‘What about Xia Feiyan, have you asked her?’
Ye Yunfei asked Xie Changkong.
‘I did. She said she wants to stay with her mother in Hudao Academy,’
Xie Changkong replied.
‘Fine, then,’
Ye Yunfei nodded.
‘Fei’er, these are the youths of our Ye Family. They wish to follow you to the Xuanhuang Star Domain and seek their fortunes.’
Ye Tianpeng, along with several Ye Family elders, led over fifty young people to stand before Ye Yunfei.
‘Greetings, Crown Prince.’
The fifty-plus Ye Family youths looked at Ye Yunfei with worshipful eyes and chorused their greeting.
‘The journey to the Xuanhuang Star Domain is fraught with danger. Some among you are still too weak and are not yet suited to go. Those at the True Manifestation Realm can follow me to the Xuanhuang Star Domain. The rest should remain on the Tianxuan Continent for now. I will return in the future and take you then.’
Ye Yunfei sized up the group of young clansmen and spoke clearly.
Among these Ye Family youths, some were only at the Saint Realm, or even the Xuan Realm. They were far too weak.
Remaining at Hudao Academy to cultivate would bring them greater benefits.
Ye Yunfei held absolute authority within the Ye Family; no one would ever oppose his words.
Thus, Ye Yunfei selected eighteen Ye Family youths whose strength was at the True Manifestation Realm.
‘Sister Xue, you’ve actually reached the late-stage True Manifestation Realm. Impressive.’
Ye Yunfei’s gaze fell upon a young woman in violet clothes, and he smiled.
This young woman was named Ye Xue.
‘You flatter me, Crown Prince. Compared to you, I fall far short.’
Hearing Ye Yunfei address her, Ye Xue hurriedly replied.
In terms of seniority, Ye Yunfei should be calling her ‘elder sister.’ However, Ye Yunfei’s current status within the Ye Family was far too lofty. Even the Ye Family elders were utterly deferential in his presence, let alone her.
‘Sister Xue, you can just call me as you did before,’
Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
Back when the eight martial veins in Ye Yunfei’s body suddenly vanished, rendering him a cripple incapable of cultivation, he suffered endless ridicule from his peers within the Ye Family.
Ye Xue was the only one among his peers who had never mocked Ye Yunfei.
On several occasions, when Ye Yunfei was bullied by other Ye Family youths, she had even stepped forward to help.
Therefore, Ye Yunfei held a good opinion of her.
‘This…’
Ye Xue was taken aback.
Over the years, as Ye Yunfei’s fame grew ever greater, Ye Xue and the other Ye Family youths felt the distance between them and Ye Yunfei widening. They could only look up at him from afar.
Now, however, Ye Yunfei was suddenly speaking to her with such approachable familiarity. It left her momentarily unaccustomed, while also stirring waves of warmth within her heart.
*So he hasn’t forgotten the kindness I showed him back then!*
Ye Xue stole a glance at Ye Yunfei with her beautiful eyes.
‘Ye Tianfeng, you’ve also reached the late-stage True Manifestation Realm. Good. Keep working hard from now on.’
Ye Yunfei looked toward another Ye Family youth and said.
Ye Tianfeng, along with Ye Lei, had once been hailed as one of the two leading figures among the Ye Family’s younger generation. His martial talent was not bad.
‘Thank you for your encouragement, Crown Prince! I will certainly work hard!’
Ye Tianfeng immediately straightened his posture and answered loudly.
‘Mm, very good.’
Ye Yunfei nodded.
‘Everyone, be prepared. We depart in half a day!’
Ye Yunfei swept his gaze over those who were to accompany him to the Xuanhuang Star Domain and declared in a clear voice.
‘Understood!’
Everyone responded in unison.
Half a day later, from the headquarters of Hudao Academy, a flying vessel soared into the sky, speeding toward the distant horizon.
Onboard the vessel were over two hundred individuals following Ye Yunfei to the Xuanhuang Star Domain.
A portion were Grotto-Heaven Realm experts.
The majority, however, were warriors at the Mystic Liquid Realm.
Most of these Mystic Liquid Realm warriors were either Seed Students or Senior Students of Hudao Academy.
Many within Hudao Academy watched as the flying vessel departed.
On a certain beautiful mountain peak within Hudao Academy stood a middle-aged woman and two young women, looking up at the vessel disappearing into the distant sky.
If Ye Yunfei were here, he would immediately recognize the middle-aged woman as Xiao Tianrong.
The two young women were Xia Feiyan and her maid, Xiao Yu.
‘Miss, you’ve always been longing for Young Master Ye. Now that he has returned, why aren’t you following him to the Xuanhuang Star Domain? You haven’t even gone to see him these past few days.’
Xiao Yu suddenly asked.
As Xia Feiyan’s personal maid, she naturally knew of Xia Feiyan’s longstanding affection for Ye Yunfei.
‘Xiao Yu! Don’t talk nonsense! Who says I long for Young Master Ye!’
Xia Feiyan pretended to be angry and made to hit her.
‘Hah! Miss, you can fool others, but you can’t fool me! Several times I’ve personally heard you call out Young Master Ye’s name in your sleep!’
Xiao Yu pouted.
Hearing Xiao Yu’s words, Xia Feiyan’s delicate figure stiffened. Unable to speak, her eyesight grew slightly reddened as her beautiful eyes stared blankly toward the sky where the vessel had long since vanished.
*My poor child.*
How could Xiao Tianrong not understand her daughter’s heart? She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
Soon, half a day later, the vessel arrived before the spatial rift at the site of the former Guardian City.
Ye Yunfei transported all two hundred-plus people from the vessel into the Phantom Tower, then stored the vessel away himself, and walked toward the spatial rift.
