"Everyone, you may disperse now."
Ye Yunfei's gaze swept over the martial artists spectating from the surroundings as he said calmly.
"Commander Ye! I am the sect master of the Violet Profound Sect. From this day forth, our sect is willing to follow Hudao Academy, offering annual tributes!"
Suddenly, a middle-aged man in a yellow robe mustered his courage, stepped forward from the crowd, and addressed Ye Yunfei respectfully.
"Our Heavenly Sun Cult is also willing to follow Hudao Academy!"
"Our Trinity Empire also wishes to follow Hudao Academy!"
...
Following that, several dozen sect masters, one after another, eagerly stepped forward to declare their stance.
"Dean Xie, all of these sects are vassal forces under the Fengyun Family, Xiao Clan, Shenfeng Sect, and Tianyan Sect. They are afraid of being purged."
Xie Changkong whispered to Ye Yunfei.
"Dean Xie, you handle it."
Ye Yunfei said, then turned around, preparing to enter the academy.
Now that the overall situation was settled, the four top forces were basically finished. As for other matters, Ye Yunfei had no interest in managing them.
At this moment.
In the distance, Deng Xianxian's beautiful eyes had been fixed on Ye Yunfei the entire time.
One could say that ever since Ye Yunfei had appeared, her gaze had never left him.
"The people from Hudao Academy are already clearing the battlefield.
We cannot stay here any longer. Let's go."
A plainly-featured old man standing beside her spoke solemnly.
This old man was a senior elder of the Zhencang Sect.
He had brought over a dozen Core Disciples from the Zhencang Sect to Central Continent to escape the turmoil of war.
"Ye Yunfei..."
Deng Xianxian gazed distantly at Ye Yunfei, softly murmuring his name despite herself.
"Enough, Xianxian, let's go.
He is now the number one figure in Tianxuan Continent. He and we are no longer people of the same world.
We need to return to the Eastern Region."
Wu Yuechan, naturally understanding Deng Xianxian's feelings, sighed softly, took Deng Xianxian's hand, and said.
Deng Xianxian was silent. She cast one more glance at Ye Yunfei with her beautiful eyes, then turned away.
She understood that after this parting, no one knew in which year or month they would have a chance to meet again.
Perhaps this was a final farewell.
However.
At this very moment.
Ye Yunfei suddenly turned, his gaze looking towards Deng Xianxian's direction.
Because Deng Xianxian's soft utterance of his name just now, however light, could not escape Ye Yunfei's perception via Soul Power.
"Oh?
So it's them."
Ye Yunfei spotted Deng Xianxian at a glance, along with Wu Yuechan, and even Tan Meng, Jia Zhao, and Yin Ji.
All were disciples of the Zhencang Sect from the Great Qin Empire.
*Whoosh!*
Ye Yunfei took a single step forward, shrinking the earth into an inch, and instantly appeared before Deng Xianxian and the others.
"Everyone, long time no see."
Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
He held a certain favor towards these people.
After all, they considered him a friend.
"Elder Li of the Zhencang Sect pays his respects to Commander Ye!"
The Zhencang Sect elder, discovering Ye Yunfei had suddenly arrived before him, was so terrified his face turned pale. Trembling, his legs and feet felt weak, but he forced himself to bow respectfully.
This was no joke. The person before him was the number one figure on Tianxuan Continent!
Killing Grotto-Heaven Realm experts was as easy as slicing melons and chopping vegetables!
This Zhencang Sect elder only had strength at the late Profound Realm.
Standing before Ye Yunfei was like an ant standing before a dragon!
"What are you all doing!
Hurry and pay respects to Commander Ye!"
The elder nervously shouted towards Wu Yuechan and the other Zhencang Sect disciples.
"Greetings, Commander Ye..."
Wu Yuechan and the other Zhencang Sect disciples all bowed towards Ye Yunfei.
"We are friends. No need for such formalities."
Ye Yunfei gave a flick of his sleeve and smiled.
An immense force supported Wu Yuechan and the others, making it impossible for them to complete their bows.
"How did you all end up here?"
Ye Yunfei asked.
"In reply to Commander Ye, the situation is such..."
The Zhencang Sect Elder Li, upon hearing Ye Yunfei's question, dared not be negligent. He hurriedly detailed how he had brought several Core Disciples of the Zhencang Sect to Central Continent to escape the war.
"I see."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
"What about you five? Would you like to stay at Hudao Academy?"
Ye Yunfei said suddenly.
Previously, due to the suppression by the four top forces of Central Continent, Hudao Academy had lost a batch of students.
Later, during the battles against the Otherworldly Army, Hudao Academy also suffered many casualties.
So now, the number of students at Hudao Academy was much lower than before.
