"We retreat!"
Tao Wenzhi suddenly turned and fled.
He knew he was no match for this Earth Dragon.
"This..."
The other high-ranking members of Tao Wenzhi's faction were stunned for a moment when they saw him actually fleeing.
"We should leave too!"
After a moment's hesitation, these leaders immediately followed Tao Wenzhi and ran.
Some soared into the sky, fleeing into the distance. Others burrowed underground, escaping through earth evasion techniques. Their allegiance was to Tao Wenzhi as their leader; now that he had fled, staying served no purpose.
"After them!"
The Sect Master waved his hand, leading the other leaders in pursuit.
"Old man, you can't escape!"
Ye Yunfei fixed his gaze on Tao Wenzhi and said with a cold laugh.
Boom…
The Earth Dragon plunged into the ground and vanished.
The next moment, it erupted violently from the earth ahead, blocking Tao Wenzhi's path of escape. Underground, the Earth Dragon could ride Earth Qi Energy, moving at an inconceivably high speed, instantly overtaking Tao Wenzhi.
Rumble…
The Earth Dragon's kilometer-long body, carrying terrifying energy, lunged at Tao Wenzhi with killing intent. Rolling yellow earth qi surged forth, blotting out the sky as it inundated Tao Wenzhi.
"Damned beast, get out of my way!"
Feeling the Earth Dragon's oppressive might, Tao Wenzhi's face changed drastically as he roared.
Boom…
A yellow magic seal flew out from him, rapidly expanding until it was the size of a small hill in an instant, moving to block the Earth Dragon.
Thud!
The Earth Dragon's thick tail lashed forward violently, smacking the yellow magic seal and sending it flying away. Then, the Earth Dragon's mountain-range-like body crashed before Tao Wenzhi with astonishing speed.
In his panic and rage, Tao Wenzhi attacked with all his might. With a hand seal, he conjured layer after layer of thick yellow earthen walls to block his front.
But it was useless.
Puff, puff…
Wherever the Earth Dragon's massive body passed, it instantly shattered all the earthen walls. Tao Wenzhi's body was also struck and sent flying.
The Earth Dragon lunged again to attack.
After a few exchanges…
Tao Wenzhi's body was struck by the Earth Dragon, directly exploding and being torn apart, dying a miserable death on the spot!
The other high-ranking members of Tao Wenzhi's faction were also caught up by the Sect Master and the others, all executed.
"However, this battle has inflicted serious damage to our Houtu Sect. Our overall strength has decreased by at least half."
After the battle ended, the Sect Master gazed at the corpses of Tao Wenzhi and the other leaders and couldn't help but sigh softly.
"Strictly speaking, they no longer belonged to the Houtu Sect. They were part of the Ouyang Family. Killing them is actually a good thing for the Houtu Sect."
Ye Yunfei said.
"Su Ye, what you say makes sense."
Hearing Ye Yunfei's words, the Sect Master's spirits lifted.
"Sect Master, aside from these high-level members like Tao Wenzhi, there are also many supervisors and disciples within the sect who have defected to the Ouyang Family."
Yan Tianzong said to the Sect Master.
"Root them all out, leave none behind!"
The Sect Master said, enunciating each word.
Thus, a great purge began within the Houtu Sect.
However, Ye Yunfei didn't want to involve himself further in the Houtu Sect's internal affairs. Instead, he followed the Earth Dragon to the bottom of the Earth Pagoda, entering that underground cavern.
"It's time to breakthrough in my spiritual power cultivation realm."
Ye Yunfei sat cross-legged, waved his hand, and took out a large quantity of Spirit Crystals from the Phantom Tower, piling them into small mountains around him. At the same time, there were also large amounts of spirit pills, treasure pills, dao pills, and various heavenly and earthly treasures.
Then, Ye Yunfei operated the Nine-Yang Scripture and began impacting his cultivation realm.
The cultivation rhythm Ye Yunfei set for himself was to first enhance his physical body strength while tempering his spiritual power foundation. Only when his physical strength was sufficiently strong and his spiritual foundation solid would he then break through his spiritual power cultivation realm. After his rebirth, Ye Yunfei had been adhering to this cultivation rhythm for his advancement.
