Ye Yunfei continued forward with Hu Miao and the others.
Now having prior experience, Hu Miao and the rest clung closely behind Ye Yunfei. The twenty-plus students, in particular, focused all their attention, not daring to stray even half a step away.
Ye Yunfei also didn't dare be careless, releasing his Soul Power to constantly sense his surroundings.
"Huh?
What's that..."
Suddenly, Ye Yunfei halted, coming to a stop as his gaze flickered with surprise and doubt while examining an area ahead.
Up ahead, there were nine bizarre, blood-red peaks whose shapes actually somewhat resembled nine giant heads. Upon closer inspection, one could clearly make out eyes, ears, mouths, noses, and lips!
"Could this be the legendary Nine-Headed Blood Earth?"
Ye Yunfei recalled a type of extremely perilous terrain mentioned in a passing line within a geomancy secret manual.
"Master, those nine peaks look too ominous. Let's go around them," Hu Miao suggested.
"Alright.
We'll go around," Ye Yunfei nodded.
The description of the Nine-Headed Blood Earth in geomancy studies was brief, yet it labeled it as a peerlessly perilous land. Once trapped inside, every step would be fraught with danger—nine deaths to a single, slim chance of life.
Therefore, Ye Yunfei also had no desire to provoke it.
While many times, such peerless dangerous lands also often concealed precious treasures or great opportunities, Ye Yunfei's current strength left him with little confidence to explore it.
Thus, Ye Yunfei led Hu Miao and the others, heading in a different direction, planning to bypass the Nine-Headed Blood Earth before them.
However, at this moment.
A vast quantity of gray mist suddenly emerged, blocking off this entire area in the blink of an eye.
As far as the eye could see, eerie fog filled every space.
This fog couldn't be penetrated by ordinary vision, and even Soul Power found it extremely difficult to sense through. Not just Hu Miao, Huang Shang, and the students, even Ye Yunfei found himself practically blinded, able to perceive objects at most a hundred meters away.
"Master, this fog has a bewildering effect!" Hu Miao cried out softly.
The ancient Sky Fox race was skilled in illusions, so Hu Miao was exceptionally sensitive to all things in the world that possessed such bewitching properties.
"Indeed.
This place likely possesses a profound illusion formation.
Everyone stay close to me!" Ye Yunfei commanded quietly.
Rumble…
With a thought from Ye Yunfei, the Profound Magnetic Mountain was released, radiating surging profane magnetic light.
Simultaneously, rings of magnetic field energy enveloped a small area of space.
Within this small space, Ye Yunfei could clearly sense everything.
This extended the distance Ye Yunfei could perceive quite significantly, reaching several hundred meters.
"Hmm?
Master, look! There seem to be people ahead!" Hu Miao suddenly pointed forward, exclaiming.
Ahead on the mountain path, several figures had indeed appeared.
"They don't seem like living people."
Ye Yunfei's Soul Power reached out, sensing that they were several elderly human men dressed in ancient clothing, as if they had stepped out from an era long past.
These old men seemed incredibly aged, with not a trace of life aura emanating from their bodies, appearing utterly deathly.
However, an oppressive aura radiated from each man.
"Who are they?
How terrifying," Hu Miao said.
Within this mist, apart from Ye Yunfei, Hu Miao had the longest sensing range, so she could also clearly see the figures of these old men.
"Let's turn back and take another path," Ye Yunfei considered for a moment before speaking.
This was the Nine-Headed Blood Earth, and those old men were extremely bizarre; Ye Yunfei had no wish to provoke them.
Thus, Ye Yunfei simply turned back with Hu Miao and the others, retreating along the path they came from.
However.
A moment later.
"Master, look!
They're in front again!" Hu Miao cried out in alarm.
Sure enough, those old men blocked the path once more!
"Master, their speed is incredible!
They've managed to get ahead of us again," Hu Miao exclaimed.
Huang Shang and the students were also shocked.
"It's not their movement speed. This area is riddled with ancient formations.
They're using teleportation formations to move quickly," Ye Yunfei stated.
With his keen insight, Ye Yunfei had instantly discerned this.
"I see.
Master, formations are your forte. Why not set up a teleportation formation as well to get us away from here?" Hu Miao suggested.
"Arranging a teleportation formation isn't difficult, but sufficient formation materials are required.
I don't have the necessary materials for spatial teleportation on me," Ye Yunfei explained.
"Let's change direction again," Hu Miao said.
