These disciples all possessed the strength of the Grotto-Heaven Realm, with levels ranging from the fourth, fifth, to sixth levels of the Grotto-Heaven Realm.
A dozen or so disciples sneered as they closed in to surround Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei's face darkened.
'Ouyang Feng, you dare to lay a hand on him, and you'll regret it!' Da Di Daozhang roared in fury.
'Ha ha ha... Du Fan, do you still think you're the Holy Son of our Houtu Sect? Don't be naïve! To tell you the truth, since you vanished for hundreds of years, your position as Holy Son was stripped long ago. Now, I am the one and only Holy Son of the Houtu Sect! The next sect master position belongs to me, no one else!' Ouyang Feng took a step forward, and a powerful aura of spiritual power surged forth, bearing down towards Da Di Daozhang like a tide.
Mid-stage Minor Mystic Pill Realm!
*Thump!*
Immediately, Da Di Daozhang's body was sent flying backwards.
'Du Fan, I never imagined that after several hundred years, your strength would still be stuck at the Tenth Level of the Grotto-Heaven Realm! You truly are trash. Shame on you for even having the gall to come crawling back to the Houtu Sect.' Ouyang Feng mocked loudly.
'Arrest this brat and hand him over to the Disciplinary Hall for harsh interrogation!' Ouyang Feng pointed at Ye Yunfei and barked.
*Boom! Boom!...*
The dozen or so disciples released their own spiritual power auras, charging towards Ye Yunfei from all directions, ready to make their move.
A cold light flashed in Ye Yunfei's eyes.
Seeing this, Ye Yunfei already understood the situation.
It seemed that Da Di Daozhang and this Ouyang Feng were both Holy Sonren of the Houtu Sect in the past, competing for the future sect leader position, making them mortal rivals. Da Di Daozhang had been missing for several hundred years. If nothing unexpected happened, Ouyang Feng should have become the next sect leader.
But now, Da Di Daozhang had suddenly returned, creating uncertainty about who would become the next sect leader.
Therefore, Ouyang Feng would naturally strike immediately to suppress Da Di Daozhang.
Ye Yunfei had returned with Da Di Daozhang, so Ouyang Feng first targeted Ye Yunfei.
'Kid, better surrender obediently.'
The dozen-odd disciples rushed to Ye Yunfei's side. Seeing him unmoving, they assumed he was terrified and broke into sneering laughs.
Right at that moment.
Ye Yunfei suddenly raised his hand.
*Slap! Slap! Slap!...*
A series of crisp slapping sounds rang out continuously.
The dozen or so disciples were thrown back as if struck by lightning, their bodies crashing onto the ground some distance away, their heads swollen like pigs.
'You brat! How dare you hurt my people! You're seeking death!' Ouyang Feng exclaimed, both shocked and enraged.
At the same time, he was also somewhat surprised by Ye Yunfei's combat prowess.
To knock back over a dozen people of similar cultivation levels in a single move!
*Rumble...*
A surging, continuous stream of spiritual power pressure violently collided towards Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei gave a slight shake of his body, his expression unchanged as he neutralized all that spiritual pressure.
Given Ye Yunfei's current physical strength, he was not the least bit afraid of spiritual pressure from a mid-stage Minor Mystic Pill Realm cultivator!
*Whoosh!*
Ye Yunfei unleashed his Heaven Soul Sword, attacking into Ouyang Feng's Soul Sea.
'Ah!'
Ouyang Feng cried out in pain, staggering backward several steps as he stared at Ye Yunfei with shocked eyes.
'Ha ha, satisfying!' Da Di Daozhang laughed heartily.
'You bastard, today, I *will* kill you!' Ouyang Feng, now shamed and furious, roared.
*Rumble...*
A deafening noise suddenly echoed from within his head, and circles of Soul Power halos radiated outward.
It turned out that a Soul Power treasure was activated within his Soul Sea, protecting his Soul Body.
*Boom! Boom!*
Two silver war halberds appeared in his hands, erupting with dazzling radiance.
These were two high-grade Profound Artifacts.
A cold glint shone in Ye Yunfei's eyes; he was ready to fight.
He wasn't afraid of a mid-stage Minor Mystic Pill Realm opponent.
Right then.
'Du Fan! You've returned!'
A tall, thin elder in a green robe appeared before Da Di Daozhang as if a ghost, speaking with pleasant surprise.
'Master! I'm sorry for causing you worry all these years!'
As soon as Da Di Daozhang saw this elder, his eyes reddened, and he immediately knelt down.
'There's no need for such formalities. It's good that you've returned, just returning is enough!' The green-robed elder revealed a gratified expression.
'Master, let me introduce you. This is Ye Yunfei. The only reason I could return to the Houtu Sect and see you again is entirely thanks to him.' Da Di Daozhang pointed at Ye Yunfei and said to the green-robed elder.
'Mmm, quite remarkable, young man.' The green-robed elder gave Ye Yunfei a glance and nodded.
