"Wait here for a moment. I'll be right back," Ye Yunfei said to Xiaoyao Shen and the Restorer Faction Deity.
Then, with a flash of his figure, he descended into the headquarters of the Tianyue Sect.
"Hu Miao, go gather all the valuable items within this sect. Don't let them go to waste. Even though they might be small, meat is still meat," Ye Yunfei instructed Hu Miao.
The various cultivation resources and treasures collected by the Tianyue Sect were of little use to Ye Yunfei himself, as he now needed resources on a Deity level. However, Ye Yunfei also had an alliance army and various factions across the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds to support. The cultivation resource needs for so many people were enormous, so Ye Yunfei had always made it a point not to miss out on any resources.
Hu Miao emerged from the Phantom Tower, transforming into a faint, elusive streak of light as she began searching through the Tianyue Sect headquarters.
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, unable to bear the boredom, also rushed out. It transformed into a blinding streak of golden light, displaying astonishing speed as it joined Hu Miao in scouring the headquarters for anything of value.
Ye Yunfei moved swiftly, arriving in front of an ancient-looking temple deep within the complex. It exuded an aura of immense age.
With a single glance, Ye Yunfei could see that three ancient and powerful Formations enveloped the temple.
Ye Yunfei strode towards the temple's main door.
Boom...
The three ancient Formations materialized simultaneously, erupting with dazzling divine radiance.
"These Formations are quite potent, but they won't stop me," Ye Yunfei said after perceiving them.
He retrieved a Formation-Breaking Banner and hurled it forward.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The three Formations began to shake violently. Soon after, Ye Yunfei threw three consecutive punches, shattering them completely.
Ye Yunfei entered the temple. Inside, on a stone table, rested a stone pearl roughly the size of an adult human's head.
According to the Tianyue Sect Leader's memories, this stone pearl was the ancient treasure passed down through generations of the sect.
Generation after generation of the Tianyue Sect's higher-ups had taken turns attempting to break the Seal Layers on its surface. Only in this current generation was there finally hope of fully shattering them.
Ye Yunfei released his Soul Power, probing the stone pearl. Indeed, he found it sealed layer upon layer.
"These Seals were likely laid by some terrifyingly powerful expert in ancient times," Hun Lao commented after sensing them. "However, because the pearl has existed for an extremely long time, the energy within these Seal Layers has severely dissipated. With your strength, it might be possible to break them."
"I'll try now," Ye Yunfei said. After contemplating the Seal Layers for a moment, he took action.
Both fists shot out. His left fist unleashed the Huangdao Divine Fist, his right the Heavenly Dao Divine Dragon Fist. Like flashes of lightning, his fists pounded incessantly onto the Seal Layers encasing the pearl's surface.
Boom...
A terrifying amount of energy erupted continuously with Ye Yunfei's actions, causing the temple to quake and shudder. Soon, the entire Tianyue Sect headquarters shook in tandem with Ye Yunfei's assault.
"These Seal Layers are tough. Let me help you," the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm said moments later, darting into the temple to assist Ye Yunfei in breaking the pearl's seals.
Although its strength fell short of Ye Yunfei's, its race was innately gifted at traversing and dismantling various restrictions and Formations. The Seal Layers on the pearl essentially functioned as multiple layers of such restrictions.
Under their combined assault, the layers of seals began to peel away one by one.
"The craftmanship of these Seal Layers is undoubtedly superb, but the passing eons have been too long," Hun Lao observed. "What's more, they've been constantly attacked by generation after generation of the Tianyue Sect's higher-ups, draining most of their energy. Now, facing you two, these seals will soon be completely broken. I wonder what sort of treasure this stone pearl truly is, to warrant such persistent effort."
"I'll know once I break them," Ye Yunfei replied.
Not long after, with a resounding boom, an aura of terrifying energy erupted from the pearl's surface, instantly shattering the temple around it.
Both Ye Yunfei and the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm employed movement techniques, leaping skyward just as the temple collapsed. Amidst swirling dust and debris, the stone pearl gradually rose, eventually coming to a hover mid-air.
"This pearl is indeed peculiar," Ye Yunfei remarked slowly, gazing at the suspended object. "While encased in the Seal Layers, I couldn't perceive any aura from it. But now it's different, emanating an utterly bizarre energy."
As he spoke, Ye Yunfei projected an energy hand, seizing the stone pearl and clutching it within his palm.
But in the next moment...
"Bad idea!" Ye Yunfei's expression abruptly changed as he attempted to retract the energy hand, but it was too late.
A horrifying force erupted from within the pearl, instantly shattering his energy hand. Ye Yunfei saw the hand, now riddled with countless cracks, disintegrate.
"I refuse to believe you're that strong!" A flash of anger crossed Ye Yunfei's face.
He immediately activated his body-refining divine ability, extending his right hand which rapidly enlarged, grabbing the stone pearl within his physical grip.
