After Ye Yunfei recorded the text from the final page of the scripture, it suddenly began to grow increasingly illusory. In the end, it transformed into shimmering motes of light that floated upward, dispersing with the wind and vanishing without a trace.
Then the figure of the green-robed elder also began to slowly turn illusory before disappearing as well.
"What's going on?"
Ye Yunfei was somewhat taken aback.
"Could it be that this senior left this figure and this scripture here specifically to await someone destined to find it?" Ye Yunfei speculated.
"My deepest thanks to Senior for the great kindness of transmitting this method," Ye Yunfei said, respectfully bowing deeply towards the spot where the green-robed elder had been seated.
"This isn't surprising. It's possible that an ancient, skilled alchemist suddenly encountered an unforeseen calamity. Unwilling to let a lifetime of alchemy knowledge die with him, he left behind an image and scripture to await a fated successor." After scanning the interior of the thatched hut and finding nothing else of note, Ye Yunfei walked out.
At that moment, the Hemp-Clothed Youth also emerged from the doorway of another hut. The two faced each other, their eyes meeting.
"There might be treasures inside these huts. Let's go in and look!"
Besides Ye Yunfei and the Hemp-Clothed Youth, many others had also arrived in front of the three thatched huts. The herbs in the dozen or so medicinal fields had now been almost completely picked clean, with little left.
"Get out!"
Ye Yunfei's figure flashed as he charged into the third thatched hut, where quite a few people had already entered.
With a roar, Ye Yunfei threw a punch. Surging Imperial Majesty erupted, blasting everyone inside the hut back and sending them tumbling outside the doorway.
Then Ye Yunfei saw that within this hut were many medicinal herbs, pills, alchemy furnaces, and also several spatial rings.
Clearly, this hut stored the materials and tools for alchemy.
Ye Yunfei, of course, didn't stand on ceremony. His large hand shot out, grabbing towards those herbs and pills.
"Damn it!
That guy is too ruthless!"
The people Ye Yunfei had sent flying tumbled outside the hut, angrily denouncing him.
Whoosh! The Hemp-Clothed Youth charged in as well, also reaching out to grab at the pills and herbs.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Ye Yunfei and the Hemp-Clothed Youth fought once more, each employing their full arsenal. To Ye Yunfei's surprise, the Hemp-Clothed Youth actually summoned three True God-level magical treasures. For a time, they fought to a stalemate.
Of course, Ye Yunfei's combat prowess was slightly stronger, but his opponent, armed with three True God-level treasures, managed to just barely hold his own.
In the end, the contents of this hut were evenly split between Ye Yunfei and the Hemp-Clothed Youth.
When Ye Yunfei and the Hemp-Clothed Youth emerged from the hut, all the herbs in the external fields had long been completely plundered.
However, for Ye Yunfei, the scroll of alchemical knowledge was the most precious prize. Before, while collecting herbs, he had suddenly raced towards these three huts before finishing harvesting precisely because he suspected treasures of even higher value might lie within.
"Young Master, all the herbs have been gathered. Our Lingxiao Sect, having acted first, has gained abundant harvests. Yet this is entirely thanks to your guidance. These herbs are our Lingxiao Sect's gift to you."
Senior Brother Qi, leading the other Lingxiao Sect disciples, was waiting for Ye Yunfei. He took out a spatial ring and offered it to Ye Yunfei.
"There's no need for that. My own gains were not insignificant. I have no reason to take yours.
Alright, let us part ways here."
Ye Yunfei directly refused with a smile, then turned and left.
"Young Master, dare I ask for your honorable name?"
Seeing Ye Yunfei's rapidly departing figure, Senior Brother Qi hurriedly called out.
"You will know in time," Ye Yunfei said, then walked out of the plain and vanished from sight.
"Who is he really?
Since when did our Sixth Void produce such a terrifyingly powerful young prodigy?
If our Lingxiao Sect could forge ties with such a prodigy, the benefits would be immense!"
Senior Brother Qi looked towards where Ye Yunfei had disappeared and spoke. His earlier initiative in offering those herbs had been precisely to build a connection with Ye Yunfei.
"I hope we meet again. Next time, we'll have a proper fight."
In another location, the Hemp-Clothed Youth, who had already left, suddenly turned back. Gazing distantly at Ye Yunfei's retreating figure, he spoke slowly.
"Which friend from my past does he turn out to be?" Ba Yizhou watched Ye Yunfei depart, unable to suppress his internal speculations.
"Right, he told me earlier to find an opportunity to leave the Lingxiao Sect group and meet him.
