“Senior, it's you!”
Seeing the old man, Ye Yunfei immediately recognized him and was overjoyed.
This old man was none other than the mysterious elder who had gifted Ye Yunfei the Nine-Yang Ancient Scripture long ago. Not long ago, when Ye Yunfei had been intercepted by an expert from the Watchers, it was this very old man who had stepped in to help. Later, this elder had even taken out Deity-grade tea leaves and invited Ye Yunfei for tea.
He hadn't expected the old man to appear again now.
“Haha, Young Master Ye, it is I. I sensed someone was planning to come here and cause trouble, so I came out to take a look,” the old man replied with a smile.
“Senior, you just said that even if a Deity came to our Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, there's no need to fear. Is that true?” Ye Yunfei asked, recalling the old man's words.
“Yes. Even if a Deity comes, there's no need to fear.
Of course, I am referring to the common type of Deity, especially those newly ascended ones. If they dare to come to the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, they will bear witness to the foundation and depth of this ancient World Cluster,” the old man nodded, speaking with an air of calm assurance.
“That's wonderful!”
Hearing the old man's words, Ye Yunfei immediately felt a wave of relief.
Then, excitement stirred within him. From the sound of it, the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds were anything but simple! Even if a living Deity came, they likely couldn't gain the upper hand!
“This ancient World Cluster of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, it seems to harbor hidden dragons and crouching tigers!” Hun Lao transmitted his lament to Ye Yunfei.
“Yes, even though I'm a native born and bred in this World Cluster, I find that I cannot see through this ancient realm anymore. It's growing increasingly mysterious,” Ye Yunfei replied with a bitter smile.
“In any case, as we said before, this is a good thing.
If even a Deity cannot pose a threat to this World Cluster, then it is extremely secure,” Hun Lao said.
“Indeed, there's no need to overthink it. This is undoubtedly a good thing,” Ye Yunfei nodded.
“Young Master Ye, shall we find a place to sit? I shall invite you for another cup of tea.
And the friends within you are welcome as well,” the old man said to Ye Yunfei.
“Very well, I graciously accept,” Ye Yunfei nodded.
He knew that this old man had long been aware of Hun Lao, Hu Miao, and the others' presence.
“Young Master Ye, please follow me.”
The old man turned and pointed a finger forward. With a *Hong* sound, a spatial teleportation channel appeared. He then stepped into the channel.
“Such sophisticated spatial mastery!”
Hun Lao, seeing the old man casually create a teleportation channel with a point of his finger, couldn't help but be shocked.
“This skill is absolutely divine!” Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm also exclaimed in awe.
The number of individuals whose spatial expertise could impress Hun Lao and Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm was exceedingly few for Ye Yunfei. This clearly indicated that the old man before them truly possessed remarkable attainment in spatial techniques.
*Hong…*
Inside the spatial teleportation channel, in less than two breaths, Ye Yunfei found himself back within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, specifically inside an ordinary world.
This world was one of the weaker, inconspicuous ones within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, so Ye Yunfei had little impression of it.
However, perhaps it was precisely such a world that suited genuine reclusive experts.
The old man led Ye Yunfei down onto the peak of a tall mountain, entering a pavilion.
Two young servants with braided hair were already inside the pavilion, boiling water and preparing tea.
Ye Yunfei noticed this wasn't the same world where the old man had treated him to tea last time.
But that was of little importance. For such a reclusive expert, the emphasis was likely on freedom and acting according to one's whims, going wherever one wished.
“Young Master Ye, please let your friends out,” the old man said as he took the lead to find a seat within the pavilion.
Ye Yunfei immediately sent a Sound Transmission to Hun Lao and the others, asking them to come out.
There wasn't much point in trying to hide oneself in front of an expert of this caliber.
Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm transformed into a youth clad in golden robes. Hun Lao took the form of a tall, thin, and shriveled elder, his body covered in bumpy, uneven muscles resembling the bark of an ancient tree, seemingly devoid of any moisture.
Huang Shang transformed into an elder dressed in a long green robe, a chilling aura emanating from his entire body, with ghostly shadows faintly flickering around him.
“Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, an Ancient Heavenly Fox, a Ghost Cultivator, and the legendary Chaos World Tree…
Haha, Young Master Ye, the company you keep is anything but ordinary. Each has a remarkable origin,” the old man remarked with amazement as he scrutinized Hun Lao and the others.
“Please, everyone, don't stand on ceremony. Take a seat and savor my tea properly,” the old man invited them to sit down.
