"Su Fei, there is another group of people outside asking for you."
The same steward hurried in once more to report to Ye Yunfei.
"Don't tell me yet another major power has arrived!"
Lu Yugang and the others were both shocked and delighted.
"Chief Lü, how do you suppose Young Master Su managed to summon these great powers?" one of the Four Directions Trading House's senior officers couldn't help but transmit a message to Lü Yugang.
"I have no idea. Young Master Su's methods are god-like, beyond my ability to guess," Lü Yugang replied with a sigh.
"Indeed, Young Master Su truly has divine methods. One can't help but submit to his abilities," the senior officer likewise exclaimed in admiration.
A moment later, over a dozen people walked into the main hall.
They were a dozen or so stout, burly men whose arms hung long past their knees. Terror-inducing blood vitality surged within their bodies, and as soon as they entered, everyone in the hall felt a palpable oppressive force bear down upon them.
"Patriarch Gu! Please, have a seat!" Ye Yunfei rose and addressed the stocky elder leading the group.
"Are you the Ziwei Sect's Senior Brother Su Fei? I hadn't imagined you would be so young. Are the things you mentioned in the jade slip true? If you are deceiving us, the consequences will be grave."
The stocky elder stared at Ye Yunfei, not mincing words.
"Heh, your Gu Clan is certainly accustomed to plain and direct speech. Very well, I won't waste words, either. Patriarch Gu, see for yourself."
Ye Yunfei waved his hand, sending a jade slip floating before Patriarch Gu.
"Young Master Su, for this great kindness and grace, our Gu Clan will never forget it!"
After reading the contents of the jade slip, Patriarch Gu rose to his feet and bowed deeply to Ye Yunfei. The other dozen-plus Gu Clan members all stood up as well and saluted Ye Yunfei in unison. This was just the Gu Clan's straightforward style—direct in attitude, clear on favors and grievances, leaving no room for ambiguity.
Following that, Patriarch Gu also declared that his clan was willing to join the army Ye Yunfei was forming.
"Patriarch Gu, could it be that you are the legendary ancient race of the Eastern Barrens, the Gu Clan said to carry the bloodline of ancient Demon Apes within you?" Abbot Qu suddenly spoke up and asked.
"Correct," Patriarch Gu nodded.
A chorus of sharp intakes of breath and sounds of awe rose within the hall.
Yet another faction that had once dominated the Eastern Barrens had arrived.
Following this, group after group arrived continuously at the Ziwei Sect headquarters, all looking for Ye Yunfei! And they were all once-famous major powers within the Eastern Barrens who had secluded themselves for various reasons, now all drawn out by Ye Yunfei.
In total, twelve powers arrived!
"Chief Lü, how do you feel about the strength of the army we have assembled now?" Ye Yunfei looked at Lü Yugang and asked with a smile.
"Haha… Young Master Su, I am utterly convinced! The army we have gathered now is already extremely strong!" Lü Yugang answered with a hearty laugh.
"Right, Young Master Su, this army of ours should have a title. What do you think would be fitting?" Abbot Qu suddenly asked Ye Yunfei.
"Let's call it the Tianxuan Army," Ye Yunfei said after a moment of thought.
"With a name, we should also elect a commander. Otherwise, when battle comes, a lack of unified command will easily lead to chaos," Abbot Qu continued.
"Isn't it obvious? The commander of this Tianxuan Army must surely be Young Master Su. Does anyone have any objections?" Lü Yugang declared in a clear, loud voice.
"I have no objection," Abbot Qu immediately agreed. He himself had come here precisely for Ye Yunfei's sake, so of course he supported him.
The others also nodded one after another in agreement.
"Alright then. Since you all hold me in such high regard, I shall assume the role of commander for this army. However, all military affairs will still require everyone to discuss and decide together," Ye Yunfei, knowing he couldn't refuse, nodded and said.
"Chief Lü, continue sending people to gather intelligence on the Corpse World and the Eastern Barrens Alliance. For now, we will hold our position and wait, then decide based on the actions of the Corpse World and the alliance. Also, send people immediately to purchase all kinds of spiritual herbs—the greater the quantity, the better; the faster, the better."
After some more thought, Ye Yunfei added.
"Understood," Lü Yugang nodded. His faith in Ye Yunfei had now reached its absolute peak. Originally, as the Chief of the Four Directions Trading House, he was a mighty figure commanding authority across the Eastern Barrens, but now, before Ye Yunfei, he simply obeyed and carried out the young man's instructions!
"Pass down the order. Have everyone enter my spatial treasure in batches to cultivate. I will help them all achieve a breakthrough. That includes the Dao Origin Realm experts."
Ye Yunfei declared.
