“Outsiders cannot set foot in this perilous land without permission.
Take this token, Young Master Ye. With this token, you may enter this perilous land.
But you must be careful. This perilous land is fraught with dangers. While cultivating inside, you must proceed with caution, otherwise there is risk of injury or death.
Furthermore, the moment you can no longer endure within this perilous land, immediately use this teleportation token to leave.
Therefore, you absolutely must keep this token safe, for it could very well be your final lifeline.”
That high-ranking member took out a yellow token and handed it to Ye Yunfei, speaking gravelly.
That token looked as if it had seen many years, with two ancient characters engraved upon it: Earth Gate.
“My task is finished, Young Master Ye. Be careful in all you do.”
That high-ranking member clasped his hands together towards Ye Yunfei, then turned around, summoned a yellow light, and left instantly.
Ye Yunfei released his Soul Power energy and Mind Force energy, simultaneously cooperating with the Divine Pupil between his brows to observe the vast stretch of mountainous territory below.
“Indeed, this is a large-scale perilous land. Since Senior Shoudi Laoren specifically arranged for me to cultivate here, it must surely be very helpful in improving my Geomancy Technique.”
After sensing and observing for a while, Ye Yunfei spoke.
Then Ye Yunfei simply activated that token. His figure flashed as he descended towards the mountainous region below.
The next moment, Ye Yunfei discovered the surrounding environment had undergone a drastic transformation. It was as if he had entered a strange new world. The surroundings were fraught with dangers, seething with baleful energies. Bizarre, kaleidoscopic phenomena continuously manifested.
In the following period, Ye Yunfei began cultivating within this perilous land. Quickly, he realized Shoudi Laoren had been right. Cultivating Geomancy Technique here indeed produced remarkably evident effects.
For the earth energy, earth laws, and all manner of profound and intricate arrangements here far surpassed anything Ye Yunfei had previously encountered or witnessed.
From then on, Ye Yunfei wholeheartedly cultivated Geomancy Technique within this perilous region. During cultivation, Ye Yunfei would also periodically cooperate with the Divine Pupil between his brows to gain insights.
With the Divine Pupil between his brows, Ye Yunfei within this perilous land was often able to see through some intricate and dangerous arrangements, evading or bypassing them in advance.
The Divine Pupil of Sky-Mirroring Divine Sovereign was indeed worthy of its reputation for being said to see through all falsehoods of the world and even glimpse the past and the future.
Even within this advanced perilous land, the Divine Pupil between Ye Yunfei's brows could still play an enormous role. Coupled with the Geomancy Technique he cultivated, though the land was riddled with terrifying perils, Ye Yunfei managed to safely avoid those dangers every single time.
Moreover, cultivating Geomancy Technique in such an environment progressed rapidly. Within a short time, Ye Yunfei's Geomancy Technique proficiency saw substantial improvement.
Above Ye Yunfei's head floated an ancient compass. On either side of his body floated two yellowish, worn calipers. Beneath his feet he stood upon another yellow compass. He wore a long yellow robe, and around his body circulated several other Geomancy-Art-type treasures.
These treasures were all gifts from Shoudi Laoren, and all had been refined by Ye Yunfei.
Within this perilous land, Ye Yunfei kept all these treasures activated, prepared to deal with the various crises at any moment.
The two calipers by his side could indicate auspiciousness and danger, allowing Ye Yunfei to choose the correct path forward.
The two compasses above his head and underfoot could withstand various dangerous attacks.
There was also a large yellow net trailing behind Ye Yunfei. This large yellow net was woven from a special material, with various advanced Earth Formations carved upon it. Once attacked, it would erupt with powerful counter-force energy.
Several sudden sneak attacks Ye Yunfei suffered within this perilous land were all successfully blocked by this large yellow net.
“The power of these treasures gifted by Shoudi Laoren is truly quite good.”
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm couldn't help but praise.
“Of course. Shoudi Laoren is the Gate Master of the Earth Gate. Treasures he brings out are hardly ordinary.
Without these treasures, we would probably be in an even more sorry state within this perilous land.”
Hun Lao said.
“Good. Young Master Ye’s Geomancy Technique talent is indeed strong. I did not misjudge.”
Far away on the ground, Shoudi Laoren stood with his hands clasped behind his back at the foot of a mountain peak, gazing into the distance at Ye Yunfei cultivating within that perilous land. He nodded, an expression of admiration on his face.
“Gate Master, I just received news. Third Elder may make a move soon.”
A high-ranking member nearby suddenly spoke up.
“Has the whereabouts of that old fellow been discovered?”
Shoudi Laoren frowned, then asked.
“Not yet discovered for the moment. Based on the results of my investigation recently, it is possible Third Elder has already left the headquarters to hide outside. But he might also still be hiding within the headquarters.
Our headquarters comprises so many worlds and so many continents. Each continent contains all sorts of perilous lands, forbidden lands, and treasure lands left behind from ancient times. If Third Elder is indeed hiding within the headquarters, then to find him we would have to painstakingly search every single perilous land, forbidden land, and treasure land on every continent across the headquarters.
Among them are some perilous lands, forbidden lands, and treasure lands which we simply have no means to thoroughly search… unless the Gate Master and the several Supreme Elders personally take action.”
That high-ranking member answered.
“Fine. Next, I will search the headquarters thoroughly for that old fellow.
