Within the Yangming Secret Realm, inside the Phantom Tower.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Five enormous golden spheres of light, one after another, soared out from Ye Yunfei's dantian and hovered above his head, undulating up and down, radiating torrential golden light.
"I have finally cultivated the Nine-Yang Ancient Scripture to the fifth layer," Ye Yunfei said slowly as he gazed at the five giant golden spheres above his head.
"Although I'm still at the Intermediate Void God realm, the potency of the divine power within my body is at least ten times stronger than before. This is mainly because the Three-Legged Golden Crow's inner dan was of too high a grade, so the fifth layer I've cultivated is also particularly powerful," Ye Yunfei thought silently, looking at the brightest and most intensely radiant golden sphere among them.
That brightest and most powerful golden sphere was cultivated from the Three-Legged Golden Crow's inner dan.
"Now, relying solely on my divine power energy, I can easily crush a Perfected Void God," Ye Yunfei stated confidently, sensing the strength of the divine power energy within his body.
"If I encounter those ten Perfected Void Gods from the Guardian Faction again, even if they all attack together, I can powerfully crush them based on my cultivation alone," Ye Yunfei added slowly.
"Next, let me cultivate those two yang-attribute techniques Senior Yangming King imparted to me, and see if I can master them."
Not intending to end his seclusion immediately, Ye Yunfei sat down cross-legged and began cultivating the two techniques passed down by Yangming King.
One of these techniques was the Combat God Spear, incredibly domineering and terrifyingly lethal.
The other was the Time Solar Palm, a yang-attribute palm technique. Its fearsome aspect lay in its integration of highly profound temporal laws, making it unpredictable and impossible to guard against. Once unleashed, this palm technique could forcibly cause time to reverse within a small area of space.
Ye Yunfei retrieved another large batch of cultivation resources and began cultivating these two techniques.
Techniques personally imparted by Yangming King were bound to have remarkable power, so Ye Yunfei took them very seriously.
Time flew by.
Finally, after some dedicated cultivation, Ye Yunfei achieved initial mastery of both techniques.
"Very good. With my Nine-Yang Ancient Scripture at the fifth layer, combined with these two techniques, their battle prowess certainly won't disappoint me," Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
"Brother Ye, I've already refined more than half of the Divine Pills you gifted me. My current strength is much greater than before, and I feel I'm about to undergo a tribulation and break through in realm," came a voice transmission from Lu Shi right at that moment.
"Oh, Brother Lu, you're about to face your tribulation?"
Upon hearing Lu Shi's words, Ye Yunfei immediately sensed the energy aura within Lu Shi's body, confirming he was indeed nearing a lightning tribulation. Without delay, Ye Yunfei brought Lu Shi out of the Phantom Tower.
Rumble…
As soon as Lu Shi exited the Phantom Tower, a large mass of oppressive, pitch-black tribulation clouds began gathering high in the sky, and thick, violent bolts of lightning surged within.
"Brother Lu, go ahead and face your tribulation without worry. I'll stand guard for you," Ye Yunfei told Lu Shi.
Lu Shi's lightning tribulation officially commenced shortly after.
"His foundation is extremely solid. Moreover, he is also a body-refiner. While the quality of his physical body can't compare to yours, it's vastly superior to others of the same realm. So his breakthrough will face no problems whatsoever," Hun Lao soon chimed in.
"Indeed, Brother Lu's foundation is very solid. His breakthrough this time will surely succeed," Ye Yunfei nodded in agreement.
Sure enough, after weathering the thunder tribulation, Lu Shi officially broke through to become an Advanced Void God.
"Hahaha…
I've finally broken through! I feel I'm at least ten times stronger than before now. Even if I encounter that Sima Xuan from the Sima Family, I can confidently fight him," Lu Shi exclaimed excitedly.
"Brother Ye, thank you so much for gifting me so many Divine Pills tailored to my needs." Lu Shi came before Ye Yunfei and expressed his gratitude.
The Divine Pills Ye Yunfei had given him were specially refined to suit his cultivation state, having an exceptionally pronounced effect, hence allowing him to break through so quickly.
"Brother Lu, no need for such formalities. Now, let's hurry and thoroughly explore this Yangming Secret Realm," Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
"Yes, we must make the most of our time," Lu Shi nodded.
After that, Ye Yunfei and Lu Shi left their seclusion spot and continued exploring the Yangming Secret Realm.
The Yangming Secret Realm was a vast stretch of primal land, containing every possible terrain: mountain ranges, plains, rivers, deserts, oceans, and even some colossal, long-deserted cities.
It was clear this land must have been a prosperous world in ancient times.
Before long, another Divine Crystal Vein appeared ahead. This vein also contained Intermediate Divine Crystals, drawing many treasure-seekers who had caught wind of it, now frantically mining inside the vein.
Naturally, conflict broke out during the mining process as parties from different forces clashed and battled fiercely.
Once Ye Yunfei and Lu Shi heard the news, they rushed to the scene and immediately plunged into the Divine Crystal Vein area to begin mining.
"I sense High-Grade Divine Crystals might exist deep within this vein, in that direction. Hurry down there!" the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm suddenly pointed to a location and said to Ye Yunfei.
"Really?" Ye Yunfei was overjoyed at his words.
In fact, Ye Yunfei also sensed that the earth energy at that location was densest and most elevated. He immediately released all his Earth Dragons. Thousands of them gathered together, forming a large-scale Earth Formation.
Standing at the center of this Earth Formation, Ye Yunfei utilized his Geomancy Technique to burrow rapidly toward the depths.
But right then.
