At this moment, Ye Yunfei was already certain that the people before him were illusory, fabrications conjured by this place's illusions to confuse him.
Therefore, Ye Yunfei ceased speaking any further, calmly observing the figures before him with his gaze.
"Not bad, young one. To have such mental fortitude and discernment at such a young age... Moreover, your Soul Power far surpasses your actual cultivation realm," one of them suddenly spoke up.
Then, the other three also fell silent, ceasing their actions. Following this, the figures of all four began to slowly turn illusory. In less than a breath's time, the people before him had vanished without a trace.
Only the chairs around the stone table, along with everything upon the table's surface, remained unchanged, resting there quietly, maintaining their original appearance.
"Master, I believe this stone table and the things upon it are real. The people from just now were projections conjured due to the existence of this table," Hu Miao said suddenly, her gaze fixed on the stone table.
"Yes, I feel the same. The wine I drank and the divine fruit I ate have already transformed into genuine energy," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"These things are still left here. Could this be a reward for you?" Hun Lao looked at the items on the stone table and suddenly spoke to Ye Yunfei.
"It's possible," Ye Yunfei couldn't help but feel a stir in his heart upon hearing Hun Lao's words. He immediately reached out to grasp the surface of the stone table.
Sure enough, Ye Yunfei's hand swept up everything on the table into his palm. The items on the table included wine, divine fruit, several bottles of elixirs, and other valuable and ingestible heavenly materials and earthly treasures.
Ye Yunfei had only consumed a couple of items before. A large number of things remained on the table. Now, these items were tangible and solidly grasped in Ye Yunfei's hand.
"Indeed. Master, these things are a reward for you. It seems that because you managed to break free from that illusion earlier, you've earned this reward," Hu Miao said with pleasant surprise.
"What kind of fruit is this?" Ye Yunfei suddenly noticed that the appearance of one particular fruit was rather peculiar. It resembled a meditating monk in the lotus position, its bald head strikingly distinct. The entire fruit exhibited a glossy, jade-like luster, emanating waves of rich, pleasant fragrance.
Upon smelling the fruit's fragrance, Ye Yunfei instantly felt his whole body comfortable and refreshed, his mind becoming much clearer.
"Master, this fruit is extremely beneficial to the Soul Body. After consuming it, you will definitely be able to handle various illusions much better in the future," Hu Miao said suddenly as she observed the fruit from the side.
"Hu Miao, you are the one cultivating Illusion Arts. This fruit is for you. Consuming it might prove beneficial to your Illusion Arts," Ye Yunfei said to Hu Miao.
"No need, Master. You should take it. Having obtained this Primordial True Fox Stele is already more than enough for me. Other treasures are merely icing on the cake for me. This fruit is more useful to you, Master," Hu Miao said.
"Very well, then," Ye Yunfei nodded upon hearing Hu Miao's words.
Then, without hesitation, Ye Yunfei popped the fruit directly into his mouth and swallowed it whole.
Ye Yunfei was confident. Given his robust physical body, even if this fruit contained terrifying energy, his body could withstand it.
With a loud rumble, as soon as the fruit entered Ye Yunfei's stomach, a vast energy erupted instantly, causing his flesh to bloat like a rapidly inflating balloon.
Ye Yunfei immediately mobilized his bodily strength to resist the horrific medicinal energy within him. Simultaneously, his body began refining and absorbing the fruit's energy like a whale drinking from the Yangtze River.
The next moment, Ye Yunfei felt mighty torrents of Soul Power energy flowing ceaselessly into his Soul Sea like a great river.
After his Soul Body absorbed this energy, it immediately became incomparably lucid.
Ye Yunfei felt his mind, thoughts, and reasoning had never been as clear and nimble as they were now. It was as if his entire self had become dozens of times smarter in an instant.
"You were right, Hu Miao. This fruit indeed holds immense benefits for the Soul Body. Furthermore, the Soul Power energy contained within this fruit is rather special, different from ordinary Soul Power. It seems specifically targeted against illusions. I feel I can see the surrounding space much more clearly now," Ye Yunfei said to Hu Miao with a touch of pleasant surprise.
"Yes, Master. Earlier, I sensed the energy within that fruit seemed specifically tailored against illusions. Refining and absorbing that energy can enhance one's ability to discern illusions and illusory realms. Though I don't know what this fruit is called, it's certainly a priceless treasure," Hu Miao said.
"Master, I suspect the other treasures you just obtained might have similar effects," Hu Miao added.
There had been a pile of treasures remaining on the stone table's surface. That fruit was merely one among them.
"Right. Let's divide these treasures. Everyone should refine and absorb some," Ye Yunfei nodded.
