"So that's how it was. It's a shame Tianmu Shenjun is a figure from antiquity; the various legends he left behind make us latecomers only able to look up and admire, unable to draw close."
Having listened to Hun Lao's words, Ye Yunfei felt an even stronger curiosity and yearning towards Tianmu Shenjun.
"Master, I think you aren't half bad yourself. While your current strength might not yet compare to Tianmu Shenjun at his peak in ancient times, Master, you have talent in many areas — Soul Force Energy, Mind Force Energy, Formations, alchemy, sword techniques, physical body power, even blade techniques. Any single skill or secret art you bring out can hold its own.
Keep at it, Master. I believe one day you can become a top-tier powerhouse like Tianmu Shenjun," Hu Miao said to Ye Yunfei.
"How can I be compared to Tianmu Shenjun? In ancient times, Tianmu Shenjun was already a major figure whose prestige shook the entire Chaotic Void Sea, while I'm still not necessarily a match for a Sovereign God now," Ye Yunfei chuckled and replied.
"Master, the reason you can't compare to Tianmu Shenjun now is simply that you're too young and your cultivation realm is still temporarily low. But I believe that with your talent, Master, one day you might stand shoulder to shoulder with Tianmu Shenjun," Hu Miao added.
"I hope so. But the truth is, I am still very weak now; facing the true powerhouses within the two great forces of the Blade Realm and the Guardian Faction, I am no match. In fact, Elder Ruan's strength should also be greater than mine; he's just deep and reserved, not prone to acting rashly. I still have a long way to go on my path." Ye Yunfei glanced at Elder Ruan walking ahead and spoke.
"Indeed. This Elder Ruan's strength is quite formidable," Hun Lao also nodded in agreement.
"Ye-surnamed one, your life is forfeit!"
At that moment, a light cry suddenly rang out from not far away.
A domineering blade radiance instantly tore through space, sweeping towards Ye Yunfei's body at an astonishing speed.
Ye Yunfei's Soul Force Energy immediately sensed a familiar figure, and his expression involuntarily darkened.
"It's that fellow Sima Ziyang. He must be using an artifact from the Blade Realm to launch a sneak attack," Hun Lao immediately transmitted a warning.
A sword in Ye Yunfei's hand slashed out. A loud clang rang out as a palm-sized small knife and the long sword in Ye Yunfei's hand collided. Waves of blade radiance instantly erupted into hundreds of millions of terrifying blade rays, instantly engulfing Ye Yunfei.
"That small knife harbors a remnant soul. It's likely the remnant soul of a Blade Cultivator of immensely terrifying strength left within. So the one truly attacking you isn't Sima Ziyang; it's that remnant soul concealed within the knife!" Hun Lao exclaimed in surprise.
Ye Yunfei felt a horrifying Blade Dao energy pressing down towards him. Suppressed by this Blade Dao energy, Ye Yunfei retreated over a dozen steps, feeling the blood and Qi in his body churning violently, his breathing labored, and blood starting to seep from the corner of his mouth.
Moreover, a massive amount of domineering blade energy continuously attacked into Ye Yunfei's Soul Sea, aiming to sever his Soul Body.
Whoosh…
Within Ye Yunfei's Soul Sea, the Soul Nurturing Tree manifested directly. Now, the Soul Nurturing Tree had grown into a colossal sky-reaching giant, standing at the center of the Soul Sea, draped with billions of emerald-green branches exuding thick Soul Power.
Countless emerald-green branches transformed into strands of green arrow-shaped attacks, intercepting the invasive blade energy.
A sword radiating dense Soul Power appeared within Ye Yunfei's Soul Sea, bursting forth with rolling sword radiance, protecting Ye Yunfei's two Soul Bodies.
As Ye Yunfei's Soul Power level continuously rose, the grade and might of this Soul Sword had also been constantly enhanced. Now, it had become one of Ye Yunfei's trump cards for protecting his Soul Sea.
