This outcome left everyone dumbfounded, their minds struggling to process what they had just witnessed.
A mid-stage Yuan Foundation Realm cultivator, defeated without lasting a single move!
Deathly silence enveloped the scene.
*Boom!*
At that very moment, within a certain plaza of Hudao Academy.
This plaza was called the Hidden Dragon Plaza.
Four tall stone steles stood upright in the plaza.
These four steles were none other than the famed Hidden Dragon Steles of Hudao Academy.
There were a total of four Hidden Dragon Steles.
The tallest among them was called the Master Ranking.
The Master Ranking recorded the top one hundred powerhouses among all the students in the entire academy.
The other three were the Heaven Ranking, Earth Ranking, and Yellow Ranking respectively.
Nearly every day, a fair number of students came to this Hidden Dragon Plaza to study the rankings on these four steles.
Most students came to the Hidden Dragon Plaza for a single purpose: to study the experts listed on the Hidden Dragon Ranking and search for someone they could challenge!
Having one's name inscribed on the Hidden Dragon Ranking was an immensely glorious affair!
At this moment.
A resonant roar suddenly came from the Earth Ranking stele.
Then, a change occurred at the position for the 68th place on the list.
Previously it had been Zhan Tianming, now, it had changed to Ye Yunfei.
The Hidden Dragon Earth Ranking targeted students of the Yuan Foundation Realm.
Within the academy, if a student ever defeated an expert listed on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, the ranking on the Hidden Dragon Steles would automatically update.
"Look!
The 68th spot on the Earth Ranking has changed!"
"Ye Yunfei?
Could that be the same Ye Yunfei who took first place in the New Student Ranking Tournament?"
"A freshman who just enrolled a month ago, already squeezing into the 68th place!"
...
In the Hidden Dragon Plaza, some students exclaimed in astonishment.
* * *
In front of Ye Yunfei's small courtyard.
At this time, Ye Yunfei's gaze suddenly shifted to Shao Tianhu, Tang Zheng, Zhu Cong, and Song Yongqiang.
Frightened, the four men simultaneously took several steps back.
"Your Xiao Sect has provoked me time and again. Do you really think I have no temper?" Ye Yunfei said.
As soon as the words left his mouth.
Ye Yunfei's right palm was already lashing out like lightning.
Each palm sent out a wave of force through the air, striking the face of a Xiao Sect member with pinpoint accuracy.
*Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!...*
A series of slapping sounds, reminiscent of popping firecrackers, rang out one after another.
One after another, Xiao Sect members were sent flying by the concussive force.
In less than two seconds, all the Xiao Sect members had been flung into the distance. Moans of pain filled the air as none could manage to stand.
"Ye Yunfei, you..."
Only Shao Tianhu, Tang Zheng, Zhu Cong, and Song Yongqiang remained, standing where they were, terrified. They wanted to say something but found themselves at a loss for words.
Even Zhan Tianming couldn't withstand a single move against Ye Yunfei.
How could the four of them dare step forward?
Besides, they had all once been defeated by Ye Yunfei, their spirits broken by him. The psychological shadow he cast over them had long been there.
"Ye Yunfei, don't be rash..." Shao Tianhu forced himself to speak.
Before he could finish.
*Swoosh!*
Suddenly, Ye Yunfei's figure blurred.
*Bang! Bang!...*
Shao Tianhu and the other three, all struck by Ye Yunfei, were sent flying one after the other, landing on top of the Xiao Sect members struggling to get up.
"Aghh!..."
A wave of miserable screams echoed continuously.
"How dare trash like you come looking for trouble with me?
Get lost!"
Ye Yunfei coldly shouted, then turned and strode back into his small courtyard.
"I intend to go into seclusion and cultivate for a few days. You return and cultivate as well," Ye Yunfei said to Dugu Huan.
"Alright," Dugu Huan nodded, then returned to his own residence.
* * *
Ye Yunfei entered the cultivation chamber.