Earlier, he had used energy; now he employed his far superior physical might.
Boom...
The pearl, now within Ye Yunfei's palm, seemed unwilling, struggling desperately. An unceasing stream of terrifying energy erupted from its interior like a violently erupting volcano.
"Could it be? This pearl holds such a vast reservoir of energy?" Ye Yunfei's palm was beginning to throb from the vibrations, and his expression shifted slightly.
"Who dares to block my path?!" a voice suddenly emanated from within the pearl.
Ye Yunfei sensed a palm strike suddenly shoot out from inside the pearl! The strike utilized an incredibly profound palm technique, causing even Ye Yunfei to feel a pang of wariness.
"That's a woman's voice!" Hun Lao immediately transmitted to Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei hadn't expected someone to be *inside* the pearl. Startled, he quickly opened his grip.
In the next instant, a figure carrying an imposing aura of terrifying energy burst forth from within the stone pearl.
It was a breathtakingly beautiful woman, her form enveloped in a faint, misty aura. Her robes drifted lightly, appearing both dreamlike and illusory, real yet surreal, giving her a mysterious and enigmatic aura.
"This..." Ye Yunfei stared dumbfounded at this sudden emergence.
"Was it you who tried to prevent my emergence just now?" The woman's gaze fell upon Ye Yunfei as she spoke slowly.
An immediate feeling of being locked onto—a hair-raising sensation of being targeted by a ferocious predator—crawled over Ye Yunfei's Soul Body. Unconsciously, he took a step back.
"Senior, there's a misunderstanding," Ye Yunfei replied. "I was not trying to prevent you from emerging. On the contrary, if I had not acted to break the Seal Layers on the pearl's surface, you wouldn't have been able to come out so soon."
Although the woman felt incredibly formidable, Ye Yunfei could also sense she was severely weakened. He wasn't overly afraid, remaining ready to act at any moment. However, given her unknown origins and clear strength, he had no desire to clash with her without reason.
"You were the one who broke the seals on the Sacred Pearl's surface? You helped me emerge?" the woman asked, taken aback. She then began surveying her surroundings intently.
"What has become of the Tianyue Sect now?" she asked coldly after a few moments.
"The Tianyue Sect is already destroyed," Ye Yunfei answered truthfully.
"Did you destroy the Tianyue Sect?" The woman's gaze fixed on Ye Yunfei once more.
"Yes. The Tianyue Sect provoked me, crossing a line. So I eliminated it," Ye Yunfei admitted without hesitation, nodding. It was futile trying to deceive an expert like her.
The woman pondered Ye Yunfei's words, then began weaving hand seals, initiating a Divination Art.
As she did, mysterious rune after rune drifted from her form, slowly infusing themselves into the surrounding space.
"She's employing an ancient form of Divination Art, distinctly different and far more profound than the common types we see," Hun Lao transmitted to Ye Yunfei.
"Senior, I truly mean you no hostility," Ye Yunfei addressed the woman whose identity remained unclear. "I must be on my way now." He had no intention of lingering here.
Given her evident power, Ye Yunfei wanted no unnecessary conflict.
Finishing his sentence, Ye Yunfei turned to leave.
"Stop right there! I did not permit you to leave," the woman's voice rang out, icy, as she halted her divination technique.
Ye Yunfei paused mid-step, his expression turning grim as he slowly turned back around.
"What instructions do you have, Senior?"" Ye Yunfei inquired.
While wary of her, he was prepared to face her should she force his hand.
"Did you truly destroy the Tianyue Sect?" the woman asked.
"Oh no! Could it be... she is an ancient ancestor of the Tianyue Sect? If so, you exterminated her legacy. She'll surely fight you to the death!" Hun Lao suddenly transmitted in alarm.
The possibility dawned on Ye Yunfei, and he, too, was taken aback. It wasn't unthinkable.
"I destroyed the Tianyue Sect," Ye Yunfei confirmed, his entire being tensing, ready to counter any attack.
"Tell me about the Tianyue Sect's current strength," the woman commanded after a moment of thought.
"Senior, the Tianyue Sect had only one Deity—recently broken through to the Initial Level of the Void God Realm—roughly over ninety Demigods. Its overall strength was at that level."
"The Tianyue Sect has fallen to such weakness? In my time, our Tianyue Sect commanded multitudes of Deities. We were a powerful force respected across the entire Chaotic Void Sea! How glorious we were then... This must be their retribution," the woman murmured, her voice tinged with both surprise and lament.
"It's bad! She is indeed an ancient ancestor of the Tianyue Sect! It looks like a fierce battle is imminent. I think you should use this moment before she strikes to find a way to slip away quietly. Though she appears weak, her aura is unfathomably deep and utterly mysterious. You don't have absolute certainty of victory if you fight her," Hun Lao, hearing her words, transmitted with great alarm.