Every time Ye Yunfei visited the Wanbao Trading Company, he used the Thousand Transformations technique to alter his appearance and Soul Power aura. Therefore, Elder Feng had never seen his true face.
Otherwise, given Ye Yunfei's current fame, the Wanbao Trading Company would have long since uncovered his real identity.
"Few in the entire Xuanhuang Star Domain could take out sixty Fifth-Grade Dao Pills in one go," the middle-aged man in yellow robe pondered. "Could he be a core disciple from one of the oldest forces in the Sacred Domain? Or perhaps a direct disciple of one of those grandmaster alchemists from the Sacred Domain? If that's the case, we absolutely must not offend him. On the contrary, we should spare no effort in currying favor with him."
"Elder Feng," the yellow-robed man continued, "from now on, find a way to clarify his true identity. If he possesses significant backing, our Wanbao Trading Company should endeavor to ingratiate itself with him."
"And if he lacks any major background?" Elder Feng inquired.
"If he has no substantial backing, then his ability to produce so many Fourth and Fifth-Grade Dao Pills is highly suspicious. I suspect he might have stumbled upon an astonishing treasure hoard! Otherwise, there's no plausible explanation. Heheh... If that really is the case, then he can't blame us for not being polite. A mere junior like him has no right to possess such a treasure. In any case, we must not alert him for now. First, we need to figure out his origins and background." The yellow-robed man chuckled coldly.
"I understand. I will first proceed to procure the Venerable Artifacts for him," Elder Feng nodded.
"It seems the Wanbao Trading Company has indeed developed ill intentions towards me." At that moment, outside the study, hidden in a corner, Ye Yunfei muttered to himself.
In truth, Ye Yunfei had been wary from the start. After all, sixty Fifth-Grade Dao Pills were far too precious. Ye Yunfei believed no one in the entire Xuanhuang Star Domain would remain unmoved by such a sight. Therefore, he had used his spatial abilities to secretly follow Elder Feng, curious if he would try to embezzle the pills. Unexpectedly, he had witnessed this scene.
"You'd best not provoke me. Otherwise, I won't hesitate to destroy this Wanbao Trading Company," Ye Yunfei sneered. The next moment, he slipped into the void and vanished.
Half a day later, Elder Feng returned to the small reception room, retrieving a spatial ring. "Young Master, here are sixteen Venerable Artifacts."
"Very well." Ye Yunfei took the spatial ring and lightly swept it with his Soul Power before casually remarking, "I'll be leaving now." He turned and left without another word.
"Farewell, Young Master," Elder Feng said to his departing figure.
Some time later, within a mountain range near Shiyan City.
Ye Yunfei walked alone, his hands clasped behind his back, proceeding at a leisurely pace. Several kilometers behind him, five masked individuals were secretly tailing him. These five masked men were all at the mid-stage Primal Soul Realm!
"Let's go up together and directly apprehend that kid, then force him to reveal his background!" one of the masked men suggested.
"Be careful. The Branch Leader specifically ordered that the kid must not find out our identities!" another masked man cautioned.
The five masked men thus increased their speed, chasing after Ye Yunfei ahead. However, right at that moment.
"Eh? That kid suddenly vanished!" one masked man exclaimed in shock.
"It's true! He's gone!" The other four masked men were equally alarmed.
"I'm right here." A calm voice suddenly rang out behind the five masked men. They all paled in horror and simultaneously turned around to find Ye Yunfei standing not far behind them, his hands behind his back, a cold smile fixed on them.
"You brat..." One masked man took a step forward, shouting fiercely.
*Whoosh!* Ye Yunfei directly unleashed the Heavenly Soul Sword, attacking that masked man's sea of consciousness.
"Ah!" The man screamed, immediately thrown backwards, blood trickling from his nose and mouth. He was clearly dead.
The power of the Heavenly Soul Sword Ye Yunfei could now unleash was capable of injuring Divine Transformation Realm mid-stage experts, let alone mere mid-stage Primal Soul Realm cultivators.
Seeing this, the remaining four masked men gasped in shock and retreated several steps.
"The Wanbao Trading Company sent you, didn't they?" Ye Yunfei sneered at the four.