Then, Ye Yunfei distributed all the treasures he had just obtained to the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, Huang Shang, Hun Lao, Hu Miao, and the others.
While Ye Yunfei and the others were dividing the treasures, a figure at a location behind them suddenly came to a halt.
"Such ingenious illusions exist in this space? Even I was almost deceived," the figure, standing motionless at that spot, spoke slowly after a moment.
As soon as the figure's voice faded, *Rumble!* A terrifying surge of Soul Force energy burst forth from his Soul Sea, instantly shattering a transparent illusory realm surrounding him.
"I sense their aura. They should be up ahead," the figure's Soul Force energy then swept forward. It soon detected several familiar auras, and a cold sneer appeared on his face.
He then strode forward.
"This place was likely created by Tianmu Shenjun. The space here primarily contains two types of energy: Soul Force Energy and Mental Force Energy. Moreover, these two energies are perfectly combined. Tianmu Shenjun placed these energies here to fuse them. Could he have been conducting some experiment? Seeking to invent and create some new techniques or secret arts? Indeed, if one could perfectly combine Soul Force Energy and Mental Force Energy, the techniques or secret arts created would undoubtedly possess formidable power," the figure spoke while walking.
"Legends from antiquity say Tianmu Shenjun invented and created many new techniques and secret arts, particularly excelling in Soul Arts, Illusion Arts, and Pupil Techniques. It seems the legends are not mistaken. It's highly likely this palace holds some of Tianmu Shenjun's legacies in these very aspects. If I can obtain them, my strength is bound to reach new heights," the figure spoke again.
Meanwhile, Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao continued their advance.
"Master, let me lead the way. I'll use the Primordial True Fox Stele to guide us. It should lead us to places where treasures are hidden. After all, the Primordial True Fox Stele resided here for a period in the past. It's familiar with this place," Hu Miao said to Ye Yunfei.
"Very well, you lead," Ye Yunfei nodded.
Hu Miao walked ahead. The Primordial True Fox Stele floating above her head bobbed gently, dense chains of Illusion Dao Laws weaving about it, making it look like a dazzling, resplendent umbrella.
"I keep feeling an aura locking onto us from behind. Probably, a strong individual is pursuing us," Hun Lao suddenly spoke up at this moment.
"Yes, Master. I feel it too," Hu Miao immediately concurred upon hearing Hun Lao's words.
"Master, let me check and see exactly who is pursuing us from behind," Hu Miao added.
Then, the stele floating above her head quivered slightly, condensing a unique rune that merged with the surrounding space.
"Hu Miao, what kind of secret art is this?" Ye Yunfei sensed that after that special rune entered space, it immediately snaked its way backwards through the spatial fabric.
"Master, this rune was condensed using an ancient legacy tracking secret technique of our Primordial Heavenly Fox Clan. Just now, I used the energy within the Primordial True Fox Stele to condense this rune, so it possesses powerful tracking and perception abilities. I believe it will quickly determine exactly who is pursuing us," Hu Miao said proudly.
"Master, let's not waste time. We must press forward quickly," Hu Miao said before striding onward. Ye Yunfei immediately followed.
An indeterminable amount of time passed when suddenly a large group of people appeared ahead, lined up in a row blocking the way.
In the middle of this group, someone carried a large banner upon which four characters were written: Tianmu Shenjun.
"This is a restricted area of Tianmu Shenjun's cave estate. Unauthorized individuals are forbidden from entering," the leader spoke. He was a burly, stout man with a rugged face and fierce eyes scrutinizing Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao.
"To think we'd encounter a Primordial Heavenly Fox. Weren't such ancient remnant beasts long extinct? How has one suddenly appeared?" the man said with surprise upon seeing Hu Miao.
"Nonsense! Who says our Primordial Heavenly Fox Clan is extinct? Don't spout nonsense if you don't know," Hu Miao immediately retorted angrily, taking a step forward upon hearing the man's words.
"What? Not convinced, little fox? I know far more about your Primordial Heavenly Fox Clan than you do. Your clan was long extinct. Likely, you are the sole survivor left in the world," the man said indifferently.
"Impossible! How could our clan be extinct? I just haven't found them yet," Hu Miao grew even more furious upon hearing the man's words, immediately refuting him.
"Little fox, I understand your feelings, but what I speak is fact. These are some of the ancient calamities that befell your Primordial Heavenly Fox Clan. I will show you now. Then you will understand what truly happened to your clan back then," the man said, looking at the furious Hu Miao.
Then he extended a finger, and images immediately began to alternate, playing out one after another before Hu Miao's eyes.
These images first depicted numerous Primordial Heavenly Foxes active within a world of significant scale.