"Lord Palatial Lord, I've heard that little punk Ye Yunfei has a Heavenly Boundary Realm expert following him, and it seems he also possesses a high-grade magical artifact, suspected to be of Semi-Emperor grade."
An old man beside him whispered.
"No need to worry. Although I've only come in my true form this time, it's enough to crush any Heavenly Boundary Realm existence. Even a creature at the Heavenly Boundary Realm Perfection level, I can kill them effortlessly."
The Lord of the Heavenly God Palace displayed a look of disdain as he spoke indifferently.
"Of course, of course. I was just faithfully reporting their situation. With Lord Palatial Lord's strength, even a mere projection would be enough to deal with them."
That old man said flatteringly.
"Ah, right, Lord Palatial Lord. Your main body is in seclusion, cultivating arduously. This time, there should be a great deal of confidence in impacting the Heavenly Emperor Realm, correct?"
The old man asked again.
"During this period of Heaven and Earth Mutation, theoretically, my chances of successfully impacting the Heavenly Emperor Realm are even greater than before. However, achieving the throne of an Emperor is no easy feat. The destiny of every era dictates that the number of Heavenly Emperors that can be born within that era is limited. Right now, across the three thousand great and small worlds, who knows how many Semi-Emperor level experts are in seclusion, going all out to impact the Heavenly Heavenly Emperor Realm. Numerous orthodoxies with ancient inheritances, many great clans with profound accumulated foundations, and within the many forbidden lands of various worlds, there are also countless creatures of terrifying origin who are impacting the Heavenly Heavenly Emperor Realm. The competition is too intense. It can be said that no matter who wishes to emerge victorious in the end, they must go through layers of hardships and ordeals, paying a tremendous price before possibly succeeding."
The Palatial Lord sighed softly as he spoke.
"Therefore, I must obtain the Heavenly Dao Tower. The Heavenly Dao Tower is an artifact left behind by the Ancient Desolation Emperor. It must conceal his inheritance or Heavenly Emperor-level treasures. Once I comprehend the Heavenly Dao Tower, it might aid me in impacting the Heavenly Heavenly Emperor Realm."
The Palatial Lord added.
This old man was one of his trusted confidants, so the Palatial Lord spoke frankly in front of him.
"Indeed, the destiny of every era has its stipulations. The number of Heavenly Emperors is restricted, and the competition is too fierce. However, since Heaven and Earth have mutated, and the energies and laws of the world have been upgraded, then the number of Heavenly Emperors allowed in this era is surely increased. With Lord Palatial Lord's talent and accumulated strength, I believe you can definitely stand out and succeed in your breakthrough."
That old man said respectfully.
"Hope so."
The Lord of the Heavenly God Palace nodded.
Whoosh...
He flicked his sleeve, erecting a path of golden light that carried the personnel of the Heavenly God Palace rolling forward, heading towards the Sheng Province's Tianxiong Domain.
At the same time.
The former site of Guyin Valley.
Guyin Valley had now been utterly reduced to ruins, leaving behind only some fragmented black mountain ranges and many bare peaks that were either broken in half or crumbled.
Although the majority of the dark energy within Guyin Valley had been devoured by the Netherworld Yin Saber, a small amount of dark energy still remained. Moreover, borrowing the unique topography of Guyin Valley, it slowly proliferated, forming layers of dark mist.
Ordinary martial artists simply dared not barge into this place.
In fact, even some powerful beings, such as experts at the World-Forging Realm, did not dare to enter rashly.
Because a terrible fierce battle had occurred here—a battle approaching the Heavenly Emperor level—many points in space had been punctured, forming pitch-black and terrifying spatial black holes. Additionally, remnants of battle energies had transformed into raging energy hurricanes that blasted everywhere.
Thus, for most creatures, Guyin Valley was still a forbidden zone they dared not set foot in easily.
During this period, there had been many powerful experts who formed teams and entered here, wanting to search if any treasures were left behind. They discovered this place had become barren land; everything of value had already been looted clean.
Back then, Ye Yunfei, together with Hu Miao, Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, Huang Shang, and others, had personally scoured and looted every valuable thing within Guyin Valley.
Rumble...
At a certain moment, in the core region of Guyin Valley, a certain black great mountain suddenly exploded violently. Its upper half directly shattered, leaving only the lower half behind.
An ancient black altar appeared within the mountain's belly, trembling intensely.
Boom!
The space above the altar suddenly cracked open, revealing a spatial teleportation passageway. Surging black fog tumbled out from within the passageway.
Next, groups of black creatures walked out from the passageway.
