Previously, he had witnessed Ye Yunfei defeat an exact duplicate of himself, then stride along a small path before vanishing. He never imagined he would suddenly see Ye Yunfei again, standing nearby.
"Senior, I truly did previously enter the core area of Tianmu Shenjun's Cultivation Grotto. I've returned now specifically to bring you in with me," Ye Yunfei stated his purpose directly.
"What? Young Master Ye, you came back to bring me inside?" Upon hearing this, Yang Feng was both astonished and grateful.
"Young Master Ye, I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart for remembering me and specially returning to bring me in. However, advancement in this river seems to rely solely on one's own strength. Assistance from others appears to be ineffective. Just earlier, I saw experts from major factions attempting to help other members of their factions cross this river, but they all ultimately failed. Young Master Ye, I deeply appreciate your kindness. From now on, please feel free to command anything you need from me or my Yang Family." Yang Feng said gratefully.
In his heart, Yang Feng understood that Ye Yunfei's talent and strength were worth the Yang Family's cultivation. Moreover, a young freak like this was likely backed by an incredibly terrifying major faction. It was absolutely wise for the Yang Family to curry favor with such a talent.
"Senior, rest assured. Others cannot help, but I can," Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
"These white beings are all illusory, merely combinations of energy and laws. Tianmu Shenjun has established numerous special runes here. Each rune combines with some energy and laws to condense into an illusory being. So the essence of these white beings is a single special rune." Ye Yunfei observed the beings around him. The Divine Pupil between his brows instantly saw through their true nature.
"Describe those special runes to me immediately! Tianmu Shenjun's method is truly ingenious and formidable. I want to study it carefully. If I could one day arrange such runes, I might be able to use them to create an entire army for battle," Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm conveyed with keen interest.
At this moment, Ye Yunfei saw an exact copy of himself emerge and charge towards him. Of course, in Ye Yunfei's eyes, this being now appeared as a single rune.
"The movement of these runes follows a pattern." The Divine Pupil in Ye Yunfei's brow saw all the strange beings in the white river with crystal clarity, and this thought crossed his mind.
"Senior, follow me. We'll turn back to gather more people, then enter the core of Tianmu Shenjun's Cultivation Grotto together," Ye Yunfei said to Yang Feng, then turned and began walking back.
"We're turning back?" Yang Feng was stunned by Ye Yunfei's words. He had struggled so hard to reach this point; turning back meant giving up. He had no desire to endure that arduous process again. But he quickly chose to trust Ye Yunfei. Gritting his teeth, he took large strides to follow.
As Ye Yunfei and Yang Feng turned back, the duplicate selves ahead of them immediately stopped moving and slowly faded away. For a being that had arrived here to turn back signified abandonment of the ongoing trial.
The two walked back for a moment as the white beings around them surged forth like a rolling tide, constantly attacking. This area was filled with countless white, strange beings. Anyone who arrived here would face relentless assault.
But the Divine Pupil in Ye Yunfei's brow clearly saw the runes within those white beings. It could even predict their movement trajectory, speed, and attack patterns. Under the scrutiny of Ye Yunfei's Divine Pupil, those white beings became utterly transparent.
Ye Yunfei even sensed that under the influence of his pupil, the speed of those white beings slowed somewhat, and the power of their attacks weakened considerably.
"It seems my Divine Pupil can influence the runes within these white beings." A thought stirred within Ye Yunfei, followed by a surge of pleasant surprise.
"Your feeling is correct," Hun Lao said. "Tianmu Shenjun's Pupil Technique isn't merely about seeing through all worldly illusions. It can also affect enemies and be used to attack them during combat. According to legend, back in the Ancient Era, a group of Deities once besieged Tianmu Shenjun, vowing to kill him. Facing their encirclement, Tianmu Shenjun showed no fear. He sat within a pavilion, sipping tea while coldly watching the murderous Deities all around him. Then, Tianmu Shenjun deployed his Pupil Technique. Fearsome beams of light shot from his eyes, instantly slaying several powerful Deities on the spot. The remaining beings fled in panic. Later, the formidable power of Tianmu Shenjun's Pupil Technique gradually spread. Some described that when Tianmu Shenjun wished to kill, he didn't even need to move—he could achieve victory with a single glance."
