"Master, what are you doing? Could this broken stele also be a treasure?" Hu Miao asked immediately.
"That's right. This broken stele is actually a treasure related to wind. I might need it to cultivate this technique later," Ye Yunfei nodded.
*Rumble...*
Ye Yunfei grasped the broken stele with his palm, exerted his physical strength, and began pulling it up bit by bit, finally yanking the stele out entirely before transmitting it into the Shadow Illusion Pagoda.
"Alright, we need to go find the second part of this cultivation method," Ye Yunfei said, then strode away from the area.
"Young Master Ye, our Hunyuan Sect has three other Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods on this continent as well. I wonder how they are faring now?" Elder Feng suddenly asked Ye Yunfei.
While Ye Yunfei had been comprehending the broken stele earlier, these Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods of the Hunyuan Sect had been quietly by his side without disturbing him or asking any questions. Knowing the broken stele was likely an opportunity for Ye Yunfei and completely unable to decipher the incomplete ancient text on it themselves, they had all simply rested nearby with their eyes closed.
"Well then, let's proceed in the direction they headed earlier and check," Ye Yunfei thought for a moment, then walked toward the area where the three Hunyuan Sect Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods had gone.
The journey remained one of desolate land, and Ye Yunfei walked for quite some time without any discovery. This continent was deathly silent; in most areas, not a blade of grass grew, devoid of any trace of life.
"Looks like aside from that broken stele just now, there probably aren't any other treasures on this continent," the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm felt deeply disappointed.
"Master, look ahead. There's also a cluster of crumbling buildings, with many collapsed ancient structures," Hu Miao suddenly spoke up just as the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm was complaining.
"Yes, I've already noticed there is indeed a fairly expansive area of structures ahead, though most of the buildings have already collapsed, leaving only broken bricks and fragments of walls," Ye Yunfei nodded.
As he advanced, Ye Yunfei had been constantly using his Mental Force energy and the Divine Pupil on his forehead to observe everything around him, hence his discovery of that abandoned cluster of ruins up ahead.
"Young Master Ye, good news! I can faintly sense some lingering traces of the auras of those three elders of our Hunyuan Sect.
Although our Soul Power energy is severely suppressed on this continent, right at this spot, I managed to vaguely capture some residual aura left behind by those three elders. I'm sure they definitely passed through here," one of the Hunyuan Sect elders said excitedly.
"That's right, I perceive it too," Elder Gan also said with surprise.
"It seems they definitely came through here, and they are still safe for now. Let's speed up and we should be able to find them," Ye Yunfei nodded, then quickened his pace, soon entering an area ahead strewn with architectural ruins.
"Those three elders have left behind some faint traces here as well," another Hunyuan Sect Seventh-Level Sovereign God suddenly exclaimed.
"They are just up ahead," Ye Yunfei's gaze shifted forward. By now, Ye Yunfei's Divine Pupil had spotted, deep within this area of dilapidated ruins, three figures cautiously advancing. They should be the three Hunyuan Sect Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods who had entered earlier.
"Oh no, those three elders are about to be surrounded by the gale!" At that moment, Ye Yunfei's expression suddenly changed slightly because he saw winds beginning to stir around the three figures ahead—a clear signal that the violent gale was about to attack, something Ye Yunfei had already experienced two or three times before.
"What? Those three elders are about to be besieged by the gale? With their strength, they will certainly be unable to resist once surrounded!" Hearing Ye Yunfei's words, the eight Hunyuan Sect Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods all paled. Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods were the backbone of the Hunyuan Sect. Losing even one was a significant blow.
"Let's hurry to rescue them," Ye Yunfei said, then his figure blurred as he accelerated toward the location of the three Hunyuan Sect elders. The eight Hunyuan Sect Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods also quickly exerted their movement skills, speeding up and following closely behind Ye Yunfei.
Just then, the three Hunyuan Sect elders noticed the growing winds in the surrounding space.
"What's going on? This dilapidated area was originally dead silent, without any life or even air movement. Why would so much wind suddenly form?" The three Hunyuan Sect elders all sensed something was amiss.
"Ever since setting foot on this continent, I've felt an eerie aura always present here. These winds are definitely not ordinary. We'd better try to avoid them," one elder said.
"What's there to fear? We are all full-fledged Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods. Are we afraid of some wind? I, on the contrary, feel this ruined area might hold some treasures. Since entering this continent and coming all the way here, we've only seen desolate ground with no gains whatsoever. Now that we're finally here, we shouldn't give up easily. We must search this place thoroughly to see if we can find something," another elder countered.
"Look! The winds are growing stronger! It's as if some strange presence is creating them," all three elders noticed the winds in the surrounding space increasing in power, their coverage expanding, and continuously blowing toward their position.
*Boom! Rumble! Rumble!*
Soon, heaven and earth were filled with increasingly violent gales, overwhelming, dust-choked, crashing through the sky and land with deafening roars, as if many giants hid in the shadows fiercely beating war drums.
