"I know."
Ye Yunfei nodded helplessly.
Suddenly, Su Qingluo transformed into a speck of white light and shot towards one of the Reincarnation Caves ahead, then vanished without a trace.
At this moment, the space returned to tranquility, but everywhere, scattered corpses or severed limbs were drenched in blood, the thick scent of gore floating in the air.
"Too great! Those terrifying Reincarnation Descendants and that terrifying giant hand are gone, we're saved!"
Only after a moment did everyone react. Some couldn't help but shout out loudly, all filled with a sense of relief at their narrow escape from calamity.
"Why are we still here?
This place is too frightening. Let's get out of here quickly! What if those Reincarnation Descendants come back?" someone cried loudly.
"Right! Let's flee at once!"
Upon hearing this, everyone was startled and quickly turned around, utilizing their movement techniques to race towards the exit of the Reincarnation Passage.
"We should go too. Many bizarre things happen within the Reincarnation Passage. It's best not to linger here," Hun Lao said to Ye Yunfei.
"Alright, we'll leave too."
Ye Yunfei glanced back at the six massive Reincarnation Cave entrances, then turned and headed back the way he came.
Without pausing, Ye Yunfei sped along his original route and soon arrived at the location of the Bridge of Forgetfulness.
Returning beside the small space near the bridgehead of the Bridge of Forgetfulness, the Reincarnation Ghost suddenly transmitted a message to Ye Yunfei, pleading,"Human, you have taken all my treasures, and I have answered all your previous questions. You should release me now."
"Release you?"
Ye Yunfei was taken aback by the Reincarnation Ghost's Sound Transmission.
"I am a Reincarnation Ghost. I must depend on the Reincarnation Path to survive. Once I leave the Reincarnation Path, it won't be long before I scatter into oblivion. Because no matter what method I use, I cannot endure long in the outside world. Only in a special environment like the Reincarnation Path can I potentially continue to exist," the Reincarnation Ghost pleaded again.
"What he says is true. Because he was born within the Reincarnation Path, the composition of his form is constructed from the unique energy and laws of the Reincarnation Path. If he goes to other spaces outside, his energy source will slowly drain away, unable to last long.
Therefore, we only encounter Reincarnation Ghosts within the Reincarnation Path. In other worlds outside, such bizarre existences likely cannot be found.
Unless other worlds outside have a special environment similar to the Reincarnation Path, it's possible for this Reincarnation Ghost to continue existing," Huang Shang transmitted to Ye Yunfei after hearing the ghost's words.
"This Samsara Palace token is also saturated with dense Reincarnation Energy and Reincarnation Laws. Surely it suits this Reincarnation Ghost?"
Ye Yunfei pondered and asked.
"This Samsara Palace token indeed brims with dense Reincarnation Energy and Reincarnation Laws. But for this Reincarnation Ghost, this token is its bane. If he stays within it too long, his energy source will also be consumed to depletion, leading to annihilation.
In short, according to my ghost cultivator senses, this Reincarnation Ghost can indeed endure for long periods only within the Reincarnation Path.
But why waste too many words on this creature? Just take him out or eliminate him.
This Reincarnation Ghost must have devoured countless ghosts within this Reincarnation Path, severing their chances to be reborn and reincarnated. His evil deeds pile high; there's no need to show him courtesy," Hun Lao said.
"So that's the case."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
It seemed this Reincarnation Ghost indeed couldn't leave this Reincarnation Path. His existence depended on it; he couldn't survive outside such an environment.
"What does your death or life matter to me? Why should I release you?
Before, you attacked me, wanting to devour my Soul Body," Ye Yunfei sneered coldly.
"Right! Such evil things should simply be destroyed, lest they cause harm later.
Do it!" The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm spoke up.
"Human, please spare my life!" The Reincarnation Ghost instantly panicked upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words, knowing his survival completely rested in this human's hands.
"You have committed countless evil deeds. Your fate is no concern of mine."
Ye Yunfei said coldly, then prepared to use his movement technique to depart.
"Human! If you are willing to spare me, I am willing to offer the secret art of our race!" The Reincarnation Ghost, now utterly desperate, cried out.
"A secret art of your race?
What kind of art? Tell me.
Also, if it's an inheritable secret art of your race, can I, a human, cultivate it?" Ye Yunfei's steps halted upon hearing this, and he stopped, asking.
"Human, listen. Our race is innately born with a secret art that can bewilder ghosts. When we encounter ghosts, using this art makes them fall into a brief state of confusion, losing all ability to resist, allowing us to devour them freely.
This art can not only bewilder ghosts but can also bewilder the Soul Bodies of living beings.
