Houtu Sect headquarters.
In a secret chamber.
"I've finally refined this Sky-Shading Cover," Ye Yunfei slowly opened his eyes. With a beckoning motion, the piece of yellow cloth before him landed in his hand.
"The primary function of this Sky-Shading Cover is to isolate all perception, including perceptions of the Heavenly Dao's laws and perceptions using Soul Power. No wonder the Tianji Sect considered it a treasure. For those skilled in divination, this Sky-Shading Cover is indeed incredibly useful." Ye Yunfei mused to himself.
Those who frequently engage in divination face one major problem: the backlash from the Heavenly Dao laws. This is because divination arts equate to peeking into the secrets of heaven, for which the Dao's laws will impose punishment. The Sky-Shading Cover can block this punishment! By carrying it on one's person, one can cut off the Heavenly Dao laws' perception of oneself.
Additionally, this Sky-Shading Cover had another function: it could block Soul Power perception. In other words, as long as Ye Yunfei carried this Sky-Shading Cover, even if others could see him with their naked eyes, their Soul Power would be unable to sense his presence!
"A very useful treasure," Ye Yunfei nodded. He was particularly satisfied with its ability to prevent others from sensing him via Soul Power.
Ye Yunfei stored the Sky-Shading Cover within his body.
"I am about to leave the Houtu Sect. Before I depart, I'll give the sect a gift of fortune," Ye Yunfei thought for a moment and said to himself.
His figure flashed as he entered the Phantom Tower and began alchemy. In Elder Dongzhuo's cave dwelling, Ye Yunfei had obtained a vast quantity of herbs—over a hundred thousand plants. While a large portion had been used to cultivate his Jia Mu Qing Di Physique, tens of thousands remained.
Ye Yunfei selected a batch of Fifth-Grade and Sixth-Grade Dao Pills.
"Need my help?" Huang Shang asked.
"No. What I'm refining is..." Then, Ye Yunfei began the alchemy process.
One day later.
"This should be enough," Ye Yunfei said as he stopped concocting pills after producing a large batch. He exited the Phantom Tower.
At that very moment.
The Sect Leader arrived from afar, descending onto Ye Yunfei's cultivation peak.
Ye Yunfei walked out of his secret chamber.
"Su Ye, these are all earth-attribute artifacts. For you," the Sect Leader said, taking out three spatial rings and handing them to Ye Yunfei.
"Thank you," Ye Yunfei accepted the three rings.
"Sect Leader, approximately how long have you been at the late-stage Great Mystic Pill Realm?" Ye Yunfei suddenly asked.
"I've been stuck at this level for over a hundred years," the Sect Leader was stunned for a moment before sighing.
"Have you attempted to break through to the Primordial Soul Realm?" Ye Yunfei inquired.
"My talent is limited. I'll probably remain at the late-stage Great Mystic Pill Realm for the rest of my life. Breaking through to the Primordial Soul Realm is too difficult! I no longer hold any hope. Unless a miracle occurs," the Sect Leader shook his head, a hint of sadness on his face. "Forget it, don't worry about my cultivation. I'm old. The Houtu Sect is the domain of you young people now. Do your best." He looked at Ye Yunfei, his tone encouraging.
"Actually, breaking through to the Primordial Soul Realm doesn't require exceptionally high talent," Ye Yunfei stated calmly. "A warrior's cultivation depends on four aspects: their own talent and temperament, cultivation resources, the environmental energy of heaven and earth they are in, and the cultivation techniques they practice. Only when these four aspects are combined do they determine the heights a warrior can reach. Therefore, your inability to break through to the Primordial Soul Realm may not necessarily be a problem of talent alone."
"Su Ye, how do you know so much!" the Sect Leader couldn't help but be astonished, staring at Ye Yunfei in shock. He felt Ye Yunfei's words were concise, experienced, with every word ringing true and striking the heart of the matter. Hearing such words from a young junior felt somewhat bizarre. Then, Ye Yunfei said something that shocked him even more.
"In fact, I believe you have an opportunity to break through to the Primordial Soul Realm," Ye Yunfei said lightly.
"What?!" The Sect Leader was completely dumbfounded, staring at Ye Yunfei.
"Here are two Dao Pills. Take them and consume them. Over the next two days, try to break through. Perhaps you will have the opportunity to reach the Primordial Soul Realm," Ye Yunfei waved his hand. A jade bottle flew out and hovered before the Sect Leader. Inside were two Dao Pills.
"Fifth-Grade Dao Pills?!" The Sect Leader subconsciously accepted the jade bottle. When he opened it and looked, he was utterly stunned. The Houtu Sect was merely a sect in Muzhou of the Beihuang Domain. Usually, the sect didn't even have Fourth-Grade Dao Pills; at most, they had some Second-Grade ones. A single Third-Grade Dao Pill was extremely precious to the Sect Leader, something to be treasured like a treasure. Now, he had suddenly obtained two Fifth-Grade Dao Pills! How could he not be shocked!
"Su Ye, this..." The Sect Leader stared blankly at Ye Yunfei, momentarily at a loss for words. Ye Yunfei had shocked him too profoundly! For a young junior to casually give away two Fifth-Grade Dao Pills—such a thing was beyond his understanding!
"Su Ye, who exactly are you? Why did you come to our Houtu Sect?" After being stunned for a long while, the Sect Leader finally asked. Someone who could casually produce two Fifth-Grade Dao Pills couldn't possibly be an ordinary person!
"Sect Leader, don't ask any questions. Just do as I said and see if you can break through to the Primordial Soul Realm. This matter will only bring you benefits, no harm," Ye Yunfei smiled.
"Good!" The Sect Leader nodded heavily, his heart filled with anticipation. With two Fifth-Grade Dao Pills, perhaps he really could break through to the Primordial Soul Realm! His hands trembled slightly with excitement.
"Then I'll go into seclusion!" the Sect Leader said. His figure flashed, shooting into the sky, and he instantly returned to his own cultivation peak to begin closed-door cultivation.
Ye Yunfei's figure flashed as he burrowed underground, arriving at the cave beneath the Earth Pagoda. The Earth Dragon was lying prone within the cave.
"Let's set off," Ye Yunfei stood atop the Earth Dragon's head.
Ye Yunfei and the Earth Dragon then left the Houtu Sect headquarters. More than half a day later, they arrived near the cave of the second Earth Dragon.
"Wait for me here," Ye Yunfei said to his Earth Dragon. Then, employing earth-diving techniques and harnessing earth energy, he quietly made his way towards that cave.
Ye Yunfei moved with the utmost caution. Simultaneously, he activated the Sky-Shading Cover, releasing a profound aura that enveloped his body. The Sky-Shading Cover could block external perception. This way, even if Ye Yunfei approached the cave of that Earth Dragon, it would be unable to sense him.
Ye Yunfei took out a large number of earth-attribute artifacts and began setting up formations across this underground area.
The Geomancer arts recorded several methods for dealing with Earth Dragons. Ye Yunfei planned to use them all.
First, he completely severed the geographical energy flow of the entire underground world in this area. This way, that Earth Dragon would be unable to draw earth energy from its surroundings.
Next, Ye Yunfei set up several Dragon-Locking Formations around the cave.
Then, he also laid out a series of Dragon-Binding Chains specifically designed to tie down Earth Dragons, Dragon-Subduing Nails for attacking them, and so on, densely packing the space around the cave.
"Finally finished," Ye Yunfei murmured, having completed his preparations after more than half a day.