"That's right. Senior Shoudi Laoren has arrived."
A smile also appeared on Ye Yunfei's face.
At this moment, Ye Yunfei could sense a familiar aura rolling towards him from the distant land.
Although the perilous land where Ye Yunfei was located was now enveloped by multiple bizarre phenomena, fully activated and erupting with rolling earth energy and earth laws that shrouded this entire stretch of sky and earth...
But what kind of person was Shoudi Laoren? The slightest disturbance on this continent could be keenly detected by him.
Besides, Shoudi Laoren had always been keeping an occasional eye on Ye Yunfei's training progress, worrying whether Ye Yunfei could handle all the bizarre and fantastical dangers within these perilous lands.
Shortly after Ye Yunfei had been fighting with the old woman, Shoudi Laoren sensed something amiss and immediately rushed towards the direction of this perilous land.
"Damn it! To think that guy found out!"
The old woman also realized things had gone awry, her expression changing drastically.
She had initially believed that with her strength, she could instantly kill Ye Yunfei within this perilous land. After achieving her goal with one strike, she could create various illusions and then flee far away.
But she had never imagined that Ye Yunfei's combat prowess far exceeded her expectations. Even after fighting for so long, she still hadn't managed to kill Ye Yunfei, nor even inflict any injuries on him.
It could be said she had grossly underestimated Ye Yunfei's strength, resulting in this predicament.
"Enough, I must leave quickly. Once that old geezer arrives with his men, it'll be much harder for me to escape."
The old woman's expression shifted rapidly, then she gritted her teeth and made a decision.
She shot Ye Yunfei a glare, her figure flashing as she retreated swiftly, attempting to turn and leave.
But Ye Yunfei, utilizing his Mind Reading technique, had already roughly guessed the thoughts in the old woman's mind. Knowing she greatly feared Shoudi Laoren, he was well-prepared.
Just as the old woman turned to leave, Ye Yunfei simultaneously unleashed his blade and sword, both magical treasures slashing out at once, instantly cleaving through the space ahead.
Ye Yunfei stomped his foot, and tens of thousands of earth dragons surged upward, blocking the old woman's escape route.
The moment Ye Yunfei sensed the old woman's urgent desire to flee, he had already released tens of thousands of earth dragons, sending them burrowing underground to block her retreat.
Simultaneously, one formation after another soared into the air, like massive boulders, rumbling as they enveloped the old woman.
Ye Yunfei also unleashed various Soul Force Martial Arts and Heart Force Martial Skills at the same time. Mind Reading, Soul Artifacts Great Technique, Puppet Soul Thread Secret Art, and Heart Sword—almost all were executed in the same instant, attacking the old woman's Soul Sea.
The impact of these Soul Force Martial Arts and Heart Force Martial Skills unleashed by Ye Yunfei was actually quite significant on the old woman.
Because Ye Yunfei's current level of Soul Power energy had already surpassed that of an ordinary Initial Stage Chaos Deity, and his Heart Force energy had also been continuously improving.
With a “hong” sound, Ye Yunfei's figure flashed and soared into the air, arriving right above the old woman's head.
The movement technique Ye Yunfei now employed integrated several different ones: the movement technique legacy from Wind Demon God, the sword movement technique from Sword Realm, and the blade movement technique from Blade Realm.
Moreover, Ye Yunfei had attached several high-level speed-enhancing talismans specially crafted by the Glyph Sacred Land to his body.
Add to that the fact that Ye Yunfei had successfully cultivated the third level of the Myriad Spirits Forging Body Technique, pushing his physical body strength to new heights.
Thus, the speed at which Ye Yunfei moved now was incredibly fast. Over such a short distance, he instantly shot to a position right above the old woman's head.
This speed even surprised the old woman.
Rumble...
Ye Yunfei's foot grew continuously larger. Having mastered the third level of Myriad Spirits Forging Body Technique, Ye Yunfei's physical strength had undergone a qualitative leap, making the power of the physical body divine ability he now unleashed immensely formidable.
Ye Yunfei was using a leg technique left behind by Strength Demon God.
Hong...
An enormous foot appeared high in the sky, stomping down ferociously towards the old woman.
Ye Yunfei naturally knew that his various attacks actually posed little real threat to the old woman, as her combat prowess far surpassed his.
Ye Yunfei's goal was merely to slightly delay the old woman's escape speed.
Sure enough, both alarmed and furious, the old woman erupted violently. Billions of earthen-yellow law chains instantly shot out from within her body, like a rapidly expanding yellow hedgehog, instantly blocking all of Ye Yunfei's attacks.
Ye Yunfei's enormous foot was also pierced through by numerous earthen-yellow law chains, became bloodied, and was rendered useless.
As for the Soul Force Martial Arts and Heart Force Martial Skills Ye Yunfei unleashed, the old woman employed various Soul Force Martial Arts and soul power artifacts to defend against them. However, she was still somewhat disturbed and interfered with by these techniques, slowing her down a little.
It was in this very moment that the old woman discovered tens of thousands of puppets forming large battle formations in front of her, rumbling as they charged towards her.
"Get out of my way, all of you!"
The old woman was enraged to the extreme. With a “hong” sound, one earthen-yellow wall after another rose before her body, rolling forward and instantly sending all the puppets Ye Yunfei had released flying.
