"Careful! This mist is likely highly poisonous."
Hun Lao immediately warned Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei activated the Emperor's Heart Law, forming an Emperor Domain to suppress the giant green snake.
Four massive golden light spheres soared into the air, spinning and rolling as they hurtled towards the giant green snake. These enormous golden spheres were each cultivated using the world's most Yang and most rigid substances, and they naturally feared no poison from the green snake.
With a thud, the four golden spheres smashed the giant green snake away, sending it flying into the distance.
"Its combat power is approaching that of a Primary Void God," Ye Yunfei thought to himself. "It seems this herb garden harbors quite a few fierce beasts guarding the herb fields."
While Ye Yunfei was dealing with the golden giant snake, Cui Hong and Xiao Xiao also encountered situations in their respective fields. In Cui Hong's herb field, a colossal toad appeared, spouting a jet of poisonous gas like a long arrow aimed straight at Cui Hong's face.
In Xiao Xiao's herb field, a black scorpion emerged, waving a long poisonous stinger to block her path.
However, Cui Hong and Xiao Xiao quickly resolved their troubles, blasting both the toad and the black scorpion away. Then, they began harvesting the divine herbs from their fields.
After collecting all the divine herbs from his field, Ye Yunfei rushed towards another nearby patch. As soon as he approached, over a hundred red ants charged out from the herb field.
These red ants each bore a human-like face, their gazes brimming with venomous hatred as they let out sharp screeches and lunged at Ye Yunfei.
At a single thought from Ye Yunfei, a flying sword shot out from above his head, slashing towards the red ants. Simultaneously, Ye Yunfei conjured Sky-Piercing Divine Vines. Dozens of green tendrils whistled forth, lashing the ants and sending them scattering.
Meanwhile, Ye Yunfei dashed into the herb field and began harvesting the divine herbs.
At this point, Cui Hong and Xiao Xiao had also moved to different herb fields, each encountering various other kinds of fierce beasts. Fortunately, these creatures' strength was not overly formidable, roughly equivalent to Primary Void Gods. Therefore, the three of them could manage.
Just as Ye Yunfei was continuously harvesting divine herbs in the middle region...
"There truly is an herb garden here! And there are even transformed divine herbs! Excellent!"
At that moment, a voice cried out in delight. Following it, a white-haired elder with over a dozen people in tow charged into the Small World.
"Huh? There are already three people who beat us to it. You three, stop right there! If you want to live, leave this place immediately. This herb garden now belongs to our Skillful Hand Pavilion!"
A middle-aged man who was following the white-haired elder shouted sternly at Ye Yunfei and the others.
"Skillful Hand Pavilion?" Ye Yunfei was slightly stunned, unable to recall such a faction.
With a single glance, Ye Yunfei could tell that these newcomers were all alchemists, as faint traces of pill aura wafted from their bodies. Being an alchemist himself, identifying fellow practitioners was simple.
"That elder must be a highly skilled alchemist," Ye Yunfei thought, glancing at the leading white-haired elder. From him, Ye Yunfei sensed a searing alchemical flame aura, along with a rich scent of medicinal herbs and pills. This elder's experience and skill in alchemy were undoubtedly formidable, likely surpassing his own.
"Drive them three out," the white-haired elder said to those behind him. "Then, you all are responsible for harvesting the divine herbs here. You four, come with me to capture the transformed divine herbs deeper inside."
He then rose into the air with the four men, speeding towards the depths of the Small World. This deep region was the core area, where the planted divine herbs were of higher grades, and included the transformed divine herbs—the most valuable herbs in this garden.
"This elder is very strong," Ye Yunfei observed, watching the leading white-haired elder. Feeling the energy aura emanating from him, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but be secretly alarmed. "He's likely an Advanced Void God, possibly even a Perfected Void God."
The four men trailing the elder also exuded potent auras.
Soon, the white-haired elder led the four men into the Small World's core region.
"Did you three hear? Get lost! Otherwise, don't blame us for being impolite!"
The remaining group turned hateful gazes on Ye Yunfei and the others, advancing towards them.
"These guys are collectively quite powerful; at least five are Intermediate Void Gods. If a fight breaks out, we're no match," Cui Hong immediately sent a Sound Transmission to Ye Yunfei and Xiao Xiao.
"We've already harvested a portion of the divine herbs anyway. Let's forget the rest and leave," Cui Hong added.
Ye Yunfei and Xiao Xiao felt somewhat unwilling, but looking at the powerful Deities before them, they knew their side wouldn't gain much advantage in a fight.
