Soon, several young men and women were brought before Ye Yunfei.
Just as Ye Yunfei had guessed.
These youths were none other than Wu Yuechan, Deng Xianxian, Tan Meng, Jia Zhao, and Yin Ji.
"Ye Yunfei, I finally get to see you!"
Deng Xianxian couldn't help but beam with delight upon seeing him.
"Brother Ye, you've become quite the celebrity in Yuanyue City," Tan Meng stepped forward enthusiastically, greeting Ye Yunfei. "Seeing you in person sure is difficult."
Wu Yuechan, Jia Zhao, and Yin Ji also each nodded and said hello to Ye Yunfei.
After Ye Tianpeng had rescued them, the group had been staying at the Ye Family mansion the whole time. However, due to Ye Yunfei having been in seclusion for several days, they only got to see him now.
"Everyone, did you come to Yuanyue City specifically to look for me?" Ye Yunfei asked with a smile.
Wu Yuechan and the others flushed slightly.
They had, in fact, come to Yuanyue City solely to find Ye Yunfei.
Never did they expect that just after entering the city, they would encounter Qin Xiong, be captured, and thrown into the Qin Family's prison.
Such an embarrassing experience made them feel utterly ashamed.
"Haha, when you think about it, I'm the one who got you all involved," Ye Yunfei said. "However, the Qin Family has been exterminated, and Qin Xiong is dead as well. Your vengeance has been served."
Ye Yunfei felt neither aversion nor great fondness towards these Zhencang Sect disciples. But since they had made the effort to come looking for him, he patiently dealt with them.
"Hmph! That old bastard Qin Xiong died sooner than he deserved," Tan Meng gritted his teeth. "Otherwise, I'd have settled scores with him sooner or later."
"Ye Yunfei... your current cultivation... is at the Early Stage Earth Realm?" Wu Yuechan suddenly asked.
"Indeed," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Monster!"
The few of them were deeply shocked.
The last time they encountered Ye Yunfei in the Heavenly Beast Forest, he was only at the sixth level of the Body Tempering Realm. Who could have imagined that in just a few days, Ye Yunfei had broken through to the Early Stage Earth Realm!
"Ye Yunfei, I heard you've been recruited by Elder Du of the Tianyuan Sect and have become a disciple," Deng Xianxian said happily. "That means we'll have many more chances to see each other from now on."
Over the past few days staying in the Ye Residence, Deng Xianxian and the others had naturally heard of Ye Yunfei's various deeds.
"Brother Yunfei, when I first met you, I already knew you were anything but ordinary," Tan Meng stated. "And indeed, I was right."
"Brother Tan, you flatter me," Ye Yunfei laughed.
Following that, Ye Yunfei patiently kept the five Zhencang Sect disciples company for the better part of a day.
Finally, the five disciples bid farewell to Ye Yunfei.
Before they left, Ye Yunfei casually gave each of them a Fourth-Grade Spirit Pill as compensation for their imprisonment in the Qin Family's prison.
Holding the pills Ye Yunfei gifted them, Wu Yuechan and the others were stunned to the core.
One must know, even the elders within the Zhencang Sect couldn't produce a Fourth-Grade Spirit Pill. Yet Ye Yunfei had instantly produced five of them, presenting them as gifts!
It could be said that among the gains from their journey, these Fourth-Grade Spirit Pills given by Ye Yunfei were by far their greatest.
". . . Seems it's time for me to leave Yuanyue City and report to the Tianyuan Sect," Ye Yunfei muttered to himself after the five Zhencang Sect disciples departed.
The time he had agreed upon with Elder Du was ten days later for reporting to the Tianyuan Sect's headquarters.
The headquarters were located in the Tianyuan Mountain Range.
The journey from Yuanyue City to the Tianyuan Mountain Range would take at least several days. Therefore, Ye Yunfei knew he should set out.
"Father, I'm preparing to leave," Ye Yunfei found Ye Tianpeng.
"Alright. Fei'er, take good care of yourself," Ye Tianpeng's voice choked slightly.