It was time to replenish the student body.
These five Zhencang Sect disciples before him had some slight ties with Ye Yunfei.
Thus, Ye Yunfei didn't mind giving them an opportunity.
"What?!"
Upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words, Wu Yuechan, Deng Xianxian, Tan Meng, Jia Zhao, Yin Ji, and even Elder Li were all stunned, wondering if they had misheard.
"Ye Yunfei, were you just asking if we'd like to stay at Hudao Academy?"
Wu Yuechan asked.
"Indeed.
If you wish, you can stay at Hudao Academy."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
"We... can really...?"
Wu Yuechan still dared not believe it.
This was Hudao Academy!
The most top-tier academy on the entire Tianxuan Continent!
For disciples of the Zhencang Sect from the Great Qin Empire, Hudao Academy was lofty, an existence they wouldn't even dare to think about.
"To be honest, with the talents of you five, becoming students of Hudao Academy would be a bit of a stretch.
But, you must remember, while innate talent is certainly important to a martial artist,
the most important things are perseverance and character!
Talented geniuses in this world are a dime a dozen.
However, only those with perseverance, who are willing to work hard, can walk farther on the Martial Dao.
I can grant you this opportunity, it just depends on whether you have the confidence to seize it."
Ye Yunfei said.
Hearing Ye Yunfei's words, a fighting spirit began to burn in the eyes of Wu Yuechan and the other four.
Clearly, Ye Yunfei's words had struck a chord within them.
"Ye Yunfei, we are willing to stay at Hudao Academy!"
Wu Yuechan took a deep breath, then said.
"I'm willing too!"
"I'm willing!"
...
Deng Xianxian and the others also voiced their agreement one after another.
They all understood that joining Hudao Academy was akin to a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate. From now on, it would be a different, splendid life.
How could they possibly let such an opportunity slip by?
"Good. From this moment on, you are students of Hudao Academy.
I hope you will cultivate well and not disgrace the academy's reputation."
Ye Yunfei said.
"Ye Yunfei, don't worry. From now on, we will train desperately!"
Wu Yuechan said, her beautiful eyes filled with fighting spirit and confidence.
The other four also nodded vigorously, all brimming with high morale.
"Elder Li, do you have any objections?"
Ye Yunfei looked at Elder Li and asked.
"No objections, none at all!
Having several of our disciples become students of Hudao Academy is a great, glorious event that brings honor to our sect!"
Elder Li was extremely excited.
It was true indeed. For a small sect like the Zhencang Sect, having a few disciples join Hudao Academy was a dream-come-true. The status of the Zhencang Sect would certainly rise along with them. From now on, probably no force in the entire Eastern Region would dare to easily provoke the Zhencang Sect.
After all, Hudao Academy was now the single, overwhelmingly dominant power on the Tianxuan Continent!
Any force or martial artist with even the slightest connection to Hudao Academy would see their status soar.
Ye Yunfei called over an Academy Supervisor and had him take Wu Yuechan and the other five into the academy to get settled.
"Alright then.
Ye Yunfei, your affairs are pretty much taken care of.
Next, I'll teach you how to cultivate Geomancy.
Then, you'll refine the Snow Soul Pills for me."
Suddenly, Da Di Daozhang emerged from beneath the ground and said to Ye Yunfei.
"Very well."
Ye Yunfei thought for a moment, then nodded.
The situation on Tianxuan Continent had basically stabilized now.
There was nothing left that required Ye Yunfei's concern.
For the following period of time, Ye Yunfei began focusing wholeheartedly on cultivating Geomancy under Da Di Daozhang.
Cultivating Geomancy required the study and analysis of various terrains and landforms. So, Ye Yunfei followed Da Di Daozhang traveling all over the continent, visiting famous mountains and great rivers, or burrowing back and forth underground.
Three months later.
"Monster!
Ye Yunfei, you've only cultivated for three months, yet I actually find I have almost nothing left to teach you about Geomancy.
What I know, you pretty much know it all now."
Da Di Daozhang said with a bitter laugh.
Over these three months, the terrifyingly acute comprehension ability Ye Yunfei displayed during his Geomancy cultivation had utterly shocked Da Di Daozhang.
He discovered that whatever he taught, Ye Yunfei would grasp it immediately.
In fact, many things didn't even require teaching; Ye Yunfei understood them on his own.
"Ye Yunfei, you're too discouraging!
Do you know how much time it took me to barely learn what you've absorbed in these three months? Over ten years!"
Da Di Daozhang looked at Ye Yunfei with a strange expression.
"That's because you taught me well."
Ye Yunfei chuckled.
"Alright, now you can refine my Snow Soul Pills."
Da Di Daozhang said.