"Rebuild the Tang Clan!"
As soon as Elder Tang Wu finished speaking, the other members of the Tang Clan also roared in unison.
In years past, the Tang Clan had been one of the mightiest powers within the Beihuang Domain. Whenever members of the Tang Clan walked through the region, they were held in respect by all—a glorious sight indeed.
Yet now, they could only hide and scurry from place to place, living in constant fear.
How could these Tang Clan members ever be content?
A wellspring of determination was building within each heart, hoping that one day the Tang Clan could make a comeback!
Next, these Tang Clan members set up within the vast underground cavern, pitching many tents as their temporary living quarters.
"Young Master Ye, could you tell me something about the experiences of our Young Master Tang Yang within the Tianxuan Continent?" Elder Tang Wu suddenly said to Ye Yunfei.
His attitude towards Ye Yunfei was becoming increasingly respectful. He no longer called him by name, but used the respectful address 'Young Master Ye'.
"Certainly," Ye Yunfei nodded.
Elder Tang Wu ordered someone to construct a small pavilion. Then, he invited Ye Yunfei inside and set out spirit fruits and spirit tea.
Afterward, Ye Yunfei gave Elder Tang Wu a detailed account of Tang Yang's various exploits within the Tianxuan Continent.
"This child… it has truly been hard on him," Elder Tang Wu sighed after listening. "The reason he led the people of the Tianxuan Continent to resist the armies of the Ancient Demon Race was also to vent his pent-up anger. When our Tang Clan was exterminated, the Ancient Demon Race was one of the perpetrators!"
"Young Master Ye, tell me… do you think Young Master Tang Yang is still alive?" Elder Tang Wu asked suddenly.
This question had been asked by Xue'er. It had been asked by Vice-Principal Meng. And now, Elder Tang Wu was asking it too!
"I truly cannot say," Ye Yunfei shook his head directly.
"Young Master Tang Yang was our Tang Clan's eldest young master. Back then, the Patriarch intended to nurture him as the future Clan Head. Who could have foreseen so many calamities would occur later? If Young Master Tang Yang were still alive, able to return and lead our Tang Clan once more… how wonderful that would be. Young Master Tang Yang was extraordinarily gifted—so young, yet already a powerful expert at the Great Mystic Pill Realm. He should have had a boundless future ahead of him!" Elder Tang Wu said, a sorrowful expression crossing his face.
"Indeed," Ye Yunfei also nodded.
Back then, Tang Yang had been an elite disciple of the Heavenly Dao Academy. Young, yet already a Great Mystic Pill Realm expert—one of the top prodigies across the entire Beihuang Domain. If nothing had happened to the Tang Clan, Tang Yang's future truly would have been boundless.
"Elder Tang Wu, wait a moment. I have some pills to give you," Ye Yunfei said after thinking for a moment.
After speaking, Ye Yunfei directly entered the Phantom Tower. Inside, he retrieved his cauldron and spent a full day refining a batch of pills.
Some were Treasure Pills, and others were Dao Pills. After refining them, Ye Yunfei emerged from the Phantom Tower. The time flow within the Phantom Tower was different from the outside world. A day that elapsed within the Phantom Tower was merely a short while in the outside realm.
"Elder Tang Wu, distribute these pills for everyone to take," Ye Yunfei said with a wave of his hand, bringing forth dozens of jade bottles which floated in front of Elder Tang Wu. "They should help everyone's cultivation realms advance somewhat."
"What?! Third-grade Dao Pills, Fourth-grade Dao Pills…" Elder Tang Wu's Soul Power swept over the dozens of bottles, and he was utterly shaken. Amongst these pills, the highest-grade ones were two Fifth-grade Dao Pills!
"No!" Elder Tang Wu shook his head vehemently. "Young Master Ye, these pills are far too precious! I cannot accept them. You have already helped our Tang Clan so much, even saving our very lives. How could we accept such valuable pills from you as well!"
With a sweep of his sleeve, he pushed all the bottles back before Ye Yunfei, speaking earnestly.
"Elder Tang Wu, please accept them. These pills will greatly aid your clansmen's cultivation," Ye Yunfei said with a smile, gently sending the dozens of bottles floating before the Elder once more. "For me, they are of little significance."
"Aren't you determined to rebuild the Tang Clan, and seek revenge upon the Ancient Demon Race? Your current strength… is far from sufficient," Ye Yunfei added with a light laugh.
Upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words, Elder Tang Wu hesitated for a moment.
Indeed, the Tang Clan's current power was far too weak. To rebuild, to take revenge… it fell far short of what was required. Moreover, over these years, the surviving Tang clansmen had been hiding in the remote Tan Family Village, isolated from the world. What they lacked most were cultivation resources!
"Alright! Young Master Ye, words cannot express my gratitude for your great kindness! I will accept these pills," Elder Tang Wu finally said, accepting the dozens of bottles and giving Ye Yunfei a deep, solemn bow.
"Very well, Elder Tang Wu. It is time for me to return," Ye Yunfei said, bidding farewell to the Elder.
"Big Brother, are you leaving?" At that moment, Xue'er approached, having overheard. She looked somewhat reluctant to see him go.
"That's right. I must return to the Heavenly Dao Academy," Ye Yunfei said to her. "Xue'er, stay with Elder Tang Wu from now on. I will visit you often."
"Okay. Remember to come and see me," Xue'er nodded seriously.
"Young Master Ye, rest assured, I will take good care of Xue'er," Elder Tang Wu also assured him.
With that, Ye Yunfei left the underground cavern.
One day later.
Ye Yunfei returned to the Heavenly Dao Academy.
At that moment, in the Third School of the Heavenly Dao Academy, a large crowd of disciples had gathered in a plaza.
In one corner of the plaza stood a hall. Elder Jin, Tang Bo, and Da Di Daozhang were all standing before the entrance to this hall, waiting.
"So it seems Du Fan and Su Ye are truly going to undertake the Intermediate Disciple assessment," muttered one disciple in the plaza. "They haven't even been in our Heavenly Dao Academy for a full month, yet they want to attempt the Intermediate Disciple exam? That's sheer madness!"
"Right! Nothing like this has ever happened in our Third School!"
"Not just the Third School! I'd wager nothing this insane has ever happened in the entire Heavenly Dao Academy!"
Chatter broke out amongst the mass of disciples, their gazes fixed upon Da Di Daozhang.
"Eh? We've been waiting for half the day already. Why has only Du Fan himself come? Where's that Su Ye? Why isn't he here?"
"Yeah! Where is Su Ye?" Suddenly, several disciples shouted in alarm.
"Could it be… that Su Ye chickened out and didn't dare to show up for the assessment?"
"That's a real possibility! After all, Du Fan is at least a Small Mysterious Dan Realm mid-stage expert, while that Su Ye is only at the Tenth Level of the Grotto-Heaven Realm. It's normal if he's scared!" Many disciples began buzzing with speculation.
"Du Fan, where is Su Ye? Why haven't we seen him yet?" At this moment, Elder Jin was also growing a bit impatient.
"I don't know either. I haven't seen him since yesterday," Da Di Daozhang answered with a touch of annoyance.
"Let's wait a little longer. Su Ye will definitely come," Tang Bo said.
Right at that moment.
"My apologies for being late, everyone," a voice rang out from afar.
Everyone then saw Ye Yunfei striding through the air with astonishing speed. In the blink of an eye, he descended upon the plaza.