Outside the Zhao Family headquarters.
The distant horizon suddenly began to shake violently. Densely-packed flying vessels came rolling across the sky like wave after wave of sinister, looming clouds, plunging the earth below into shadow.
A torrential wave of energy, raging like an angry tide, pressed down from all directions toward the Zhao Family headquarters.
"The Eastern Wasteland Army has come to annihilate the forces of the Corpse World!"
A majestic voice rang out, echoing between heaven and earth.
The Eastern Wasteland Army had arrived!
Soon, the swarm of flying ships arrived before the Zhao Family headquarters, surrounding it from all sides like a flood.
"Hehe… Do you think a rabble like you could possibly destroy our Corpse World forces? Deluded dreams," a cold laugh sounded.
Immediately, a vast number of Corpse Soldiers began to emerge continuously, rising into the air to confront the Eastern Wasteland Army.
Besides the Corpse Soldiers, personnel from major forces like the Zhao Family, Beast Taming Sect, Gan Family, and Meng Family also rushed out from within the Zhao Family headquarters.
Leading them was a youth with a slightly pale complexion—the Fifth Prince of the Corpse World!
A large group of black-robed figures and the upper echelons of several major forces like the Zhao Family crowded around the Fifth Prince.
Additionally, there were Eight Sky-Soaring Nether Monkeys!
"Zhao Weifeng, Ba Dong, Gan Hao, Meng Guang, Lü Yanting! The five of you represent major forces native to the Eastern Barrens! Why have you betrayed the Barrens to become the Corpse World's dogs and lackeys? Are you worthy of your ancestors?!"
The sect master of the Cangyan Sacred Church, Dongfang Bo, stepped forward from the crowd and pointed at the leaders of the five major forces, the Zhao Family among them, and berated them loudly.
"Dongfang Bo, there's no need to be so harsh with your words. This is what you call recognizing the prevailing circumstances—a sign of a true hero. The Corpse World is a great force from the Upper Realms. Unifying the Eastern Barrens is only a matter of time. Let me offer you all some advice. Surrender to the Corpse World sooner rather than later. Otherwise, your destruction is inevitable. The Corpse World's strength is beyond your imagination," the Zhao Family head retorted with a cold laugh.
"Nonsense! The Corpse World slaughters Eastern Barrens martial artists everywhere, wiping out sects and annihilating clans without a second thought. They have committed blood-soaked crimes aplenty! They are the common enemy of all of us in the Eastern Barrens! Our Sword World would never stoop so low as you Eastern Barrens traitors, willingly serving as the Corpse World's running dogs and even gloating about it. You people are a disgrace to the Eastern Barrens!"
The Sword World's Elder Ximen pointed accusingly at the leaders of the five major forces, including the Zhao Family head, and reprimanded them harshly.
"Enough. There's no need to waste words on these ants. In the face of absolute strength, any words are useless. Just take action directly," the Zhao Family head and the other leaders like the Beast Taming Sect Master wanted to argue back, but the Fifth Prince waved his hand dismissively and spoke calmly.
"That's right. All this talk is pointless. Let's just fight and slaughter them until they're terrified," a black-robed figure beside the Fifth Prince sneered.
"Kill!"
The Fifth Prince waved his hand.
The Corpse World's forces surged forward in a massive assault.
At this moment, the high-ranking members of the Eastern Wasteland Army finally realized just how terrifying the strength of the Corpse World's forces was.
Over a dozen Chaos Realm experts!
Seven to eight hundred Dao Origin Realm masters!
A vast, uncountable swarm of Corpse Soldiers!
In addition, there were also the forces of the five major powers: the Zhao Family, Beast Taming Sect, Meng Family, Gan Family, and Lü Family!
And the Eight Sky-Soaring Nether Monkeys!
"Not good! The overall strength of our Eastern Wasteland Army is far inferior to the Corpse World's forces!"
Watching the Corpse World's forces rushing forward like waves of black tide, all members of the Eastern Wasteland Army felt their eyelids twitching and a chill in their hearts.
