"Master Ye."
A soft, feminine voice echoed in the air as a flash of black light darted toward Ye Feng.
He narrowed his eyes. "Who…?"
For a brief moment, he couldn't recognize the voice. But then, the cloaked figure before him pulled back her hood.
"I am Qinglin," she said with a gentle smile.
"Qinglin?" Ye Feng studied her carefully. A memory stirred—of the young girl he once intercepted and saved. Now, she had grown into a stunning beauty, her graceful figure radiating charm and elegance beyond her years.
He reached out and pinched her cheek playfully. "It's been a while. You're getting more beautiful by the day."
Qinglin didn't flinch. To her, Ye Feng was the only person who could ever treat her this way.
"Come in. Your sister Ya Fei and the others have already entered."
"Okay." Qinglin responded without formality. This was, after all, the relic of a Dou Sheng. As they flew toward it, a sly grin curved her lips. She pulled the cloak over her face once again—she wanted to surprise Ya Fei with a little tease when they met.
Ye Feng, on the other hand, already knew exactly what awaited inside.
Zi Yan, Xiao Yixian, Nalan Yanran, Qinglin, Feng Qing'er, and Mu Qingluan had all reached the Dou Zun realm. Even Ya Fei, once deemed the least talented, had broken through to the Dou Zong realm.
The ruins were teeming with dangers—vicious magical beasts, ancient traps, and most notably, a skeleton left behind by the Saint of Creation. That skeleton, cloaked in mystery, was the greatest threat. If anyone tried to take it, blood would inevitably activate the ancient mechanism and awaken the remnant consciousness lurking within it.
Ye Feng furrowed his brows.
"With Zi Yan's help, they should be fine… but still, I can't afford to lose any of them."
With a flick of his mind, Ye Feng closed his eyes. His soul consciousness swept through the cave and descended upon the grandest hall within.
There, several ancient puppets stood, marked with soul imprints. A skeleton lay upon a stone table at the front, and ten scrolls floated quietly in the air. But Ye Feng knew the truth—those scrolls were mere Earth-level techniques. The real treasure, the Heaven-level fighting skill, was hidden within the skeleton itself.
With a wave of his hand, Ye Feng unleashed a surge of soul power. The turbulent force erased the lingering consciousness from the skeleton and, with a bit more effort, wiped the soul imprints from the puppets as well—rendering them masterless.
If the Saint of Creation were still alive, even Ye Feng's Duo Di-tier soul wouldn't be enough to remove those marks. But now, it was only a matter of effort.
"If Ya Fei gets her hands on these puppets, which are comparable to Dou Zun warriors... she'll be thrilled."
Smiling faintly, Ye Feng retracted his consciousness and returned to his body at the entrance of the ruins.
Just then, a group approached.
"Young Master Ye, we are disciples from Xingyun Pavilion. We… wish to enter the ruins to search for treasures. Is that allowed?"
Their tone was cautious, respectful.
"Proof?" Ye Feng asked calmly.
They immediately presented their identity tokens.
"Enter."
"Thank you, Young Master Ye!"
Moments later…
"Young Master Ye, we are from the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan. May we enter?"
"Proof."
Without hesitation, they revealed their true forms—powerful beastial auras rippled through the air.
"Enter."
…
"Young Master Ye, we are from the Heavenly Snake Palace. Our young miss is Qinglin."
"Go ahead."
…
Three powerful groups had entered the Dou Sheng's relic, and envy quickly spread among the bystanders.
"Why are they allowed in?"
"Simple. The first group is from Xingyun Pavilion—Mu Qingluan, their young pavilion master, is his mount. The second group is from the Tian Yao Huang Clan and Fenglei Pavilion—Feng Qing'er is his mount too. As for the third group? That's the Heavenly Snake Palace. Qinglin is his personal maid. He's letting them in for their sake."
"So… if we submit to him, maybe we can enter too?"
"It's worth a try."
A group of rogue cultivators stepped forward.
"Young Master Ye, we're willing to follow you as our eldest brother!"
"No need."
"Young Master Ye, I'm willing to be your servant!"
"Unnecessary."
"Young Master Ye," said another man with gravitas, "I am the leader of Huangquan Pavilion—one of the four great pavilions of the Central Region. We wish to follow your lead from now on."
"Scram."
Ye Feng didn't even glance at them. Whether they were rogue cultivators or representatives of 'great forces,' he dismissed them all the same.
Huangquan Pavilion may have been one of the top four pavilions, but it only had a single low-tier Dou Sheng. The rest were far beneath that level. To Ye Feng, they weren't even worth considering.
He remained alone at the entrance of the cave, exuding a cold and solitary dominance. No one dared challenge him—not after the massacre he'd unleashed earlier. Some left quietly, while others lingered, hoping to sneak into the ruins after Ya Fei and the others were done.
Finally, a day passed.
The cave opened once more, and the women emerged, radiant with success.
"Full harvest?" Ye Feng asked.
"Absolutely," Ya Fei grinned, eyes gleaming. "We didn't even leave his bones intact! Master Ye, how much do you think the skeleton of a Dou Sheng would sell for?"
"Before you think about selling it, you'd better claim the Heaven-level skill hidden inside."
Ya Fei blinked. "Wait—the Heaven-rank skill is inside the bones?"
Ye Feng nodded.
Her jaw dropped. "No wonder we searched the ruins from top to bottom and couldn't find it. All ten floating scrolls were Earth-level… but the real prize was right in the skeleton. Haha! We hit the jackpot!"
"We certainly did," Feng Qing'er added, though her tone carried a hint of guilt. "Zi Yan… she gave me the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit."
She opened her palm, revealing a glowing seal with a strange pattern—the essence of the rare fruit sealed within.
Unlike the original story, Feng Qing'er and Zi Yan had not fought over it. Both were Ye Feng's mounts now.
Ye Feng glanced at her calmly. "You don't have to feel guilty, Qing'er. With your talent, you can't absorb all the energy alone. Share the rest with Zi Yan—it'll be enough to awaken her Dragon and Phoenix bloodline."
From the women's accounts, Ye Feng confirmed that they had taken everything of value—the techniques, the puppets, even the hidden relics.
"Master Ye," Zi Yan asked, "where to next?"
Ye Feng's gaze turned sharp.
"To the Ancient Clan. It's time to secure an opportunity for Xiao Yu."
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