"The might of Ziwei shall not be defied!"
A majestic voice boomed forth from within the headquarters, shaking the heavens and the earth.
"It's that voice!"
The Mysterious Turtle wept tears of joy.
Boom!
Following the voice, the giant hand wreathed in overwhelming purple radiance clenched into a fist and smashed out once more.
Bang! Bang!
The four massive energy hands were sent flying backward again.
Unbelievably potent!
Everyone who witnessed this scene was profoundly shocked.
"Even these top-tier powerhouses, those old antiques, are no match for it!"
Someone gasped in astonishment.
After being repelled twice in succession, the four massive hands swiftly retreated to the distant horizon and vanished from sight.
"Truly unimaginable that the Ziwei Sect still possesses such hidden reserves.
A formation for defense, and methods for attack—both offense and defense in one.
Worthy of an Imperial Dao Tradition."
A sigh of admiration drifted from the far distance.
"Hmph!
However, even if we cannot breach it, if we blockade the outside, not a single soul from your Ziwei Sect will be able to come out!
Let's see how your Ziwei Sect operates then!"
Another cold snort echoed.
"Unless your Ziwei Sect hands over the Emperor's Path Inheritance and surrenders that youngster Su Fei to us.
Otherwise, we will not leave. We will stay right here and blockade you."
Yet another voice sounded.
The four old antiques were still lurking in the distance, unwilling to simply give up and depart.
"Wishful thinking!
Our Ziwei Sect will never agree to your unreasonable demands!"
Sect Leader Liu roared in anger.
"You will.
Otherwise, none of your Ziwei Sect members will be able to take half a step outside the headquarters."
A sinister, insinuating voice chuckled.
"You four possess a certain level of repute within the Eastern Barrens, do you not? Aren't you ashamed to engage in such actions?"
The Mysterious Turtle said coldly.
"Nothing to be ashamed about."
A voice replied from the distance, and then there was silence once more.
"Those shameless bastards!"
The Mysterious Turtle fumed.
Given its current strength, it was not sufficient to go out and fight those four old antiques.
If those four truly remained entrenched outside Ziwei Sect's gates, the situation would indeed become troublesome.
Rumble…
With a thought from Ye Yunfei, the enormous purple hand extending from the ancestral temple thrust out once again. It shot toward the distant horizon with astonishing speed, the heavens and earth losing their color in its wake.
In the blink of an eye, the purple hand traversed the sky, reaching the far horizon.
"Agh!"
A pained scream rang out.
"Run, quickly!"
Another voice shouted.
Then, the crowd faintly saw four figures fleeing in utter disarray, vanishing in an instant into the distant sky.
Rumble…
The purple hand, relentless, continued pursuing them into the distance.
Only after a short while did the giant purple hand slowly retract.
"Hmph!
You little bastard, you've got nerve!
However, if we keep watch from a distance, your Ziwei Sect disciples can forget about venturing outside!"
At this moment, an immense voice rumbled over from the far, far edge of the horizon.
"Those four experts are still stationed in the distance. It seems they intend to lock Ziwei Sect in a stalemate!"
"Such methods are rather shameless!"
The onlookers in the distance who witnessed this were at a loss for words and couldn't help but whisper among themselves.
"Agh!"
Suddenly, several agonized screams erupted. Several people who had been discussing the matter instantly exploded into clouds of blood mist.
"Who dares call us shameless!"
A cold laugh sounded from the distant horizon.
Immediately, all the onlookers were terrified into silence.
It seemed the four old antiques had extremely volatile tempers and would not tolerate others talking about them.
"These old fossils are utterly shameless.
Kid, how do we resolve this?
If they hide in the distance, we can't do anything about them."
The Mysterious Turtle looked at Ye Yunfei.
"Su Fei, if they truly blockade us from outside, we will be unable to leave."
Sect Leader Liu's face was also full of worry.
"Order the sect gates closed. No one is to leave for now.
Let's return inside first and discuss."
Ye Yunfei pondered for a moment, then turned and walked back into the headquarters.
