"So for me, the most important thing right now is to raise my own level and power. Otherwise, I won't have the means to oppose the Guardian Faction. No matter when, strength is always paramount."
Ye Yunfei whispered softly.
Then, Ye Yunfei took out a large batch of cultivation resources and began his own practice.
At the same time, several of Ye Yunfei's clones continuously refined pills within the Phantom Tower, producing large quantities of Divine Pills.
These Divine Pills were specially refined by Ye Yunfei according to his own needs—some to enhance his physical body, others to boost his divine energy, some to cultivate Soul Power, and some to cultivate heart force energy.
As a Divine Pill master, Ye Yunfei naturally ensured he had the pills needed for his own cultivation first.
While Ye Yunfei was in secluded cultivation within the Phantom Tower, several dozen Deities stood around the Teleportation Altar that Ye Yunfei and Qin Xiaoyu had used previously, their faces filled with fury.
"More than a dozen members of our Autumn Wind Group have been killed inside this palace. Who did it!"
A brawny, bearded middle-aged man standing in the center said with a dark, angry expression.
"Captain, those who were killed were previously specifically tasked with hunting down that little bitch from the Qin Family. Along with over a dozen others, a total of over thirty people had received secret orders to pursue her. Later, I heard from them that the little bitch had already used this Teleportation Altar to travel to another void. Over a dozen of us used this altar to follow her, but we never received any news back. A day ago, when we came here to check, we found that all the people guarding this Teleportation Altar had been killed."
A member of the Autumn Wind Group answered.
"Could it be that the Qin Family's little bitch teleported back here from that void, then killed our people?"
Another member speculated.
"Impossible. From what I know, that Qin Family little bitch is only at the Elementary Void God level. Even though she can be considered a young talent, there's absolutely no way she could have killed so many of our Autumn Wind Group members, because among those guarding the altar here were five Intermediate Void Gods."
Someone immediately shook his head and said.
"Since it's not the Qin Family's little bitch, then who the hell did it?"
The captain in the middle gnashed his teeth.
"We must thoroughly investigate this matter and find the murderer. No matter the perpetrator's background, since they've killed members of our Autumn Wind Group, they must pay the corresponding price."
The captain said coldly.
"Don't worry, Captain, we will definitely investigate this clearly."
The other Autumn Wind Group members nearby said one after another.
"Captain, this Teleportation Altar leads to another void, and I've heard that void might be the legendary, weakest Eighth Void. Why don't we also go to the Eighth Void and take a look? I believe with our strength, going to the Eighth Void would allow us to rule from on high. Once there, we could become kings, allowing us to plunder that void's cultivation resources."
An Autumn Wind Group member suddenly suggested to the captain.
"Right, Captain. Although the overall strength of the Eighth Void is comparatively weak, it's still a void after all, and there must be plenty of riches to plunder. Why don't we go there and have a good sweep? We're bound to have a good haul."
Other Autumn Wind Group members also chimed in.
"Very well. Then let's go to the Eighth Void and take a look now."
The captain felt somewhat moved as well.
The Autumn Wind Group's usual business involved robbery, extortion, paid problem-solving, and killing for hire. Seizing and plundering cultivation resources was something they excelled at.
And so, under the captain's lead, they left only three or four members to guard the Teleportation Altar. All the other members stood upon the altar, ready to travel to the Eighth Void.
However, no matter what methods or techniques they tried, these Autumn Wind Group members could not activate the Teleportation Altar. They even ended up triggering several protective formations within the altar, which sent them flying backward, leaving everyone in a wretched state.
"Damn it! This altar has been tampered with and modified not long ago. We simply can't use it."
The captain finally realized this and cursed in frustration.
"The one who modified the altar is definitely the same person who killed our Autumn Wind Group members. Investigate immediately to find out exactly who did this! Just wait. Our Autumn Wind Group will make them pay the price."
The captain said, his expression extremely dark and his words dripping with venom.
Within the Gufang World Cluster, the date for the Yangming Secret Realm's opening drew ever closer. The number of young beings arriving in the cluster increased accordingly. Everyone sharpened their weapons and bided their time, eagerly preparing, each hoping they could make good gains in the coming expedition into the Yangming Secret Realm, or even soar to fame with a single great achievement.
According to legends, in past expeditions of the Yangming Secret Realm, quite a few young beings had obtained heaven-defying treasures and legacies within. After emerging, their strength advanced by leaps and bounds, changing their destinies and awing the entire void.
Inside the Phantom Tower, Ye Yunfei continued his secluded cultivation.
"I wonder when I'll be able to break through to Advanced Void God?"
Ye Yunfei looked at the torrent of divine energy churning within his body and thought to himself.
Though Ye Yunfei now possessed the power to fight Perfected Void Gods, he understood that raising his cultivation level was extremely important, as it affected his ability to reach greater heights in the future.
