This single sentence was delivered by Ye Yunfei via Sound Transmission specifically to Dean Sima, so none of the other Soul Formation Realm masters nearby knew why the Dean's complexion suddenly changed drastically.
"You... how did you know I was injured? Who told you?" Dean Sima sent a Sound Transmission back, questioning.
Although he suffered severe injuries, he had always hidden them well; even experts of the same rank would find it difficult to perceive at a glance.
"This is an old, lingering cold injury. It has already damaged the very foundation of your blood vessels, and your Soul Body is slowly being eroded. If it weren't for this injury, with your innate talent and accumulated foundation, you would have long broken through to the Deity King realm," Ye Yunfei transmitted.
"How do you know so clearly!" Dean Sima's gaze fixed tightly on Ye Yunfei, his heart surging like a tempest of shock.
After all, he was the only one who knew the exact state of his own injuries. Even the enemy who had wounded him back then couldn't possibly know in such detail.
"What happened?" The other Soul Formation Realm masters, seeing Dean Sima's countenance shift dramatically, knew something must have occurred.
"Dean Sima, what is it? Is there some change?" Zou Yi and several other high-ranking elders asked aloud.
However, Dean Sima's attention remained wholly fixed on Ye Yunfei, ignoring them completely.
"Your injury has been dragging on for so long. If you don't find a way to treat it, the consequences will be unthinkable. At most a hundred years, your very life will be in danger," Ye Yunfei continued.
"Treating my injury... it's difficult," Dean Sima stared at Ye Yunfei for a long moment before letting out a soft sigh.
"That depends. It's not necessarily difficult, nor is it necessarily easy. If you can gather all the required dao medicines, it won't be difficult," Ye Yunfei said blandly.
"What are you saying?! My injury can still be treated? What dao medicines are needed, tell me!" Upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words, Dean Sima nearly jumped on the spot, his heart pounding with excitement.
Over the years, he had truly been tormented and terrified by the injuries within his body.
"Do you need fourth-grade dao medicines?" Dean Sima added.
In the Beihuang Domain, fourth-grade dao medicines and fourth-grade dao pills were already considered top-tier herbs and elixirs.
"No. At the very least, fifth-grade dao medicines are needed to refine the corresponding fifth-grade dao pill, only then can your injury be treated," Ye Yunfei stated.
"Fifth-grade dao medicines!" Dean Sima's brows furrowed slightly.
For the Heavenly Dao Academy, fifth-grade dao medicines were exceedingly precious and not easy to obtain.
"Exactly which fifth-grade dao medicines? And which fifth-grade dao pill must be refined to cure my injury? If my injury can truly be healed, I'll give everything I own to gather all the ingredients!" Dean Sima said through gritted teeth.
How he longed to be cured!
At this point, Ye Yunfei fell silent, just looking steadily at Dean Sima. His meaning was clear: why should I tell you?
"What do you need?" Dean Sima asked.
"Do you possess an Innate Treasure?" Ye Yunfei inquired.
"Innate Treasure?! No! Don't even mention our Heavenly Dao Academy—even those ancient, major sects and clans in the Sacred Domain would struggle to produce an Innate Treasure. Within our Heavenly Dao Academy, the highest rank of magical artifact is the Low-Grade Venerable Artifact," Dean Sima replied, frowning slightly at Ye Yunfei's question.
"Three Low-Grade Venerable Artifacts, two spots to enter the Divine Fall Land. And also a batch of spiritual crystals and medicinal herbs," Ye Yunfei said after thinking for a moment.
"Three Low-Grade Venerable Artifacts!" Dean Sima was taken aback. Although the Heavenly Dao Academy possessed Low-Grade Venerable Artifacts, their number was not great.
"Agreed!" Dean Sima nodded in agreement. To heal his injury, he was willing to pay any price!
Meanwhile, the other Soul Formation Realm masters around them were all watching Dean Sima and Ye Yunfei. These experts realized that the two were communicating privately via Sound Transmission!
"We of the Heavenly Dao Academy have no wish to involve ourselves in the grudges between your factions and Ye Yunfei. Leave. And you, Ye Yunfei, leave as well. Do not bring your personal vendettas back to our academy," Dean Sima's gaze swept slowly across the Soul Formation Realm masters as he spoke these words.
"Dean Sima, you must think carefully..." Upon hearing Dean Sima's words, Xue Tu's face darkened.
