Boom… rumble…
The Earth Dragon raced swiftly beneath the earth, causing faint tremors in the surrounding ground as it passed by.
Sitting cross-legged at the very center of the Earth Dragon's head, Ye Yunfei released his Soul Power, sensing the various structures deep within the earth and the distribution and flow of the land's qi.
As for the Earth Dragon, it swam through the earth while voraciously swallowing the Earth Qi in its vicinity.
A day later.
The Earth Dragon finally ceased absorbing the Earth Qi.
After absorbing qi for a full day, Ye Yunfei clearly sensed that the Earth Dragon's energy aura had strengthened considerably.
However, Ye Yunfei guessed that this Earth Dragon probably hadn't fully recovered to its peak state yet.
After all, it had been trapped beneath the Earth Pagoda for a very long time, and its origin had been damaged.
"Let's go back."
Ye Yunfei transmitted a thought to the Earth Dragon.
Yet, to Ye Yunfei's surprise, the Earth Dragon suddenly headed in a different direction.
Only after Ye Yunfei pressed it several times did the Earth Dragon tell him that it had sensed a familiar aura nearby and wanted to go investigate.
"A familiar aura…"
Ye Yunfei was taken aback.
Two hours later.
Finally, a massive underground cavern appeared ahead.
It was an enormous underground limestone cave.
Boom…
The Earth Dragon, carrying Ye Yunfei, charged into this cavern.
Ye Yunfei couldn't help but narrow his eyes, looking toward the center of the gigantic cavern.
There lay another enormous Earth Dragon!
The Earth Dragon beneath Ye Yunfei's feet swam toward that other Earth Dragon.
The Earth Dragon lying there had been resting with its eyes closed, but now it opened its huge, oversized eyes and looked over, seemingly startled.
Between the two Earth Dragons, there was a kind of mutual understanding; the atmosphere was extremely peaceful!
As expected, these two Earth Dragons knew each other!
Ye Yunfei had left a Soul Power imprint on the head of the Earth Dragon he had already subdued, so he could perceive its emotions.
Moreover, Ye Yunfei discovered that the aura of the Earth Dragon before him felt somewhat familiar.
Back in the cavern beneath the Earth Pagoda at the Houtu Sect headquarters, there had been five Earth Dragons bound there, and four of them had escaped.
However, those four escaped Earth Dragons had left behind some of their aura in that cavern.
Therefore, Ye Yunfei was certain that the Earth Dragon before him must be one of those four who had fled!
And then.
Suddenly, that Earth Dragon's gaze fell upon Ye Yunfei!
Roar…
Immediately, that Earth Dragon became violent, letting out a furious roar.
"Geomancer!"
That Earth Dragon transmitted a message of anger to the Earth Dragon beneath Ye Yunfei's feet.
This Earth Dragon had been bound beneath the Earth Pagoda by the Houtu Sect's Founding Ancestor for an extremely long time, so it held no goodwill whatsoever toward Geomancers.
And Ye Yunfei practiced the School of Earth Reading—he was a Geomancer too!
Roar…
That Earth Dragon roared and immediately lunged to attack.
"Run!"
Ye Yunfei didn't hesitate; he directly ordered the Earth Dragon beneath his feet to flee.
Because Ye Yunfei realized that the other Earth Dragon seemed somewhat stronger than the one he had subdued.
Boom…
Immediately, the Earth Dragon beneath Ye Yunfei's feet turned around and fled, instantly shooting out of the underground cavern.
Roar…
Behind them, that Earth Dragon gave chase.
Fortunately, after pursuing them for a while, that Earth Dragon gave up.
"That was close."
Sensing that the Earth Dragon behind them had stopped pursuing, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"That guy's temper is really fierce."
Ye Yunfei wryly smiled.
"Still, its strength is quite impressive."
Ye Yunfei sighed.
"If I could subdue that Earth Dragon too…
Perhaps I could give it a try."
This thought suddenly crossed Ye Yunfei's mind.
Although that Earth Dragon was formidable, Ye Yunfei had already subdued one!
Ye Yunfei believed that if he cooperated with the Earth Dragon he had tamed, they should be able to tangle with the other Earth Dragon for a bit!
Moreover, within the School of Earth Reading, several methods for dealing with Earth Dragons were recorded!
"Alright!
I'll try it!
But first, I need to gather a batch of Earth attribute magical treasures."
Ye Yunfei immediately made his decision.
Thus, Ye Yunfei returned to the Houtu Sect headquarters, sought out the Sect Master, and took out a large amount of Spirit Crystals and spirit herbs, asking the Sect Master to send people out to purchase a batch of magical treasures imbued with Earth attribute energy.
"Su Ye, what do you need so many Earth attribute treasures for?"
The Sect Master was somewhat surprised.
"I have my uses for them."
Ye Yunfei said vaguely.
"Alright.
Our Houtu Sect's treasury has quite a few Earth attribute energy treasures in its collection; I can give you a portion of them.
At the same time, I'll also send people out to help you purchase another batch."
Seeing Ye Yunfei's evasive manner, the Sect Master didn't press further. After thinking for a moment, he made this offer.