"It's useless.
This entire area is filled with ancient formations. No matter which direction we go, they'll instantly appear ahead, blocking our path," Ye Yunfei shook his head.
"It can't be! What do we do then?" Hu Miao was dumbfounded.
Ye Yunfei remained silent, his gaze fixed on those old men ahead.
The old men stood as still as fossilized statues within the gray mist, their robes flapping noisily in the mountain wind.
"They resemble... that legendary race..."
After studying them for a moment, Ye Yunfei suddenly had a thought.
"I'll go talk to them," Ye Yunfei announced.
"Talk to them?"
Hu Miao and the others were startled.
Those old men appeared deathly still, devoid of any vitality, and exuded a highly oppressive aura.
One look told they were immensely dangerous!
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Ye Yunfei reassured them. In a single step, he instantly closed the distance.
Within the thick mist, the old men gazed at Ye Yunfei with icy eyes, their ancient garments rendering them even more mysterious and unfathomable.
"If I'm not mistaken...
you are members of the Burial Race," Ye Yunfei stated directly.
The old men had been standing still as statues, but upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words, their eyes clearly flickered.
"To think... The Burial Race are so rare in this world, yet members exist within this small world," Ye Yunfei added.
"You actually know of the Burial Race.
Young man, you must have a great background," finally, one old man spoke.
That old man fixed his green eyes upon Ye Yunfei—eyes that lacked whites and pupils, resembling two green lanterns glowing within the dense mist.
"Whom are you guarding?" Ye Yunfei suddenly asked.
"Young man, some things are best left unknown.
Otherwise, endless trouble will follow," the old man said.
As he spoke, his mouth did not move; instead, he simulated sound using Soul Power.
Thus, his words seemed to issue directly from within his skull.
"Fine, I won't ask.
Let's keep our well-waters separate. In that case, do not block our path," Ye Yunfei replied flatly.
"Young man, this is a forbidden land. Easy to enter, difficult to leave," the old man said calmly.
"Hah!
So you intend to make things difficult for me?" Ye Yunfei's expression darkened.
"Young man, your strength is weak, but your tone is grand," the old man remarked lightly.
As the words fell.
Boom...
The old man suddenly reached out, making a grabbing motion towards Ye Yunfei.
Rumble…
The reaching hand expanded continuously, instantly transforming into a giant palm that blotted out the sky and earth, pressing down toward Ye Yunfei.
"This guy's power far surpasses that of the Divine Emperor realm!" Ye Yunfei's expression turned grave.
However, Ye Yunfei knew the weakness of the Burial Race!
Whoosh!
Ye Yunfei deployed the Soul Sword, directly targeting the old man's Soul Sea.
Rumble…
A terrifying strand of Soul Power erupted from Ye Yunfei's head, surging toward the old man.
"What?!"
That old man, along with the others, was utterly shocked and hastily retreated, instantly putting great distance between themselves and Ye Yunfei.
"Young man, while that strand of Soul Power just now was only a remnant, it was incomparably potent. Its owner must be an incredibly formidable figure!
Young man, what exactly is your background?
What relation do you have with that figure whose remnant Soul Power you possess?" the old man asked Ye Yunfei with a look of apprehension.
"Some things are best left unknown.
Otherwise, endless trouble will follow," Ye Yunfei replied flatly.
The strand of Soul Power Ye Yunfei had released was none other than a trace of his Heavenly Emperor Soul Power.
Though just a trace, for most creatures in this world, it held immense intimidating power.
It could be said that the more powerful the expert, the more terrifying they could sense this trace of Ye Yunfei's Heavenly Emperor Soul Power to be.
"Very well, young man, you may go.
We shall not hinder you any longer.
Otherwise, that terrifying entity behind you would come seeking trouble with us.
However, the area within these nine peaks is forbidden. Do not trespass again," the old man stated after a moment of silence.
"Alright then."
Without further words, Ye Yunfei turned and left.
"Let's go."
Ye Yunfei returned before Hu Miao and the others and led them away.
"Young man, wait a moment."
Just then, a voice called out.
"Hmm?"
Ye Yunfei turned around and found an old man had appeared not far behind him. It wasn't the same old man from earlier, but a different one.
This old man was also of the Burial Race!
"Young man, our master has commanded that we sow a positive connection with you.
These treasures are a gift from our master to you."
That old man flicked a finger, and a spatial ring flew directly before Ye Yunfei.