"Brat, knowing we're from the Wanbao Trading Company, you still dared to kill! What audacity!" one masked man roared.
*Whoosh!* Ye Yunfei willed it, and unleashed the Heavenly Soul Sword again.
"Ah!" This masked man was immediately sent flying, lifeless.
"You..." The remaining three masked men were terrified, each retreating dozens of steps, staring at Ye Yunfei with frightened eyes.
"Go back and tell your master not to provoke me," Ye Yunfei stated calmly.
As his words fell, Ye Yunfei activated his movement technique, soaring into the sky and vanishing into the distance in an instant. The three masked men, scared out of their wits, naturally had no intention of pursuing further.
"Money always stirs men's hearts. That saying is indeed true," Ye Yunfei shook his head and chuckled.
The Branch Leader and Elder Feng had taken note of him precisely because of the large number of Fourth and Fifth-Grade Dao Pills he had produced.
Some time later, inside the Wanbao Trading Company in Shiyan City.
Within a study, the Branch Leader and Elder Feng were present, with the three masked men standing before them.
"You're saying that kid instantly killed two mid-stage Primal Soul Realm experts?" the Branch Leader frowned slightly as he asked.
"Yes. That kid didn't even make any physical movements; he directly annihilated two of our men. Afterwards, we examined them and found their Soul Bodies had been completely shattered. The kid must have used some incredibly powerful Soul Power combat skill," one masked man replied.
"That kid only has the strength of the late-stage Great Profound Core Realm, yet he can instantly kill mid-stage Primal Soul cultivators. He must have a truly formidable background and origin," the Branch Leader mused.
After a moment's thought, he said, "Elder Feng, continue sending people to investigate. I must know that kid's identity, no matter what."
"Understood," Elder Feng nodded.
One day later.
Somewhere among lofty mountains and towering peaks in the Northern Wastes Domain.
"I've finally found suitable terrain! This place possesses a natural Five Elements configuration. Refining swords here allows me to borrow the Five Elements' aura—it's the perfect spot!" In the mountain range, Ye Yunfei paused in the air above a cluster of ridges, observing the terrain below with a smile.
This specific area happened to feature five tall mountain ridges arranged in the formation of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—the Five Elements.
*Whoosh!* Ye Yunfei descended to a flat area at the center of the five ridges. He took out his artifact refining cauldron and began the sword-refining process. This time, Ye Yunfei intended to meld the sixteen Venerable Artifacts into his Five Elements Spirit Swords!
"Sixteen Venerable Artifacts should significantly boost the power of the Five Elements Spirit Swords by a level," Ye Yunfei thought with anticipation.
At the same time.
Within the headquarters of the Heavenly Dao Academy.
On a certain cultivation peak, inside a cultivation cave abode, a young woman in red sat cross-legged in secluded cultivation.
It was Jiang Yanran. After returning to her Jiang Family for some time following the last incident, she had come back to the Heavenly Dao Academy to resume her cultivation.
"Why can't I ever truly calm my mind..." Jiang Yanran suddenly sighed softly.
"I wonder where Ye Yunfei is now. With so many enemies, constantly evading... such a life must be unpleasant. It's a pity my strength is feeble; I can't help him at all," she muttered to herself.
Just then.
"Jiang Yanran, come out. I have something for you..." A faint call drifted into the cave from outside.
"Oh? Someone is looking for me?" Jiang Yanran couldn't help but be startled. Generally, outsiders were not permitted to casually approach the cultivation peaks and cave abodes of elite students unless they were Academy higher-ups.
"Perhaps a senior from the Academy is looking for me?" Jiang Yanran rose and walked out.
*Boom! Boom!* The moment Jiang Yanran stepped out of the cave, several terrifying energy pressures bore down on her from all directions.
*Ptui!* Suddenly bearing the immense pressure, Jiang Yanran couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood. Her face instantly turned deathly pale, and her body became completely immobilized.
*Rumble...* A monstrous hand extended from nearby, continuously enlarging as it reached towards Jiang Yanran.