"See our guests out!" Dean Sima waved his sleeve and turned to walk back into the academy grounds.
Boom! Boom! Boom...
Over a dozen large formations manifested simultaneously, enveloping and heavily protecting the Heavenly Dao Academy headquarters.
"Dean! I believe we should first capture Ye Yunfei..." Zou Yi began to speak.
"Vice-Dean Zou, my decision is final. Let Ye Yunfei leave!" Dean Sima's voice echoed back from afar, vanishing in an instant deep within the academy headquarters.
"Zou Yi, if you dare attack Ye Yunfei, don't blame me for being impolite!" Meng Qianzheng glared at Zou Yi and said.
The other high-ranking elders of the Heavenly Dao Academy also turned and re-entered the headquarters one after another.
Outside the Heavenly Dao Academy headquarters.
The six Soul Formation Realm masters of the Ancient Demon Race, the black-robed man, the short old man from the Tianjian Sect, the golden-robed elder from the Xuanming Sect, and the palace-attired beautiful woman from the Bihai Divine Sect all fixed their gazes on Ye Yunfei in the distance.
Ye Yunfei was also staring back at these Soul Formation masters.
The two sides faced each other across the space.
"Everyone, get ready. Let's attack together, launch a sudden assault with lightning speed, and capture Ye Yunfei!" Xue Tu sent a Sound Transmission, secretly instructing the other Soul Formation Realm masters.
"Agreed!" All the Soul Formation Realm masters nodded.
However, right at this moment.
"Gentlemen, I've noted all of you. Just wait. It won't be long before it's not you coming for me, but me coming for you," Ye Yunfei suddenly gave a cold laugh.
Ye Yunfei's Soul Power was immensely powerful, and his experience was rich. Seeing these Soul Formation masters locking onto him with their soul sense and the flickering look in their eyes, how could he not know they intended to attack him?
Thus, after speaking, Ye Yunfei did not linger. He directly mobilized spatial energy, took a step forward, and vanished into space.
"Damned! Again, one step too late!" Xue Tu flew into a rage, roaring.
The other Soul Formation Realm masters also wore gloomy expressions one after another. They realized that in front of Ye Yunfei, they could find not the slightest bit of superiority typical for a Soul Formation Realm expert. They possessed powerful combat strength, yet had no place to exert it, unable to do anything against Ye Yunfei! This feeling was utterly stifling!
"Truly unexpected. He is so young, yet he has cultivated spatial energy to such a degree! I'm afraid only those top-tier experts in the Sacred Domain could achieve such mastery over spatial energy," Xue Tu gazed at the spot where Ye Yunfei had vanished and couldn't help but sigh in amazement.
"No! To my knowledge, among those top-tier experts in the Sacred Domain, few have cultivated spatial energy to this level," the black-robed man from Tianyou Tomb shook his head and said.
"Just based on this alone, he can be called a monster!" the golden-robed elder from the Xuanming Sect remarked.
"It seems capturing Ye Yunfei requires longer-term planning. Let's go," Xue Tu said after some thought.
As his words fell, his figure soared into the air, transforming into a streak of demonic light that sped away into the distance. The other five Ancient Demon Race experts also soared skyward, following behind Xue Tu, vanishing in an instant.
Next, the other Soul Formation masters also departed one after another.
After a short while.
The area outside the Heavenly Dao Academy's mountain gates was completely empty.
Whoosh!
On a densely forested mountain peak not far away, Ye Yunfei's figure suddenly appeared, standing atop the summit. Earlier, Ye Yunfei had agreed with Dean Sima to meet here. The Dean had returned to fetch items to exchange with Ye Yunfei.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Ye Yunfei's gaze turned towards the distance. He saw a grey-robed old man with three long wispy strands of beard stepping through the air, arriving.
A mid-stage Soul Formation Realm expert!
"Are you from the Tianji Sect? Then make your move." Ye Yunfei's gaze fixed on the grey-robed elder, a cold smile on his face.
Against a mid-stage Soul Formation expert, Ye Yunfei had a fighting chance, albeit a tough one, so he didn't need to immediately escape through space.
"Young Master Ye is correct in his guess. I am indeed from the Tianji Sect. However, I am not here to fight Young Master Ye. I came to discuss a transaction," the grey-robed elder said with a smile.
"Discuss a transaction?" Ye Yunfei was taken aback.