Good. Then I'll find an excuse to temporarily separate from the sect and see if he comes to meet me." Ba Yizhou suddenly recalled Ye Yunfei's earlier words.
"Everyone, I've just received news. The true secluded cultivation cave abode of the Yangming King has been discovered. It likely contains a lifetime's collection and legacy. Many are already heading there. Our Lingxiao Sect cannot lag behind. Let's hurry and investigate!"
Suddenly, Senior Brother Qi took out a communication jade slip, perceived its contents, then spoke with excitement.
"Let's go!" With a wave of his hand, he led the Lingxiao Sect members rapidly towards a certain direction.
Before long, Ba Yizhou found an excuse to temporarily leave the Lingxiao Sect group. He set off in the direction Ye Yunfei had gone earlier.
Ye Yunfei's astonishing combat power and mysterious identity had ignited an intense curiosity within him, making him determined to uncover the truth.
"Heh, Brother Ba, you truly came."
After chasing in the direction Ye Yunfei had left for a short while, a figure suddenly appeared ahead of Ba Yizhou, laughing as he spoke.
"Who are you, exactly?"
Ba Yizhou looked at Ye Yunfei, puzzled.
In the next instant, Ye Yunfei's appearance transformed, reverting to his original face.
"Brother Ba, long time no see," Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
"So it's you, Brother Ye!"
Once Ye Yunfei resumed his true appearance, Ba Yizhou recognized him immediately and was utterly shocked, for Ye Yunfei belonged to the Eighth Void.
"Brother Ye, when did you come to the Sixth Void?"
After recognizing Ye Yunfei, the last trace of vigilance in Ba Yizhou's heart instantly vanished. He stepped forward to ask.
"The situation in our Eighth Void has now stabilized for the most part, so I came to the Sixth Void to have a look," Ye Yunfei replied.
"The Eighth Void's situation has stabilized? Brother Ye, can it be you truly annihilated the Guardian Faction presence in the Eighth Void?"
Hearing Ye Yunfei's words, Ba Yizhou couldn't help but be astonished. Previously in the Eighth Void, he had heard Ye Yunfei speak of wiping out the Guardian Faction there before leaving to explore other voids.
"Yes," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Brother Ye, you are truly incredible!" Ba Yizhou exclaimed in admiration.
Wiping out a Guardian Faction stronghold in an entire void was not something an ordinary person could accomplish. The Guardian Faction's foundations ran too deep; in every void, they were among the most powerful super-factions.
"After arriving in the Sixth Void, I originally intended to seek out Brother Ba and you all to reunite. But I happened upon the opening of this Yangming Secret Realm, so I entered to explore. I never expected such a coincidence, running into you here, Brother Ba."
"Brother Ye, our Lingxiao Sect just received news that the secluded cultivation cave abode of the Yangming King has been discovered. It likely contains the various treasures he collected as well as his technique inheritance. Let's head there immediately to check it out," Ba Yizhou said to Ye Yunfei.
"Alright then, let's go take a look first," Ye Yunfei agreed with a nod.
"Brother Ba, regarding my identity, I hope you will keep it secret for me." Ye Yunfei activated his Disguise Secret Technique, once again taking on his previous altered appearance.
"Rest assured, Brother Ye, I will keep it confidential," Ba Yizhou nodded.
Then Ba Yizhou and Ye Yunfei immediately set off towards a certain direction.
At this time, Qin Xiaoyu and Lu Shi were still inside the Shadowless Pagoda. After some thought, Ye Yunfei teleported them out as well.
"You seem to be from the Lingxiao Sect," Lu Shi quickly recognized Ba Yizhou and said in surprise.
"You are from the Lu Family," Ba Yizhou also recognized Lu Shi.
After all, both the Lingxiao Sect and the Lu Family were considered powerful major factions in the Sixth Void. The young talents of these two factions, roaming the void, had each built some reputation.
Only Qin Xiaoyu, usually restricted by her family from venturing out and not possessing outstanding strength, was recognized by few.
Before long, more and more people appeared ahead.
The Yangming Secret Realm was extremely vast. Previously, after entering through the secret realm's gates, everyone had been scattered to different areas, exploring and seeking treasure in different places. But now, more and more people were gathering and charging into a broad stretch of mountain range.
This mountain range was immense, filled with peaks of varying heights, rugged and perilous terrain, and numerous mountains.
"All the mountains in this range seem to bow towards the central great mountain—a formation of ten thousand mountains bowing in worship.
It seems the Yangming King's secluded cultivation cave abode must be atop that central mountain."
The moment Ye Yunfei entered this mountain range, his gaze immediately fixed on the great mountain at its very center. Sure enough, everyone was converging towards that peak.