This period of cultivation allowed Ye Yunfei to enlarge the golden sphere from a diameter of one meter to a diameter of thirty meters!
This meant that the energy contained within this golden sphere had increased thirtyfold.
Although Ye Yunfei's cultivation realm of spiritual power had not risen, remaining at the early Liquid Transformation Realm, the intensity of his spiritual power had increased by thirty times!
At the very least, it was now equivalent to a Third Level Grotto-Heaven!
Such was the might of the Nine-Yang Scripture!
It could be said that only now was the true power of the Nine-Yang Scripture gradually beginning to reveal itself.
Ye Yunfei's gaze fell upon the lake, seeing that its surface area had already shrunk by about one-third.
Two-thirds remained.
"I'll use the remaining spiritual energy to cultivate the Gluttonous Beast of the Nine Palaces Totem Wheel," Ye Yunfei contemplated for a moment before deciding.
Among the nine divine beasts within the Nine Palaces Totem Wheel, there were the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, Roc, Thunder Marsh, Gluttonous Beast, Luminous Yang, and Dark Yin.
Among them, the Azure Dragon was suited to wood-attribute energy, the Vermilion Bird to fire-attribute energy, the Black Tortoise to water-attribute energy, the Roc to temporal and spatial energy, the Thunder Marsh to lightning energy, the Luminous Yang to Solar Essence, and the Dark Yin to Lunar Essence.
Only the Gluttonous Beast was indifferent, able to devour and digest energy of any attribute.
ROAR...
Ye Yunfei activated his cultivation art. The phantom of a monster with an enormous maw materialized behind him.
This monster was covered in black fur, standing there like a black hole that seemed capable of swallowing everything.
WHOOSH...
The Gluttonous Beast suddenly opened its maw wide and, like a whale drinking a river, began to devour the lake water in the center of the Small World.
The water of this lake had been transformed from spiritual energy refined to an extreme purity and concentration. Once sucked into the Gluttonous Beast's body, its massive beastly form began to grow more solid.
The pressure of the energy it radiated also became increasingly terrifying.
Time flowed slowly on.
Unconsciously,
Ten days passed.
At this point, the Gluttonous Beast behind Ye Yunfei occupied dozens of acres, like a vast expanse of black cloud, emitting an ancient, primal aura that inspired fear in one's heart.
ROAR...
Suddenly, at a particular moment,
The Gluttonous Beast lifted its head to the sky and roared, erupting with dark radiance as it unleashed astonishing force.
WHOOSH...
Within this Small World, all the energy drifting in the air, the spatial laws, the light—everything—was absorbed by the Gluttonous Beast's form.
Instantly, the entire Small World plunged into utter darkness, as if night had fallen.
Only after the time of one hour did
the light gradually return to the Small World.
The Gluttonous Beast behind Ye Yunfei had already withdrawn back into its compartment within the Nine Palaces Totem Wheel, lying dormant, its aura profound as a sea.
"Within the Nine Palaces Totem Wheel, the Roc and the Gluttonous Beast are currently the strongest, followed by the Azure Dragon.
The other six divine beasts will have to wait until I encounter suitable energy to cultivate them," Ye Yunfei mused to himself.
Then, Ye Yunfei's gaze turned toward the lake in the center of the Small World.
About one-third of the lake's water remained.
Ye Yunfei took out the Phantom Tower and transferred all the remaining lake water into it for storage.
Then,
Finally, Ye Yunfei's gaze settled on the Black Altar.
This altar stood five meters tall and ten meters wide.
It was entirely piled together from Nightmare Stone.
"With this much Nightmare Stone, it's enough to push my Soul Power to another level," Ye Yunfei examined the Black Altar, his gaze somewhat fervent.
"Your Soul Body has already completely dispersed. These Nightmare Stones are of no use to you anymore.
I will bury you here.
As for these Nightmare Stones... I would be disrespectful to decline them."
Ye Yunfei's gaze shifted to Zhen Xuanzi's corpse seated cross-legged upon the altar as he spoke aloud.
Then,
Ye Yunfei's palm chopped through the air towards a patch of ground in the distance.
BOOM...
The ground there was immediately cleaved open to form a deep pit.
With a flick of his sleeve, Ye Yunfei sent out a wave of spiritual power to lift and move Zhen Xuanzi's corpse into that pit.
