary, rare medicinal herbs.