In the fog-enshrouded ancient imperial capital, unknown plants with tendrils as thick as human arms sprawled out on the dilapidated buildings. Among these tattered buildings also lurked some rather formidable Demon Beasts.

After wandering around the ancient imperial capital for most of the day, Du Fei did encounter a few minor crises. However, he had no interest in fighting these Demon Beasts. Using some tricks, he casually diverted them away and continued on his journey.

The ancient imperial capital was reputed to be a place rife with both danger and opportunity, and this was indeed true. Along the way, Du Fei discovered numerous rare and precious medicinal herbs not commonly found outside. Naturally, he did not hesitate to pick them. Additionally, he occasionally stumbled upon the remains of human powerhouses who had perished many years ago. However, after so many years and numerous Palace Contests, these remains had mostly been looted. After searching a few corpses, with great luck, Du Fei managed to obtain a batch of pills that were close to being expired. As for other treasures, he did not find anything else.

After wandering aimlessly for half a day, Du Fei realized something.

"It seems I've been circling around the outskirts of the ancient imperial capital this whole time... If I want to get some good stuff, I'll need to venture deeper." He mumbled to himself. After a brief moment of contemplation, Du Fei stepped forward, shooting up into the sky, landing on a giant tree's branch.

Standing atop the canopy and looking out, he could faintly see the endless forest around him, with numerous dilapidated buildings in the woods. However, everything was shrouded in thick fog, making it impossible to discern from afar.

After scanning the surroundings, Du Fei could barely identify that he was in the southern part of the ancient imperial capital's outskirts. If he wanted to delve deeper, the only way was to head north.

His figure moved once more. After landing on the ground, Du Fei took a strong step and dashed away like the wind without any hesitation.

After spending more than half a day here, Du Fei had gained a basic understanding of the ancient imperial capital, so he didn't need to be overly cautious anymore. He also knew that if he truly wanted to reap some benefits, he had to venture deep into the ancient imperial capital! Only in those regions would he find treasures left by ancient dynasties, as well as the ancient dynasty tokens he sought...

As he quickly moved forward, Du Fei encountered many individuals along the way. Some were hiding within the ruins of buildings and greedily cultivating, some were excitedly searching the remains they discovered, and some unlucky ones were engaged in fierce battles with Demon Beasts. However, Du Fei paid little attention to these individuals and continued to head north at a rapid pace.

After roughly an hour of swift travel, Du Fei's pace began to slow down. Looking at the ruins of the city beneath his feet, Du Fei was certain that one more step would take him to the center of the ancient imperial capital.

At the same time, Du Fei faintly sensed many formidable presences lurking within this area. Most of these belonged to Demon Beasts, and judging by their auras, their strength was at least on par with a Half-step Demon King. Therefore, it would be best to avoid any unnecessary trouble. After all, he wasn't in the mood to engage in prolonged battles with Demon Beasts.

"Huh?"

Just as Du Fei was about to step into the heart of the ancient imperial capital, he felt a slight disturbance. With a step, his figure darted towards the left.

Hiding behind a massive tree and peeking out, Du Fei immediately saw a man and a beast head to head with each other not far ahead.

Upon setting his eyes on the impressively large Demon Beast, Du Fei's gaze froze. If he wasn't mistaken, the Demon Beast's strength was at the advanced level of Half-step Demon King!

A Demon Beast at this level was equivalent to a peak-level of the Half-step Martial Master Realm!

After observing the Demon Beast for a brief moment, Du Fei's gaze shifted to the person opposite the beast, surmising that anyone who could make it this deep so quickly surely possessed remarkable strength.

The person confronting the Demon Beast was dressed in light blue attire. He appeared young, but his expression was incredibly cold. In his hand, he held a massive long sword. Oddly enough, this sword was broken right in the middle.

The fracture on the sword seemed quite aged, suggesting that it had been broken for a long time. However, even in this state, a sharp sword spirit faintly emanated from the blade. Judging by the surroundings, this man had already clashed with the Demon Beast before him, and judging by his calm expression, he was clearly not at a disadvantage.

As Du Fei stopped to observe, the man slightly raised an eyebrow. With a forceful stomp of his foot, his figure dashed out like a cold lightning bolt.

Seeing the man's rapid movement, the Demon Beast charged towards him with a ferocious intent.

"Whoosh—"

The man and the beast swiftly crossed paths, and in the next instant, the Demon Beast trembled violently. Blood spurted out of its body like a fountain, and its massive frame collapsed to the ground, spreading a thick scent of blood in the air.

Without any visible movement, the man's long sword vanished from his hand, his face showing a hint of cold indifference.

"That's... a talisman treasure..." Witnessing the man's technique, Du Fei's eyes twitched slightly. This Palace Contest was indeed a showdown between the peak talents of the Da'an Dynasty, so even talisman treasures could be seen everywhere.

"Have you seen enough?"