"Oh no! The power of these winds seems terrifying!" A blast of violent wind actually caused the three elders' bodies to sway unsteadily. This made the three Hunyuan Sect elders' expressions change completely. These gales were even making their bodies sway—utterly bizarre.
*Rumble...!*
Winds filled every inch of heaven and earth, billowing forth endlessly, their power becoming increasingly horrifying.
"Disaster! The skin and flesh on my body are being flayed off! Be careful, everyone! The might of these gales is too terrible! My physical body actually can't withstand them!" one elder cried out in alarm.
"Same here! I've already suffered numerous wounds," another elder exclaimed, horrified.
By now, the three Hunyuan Sect elders were surrounded by dense, invisible Wind Blades that frenziedly slashed at their bodies, causing more and more wounds to appear, even beginning to expose glistening white bone.
All three elders immediately activated a multitude of treasures. As Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods, each possessed many defensive artifacts.
*Boom! Rumble!...*
Artifact after artifact was continuously activated, forming protective layers around their bodies.
However, the power of the surrounding winds also escalated rapidly. Within moments, the artifacts began to be blasted apart by the winds, shattering into clouds of fragments.
"Ah...!" Soon, all three elders cried out in agony, realizing they simply couldn't withstand the endless winds. Moreover, towering tornadoes also began converging to attack them.
"I never imagined this continent could be so perilous," facing the surging gales, the three elders began showing expressions of despair, as they already sensed they definitely couldn't handle these horrifying winds.
"We shouldn't have entered. Once we three perish, our Hunyuan Sect forces outside won't be a match and will likely be wiped out by the Guardian Faction army before long. We are sinners," all three elders felt regret.
Earlier, when a spatial rift was torn open on the battlefield, driven by curiosity, they had immediately entered it to explore this Small World. They never expected such an outcome.
Just then.
"Three Elders, don't worry. We're here to save you!" A voice, greatly weakened by the winds yet still discernible, pierced through into the raging gale, reaching the ears of the three Hunyuan Sect elders.
"Sounds like a powerhouse from our Hunyuan Sect has arrived!" Hearing this, the three elders felt a surge of spirit.
"No! Those who came are all Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods, the same realm and strength as us. They can't save us. If they charge in, they'll share the same fate!" Quickly, the three elders perceived, outside the raging wind zone, eight Hunyuan Sect Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods had arrived—individuals they recognized, with similar cultivation levels and power to their own.
"They definitely can't rescue the three of us. Forget it. Don't let them come in, lest we implicate them. After we three perish, we'll have to rely on them to lead the armies outside," one of the Hunyuan Sect elders trapped within the winds thought for a moment, forcing a bitter smile.
"Indeed. Those eight wouldn't be able to save us even if they entered," the other two elders also nodded.
"Don't come in! The power of these gales is far too terrifying! They are beyond the capability of us Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods to handle. Even if you enter, you can't save us. Please leave quickly, lest you get implicated as well. We'll trouble the eight elders to personally lead the external armies," one of the elders trapped in the winds shouted loudly.
"These Hunyuan Sect elders are truly righteous and loyal," Hun Lao couldn't help but send a voice transmission to Ye Yunfei.
"The Hunyuan Sect suffered a catastrophe in ancient times. Those who remain all bear a sea of blood-debt, holding tightly to their determination to exact revenge and rebuild the glorious Hunyuan Sect of old. Under such pressure and in such circumstances, it's not strange for these Hunyuan Sect elders to be more united and bound by loyalty and righteousness," Ye Yunfei remarked.
"Rest assured, Elders. I will bring them out," Ye Yunfei stated. Then, the Divine Pupil on his forehead locked onto a dark shadow concealed within the raging winds.
"Sure enough, it's that fellow again, conjuring these gales," Seeing the dark shadow, Ye Yunfei smiled, then immediately began attacking it using various Heart Force Martial Skills. Simultaneously, he waved a hand and cast more than a dozen powerful formations, hurling them into the gales ahead. Ye Yunfei then stepped into the winds alongside those formations.
One after another, the formations unleashed surging arrays of power; one after another, dazzling formation light barriers bloomed like brilliant, massive umbrellas enclosing Ye Yunfei.
Meanwhile, per Ye Yunfei's instruction, the eight Hunyuan Sect Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods stayed in place. Ye Yunfei had already set up some protective formations around them to guard against sudden attacks from the gale.
The moment Ye Yunfei unleashed his Heart Force Martial Skills, the dark shadow hidden in the winds immediately retreated a considerable distance. Wherever Ye Yunfei passed, the fury of the gales weakened noticeably.
Soon, Ye Yunfei reached the location of the three trapped Hunyuan Sect elders. By now, they had been flayed bloody and ragged by the terrifying winds, with most of their flesh and some of their bones already worn away, leaving only three gruesome, blood-drenched torsos.
"Three Seniors, rest assured. You will be alright," Ye Yunfei approached, waved a hand, and set up another dozen formations encircling the area. He then took out three jade vials.