"Miss, could you have been mistaken?
Only a Soul Body can enter a Reincarnation Cave. How could a living being possibly come here?"
A woman's voice sounded.
"Xiao Ying, I'm not mistaken.
Look, that person has already landed on the island.
I'm sure he is a living being because the life aura emanating from him is incredibly intense.
For us Soul Bodies, we can sense that towering life aura from far, far away."
The lady replied.
Xiao Ying's voice fell silent for a moment.
"Miss, you are right. Actually, I sensed that intensely rising life aura earlier too.
It's just... I didn't dare believe a living being could actually come here, so I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me."
Xiao Ying spoke up.
"A living being coming here... it seems there must be something wrong."
The lady said.
"Miss, I never would have imagined it. After we two became Soul Bodies and entered the Reincarnation Passage, staying here for so many years, we would actually see a living being above this Soul Sea."
Xiao Ying remarked with emotion.
"Miss, should we show ourselves and ask him what's going on? To understand clearly how he got here."
Xiao Ying added.
"Haven't you noticed? That person has been heading straight for our location. He has already discovered us. We don't need to go find him."
The lady said.
At this moment, Ye Yunfei had already arrived at the highest point of the small island, facing a flat stretch of green grassland.
"Those two Soul Bodies are hidden within this space. I can sense their auras.
Soul Bodies emit a strong aura of death. We Ghost Cultivators are much more sensitive to death aura than you all."
Huang Shang, who had been surveying the green grassland before Ye Yunfei, searching for traces of the two figures, spoke up.
"Master, there seems to be an illusionary realm here. Those two Soul Bodies are likely hiding within it."
Hu Miao said to Ye Yunfei.
"Indeed. They should be hidden right here."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
By now, Ye Yunfei also sensed some death aura, knowing those two Soul Bodies were most likely concealed within this space.
Soul Bodies were a very special type of existence, possessing abilities that living beings did not, such as concealing their form and aura.
"They should be right there."
Huang Shang suddenly pointed to a specific spot within the grassland before him and spoke to Ye Yunfei.
As Huang Shang spoke, the space at that spot began to ripple. Then, Ye Yunfei saw the space there slowly crack open, eventually forming a spatial tear.
A dense aura of death wafted out from the spatial tear, followed by two figures slowly stepping out from it.
They turned out to be two women.
The one walking in front was tall and slender, with delicate features and a noble bearing, clearly of distinguished status.
The woman behind looked like a maid, small and exquisite, giving off the gentle feeling of a young lady from a refined family.
"Greetings, Young Master."
The woman in front gave a graceful curtsey to Ye Yunfei as she spoke.
The other woman, dressed as a maid, also curtsied behind her.
Both women gave the impression of being well-cultured, possessing exceptional grace and composure, like ladies from a prominent household.
"Please, there's no need for such courtesy, ladies."
Ye Yunfei quickly returned the greeting.
"They are indeed Soul Bodies because they carry a very strong aura of death and no trace of vitality.
But they also possess very clear memories and consciousness. This is strange. How can such beings exist?"
Huang Shang, who had been secretly sensing the two women all along, sent a mental message to Ye Yunfei after confirming their nature as Soul Bodies.
"There is a difference between a Soul Body and the soul of a living being. Even if the soul of a living being loses its physical body, it still retains a strong vitality.
If a powerful being loses its body but its soul remains intact, it can reassemble a body at any time without much consequence.
But Soul Bodies are different. A Soul Body is essentially a soul that has lost its vitality. Moreover, Soul Bodies not only lose vitality but also their memories and consciousness from their past life, becoming a mere mass of soul essence, drifting unconsciously between heaven and earth, possessing only a dense aura of death.
According to legends, only Soul Bodies can enter the Reincarnation Passage and Reincarnation Caves to be reincarnated and start the next life's journey.
The souls of living beings cannot enter the Reincarnation Passage or Reincarnation Caves, and thus cannot be reincarnated."
Huang Shang explained to Ye Yunfei the difference between a Soul Body and the soul of a living being. As a Ghost Cultivator, Huang Shang was naturally knowledgeable in such matters.
"Young Master, if you don't mind, please enter my palace to sit and we can speak in more detail. How about it?"
The lady said.