Human, your Soul Power is so formidable; you will surely be able to cultivate it," the Reincarnation Ghost, abandoning all else for survival, hurriedly explained.
"Is that true?
Very well. I can give you a chance. Hand over the secret art of your race to me now. If I can truly cultivate it, then I will consider letting you go," Ye Yunfei said after a moment's thought.
Although this Reincarnation Ghost's nature was evil, if it was truly willing to offer its race's secret art, then sparing it once wouldn't be a big deal.
After all, this Reincarnation Ghost only existed within this Reincarnation Passage and likely wouldn't cross paths with him again.
Reincarnation Ghosts were an incredibly bizarre and rare existence. The secret art of their race certainly had unique merits. Obtaining it would be beneficial for him.
"Human, you must keep your word. After I transmit our race's secret art to you, you cannot go back on your word. You must spare me," the Reincarnation Ghost said, seeing hope and growing excited.
"Of course I keep my word. Besides, do you have any other choice?
Enough talk. If you want to live, transmit the art to me now," Ye Yunfei's face darkened as he said coldly.
"Alright! I'll transmit our race's secret art to you now!"
The Reincarnation Ghost clenched its metaphorical teeth, then sent a stream of Soul Power information to Ye Yunfei.
"This is indeed an extremely bizarre Soul Art, and I should be able to cultivate it."
Ye Yunfei swiftly researched this Soul Art using his two Soul Bodies and all his Soul Force Stars. He delightedly discovered he could indeed cultivate it.
"I understand. The Reincarnation Ghost before us isn't truly a flesh-and-blood life form but a special existence formed from condensed energy and laws. Thus, this race has no so-called bloodline essence. Their race's secret art doesn't require specific racial bloodlines to cultivate," Hun Lao stated after some thought.
"That should be the case. Anyway, I feel I can cultivate this Soul Art," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Human, I've already transmitted our race's Soul Art to you. Please spare me!
I swear I will never dare offend you again!" The Reincarnation Ghost pleaded with Ye Yunfei once more.
"Fine, I'll spare you this time."
Ye Yunfei thought for a moment, then nodded.
"But let me make this clear: if you dare offend me again in the future, I will show no mercy," Ye Yunfei added.
"Human, rest assured. That token on you is too terrifying. I will absolutely never dare provoke you again," the Reincarnation Ghost felt immense joy hearing Ye Yunfei's words and hurriedly guaranteed.
"Then I'll spare your life."
Having obtained the Reincarnation Ghost's secret art, Ye Yunfei weighed things in his heart and decided to spare it.
After all, given Ye Yunfei's character, his word was his bond.
Furthermore, this Reincarnation Ghost could only exist dependent on this Reincarnation Path. It wouldn't leave to seek revenge on him out of grudges. So, its life or death wouldn't significantly impact him.
Thus, Ye Yunfei took out the token and directly released the Reincarnation Ghost.
The Reincarnation Ghost immediately employed a movement technique, transforming into a red streak of light and distancing itself from Ye Yunfei instantly. It feared Ye Yunfei might suddenly change his mind and use that token against it again.
This Reincarnation Ghost's speed was frightful, instantly putting a significant distance between itself and Ye Yunfei.
"I'll leave some of this Soul Soup and Soul Stones for you. I hope you'll know to be careful henceforth. Don't cross my path again, or next time you won't be so lucky," Ye Yunfei said. With a wave of his hand, he took out a portion of Soul Soup and Soul Stones, tossing them down near the bridgehead of the Bridge of Forgetfulness, then turned and walked away.
"Dammit! How did I encounter such a terrifying human?
Not only did he inflict severe injuries on me, but he also took away the majority of the cultivation resources I've accumulated over the years," the Reincarnation Ghost, watching Ye Yunfei's departing figure, trembled with rage, its eyes turning red. Dark-red Soul Light erupted from its form, making the surrounding space quiver slightly.
"Forget it. Regardless, I wasn't completely destroyed. I cannot provoke this fearsome human again.
That token on him must be left by one of the ancient old-timers. So, this human is likely an inheritor of those ancients. I'd better keep my distance."
A moment later, the Reincarnation Ghost suppressed the raging fury in its heart and, feeling defeated, returned to the small space at the Bridge of Forgetfulness to heal using the Soul Soup and Soul Stones Ye Yunfei left behind.
"Hehe...
Fortunately, I've hidden some other treasures elsewhere on this Reincarnation Path. Otherwise, relying solely on what that despicable human left behind, my injuries wouldn't be healed completely.
Also, I have a feeling this Reincarnation Path might still reawaken. When that happens, I can hide on the path again, continuing to devour ghosts wanting to be reborn and reincarnated. Or I could try entering one of those six Reincarnation Caves, seeking a way to other Reincarnation Paths.