"No wonder the Sword Realm chose you as its successor. At such a young age, to possess such trump cards and methods is truly remarkable. However, from the moment you chose to become the Sword Realm's successor, your fate was sealed—death! Even the Sword Realm at its peak was annihilated by our Blade Realm; let alone now that the Sword Realm has become ruins. You really think those lingering dead souls of the Sword Realm can help you deal with our Blade Realm? You are too naïve!" A hoarse voice, both cold and tinged with ridicule and contempt, emanated from the small knife.
"Ye-surnamed brat, you have a tenacious life! Even this failed to kill you!" In the distance, seeing Ye Yunfei only being shaken back over a dozen steps, albeit with bleeding at his mouth corner and a slightly pale complexion, clearly only sustaining minor injuries, Sima Ziyang regrettably remarked.
The small knife was given to him by a powerhouse of the Blade Realm to find an opportunity to ambush Ye Yunfei and take his life. Sima Ziyang, being only a junior with comparatively weak strength, targeting Ye Yunfei would serve to lull Ye Yunfei into lowering his guard. The Remnant Soul concealed within that small knife belonged to an extremely formidable ancient Blade Cultivator of the Blade Realm, still possessing terrifying strength. A slight lapse of focus from Ye Yunfei could mean falling prey to it.
"Is that so? Do you really think it was by true strength that your Blade Realm annihilated our Sword Realm back then? On pure strength alone, what ability did your Blade Realm possess to annihilate our Sword Realm? Your Blade Realm is nothing but a bunch of despicable scoundrels who only know how to play dirty tricks. Just you wait; for the past grievance, our Sword Realm will certainly seek vengeance!"
Suddenly, an enraged voice rang out from the sword in Ye Yunfei's hand. Following it, a figure of an elderly man manifested.
It was precisely the Sword Elder whom Ye Yunfei had previously encountered in the Sword Realm.
"So this senior also left a Soul Power mark within the sword in your hand," Hun Lao transmitted, staring at Sword Elder's form in shock.
As Sword Elder finished speaking, he reached out and grabbed the sword from Ye Yunfei's hand, then swept it forward.
Clang! The small knife up ahead was struck and instantly sent flying high into the air.
"So it's you, old thing!" A miserable shriek sounded from the small knife before it fell utterly silent.
Sword Elder gently raised the sword and brandished it. The small knife, which had been knocked high into the sky, was then pulled downwards by a powerful force, landing directly in Sword Elder's hand.
The sword in Sword Elder's hand burst forth with dazzling sword radiance that directly subdued the small knife. Sword Elder then handed the sword and the small knife both back to Ye Yunfei.
Perceiving that the Remnant Soul within the small knife had been extinguished with a single swipe by Sword Elder, Ye Yunfei took hold of the items.
"Sword Elder's strength is truly terrifying! It was merely a Soul Power mark, yet with a gentle brandish, he annihilated that old thing's remnant soul!" Golden-horned Dragon Silkworm exclaimed in astonished admiration.
"I think another factor is that this sword was forged by Sword Elder himself. Possibly, you haven't yet unleashed the sword's true potential before. It only manifested its genuine power when in Sword Elder's hands," Hun Lao observed.
"That's a plausible possibility," Ye Yunfei nodded upon hearing Hun Lao's words.
"Although I have received the Sword Realm's legacy and this formidable sword, my Sword Dao level still lags far behind the true powerhouses of the ancient Sword Realm. Regarding the Sword Dao, I still have a great deal of time and effort to dedicate to polishing and elevating it," Ye Yunfei added.
After delivering the sword and the small knife to Ye Yunfei, Sword Elder instantly vanished, returning to the sword.
"Ye-surnamed brat, you have quite the nerve, daring to covet artifacts of our Blade Realm. Return it to me immediately, or you shall die without a place to bury your corpse!" Seeing the small knife fall into Ye Yunfei's hands, Sima Ziyang reacted with both shock and fury, shouting fiercely at Ye Yunfei.
Surrounding Blade Cultivators also fixed Ye Yunfei with furious glares.
"With such arrogance at such a tender age, you cannot be allowed to live!" A Blade Cultivator shrouded in intimidating blade energy fixed Ye Yunfei with a fierce, penetrating gaze as he slowly spoke.