As Du Fei marveled internally, the man in blue shifted his gaze, finally landing on Du Fei, and spoke in a mild tone.

Realizing he had been spotted, Du Fei was slightly taken aback, then quickly surmised that the man's sudden move was probably because he sensed his presence.

Without further hesitation, Du Fei stepped forward with a gentle smile, saying, "I merely happened to pass by and did not intend to disturb you. There's no need to be on guard."

The man in blue intently watched Du Fei. Seeing Du Fei's rather youthful appearance, a hint of surprise rose in his heart. It should be understood that anyone who could enter this place so early was no ordinary person! Moreover, while Du Fei didn't make any overt movements, the faint murderous aura emanating from him sent a subtle chill down the man's spine.

"I am Wan Ling of the Wanjian Faction, known as the Broken Sword. May I know your name?" After hesitating for a moment, the man in blue slightly bowed to Du Fei, introducing himself with a calm voice.

"Wanjian Faction..." Hearing this, Du Fei gained some clarity in his mind. The Wanjian Faction was one of the superpowers within the Da'an Dynasty. Although they weren't on the same level as Yunshui's Five Families, who have been prominent for millennia, they weren't far behind. He had also heard of this Wan Ling. Rumor had it that he was the Eldest Apprentice Brother of the current generation in the Wanjian Faction. He had reached the peak-level of the Half-step Martial Master Realm two years ago, which made him comparable to notable figures like Long Aotian. Meeting someone of his caliber here, rather than someone from the Junwu Sect, royal family, or Yunshui's Five Families, spoke volumes about Wan Ling's capabilities.

After some deliberation, Du Fei clasped his fist respectfully and replied, "I am Ye Fei."

"Ye Fei?" Upon hearing this name, Wan Ling's expression shifted slightly. He hesitated for a moment and then asked, "The same Ye Fei who recently caused quite a stir in the imperial capital?"

Du Fei chuckled and replied nonchalantly, "I wouldn't say it was anything significant. Compared to your reputation, my actions were just minor disturbances."

Hearing Du Fei's acknowledgment, Wan Ling's gaze underwent a subtle change. Although Du Fei was a peak-level of the Half-step Martial Master Realm, what he was best known for in the imperial capital wasn't his strength, but the "Pozong Pill" he had concocted himself! The allure of the Pozong Pill for powerhouses at the peak-level of the Half-step Martial Master Realm was undeniable.

"I must admit, I am interested in obtaining a Pozong Pill from you. However, I presume the price would be too steep for me at the moment. It's a shame," Wan Ling said with a chuckle after sensing the friendly undertone in Du Fei's words.

Du Fei replied with a light laugh, "You amuse me, Brother Wan. The Pozong Pill isn't easy to concoct, and I don't have any on hand currently. However, compared to selling to those in the imperial capital, I'm more willing to sell such an item to you!"

This time, the friendly tone in Du Fei's words became even more apparent. Wan Ling, who was initially tense, seemed to relax a bit.

It was understandable. In the Palace Contest, everyone viewed each other as potential adversaries, so it was only natural for them to be wary of one another. However, at this moment, both expressed intentions of goodwill, giving their interaction a different vibe. Moreover, in the context of the Palace Contest, superpowers like the Junwu Sect, the royal family, and Yunshui's Five Families were considered by many as the primary antagonists. Hence, a bit of amicability between powerhouses outside these factions was quite expected.

"Brother Ye Fei, I've long heard of your reputation," Wan Ling said after hesitating for a moment, "Now might not be the best time for chitchat, but... if you're interested, we could consider working together."

"Working together?" Du Fei was momentarily taken aback before responding with a smile, "You are quite straightforward. Speak your mind... if it involves causing trouble for Yunshui's Five Families, I'd be more than willing."

"It's not exactly about causing them trouble," Wan Ling mused for a moment before continuing, "Our Wanjian Faction has entered this ancient imperial capital before. According to our faction's records, an ancient sect that once stood within the ancient imperial capital had some ties with our Wanjian Faction. I am planning to search for something in there. However, the place is rather dangerous, and the odds aren't in my favor if I venture alone. If you're interested, perhaps we could join forces. What do you say?"

"That sounds good," Du Fei pondered for a moment and then replied with a smile, "If we cooperate, I won't claim any treasures from within. They will all belong to you. However, once the task is accomplished, I'd like to ask you for a small favor."

"Do tell." Wan Ling looked slightly surprised but responded in a soft voice.

"I've been wanting to give the Yunshui Long Family some trouble... If you're interested, perhaps we could do it together. What do you say?" Du Fei said with a light laugh.

Considering the intelligence network that Wan Ling possessed, he was naturally well aware about the conflict between "Ye Fei" and Long Aotian. After pondering for a brief moment, he replied with a smile, "That sounds intriguing. I've been curious about the capabilities of the imperial capital's top prodigy... In that case, Brother Ye Fei, please lead the way!"

"After you!"