Anyway, once my injuries heal, I cannot idle away my time here like before. If another human as terrifying as this one enters, I'll truly be dead without a place for burial."
The Reincarnation Ghost pondered as it healed within the small space.
At this time, Ye Yunfei had almost reached the entrance/exit of the Reincarnation Path. As he was about to leave, Ye Yunfei entered the Shadowless Pagoda, then released all the clones he had subdued earlier. He handed the Shadowless Pagoda to one of the Perfect True Gods from the Guardian Faction — a clone of Ye Yunfei now — to carry.
Subsequently, the thirty to forty clones under Ye Yunfei's control walked out of the Reincarnation Path entrance/exit together.
"You've finally come out!"
As soon as the Perfect True God clone from the Guardian Faction under Ye Yunfei's control emerged, a contingent of Guardian Faction members immediately approached.
"Lord Yu Tian commands that upon exiting, you are to return to headquarters immediately and report the various gains and experiences from this venture into the Reincarnation Passage," an Elementary True God stepped forward respectfully.
Simultaneously, people from the respective factions flocked around all the other clones as well.
The thirty to forty clones Ye Yunfei subdued consisted of members from the Guardian Faction, the Yin Corpse Hall, the Four Directions Tower, the Autumn Wind Troop, and other major powers.
The clones under Ye Yunfei's control looked identical to the originals in appearance, aura, and Soul Body resonance. Therefore, the people from their factions couldn't spot any discrepancy.
The only difference was that these clones now possessed none of their original memories; their memories were entirely Ye Yunfei's.
However, Ye Yunfei had previously devoured the Soul Bodies of experts from these factions, gaining some understanding of his clones' former personalities, traits, and behavioral styles. With careful attention, deceiving the factions wouldn't be difficult.
"I have an idea," Hun Lao suddenly transmitted to Ye Yunfei.
"What idea?" Ye Yunfei asked.
"Look, there are so many True Gods here, from various major factions. I think you can find opportunities to purify the Soul Bodies of all these True Gods, turning them all into your clones.
When you control enough True Gods, that will be an extremely formidable force," Hun Lao said, smiling.
"Makes sense. Then I won't stand on ceremony," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"I'll start with these Guardian Faction fellows here," Ye Yunfei looked at the Guardian Faction members and gave a cold smile.
Not long after, led by that clone, they arrived in one of the worlds of the Three Lives World-Cluster.
This world was a Branch Stronghold of the Guardian Faction within the Three Lives World-Cluster.
As a superpower with soaring ambitions, the Guardian Faction had established Branch Strongholds in most world-clusters throughout the Sixth Void.
"Excellent. The strongest members in this Guardian Faction Branch Stronghold are all True Gods, not a single Heavenly God among them. Next, I shall turn everyone in this branch into my clones," Ye Yunfei gazed at the world before him and smiled.
"Master, I think you can use this method to control most of the Guardian Faction members in the Sixth Void. Then, more than half of the faction would become your clones. Just thinking about it is amusing," Hu Miao said to Ye Yunfei.
"That's right. I've been thinking along the same lines.
But there's no hurry. We'll take it step by step," Ye Yunfei nodded with a smile.
Inside the Reincarnation Passage, Ye Yunfei had subdued two Perfect True Gods from the Guardian Faction. He had these two lead a sizable contingent of Guardian Faction troops to temporarily settle and rest within this Branch Stronghold.
Being the strongest power in this branch, these two Perfect True God clones naturally held the greatest authority.
Next, Ye Yunfei had these two clones devise pretexts to summon the other True Gods in the stronghold one by one into the cultivation chamber where he resided.
Hearing that the two 'seniors' had important matters to discuss, none dared to be negligent. Each, upon receiving the summons, hurried into Ye Yunfei's cultivation chamber, where they were effortlessly subdued by his Soul Purification Art and converted into Ye Yunfei's clones.
At the same time, Ye Yunfei utilized one Soul Body and a portion of his Soul Force Stars to cultivate the Soul Art he had recently obtained from the Reincarnation Ghost.
This Soul Art could cause ghosts or the Soul Bodies of living beings to fall into a brief state of confusion, stripping them of all ability to resist.
"This Soul Art is extremely tyrannical. I feel even those whose Soul Power level is stronger than mine could be affected when facing it.
Excellent. After cultivating this Reincarnation Ghost Soul Art, I gain another trump card. In the future, when I encounter those with stronger Soul Power capabilities, I'll use this art to disrupt them," while cultivating the Reincarnation Ghost's Soul Art, Ye Yunfei couldn't stop praising it and was quite satisfied.