In the conference hall.
A seemingly ordinary elder, slightly thin in stature, sat upright in a high position of honor. An occasional flash of sharp brilliance appeared in his gaze.
Even Xie Changkong could only sit to the side as an accompaniment.
This fully demonstrated the esteemed position this elder held within Hudao Academy.
This elder was He Zhanglao, whom Xie Changkong had spoken of.
An expert of the Sixth-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm!
"Heh, Young Master Ye, meeting you in person is truly more impressive than only hearing of your reputation. You helped our Hudao Academy survive its most difficult period. Moreover, you are the successor personally chosen by Guardian Sage Hu Dao, very good," Elder He remarked, looking Ye Yunfei up and down with a smile, his attitude quite amiable.
Although Elder He had a very high seniority, in the minds of Hudao Academy's upper echelons, Ye Yunfei was the successor of the Path Guardian himself. This status ensured that no one dared treat him lightly.
"You flatter me, Elder He. By the way, Elder He, I heard from Headmaster Xie that you just returned from Hujie City. What exactly is Hujie City? This is my first time hearing of it," Ye Yunfei asked directly.
Ye Yunfei guessed that the five elders he encountered by the Western Sea were likely also returning from Hujie City. Otherwise, it was impossible for five such powerful experts to emerge all at once.
"Young Master Ye, as a core leader of our academy, it's time for you to learn about Hujie City," Elder He nodded and said.
"In the past, the extraterritorial invaders broke a gap through the Realm Barrier of our Tianxuan Continent. Through that gap, they invaded our continent. Later, led by the Path Guardian Tang Yang, the martial artists of our Tianxuan Continent rose in resistance. After an arduous war, we finally drove all the extraterritorial invaders away. However, that gap in the Realm Barrier remains a hidden danger for our continent, as the invaders could once again invade through it at any time. Therefore, Tang Yang gathered the most powerful group of experts on Tianxuan Continent and, expending unimaginable wealth and a great deal of time, finally built a city at the location of the Realm Barrier gap. He then dispatched a group of experts to garrison that city. That city is Hujie City."
"So that's how it is," Ye Yunfei said, now having a basic understanding of Hujie City.
"On behalf of Hudao Academy, I have been garrisoning Hujie City for over a hundred years," Elder He said slowly, a trace of emotion in his tone. A Grotto-Heaven Realm expert had a lifespan of only a few hundred years; garrisoning Hujie City for over a hundred years had consumed a significant portion of his life.
"Who would have thought that the extraterritorial invaders, especially the Ancient Demon Race, have recently begun stirring again, wanting to invade our Tianxuan Continent once more. Moreover, I sense that this time, the Ancient Demon Race has a ferocious momentum," Elder He's eyes revealed a trace of concern.
"By the way, Elder He, do you know this man?" Ye Yunfei took out a recording jade slip and directly activated it. The figure of a gray-robed elder slowly emerged from the jade slip. It was precisely the elder who had attacked Ye Yunfei on the Western coast.
"Of course I know him. His name is Feng Yundan, a hermit elder of the Fengyun Family. All these years, like me, he has been garrisoning Hujie City. Young Master Ye, do you know Feng Yundan?" Elder He asked curiously.
"So he's from the Fengyun Family. More than just knowing him; we've even exchanged blows," Ye Yunfei said with a cold laugh.
"That old man is seeking death! That's right. These past few days, Lord of the Sky Wall City sent several experts into the Western Sea to track the Ancient Demon Race. Feng Yundan was one of them. I never imagined he would attack you," Elder He said angrily.
"Elder He, does Hujie City already know that the Ancient Demon Race intends to enter the Western Sea to activate a Teleportation Altar?" Ye Yunfei asked.
"We know," Elder He replied.
"Good," Ye Yunfei nodded. Since Hujie City was aware, Ye Yunfei felt he needn't concern himself. Hujie City was garrisoned by a group of experts. Any one of them was likely stronger than Ye Yunfei's current strength.
"Young Master Ye, does that mean your identity has been exposed?" Xie Changkong suddenly asked urgently.
"Most likely," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Young Master Ye, you should try to avoid going outside as much as possible," Xie Changkong said.
"Headmaster Xie, rest assured, I know my limits," Ye Yunfei said with a faint smile.
"Have our academy's disciples seize the time to cultivate and strive to enhance their strength. This time, the extraterritorial invaders have a ferocious momentum. I have a premonition that a turbulent age may be upon us soon," Elder He said, heavy with worry.
After hearing Elder He's words, Xie Changkong and the other leaders were also in a somber mood. Once the extraterritorial invaders invaded, no martial artist on Tianxuan Continent would have it easy.
Later.
Ye Yunfei returned to his own mountain peak, entered a cultivation chamber, and sat down cross-legged.
"My current combat power roughly equals that of a First-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm expert. It's still far too weak. Now, with the extraterritorial invaders preparing to invade and experts from Hujie City emerging one after another, this heralds that Tianxuan Continent will enter a turbulent age. With my current strength, even self-preservation is a struggle, let alone protecting my family and my sect."
Thinking back on the series of events that occurred recently, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but frown as he spoke to himself.
Ye Yunfei understood that the experts of Hujie City basically represented the most elite forces on Tianxuan Continent. The emergence of Hujie City's experts might be good for the continent, but for Ye Yunfei, it was bad. Because most of Hujie City's experts originated from the top factions in Central Continent. The enmity between those top Central Continent factions and Ye Yunfei was too deep!
"Currently, the most important thing for me is to seize the time to improve my strength!" After some contemplation, Ye Yunfei stated aloud.
"In terms of physique, my Heavenly Demon Blood-Infusion Body Tempering Art has reached the sixth layer. I'll continue cultivation after I collect a sufficient amount of Ancient Demon Race bloodline essence," Ye Yunfei murmured.
"My Greenwood Emperor Body has reached the minor accomplishment stage. Relying on my physical body alone, I can withstand attacks from Late-Stage Mystic Liquid Realm experts. If I can cultivate it to the middle accomplishment stage, I'm afraid my physical body could withstand attacks from Third or even Fourth-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm experts. Moreover, even experts of the Fifth, Sixth, or even Seventh Grotto-Heaven Level could only severely injure my body, not kill me. Only experts above the Eighth Grotto-Heaven Level would have a chance to kill me. In this way, I'd gain another life-saving trump card."
He had been wounded by Feng Yundan, making Ye Yunfei eager to enhance the quality of his physical body.
"Good. I'll do everything possible to collect wood-attribute Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, striving to cultivate the Greenwood Emperor Body to the middle accomplishment stage!" Ye Yunfei declared to himself.
Collecting wood-attribute Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, especially high-grade ones, was very difficult and required expending vast amounts of wealth. However, Ye Yunfei had another identity:
Liu Yun, the great alchemist!
A Pill Refining Grandmaster whose skill even caused Pill Lords to feel ashamed! Ye Yunfei believed that using Liu Yun's identity to collect wood-attribute Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures would not be difficult.