Ye Yunfei stared at the Earth Dragon, offering no immediate response.
Its eyes, a pair of enormous yellow lanterns, were also fixed on Ye Yunfei, conveying a pleading expression.
“How do I rescue you?”
After a short while, Ye Yunfei finally sent a ripple of Soul Power back.
“Help me break these bindings,” the Earth Dragon replied swiftly upon receiving Ye Yunfei's response, seemingly quite agitated.
Simultaneously, it sent another Soul Power message. This message detailed how Ye Yunfei could shatter the ethereal chains restraining its body!
After reading it carefully, Ye Yunfei realized that breaking these illusory chains required a profoundly deep cultivation of earth-element laws. And as it happened, Ye Yunfei precisely met the requirement.
The Earth Dragon had presumably also sensed this. Since its earlier release of earth-law pressure had not affected Ye Yunfei in the slightest, it chose to cry out for his help.
“Save me, quickly!” it sent an imploring Soul Power message. “I’ve been bound here for an eternity. My energy is almost depleted. The earth energy surrounding me has already been exhausted by my consumption. I must travel elsewhere to replenish my energy, otherwise, I will dissipate and cease to exist.”
“So that's how it is,” Ye Yunfei nodded.
“Why should I save you?” he suddenly asked.
The Earth Dragon was stunned. Though it had developed preliminary intelligence, its thought process remained relatively simple. Not every question found a ready answer.
Its lantern-like dragon eyes stared at Ye Yunfei, seeming somewhat helpless.
“Would you be willing to recognize me as your master?” Ye Yunfei inquired.
He recalled the descriptions in Geomancy texts. If one possessed an Earth Dragon as a companion while practicing this art, the benefits would be immense. Now that this Earth Dragon was begging for his aid, why not seize this opportunity to subdue one?
Upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words, the Earth Dragon seemed conflicted for a moment.
A short while later.
“Alright,” the Earth Dragon nodded after some thought. “If you plant your mark upon my head, you will be able to command me.”
Firstly, its energy was nearly exhausted, and it couldn't hold on much longer; this was its only option. Secondly, though possessing nascent intelligence, its mind remained rather naive and simple. It didn't deeply consider what kind of fate awaited it once controlled by this human before it.
“Good!” Ye Yunfei felt a surge of excitement. Controlling an Earth Dragon would be a tremendous aid to his cultivation of Geomancy. After delving into the discipline, Ye Yunfei had begun developing a genuine interest in it.
Immediately, Ye Yunfei released his Soul Power, extending it towards the Earth Dragon’s head. The Earth Dragon offered no resistance, submitting obediently.
The energy possessed by this Earth Dragon was colossal. Planting a Soul Power imprint on its head was no simple task. Fortunately, Ye Yunfei, once a Heavenly Emperor, was profoundly versed in soul imprints. Combined with the lingering trace of his Heavenly Emperor’s Remnant Soul within his soul sea, he finally succeeded in placing a Soul Power imprint upon the Earth Dragon’s head after half a day!
Instantly, Ye Yunfei could feel that he truly had control over this Earth Dragon.
Then, Ye Yunfei began to work on removing the ethereal chains binding the Earth Dragon. These illusory chains were the result of the Dragon Binding Art, cast by an exceptionally skilled earth master. Their power was formidable.
However, after enduring through countless eons, the energy of these chains had already dissipated by more than half. Thus, within just a few hours, Ye Yunfei managed to shatter all the chains restraining the Earth Dragon!
Roar… Roar…
The Earth Dragon, bound by these chains for unimaginably long years, roared out its elation upon this sudden release.
Immediately, the Earth Pagoda above violently trembled. The entire land quaked alongside it, as if struck by a great earthquake.
Outside the Earth Pagoda, the higher-ups and numerous disciples of the Houtu Sect had been keeping vigil. The pagoda held immense significance for their sect—left behind by the ancient Founding Patriarch, a supreme cultivation ground for its disciples, and legend held it was the very source of the Houtu Sect’s fortune.
Therefore, the elders stood watch by the pagoda, observing its every fluctuation.
“What is happening beneath the Earth Pagoda?” the gathered higher-ups and disciples watching the shaking pagoda all wondered with fearful dread.
“Master, Su Ye is still cultivating inside the pagoda. Are you sure you haven’t seen him?” Da Di Daozhang asked Yan Tianzong again. He had posed this question over a dozen times already.
“I truly haven’t seen Su Ye. If you don't believe me, ask the Sect Leader,” Yan Tianzong replied.
“With such a major disturbance in the pagoda, and so many disciples having exited… Could it be Su Ye has already left?” Yan Tianzong questioned in turn.
“I haven’t seen him come out,” Da Di Daozhang shook his head.
“Could something have happened to Su Ye?” The Sect Leader nearby frowned, a trace of concern emerging. He had finally found a genius who could be used against Tao Wenzhi and his disciple. If something happened to Su Ye, he wondered where he could find another talent of such high caliber.
“It seems Su Ye remains within the pagoda. It's extremely likely something has already befallen him!” On the other side, Tao Wenzhi and his disciple heard everything clearly, couldn't help but feel thrilled. Su Ye's sudden arrival had severely threatened Ouyang Feng's position! Naturally, Ouyang Feng and his master wished for Ye Yunfei's death.
“Hmph! Who would have thought Su Ye would die inside the Earth Pagoda. A pity! I didn't get to witness my big brother teach him a lesson!” sneered a purple-robed young man from a distance. This man was none other than Xiao Wu! Inside the Earth Pagoda’s fifth floor, forced to kneel and knocked unconscious by Ye Yunfei, then carried out, he felt he had lost all face.
He had immediately reported the incident to his elder brother, Xiao Liang, urging him to exact revenge!
He never expected this Su Ye fellow would now meet trouble within the pagoda, leaving him with a tinge of regret.
Back within the underground cavern.
“I must leave now and replenish my energy elsewhere!” the Earth Dragon declared to Ye Yunfei.
As soon as its words landed, its massive dragon form surged into motion.
Rumble…
In an instant, the Earth Dragon appeared before Ye Yunfei, its enormous head lowering to place Ye Yunfei between its two horns.
Then, with astounding speed, the Earth Dragon shot out of the underground cavern, burrowing swiftly through the earth.
Moments later, they arrived in another underground region.
Whoosh…
The Earth Dragon opened its maw wide, beginning to swallow the surrounding earth energy in vast, surging torrents. Huge quantities of earth energy were drawn inexorably into the Earth Dragon’s mouth.