"Elder Ren, I appreciate your kindness. However, I have no interest in staying in the Tianyuan Sect as an elder. My main purpose in coming to the Tianyuan Sect was to enter the Tianying Small World for a look. I will not be staying at the Tianyuan Sect for long. As for status, I prefer to remain a disciple," Ye Yunfei said.
Ye Yunfei knew that this hidden elder wanted to bind him to the Tianyuan Sect's interests, making him contribute to the sect's development from now on. But Ye Yunfei simply didn't have the inclination for such commitments.
"If that's the case... very well. However, Ye Yunfei, no matter your status, from this moment on, your standing within the Tianyuan Sect is equal to my own. Furthermore, you will always be a member of our Tianyuan Sect," the hidden elder said after a moment's hesitation, not daring to force Ye Yunfei.
"I agree. The matter is settled," Shi Zongyang also nodded.
Seeing both the hidden elder and the sect leader give their approval, the other high-level members of the Tianyuan Sect had nothing more to say.
"Ye Yunfei, release Elder Luo now," Shi Zongyang said. Luo Fengyang was the master of one of the Five Peaks and a core force of the Tianyuan Sect; Shi Zongyang naturally didn't wish for Ye Yunfei to kill him.
"You old dog, I'll spare you this time. Don't expect me to be so lenient next time," Ye Yunfei kicked Luo Fengyang aside, saying coldly.
Luo Fengyang struggled to get up, his heart filled with boundless humiliation and bitter resentment. Yet, he dared not act out. He didn't even dare to look Ye Yunfei squarely in the eye. He knew that if he truly provoked Ye Yunfei and got killed, his death would likely be meaningless—no one in the Tianyuan Sect would bother with it. After all, the hidden elder and the sect leader now treated Ye Yunfei as a precious treasure.
Su Deqing also dared not voice further opposition. He had witnessed Luo Fengyang's fate and understood that Ye Yunfei was a decisive and merciless character. If he dared to stand up and challenge Ye Yunfei now, the consequences would be predictable.
"Ye Yunfei, regarding that ancient formation..." the hidden elder spoke, wanting to inquire about the formation.
"Elder Ren, rest assured. When the time is appropriate, I will explain the details of that ancient formation to you," Ye Yunfei knew what the elder wanted to ask, but he wasn't in the mood to explain at the moment. This hidden elder gave Ye Yunfei a relatively favorable impression. Therefore, Ye Yunfei planned to hand over control of the ancient formation to him when he eventually left the Tianyuan Sect. For now, he didn't feel like elaborating too much.
"Very well," the hidden elder had no choice but to let it go.
"Alright, Elder Ren, I plan to return and enter seclusion for cultivation now," Ye Yunfei said, then turned and walked out of the hall. Before leaving, he cast a faint smile towards Elder Du. Among the entire Tianyuan Sect, Elder Du was the one who had left the best impression on Ye Yunfei.
***
"Hmph! He certainly puts on grand airs. If this continues, he won't regard any of us senior figures in the Tianyuan Sect worthy of notice," Su Deqing snorted coldly after Ye Yunfei had left the hall.
"Elder Su, mind your attitude. Did you not hear what I just said? From now on, Ye Yunfei's status within the Tianyuan Sect is equal to mine. I expect you not to target him anymore," the hidden elder's face darkened as he spoke.
"Elder Ren..." Su Deqing was still somewhat unwilling.
"Elder Su, Ye Yunfei managed to climb to the apex of the Heaven Ascension Ladder and has caused the long-lost ancient formation of our Tianyuan Sect to reappear. Ye Yunfei represents the resurgence of our Tianyuan Sect's fortunes, our hope for rising again. It can be said that Ye Yunfei's contribution to the Tianyuan Sect is greater than any person present here! Do you understand?" The hidden elder glared at Su Deqing, speaking slowly and deliberately.
"Elder Ren, I understand," Su Deqing replied under the elder's stern gaze, no longer daring to be obstinate.
***
**Jin Peak.**
Inside a small pavilion on Jin Peak, within its chamber.
Ye Yunfei sat cross-legged.
"Alright, it's time to raise my Spiritual Qi realm a bit," Ye Yunfei murmured to himself.
Then, he began circulating the Nine-Yang Scripture.
*Rumble…*
As the technique of the Nine-Yang Scripture circulated, the Spiritual Qi in the surrounding world was drawn toward Ye Yunfei's location in a continuous stream, eventually entering the meridians within his body.
*Whoosh... whoosh...*
As the amount of Spiritual Qi converging toward Ye Yunfei increased, violent winds began to howl around him, whipping up dust and stones.
After most of a day...
*Bang!*
A sound emanated from within Ye Yunfei's body. A powerful wave of spiritual energy diffused outwards, causing the entire small pavilion to tremble.
"Mid Stage Earth Realm now. Let's break through one more layer."
Ye Yunfei continued circulating the Nine-Yang Scripture. After another long stretch of time...
*Bang!*
Once again, a wave of spiritual energy erupted violently from Ye Yunfei's body.
Late Stage Earth Realm!
Two consecutive realm breakthroughs within a single day.
If news of such a feat spread, it would surely stun other martial artists, leaving them speechless. But for Ye Yunfei, it was nothing remarkable. He possessed the Chaos God Vein, cultivated the world's top-tier technique, the Nine-Yang Scripture, and, moreover, had over a thousand years of cultivation experience. It could be said that breaking through realms in spiritual power was quite easy for him.
If Ye Yunfei wished, he could directly break through to the Heaven Realm right now. However, Ye Yunfei wouldn't pursue rapid advancement blindly. His millennium of cultivation experience had long taught him a principle: when it came to spiritual power realms, faster breakthroughs aren't necessarily better. One must also seek solid foundations and firm roots. Focusing solely on quick breakthroughs could easily leave hidden flaws that affect future achievements.
"For me now, the most important thing is to further temper this physical body, making it sturdier. The body is the vessel that holds Spiritual Qi; a harder vessel is absolutely and endlessly beneficial for spiritual power cultivation. No matter what, in this lifetime, I must insist on cultivating both the soul and the flesh together. Otherwise, when facing the Divine Tribulation again in the future, I would regret it," Ye Yunfei thought silently.
"It seems I need to prepare properly to cultivate the second layer of the Heaven-Heavenly Demon Blood-Refining Body Art Tempering Art," Ye Yunfei murmured to himself within the room.
***
"Master, you're truly a monster, breaking through two realms in a single day," Hu Miao suddenly materialized in front of Ye Yunfei, smiling as she spoke.
"Hu Miao, how is your body? Has it improved?" Ye Yunfei asked.
Last time, Ye Yunfei refined a batch of Demonic Pills and gave them to Hu Miao. During this period, Hu Miao had been staying within her inner core, consuming the Demonic Pills to regulate her body. Having been suppressed for centuries, her Demonic Essence had been severely depleted.
"Master, those spiritual pills you gave me worked wonderfully. My body has recovered somewhat. However, over the past several hundred years, I've lost too much of my Demonic Essence. It can't be replenished all at once," Hu Miao said.
"Don't worry. I'll go and procure another batch of spiritual herbs soon to refine a series of pills specifically for restoring Demonic Essence for you. I believe it won't be long before your Demonic Essence is fully restored," Ye Yunfei reassured her.
"Master, you're too good to me. I don't even know how to repay you," Hu Miao said with deep gratitude. Her captivating, charming eyes gazed at Ye Yunfei, filled with tenderness. Her body unconsciously leaned closer to him, adopting a posture of utter compliance.