Inside the Phantom Tower, Ye Yunfei took out a large quantity of cultivation resources, including Divine Crystals, and began his cultivation.
Ye Yunfei now possessed two Soul Bodies and fifteen Soul Power planets, allowing him to cultivate several techniques and martial skills simultaneously.
At the same time, Ye Yunfei cultivated Soul Power, Heart Force, the Nine-Yang Ancient Scripture, sword arts, and Formations—five distinct arts in total.
He also took out a large batch of resources for the Nine Palace Totem Wheel’s nine Divine Beasts to devour.
His main focus, however, lay on the Nine-Yang Ancient Scripture, sword arts, Heart Force, and Soul Power.
One Soul Body cultivated the Nine-Yang Ancient Scripture; another Soul Body cultivated sword arts; ten Soul Power planets focused on cultivating Heart Force; and the remaining five Soul Power planets cultivated Soul Power.
“Take whatever resources you need from me,” Ye Yunfei said to Hun Lao and the others. “Our current strength is still far from sufficient. Compared to those Watchers, we are no match for them. And what’s more, it’s highly likely that Deities will soon appear in this part of the Chaotic Void. By then, we will seem even weaker.”
“Just where did those Watchers come from?” the Golden Horned Dragon Silkworm muttered. “Every single one of them is terrifyingly powerful. I’d probably be no match for any one of them that happened to cross my path. And that Guardian Captain’s strength is even more dreadful. I couldn't take him on even if there were ten of me. This won’t do. I must strive to cultivate and improve my strength; otherwise, the next time we encounter those guys, we’ll have no way to fight back.”
“Indeed, the Watchers’ power is far too terrifying,” Hun Lao sighed in agreement.
After that, Hun Lao, the Golden Horned Dragon Silkworm, Hu Miao, and Huang Shang all began cultivating in earnest.
Ye Yunfei possessed a vast quantity of various cultivation resources, so everyone could take as much as they needed.
The pressure exerted by the Watchers was so immense that it spurred every member of Ye Yunfei’s team into urgently seeking to improve their strength.
After all, everyone knew that if they ever faced the Lightning Tribulation to become a Deity in the future, they would likely encounter these so-called Watchers. A dreadful battle would be inevitable at that point.
Boom! Crash! Rumble…
Intense combat still raged in the void outside this world.
Ye Yunfei knew it was likely that the two sides had reached a temporary stalemate and couldn't determine a victor in a short time. Otherwise, the fight wouldn't have dragged on for so long.
I wonder how the Master is faring now, Ye Yunfei thought to himself.
He could only sense the commotion of the fight outside but couldn’t perceive specific details, so he had no idea about the current state of the Master of Xiaoliang Temple.
In the blink of an eye, the better part of a day passed.
Horrendous sounds of battle still echoed from the outside, and thunderous roars shook the heavens.
Throughout this time, Ye Yunfei continued his secluded cultivation within the Phantom Tower while simultaneously monitoring the activity outside.
“Brother Ye!”
Just then, a cry rang out. Ye Yunfei then spotted three figures heading toward his location where he was cultivating.
“Brother Ye should be somewhere around here…” the leading man said.
The three men—all male—were releasing their Soul Power energy, searching for Ye Yunfei.
Due to the array-based small space Ye Yunfei had set up to conceal his aura, compounded by his concealment within the Phantom Tower, he was exceedingly difficult to detect.
“It’s them,” Ye Yunfei mused, looking at the three men searching for him. He was somewhat surprised.
They were Meng Wu, Lu Jun, and Li Ming. Ye Yunfei had spent time with these three in the Void Secret Realm in the past.
Meng Wu had once visited the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds and had happened to meet and befriend Ye Yunfei.
“Brother Meng, Brother Lu, Brother Li, are you three looking for me?”
Ye Yunfei concluded his cultivation session, exited the Phantom Tower, then put away all his Formations before flashing forward and appearing in front of the three men.
“So, all three have become Demigods.”
Sensing the cultivation realms of the three, Ye Yunfei discovered they were all Demigods. Ye Yunfei already knew these three came from powerful backgrounds, possessed outstanding talents, so it wasn’t surprising for them to become Demigods.
“Hahaha! Brother Ye, you’re indeed here. The three of us heard you appeared in this world, so we came to find you immediately. It’s been so long. It’s perfect timing to have a reunion,” Meng Wu exclaimed with delight, as did the other two upon seeing Ye Yunfei.