In the following time, Ye Yunfei entered the Shadow-Flashing Pagoda to begin pill refining. Lü Yugang organized the members of the Tianxuan Army to enter the Shadow-Flashing Pagoda in batches for cultivation.
Inside the Shadow-Flashing Pagoda…
One year later, with Ye Yunfei's assistance, a large group of experts successfully broke through. Many broke through to Dao Origin Perfection! Among them were several experts, including Abbot Qu, Hall Master Mu, and Patriarch Gu, who, under Ye Yunfei's guidance, attempted to assault the Primordial Chaos Realm!
Above Dao Origin lies the Primordial Chaos Realm! However, breaking through from Dao Origin to Primordial Chaos was extremely difficult. For the vast majority of Dao Origin experts, it was akin to an insurmountable chasm. It was difficult to rely solely on consuming pills to break through into the Primordial Chaos Realm. One had to comprehend a certain number of natural laws to have any hope of a successful breakthrough.
Abbot Qu, Hall Master Mu, Patriarch Gu, and others had their cultivation stuck at Dao Origin Perfection for a long time, unable to make any progress despite extensive cultivation. This time, Ye Yunfei explained to them in detail certain laws of heaven and earth present in the Primordial Continent, clearing away a roadblock of confusion and prompting them to assault the Primordial Chaos Realm.
"Young Master Su, if Abbot Qu and the others can truly break through into the Primordial Chaos Realm, then our Tianxuan Army would have wings added to a tiger!" Lü Yugang said excitedly.
"Indeed. Chief Lü, you only broke through to Dao Origin Perfection not long ago. Once you accumulate enough foundation later, and wish to attempt a breakthrough to Primordial Chaos, you may come and research it together with me," Ye Yunfei said.
"Alright! Young Master Su, don't phrase it as 'researching together.' Just say I should come seeking your guidance. What qualifications do I have to 'research' with you?" Lü Yugang said with a smile.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Barrens…
Zhao Family Headquarters.
Now, the Zhao Family Headquarters had become a main stronghold of the Corpse World in the Eastern Barrens.
Inside a hall permeated with deadly corpse energy, a group of Corpse World experts sat cross-legged on the floor, each clad in black robes. In addition, there were representatives from several powerful factions of the Eastern Barrens: the Zhao Family, the Beast Taming Sect, the Gan Family, the Meng Family, and others.
At the very center of the hall, seated on a higher throne, was a pale-faced youth clad in black, his expression icy and indifferent.
"Reporting to the Fifth Prince, a group of powers in the Eastern Barrens have established an alliance in Tianbai City. Their combined strength is not weak," a black-robed figure reported, standing before the Fifth Prince.
"Humph, so what if they've formed an alliance? Just have our Corpse World army march over and exterminate them all."
The Fifth Prince uttered in an ice-cold voice.
"Fifth Prince, the more than eighty Dao Origin Realm experts we dispatched to deal with the Four Directions Trading House have all fallen. None returned. Our intelligence reports that these Dao Origin experts of ours were killed by a kid named Su Fei and the Chief of the Four Directions Trading House, Lü Yugang, working together,"
the black-robed figure continued.
"Oh? There exists such a young man in the Eastern Barrens? Send someone to recruit him, have him serve our Corpse World,"
the Fifth Prince remarked, somewhat surprised.
"We already sent an envoy to recruit him. Not only did the kid refuse to submit, he even killed the emissary we sent,"
the black-robed man said.
"Since he refuses to be used by the Corpse World, then kill him,"
the Fifth Prince said lightly.
"Everyone, I just received word. The main force has dispatched over a dozen Primordial Chaos Realm experts, and they are currently en route to the Eastern Barrens. Once these Primordial Chaos experts arrive, we will begin our full-scale action, aiming to conquer the entire Eastern Barrens in a short period!"
the Fifth Prince declared.
Hisss!
Upon hearing the Fifth Prince's words, the high-level representatives of factions like the Zhao Family, Beast Taming Sect, and Gan Family all drew sharp breaths. A single Primordial Chaos Realm expert was sufficient to dominate the Eastern Barrens. For the Corpse World headquarters to dispatch over a dozen—the mere thought was terrifying.
"Fifth Prince, there are several Flying Sky Yin Monkeys outside demanding an audience with you."
Just then, another black-robed figure entered and reported.
"Flying Sky Yin Monkeys! They are seen in the Eastern Barrens? Are you certain of what you saw?"
The Fifth Prince was a little astonished.
"I saw them clearly. They exactly matched the description of the legendary Flying Sky Yin Monkeys,"
the black-robed subordinate said.
"The Flying Sky Yin Monkeys are a powerful race from the Netherworld. They have some connections with our Corpse World, historically speaking. Invite them in,"
the Fifth Prince considered for a moment and commanded.