As for Soul Power, ever since obtaining the Nurturing Soul Tree, Ye Yunfei didn't need to cultivate it deliberately—his Soul Power would naturally and continuously rise!
Half a day later…
Boom…
Ye Yunfei's spiritual power cultivation realm broke through to the sixth level of the Dantian Realm. Of course, that wasn't the end.
Next, Ye Yunfei consecutively broke through in a single breath, reaching the tenth level of the Dantian Realm!
Breaking through five minor realms in one day, as simple as breathing!
"Next, I shall cultivate the first level of the Nine-Yang Scripture, the One Yang Stage, to the Completion Stage."
Ye Yunfei took out another enormous batch of Spirit Crystals in startling quantity, piling them into small mountain peaks that completely submerged him!
Then, he began cultivating the Nine-Yang Scripture.
Boom…
A massive golden sphere about three hundred meters in diameter shot out from Ye Yunfei's dantian and hovered above his head.
Whoosh…
This golden sphere erupted with a powerful suction force, beginning to absorb the spiritual energy contained within the Spirit Crystals. Meanwhile, within Ye Yunfei's body, his eight meridians manifested. Each one was as thick as a river, with vast, mighty spiritual power roaring as it surged through them.
Gradually, the golden sphere hovering above Ye Yunfei's head didn't show significant change in volume, but its density continuously increased.
One day later.
"Finally, I've cultivated the first level of the Nine-Yang Scripture to the Completion Stage."
Ye Yunfei revealed a satisfied smile.
Boom…
That golden sphere slowly rotated above Ye Yunfei's head, emitting a terrifying aura of energy.
"The One Yang Stage of the Nine-Yang Scripture should be enough to dominate even Late-stage Minor Mystic Pill Realm cultivators."
Ye Yunfei said to himself.
Swish!
In the next moment, the Void Blade shot out from Ye Yunfei's chest, hovering before him.
"It's time to enhance the Flying Sword Art."
Ye Yunfei muttered.
Then, with a thought from Ye Yunfei…
Swish!
The Void Blade vanished into the space in front of him.
The next moment.
Shoom!
A streak of black light shot into the sky from beside the Earth Pagoda, streaking into the distance.
The power of the Flying Sword Art was related to both spiritual power cultivation realm and Soul Power strength. Now that Ye Yunfei's Soul Power and spiritual cultivation had both improved substantially, his Flying Sword Art naturally could be advanced as well.
Under the control of Ye Yunfei's Soul Power, the Void Blade shot into the distance. In the blink of an eye, it had arrived outside the Houtu Sect headquarters.
Swish…
The Void Blade transformed into a streak of black light, flying back and forth around the Houtu Sect headquarters at astonishing speed.
The distance a Flying Sword could reach was related to the user's level of Soul Power. However, the farther the Flying Sword traveled from the user, the weaker its attacking power would become.
Soon, Ye Yunfei discovered that with his current strength, when controlling the Flying Sword, its power wouldn't diminish within one hundred thousand meters, allowing it to unleash its greatest might. If it exceeded one hundred thousand meters, the Flying Sword's attacking power began to decline.
One day later.
"Within one hundred thousand meters, the Void Blade can be used to ambush enemies. The effect should be quite good."
Ye Yunfei recalled the Void Blade and said to himself.
Just at that moment.
The Earth Dragon suddenly transmitted a message to Ye Yunfei: it intended to go out and replenish its Earth Qi Energy. Having been trapped at the bottom of the Earth Pagoda for a vast stretch of time, its energy consumption was too severe. During this period, it would go out every few days to replenish its Earth Qi Energy once.
"Good, I'll go with you."
Ye Yunfei's figure flickered, arriving atop the Earth Dragon's head.
Following this Earth Dragon and traversing underground, observing the structure of various earth veins and the flow of geophysical energies deep beneath the earth, would provide tremendous help in cultivating Earth Divination techniques!