"Your cultivation speed and your natural aptitude for the Geomancy Technique are far stronger than mine when I was young. Young man, if you continue to work hard and cultivate in this art, one day your achievements will surely surpass my own."
Shoudi Laoren sighed with emotion.
At this time, Sword Elder had already informed the other high-ranking members of the Tianjian Sect about Shoudi Laoren. The other leaders of the Tianjian Sect were all extremely excited and immediately rushed over, gathering together to provide protection for Ye Yunfei as he entered a state of focused cultivation.
At the same time, Sword Elder had made contact with the leadership of most of the sword sects on the Sword Realm Continent.
By now, the other sword sects on the Sword Realm Continent all understood that the Divine Sword Sect had been the traitors of the continent during that ancient war. In that battle long ago, as the various sword sects of the Sword Realm were engaging the invading armies of the Blade Realm, members of the Divine Sword Sect sabotaged them from behind, ambushing and assassinating many of the Sword Realm's powerful experts. This ultimately led to the downfall of the Sword Realm.
Now, the Divine Sword Sect had become the common enemy of the entire Sword Realm Continent. All the other sword sects seethed with hatred for them. However, everyone understood that the Divine Sword Sect still retained the overall strength of its peak period from the old days. There wasn't a single sword sect on the current Sword Realm Continent that was a match for the Divine Sword Sect.
Even if all the other sword sects on the continent joined forces, they wouldn't dare claim they could definitely defeat the Divine Sword Sect.
Thus, the Sword Realm Continent had been exceptionally quiet lately. For the time being, no sword sect dared to step forward and openly challenge the Divine Sword Sect.
Meanwhile, the Divine Sword Sect, having cast aside all restraint, began to venture out from its headquarters, moving and operating openly all across the Sword Realm Continent.
From time to time, formidable waves of Soul Power energy would radiate from the Divine Sword Sect's headquarters, enveloping the entire Sword Realm Continent. This was the Soul Power energy released by the Divine Sword Sect's Chaos Gods, constantly monitoring the entire continent while also serving as a warning. Should any sword sect dare to challenge the Divine Sword Sect, these experts would immediately take action.
"I will contact the other sects now and instruct them not to act rashly for the moment. They should await notification from our Tianjian Sect before coordinating a unified action to deal with the Divine Sword Sect together," Sword Elder said to the other elders, seeing that Ye Yunfei was currently cultivating the Geomancy Technique.
Sword Elder then began utilizing the Tianjian Sect's communication methods to first contact the leadership of several of the stronger sword sects on the continent, such as the Azure Dragon Sword Sect and Test Blade Manor.
Upon receiving Sword Elder's message, the leaders of those sects quickly reached a consensus. They decided that Sword Elder should take the lead in forming an alliance to oppose the Divine Sword Sect.
All the sword sects on the Sword Realm Continent knew in their hearts that the Divine Sword Sect would not tolerate their existence as these half-ruined sects. The Divine Sword Sect would inevitably move against them sooner or later.
Before long, more and more sword sect leaders on the Sword Realm Continent voiced their support, agreeing to elect Sword Elder as the leader to form a unified alliance against the Divine Sword Sect.
Finally, Sword Elder named this alliance the Sword Alliance, with himself serving as its master.
"Elder Mo, a transmission just arrived from the Blade Realm. The Blade Realm has dispatched an additional group of experts to assist in breaking the barrier."
At this moment, within the Divine Sword Sect headquarters, Mo Chenzi was discussing the recent situation on the Sword Realm Continent with over a dozen high-ranking members of the sect. Suddenly, a Divine Sword Sect scout hurried in and delivered his report.
"Excellent. It suits me perfectly that the Blade Realm can send more experts to assist in breaking that barrier. Besides, during this period, the other sword sects on the Sword Realm Continent seem restless. They are likely secretly allying with each other, planning to join forces against our Divine Sword Sect. At a time like this, having more Blade Realm experts here to bolster our Divine Sword Sect's prestige will certainly keep those fellows from acting rashly," Mo Chenzi said upon hearing this.
"Elder Mo, if those experts from the Blade Realm publicly arrive at our headquarters, then our cooperation with the Blade Realm will be placed on the stage for all the world to see," a Divine Sword Sect elder seated nearby spoke up.
"Do you think our cooperation with the Blade Realm can still be concealed from others at this point? Now that things have reached this stage, there is nothing more to worry about. The other sword sects on the Sword Realm Continent already know about our collaboration with the Blade Realm. Therefore, we should openly and justly welcome those experts from the Blade Realm into our headquarters. This will allow us to leverage the prestige of these Blade Realm experts to bolster our Divine Sword Sect's influence and suppress the restless spirits and ghosts of the other sword sects, forcing them into a temporary standstill. This will buy us more time to break that barrier layer. Once we shatter that barrier and obtain what we seek, we will have even less to worry about. That will be the true time for our Divine Sword Sect's resurgence."
Mo Chenzi let out a cold laugh and then spoke.
"What Elder Mo says makes sense. From now on, our Divine Sword Sect need not hide its actions. We will operate openly. Pass the order: prepare to welcome the arrival of the Blade Realm experts. And we will do so publicly," one elder, having heard Mo Chenzi's words, nodded in agreement and issued the command.