The Eastern Wasteland Army's leaders were secretly alarmed as well.
The true strength of the Corpse World's forces was far greater than they had imagined!
The Eastern Wasteland Army only had nine Chaos Realm masters.
Their Dao Origin Realm experts, added together, only numbered two to three hundred.
The disparity was too great!
Moreover, those Corpse Soldiers were refined from corpses and had no life force. Therefore, they fought without any fear of injury or death, recklessly charging forward. Even if half their bodies were chopped off, they could still fight normally.
These Corpse Soldiers also continuously emitted thick corpse energy laced with potent poison. Living beings who inhaled this corpse energy would have their flesh and Soul Bodies corroded by the corpse poison.
Thus, when human martial artists fought these Corpse Soldiers, they were at an inherent disadvantage.
After a short while,
the Eastern Wasteland Army began to falter!
They were forced into a steady retreat!
*Swoosh! Swoosh!*
The Eight Sky-Soaring Nether Monkeys transformed into eight streaks of black light and charged into the Eastern Wasteland Army's ranks. With a sweep of their black claws, many human martial artists had their skulls ripped open by a strange force, revealing their glistening grey brain matter.
*Gulp...*
The Eight Sky-Soaring Nether Monkeys drank deeply of the brain marrow, their killing intent soaring to the heavens.
"Beasts! Cease your savagery!"
A Dao Origin Realm master from the Eastern Wasteland Army charged toward the Eight Sky-Soaring Nether Monkeys, shouting angrily.
*Swoosh!*
One of the Sky-Soaring Nether Monkeys teleported in front of this Dao Origin Realm master, grabbed him by the throat, and lifted him up. With another wave, it tore open his skull and began to suck out his brain.
"It's those ghost monkeys from the Northern Frost Ancient Mining Area!"
The Eastern Wasteland Army's leaders quickly recognized the origin of these Eight Sky-Soaring Nether Monkeys, each of them drawing in a sharp breath of cold air.
It must be known that the leaders of these major Eastern Barrens forces had organized several hunting operations against these Eight Sky-Soaring Nether Monkeys within the Northern Frost Ancient Mining Area before, but all had been futile.
"Haha… Now you understand the power of the Corpse World! I advise you all to surrender obediently," the Zhao Family head laughed maniacally.
"Retreat!"
The five leaders of the Eastern Wasteland Army hurriedly conferred via sound transmission and issued the order to retreat.
The Eastern Wasteland Army was already in a steady retreat, suffering heavy casualties. If they didn't pull back now, the consequences would be even more severe.
Following the order from the five leaders, the Eastern Wasteland Army began to withdraw like a receding tide.
"Pursue!"
The Fifth Prince waved his hand, and the Corpse World forces gave chase.
It wasn't until late in the day that this great battle finally came to an end!
The Eastern Wasteland Army suffered a crushing defeat with immense casualties!
Not long after, news of the event spread throughout the entire Eastern Barrens, causing a huge stir.
"Disaster looms! The Eastern Wasteland Army gathered almost half the combat power of our Eastern Barrens, yet they were still crushed by the Corpse World's forces! It seems the Eastern Barrens will inevitably fall into the Corpse World's hands sooner or later!"
"Once the Eastern Barrens is ruled by the Corpse World, we inhabitants will surely be slaughtered until rivers of blood flow and corpses litter the wilderness!"
...
Across the Eastern Barrens, everyone felt insecure and sighed helplessly.
Because everyone understood that if the Eastern Barrens truly came under Corpse World rule, for the vast majority of people, it would become a living hell!
Everyone knew that whenever the Corpse World needed corpses, they would resort to large-scale massacres of martial artists, wiping out sects and annihilating clans!
"Right now, the only force within the Eastern Barrens that hasn't taken action yet is the Eastern Wasteland Demon Race! I wonder if the Eastern Wasteland Demon Race can handle the Corpse World?"
"The Corpse World is too powerful. Even the Eastern Wasteland Demon Race might not be their match!"