As soon as he stepped into the spatial rift, Ye Yunfei’s face darkened, a flash of killing intent appearing in his eyes.
Sensed by his Soul Power, a group of Ancient Demon Race troops were stationed guarding the other end of the spatial rift! Moreover, at the exit of the spatial rift, dozens of rather advanced spatial-sealing Formations had been set up, locking down that entire area of space!
‘Excellent. Time to collect a bit of interest from the Ancient Demon Race first.’
Within the spatial rift, Ye Yunfei strode forward.
With his current comprehensive strength, even if he were to encounter a Deity Sculpting Realm expert head-on, he was confident he could retreat unscathed! As for Primordial Soul Realm experts, Ye Yunfei could now slay them with ease! Therefore, these Ancient Demon Race troops held little terror for him.
On the other end of the spatial rift.
‘All of you, stay sharp! The Aoyue Demon King decreed that Ye Yunfei is highly likely to emerge from this spatial rift. Our task is to keep a close watch. Once Ye Yunfei is spotted, we all charge forward. We absolutely cannot let him escape!’
A towering member of the Ancient Demon Race boomed.
‘Understood, Lord Qian Yu!’
The Ancient Demon Race troops roared in unison, surges of demonic energy churning violently, filling this patch of desolate land.
However, as soon as their shouts faded, a figure emerged unhurriedly from the spatial rift.
‘Lord Qian Yu, look!’
Immediately, some Ancient Demon Race members spotted Ye Yunfei and cried out in shock.
‘What is all this fuss about…’
Lord Qian Yu began to scold.
Before his reprimand could finish, he too saw Ye Yunfei walking out of the spatial rift.
‘It’s Ye Yunfei!’
Lord Qian Yu was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed, bellowing loudly.
‘Charge! The Aoyue Demon King said it himself: alive we must see the person, dead we must see the corpse! Regardless, we must not let Ye Yunfei escape!’
Lord Qian Yu waved his hand and roared.
‘Kill!’
Immediately, all the Ancient Demon Race troops swarmed forward, surrounding and assaulting Ye Yunfei from all directions.
Lord Qian Yu and eight other Ancient Demon Race experts at the Primordial Soul Realm charged at the forefront, lunging toward Ye Yunfei with ferocious killing intent. The strongest among this Ancient Demon Race force were precisely these nine Primordial Soul Realm experts.
‘Ye Yunfei! I know you excel in spatial energy, but this space has been sealed. Your spatial energy is useless now! Better to surrender quietly and come back with me to receive punishment from the Aoyue Demon King!’
Lord Qian Yu roared with derisive laughter.
His demonic body stood eight meters tall, possessing mid-stage Primordial Soul Realm strength. Powerful demonic power pressure emanated from his entire being, his presence immense. The other nine Ancient Demon Race experts also looked fierce and menacing.
‘You lot aren’t even qualified to make me utilize my spatial energy.’
Ye Yunfei sneered.
Then, Ye Yunfei drew the Overlord Bow and began firing arrows.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Streams of spiritual power arrows rained down upon the Ancient Demon Race troops like a torrential downpour.
Ye Yunfei’s current spiritual power level was the mid-stage Great Mystic Pill Realm. The spiritual power arrows he shot were not something these Ancient Demon Race troops could withstand. These arrows, imbued with the properties of space and time, continuously traversed through space. Even if the Ancient Demon Race members spotted an arrow shooting toward them, they could not evade it!
Aah! Aah!
Each spiritual power arrow was sure to slay one Ancient Demon Race member. Some arrows, fired at clever angles, even pierced through several Ancient Demons at once! Although the Ancient Demon Race force was large in number, Ye Yunfei’s movements were swift as lightning. Within moments, a great swath of them were slaughtered!
‘Ye Yunfei! Stop!’
Witnessing this scene, the nine Primordial Soul Realm Ancient Demon Race experts flew into a rage, bellowing furiously.
Sssh!
Suddenly, before one of the Primordial Soul Realm Ancient Demons, a small black sword—only the size of an adult’s thumb—appeared.
Thud!
This small black sword moved with terrifying speed, piercing the Ancient Demon’s heart and passing straight through.
The Ancient Demon’s body stiffened, then slowly crumpled to the ground, becoming a corpse.
This ‘Dark Spike’ technique that Ye Yunfei employed was something even the Yuan Soul Realm assassins from the Tianyou Tomb—whether early-stage or mid-stage—could not evade. These early-stage and mid-stage Primordial Soul Realm Ancient Demons likewise stood no chance.
Only a late-stage Primordial Soul Realm expert might, relying on their spiritual power and Soul Power, barely perceive the trajectory of this Dark Spike and attempt to dodge.
The next moment.
Sssh!
The small black sword eerily materialized before the forehead of another Primordial Soul Realm Ancient Demon, violently piercing through the space between its brows.
Another Ancient Demon expert was slain.
‘Damn it! What is that?!’
The remaining seven Ancient Demon experts were terrified, their scalps prickling with fear and chills racing down their spines.
Thud!
Before the seven could react, the heart of one of their number was pierced by another streak of black light.
And it was not over.
Immediately afterward.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The small black sword continuously traversed space, flickering in and out of visibility, consecutively slaying five more Ancient Demon experts.
Finally, only that Lord Qian Yu stood there, stupefied with terror, his body trembling slightly.
‘The might of the Dark Spike is truly quite good.’
Ye Yunfei felt very satisfied.
While controlling the Dark Spike to slay the Ancient Demon experts, Ye Yunfei simultaneously kept rapidly drawing the Overlord Bow, shooting down the other Ancient Demon troops.
By now, Ye Yunfei had already shot down more than half of the Ancient Demon force, which was in complete disarray!