"It’s already too late for him to think about self-destructing his Soul Body now."
Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
At this moment, a large number of Puppet Soul Threads had already drilled deep into the gray-robed middle-aged man’s Soul Body.
Just as his Soul Body attempted to self-destruct, those Puppet Soul Threads simultaneously exerted force, wrapping his Soul Body inside and out, completely immobilizing it.
Moreover, Ye Yunfei's dozens of Soul Force Planets accelerated their speed, madly gnawing and devouring his Soul Body.
Soon, the gray-robed middle-aged man's Soul Body fell completely still.
"This guy is done for,"
Hun Lao said with a laugh.
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm and Hu Miao also stopped attacking, as everyone knew that the gray-robed middle-aged man had fallen.
After all, more than half of his Soul Body had already been devoured, while the remainder was tightly wrapped and encased by the Puppet Soul Threads.
"Who would have thought such a strong expert would fall by our hands,"
Hun Lao said with a chuckle.
At this time, Ye Yunfei was in the process of devouring the gray-robed man's Soul Body.
"To think I capsized in a ditch… I refuse to accept this!"
Were the last words left by the gray-robed middle-aged man before his complete annihilation.
"I need to find a place to properly enter seclusion and digest this fellow's Soul Body,"
Ye Yunfei said. Then, he and Hu Miao left the staircase.
Finding a secluded spot nearby, Ye Yunfei set up a small space using a formation, entered it, and then proceeded into the Shadow Tower to begin his seclusion and rest.
Ye Yunfei focused on two main tasks: first, digesting the vast amount of Soul Force Energy and the massive memories obtained from devouring the gray-robed man's Soul Body.
Not long ago, Hu Miao had undergone the baptism of Illusion Dao energy and had also received a collection of advanced Illusion Dao treasures.
She, too, found a place within the Shadow Tower to enter seclusion, both to consolidate and digest the recently acquired Illusion Dao energy and to sort through the treasures she had obtained.
"All these things were left behind by that old geezer from the Rune Sacred Land. I haven't touched a single talisman inside. I’ll give them all to you."
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm retrieved a few spatial rings and handed them to Ye Yunfei.
After the gray-robed middle-aged man's body was shattered, the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm had promptly gathered some of the treasures from his remains. Of course, those that caught his eye had already been claimed.
Ye Yunfei smiled faintly and accepted the spatial rings.
Of course, Ye Yunfei didn’t mind the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm taking the treasures he fancied. Apart from his own need for growth, the good friends who accompanied him also required opportunities and magical treasures for advancement.
After an unknown amount of time, Ye Yunfei finally refined and fully absorbed the Soul Body energy of the gray-robed middle-aged man, turning it into his own Soul Force Energy.
"My current level of Soul Force Energy has increased significantly. Even if I encounter a Fourth or Fifth Level Sovereign God, my Soul Force Energy will be sufficient to handle them,"
Ye Yunfei remarked with a smile after assessing his current Soul Force Energy level.
"But most importantly, I’ve obtained the majority of that fellow’s Rune Arts."
With a wave of his hand, Ye Yunfei brought out a large number of talismans left behind by the gray-robed man. Not only were there many of them, but most were of high grade and possessed formidable power.
After all, this gray-robed man was a senior member of the Rune Sacred Land. Though not one of its topmost experts but merely a regular elder, his cultivated Rune Arts and his collection of talismans were of higher grade than most members of the Rune Sacred Land.
Ye Yunfei sorted through these talismans.
"Excellent. With these talismans, I’ll have more means to deal with enemies during battles, without even needing to take action myself.
Simply tossing out these talismans will unleash formidable power against foes.
Moreover, having acquired his Rune Arts, I can, if needed, draw more talismans myself at any time."
Ye Yunfei waved his hand again and retrieved a large batch of materials and tools specifically for talisman drawing.
From among these materials and tools, Ye Yunfei selected a talisman paper, a special brush for drawing talismans, and a box of specially prepared ink.
Then, picking up the brush, he invoked the Rune Art, communing with the energy and laws between heaven and earth.
Soon, the surrounding space began to respond. Mighty streams of energy and laws surged like great rivers toward the brush in Ye Yunfei’s hand, pouring into its shaft.
Then, with the brush dancing like dragons and serpents, Ye Yunfei swiftly painted upon the talisman paper.
Every stroke and character in the Rune Art of the Rune Sacred Land was meticulously crafted, their arrangement and composition aligning with an elusive heavenly Dao.
Furthermore, with each stroke, Ye Yunfei channeled the energy and laws from the brush shaft into the talisman paper. The special symbols drawn upon the paper served to seal and amplify this energy and these laws.
Soon, a talisman was completed.
The moment Ye Yunfei stopped his brush, the talisman before him erupted with rolling divine radiance, instantly illuminating a vast expanse of space with a brilliant golden light, accompanied by the resounding boom of several thunderclaps.