Ye Yunfei gave some Divine Pills to Qin Xiaoyu. After refining them, Qin Xiaoyu showed immediate effects, her power increasing significantly.
"These Divine Pills Young Master Ye gave me are so useful. If I had more pills like these, I might be able to break through to Intermediate Void God before too long."
Qin Xiaoyu sensed the greatly increased divine energy within her body and felt thrilled.
"Young Master Ye is really too good to me. If he hadn't intervened and saved me before, I might have fallen into the hands of the Autumn Wind Group right now, living a fate worse than death. And now Young Master Ye has gifted me these precious Divine Pills too!"
Qin Xiaoyu thought to herself.
"If that guy Sima Hao were half as good as Young Master Ye, maybe I would have agreed to marry him..."
Suddenly, such a thought flashed through Qin Xiaoyu's mind.
"What am I thinking?!"
Thinking this, Qin Xiaoyu could not help but blush, her heartbeat quickening slightly.
"The Yangming Secret Realm is about to open. Let's go out."
At that moment, Qin Xiaoyu received Ye Yunfei's voice transmission. The next instant, she was teleported out of the Phantom Tower and arrived outside.
"Let's go!"
Ye Yunfei stowed the Phantom Tower and strode forward. Qin Xiaoyu hurriedly followed.
Not long after, Ye Yunfei and Qin Xiaoyu entered a relatively large world within the Gufang World Cluster. The entrance to the Yangming Secret Realm was located within this world.
At this moment, the world was crammed with people, with youngsters forming the vast majority. A sea of people surged, all flocking towards a specific spot in this world.
Ye Yunfei and Qin Xiaoyu followed the crowd.
Both Ye Yunfei and Qin Xiaoyu had altered their appearances and Soul Body auras. Ye Yunfei, not being from this void, naturally did not worry about being recognized. Qin Xiaoyu, however, was using the Invisibility Talisman Ye Yunfei had given her to transform herself. Her true appearance and Soul Body were now thoroughly concealed.
"What's going on? In the past, anyone could freely enter the Yangming Secret Realm. Why is it that only the disciples of major powers can go in now? And everyone else has to pay an exorbitant amount of Divine Crystals to enter? Isn't this just taking advantage of the situation to rob us?"
Suddenly, agitation rippled through the crowd ahead, and many began cursing loudly.
Before them, embedded in a section of the void, stood a tall bronze gate that emitted an ancient, spatial-temporal aura. The gate was tightly shut.
At the top of the bronze gate was a plaque, upon which danced three archaic, dragon-like characters: Yangming Realm.
This bronze gate was the entrance to the Yangming Secret Realm. It had only manifested here not long ago. The appearance of this bronze gate signified that the Yangming Secret Realm was about to open.
At this moment, the gate to the Yangming Secret Realm was being heavily guarded by a large group of personnel who did not allow anyone to approach.
"This is too much! Does the Guardian Faction want to monopolize the Yangming Secret Realm?"
"Since ancient times, the Yangming Secret Realm has belonged to the entire void, and all youngsters were free to enter. Now the Guardian Faction declares that only the youngsters of powerful, major forces can enter, while everyone else who wants in must pay a huge sum of Divine Crystals or an equivalent amount of other treasures. This is clearly a case of highway robbery. Unreasonable!"
"The Guardian Faction truly harbors sinister ambitions! They're making enemies of our entire void. Absolutely intolerable!"
...
At this point, the crowd grew increasingly agitated, with many unable to hold back from cursing.
"Are these... the people from the Guardian Faction?"
Ye Yunfei looked at those encircling the gate to the Yangming Secret Realm, his gaze turning icy.
Ye Yunfei knew that he and the Guardian Faction were destined for a life-or-death relationship. Therefore, he harbored a deep killing intent towards its members.
The thought that the Guardian Faction would sooner or later return to the Eighth Void and unleash terrible slaughter made Ye Yunfei yearn to annihilate them entirely.
"Everyone, I've just arrived. What exactly happened here? Why has the Guardian Faction surrounded the gate to the Yangming Secret Realm and blocked others from approaching?"
At that moment, some of the newly arrived people within the crowd asked.
"It's all because of the Guardian Faction's doings! The Guardian Faction sent people to surround the gate to the Yangming Secret Realm and prohibit anyone from approaching. They've also announced a list of major powers. Only young people from the forces on this list can freely enter the Yangming Secret Realm. Anyone not belonging to these major powers who wishes to enter must pay two hundred thousand Primary Grade Divine Crystals. Otherwise, they are not allowed inside."
Someone nearby answered.
"What? Two hundred thousand Primary Grade Divine Crystals? Is the Guardian Faction out of its mind? How many young people can possibly come up with two hundred thousand Primary Grade Divine Crystals?"
Hearing this, those who had just arrived were dumbstruck, and then began cursing loudly.
Gradually, more and more youngsters voiced their curses, and the scene grew clamorous with fury.