“Brother Ye, you’ve been here in the Gudao World Cluster all along, haven’t you? So have we, but we’ve just been staying hidden on the sidelines, watching all the fun. The Gudao World Cluster has been bustling with such a lively show lately, exciting drama after drama,” Lu Jun said, smiling.
“I’ve been in the Gudao World Cluster for some time now,” Ye Yunfei nodded.
“Let’s find a place to sit first,” Li Ming suggested.
“No need for such trouble! I have a treasure.”
Meng Wu laughed. With a wave of his hand, a palace shot out of his sleeve, continuously enlarging until it transformed into a grand, towering palace floating midair.
Meng Wu led the way inside, and the other three followed.
The palace was resplendent and spacious. A group of maidservants was already inside preparing food and wine.
Once the four of them sat down, wine and dishes were quickly prepared and placed before them.
“Brother Meng, you certainly have elegant taste, always carrying around so many attendants and this palace. The mood for a drink can strike any time, and you can indulge merrily!” Ye Yunfei said, chuckling.
“Haha… of course! When life gives you joy, indulge it to the fullest! I’m a firm believer in seizing the moment for pleasure.”
Meng Wu laughed heartily.
“Also, Brother Meng, your cultivation progress is impressively rapid,” Ye Yunfei added.
“When it comes to cultivation and strength, I know my limits. I would never dare to show off in front of you, Brother Ye. In today’s Chaotic Void Sea, who doesn’t know of your might, Brother Ye? All those major factions’ Demigods have been driven by you to wail like ghosts and howl like wolves, trembling with fear! I pale in comparison.”
Meng Wu immediately began waving his hands dismissively as he spoke.
“That’s absolutely right, Brother Ye. You’ve already become renowned throughout the Chaotic Void Sea. Your battle prowess is said to be equivalent to that of a Perfect Demigod’s, and you’re praised as one of the foremost young geniuses in the Chaotic Void Sea. We three can’t hold a candle to you,” Lu Jun remarked in awe.
“Today, we won’t compete in cultivation strength; we’ll compete in drinking! Let’s just indulge merrily!”
Meng Wu raised his wine cup.
“For us cultivators, comparing our capacity for drink ultimately still comes down to strength in the end. With high enough strength, one absolutely cannot be easily drunk,” Li Ming commented.
“No matter! Let’s indulge first and think about everything else later!”
Meng Wu urged.
Afterwards, the four of them drank freely, and the atmosphere became lively.
Ye Yunfei noticed all the wine and dishes prepared by Meng Wu contained astonishing amounts of immortal power energy. To cultivators, this was nourishment of great benefit. From this alone, one could tell Meng Wu definitely came from a faction with profound heritage and rich accumulation.
“Brother Ye, I heard the Alliance Army you assembled has at least dozens of World Clusters’ forces—that combined might continues to grow—it truly inspires admiration! You may not belong to any major power, but you’ve effectively built your own grand organization!”
Li Ming praised.
“You flatter me, Brother Li. Honestly, I never really intended to found any major faction. They merely trusted me and temporarily pledged allegiance to me. Once the situation stabilizes in the future, all the Alliance Army members will likely return to their respective World Clusters.”
Ye Yunfei said.
“Regardless, the fact that so many forces from so many World Clusters are willingly following you demonstrates how your strength and personal charisma are truly astonishing.”
Meng Wu praised.
Having heard numerous legends about Ye Yunfei, the three were thoroughly impressed and continuously toasted him with wine.
“I’m merely dabbling on a small scale—nothing remarkable. Currently, no matter where I go within the Chaotic Void Sea, the moment experts of major factions spot me, they immediately cause me trouble. What reputation is that? But for you three, backed by your powerful factions and gifted talents, wandering across the Chaotic Void Sea, no one dares to trouble you casually. That is truly enviable.”
Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
“Brother Ye, that’s wrong. We three rely on our clans’ protection. If separated from that shield, we wouldn’t amount to much. You, Brother Ye, rely on no protector and even become the protector of others instead! That is the very thing we admire and aspire to!”
Li Ming declared immediately.
“However, our region of the Void Sea is about to usher in an Era of Deities. Once we enter the Deity Era, Demigods like us will be as weak as ants in front of Deities. So-called young geniuses like us become utterly insignificant before Deities. Only by becoming Deities oneself can be considered a true powerhouse of this Void,”
Meng Wu suddenly said, his tone serious.
“Indeed, only after becoming a Deity can one truly claim the title ‘powerful.’ All those below Deities are mere ants!”