Based on my deductions, that old fellow is highly likely still hiding within the headquarters.
During the years I was away, he was always entrenched here. Having operated here for so long, this place is his foundation. If he fled outside, then all the more he would not be a match for me.
Relay the order. Effective immediately, every world and every continent within the headquarters is to be strictly sealed. Report to me immediately the moment there is any unusual activity.”
Shoudi Laoren spoke coldly.
“Furthermore, I will now return to the Ancestral Land. Together with several Supreme Elders, we shall activate that treasure within the Ancestral Land. It should be of help in locating that old fellow. When the time comes, I will pulverize that scoundrel into dust.
I suspect that within our Earth Gate in the past, someone was colluding with the Blade Realm and the Divine Sword Sect, which is what enabled them to assault me by surprise.
And the most likely culprit is that old fellow. I will settle this score with him for sure.”
Shoudi Laoren's expression grew thick with killing intent.
After returning to the Earth Gate headquarters, Shoudi Laoren, upon careful recollection of the ancient experience of being ambushed and imprisoned in the Sword Realm continent, could not shake the feeling that it was highly likely high-ranking members of the Earth Gate were involved behind the scenes. Therefore, upon returning he immediately began detailed investigations, resulting in a serious conflict with Earth Gate's Third Elder. They even came to blows.
Subsequently, Third Elder, unable to match him, fled on the spot and vanished without a trace.
However, during this period, Shoudi Laoren had always been sending people to investigate Third Elder's whereabouts.
“Gate Master, if Third Elder truly colluded with the Blade Realm and the Divine Sword Sect, then he is a traitor to our Earth Gate and deserves severe punishment.
It's just... if he didn’t collude with external enemies, then…”
That high-ranking member hesitated for a moment, then spoke.
“Rest assured. Throughout my years presiding over the Earth Gate, I have always been fair and impartial. In all these years, when have you ever seen me suppress any Earth Gate high-ranking member due to personal grudges?
If that old fellow didn’t collude with external enemies, then he still has a place in the Earth Gate.
But if I find out he colluded with the Blade Realm and Divine Sword Sect in the past, then regardless of where he flees, I will capture him personally and administer the harshest punishment, ensuring he wishes he were dead.”
Shoudi Laoren spoke coldly.
“Of course, we are all clear on Gate Master's character.”
That high-ranking member hurriedly said.
“Very well. Now deploy more personnel to track down that old fellow. He must be found.
If he has a clear conscience, why keep hiding, not daring to come see me?
His actions like this indicate he likely has something to hide.
During this period, headquarters' defenses must be rigorous, preventing that old fellow from being cornered into doing something reckless and causing harm to our Earth Gate.”
Shoudi Laoren added.
“I understand, Gate Master.”
That high-ranking member hurriedly responded.
After speaking, Shoudi Laoren turned and left, instantly vanishing into the earth.
As for Ye Yunfei, he remained within that perilous land, continuing his cultivation.
With the passage of time, Ye Yunfei's Geomancy Technique proficiency grew higher.
An indeterminate amount of time passed.
“I feel my cultivation within this perilous land has reached a peak. It's time to proceed to the next perilous land for cultivation.”
At a certain moment, Ye Yunfei suddenly ceased cultivating and said softly.
Then Ye Yunfei took out the token on his person and directly activated it. The next instant, a powerful teleportation energy enveloped Ye Yunfei, instantly teleporting him away.
The next moment, Ye Yunfei found himself high in the air, the vast stretch of mountainous territory beneath his feet.
“Time for the next perilous land.”
Ye Yunfei executed his movement technique, flying towards the direction of the second perilous land.
Earlier, Shoudi Laoren and that guide from the Earth Gate had already told Ye Yunfei the locations of various perilous lands suitable for cultivation. Using the token in his hand, Ye Yunfei could reach the corresponding perilous lands and enter them to cultivate.
Soon after, Ye Yunfei arrived at the second perilous land. It was located within a stretch of plains.
These plains were surrounded by densely packed lofty mountain ranges, yet were extremely expansive.
From a distance, the plains seemed lush with vegetation and blooming with all sorts of flowers. Bees and butterflies danced among the blossoms. It looked a picture of peace and harmony.
But Ye Yunfei saw at a glance that this perilous land before him was even more dangerous and of a higher grade than the previous one.
Ye Yunfei’s figure flashed as he, holding the token, descended into these plains. Instantly, the surrounding scenery underwent massive changes.
Viewed from afar, these plains were a chorus of birdsong and fragrance, a place of peace. Yet now, after descending here, Ye Yunfei found the surroundings gloomy and bleak with biting winds. Baleful energies abounded everywhere. Many strange, blood-red shadows appeared indistinctly, issuing bizarre laughter.
Several monstrous, grotesque creatures suddenly emerged from the ground in the distance, their fierce, predatory glare fixing on Ye Yunfei from afar.
Ye Yunfei knew all those seemingly strange and dangerous phenomena were illusions born from this large-scale Earth Formation.
“Though dangerous, this truly is an exceptional location for cultivating Geomancy Technique.”
Sensing everything around him, Ye Yunfei spoke softly.
In the following period, Ye Yunfei began cultivating within this perilous land.
This perilous land had actually already long formed its own unique Small World. Ye Yunfei entering this land was equivalent to entering this Small World.