This mountainous area was vast and expansive.
Ye Yunfei and A Niu trekked through the dense wilderness, heading deep into the mountain range.
After most of the day.
"Senior Brother Yunfei, be careful, we’re almost at the Demon Trapping Cliff."
A Niu suddenly reminded Ye Yunfei.
"Alright."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
Moments later.
"There really is demon aura!"
Ye Yunfei noticed that over a certain stretch of the mountains ahead, a rolling and surging green demon aura hung in the air, rising into the sky like columns of wolf smoke, faintly mixed with sharp, eerie sounds of wailing demons.
At the same time, a thick, dark, malevolent aura, reeking of a bloody scent, also pervaded the air among the trees.
"It's too terrifying!
Senior Brother Yunfei, perhaps... we should turn back..."
A Niu was so frightened his face turned pale, his legs went weak, and his speech became faltering.
"It's fine.
Trust me.
Take this spirit pill, it can help resist the malevolent aura."
Ye Yunfei took out two spirit pills, swallowed one himself, and handed the other to A Niu.
A Niu took the pill and swallowed it, his eyes nervously surveying the area ahead as if a terrifying demon might jump out at any moment.
"The quality of the demon aura here is very high.
Could it be that a great demon is residing here?"
Ye Yunfei gazed at the towering demon aura ahead, feeling slightly astonished in his heart.
From behind.
"Dammit, how is that kid so fast!
Everyone, speed up, catch up and stop him!
We're getting very close to the Demon Trapping Cliff now.
The closer we get to the Demon Trapping Cliff, the more dangerous it becomes!"
Li Yichen, leading a dozen or so disciples from Water Peak, was chasing after Ye Yunfei.
The emerald green demon aura permeating the mountains ahead made his heart tremble with fear.
"Had I known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have asked Deacon Liu to assign such a task.
Now I’m forced to take risks following that kid!
It's all that bastard's fault. Hmph, when I catch up to him later, I'll make his life worse than death!"
Li Yichen’s face darkened as he cursed bitterly.
The dozen or so disciples who had come with Li Yichen also looked pale.
Ever since their first day at the Tianyuan Sect, every disciple had been repeatedly warned by the higher-ups never to approach the Demon Trapping Cliff in the back mountains.
The Demon Trapping Cliff had become a taboo in the minds of Tianyuan Sect disciples.
Up ahead.
"Senior Brother Yunfei, look, that over there is the Demon Trapping Cliff."
Suddenly, A Niu pointed forward and spoke to Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei raised his eyes to look into the distance. Deep within the mountain range, he saw a solitary, towering cliff that pierced the clouds.
Below the cliff was a bottomless abyss.
A vast amount of emerald green demon aura diffused and churned, shrouding the area like clouds and mist.
"Alright.
Senior Brother Yunfei, having come this far, we cannot go any closer to the Demon Trapping Cliff.
Otherwise, it would be extremely dangerous.
It's said that a few years ago, a Core Disciple with Heaven Realm strength lost himself after being invaded by demon aura because he got too close to the Demon Trapping Cliff.
Later, although he was rescued by an Elder of the sect,
they couldn't cure him, and in the end, he became an idiot!"
A Niu planted his feet firmly, his face filled with terror. No matter what, he refused to go any further.
"Hmm, indeed, the demon aura and malevolent aura ahead would be hard for even a Heaven Realm martial artist to withstand."
Ye Yunfei nodded, not blaming A Niu for his cowardice.
After all, A Niu only had strength at the Body Tempering Seventh Layer. It was already commendable that he had accompanied Ye Yunfei this far.
However, to Ye Yunfei, this was nothing.
A trace of his Heavenly Emperor Soul Power still remained within Ye Yunfei's body.
Though it was only a trace, anything in this world even slightly connected to the word 'emperor' was extraordinary.
This wisp of Heavenly Emperor Soul Power was more than enough for Ye Yunfei to resist the demon aura ahead.
