At the Zhao Family headquarters.
In the main hall.
"Patriarch, we have reached an agreement with the Tianyou Tomb. Although the price is quite steep, the contact person from Tianyou Tomb guaranteed they would dispatch assassins at the Primordial Chaos Realm or above to successfully eliminate Su Fei," a Zhao Family Elder entered the hall and reported.
"As long as we can successfully kill Su Fei, any price is worth it," Patriarch Zhao said.
The leaders of the other four major powers also nodded in agreement.
"Do you all remember, during the great battle at the Zhenyang Sect headquarters, Su Fei was directly struck by those two mid-stage Primordial Chaos Realm experts from the Corpse World, yet he wasn't injured in the slightest.
That kid Su Fei doesn't seem easy to kill.
I wonder if the Tianyou Tomb assassins will truly be able to eliminate him," Patriarch Gan suddenly said in a soft voice.
Hearing this, Patriarch Zhao, Ba Dong, Patriarch Lu, and Patriarch Meng all furrowed their brows slightly.
Of course they remembered; they were present and witnessed it with their own eyes.
Being directly struck by mid-stage Primordial Chaos Realm experts and remaining completely unharmed was simply unbelievable!
"In our Eastern Barrens, the Tianyou Tomb is the most ancient assassin organization. Although low-key, no one dares to doubt their capabilities. So, we shouldn't worry too much.
I believe Tianyou Tomb will most likely be able to kill that Su Fei kid," Patriarch Zhao stated.
Just then, a withered old man leaning on a dragon-headed staff appeared. He looked unsteady on his feet, as though a gust of wind could topple him.
"Ancestor! What brings you here?" Patriarch Zhao was startled at the sight of the old man.
"We pay our respects to the Ancestor!"
The high-ranking members of the Zhao Family present in the hall all stood up and bowed respectfully to the old man.
"Greetings to the Senior!"
The top members of the other major powers also rose to their feet one after another, offering their salutations in unison.
The Zhao Family Ancestor before them had a seniority that was intimidating.
He was said to be the most powerful existence within the Zhao Family, a figure renowned throughout the Eastern Barrens in his day. However, due to his advanced age and the onset of diminished vitality, he had remained in seclusion and was gradually forgotten by the world.
No one expected him to suddenly appear now.
"Who could have imagined, our Zhao Family declining with each generation... a mere junior actually threatening the safety of our Zhao Family," the Zhao Family Ancestor's cloudy gaze slowly swept over Patriarch Zhao and the other Zhao Family elders as he sighed.
"The Ancestor's criticism is correct. It is indeed our incompetence," Patriarch Zhao lowered his head and said quietly.
"Enough. These old bones of mine have been hidden away for too long, already covered in rust. It's time to venture out and move around.
Go immediately to the treasure vault and retrieve the Blood Moon Elixir for me," the Zhao Family Ancestor sighed.
"What?"
Upon hearing this, the expressions of all the Zhao Family elders drastically changed.
"Ancestor, do you plan to take action against that Su Fei kid yourself?
Ancestor, it's not worth it!" Patriarch Zhao instantly understood the Ancestor's intention and couldn't help but exclaim.
The Blood Moon Elixir was a forbidden pill. Consuming it could rapidly replenish the vital Qi and blood the Zhao Family Ancestor had lost due to old age, restoring his body to its prime condition!
However, every gain comes with a cost. After the effects of the Blood Moon Elixir wore off, the body would suffer severe depletion of vital Qi and blood. This was especially dangerous for the elderly whose remaining lifespan was already short; forcibly consuming the Blood Moon Elixir could lead to their demise.
"There's no need to persuade me.
I have already discussed with some of the other old fellows from the Beast Taming Sect, the Gan Family, the Lu Family, and the Meng Family. We plan to emerge from seclusion together to deal with that Su Fei kid. After killing Su Fei, we will eliminate a group of the Tianxuan Army's top brass. That way, our five factions will be safe.
Otherwise, looking at the current situation, it won't be many days before that Su Fei kid comes to trouble us, our five factions.
Do you have the confidence to handle that?" the Zhao Family Ancestor let out another sigh and spoke slowly.
What?!
Ba Dong, Patriarch Gan, Patriarch Lu, and Patriarch Meng were all shocked.
Among these four major powers, there were also old-timers who had long lived in seclusion. Who would have thought they would all decide to emerge now, just to deal with a junior?