Then the old woman's figure flashed, landing on a massive Earth Formation. This Earth Formation abruptly sank into the ground below, seeking to carry the old woman away.
"Trying to escape via the earth in front of me? Do you think it's possible?"
Just then, a cold snort echoed, reverberating throughout the entire perilous land. It was precisely Shoudi Laoren's voice.
"Not good! That old geezer arrived far too quickly!"
The old woman's expression changed wildly.
With a “hong” sound, the old woman, who had originally intended to use a large Earth Formation to escape underground, now changed her mind. Shooting into the sky, she transformed into a yellow beam of light, instantly merging into the earth energy and earth laws high above, attempting to flee through the heavens.
Because she knew that in terms of traveling through earth, Shoudi Laoren was far superior to her. Within the underground world, she stood no chance against Shoudi Laoren.
Rumble...
An enormous yellow energy hand abruptly appeared, reaching from afar to grab the old woman.
"Third Elder, why hide? If you have something to say, come out and explain clearly."
Shoudi Laoren's icy voice rang out, rolling forth and echoing between heaven and earth.
"So this person is the Third Elder of Earth Gate."
Hearing Shoudi Laoren's words, Ye Yunfei finally learned the identity of this old woman who had ambushed him.
"Why would the Third Elder of Earth Gate ambush me? And with such intense killing intent too?"
Ye Yunfei felt somewhat puzzled.
At this moment, the old woman remained silent, desperately fleeing towards the distant high sky.
For her now, escape was paramount.
"Third Elder, you cannot escape. This land has already been surrounded by an inescapable net laid down by the Gate Master and several Supreme Elders."
A voice then rang out from another direction.
Ye Yunfei saw an enormous yellow net appear in this stretch of sky and earth.
This net covered nearly one-fifth of the entire continent. Both the heavens above and the earth below were within the scope of this net. The old woman happened to be precisely within this enormous yellow net.
"Damn it! That old bastard actually secretly laid down an inescapable net. It seems I can't escape."
The old woman abruptly stopped, her face filled with venomous resentment, yet also flustered.
"Third Elder, long time no see. During this period, where exactly have you been hiding?"
High in the sky, Shoudi Laoren strode forward, his hands clasped behind his back, his face full of indifference.
Over a dozen high-level members of Earth Gate followed alongside Shoudi Laoren, their auras rolling forward.
High-level members from other directions also encircled the area, surrounding the old woman.
"Nan Gongshi, what is the meaning of this? You actually laid down an inescapable net to trap me? I am, after all, the Third Elder of Earth Gate. Even if you, as Gate Master, have never liked me, you cannot so blatantly use Earth Gate's forces to besiege me, can you? What, do you intend to kill me over personal grudges?"
At this point, the old woman's appearance and aura began to change, transforming into a short, thin old man.
"Third Elder, you've been hiding all this time, unwilling to show yourself. Could it be you have a guilty conscience? Was it you who conspired with the Blade Realm and Divine Sword Sect to act against me back then? I recall it was you who acted as the intermediary, facilitating the connection when the Blade Realm and Divine Sword Sect came seeking my help.
Third Elder, aren't you the mastermind behind everything that happened back then?"
Shoudi Laoren fixed his icy gaze upon the Third Elder as he asked coldly.
"So this guy's earlier appearance was fake; he was actually an old man all along. He's been using that perilous land for cover, hiding in the shadows and seizing the opportunity to strike at you. As for the reason for the attack, it's quite clear now, mostly because you released Shoudi Laoren on the Sword Realm continent, ruining his plans, thus earning his deep-seated hatred."
Hun Lao, hearing Shoudi Laoren's words, suddenly understood and sent a sound transmission to Ye Yunfei.
"That's probably the case."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
Now Ye Yunfei realized that the Third Elder might have been watching him all this time, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
When Ye Yunfei arrived before that perilous land, the Third Elder utilized that land, transformed into the old woman within it, and suddenly launched a surprise attack on him.
"What mastermind? Nan Gongshi, do not spit venom. What happened to you back then has nothing to do with me. All these years, I have been working within Earth Gate for its development. I have done nothing to betray Earth Gate.
I hope you will not use your position as Gate Master to suppress and slander me simply because of your personal likes, dislikes, and grudges."
The Third Elder spoke in an angry voice.
"Third Elder, whether you have done such things or not cannot be resolved merely by verbal denials. I always act based on solid evidence.
Bring him forward."
Shoudi Laoren said coldly.
Soon, a middle-aged man was escorted forward from the distance.
This middle-aged man had disheveled hair, tattered clothing, and appeared utterly wretched.
"Isn't that Qi Ping, the personal disciple of the Third Elder?"
Many high-level members of Earth Gate immediately recognized the middle-aged man.
"Qi Ping, speak honestly. How did your master conspire with the Blade Realm and Divine Sword Sect to lure me to the Sword Realm continent back then?"
Shoudi Laoren's gaze turned towards Qi Ping as he asked calmly.
"Nan Gongshi, what is the meaning of this? You know perfectly well Qi Ping is my personal disciple, yet you arrested him? And by the looks of it, you subjected him to torture to extract a confession. Under such circumstances, how could anything he says be truthful?
Surely, under your coercion and inducements, he concocted statements according to your wishes."
Upon seeing Qi Ping, the Third Elder couldn't help but undergo a drastic change in expression before speaking sternly.