“Young Master Ye, you are currently cultivating the Perfected Demigod level, and it is estimated you will succeed in not too long.
The next step will be to consider impacting the False Deity realm,” the old man said after everyone had enjoyed several cups of tea, turning his attention to Ye Yunfei's cultivation.
“Senior, with my aptitude, wanting to impact the False Deity realm is probably still some way off.
I haven't even reached the Perfected Demigod level yet.
To become a Deity, it's no simple matter.
I still plan to gain more experience, accumulate sufficiently, and only then attempt the Deity Ascension Tribulation,” Ye Yunfei replied.
“Hmm, having this kind of mindset is very good.
In matters of cultivation, one indeed cannot rush. Haste makes waste.
After achieving the Perfected Demigod level, you still need to settle and consolidate properly. Only when your accumulation is sufficient should you impact the False Deity realm. The chances of success will be greater then,” the old man nodded.
“Senior, are you aware of the affairs concerning the two factions, the Watchers and the Restorers?” Ye Yunfei asked curiously.
This old man was a reclusive expert of immense power who had acted against Watchers' experts twice, so he most likely knew about them.
“I am aware,”
as expected, the old man nodded in affirmation.
“Young Master Ye, as a member of the Restorer faction now, I believe you are already aware of some of the origins and history of these two opposing factions.
It essentially is as it seems.
Perhaps I am privy to more inside information than you.
Regardless, you should proceed according to your own heart's inclinations.
Matters in this world, right and wrong, are often difficult to judge. It depends on the perspective you take,” the old man said, his words somewhat ambiguous.
“Senior, is the stretch of void we inhabit truly just a fragment?
A piece splintered off from the true Primordial Chaotic Void Sea?” Ye Yunfei inquired.
“Yes.
The stretch of void we currently inhabit is indeed just a fragment.
The true Primordial Chaotic Void Sea was even more vast, but it was shattered in the ancient past,” the old man nodded.
“So it really is true.”
Only now did Ye Yunfei truly believe this claim: the current void was indeed just a shard.
“The Watchers view the lifeforms within our Void Sea fragment as sinners. They seek to control and weaken the beings here. My choice to join the Restorer faction to oppose the Watchers… that shouldn't be wrong, should it?” Ye Yunfei asked again.
As a reclusive expert of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds who had helped Ye Yunfei without asking for anything in return, Ye Yunfei considered the old man one of his own. He felt that this old man might even be more trustworthy than the Restorer faction itself.
“As I just said, judging right and wrong is difficult. Act according to your inner convictions. As long as your thoughts are unhindered and clear, it is right,” the old man smiled and replied.
“Understood. Thank you for your guidance, Senior,” Ye Yunfei said.
“For you, what needs the most attention is your own cultivation strength and realm. Only by making yourself stronger can you better handle everything,” the old man advised Ye Yunfei, looking at him.
“Let me gift you some cultivation resources too.”
The old man flicked his finger, and two spatial rings appeared before Ye Yunfei.
“Senior, the items you've bestowed upon me are already too many. I feel ashamed to receive them!” Ye Yunfei exclaimed in surprise and quickly said.
Since their first meeting, this old man had gifted him cultivation resources and techniques many times. Now he was giving more resources. Ye Yunfei was somewhat embarrassed to accept yet another gift.
After all, undeserved rewards felt uncomfortable.
“Take them. These items are ones I casually retrieved from the Colorless Abyss. They hold little use for me, but they will be quite useful for you,” the old man said.
“Thank you, Senior!
I shall accept them gratefully!” Ye Yunfei said with deep gratitude.
This old man had once told Ye Yunfei that he was merely an obsession left behind by an ancient powerful expert. If that were truly the case, then ordinary cultivation resources indeed would hold little use for him.
“Haha, Young Master Ye, there's no need for such formality.
You are the most talented junior within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds. I hold high hopes for your future development.
Truthfully, in ancient times, the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds were truly glorious. Deities were everywhere, and they gave birth to powerhouses whose might shook the entire Chaotic Void Sea—figures capable of dominating an entire era!
It is a pity that the current Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds only exist within a void fragment, disconnected from the outside void, their overall strength waning more and more.
Especially during the time I was slumbering, they were actually sealed by the Dark Faction, causing them to weaken further.
The future revitalization of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds may just depend on you,” the old man said with a smile.
“Please, drink more of this tea. It greatly benefits the quality of the Soul Body and enhances comprehension,” the old man suggested, now turning his gaze to Hun Lao and the others.
Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm was currently drinking cup after cup as if extremely thirsty.
This was tea stored by a Deity. With each sip, one could clearly feel the Soul Body's quality improving, spirits refreshed, and the mind growing more agile and clear.
Such a rare treasure was not something Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm would miss. While Ye Yunfei and the old man conversed, he had already gulped down over a dozen cups in one go.
Hu Miao, sitting nearby, felt somewhat awkward and kept shooting glances at Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm. However, he seemed oblivious and continued drinking tea unabated.
The two young attendants nearby couldn't help but giggle seeing his actions.
In truth, Hu Miao, Huang Shang, and the others had also enjoyed several cups, as everyone knew the incredible benefits of this tea.
“Haha, please feel free to drink your fill. I have more of this tea.
Back in the day, I acquired quite a bit,” the old man said with a chuckle, glancing at Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm.
“This fellow…” Ye Yunfei was somewhat speechless.
“Hey, let me out for a cup as well.”
Just at that moment, a voice suddenly sounded within Ye Yunfei's Soul Sea.
“Oh?
Senior Xiaoyao, have you concluded your recovery?
Are you all right now?” Ye Yunfei asked.
It was Xiaoyao the Demigod speaking.
Previously, while undergoing his Deity Ascension Tribulation, Xiaoyao had his breakthrough interrupted and was pursued and hunted by the Watchers, sustaining severe injuries. Fortunately, he had encountered Ye Yunfei, who came to his rescue just in time.
Later, he had been in seclusion within the Phantom Tower focusing on recovery, with no activity for a while.
Ye Yunfei knew he was healing and thus did not disturb him.
“My injuries have pretty much healed.
After all, you gave me so many divine crystals, sufficient for my recovery.
This tea is quite excellent. I wish to have a few sips as well,” Xiaoyao the Demigod said.
“Well…” Ye Yunfei was a bit troubled.
Since the tea wasn't his, allowing Xiaoyao the Demigod to come out and drink required the consent of the old man before him.
“Let him come out.”
The old man glanced over, seemingly able to see Xiaoyao the Demigod inside the Phantom Tower, and spoke.
Both Ye Yunfei and Xiaoyao were shocked.
This old man had apparently seen Xiaoyao the Demigod within the Phantom Tower and overheard their private Sound Transmission!
With Ye Yunfei's strength, for an outsider to perceive his Sound Transmissions, their Soul Power had to be far stronger than his—at least ten times greater, as eavesdropping on someone's Sound Transmission was an incredibly formidable skill.
“I pay my respects, Senior.”
Xiaoyao the Demigod emerged from the Phantom Tower, his attitude extremely respectful.
This was because Ye Yunfei had surreptitiously sent a packet of Soul Power information into his Soul Sea, briefly introducing this old man and letting him know he was an unfathomably powerful expert.
“No need for such courtesy.
Have a few cups of tea first. When you underwent your Deity Ascension Tribulation and were interfered with, not only did you fail the tribulation, but you also retained some hidden wounds in your body. This tea should be able to eliminate those hidden issues within your Soul Body,” the old man waved his hand and said nonchalantly.
“Thank you, Senior!”
Hearing this, Xiaoyao the Demigod was overjoyed.
His previous tribulation failure had not only injured his physical body but also his Soul Body.
While recovering from physical injuries wasn't particularly difficult, healing the Soul Body was much harder due to its greater complexity.
This old man's tea could actually cure Soul Body injuries. For Xiaoyao the Demigod, this was incredibly timely.
After expressing his gratitude, Xiaoyao the Demigod, much like Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, began to indulge without regard for decorum, pouring and drinking tea continuously.
“Both fellows are like this, so lacking in manners…” Hu Miao muttered under her breath.
“Young Master Ye, you have now mastered seven great Daos. Allow me to gift you one more great Dao,” the old man suddenly turned his gaze upon Ye Yunfei and said.
“Thank you for such kindness in imparting a new Dao, Senior!” This time, Ye Yunfei did not refuse but thanked him gratefully.
“Haha, Young Master Ye, I feel we bonded instantly upon meeting. There's no need for such formalities,” the old man laughed. Then, he pointed a finger.
A stream of Soul Power information immediately entered Ye Yunfei's Soul Sea.
“Young Master Ye, focus on contemplating this. Within it lies a great Dao and also an accompanying divine ability. Once successfully cultivated, its power is considerable,” the old man said.