"That's right. The Demon Race hasn't made a move up till now. They probably fear the Corpse World and don't dare provoke them."
Many martial artists thought of the Eastern Wasteland Demon Race and discussed it fervently.
Because the Eastern Wasteland Demon Race was one of the most powerful forces in the Eastern Barrens, even the Deity Palace regarded them with some caution!
"Have you forgotten? Besides the Eastern Wasteland Demon Race, there's another army that hasn't taken action either. That would be the Tianxuan Army founded by Su Fei!"
Suddenly, someone brought up the Tianxuan Army.
"The Tianxuan Army? Forget it. Even the Eastern Wasteland Army is no match for the Corpse World. How could the Tianxuan Army possibly stand a chance? The so-called Tianxuan Army is merely composed of the Quadpartite Trading Company and the Ziwei Sect. Its overall strength is far inferior to the Eastern Wasteland Army!"
Someone immediately sneered.
At the same time.
Inside the Ziwei Sect headquarters.
"Su Fei, the Eastern Wasteland Army has suffered a crushing defeat and is currently being pursued everywhere by the Corpse World forces!"
Sect Leader Liu relayed the news to Ye Yunfei.
"I knew this would be the outcome from the start," Ye Yunfei replied with a faint smile.
"After defeating the Eastern Wasteland Army, the Corpse World will probably come after our Tianxuan Army before long. They must already know about the establishment of our Tianxuan Army," Lü Yugang said.
"Let them come. I'd welcome them," Ye Yunfei said with a cold laugh.
"The Vermilion Bird Demon King and Golden Roc Demon King have arrived!"
Just then, a Ziwei Sect deacon hurried in to report.
"Invite them in quickly!" Ye Yunfei said.
Soon, the Vermilion Bird Demon King and Golden Roc Demon King entered the main hall.
"Young Master Su, our Patriarch suggested that our Demon Race and the Tianxuan Army form an alliance to resist the Corpse World together. The Eastern Wasteland Army has already been defeated. Next, the Corpse World will definitely focus on dealing with our Demon Race. Your Tianxuan Army will inevitably have to face the Corpse World sooner or later," the Vermilion Bird Demon King stated directly.
"That was my intention as well," Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
"How is your Patriarch's recovery progressing?" Ye Yunfei asked.
"He has recovered somewhat, roughly half of his peak strength," the Vermilion Bird Demon King answered.
"Your Patriarch is immensely powerful. Even with just half his strength restored, he could roam the Eastern Barrens without match," Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
"Not exactly. The Corpse World has already sent experts specifically to deal with our Patriarch. Recently, there has been strong Soul Power spying on him. According to our Patriarch, the opponent is extremely powerful. If a fight breaks out, the outcome is uncertain," the Vermilion Bird Demon King said with a grave expression.
"I see," Ye Yunfei nodded in understanding.
No wonder the Demon Race had been so quiet recently. So their Patriarch was being watched by a powerful expert from the Corpse World.
"Very well. Have your Patriarch come to our Ziwei Sect. Lure out the Corpse World expert, and we'll kill him then," Ye Yunfei thought for a moment and suggested.
"Lure the Corpse World expert to the Ziwei Sect? That expert's strength might not be inferior to our Patriarch's. If we draw him here and a fight breaks out, I'm afraid the Patriarch won't have any energy to spare protecting the Ziwei Sect. If the Ziwei Sect gets caught in the crossfire, the consequences could be somewhat severe," the Golden Roc Demon King, who had been standing to the side, was stunned upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words and then voiced his concern.
"A mere Corpse World expert cannot harm our Ziwei Sect. Even if the Corpse Master of the Corpse World came himself, our Ziwei Sect would not fear him," Ye Yunfei said nonchalantly, an expression of disdain on his face.
What?
Hearing Ye Yunfei's words, not only the two Demon Kings, but even Lü Yugang and the other leaders of the Tianxuan Army present were somewhat dumbfounded, finding Ye Yunfei's words rather exaggerated.