This was a Small World spanning dozens of square miles.
The Spiritual Qi within this Small World was astonishingly dense!
Threads of auspicious energy steamed from the ground, transforming into five-colored mist and radiant, drifting clouds.
In mid-air, wisps of immortal light and benevolent energy floated about, giving the place the air of a sacred immortal sanctuary.
At a glance, the ground was completely covered with dense clusters of various spirit herbs and precious herbs.
Ye Yunfei saw Grade Five precious herbs, Grade Six precious herbs, Grade Seven precious herbs—rows upon rows of them, numbering over a thousand!
There were even quite a few Grade Eight and Grade Nine precious herbs.
More shockingly, Ye Yunfei spotted five Dao herbs!
Above spirit herbs were precious herbs, and above precious herbs were Dao herbs.
In the entire Xuanhuang Star Domain, let alone the Tianxuan Continent, a single Dao herb was enough to cause countless martial artists and factions to fight to the death for it.
And this Small World actually contained five Dao herbs!
Then,
Ye Yunfei's gaze shifted to the central area of this Small World.
In the center, there was a crystalline, translucent lake.
Its surface area was small.
But when Ye Yunfei clearly saw the true nature of that lake, he couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath.
The water of this lake was actually liquid formed from Spiritual Qi condensed to its absolute peak, composing a pool of lake water.
In other words, the water within this lake was, in fact, the concentrated essence of Spiritual Qi solidified to the extreme.
Beside that lake stood a black Altar.
On that black Altar, a middle-aged Taoist priest clad in a yellow daoist robe sat cross-legged.
The priest sat with his knees bent, his features lifelike and incredibly clear.
It was as if a living person was simply meditating with closed eyes.
However, Ye Yunfei could tell that this middle-aged Taoist was already dead.
Moreover, his death was utterly complete; not even a trace of a remnant soul remained.
With a sweep of his gaze, Ye Yunfei discovered three jade slips placed before the Taoist.
They were three Message Jade Slips.
Ye Yunfei beckoned with his hand.
Swoosh!
One of the Message Jade Slips flew over and landed in Ye Yunfei's palm.
“There is a legend in this world: whoever obtains the Heavenly Dao Tower can dominate the Xuanhuang Star Domain, or even the entire universe!
Yet, after I obtained the Heavenly Dao Tower, I was hunted for most of a year, living in constant fear and panic, like a stray dog.
In the end, I perished in this Small World.
If only I had never obtained the Heavenly Dao Tower back then.
To think that I, Zhen Xuanzi, lived free and happy for most of my life, only to die because of the Heavenly Dao Tower in the end. Such is fate, such is destiny!”
Such a passage of words emanated from the jade slip after it was activated.
“What?!
The Heavenly Dao Tower!
It was actually obtained by this Zhen Xuanzi!”
Upon hearing these words, Ye Yunfei was greatly startled on the spot.
Back in the Ancient Battlefield of the Eastern Region, that Da Di Daozhang had once mentioned the Heavenly Dao Tower.
The number one supreme treasure of the Xuanhuang Star Domain!
An artifact countless martial artists within the Xuanhuang Star Domain frenziedly fought over.
Who would have thought that the Heavenly Dao Tower had actually been obtained by this Zhen Xuanzi right before his eyes?
Ye Yunfei's gaze couldn't help but sweep over the middle-aged Taoist seated upon the Altar.
“Da Di Daozhang said that back in the day, an elder from the Tianji Sect of the Xuanhuang Star Domain, through divination, listed the twenty most likely places the Heavenly Dao Tower was hidden. One of them was the Tianxuan Continent.
It seems now that elder from the Tianji Sect's divination was incredibly accurate.
Because Zhen Xuanzi was indeed hiding within the Tianxuan Continent!
To be more precise, he was hiding within a Small World nestled inside the Tianxuan Continent's boundary membrane.”
Ye Yunfei murmured to himself.
“Since the Heavenly Dao Tower was obtained by this Zhen Xuanzi, does that not mean the Heavenly Dao Tower is destined to belong to me?”
A wave of intense excitement surged within Ye Yunfei's heart.
Swoosh!
Ye Yunfei beckoned, and another jade slip in front of Zhen Xuanzi flew over into his palm.
“I have hidden the Heavenly Dao Tower in a very secluded location on the Tianhuang Star.
Later visitor, if fate wills it, you may use this jade slip to go and search for it.”
These two sentences were recorded within this jade slip.
Simultaneously, there was also a map.
It appeared to be a detailed map of a certain star.
On the map, a specially marked small red dot was present.
Clearly, this small red dot indicated the precise location where the Heavenly Dao Tower was hidden.
“So it turns out, after Zhen Xuanzi obtained the Heavenly Dao Tower, he didn't keep it on him, but found a place to hide it instead.
No wonder he was constantly pursued. Carrying the Heavenly Dao Tower with him would have made it easy to be snatched away.”
Ye Yunfei nodded.
“Well then, when I have the chance, I'll go to the Tianhuang Star to search for it.”
Ye Yunfei stated to himself.
Then, Ye Yunfei beckoned with his hand, and the third jade slip in front of Zhen Xuanzi was remotely pulled towards him.
“To perish here truly stirs resentment in my heart.
The inheritance of my life's cultivation is completely recorded in this jade slip. A fortunate later visitor who obtains this slip shall be considered as having inherited my legacy.”
Such two sentences were recorded within this third jade slip.
Then came sections of cultivation techniques and martial arts.
Ye Yunfei gave a faint smile.
For any other martial artist from the Tianxuan Continent, obtaining the cultivation techniques and martial arts left behind by Zhen Xuanzi would undoubtedly be regarded as priceless treasures.
However, to Ye Yunfei, they were akin to rubbish, utterly worthless.
“Hmm?
This Altar is actually built from Nightmare Stones!
I understand now. This Zhen Xuanzi must have suffered severe damage to his Soul Body back in the day.
So, he went God-knows-where to gather such a large quantity of Nightmare Stones, piling them into an Altar to nourish his Soul Body.
Never would I have thought that now, I would reap all the benefits.”
Examining the Altar, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
“The harvest this Small World has brought me is simply enormous!”
Ye Yunfei's gaze swept across the Small World, brimming with excitement.
Spirit herbs, precious herbs, Dao herbs, the lake formed from the essence of Spiritual Qi, and the Altar piled with Nightmare Stones—each and every one was a treasure of incalculable value!
“Excellent!
I shall go into seclusion and cultivate here in this Small World for a period of time.
I believe that by the time I emerge from seclusion, my combat strength will have increased by at least several dozen fold!”
Ye Yunfei stated with confidence.
Then, Ye Yunfei began his closed-door cultivation within this Small World.
The first technique Ye Yunfei cultivated was the Nine-Yang Scripture.
Boom…
The golden sphere, one meter in diameter within Ye Yunfei's dantian, rushed out and blazed fiercely.
This golden sphere flew to a position above the lake at the center of the Small World, like a miniature sun.
Boom…
The volume of the golden sphere continuously increased, erupting with piercing golden radiance that was unbearable to look upon directly.
Hooo…
The golden sphere rotated incessantly, releasing a powerful suction force that continuously absorbed the water from the lake.
An unknowable amount of time passed.
The diameter of the golden sphere reached ten meters!
Moreover, the sphere's volume was still increasing.
Finally, when the golden sphere's diameter reached thirty meters, Ye Yunfei concluded his cultivation of the Nine-Yang Scripture.