"This Celestial Thunder Talisman is finally complete!"
Ye Yunfei reached out and picked up the talisman, feeling the powerful thunderous aura emanating from it. He smiled as he spoke.
Successfully drawing this Celestial Thunder Talisman signified a significant advancement in Ye Yunfei’s Rune Art.
The gray-robed middle-aged man was an elder of the Rune Sacred Land. After obtaining his memories, Ye Yunfei had acquired most of the Rune Arts he practiced, along with the majority of his lifelong insights into the art, leading to a sudden, substantial improvement in his own proficiency.
Ye Yunfei believed that with gradual comprehension and digestion—once he fully assimilated the gray-robed man’s Rune Arts and insights—his own level in this art would undoubtedly see great advancement.
"By eliminating this guy, we’ve gained substantial benefits. If we kill a few more powerful experts like him in the future, we’ll be rich."
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm had also acquired many benefits from the gray-robed man, especially a large batch of treasures suitable for his cultivation.
While Ye Yunfei had been in seclusion, he had already refined and absorbed a considerable portion of the treasures he obtained, significantly enhancing his strength.
"You think experts like that are easy to kill? If that fellow hadn’t been trapped by the Illusion Formation Tianmu Shenjun placed on the staircase, we wouldn’t have been qualified to kill him, nor could we have even gotten close,"
Hu Miao said.
"Circumstances change. Once our strength grows in the future, we will be qualified to kill such experts,"
the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm replied.
"If our strength truly reaches that height, we won’t care so much about the belongings of such experts,"
Hu Miao countered.
"That’s true. When our strength reaches that level, what we desire will be even more advanced treasures."
For once, the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm agreed with Hu Miao's words.
"Master, there are still some Illusion Dao and Mental Force energy-related magical treasures within this palace. Shall we continue searching?"
Hu Miao asked Ye Yunfei.
"Yes, let’s continue. You need Illusion Dao treasures, and I need Mental Force energy treasures.
The treasures within this palace are useful for both of us. Since we’ve come, of course we shouldn’t miss them."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
Thus, Hu Miao and Ye Yunfei proceeded to search throughout the palace's interior spaces for more treasures and opportunities.
The two of them separately acquired many Illusion Dao and Mental Force energy-related treasures, and Ye Yunfei even obtained several Mental Force energy techniques left behind by Tianmu Shenjun.
In ancient times, the majority of Mental Force energy technique legacies originated from the Heart Gate, but aside from the Heart Gate, there were also other legacies. Tianmu Shenjun had collected some and left them within this palace.
Guided by the Primordial True Fox Stele, Hu Miao led Ye Yunfei through the palace, where they found most of Tianmu Shenjun’s Mental Force energy legacies and some other magical treasures.
Finally, both had reaped excellent harvests, after which Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao departed from the palace.
After leaving the palace, Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao continued forward.
The primary part of Tianmu Shenjun’s cave abode was an endlessly vast continent. Most areas of this continent lay in ruins, and its usual atmosphere was one of deathly silence. However, with the many external beings who had invaded for treasure hunting and exploration, it had momentarily become bustling and lively.
"Master, look!"
Suddenly, Hu Miao pointed toward the central region of the continent.
From a distance, Ye Yunfei saw that from a certain spot at the continent’s center, a colossal pillar of light pierced the heavens and the earth. A huge, upright eye’s phantom materialized within the light pillar, pupils shining brilliantly as they rotated.
That upright eye’s phantom swept its gaze across the entire continent, and every individual felt as though they had been thoroughly laid bare, stripped of all secrets under that single glance.
"That must be Tianmu Shenjun’s left behind eye. How terrifying!
The moment it swept over us, I felt utterly transparent, as if I had no secrets left whatsoever."
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm exclaimed in shock.
"Tianmu Shenjun’s pupil technique was unparalleled under heaven, possessing the dreadful power to see through all falsehoods in this world.
Legends say that when Tianmu Shenjun confronted an enemy, a single glance was often enough to instantly subdue them,"
Hun Lao spoke up.
"If Tianmu Shenjun truly left behind his inheritance within this cultivation cave abode, then it is most likely located there,"
Ye Yunfei said, his gaze fixed upon the area above the giant upright eye phantom at the continent’s center.
"Indeed, that place is assuredly the core territory of Tianmu Shenjun's cultivation cave.
His most important legacies and treasures should also be concealed there,"
Hun Lao affirmed.
"In that case, let’s also head in that direction now.
The purpose of entering Tianmu Shenjun’s cultivation cave is precisely for his inheritance. Since we’ve come, we absolutely must not abandon any opportunity,"
Ye Yunfei thought for a moment and then spoke.
"But many powerful experts from major factions are undoubtedly heading in that direction as well, such as those from the Guardian Faction, the Blade Realm, and other major forces.
If you go there, you are very likely to encounter those hostile factions' experts,"
Hun Lao cautioned.