Moreover, Ye Yunfei’s comprehension of all things under heaven and the laws of the great Dao was extremely profound, unmatched by anyone.
A mere bit of demon aura naturally couldn't affect Ye Yunfei.
Right now, Ye Yunfei had already developed a great interest in the Demon Trapping Cliff ahead and decided to go investigate.
"Alright then.
A Niu, thank you for guiding me.
Take these things.
You head back first."
Ye Yunfei took out the benefits he had collected from the Merit Hall earlier—three hundred Spirit Crystals and two bottles of spirit pills—and handed them to A Niu as payment for being his guide.
"Senior Brother Yunfei, what are you doing?
Don't tell me you want to go to the Demon Trapping Cliff!
Please don’t. We should just look at it from a distance and be done with it."
A Niu was greatly alarmed.
"A Niu, don't worry about me. Take them.
You go back first."
Ye Yunfei forced the Spirit Crystals and spirit pills into A Niu’s hands.
Just at that moment.
"Haha...! Kid, finally caught up with you!
Now, let's see where you can run to!"
A wild laugh came from behind.
Then,
a dozen or so men appeared in the mountain forest behind, charging forward and surrounding Ye Yunfei and A Niu.
"Li Yichen!"
A Niu's face drastically changed.
"Kid, was it you who injured dozens of our Water Peak disciples!
You've got quite the nerve!"
Li Yichen asked, looking down from above and fixing a piercing gaze on Ye Yunfei.
"That's right!
It was me.
Just a few dozen insignificant flies. I'll swat them if I feel like it. Does that count as having nerve?"
Ye Yunfei gave a cold smile.
With a single glance, Ye Yunfei could tell the intention of these Water Peak disciples and naturally had no plans to give them a pleasant expression.
"Senior Brother Yunfei, don't speak carelessly. He is Li Yichen from Water Peak, a direct descendant of the Li Family from the imperial capital. He has a powerful background.
Moreover, his cousin is the top-ranked disciple of Water Peak, Li Chaofan!
Whatever you do, don’t provoke him.
Otherwise, not only will it be hard to stand your ground within the Tianyuan Sect, you won't find a place to stand your ground in the entire Great Qin Empire!"
A Niu whispered a reminder into Ye Yunfei's ear.
"Senior Brother Li, it was indeed wrong for Senior Brother Yunfei to injure your Water Peak disciples.
However, Senior Brother Yunfei is new here and doesn't understand anything. In the future, he definitely won't do it again.
Please, Senior Brother Li, in consideration of our shared bond as fellow sect members, let Senior Brother Yunfei off this time.
I apologize to you on Senior Brother Yunfei's behalf right now."
A Niu stepped forward, humbling himself to apologize for Ye Yunfei.
"A Niu really is a good person..."
A warmth blossomed in Ye Yunfei's heart.
From this moment on, he started to somewhat consider A Niu a friend.
This was Ye Yunfei's character.
He always drew a clear line between gratitude and grievance.
If you respect me three parts, I'll respect you tenfold.
If you strike me with one palm, I will return with both fists!
*Slap!*
Before A Niu could finish speaking, Li Yichen had already struck A Niu's face with a lightning-fast slap.
Immediately, a bright red handprint appeared on A Niu's right cheek.
"Trash! Something as lowly as a dog! What qualifications do you have to try reasoning with me?!
What shared bond as fellow sect members could there possibly be between me and trash like you?!
Sharing a sect with garbage like you is my disgrace, understand?!
Injuring our Water Peak disciples, and you think a mere apology will settle things?
Wishful thinking!
Now, both of you kneel down. First, kowtow a thousand times loudly. Then, break your own arms and legs.
Afterwards, I’ll decide whether my mood is good enough to possibly spare your two dogs' lives!"
Li Yichen pointed at A Niu and Ye Yunfei, shouting harshly.
Ye Yunfei's expression turned cold, a flash of killing intent appearing in his eyes.