Rumble…
The protective grand formation condensed into a layer of purple light, shrouding the area above the headquarters like a solid lid, sealing and defending the compound.
After returning to the headquarters, Ye Yunfei dismissed the crowd, then accompanied the Mysterious Turtle to the ancestral temple.
"A pity. I haven't recovered to my former peak state. Otherwise, I'd go out and teach those four a proper lesson!"
The Mysterious Turtle said resentfully.
"Senior, you should focus on recuperating properly."
Ye Yunfei said.
Given the Mysterious Turtle's current state, it was not advisable to go out and battle those old antiques.
"Our Ziwei Sect possesses abundant resources that can sustain us for a long period.
Let's observe the situation for now."
Ye Yunfei thought for a moment before speaking.
Then, Ye Yunfei sat cross-legged within the ancestral temple, facing the statue of the Ziwei Great Emperor, settling into deep cultivation.
"Kid, you're not planning to cultivate here, are you?"
The Mysterious Turtle asked.
"I need to ponder some matters here."
Ye Yunfei replied.
"Senior, if you have time, you should also meditate and seek enlightenment here.
There is an Imperial Dao Imprint left behind by the Ziwei Great Emperor. It would be beneficial for your cultivation."
Ye Yunfei said to the Mysterious Turtle.
"An Imperial Dao Imprint!"
Hearing Ye Yunfei's words, the Mysterious Turtle's eyes suddenly brightened.
In the following days, Ye Yunfei remained seated cross-legged in the ancestral temple.
Sect Leader Liu issued the order to close the sect gates, forbidding all members of Ziwei Sect from leaving.
News of the events at Ziwei Sect quickly spread throughout the Eastern Barrens.
"The Ziwei Sect is truly worthy of its Imperial Dao Tradition, to possess such hidden reserves!
Four immensely powerful old antiques couldn't even breach Ziwei Sect's headquarters."
"It's said one of the old antiques was even injured by the giant purple hand that emerged from within Ziwei Sect's headquarters!"
"However, the more Ziwei Sect reveals such formidable hidden strength, the more it will attract the attention of other powerful figures.
The Emperor's Path Inheritance is far too alluring!
I've heard several more senior powerhouses have already rushed to Ziwei Sect."
"Those old antiques have declared that once they have gathered enough people, they plan to join forces, break into Ziwei Sect, and wipe it out in a bloodbath!"
Various discussions and rumors circulated throughout the Eastern Barrens, making Ziwei Sect a focal point of intense attention.
Within Ziwei Sect headquarters, Sect Leader Liu and the other elders received a constant stream of reports. Learning that more and more old antiques were gathering around the Ziwei Sect headquarters, they grew increasingly anxious and concerned.
Sect Leader Liu sent Ye Yunfei many message transmissions, but Ye Yunfei remained within the ancestral temple, sitting cross-legged before the Ziwei Great Emperor, motionless and unresponsive.
Sect Leader Liu and the elders visited the ancestral temple several times, but both Ye Yunfei and the Mysterious Turtle sat inside with their eyes closed, completely ignoring them.
Unknowingly, more than ten days passed.
At the same time.
Eastern Barrens, Heavenly Demon Forest.
The Heavenly Demon Forest was a forbidden ground for the Demon Race of the Eastern Barrens. For demons, this was their most sacred ancestral land.
Because legends held that the ancient progenitor of the Eastern Wasteland Demon Race was secluded here.
However, the Demon Race's progenitor had lived for an immensely long era. They had not shown their face for a great many years, and no one knew the current state of this venerable existence.
There were many versions of the legends surrounding the Demon Race progenitor. Some said their lifespan had expired, and they had already perished. Some said they were barely clinging to their last breath, nearing death. Others said the progenitor of the Demon Race had long since left the Eastern Barrens, even departing the Primordial Continent to roam the three thousand great and small worlds.
Nonetheless, not long after, some disturbances suddenly emerged from within the Heavenly Demon Forest, causing the Heaven God Palace's forces to retreat in alarm.
This made everyone realize that the Demon Race's progenitor seemed to still be within the Heavenly Demon Forest... and was still alive!