"My marriage is my own affair."
Su Qingluo stood there, her gaze resolute, as she spoke.
"Qingluo, are you rebelling? Come back with me now!"
The old woman’s figure flashed, and her withered, bird-claw-like hand shot out towards Su Qingluo.
Su Qingluo was greatly startled. In her panic, she executed a movement technique from the Chaotic Celestial Maiden Art, retreating like lightning.
Ye Yunfei had taught her the Chaotic Celestial Maiden Art, warning her never to reveal it to others. Therefore, Su Qingluo had always practiced it in secret, not even telling her family or her parents.
"Huh? Qingluo, what movement technique was that? It seems even more profound than our Su Clan's techniques!"
The old woman’s grab missed its target, and she couldn't help but be stunned, a look of surprise on her face.
However, she was a mid-stage Dao Entry Realm expert, her cultivation level far surpassing Su Qingluo’s. Her hand stretched out again, releasing a powerful wave of energy pressure that completely immobilized Su Qingluo. Then, she seized Su Qingluo by the arm and began taking her deep into the Su Clan headquarters.
"Qingluo, the clan’s upper echelon has already announced their intent to find you an ideal husband. Forget that Ye Yunfei. The clan will definitely choose a truly outstanding man to be your husband!"
The old woman said.
Although Su Qingluo struggled desperately, the old woman’s strength was terrifying, making it impossible for her to break free.
"Sixth Granny, in this life, I only acknowledge Ye Yunfei as my man!"
Finally giving up her struggle, Su Qingluo spoke each word clearly, her eyes filled with stubbornness.
***
Qianyou Star Sea.
A major battle had just ended.
Not long before, Ye Yunfei had led the Qingyun Army into this star sea and eliminated all the invaders occupying it.
"Relay my order: the army is to rest here for two days. After two days, we resume our campaign!"
Ye Yunfei issued the command.
Thus, the Qingyun Army temporarily settled down to rest within the Qianyou Star Sea.
"We have already reclaimed nine star seas!"
The gray-robed elder was extremely excited.
His experiences were extraordinary. He had participated in that fierce civil war long ago, witnessing the Canghuang Realm being ravaged beyond recognition amidst the conflict, and later watching his master self-detonate.
Before his master’s self-detonation, he had left a final wish, urging the elder to make protecting the Canghuang Realm’s peace his lifelong duty.
Therefore, during this invasion by forces from the other realm, the gray-robed elder’s greatest wish was to drive away or annihilate all these invaders!
"Senior, rest assured. Sooner or later, we will be able to eliminate all the invaders."
Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
"Ye Yunfei, on behalf of the hundreds of millions of lives in the Canghuang Realm, I thank you!"
The gray-robed elder looked at Ye Yunfei with grateful eyes.
He knew that Ye Yunfei had formed the Qingyun Army and launched the campaign to reclaim the star seas primarily to help him.
"Senior, you honor me too much. After all, I am also a part of the Canghuang Realm. I, too, do not wish to see it plunged into the chaos of war."
Ye Yunfei replied with a smile.
Next, Ye Yunfei returned to his own command tent and entered the Phantom Tower.
"The strength of this clone is already equivalent to the mid-stage Dao Entry Realm. It might even be able to contend against late-stage Dao Entry cultivators."
Ye Yunfei released the Blood Clan Clone, standing it before him, and carefully assessed it.
After that, Ye Yunfei sat cross-legged and began to meditate.
"It’s time to break through to the mid-stage Acupoint Opening Realm."
After circulating the Nine-Yang Scripture for a while, Ye Yunfei sensed a flicker of opportunity for a breakthrough.
Thus, Ye Yunfei began a period of closed-door cultivation to assail his current bottleneck.
Inside the Phantom Tower, Ye Yunfei remained in seclusion for two consecutive months.
"Time to break through!"
Two months later, Ye Yunfei suddenly opened his eyes.
After two months of meticulous refinement, the foundation of his spiritual energy had become exceptionally solid, ready for the breakthrough.
***
At the same time, within the Qianyou Star Sea, a flying boat arrived.
Sitting cross-legged inside the boat were two elders, both mid-stage Dao Entry Realm experts!
"Elder Yuan, do you think Ye Yunfei will agree to join the Canghuang Alliance with his Qingyun Army?"
One of them, a yellow-robed elder, spoke up.
"I estimate Ye Yunfei should agree. After all, the Canghuang Alliance was personally formed by the three super factions—Bulao Mountain, Sacred Temple, and Moon Palace—and incorporates most of the Canghuang Realm's major forces. Its overall strength is countless times greater than the Qingyun Army. Moreover, this recruitment of the Qingyun Army comes under a joint order from the Mountain Lord of Bulao Mountain, the Temple Master of Sacred Temple, and the Palace Master of Moon Palace. No matter how arrogant Ye Yunfei is, would he dare to disobey a direct order? In the Canghuang Realm, offending the three super factions of Bulao Mountain, Sacred Temple, and Moon Palace would mean he'd have no future here."
The other elder, dressed in green robes, answered.
"Elder Zhao makes a good point."
The yellow-robed elder listened and nodded repeatedly.
"Before we left, Sacred Temple's Master Lü Wutian instructed us to take this opportunity to probe the true strength of the Qingyun Army. Let's be meticulous later."
The yellow-robed elder said.
"Hmph, a mere junior and the forces from a few ordinary star seas… an army like that can only be so strong."
The green-robed elder said dismissively.
"This Ye Yunfei has made quite a name for himself at such a young age. We shouldn't underestimate him. Besides, Master Lü gave a clear order. If we don't investigate thoroughly, we'll have a hard time answering to him upon our return. How about this: we'll be courteous to Ye Yunfei and find a way to properly assess the true depths of this Qingyun Army."
The yellow-robed elder suggested.
"We are here on official business, acting on orders. There's no need for anything more. Moreover, our seniority surpasses his. It should be him showing courtesy to us."
The green-robed elder said impassively.
Not long after, the flying boat approached the Qingyun Army's main camp.
"The Qingyun Army should be right ahead."
The two elders stopped the flying boat, then stepped out and stood in the starry void, gazing towards the Qingyun Army in the distance.
"Judging by appearances, this Qingyun Army is nothing special. They're all rather weak individuals. I really don't understand how this army managed to reclaim so many star seas. They probably just got lucky, hitting the star seas with the thinnest defenses from the invader armies."
The two elders released their soul power to sense the cultivators within the Qingyun Army. The green-robed elder couldn't help but curl his lip in disdain.
The vast majority of the Qingyun Army members hailed from ordinary star seas. Individually, they were generally inferior to the disciples of the Canghuang Realm's major sects and clans, let alone those from the three super factions.
"Indeed, they are weak."
The yellow-robed elder also commented.
Right at that moment…
Boom! Rumble…
Over the Qingyun Army, dark clouds suddenly gathered, dense and foreboding, with lightning flashing and thunder roaring.
"Someone is about to undergo a heavenly tribulation!"
The yellow-robed elder exclaimed.
The next moment.
From one of the Qingyun Army's command tents, a figure soared into the air, standing beneath the dense, roiling clouds.
"It's Ye Yunfei! Ye Yunfei is about to undergo a tribulation!"
The yellow-robed elder immediately recognized the figure as Ye Yunfei.
"Initial-stage Acupoint Opening Realm! All the tales speak of how formidable Ye Yunfei is. Who would have thought his cultivation is only at the initial-stage Acupoint Opening Realm? In our Purple Mountain Sect, many of our truly outstanding core disciples have already reached the Gathering Stars Realm!"
After sensing Ye Yunfei’s cultivation level, the green-robed elder looked even more scornful.