His wife had passed away early, leaving him to raise his son alone. Father and son depended on each other. Now, with his son suddenly leaving for a distant journey, he naturally felt reluctant to part.
"Father, don't worry. I will take care of myself," Ye Yunfei nodded solemnly.
Before leaving Yuanyue City, Ye Yunfei went to the Lingzhen Pavilion once more and procured a large batch of spirit herbs.
Xiao Chuchu and Huang Lao had already left Yuanyue City three days ago. However, Xiao Chuchu had given instructions: all members of the Ye Family were to receive a twenty percent discount and were permitted to purchase on credit!
Late in the day.
Outside Yuanyue City, on the main road.
Ye Yunfei rode his horse alone, putting more and more distance between himself and the city.
After leaving Yuanyue City, Ye Yunfei traveled swiftly, galloping towards the Tianyuan Mountain Range. The journey inevitably involved traveling day and night.
In his past life as a Heavenly Emperor, traversing distances within a tiny empire could be accomplished in a single thought. Now, with his current cultivation at only the Earth Realm, he had no choice but to travel the old-fashioned way.
Three days later.
Ye Yunfei finally arrived at the Tianyuan Mountain Range.
The location of the Tianyuan Sect's headquarters!
Looking into the distance, he saw vast, majestic mountain ranges veiled in thick mist, seemingly endless. Mountain ridges rose and fell, ancient trees were everywhere, huge boulders were strewn about, and the scent of spirit herbs filled the air. Spiritual cranes and other auspicious birds danced in the skies, while auspicious beasts roamed the mountains. Everything pulsed with vibrant spiritual energy, making it seem like a pure land untouched by the mundane world.
"I never imagined there'd be a minor Earth Vein here," Ye Yunfei mused as he surveyed the mountains. "It truly is a good location to establish a sect.
The Tianyuan Sect is one of the Four Great Sects of the Great Qin Empire. It does possess some foundational strength after all."
With his discerning eye, Ye Yunfei could tell at a glance that the sect headquarters was built atop a minor Earth Vein. That was why the spiritual energy in these mountains was so rich, suitable for cultivation.
"If I could obtain this Earth Vein, it would definitely greatly increase my strength," he thought. "However, the Tianyuan Sect hasn't provoked me yet, so I won't do something that would sever their foundation." Ye Yunfei chuckled to himself.
Entering the Tianyuan Mountain Range, Ye Yunfei arrived before a massive natural mountain gate.
The gate was imposing and majestic, with hazy auspicious energy rising around it. In front stood a stone tablet, towering ten zhang high. Carved upon it were three large, sweeping characters written with wild and vigorous strokes, exuding an ancient aura.
Tianyuan Sect!
At this moment, near the Tianyuan Sect's mountain gate.
Several disciples on gate duty were chatting leisurely.
"Elder Su told us to stop any fellow named Ye Yunfei if we see him, to prevent him from entering the mountain gate. But several days have passed, and that Ye Yunfei still hasn't shown up."
"Who cares if he comes or not. Him not coming is for the best. I heard this Ye Yunfei was personally recruited by Elder Du. The moment he joins our sect, he becomes a Core Disciple right away. What's more, in three months, when the Tianying Small World opens, he'll occupy one of the five entry spots!
Everyone in the Tianyuan Sect is talking about this, especially the Core Disciples. They're all filled with righteous indignation; no one finds it acceptable. Even some elders oppose the decision!"
"Of course no one can accept it! Just think about it: our sect has over ten thousand disciples, and there are only five entry spots for the Tianying Small World! How precious are they? Now, some kid who just joined the sect, hasn't even stepped foot inside the mountain gate, is suddenly taking one of the spots! None of the ten thousand Tianyuan Sect disciples can swallow that!"
"...Hey? Look, there's a stranger heading towards the mountain gate from afar," one of the disciples suddenly exclaimed.
[At the mountain gate, a dozen or so gate-guarding disciples were gossiping away.]