The other high-level members of the Eastern Wasteland Army all gathered closely around Ye Yunfei, their faces grave.
Everyone understood that with the forces of the Heavenly God Palace joining the battle, the Eastern Wasteland Army had lost all its advantage. The upcoming fight would be incomparably brutal for them!
“I will deal with that Palace Master. As for the other powerful experts, you'll have to handle them,” the Demon Race Patriarch transmitted to everyone.
The Heavenly God Palace Master was also a Star-Gazing Realm expert!
“Everyone,” Ye Yunfei said after a moment's thought. “If you wish to withdraw from the Eastern Wasteland Army, you may do so now.
There's no need to fight alongside me.”
“Young Master Su, even if we wanted to withdraw now, do you think the major factions of the Central Divine Land would simply let us leave?” Elder Zhu stated. “Moreover, our Disha faction has received immense kindness from you. No matter what, we will stand and fight by your side.”
“Elder Zhu is right. Even if we wanted to leave now, these Zhongzhou people wouldn't let us go,” one of the five ancestral elders of the Primordial Heterogeneous Race said to Ye Yunfei after a glance and a quick discussion among themselves via sound transmission. “We might as well fight to the death.”
“Amitabha. We who have left the secular world have long since already left life and death behind,” Superior Master Limo declared loudly, intoning a Buddhist chant.
In such circumstances, Disha, the Primordial Heterogeneous Race, the Dragon Temple, and the Eastern Barrens Demon Race had all actually chosen to continue standing on Ye Yunfei's side!
After all, these four forces were all powerful factions that had once dominated their respective eras in the ancient history of the Primordial Continent, each with their own legacies and sense of pride.
Betrayal in the face of the enemy was not something the members of these four forces could bring themselves to do.
“All of you,” Ye Yunfei said, sweeping his gaze over the people of the four forces and nodding appreciatively. “I will remember your actions today. In the future, I shall repay your kindness handsomely.”
“Young Master Su, it's no time for such words now,” Elder Zhu said. “We should prepare for battle. Let us hope we can survive this calamity today.”
“It's too late for any of you to leave now,” the Heavenly God Palace Master said, casting a glance at the Eastern Wasteland Army's high-level members, his tone bland.
“However, I can offer you a way out. Ye Yunfei, hand over the Heavenly Dao Tower to me, and I shall permit all of you to leave in peace.”
He stared at Ye Yunfei as he made this pronouncement. The Heavenly Dao Tower was his very purpose for coming!
Upon hearing the Heavenly God Palace Master's words, countless gazes shifted to Ye Yunfei to see what choice he would make.
“Why should Young Master Su hand the Heavenly Dao Tower over to you?” the Demon Race Patriarch replied before Ye Yunfei could answer, stepping forward. “Your delusions are truly beautiful!
Enough empty talk. You sent the Heavenly God Palace forces to the Eastern Barrens to pursue and kill members of our Demon Race before, didn't you? Your purpose was to test me, to see how much of my power I've retained.
We'll have a proper fight today, and then you will truly know my strength.”
With the Demon Race Patriarch's outburst, a terrifying demonic power erupted from his body. Countless laws of demonic dao rumbled and boomed, as if about to overturn heaven and earth.
Upon the Patriarch's unleashing of his aura, every living creature within a radius of a hundred miles trembled simultaneously, a feeling of fear rising from the depths of their souls.
“I truly didn't expect,” the Heavenly God Palace Master remarked, frowning as he looked at the Demon Race Patriarch. “that your lifeblood energy would remain this vigorous even after such a long span of time. It is somewhat surprising.
However, since you already know the Heavenly Dao Tower is on this human youngster, you still protect him? Is it possible... you do not desire the Heavenly Dao Tower? Or perhaps, you intend to lull this boy into a sense of security before finding a way to monopolize the tower for yourself?”
Within this Primordial Continent, the Demon Race Patriarch was the only existence capable of causing him any apprehension. Previously, he had indeed dispatched Heavenly God Palace forces to the Eastern Barrens, deliberately clashing with the Eastern Barrens Demon Race and hunting its members precisely to test this Patriarch – to see if he was still alive, and if so, how much strength remained. Later, the Patriarch had released a trace of aura within the Forest of Celestial Demons that deterred the Heavenly God Palace contingent.
“I've calculated it. I lack the fortune necessary to possess the Heavenly Dao Tower,” the Demon Race Patriarch replied with a laugh. “Therefore, I'm not entertaining such misguided thoughts.”
“Misguided thoughts!” the Heavenly God Palace Master snorted coldly. “What is misguided about it? A treasure as profound as the Heavenly Dao Tower belongs only to those of us who stand at the very peak of the continent! What right does a junior from a low-level world have to claim it exclusively?
If you do not want it, I do. Ye Yunfei, this is your final chance. Hand over the Heavenly Dao Tower, and all can be settled amicably.
Otherwise, not only will you die today, but every single member of the Eastern Wasteland Army will perish alongside you! Not one will escape!
