Half an hour later, the forces of the Ziwei Sect had assembled. Led by Sect Leader Liu, they stood battle-ready in formation before the headquarters' mountain gate, blocking the path.
BOOM… RUMBLE…
One warship after another rolled into view from the horizon, each one unleashing an imposing wave of energy pressure as they advanced.
At a glance, there were dozens of them.
Every warship was packed with troops!
Soon, all the warships arrived outside the Ziwei Sect headquarters.
Then, troop after troop of soldiers marched out from these warships. Their armor gleamed, some held battle lances, others carried halberds on their backs, cold light shimmering, killing intent thick in the air.
With the appearance of these soldiers, it seemed as if even heaven and earth began to tremble. The piercing glint of armor and the weaponry's killing aura filled the area with the stench of slaughter.
Finally, the sky was densely packed with troops, so many they blotted out the sun and sky.
The forces of the Yan Kingdom Royal Family, the Sheng Yuan Sect, and the Qianyang Sect had all arrived, each flying their own banners.
Additionally, the area surrounding the Ziwei Sect headquarters had long been crowded with onlookers.
The Yan Kingdom Royal Family, Sheng Yuan Sect, Qianyang Sect, and Ziwei Sect were the four major powers within the Yan Country. The impending battle between them had naturally drawn the attention of many martial artists within the country.
"I am Chancellor Xiao Tianjie of the Yan Kingdom Royal Family, here by His Majesty's command to crush the Ziwei Sect!"
A high-ranking official wearing robes and a tall official cap stepped forward, his voice like thunder, face full of majesty.
"I am the Grand Elder of the Sheng Yuan Sect, here under the Sect Leader's orders, leading a great army to assist Chancellor Xiao in exterminating the Ziwei Sect!"
A tall, ruddy-faced elder strode out from the ranks of the Sheng Yuan Sect forces, declaring loudly.
"I am the Grand Elder of the Qianyang Sect, here under the Sect Master's command, leading an army to assist Chancellor Xiao in trampling the Ziwei Sect flat!"
A burly middle-aged man walked out from the Qianyang Sect forces, shouting sharply.
"The Yan Kingdom's Chancellor, the Sheng Yuan Sect's Grand Elder, the Qianyang Sect's Grand Elder... these three are all major figures in our Yan Country, rarely seen on ordinary days! Yet now, to deal with the Ziwei Sect, they've all come personally!
It seems the Ziwei Sect's fate is ill-omened today!"
"Of course! Look! The Yan Kingdom has sent eight Destiny Realm experts, the Sheng Yuan Sect brought six, and the Qianyang Sect also six!
That's a total of twenty Destiny Realm experts!
Such a formidable array is definitely enough to wipe out the Ziwei Sect."
"I heard the Ziwei Sect only has seven Destiny Realm experts in total. They simply can't resist this."
The surrounding onlookers, witnessing these three great figures appear one after another, were shocked and began murmuring amongst themselves.
"Hmph!
Wish to destroy our Ziwei Sect? It won't be that easy! Come if you dare!"
Sect Leader Liu roared in anger, striding out from the Ziwei Sect forces.
"Liu Qiming, your Ziwei Sect dares oppose our Yan Kingdom Royal Family. Today, you will inevitably fall!
This is your retribution!"
Xiao Tianjie sneered.
"Eunuch Liu! Read the imperial edict!"
Xiao Tianjie turned and commanded.
"The Majesty of the Yan Kingdom orders: All members of the Ziwei Sect, receive his decree!"
An elderly man dressed as a eunuch stepped forward and faced the Ziwei Sect crowd, his voice shrill.
"Hmph!
What bullshit Majesty! What right does he have to demand we receive his decree?"
A Ziwei Sect elder angrily retorted.
"You think refusing to receive it means you can evade it?
Now I shall read His Majesty's imperial edict. Listen well, people of the Ziwei Sect!"
The old eunuch brandished the whisk in his hand, then produced a golden imperial edict and began to read:
"By Heaven's Mandate, the Emperor decrees: The Ziwei Sect within Yan Kingdom territory has repeatedly defied royal commands, detained royal ministers, slaughtered royal troops. Its treacherous intent is known to all under heaven..."
The old eunuch's sharp voice echoed throughout the land.
SWISH!
Just as the old eunuch was reading fervently, a figure flashed. A young man had appeared right in front of him, raising his hand to slap the eunuch's face.
It was none other than Ye Yunfei.
"How dare you!"
The old eunuch was shocked and furious, retreating with all his might to dodge, but it was too late.
Ye Yunfei executed a spatial shifting art, crossing space to appear before this old eunuch in an instant. It was far too fast; there was almost no discernible passage of time.
SMACK SMACK SMACK...
Ye Yunfei's hands were like lightning, delivering over a dozen slaps to the old eunuch's face in succession, then snatching the imperial edict.
THUD!
The final slap directly shattered the old eunuch's head, turning it into a headless corpse that plummeted from the sky, smashing into pieces on the ground below.
This Eunuch Liu only had mid-stage Dao Entry Realm strength. Against Ye Yunfei's combat power, he was simply no match!
Ye Yunfei's spiritual power realm might only be mid-stage Dao Molding Realm, but the strength of his spiritual power was at least equivalent to late-stage Dao Entry Realm, perhaps even the perfection stage!
"What bullshit imperial edict! The paltry Yan Kingdom Royal Family thinks it's fit to issue decrees to our Ziwei Sect?
Once upon a time, the Yan Kingdom Royal Family was merely a subordinate force of our Ziwei Sect. To put it bluntly, they were just a dog, surviving entirely by leaning on our Ziwei Sect.
If not for our Ziwei Sect's support, your Yan Kingdom Royal Family would have perished who knows how many times over.
Truly unbelievable. This dog not only shows no gratitude, but even turns around to bite its master."
Ye Yunfei casually waved his palm, shattering the imperial edict into dust that scattered with the wind.
"I now give your Yan Kingdom Royal Family one opportunity. Have your dog emperor come crawl over here, kneel before the gates of Ziwei Sect headquarters for three days and three nights, and confess his sins. Only then will I let the Yan Kingdom Royal Family off the hook. Otherwise, I shall personally wipe it out."
Ye Yunfei's gaze swept toward Xiao Tianjie as he spoke impassively.
"Hiss!
This kid is way too arrogant! How dare he speak such words, demanding the emperor kneel and repent for three days and nights!"
"He dares show such disrespect to the emperor. The Yan Kingdom Royal Family will never let him go!
Now, the conflict between the Ziwei Sect and the Yan Kingdom Royal Family is absolutely irreconcilable!"
...
In the distance, the onlookers who heard Ye Yunfei's words were all greatly shocked.
"Outrageous!
Eunuch Liu was His Majesty's confidant. How dare you kill him? This is a capital offense!
Destroying an imperial edict is also a capital offense!
Your words dare to insult His Majesty, an even greater capital offense!
You scoundrel, you are steeped in evil, guilty of myriad crimes!
You're dead!"
Xiao Tianjie trembled all over with rage, pointing at Ye Yunfei as he cursed.
Ye Yunfei's movement speed was too fast. He had watched helplessly as Eunuch Liu was killed by a single palm strike, utterly unable to rescue him.
This Eunuch Liu was a favorite of the emperor, deeply cherished. Now that he was killed, upon returning, the emperor would surely censure him.
"Seems you didn't listen to what I said."
Ye Yunfei shook his head.
"Haha, Su Fei, you smacking that weird old eunuch dead with one palm was immensely satisfying to watch!"
At that moment, a Ziwei Sect elder burst out laughing, feeling a huge venting of anger.