Directly entering the Phantom Tower, he sat down cross-legged.
With a wave of his hand.
A small yellow pagoda appeared before him.
It was precisely the Xuanhuang Tower gifted to him by the Jiao Prince.
"I wonder just how much Profound Yellow Heavy Qi I can fuse," Ye Yunfei gazed at the tower, anticipation stirring within.
The most prominent characteristic of Profound Yellow Heavy Qi was its terrifying density.
Moreover, it could be integrated into flesh or spiritual energy, causing one's combat power to skyrocket.
Ye Yunfei raised his hand and beckoned.
Immediately, a strand of yellow mist, no thicker than a human hair, floated out.
When the Jiao Prince had given this Xuanhuang Tower to Ye Yunfei, he had already erased his own soul aura from it.
Therefore, Ye Yunfei could manipulate it with ease.
Next, Ye Yunfei began attempting to fuse this strand of Profound Yellow Heavy Qi into his flesh.
Having once been a Heavenly Emperor, Ye Yunfei naturally knew the method for fusing Profound Yellow Heavy Qi.
During the fusion process, he proceeded with utmost caution, not daring the slightest carelessness.
Because Profound Yellow Heavy Qi was simply too overbearing.
This strand of Profound Yellow Heavy Qi, while only hair-thin, should not be underestimated.
Such a single strand, once activated, could effortlessly crush a towering mountain to dust!
Time slowly flowed by.
In the blink of an eye, a month had passed within the Phantom Tower.
One day.
"Success at last!"
Ye Yunfei exclaimed with pleasant surprise.
That strand of Profound Yellow Heavy Qi had been successfully fused into Ye Yunfei's flesh.
Ye Yunfei extended his hand, clenching it into a fist.
Immediately, a wisp of Profound Yellow Heavy Qi manifested upon his fist, erupting with a fierce yellow radiance.
Ye Yunfei threw a light punch forward.
For this punch, Ye Yunfei had not employed even a trace of his physical strength.
*Rumble...*
The space within the chamber suddenly sank, a thunderous roar issuing forth.
"The effect isn't bad," Ye Yunfei nodded in satisfaction.
* * *
And thus.
Ye Yunfei pointed a finger, and another wisp of Profound Yellow Heavy Qi drifted out from within the Xuanhuang Tower.
He then began fusing this strand.
Time slipped by.
Unbeknownst to him.
Nine months had passed.
In total, Ye Yunfei had fused ten strands of Profound Yellow Heavy Qi.
*Boom!*
Ye Yunfei lightly clenched his fist, and torrents of yellow light poured forth from his fist, shaking the entire cultivation chamber.
Even his entire courtyard rattled.
"With my inherent physical strength plus all this fused Profound Yellow Heavy Qi, a single punch could instantly annihilate any cultivator in the Yuan Foundation Realm.
Even late-stage Yuan Foundation Realm cultivators wouldn't last half a move before me."
Ye Yunfei felt a surge of excitement.
"With Profound Yellow Heavy Qi, my journey in body tempering will now ascend to a new level!
The Heavenly Demon Blood-Refining Body Art, the Jiamu Qing Emperor's Body Technique, supplemented by the Profound Yellow Heavy Qi... I can absolutely refine a fleshly body of unparalleled might!
I'm afraid it won't be long before I can stand proudly atop the entire Tianxuan Continent with my physical strength alone!
Only, the Tianxuan Continent is ultimately just a remote, backward land.
Sooner or later, I will leave, venturing out into the vaster world beyond."
Ye Yunfei murmured to himself.
One must know that after his rebirth, improving his combat power was the most important, most central objective for Ye Yunfei!
"Tian Luo, Jin Wu, You Yue... just you wait.
I, Ye Yunfei, will inevitably reclaim my throne as Heavenly Emperor.
And when that day comes, we shall settle our accounts."
Ye Yunfei raised his head, his gaze seemingly piercing toward a distant point in time and space, a thick, murderous intent swirling within it.