"This indicates that what we're seeing isn't real, but illusory,"
Hun Lao spoke up.
"But I can't sense that old farmer, nor can I sense that Yellow Dog.
They feel like ordinary creatures that have never cultivated at all."
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm said.
"Master, look at that vegetable patch—aren't all the things planted there medicinal herbs, and all of them high-grade divine-level herbs, possibly even at the Sovereign God level?"
Suddenly, Hu Miao pointed at the patch by the lake, saying in surprise.
"You're right. Most of those herbs are Sovereign God-level medicinal plants,"
Ye Yunfei immediately looked over at Hu Miao's words, then exclaimed joyfully.
"So many Sovereign God-level herbs, and I feel quite a number among them are at the Greater Sovereign God level. The herbs in this single vegetable patch alone are priceless,"
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm stared at the herbs in the patch, drool nearly dripping from his mouth.
"What are we waiting for?
Let's go pick them right away!"
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm said to Ye Yunfei.
"Wait a moment. We have no way of discerning the situation with that senior. If we directly go over and pick his spiritual herbs, we risk enraging him, and the consequences would be unimaginable,"
Ye Yunfei's gaze fell on the elderly man standing before the thatched cottage feeding the dog, and he spoke softly.
"Yes, until we understand what's real, we shouldn't act rashly. With our current Soul Power level, we can't even sense him, which indicates he must be a terrifyingly powerful expert.
Picking his spiritual herbs in front of him now would most likely be a grave offense." Hun Lao nodded and also spoke up.
"But with all these precious spiritual herbs placed right before our eyes, are we just going to stand by and miss out?"
Although the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm knew Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao were right, he felt very unwilling as he stared at the distant precious herbs in that patch.
"Forget it. Let's go take a look at other places first,"
Ye Yunfei pondered for a moment and ultimately didn't walk over to pick the herbs. Instead, he took a detour and headed in another direction.
Not long after, a vast expanse of lake surface suddenly appeared ahead, with a solitary boat floating upon it. In the boat, an old man clad in rain gear was fishing.
Beside the old man was a bamboo basket containing several fish he had already caught.
Beside the old man also lay a Yellow Dog that looked utterly bored.
That old man remained completely still, focused on fishing, his gaze fixed on the lake surface.
At this moment, what seemed to be a fine drizzle fell upon the lake surface, misty rainfall, a solitary boat, an old man fishing—the scene before their eyes looked like a white on black ink wash painting of mountains and rivers, brimming with poetic charm.
"Isn't that the same old farmer plowing from earlier?
The Yellow Dog is also the same one from before,"
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm exclaimed in surprise.
"Master, we seem to encounter him wherever we go. Could he be doing this on purpose?"
Hu Miao sent a sound transmission to Ye Yunfei.
"Since that's the case, let's go meet this senior outright,"
Ye Yunfei gritted his teeth as he looked at the elderly man fishing with rapt concentration on the lake, and spoke aloud.
Then Ye Yunfei strode forward and arrived at the lake shore.
"This junior pays his respects to Senior!"
Ye Yunfei clasped his fists and called out clearly.
But the old man fishing on the lake showed no reaction whatsoever. He didn't even raise his eyelids. He seemed completely unaware of Ye Yunfei's arrival by the shore.
The Yellow Dog beside the old man was the same. Lying there, it occasionally shifted its bored posture lazily, sometimes closing its eyes, other times looking idly at the surrounding lake surface, yawning.
"Master, look! What are those fish?
They look like tiny golden dragons, don't they?"
Suddenly Hu Miao pointed into the lake water and said in surprise.
Ye Yunfei's gaze followed downward and indeed discovered over a dozen golden fish in the area Hu Miao indicated.
These fish had extremely strange shapes. Their front halves looked like miniature golden dragons, while their hind halves possessed tails like goldfish.
"What kind of fish are these?"
Ye Yunfei could tell at a glance these fish were extraordinary. He opened his mouth and asked Hun Lao.
"If I'm not mistaken, these should be the legendary Heavenly Dragon Fish.
It is said that the Heavenly Dragon Fish carries a trace of the ancient Divine Dragon Race bloodline within its body, while also possessing the foundational fish lineage.
The Heavenly Dragon Fish was exceedingly rare even in ancient times.
Although the Heavenly Dragon Fish is an animal, it can actually be considered a profoundly precious and rare medicinal ingredient, usable for refining some celebrated ancient divine pills of remote antiquity.
Moreover, after living beings refine and absorb the foundational bloodline of the Heavenly Dragon Fish, they can obtain a share of the ancient Divine Dragon Race's Origin Bloodline, conferring immense benefits to the physical body.
The Heavenly Dragon Fish is an extremely valuable cultivation resource for body refiners. After consuming the Heavenly Dragon Fish, one's physical body gains enormous benefits.
It is said the mighty Demonic God of Strength of ancient times once used this Heavenly Dragon Fish as a cultivation resource to train his body.
I never expected this lake would contain the rare Heavenly Dragon Fish."
Hun Lao observed the strange golden fish in the lake for a moment before speaking.
"Heavenly Dragon Fish... So such a race exists,"
After hearing Hun Lao's words, Ye Yunfei was somewhat astonished.