"Ancient Demon Race!" Seeing this demonic hand, Jiang Yanran immediately realized an Ancient Demon Race expert was attacking her. However, completely immobilized and sealed by the dreadful demonic power, she could only watch helplessly as the clawed hand closed in.
Just at that moment.
"What demon dares to cause trouble in our Heavenly Dao Academy!" A stern roar echoed as an old man appeared beside Jiang Yanran.
"Vice Dean Meng!" Seeing this old man, Jiang Yanran was overjoyed. It was Meng Qianzheng.
Meng Qianzheng flicked his sleeve, releasing a gentle energy that enveloped Jiang Yanran. She immediately felt her body regain freedom.
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!* Three tall figures of the Ancient Demon Race materialized on Jiang Yanran's peak.
"Xue Tu! It's you!" Meng Qianzheng exclaimed in shock. Among them was an aged Ancient Demon known for his ferocity—the infamous elder demon, Xue Tu!
"Vice Dean Meng, this young lady has ties to Ye Yunfei. I'm taking her away," Xue Tu pointed at Jiang Yanran and declared.
"Jiang Yanran is an elite disciple of our Heavenly Dao Academy. No one may take her away. You may leave," Meng Qianzheng stated firmly.
"Vice Dean Meng, I advise your Heavenly Dao Academy not to interfere in this matter. If, when our Ancient Demon Race's three Demon Monarchs, along with Sir Martial Monarch's forces, all descend upon the Heavenly Dao Academy, your institution may not be able to handle it. Just hand over this girl, and our Ancient Demon Race will temporarily refrain from troubling your Heavenly Dao Academy," Xue Tu cackled strangely.
"Xue Tu, depart. We will not allow you to take an elite student of our Academy. I have already stated that the grudge between your Ancient Demon Race and Ye Yunfei has nothing to do with the Heavenly Dao Academy," Dean Sima arrived, stepping through the air as he spoke coldly.
*Whoosh! Whoosh!* Besides Dean Sima, other Heavenly Dao Academy higher-ups were also alerted and arrived through the air one after another.
"Dean Sima, it seems you truly hold neither Sir Martial Monarch nor our Ancient Demon Race's three Demon Monarchs in regard," Xue Tu sneered.
"Xue Tu, my intentions are clear enough. No need for excessive words. Now, please leave immediately. Our Heavenly Dao Academy does not welcome you!" Dean Sima's expression darkened.
"Very well. Dean Sima, I hope you don't regret this," Xue Tu's face grew somewhat unsightly as he spoke through gritted teeth. He knew that with Dean Sima present, he would be unable to take Jiang Yanran today.
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!* The three Ancient Demon experts shot through the air, instantly departing from the Heavenly Dao Academy headquarters.
"It seems they intend to use Jiang Yanran to threaten Ye Yunfei again, just like last time," Meng Qianzheng said.
"Indeed. The Ancient Demon Race is ruthless and cunning. To achieve their goals, they'll stop at nothing. Jiang Yanran, for the time being, remain within the Academy. Do not venture out," Dean Sima instructed.
"I understand," Jiang Yanran nodded.
However, the next moment. "No! My family! If they can't capture me, they'll definitely go after my family!" Jiang Yanran's face completely changed.
"Ai! This is a matter where our Heavenly Dao Academy cannot readily intervene. It seems we can only inform Ye Yunfei," Dean Sima sighed.
"Alright. Dean Meng, take a squad of men to the Jiang Family to protect them. Also, contact Ye Yunfei as soon as possible and let him know about this situation," Dean Sima arranged.
"Very well," Meng Qianzheng nodded.
Half a day later.
In a mountain range, Ye Yunfei's gaze was fixed on the roaring flames within the artifact-refining cauldron before him.
Suddenly, Ye Yunfei's expression shifted. He took out a communication jade slip from his person.
"The Ancient Demon Race wants to use the Jiang Family against me again? Fine! Now it's time to properly settle accounts with the Ancient Demon Race. This time, *I* will be the one to seek *them* out—I'll slaughter my way into the Ancient Demon Realm!" After reading the contents of the jade slip, Ye Yunfei's roiling killing intent soared to the heavens as he declared his intent.