'Now that you're back, come inside.' The green-robed elder said.
'Elder Yan! This fellow has an unknown origin and a suspicious background. Furthermore, he attacked and wounded disciples of our Houtu Sect! We can't let him enter!' Ouyang Feng pointed at Ye Yunfei and yelled.
'Ouyang Feng, I saw the entire process very clearly. This young man is Du Fan's friend. If I take him in now, do you dare to obstruct me?' The green-robed elder coldly stared at Ouyang Feng and said.
A terrifying aura subtly pervaded the surrounding space, causing the air to instantly solidify, becoming as hard as iron.
'This is a late-stage Great Mystic Pill Realm expert! However... he has injuries within his body, and those injuries are somewhat serious.' Ye Yunfei noted inwardly.
Above the Minor Mystic Pill Realm was the Great Mystic Pill Realm. It seemed the strongest expert in this Houtu Sect possessed late-stage Great Mystic Pill Realm strength.
Under the aura released by the green-robed elder, Ouyang Feng was unable to move a muscle, cold sweat pouring down his back.
'Yan Tianzong, you truly have a mighty air, daring to bully your juniors.' Suddenly, a cold, mocking voice rang out.
Then, a plump yellow-robed elder traversed the sky, landing beside Ouyang Feng. With a wave of his hand, he completely neutralized the aura released by the green-robed elder.
'Hmph!' The green-robed elder flicked his sleeve, turned, and strode into the Houtu Sect headquarters, leading Da Di Daozhang and Ye Yunfei.
Ouyang Feng's gaze fixed venomously on Ye Yunfei's retreating back, thick killing intent filling his eyes.
'Master, now that Du Fan has returned, he will certainly compete with me for the next sect leader position.' Ouyang Feng said.
'No need to fear. You are at the mid-stage of the Minor Mystic Pill Realm, while he is merely at the Tenth Level of the Grotto-Heaven Realm. He cannot contend with you. Moreover, I can see that Yan Tianzong's injuries are becoming increasingly severe. The two master and disciple cannot stand against us. The next sect leader position is definitely yours.' The plump elder said.
Hearing this, Ouyang Feng couldn't help but reveal a smug smile.
'As for that brat, I want him dead!' Remembering Ye Yunfei, Ouyang Feng gnashed his teeth.
'That boy has a mysterious background and seems to have cultivated an extremely profound Soul Force Martial Art. I will find an opportunity to capture him, interrogate him to extract that Soul Force Martial Art, and then kill him.' The plump elder said.
'Master, let me be the one to kill him! Before he dies, I want to use every torture imaginable to make him bitterly regret why he ever dared to offend me!' Ouyang Feng declared.
'Very well.' The plump elder nodded.
Meanwhile, inside the Houtu Sect headquarters, on a mountain peak.
'Du Fan, where have you been all these years?' The green-robed elder asked.
'Do not reveal my identity.' Ye Yunfei immediately sent a secret sound transmission to Da Di Daozhang.
Da Di Daozhang subtly nodded.
He understood. If he revealed he had returned from the Tianxuan Continent, the Ancient Demon Race would likely come knocking immediately. This matter was far too significant! He wouldn't even mention it to his master.
'Master, back then, I was out adventuring when I stumbled into a perilous place on a barren planet and was trapped for several hundred years. It wasn't until recently that I managed to escape.' Da Di Daozhang replied.
'I see.' The green-robed elder nodded.
Such occurrences were quite common. After all, martial artists on cultivation journeys often encounter all sorts of dangers.
'Master, this is my good friend, Ye Yunfei. He wishes to join our Houtu Sect. I owe my escape to his help.' Da Di Daozhang pointed at Ye Yunfei and said.
'Oh? Young man, do you wish to join our Houtu Sect?' The green-robed elder turned his gaze towards Ye Yunfei and asked.
'Yes.' Ye Yunfei nodded.
The purpose of Ye Yunfei joining the Houtu Sect was to obtain their recommendation for entry into the Heavenly Dao Academy.
'To join our Houtu Sect, you must undergo a test. Only upon reaching a certain level of aptitude can you become a disciple of our Houtu Sect. Very well, I'll take you for the test now.' The green-robed elder thought for a moment and said.
'Ha ha, Master, don't worry. Ye Yunfei's aptitude is definitely no problem!' Da Di Daozhang laughed.
Moments later.
They arrived at a vast square.
In the center of the square stood a round pillar about ten meters tall.
This pillar was divided into four sections, representing four grades.
'This Houtu Pillar is specifically designed to test your innate talent regarding the Earth attribute laws. Go up and strike it with your fist. If you can make the first section light up, you can become a disciple of our Houtu Sect.' The green-robed elder said to Ye Yunfei.
News of someone taking the test had already drawn a large crowd of onlookers to the square.
Even some high-ranking members of the sect had come.
After all, Da Di Daozhang's master held a very high position within the Houtu Sect. If he personally brought someone for testing, it would naturally attract attention.