Then, with another flick of his sleeve, he moved earth back in to fill it, forming an earthen grave mound.
Judging from Zhen Xuanzi's story, he was likely a true expert back in his day. To think he would fall in such a remote Small World because of the Heavenly Dao Tower.
Next, Ye Yunfei sat cross-legged before the Black Altar and began cultivating his Soul Power.
At the same time.
Within the Tianxuan Continent,
The situation could be said to be extremely tense.
The Otherworldly Army came with ferocious momentum, continuing their aggressive push.
The entire Western Sea was already under their control.
It was said that all the sea beasts within the Western Sea had also been subjugated by the Otherworldly Army and became their mounts.
Of the four regions—the Eastern Region, Western Plains, Northern Wastelands, and Southern Border—nearly half the territory had fallen into the hands of the Otherworldly Army.
In places occupied by the Otherworldly Army, the martial artists of the Tianxuan Continent were subjected to brutal massacres—rivers of blood and fields of corpses, enough to make anyone turn pale at the mention.
Only the Central Continent remained intact for now.
After all, the Central Continent was the strongest of the Tianxuan Continent's five regions.
Clearly, the Otherworldly Army was aware of this too, planning to assault the Central Continent last.
City Lord Gu of Protector Boundary City personally stepped forward to establish a Protector Boundary Alliance, which would serve as the main force resisting the Otherworldly Army.
For a time, countless forces and martial artists flocked to join the Protector Boundary Alliance.
At the headquarters of Hudao Academy.
Within the conference hall.
Xie Changkong, Dean Shangguan, Dean Zhou, and many ordinary elders and stewards all wore heavy expressions.
"Elder He just sent a message back; the situation grows more dire by the day.
The entire Western Plains are already under the Otherworldly Army's control.
Now, they are focusing all their efforts on subduing the Northern Wastelands.
At this rate, I fear it won't be long before the Northern Wastelands, the Eastern Region, and the Southern Border all fall into the hands of the Otherworldly Army.
In the end, the Otherworldly Army will launch their full offensive against the Central Continent," Xie Changkong said slowly.
"The overall strength of the Otherworldly Army is too dreadful.
It is said that the number of Grotto-Heaven Realm experts within their forces has reached at least three hundred already.
I estimate that an even greater number of Otherworldly Grotto-Heaven experts will continue to enter our Tianxuan Continent.
Whereas the number of Grotto-Heaven Realm experts in our Tianxuan Continent is limited.
With what shall we possibly resist?" Xie Changkong continued, his voice full of worry.
The other high-ranking members in the hall also shook their heads and sighed.
The Otherworldly Army was indeed formidable, and the strength of Tianxuan Continent was clearly at a disadvantage.
"Speaking of which, have Ye Yunfei's clansmen and the people of Tianyuan Sect been brought here?" Xie Changkong suddenly asked.
"Only half.
Some among Ye Family and Tianyuan Sect's higher-ups refused to come to the Central Continent, saying they wanted to remain in the Eastern Region to fight the Otherworldly Army," Dean Shangguan replied.
"Respect their choice.
As for those members of the Ye Family and Tianyuan Sect already brought to the Academy, we must protect them at all costs and provide them with the finest cultivation resources," Xie Changkong said after a moment of silence, his tone grave.
"Dean Xie, there's another matter.
During this period, I've noticed many people lurking around the Academy, as if trying to spy on something," Dean Zhou suddenly remarked.
"I've noticed it too.
I suspect it's probably those top-tier forces from the Central Continent, still coveting the Protector Monument.
They intend to take advantage of this chaotic period to snatch it," Xie Changkong's expression darkened.
"Strengthen our defenses.
If they dare to trespass, they will surely pay a heavy price," Xie Changkong declared each word clearly.
"Do you all think Dean Ye is truly dead?" Dean Shangguan suddenly spoke up.
At these words, the entire hall fell silent.
Everyone's faces were filled with sorrow.
"Despite his strength being only at the early Liquid Transformation Realm, Dean Ye could slay seven Grotto-Heaven Realm experts. He was simply the most monstrous young talent our Tianxuan Continent has ever seen.
If Dean Ye truly has fallen, it would be a loss not only for our Hudao Academy, but for the entire Tianxuan Continent," Xie Changkong couldn't help but heave a long sigh.