As she spoke, with a *hong* sound, a grand palace suddenly manifested in the air above the grassland. A staircase made of exquisite jade connected the grassland to the main gate of the palace above.
"Since Miss extends the invitation, I won't stand on ceremony."
Ye Yunfei examined the palace above the grassland and couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
This palace had been hidden exceptionally well. He had been here for a while yet hadn't detected it.
"Young Master, this way please."
The lady and her maid led the way, entering the main hall of the palace. They took seats, with the host and guest positions clearly defined.
The maid immediately went to fetch a tea set, began boiling water and preparing tea, and also brought out many spiritual fruits.
"How strange. They are clearly Soul Bodies. Why are they also drinking tea and eating spiritual fruits?"
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm found this very strange and sent a mental message.
"Young Master, this is Dragon Dao Tea, something I collected in my past life. In my time, it was considered quite a precious tea. Please, have a taste."
The lady, who resembled a young mistress, personally poured a cup of tea and handed it to Ye Yunfei, speaking in a pleasant voice.
"Dragon Dao Tea?"
Ye Yunfei looked at the tea leaves rising and sinking in the cup, slightly astonished.
The tea leaves were actually golden, and after brewing, they took on a shape somewhat resembling a golden dragon.
This was a tea Ye Yunfei had not only never seen before but hadn't even heard of.
"Tea brewed by a Soul Body... dare you drink it?
I think it's better to be careful."
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm secretly sent a mental message to Ye Yunfei.
"Don't worry. I can sense she bears me no ill will."
Ye Yunfei had been using his Soul Power energy and mental force energy to perceive the woman before him. If mental force energy was strong enough, it could keenly sense whether the other party harbored malicious intent.
"This tea indeed seems quite fine. It should be fine."
Hun Lao spoke up.
Hun Lao possessed the bloodline and heritage of the Chaos World Tree, making him more familiar with the essences of plant-based entities in the world.
Hearing Hun Lao's words, Ye Yunfei hesitated no more and directly picked up the teacup and drank a cup.
Immediately, Ye Yunfei felt a large number of golden runes appear within his body. These golden runes were the essence of the tea. After entering Ye Yunfei's body, they began flowing to various parts of it, then merged with Ye Yunfei's flesh and blood, becoming part of his physical body.
"So this tea has immense benefits for the physical body. It can enhance its quality and strength."
Ye Yunfei discovered his physical body's quality and strength had actually increased slightly, and he couldn't help but be pleasantly surprised.
It must be known that Ye Yunfei's physical strength and quality had already reached a fairly high level. Making further progress wasn't easy.
Yet, drinking just this one cup of Dragon Dao Tea had simultaneously boosted his physical strength and quality, indicating how incredibly potent this tea was for the body.
"Young Master, I am surnamed Jiang. This is my maid, Xiao Ying. May I ask how you are addressed?"
Just as Ye Yunfei was experiencing the physical changes brought by the Dragon Dao Tea, the lady spoke again.
"So it's Miss Jiang and Lady Xiao Ying. I am surnamed Ye, named Ye Yunfei."
Ye Yunfei did not conceal it and answered directly.
"So it's Young Master Ye. I believe you can already tell that we two are both Soul Bodies, while you, Young Master, are a living being.
Young Master Ye, as a living being, how did you enter the Reincarnation Passage, then enter this Reincarnation Cave and arrive at this Soul Sea?"
Miss Jiang asked Ye Yunfei.
This was what she wanted to know most.
"So this sea is called the Soul Sea."
Ye Yunfei thought to himself upon hearing Miss Jiang's words.
"Miss Jiang, you are not mistaken. I am indeed a living being. I entered the Reincarnation Passage directly from the outside, then entered this Reincarnation Cave and came all the way here."
Ye Yunfei replied.
"How is that possible?
Let alone the Reincarnation Cave, even the Reincarnation Passage outside is heavily guarded by Underworld Messengers.
Only Soul Bodies can enter the Reincarnation Passage. Once a living being barges into the Reincarnation Passage, they are immediately expelled. Otherwise, they are killed by those Underworld Messengers, turning into genuine Soul Bodies.
And the Reincarnation Caves are even more profound and unfathomable, sealed by layers upon layers of Samsara runes. Only Soul Bodies can pass through the cave's seals.