"There's no choice," Cui Hong sent another transmission, sensing their reluctance and worrying they might act rashly. "Exploration and treasure hunting often rely on using strength to seize opportunities. If we can't defeat them, we have to retreat. To be honest, these people before us are quite decent; at the very least, they're letting us leave instead of attacking to steal our things, or even trying to kill us. If we encountered vicious people, there would be no talking—they'd just attack and kill straight away."
"We understand, Senior," Ye Yunfei and Xiao Xiao replied, acknowledging Cui Hong was right. The people from the Skillful Hand Pavilion were actually quite reasonable. Others might have attacked them without hesitation.
Thus, Ye Yunfei and Xiao Xiao quickly accepted the situation, holding no grudge against the Skillful Hand Pavilion members.
Cui Hong led the way out of the Small World, with Ye Yunfei and Xiao Xiao reluctantly following.
Right then, an angry roar erupted from the core region of the Small World, followed by the sounds of intense combat.
"We need to go, now! The dangerous presences in the core region have been awakened. Who knows what will happen?"
Cui Hong's expression changed immediately, and he sped up, darting out of the Small World.
Ye Yunfei and Xiao Xiao also employed movement techniques, closely following Cui Hong out of the Small World.
Boom! Rumble!
Terrifying energy blasts echoed from within the Small World, accompanied by spatial tremors. Clearly, an extremely fierce battle was occurring inside.
Then...
"Ah!" "Agh!"
One anguished scream after another continuously poured out from within.
"Those Skillful Hand Pavilion guys are in trouble. Good thing we left quickly; otherwise, we might have gotten caught up. Let's get even farther away."
Hearing the unending stream of screams, Cui Hong spoke up immediately. He then led Ye Yunfei and Xiao Xiao using movement techniques, rushing far into the distance before finally stopping.
Suddenly, a streak of light shot out from the Small World.
"It's the leading elder! It seems his physical body has been shattered—only a Remnant Soul remains!"
Ye Yunfei saw clearly that the light was, in fact, the Remnant Soul of the white-haired elder who had led the Skillful Hand Pavilion earlier. He couldn't help but exclaim aloud.
"It seems... the Skillful Hand Pavilion people have been utterly wiped out," Cui Hong sighed with emotion.
"We were so lucky to get out in time," Xiao Xiao said with deep relief.
"Young man, you should be an alchemist. I wish to make a trade with you. Help me deliver a message to my daughter. In return, I shall impart to you all my lifelong alchemy knowledge. What do you say?"
At that moment, a voice suddenly resounded in Ye Yunfei's Soul Sea.
"Senior, are you talking to me?" Ye Yunfei was startled, his gaze shifting to the distant Remnant Soul of the white-haired elder who had just fled the Small World.
"Yes," the voice replied.
"But, Senior, I'm hearing of the Skillful Hand Pavilion for the first time. I don't even know where it is. How can I deliver a message for you?" Ye Yunfei answered.
"You must be a being from this void where the True Phoenix Tomb is located. I entered from a different, external void. You are not only an alchemist but also possess remarkable talent. To have such strength at such a young age means you are very likely to step beyond this void one day. I will transmit to you the void where the Skillful Hand Pavilion is located, and its precise coordinates. You must help me deliver the message when you have the opportunity," the voice said.
"Senior, although you are now just a Remnant Soul, you are not completely extinguished. You could actually find a way back," Ye Yunfei thought for a moment before replying.
"No. This Remnant Soul of mine will soon be eradicated too. I provoked a truly terrifying existence earlier. All those from our Skillful Hand Pavilion who entered have been annihilated. This Remnant Soul of mine has also been marked and will soon be destroyed. Young man... you are my only hope now," the voice said.
"So that's how it is," Ye Yunfei understood.
"Senior, I can promise to do my utmost to deliver your message. But I cannot guarantee I will definitely succeed in getting the information to your daughter's hands. After all, it's uncertain whether I'll even leave this void in the future. However, if it's possible, I will certainly try my hardest to fulfill your request," Ye Yunfei said.
"Very well. Young man, I trust you. I will now give the items to you."
The next instant, Ye Yunfei saw two spatial rings and a jade slip whistling towards him, landing right before him.
"Regret! I shouldn't have coveted the transformed divine herbs and provoked an existence I shouldn't have!"
The elder's Remnant Soul suddenly let out a piercing, mournful wail.
Sswish!
A moment later, a radiant, multicolored glow shot out from the Small World, striking the white-haired elder's Remnant Soul directly and utterly annihilating it, leaving nothing behind.