"It seems even though I've inherited Tianmu Shenjun's Pupil Technique, I am still far from being able to truly unleash its power. I must continue to diligently spend time cultivating and comprehending it," Ye Yunfei said.
"That's to be expected. In its day, Tianmu Shenjun's Pupil Technique was renowned throughout the Chaotic Void Sea, filling countless Deities with terror at the mere mention of his name. You still have a long way to go," Hun Lao nodded.
"Young Lady Zhou," Ye Yunfei arrived beside a woman and greeted her with a smile.
This woman was precisely Zhou Wanqing. Previously, with Ye Yunfei's help, she had reached the central part of the river. She was now locked in fierce combat against an endless stream of attacking white beings.
"Young Master Ye? Why have you come back?" Engrossed in battling the hordes of white beings, Zhou Wanqing had been completely focused on the fight and hadn't noticed Ye Yunfei's return to the river's center. Seeing him suddenly appear startled her.
"I've returned to help you cross this river," Ye Yunfei replied with a smile.
"What? Young Master Ye, you deliberately came back to help me cross?" Zhou Wanqing felt both confused and grateful upon hearing his words.
"But crossing this river seems to rely on one's own strength... Can you really help me?" she added.
"Of course. From now on, Young Lady Zhou, you just need to follow me," Ye Yunfei nodded.
By now, Ye Yunfei and Yang Feng had returned to the edge of the white river. Here, even more beings stood motionless on the river's surface, trapped in one illusion after another, unable to free themselves.
"Senior, two of your Yang Family elders are here. Bring them along," Ye Yunfei said to Yang Feng.
"Young Master Ye, these two elders of my Yang Family refuse to admit defeat. They've been locked in struggle with the illusions here. They are now deeply trapped. Unless we make them retreat, otherwise..." Yang Feng hesitated before speaking.
"Do not worry. Go and call them over. I will help them break the illusions," Ye Yunfei assured him.
"Young Lady Zhou, gather everyone from your Wanmu Ancestral Land," Ye Yunfei then said to Zhou Wanqing.
"Very well. I will gather everyone from our Wanmu Ancestral Land right now," Zhou Wanqing nodded, then proceeded to approach the members of the Wanmu Ancestral Land.
As Zhou Wanqing walked beside the Wanmu Ancestral Land members, they suddenly, one by one, broke free from their illusions.
"What happened? A moment ago I was completely trapped in an illusion, unable to free myself. Now I've suddenly broken free!" The members of the Wanmu Ancestral Land were both shocked and delighted.
In truth, it was Ye Yunfei using his Pupil Technique to break their illusions for them.
Zhou Wanqing quickly gathered all the Wanmu Ancestral Land members and brought them to Ye Yunfei's side.
Meanwhile, Yang Feng also led the two Yang Family elders to Ye Yunfei's side. Of course, Ye Yunfei had also helped break their illusions.
Everyone looked at Ye Yunfei with curious eyes, eager to know what method he would use to lead them across this white river.
Ye Yunfei quietly activated the Teleportation Token in his palm. A powerful wave of teleportation energy instantly formed, enveloping everyone. In the next moment, the teleportation began.
"What is happening?" Zhou Wanqing, Yang Feng, and the others were astonished. Then, they vanished from the river's surface. The teleportation soon ceased.
As everyone steadied themselves, they found themselves within a world of picturesque scenery.
"Young Master Ye, could this be the core area of Tianmu Shenjun's Cultivation Grotto?" Gazing at the beautiful world before her, Zhou Wanqing asked excitedly.