Moreover, the Reincarnation Caves also have many, more advanced Underworld Messengers standing guard. Even Deities dare not barge in.
Young Master Ye, you are merely a semi-god. It's simply impossible for you to have barged into the Reincarnation Passage from the outside and then entered the Reincarnation Cave."
Hearing Ye Yunfei's words, Miss Jiang immediately retorted, disbelief evident in her voice.
"There is only one possibility: something is wrong with the Reincarnation Passage.
Young Master Ye, has something happened to this Reincarnation Passage?"
Without waiting for Ye Yunfei's reply, Miss Jiang followed up with another question.
"This Miss Jiang is truly clever. Actually, from your earlier words, she has already guessed that it's highly likely something went wrong with this Reincarnation Passage.
Because a living semi-god shouldn't be able to enter a Reincarnation Passage, unless that passage itself has a problem."
Hun Lao sent a mental message to Ye Yunfei.
"Indeed, Miss Jiang, this Reincarnation Passage indeed has a problem.
This Reincarnation Passage has actually been abandoned, in disuse for a long time. Throughout my journey here, including you two, I seem to have only seen four Soul Bodies.
As for the Underworld Messengers you mentioned, I haven't seen a single one. On my way here, I encountered no obstruction at all. The path was clear the whole way."
Ye Yunfei nodded and replied.
"So... this Reincarnation Passage has been abandoned?"
Upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words, Miss Jiang sat there quietly for a long while without speaking.
Xiao Ying behind her also fell silent, her expression complex.
"Miss, so something really did happen to the Reincarnation Passage. No wonder we haven't seen any Soul Bodies passing through for such a long time."
After a moment of silence, Xiao Ying spoke up.
"Yes, it has been a very, very long time since we last saw a Soul Body passing by. In fact, I had long suspected that something must have gone wrong with the Reincarnation Passage."
Miss Jiang sighed and nodded.
"Young Master Ye, since this Reincarnation Passage has been abandoned, it suggests that the outside world has also likely undergone some drastic change.
When I entered this Reincarnation Passage in the past, everything was normal. People from the Reincarnation Palace personally guarded the outside, while Underworld Messengers guarded inside the passage.
Moreover, this Reincarnation Passage even had the recognition of all the Deities. Unless something major happened in the outside world, this passage should not have been abandoned."
Miss Jiang's gaze turned to Ye Yunfei.
"Young Master Ye, what exactly happened in the outside world?
Can you tell me?"
Miss Jiang asked.
"Miss Jiang is exceptionally keen-minded, guessing correctly so quickly.
Indeed, the outside world has indeed undergone a tremendous change.
Miss Jiang, before you entered this Reincarnation Passage, the outside world was the Chaotic Void Sea as well, correct?"
Ye Yunfei nodded and then asked.
"Indeed. I was originally a being of the Chaotic Void Sea. To my knowledge, the Chaotic Void Sea has several Reincarnation Passages.
The one I entered was located within a world cluster of formidable overall strength, called the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds. Since you entered this Reincarnation Passage, you must have also come to the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds before barging in, right?"
Miss Jiang said.
"To be frank with Miss Jiang, I am actually a native of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
"No wonder you've reached the Perfected Demigod realm at such a young age. Only a powerful core world cluster like the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds could possibly nurture a young genius like you."
Miss Jiang praised.
"Miss Jiang, you are unaware, but the overall strength of the current Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds is already very weak. For quite a long period, it has been a backward, remote place."
Ye Yunfei sighed.
"What?
The Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds in the past was one of the core world clusters of the entire Chaotic Void Sea, with Deities as numerous as rain, immensely powerful, incredibly glorious. How could it have become a backward, remote place?"
Upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words, Miss Jiang revealed a shocked expression, seemingly unable to believe it.
"Miss Jiang, not only the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, the entire Chaotic Void Sea has undergone tremendous changes."
Ye Yunfei sighed again.
"What kind of changes exactly happened?
Young Master Ye, please tell me.
It has been far too long since I left the outside world. All these years, as a Soul Body, I've been stuck here, knowing nothing about the outside."
Miss Jiang said.
"Very well, I will tell you about the changes that occurred in the outside world."
Ye Yunfei nodded.