Meanwhile, within the Tianjian Sect headquarters, Ye Yunfei sat cross-legged, completely immersed in cultivating the Geomancy Technique under Shoudi Laoren's guidance.
Ye Yunfei's foundation in Geomancy Technique was already quite solid. Now, with Shoudi Laoren's direct instruction, his progress was exceptionally rapid. Ye Yunfei could feel his proficiency in Geomancy Technique continuously and significantly improving.
In the underground world beneath his body, more and more Earth Qi energies and earth dragons were reacting to his efforts, surging toward him.
"An Earth Vein is moving towards my location."
Ye Yunfei suddenly perceived a large-scale Earth Vein rumbling and shifting in his direction.
An Earth Vein was a formation composed of densely concentrated, highly refined Earth Qi energies, taking the shape of a vast, river-like underground network. Located deep within the earth, they were analogous to the meridians running deep within a human body. Through prolonged evolution, an Earth Vein could develop into energy crystal lodes of various attributes. In fact, the vast majority of energy crystal deposits evolved from such Earth Veins.
"I can actually start controlling Earth Veins now!" Ye Yunfei felt a surge of excitement.
Previously, Ye Yunfei could only control earth dragons and Earth Qi energy. He had rarely studied Earth Veins, as only those who had reached a very high level in Geomancy Technique were qualified to manipulate them. Once capable of controlling Earth Veins, one gained the ability to alter the terrain and landforms on a grand scale, even potentially controlling the entire earth itself. Before this, Ye Yunfei's Geomancy Technique only allowed him to modify topography within small, limited areas.
As time passed, Ye Yunfei's skill in Geomancy Technique continued to ascend. Before long, he could simultaneously control multiple Earth Veins. One after another, under Ye Yunfei's command, the Earth Veins moved back and forth through the subterranean world of the Sword Realm Continent.
"Truly unbelievable. His comprehension ability and innate talent for Geomancy Technique are this monstrous. In such a short time, he can already control so many Earth Veins with ease," Shoudi Laoren exclaimed inwardly, astounded as he observed Ye Yunfei maneuvering one Earth Vein after another through the underground realm.
"If I had encountered a seedling of this quality in my younger years, I would have stopped at nothing to take him as my disciple and pass on my legacy," Shoudi Laoren thought, looking upon Ye Yunfei with increasing fondness.
With the passage of more time, the number of Earth Veins Ye Yunfei could control multiplied. Throughout the underground depths of the Sword Realm Continent, massive Earth Veins rumbled and shifted. Of course, the movement of Earth Veins could only be perceived by those skilled in Geomancy Technique; ordinary beings could not sense it. To a geomancer, Earth Veins were as obvious and visible as daylight. But for beings who had never cultivated Geomancy Technique, even burrowing into the underground world would not allow them to see the presence of these Earth Veins.
"Good. With your current level in Geomancy Technique, you are now capable of controlling the Earth Formation I have set up."
At a certain moment, Shoudi Laoren suddenly transmitted a message to Ye Yunfei, deeply satisfied with his cultivation speed.
"Now I will begin teaching you how to control this Earth Formation. This formation's name is the Bound-World Dragon Vein Formation. It is primarily established upon the foundation of the Sword Realm Continent's nine ancestral dragon veins, supplemented by 360 lesser dragon-qi veins and 10,800 minor branch veins."
"There are a total of nine formation eyes, each corresponding to the source point of one of the nine ancestral dragon veins. These nine formation eyes are called the Nine Great Dragon Cauldrons. At the location of each formation eye, there is a treasure cauldron formed by condensed tectonic energies. By mastering the Nine Dragon Cauldrons, one gains control over the entire Earth Formation."
Shoudi Laoren explained to Ye Yunfei. His voice echoed within Ye Yunfei's Sea of Consciousness like a massive bell, each word imbued with profound geomantic truths.
"Your first task now is to spend time mastering each of the Nine Great Dragon Cauldrons separately. Rest assured, this won't be difficult for you. With your current level in Geomancy Technique, combined with your comprehension ability and talent, I believe it won't be long before you gain control over each of them individually."
"Alright, begin now."
Shoudi Laoren continued his instructions. Simultaneously, as he spoke, a strand of information-laden Soul Power was transmitted via the underground Earth Formation, arriving before Ye Yunfei.
Then, in front of Ye Yunfei, a series of enigmatic charts of Earth Vein pathways materialized. They meticulously detailed the specific courses of the nine ancestral dragon veins, particularly pinpointing the precise locations of the Nine Great Dragon Cauldrons.
Next, Shoudi Laoren imparted to Ye Yunfei the specific methods for mastering those Nine Dragon Cauldrons.
Ye Yunfei's figure flickered as he dove deep underground, then rapidly navigated along an Earth Vein.
Enhanced by the Earth Vein energy, his speed of movement within the subterranean world increased at least a hundredfold compared to before. In a moment's time, he arrived at the location of the first Dragon Cauldron.
In the underground space ahead, he saw a massive, earthen-yellow treasure cauldron. Engraved upon its surface was a colossal yellow dragon. The entire cauldron emitted a formidable aura of Earth Qi energy.
Ye Yunfei immediately sat down cross-legged and began to employ the method taught by Shoudi Laoren, attempting to gain control over the Dragon Cauldron before him.