Xiao Fei held a map and, with his法则领域 (Fa Ze Ling Yu) spread open, led the group back at a rapid pace.
Two days later, the party successfully exited the 绝灵锁天大阵 (Jue Ling Suo Tian Da Zhen) and appeared on the Southern Wilderness Continent.
Many Combined Body realm experts, concerned about the safety of their own forces, thanked Xiao Fei and hastily flew away.
Only Xiao Fei and Patriarch Xiaoyue remained.
"Junior pays respects to Senior!"
Seeing that no one else was around, Patriarch Xiaoyue performed a grand bow to Xiao Fei, his tail wagging joyfully.
"Good boy, you did well!"
Xiao Fei, mustering his courage, praised him with great satisfaction and reached out to rub the dog's head.
The feel of it was quite pleasant.
Patriarch Xiaoyue felt no offense whatsoever; instead, he was overjoyed and flattered, his tail wagging even more enthusiastically.
"Find me a temporary resting place, and I'll reward you later."
"Certainly! Senior, please follow me."
Patriarch Xiaoyue bounded ahead happily, kicking up a gust of wind.
The war in the Tian Yuan Realm would not affect this place for the time being. With those old ancestors participating, some of the situation should be salvaged.
As for Patriarch Xiaoyue, his Southern Wilderness Continent was completely ruined.
Now that he had finally encountered a powerful and pleasant-spoken Senior, he naturally wanted to please him.
Patriarch Xiaoyue's original cave dwelling had been destroyed. He led Xiao Fei to the edge of a lake.
"Senior, I have a secret cave dwelling here that no one knows about. It should not have been destroyed yet."
"Woof woof woof..."
As Patriarch Xiaoyue spoke, he barked several times at the lake. Then, the lake water parted, revealing a stone path in the middle.
The two followed the stone path to the center of the lake and passed through a transparent barrier. The scene changed before their eyes.
Here, birds sang and flowers bloomed, with lush green trees providing shade. It was a secret realm that Patriarch Xiaoyue had transformed into his hidden abode.
The cave dwelling at the bottom of the lake was vast. Xiao Fei was assigned a room to stay in.
After he settled in, another year passed. The 土灵果树 (Tu Ling Guo Shu) he had planted in his space had its five fruits ripen.
Picking these five 土灵果 (Tu Ling Guo), refining them into earth-attribute marrow-cleansing pills was something he had long mastered.
From the five 土灵果, he refined 49 pills, most of which were of medium grade, with a small number of high and low grades.
Xiao Fei's innate five spiritual root aptitudes were all 20 points. Wood and fire had already been strengthened and enhanced.
Now, he had successfully refined earth-attribute marrow-cleansing pills.
He planned to give these earth-attribute marrow-cleansing pills to his second body.
Xiao Fei thought that he might have many bodies in the future, and to facilitate management, he had already begun numbering his bodies.
The body cultivating the Giant Clan's 《霸体诀》 (Ba Ti Jue) was designated as number two, while another body was naturally number one.
Body two had currently enhanced its wood and fire spiritual roots, both reaching over a hundred, possessing extraordinary aptitude.
Furthermore, most of the Giant Clan's cultivation techniques were earth-attribute, making the earth-attribute marrow-cleansing pills most beneficial for body two.
Body two sat in the space, took out a high-grade earth-attribute marrow-cleansing pill, placed it in a jade box, and then began to consume it.
Several months passed. After consecutively consuming 48 earth-attribute marrow-cleansing pills, Xiao Fei's earth spiritual root cultivation aptitude also increased to 150 points.
Body two's original aptitude was already incredibly heaven-defying, and now with its earth spiritual root aptitude further enhanced, it was even more so.
The spiritual energy in the space surged into body two's body, which he circulated through 《混元功》 (Hun Yuan Gong), converting the spiritual energy into domineering energy to cultivate 《霸体决》.
His physique expanded and grew taller as if being inflated like a balloon, and his strength advanced by leaps and bounds.
While body two was consuming the marrow-cleansing pills, the first Xiao Fei in the cave dwelling summoned Patriarch Xiaoyue.
"Little doggy!"
"Yes... Senior, what are your orders?"
Patriarch Xiaoyue approached Xiao Fei with the demeanor of a subservient dog, wagging his tail.
"I promised you a great opportunity before."
Patriarch Xiaoyue was overjoyed upon hearing this, repeatedly expressing his thanks, his eyes filled with anticipation.
"Thank you, Senior!"
"This is a reward I bestow upon you. Take it!"
As Xiao Fei spoke, he handed a finely crafted jade box to Patriarch Xiaoyue, casually rubbing the dog's head.
Patriarch Xiaoyue squinted his eyes, retracting his neck, appearing to be enjoying it immensely.
However, when he opened the jade box Xiao Fei handed him, his eyes widened, and his eyeballs nearly popped out of their sockets.
"This... this is actually a high-grade marrow-cleansing pill!"
Patriarch Xiaoyue's hands trembled slightly at this moment.
When Xiao Fei had appeared last time, he had guessed that the giant cub who had snatched everyone's spoils of war was related to Xiao Fei.
He had once hoped that perhaps after Xiao Fei had eaten the meat, he might leave some soup for him.
But now, Xiao Fei had directly handed him a bone with a large piece of meat attached.
High-grade pills were already rare, and high-grade marrow-cleansing pills were unheard of and unseen.
A medium-grade pill was three times that of a low-grade pill, and a high-grade pill was three times that of a medium-grade pill.
A low-grade pill could increase aptitude points by five, while a high-grade pill could increase them by 45.
Patriarch Xiaoyue's earth-attribute aptitude was mediocre, but with this pill, he could become an earth-attribute genius.
"To prevent any unforeseen complications, you should consume it now!"
Xiao Fei looked at Patriarch Xiaoyue with the benevolent gaze of an elder, a smile on his face.
Patriarch Xiaoyue had always served him diligently. Last time in the 绝灵锁天大阵 (Jue Ling Suo Tian Da Zhen), when facing others' doubts, Patriarch Xiaoyue was the first to stand up and support Xiao Fei.
Last time, when he had used body two to snatch the wooden box, Patriarch Xiaoyue should have had some suspicions but did not expose him and even helped him.
For such a person, Xiao Fei never treated them poorly.
"Alright, you can refine the pill properly yourself." Xiao Fei casually rubbed his dog's head again and then sent him away.
"I'm going on a long trip in a while. Are you interested in coming with me?"
As Patriarch Xiaoyue was about to leave the great hall, Xiao Fei casually asked.
Upon hearing this, Patriarch Xiaoyue's face lit up with ecstasy, and he quickly stopped and turned around.
"Of course, I am willing!"
"Very well, you're included then."
"Thank you for the opportunity, Senior!"
Patriarch Xiaoyue's tail wagged with joy, and after expressing his thanks several times, he wagged his tail and departed.
"Woof... Woof woof woof..."
Xiao Fei watched Patriarch Xiaoyue's retreating figure, a smile appearing on his lips.
The world was too chaotic now. Bringing a Combined Body realm expert along would provide a sense of security.
After Patriarch Xiaoyue left, Xiao Fei returned to his space.
The flower on the vine in the center of the space had completely withered, its petals scattering on the ground and leaves.
This small flower, ever since it bloomed, had endured many years in the space, and today it had finally borne fruit.
Xiao Fei collected all the fallen petals, placed them in a jade box, and then looked at the only fruit on the vine.
This fruit was gourd-shaped and only the size of a chopstick tip, but it was verdant and full of vitality.
Xiao Fei watched for a while, sighing in his heart, wondering how long it would take to mature.