"The universe is vast and full of wonders. There are many diverse bizarre and strange races—it's just that you haven't encountered them all yet."
Hun Lao said with a laugh.
"That's true,"
Ye Yunfei nodded.
"If you could obtain these Heavenly Dragon Fish, your physical body would undoubtedly gain immense benefits."
Hun Lao said to Ye Yunfei.
"But that senior is here. If I acted right in front of him, wouldn't it risk angering him?"
Ye Yunfei glanced at the old man fishing with complete focus on the lake surface and felt a bit hesitant.
Of course, Ye Yunfei desperately wanted to obtain the Heavenly Dragon Fish in the lake, but the fishing old man on the lake's surface was unfathomably deep.
"I feel he might just be an illusion, not a real existence."
Sensing the old fisherman on the lake, Hun Lao spoke up.
"Actually, it's simple. He could be merely an image imprinted within this space during ancient times."
Hun Lao added.
"I think so too,"
Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Fine. Let's take a risk."
After pondering a moment, Ye Yunfei clenched his jaw and spoke decisively.
Having made his decision, Ye Yunfei took a great step forward and entered the lake water, walking toward the location of the dozen or so golden Heavenly Dragon Fish not far away.
However, the moment Ye Yunfei set foot upon the lake surface, he sensed a terrifying surge of energy instantly arise, forcefully pushing him back. With no other choice, Ye Yunfei retreated back to the shore.
"This lake cannot be entered at all,"
Ye Yunfei couldn't help but frown.
The energy just now was far too terrifying. Ye Yunfei felt he couldn't possibly contend against it.
"It seems we'll have to rely on magic treasures then."
Then Ye Yunfei waved his hand and retrieved a large net from his person.
By now, Ye Yunfei possessed an enormous variety and quantity of magic treasures on his body.
Some time ago, Ye Yunfei had slaughtered many Sovereign Gods. All their magic treasures had fallen into his hands. Coupled with his own collections, the number and variety of treasures in his possession had reached astonishing levels.
This large net belonged to a Sovereign God-level treasure, imbued with profound space laws.
Ye Yunfei raised the net, aimed it at the lake water not far away, and cast it forcefully.
As the net unfurled, it immediately enveloped the spot where the dozen or so golden Heavenly Dragon Fish were located.
Ye Yunfei couldn't help but feel great joy, because he saw the dozen or so Heavenly Dragon Fish had fallen into the net.
Ye Yunfei hurriedly drew the net back in. The dozen or so Heavenly Dragon Fish struggled frantically inside.
"Excellent! You actually obtained the legendary Heavenly Dragon Fish.
These Heavenly Dragon Fish will surely provide immense benefits to your body."
Seeing Ye Yunfei had truly captured over a dozen Heavenly Dragon Fish, Hun Lao couldn't help but say excitedly.
"Master, see? That senior showed absolutely no reaction. It seems Hun Lao is right—he's just an image, likely imprinted here long ago."
Hu Miao said to Ye Yunfei.
"Doesn't that mean we could have picked those medicinal herbs earlier after all?"
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm immediately remembered the earlier precious herbs, eyes gleaming, as he addressed Ye Yunfei.
"Right, then! We should go back right now to harvest those herbs from earlier."
Hearing the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm's words, Ye Yunfei nodded in agreement.
In truth, Ye Yunfei also wanted to obtain those herbs desperately—those contained quite a few precious Greater Sovereign God-level medicinal plants.
Thus, Ye Yunfei immediately turned and strode briskly back toward the direction where the thatched cottages had stood earlier.
"Let's hurry! Quick! I feel those guys outside will probably enter soon.
By then, forget exploring and treasure-hunting—just avoiding those fellows' pursuit would be trouble enough."
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm said.
Ye Yunfei walked with wide strides, rushing back toward those thatched cottages.
A short time later, Ye Yunfei finally returned before the cottages and charged directly toward that vegetable patch.
"That patch is planted with some relatively ordinary vegetables, but more so, it contains valuable stalk after stalk of divine-grade medicinal herbs,"
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm said.
As Ye Yunfei entered the vegetable patch, his gaze remained fixed upon the elderly man still feeding the dog in front of the thatched cottage. The moment the elder showed any reaction, Ye Yunfei would turn and flee instantly.
To Ye Yunfei's pleasant surprise, however, the elder showed no reaction whatsoever; he seemed completely unaware of Ye Yunfei's presence.
Seeing the elder unresponsive, Ye Yunfei certainly wouldn't stand on ceremony. He immediately set about picking the divine herbs.
Hu Miao and the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm also lent hands picking.
"These Greater Sovereign God-level herbs are exceedingly precious,"
Ye Yunfei picked quite a few Greater Sovereign God-level herbs and felt incredibly excited.
Meanwhile, the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm and Hu Miao were even more ecstatic.
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm swallowed over a dozen divine herbs on the spot, exclaiming repeatedly how good they felt.
Soon, all the divine herbs in the patch were thoroughly harvested.
"I think there must certainly be treasures within those thatched cottages,"
After harvesting all the divine herbs from the patch, the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm gazed at the cottages, and spoke aloud.