These were genuine old-timers, their remaining lifespans already short. Forcing themselves to emerge now would easily expend what little lifespan they had left!
"Ancestor, you must reconsider.
We will think of ways to deal with that Su Fei kid and the Tianxuan Army.
Ancestor, please return to seclusion," Patriarch Zhao advised.
Although the Zhao Family Ancestor's lifespan was not limitless, as long as he lived, he was one of the Zhao Family's strongest aces. If any accident befell him, the loss to the Zhao Family would be immense.
"If you all had a way to deal with Su Fei and the Tianxuan Army, I wouldn't have come out.
No more talk. Go retrieve the Blood Moon Elixir," the Zhao Family Ancestor said.
Although he had always lived in seclusion, rarely stepping foot outside, he had his own channels for information. He had a clear understanding of all the events transpiring within the Eastern Barrens!
"Ancestor..."
Patriarch Zhao still wanted to say something, but the Ancestor waved his hand and said firmly,
"Grand Elder, go fetch the Blood Moon Elixir..."
Knowing his persuasion was futile, Patriarch Zhao had no choice but to instruct the Grand Elder.
Ba Dong, Patriarch Gan, Patriarch Lu, and Patriarch Meng hurriedly rose to take their leave and departed swiftly. They wanted to return and persuade the old-timers within their own factions.
Shuyue City.
Inside the Phantom Tower, one year later.
"My comprehension of One Sword to Pacify the World seems to have deepened a bit more," Ye Yunfei slowly opened his eyes and murmured softly.
As he spoke, Ye Yunfei stretched out his hand and lightly drew a line in the space before him.
*Buzz!*
A sword radiance about three meters in length appeared, suspended there, trembling slightly. Though this sword radiance wasn't large, the Sword Intent it released was terrifying. Wisp after wisp of intangible sword light overflowed, slicing the surrounding space and creating numerous black spatial cracks.
Ye Yunfei could feel that the Sword Intent contained within this single sword light was far more fearsome than the Sword Intent he possessed when previously executing One Sword to Pacify the World!
With a wave of his hand, the sword radiance before him dispersed like a gentle breeze.
Then, Ye Yunfei ended his closed-door cultivation and walked out of the Phantom Tower.
Inside Shuyue City, Tianxuan Army troops stood guard strictly.
During this period, Shuyue City had become the temporary headquarters of the Tianxuan Army.
"Young Master Su, you've finally come out of seclusion."
Seeing Ye Yunfei appear, a group of Tianxuan Army elders quickly gathered around him.
"Young Master Su, now that the Corpse World army has been annihilated and the war is over, we are preparing to return," the old shaman of the Earth Core Race came before Ye Yunfei and spoke.
The Earth Core Race was a very special race, easily coveted by those with ulterior motives.
Therefore, the Earth Core Race rarely appeared publicly or casually interacted with living beings from the outside world.
This time, the Earth Core Race had dispatched their people to join the Tianxuan Army to support Ye Yunfei in combating the Corpse World.
Furthermore, Ye Yunfei had kept the identities of these Earth Core Race members confidential, known only to a select few.
"Alright.
You may return," Ye Yunfei, understanding the old shaman's concerns, nodded.
"Young Master Su, if you have time, do visit our Earth Core Race's world.
You can use the jade slip I gave you earlier to send me a message anytime. I'll receive it," the old shaman transmitted a voice message as he prepared to lead his Earth Core Race members away.
"If the opportunity arises, I will visit your Earth Core Race world," Ye Yunfei replied.
Soon, the Earth Core Race forces departed without a trace.
"Issue the order. Have everyone prepare themselves. We set out in half a day to settle accounts with those five factions—the Zhao Family, Beast Taming Sect, Gan Family, Lu Family, and Meng Family!" Ye Yunfei issued a clear command.
"Yes!"
The Tianxuan Army elders around him acknowledged in unison before turning to muster their troops.
Ye Yunfei then placed his hands behind his back and strolled around Shuyue City.
*Whoosh! Whoosh!*
A moment later, as Ye Yunfei walked along a street in the city, suddenly, pitch-black longswords abruptly appeared from the space ahead, behind, to the left, and to the right. Like venomous snakes, they aimed directly at the vital points all over Ye Yunfei's body. Their killing intent was startling.