Upon hearing Meng Wu’s words, Lu Jun and Li Ming both nodded in agreement.
“Let’s cultivate diligently. Strive to become Deities one day.”
Meng Wu said.
“Right, you three—have you ever heard of the Watchers? Do you know where they come from?”
Ye Yunfei suddenly inquired.
Since Meng Wu and the other two came from deeply established forces, they might have heard of something regarding the Watchers.
“No, none of us ever heard of the Watchers before this—only learning they existed here within the Gudao World Cluster.”
All three shook their heads.
“The origins of those Watchers are shrouded in mystery, and each of them is terrifyingly strong. It seems they specialize in obstructing others during their Lightning Tribulation to become Deities. What could their true purpose be?”
Lu Jun commented.
It seemed the three indeed knew nothing about the Watchers.
“Their factions most likely are very old lineages. Yet even they are unaware of the Watchers; it truly seems the Watchers are exceedingly mysterious,”
Hun Lao transmitted to Ye Yunfei.
“Indeed. Still, I’m convinced that, starting now, all factions throughout the Chaotic Void Sea will begin investigating the Watchers’ backgrounds. Their true identities will inevitably be uncovered sooner or later.”
Ye Yunfei nodded.
“Huh? The commotion outside seems to be weakening—is the fight ending?”
Just then, Lu Jun set down his wine cup, startled.
“Indeed! The outside disturbances are fading even more! It appears the battle is coming to an end!”
The other three were likewise astonished, quickly releasing Soul Power energy to sense the situation outside.
The intense, prolonged battle had begun to diminish, with only occasional fluctuations of combat energy waves. After several more breaths, the disturbances ceased completely, leaving absolute silence.
“The fight outside has truly concluded.”
Ye Yunfei, after focusing his senses for a moment, spoke.
“Let’s find a way to go out and check. The entrance and exit points of this world have been sealed; we must see if we can get out.”
Meng Wu said.
The group stepped out of Meng Wu’s palace. Meng Wu waved his hand, retracting it back into his possession.
With the mood for wine now gone, they all immediately employed their movement techniques, heading for the world’s entrance and exit location.
“Listen, the combat outside has really ended. I wonder who emerged victorious?”
“I wonder if the Master of Xiaoliang Temple has finished undergoing his Lightning Tribulation—has he become a Deity?”
…
By this time, the entrance-exit spot was packed with people. Everyone was paying close attention to the outside situation, discussing in hushed tones. Throughout this period, everyone had been concerned with external developments. Now, discovering the conflict had finally ended, they desperately wanted to know the final outcome—particularly whether the Master of Xiaoliang Temple had succeeded.
If the Master of Xiaoliang Temple triumphed over his tribulation and ascended to Deityhood, this would be a monumental event for the entire Chaotic Void Sea—an event powerful enough to transform the region’s entire power balance. That was precisely why everyone was so anxiously concerned.
“I wonder if we can leave now. Let’s test if we can get out!”
One cultivator approached the entrance-exit spot, eager to try.
However, since individuals attempting to force their way out had gotten injured earlier, no one dared be the first to test right away.
“Make way, everyone—I’ll test it out!”
Suddenly, a large, sturdy man shouted loudly.
The crowd immediately parted.
With a sweeping gesture, the sturdy man tossed a stone statue. It flew out, landing some distance away.
As if coming alive, the statue began to move, striding purposefully toward the world’s exit.
“It’s a magic treasure that can be used as an avatar clone,”
someone said.
Ye Yunfei recognized the stone statue performed a function similar to his own Substitute Puppet—though the Substitute Puppet was far more advanced, capable of not only simulating an avatar clone but also possessing fifty, sixty, or even seventy to eighty percent of the original’s strength.
Boom! Bam!
The stone statue reached the entrance-exit point, testing its limbs as its energy seemed to build. Then it delivered a powerful punch directly toward the entrance-exit barrier.
Boom!
The stone statue’s fist plunged into the entrance-exit passage.
Bang! A tremendous energy backlash blasted the stone statue, sending it flying backward to land heavily on the ground in the distance.
The onlookers gasped. The sealing energy at the world’s entrance-exit clearly still persisted.
“Notice, everyone—the seal’s energy here remains but has greatly weakened. This avatar clone’s strength isn’t particularly high; it was merely repelled without sustaining damage. A stronger expert likely could force their way out now! This means the sealing power is fading!”
Suddenly, someone shouted aloud.