In his mind, he already regarded Ye Yunfei as his successor, so he was very generous.
"That will do."
Ye Yunfei said.
Next, Ye Yunfei returned to his cultivation peak.
"Ye Yunfei, where did you go these past two days?
I came looking for you over a dozen times but couldn't find you."
Soon, Da Di Daozhang arrived at the peak. As soon as he saw Ye Yunfei, he said this.
"Is there something?"
Ye Yunfei asked.
"I've received news.
During this period, quite a few Ancient Demon Race members have suddenly appeared within the Northern Wasteland Domain.
For a long time, the Northern Wasteland Domain has primarily been a place for human martial artists; rarely do members of the Demon Race appear.
There must be something unusual about this."
Da Di Daozhang told Ye Yunfei.
"They must be here for me."
Ye Yunfei's expression couldn't help but darken.
"That's what I think too.
Moreover, the Sky-Shading Cover of the Tianji Sect is still in your hands.
The Sky-Shading Cover is a treasure of great importance to the Tianji Sect; they will absolutely not let this go.
The Tianji Sect is skilled in divination techniques; it's highly likely they have already deduced your whereabouts."
Da Di Daozhang said.
"That should be the case."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
Ye Yunfei recalled the illusory face that had appeared high above him in the depths of the void back at the Immortal Master Dongzhuo's grotto-mansion.
"Ye Yunfei, forgive me for speaking bluntly, but if you continue staying in the Houtu Sect, once the Ancient Demon Race and the Tianji Sect trace their way here, the entire Houtu Sect will likely be destroyed because of you.
So, it's time for us to head to the Heavenly Dao Academy."
Da Di Daozhang said to Ye Yunfei.
"Alright."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
"I'll go speak with the Sect Master and ask him to write a letter of recommendation for the two of us to participate in the Heavenly Dao Academy's entrance assessment.
We'll set off in a couple of days."
Da Di Daozhang said.
"Agreed."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
Thus, Da Di Daozhang departed.
Ye Yunfei then entered the secret chamber.
"Sky-Shading Cover."
Ye Yunfei waved his hand, and a piece of yellow cloth flew out, hovering before him.
"This treasure should be quite effective in concealing one's traces and form.
Refining it should be helpful to me."
Ye Yunfei murmured to himself.
Then, Ye Yunfei released his Soul Power, extending it toward the Sky-Shading Cover, and began refining it.
Although this Sky-Shading Cover was of a high grade, Ye Yunfei had once possessed Heavenly Emperor-grade treasures, so refining this Sky-Shading Cover wasn't difficult for him.
At the same time…
At the headquarters of the Ouyang Family.
Inside a council hall.
"Everyone, I have received word that all the personnel our Ouyang Family placed within the Houtu Sect have been killed.
Ouyang Feng was also crippled.
All the efforts our Ouyang Family has expended on the Houtu Sect over these many years have been utterly destroyed."
A powerfully built man seated at the very center of the hall spoke slowly.
This man was the current Patriarch of the Ouyang Family.
Within the hall sat a group of Ouyang Family elders, each with an extremely unpleasant expression.
"Patriarch, are we just going to let this slide?
In order to annex the Houtu Sect, our Ouyang Family has expended tremendous effort over these many years.
We were on the verge of success, yet now it has all been destroyed."
A gray-robed elder said gravely.
"That's right.
Patriarch, we absolutely cannot just let this go!"
The other Ouyang Family elders also voiced their opinions.
"Everyone, quiet down first."
The Ouyang Patriarch raised his voice to say.
The others quieted down, looking toward their Patriarch.
"Our Ouyang Family will certainly not just let this matter drop.
Half of the senior members within the Houtu Sect had secretly pledged allegiance to our Ouyang Family.
Now, all of them have been killed.
While this is a huge loss for our Ouyang Family,
it also means that the Houtu Sect's upper echelon is now only half its original size.
The Houtu Sect's overall strength has effectively been cut in half!
This is precisely the time when the Houtu Sect is at its weakest.
And also the best time for us to move against the Houtu Sect!"
The Ouyang Patriarch declared clearly.
"The Patriarch speaks wisely!"
The other elders of the Ouyang Family all cried out.
"Moreover, I've also received another piece of news.
The Second Young Master of the Hu Clan, the first-ranked clan of Moon Province, was killed by the Houtu Sect's Holy Son Su Ye.
That Second Young Master was named Hu Bo.
Hu Bo's elder brother is named Hu Jie, a genius disciple ranked seventh on the Tianxuan Sage Land's Tianxuan Rankings!"
"Thus, the Hu Clan will definitely not let this go; they are sure to settle accounts with Su Ye.
I have already dispatched someone to the Moon Province Hu Clan to discuss with them launching a joint military force against the Houtu Sect!"
The Ouyang Patriarch continued slowly.
"Excellent!
With our Ouyang Family joining forces with the Hu Clan, dealing with the Houtu Sect would be as easy as turning over one's hand!"
Every one of the other Ouyang Family elders grew very excited.
"Everyone, make your preparations. As soon as the Hu Clan agrees to send troops, we will immediately depart for the Houtu Sect!"
The Ouyang Patriarch said, word by word.