His eyes felt like two domineering long blades on Ye Yunfei's body, sending a shiver of fear down Ye Yunfei's spine.
"Be careful, Young Master Ye. This fellow is formidable; leave him to me," Elder Ruan stated, taking a step forward and shielding Ye Yunfei.
"Ruan-surnamed fellow, think clearly. Does Wanmu Ancestral Land truly wish to take this Ye-surnamed brat's side and be enemies of our Blade Realm?" the Blade Cultivator asked grimly.
"Spare me the talk. Anyway, as long as I'm here, you cannot harm Young Master Ye," Elder Ruan refused to give half a step and coolly replied.
"If your Wanmu Ancestral Land remains so obstinately stubborn, sooner or later you will face dire consequences," uttered a powerhouse from the Guardian Faction not too far away who now also turned his gaze towards Elder Ruan; his words containing clear threat.
"Our Wanmu Ancestral Land operates on the principle of not seeking trouble, but never fearing it.
Young Master Ye is here with me. The idea that you might deal with him in front of me is simply impossible," Elder Ruan replied dismissively.
"Then so be it; there's nothing more to be said. This brat is a person that our Blade Realm must kill. Having encountered him here, there is no necessity for him to keep breathing," the Blade Cultivator declared coldly, stepping forward.
Around this time, hordes of bizarre white apparitions continuously materialized and charged towards the various factions.
However, for these powerhouses, the white beings posed no substantial threat.
Everyone continued talking while taking action, steadily eliminating wave after wave of the white apparitions.
Ye Yunfei acted similarly, swinging his sword repeatedly, decimating the white apparitions that charged at him from all sides.
Zhou Wanqing and Yang Feng, the ancestor of the Yang Family, remained close behind Ye Yunfei. Both had been beset by numerous illusions when stepping into the White River earlier, but with Hu Miao's timely help, they subsequently managed to safely reach the central part of the river.
Within this White River, it was estimated only Hu Miao possessed the ability to help others break free of illusions.
Of course, Hu Miao also heavily relied on the Primordial True Fox Stele's power. The Primordial True Fox Stele, after all, was a sacred object of the ancient Heavenly Fox Clan and by no means simple.
"Master, don't worry; fighting against these old fellows here gives us an advantage. Within this river exist vast quantities of advanced Illusion Dao energy and laws; furthermore, it contains a massive abundance of high-level Mind Force Energy. If they really want a fight, then we'll have one with them!" Hu Miao transmitted to Ye Yunfei.
"Yes, aside from Illusion Dao energy, this river holds incredibly advanced Mind Force Energy," Ye Yunfei responded, having already detected this fact earlier.
At that moment, the Blade Cultivator now began striding toward Ye Yunfei.
"That fellow is at least a Sixth or Seventh Level Sovereign God! Moreover, Blade Cultivators generally possess combat ability superior to those of the same rank. Be careful!" Hun Lao immediately transmitted.
Boom!
Suddenly, a Blade Qi shot out from within that Blade Cultivator's head, rolling relentlessly toward Ye Yunfei's skull!
When this Blade Qi first manifested, it was merely palm-sized. But, expanding with the movement, it swelled larger and larger, until, in an instant, it became a mountainous beam of blade radiance cramming a huge swathe of space and radiating terrifying Blade Dao energy as it surged forth.
The space in front of Ye Yunfei instantly collapsed and disintegrated under its attack.
However, the very next moment, a gargantuan, sky-reaching, colossal tree abruptly manifested directly before Ye Yunfei, blossoming with heavens-shaking green radiance and draped with billions of emerald-hued branches.
Clang! With a collision between the colossal sky-touching tree and the massive blade ray, the latter was instantly repelled backward.
Elder Ruan had taken action to aid Ye Yunfei.
His expression darkening, Ye Yunfei immediately acted without a second thought.
Ye Yunfei first unleashed his Heart Sword technique. The sword directly appeared before the Blade Cultivator's forehead.