Moreover, I will personally make a trip to the Eastern Barrens afterward. I shall enter the Ziwei Sect headquarters to see for myself just what, if anything, the Purple Pole Emperor might have left behind.”
“If you want the Heavenly Dao Tower, then prove your ability to seize it,” Ye Yunfei replied indifferently.
Strictly speaking, the Heavenly Dao Tower was a legacy left to Hun Lao by Emperor Gukuang. Unless Hun Lao agreed, Ye Yunfei would not hand it over to anyone.
“Then there is nothing left to say,” the Heavenly God Palace Master said, his expression darkening.
In an instant, a massive hand covered the firmament as it descended from the heavens to seize Ye Yunfei.
Upon its appearance, grand and divine voices echoed. They were the reverberations of the Heavenly Great Dao, resembling an inviolable celestial decree. They commanded all under heaven, and none dared disobey.
As the premier expert reputed in the Primordial Continent, the Heavenly God Palace Master, upon making his move, commanded the very energy and laws of heaven and earth. They obeyed his will, surging forward to suppress Ye Yunfei.
Hmph!
The Demon Race Patriarch acted. His palm glowed as he intercepted the attack, chaotic mist roiling, supreme demonic power swelling. He directly parried the Heavenly God Palace Master's assault.
“Old Dragon, I did not come here today for you. The score between you and me will be settled another day,” the Heavenly God Palace Master said, a frown deepening on his face as he perceived that the Demon Race Patriarch seemed stronger than he had anticipated. He continued coldly, “Do not obstruct me from seizing the Heavenly Dao Tower. Otherwise, it will count as a fresh grievance!”
“Enough idle chatter. Defeat me today, and only then can you think of snatching the Heavenly Dao Tower!” the Demon Race Patriarch roared with a laugh. “A battle between us two is inevitable, sooner or later. Why wait? Better this very day than another! Come, let it be today!”
Rumble!
His words still echoing, the Demon Race Patriarch immediately launched his own move. He threw a punch, radiant light blazing forth from his fist. Heaven and earth seemed to explode apart; boundless, terrifying demonic power surged skyward.
“Old Dragon, do you think I fear you?” The Heavenly God Palace Master was enraged. He slapped out with a palm that seemed to be blazing, excessively brilliant. Vast, awe-inspiring power erupted.
Boom!
Their collision was earthshaking, extraordinarily violent.
A large group of beings who had moved too close were instantly tossed back as if struck by a huge wave, sent crashing viciously away into the distance.
Fortunately, the Demon Race Patriarch and the Heavenly God Palace Master were aware of the presence of their own forces nearby and moderated their power. Otherwise, even a single exchange like this could have instantaneously slaughtered swathes of the nearby living beings.
All those witnessing this were moved – Star-Gazing Realm experts were truly immensely, boundlessly powerful!
“Let us change locations for our battle,” the Demon Race Patriarch declared. “If the two of us fight here to the finish, I doubt many living beings in this area will survive to see it.”
He soared upward in a single leap, instantly standing high upon the firmament.
“Seize Ye Yunfei! Under no circumstances allow him to escape!” the Heavenly God Palace Master instructed his palace's high-level members. “Wait for my return!”
Then his form shifted as he soared into the sky, following the Demon Race Patriarch.
RUMBLE…
The two supreme powerhouses exchanged blows as they fought, continuing deeper and deeper into the firmament. After a moment, none of the beings upon the continent could see them anymore.
For experts at the Star-Gazing Realm, complete separation from the Primordial Continent's space-time constraints – to journey into the external chaos of the void, entering the deep firmament – was merely a trivial matter.
“Take action! Exterminate the entire Eastern Wasteland Army! Leave not a single one!” a Heavenly God Palace Elder standing to the side ordered coldly.
Whoosh! Whoosh…
Sixteen Star Shattering Realm experts at the peak, including the four old men who had fled the earlier conflict, all converged to surround Ye Yunfei!
The other Star Shattering Realm experts from the Heavenly God Palace moved separately to surround and assault the remaining high-level members of the Eastern Wasteland Army.
At this point, combined, the Central Continent Army and the Heavenly God Palace possessed a total force of over forty Star Shattering Realm experts and between three and four hundred Mind Star Realm experts!
Yet, the Eastern Wasteland Army had only over ten Star Shattering Realm experts and just over a hundred Mind Star Realm experts!
In terms of sheer numbers, considering the Central Continent Army was composed of twelve major forces plus the Heavenly God Palace's own contingent, their numbers were at least four to five times that of the Eastern Wasteland Army!
All in all, the disparity in strength between the two sides was shockingly clear!
“Kill! Obliterate the Eastern Wasteland Army utterly!” an expert from the Central Continent Army roared fiercely. “Let them understand the might of the Central Divine Land!”
Leading his forces, he charged forward like a tidal wave.
“Kill! Fight them with everything! Killing one is recouping our losses, killing two is pure profit!” one of the Primordial Heterogeneous Race ancestral elders roared loudly.
With a wave of his hand, he led the Eastern Wasteland Army in a charge to meet them.