"Get lost!"
A tall, slender youth clad in black robes suddenly appeared, a black compass hovering above his head, emitting a yellow glow.
"This is actually an Earth Master," Ye Yunfei's eyes narrowed slightly in surprise.
"It seems the heritage of Geomancy Technique exists in this Sixth Void as well," he noted inwardly.
"Kid, who exactly are you?
You aren't from our Earth Gate, so where did you obtain your Geomancy Technique? Did you use some underhanded method to steal-learn our Earth Gate's art?" the black-robed youth scrutinized Ye Yunfei and the Earth Dragons swimming around him, questioning him slowly.
"Earth Gate?
Don't know them. Now get lost," Ye Yunfei replied, solely focused on quickly reaching the High-Grade Divine Crystals deep underground.
So far, Ye Yunfei hadn't yet come into contact with any High-Grade Divine Crystals.
"Seems like you have a guilty conscience. In that case, come back obediently to Earth Gate with me and confess properly where you stole-learned our heritage from," the black-robed youth's expression darkened.
Rumble…
The Earth Dragons around his body suddenly turned frenzied, forming several large Earth Formations that charged toward Ye Yunfei in waves.
Ye Yunfei stomped his foot, and the thousands of Earth Dragons beside him formed a colossal Earth Formation that whistled forward.
Rumble…
Earth Formations collided violently, instantly causing the earth energy throughout this underground region to boil.
"How is this possible?" The black-robed youth discovered his own Earth Formations were instantly forced to retreat continuously, even beginning to disintegrate and explode.
Ye Yunfei's figure flashed, quickly burrowing deeper underground.
"Halt!
Stealing our Earth Gate's heritage comes at a cost!" The black-robed youth raised his right hand high, pressing down on Ye Yunfei with the black compass. Numerous yellow chains of law surged forth from it, transforming into yellow dragons that attacked Ye Yunfei.
With a flick of his will, Ye Yunfei's short, white sword whistled out, clanging against the black compass and sending it flying. The black-robed youth was also forced back dozens of steps, his face showing shock.
"Impossible, how is your Geomancy Technique level seemingly higher than mine?"
The black-robed youth couldn't accept this; his Geomancy Technique level was considered exceptional among Earth Gate's younger generation, yet this unfamiliar kid's skill surpassed his.
Temporarily unconcerned with dealing with the black-robed youth, Ye Yunfei arrived at the depths at the fastest speed.
"These are indeed High-Grade Divine Crystals," Ye Yunfei exclaimed delightedly, seeing the cluster of crystals containing rich divine power energy scattered about.
"Correct, these are High-Grade Divine Crystals!" Hun Lao confirmed.
Ye Yunfei immediately summoned Hu Miao, the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, Qin Xiaoyu, Huang Shang, and others from the Phantom Tower.
"Hurry and mine the Divine Crystals here. I'll cover you."
"High-Grade Divine Crystals! Fantastic!" Hu Miao's eyes gleamed as she saw them, and she instantly pounced. Without a word, the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm gobbled over a dozen High-Grade Divine Crystals, its body immediately radiating brilliant light as torrents of divine power energy roared thunderously within.
"These are actually High-Grade Divine Crystals! By the heavens, I've only seen them once before, in the Small World where our Qin Family's ancestor secluded himself. Never imagined there'd be so many here," Qin Xiaoyu was also very excited.
Meanwhile, guided by Ye Yunfei, Lu Shi also quietly arrived at this deep area from another direction and eagerly joined in mining the High-Grade Divine Crystals.
"There are High-Grade Divine Crystals down here!"
At that moment, the black-clad youth discovered it too and immediately led five or six other Earth Gate disciples wearing black robes down toward this area.
Ye Yunfei's figure flashed, blocking their path.
Rumble…
With a stomp of his foot, Ye Yunfei directly deployed several large Earth Formations. Supported by dense earth energy, they attacked the Earth Gate disciples.
"This brat indeed practices Geomancy Technique! He's not an Earth Gate disciple—he must have stolen it. How dare he steal-learn our Earth Gate's heritage! A heinous crime! We must capture him and take him back to our Punishment Hall for handling!" The other Earth Gate disciples grew furious upon seeing Ye Yunfei utilize Geomancy Technique.
"Is all Geomancy Technique in the world considered part of your Earth Gate's heritage?" Ye Yunfei couldn't help but laugh at their words.
Rumble…
Using Geomancy Technique, Ye Yunfei continuously deployed one Earth Formation after another, launching wave after wave of attacks at the Earth Gate disciples.
"Damn! His Geomancy Technique level is so high!" The Earth Gate disciples found themselves scrambling about, unable to cope effectively.
"Eh? There are High-Grade Divine Crystals below! Let's go down!"
At this moment, others finally discovered the High-Grade Divine Crystals deep below. Frenzied, they surged downward.
"All of you, halt!" Ye Yunfei roared, quickly deploying another dozen or so Earth Formations to block their path. Simultaneously, he unleashed the Imperial Dao Divine Fist, striking out with a single punch.
After cultivating the Nine-Yang Ancient Scripture to the fifth layer, the strength of Ye Yunfei's divine power energy was at least tenfold stronger than before. Hence, the might of his current Imperial Dao Divine Fist was nearly ten times more formidable as well.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The entire underground area was filled with Ye Yunfei's fearsome fist forces. Those trying to charge down were all blasted away, many directly flung up to the surface and smashing into the ground in the distance.
"That guy's too ruthless! He found the High-Grade Divine Crystals deep below and actually wants to monopolize them, preventing us from going down!" many cursed loudly.