"Indeed, Guyin Valley has already been pacified. The Moony Yin Crone and the Black Wolf Deity have already fallen, leaving behind only some faint Soul Body fragments scattered throughout this heaven and earth."
The leader, an old man with a face covered in bizarre black markings, swept his gaze across the current state of Guyin Valley and spoke solemnly.
"Hmph! They were merely two False Emperors. Judging from the battle traces left here, the opponent's strength was less than one-tenth of a true Heavenly Emperor's. The Moony Yin Crone and Black Wolf Deity actually couldn't defeat them. They are truly rubbish, deserving their deaths."
Another creature, whose entire body was covered in black scales and steaming with black fog, snorted coldly.
"Enough about the Moony Yin Crone and Black Wolf Deity. From now on, this place is under our control. This is one of the Dark Faction's outposts in the mortal world. Once the Great Hunt begins, this place will become a relay station. Our duty is to maintain its normal operations. Begin rebuilding this place. Also, announce to the creatures of this world from now on that our Guyin Valley has returned! From this moment forward, anyone who dares to trespass without permission shall be killed on sight!"
That old man said.
Following the old man's order, a large group of black creatures began rebuilding Guyin Valley.
Streams of black mountain ranges reformed, masses of black peaks rose again, and mighty dark energies spread continuously, enveloping the entire Guyin Valley once more.
One day later, black creatures walked out from Guyin Valley, forcefully killing many creatures who resided relatively close to the valley or passed nearby. They publicly declared that the area within a hundred miles around Guyin Valley was forbidden territory, off-limits to any creature.
Soon, this startling news began spreading across the Feixian Continent.
Guyin Valley had not been pacified! The creatures of Guyin Valley had reappeared!
Upon hearing this news, most people's first reaction was disbelief.
Because when Guyin Valley was pacified, many creatures had been in the surrounding area, witnessing it with their own eyes.
After receiving the news, many experts immediately personally headed to Guyin Valley, wanting to investigate the truth.
Yet every creature who stepped within a hundred miles of Guyin Valley was killed silently and without a trace—even World-Forging Realm experts could not escape.
Finally, everyone understood: Guyin Valley had once again become a forbidden land! Its terror level was the same as before!
"Strange. That day, we clearly saw with our own eyes two Heavenly Emperor-level experts jointly charging into Guyin Valley and pacifying it. Why have the creatures within Guyin Valley suddenly reappeared now? Could what we saw that day all have been an illusion?"
Those creatures who personally rushed to Guyin Valley to watch on the day Ye Yunfei and the Flame Emperor jointly pacified it were all greatly puzzled and couldn't understand it despite much thought.
Inside Guyin Valley.
"Immediately dispatch troops to investigate the origins of those two False Emperors who killed the Moony Yin Crone and Black Wolf Deity, as well as all creatures, forces, and races related to them. Once we find out, our Guyin Valley will seek revenge and settle the score!"
That old man with a face full of bizarre markings said coldly.
"Heaven and Earth have changed drastically. In the near future, this mortal world will plunge into turmoil. Our Dark Faction will gradually return to the mortal world. Hehe, just thinking about it is exciting!"
That creature covered in black scales emitted a piercing, sinister laugh.
* * *
In the three thousand great and small worlds, amidst a certain desolate, withered expanse of discarded starry space, floated a dilapidated and tattered continent. In one corner of this continent sat a humanoid statue. Who knew how many ages this statue had been sitting here, covered in thick dust of time, filled with a sense of vicissitudes.
"Heaven and Earth have mutated. Dark Faction forces within every world are growing restless and moving. This is a precursor to the three thousand great and small worlds plunging into great turmoil once again. A terrible great turmoil that caused countless creatures from countless planes to die innocent, tragic deaths, countless experts to fall, countless races to be slaughtered... We cannot let the tragedy repeat itself. Our faction must also make some preparations."
At a certain moment, this humanoid statue suddenly opened its mouth and spoke.
Then, this humanoid statue suddenly stood up. The thick dust of time covering its body rustled and fell, accompanied by fragments of time scattering and spreading outward.
It turned out to be a tall, slender, grey-robed elder.
This grey-robed elder took a single step and instantly vanished.
* * *
Meanwhile, high in the sky somewhere within Tianxiong Domain.
"Young Master Ye, I've heard from Keqi and Ziyan that they were once fortunate enough to be saved by your hand. Our entire Zhu Family is endlessly grateful to you. Keqi and Ziyan are core disciples of our Zhu Family. They have been well-educated in the classics since childhood and possess good martial talent. They can barely be considered promising talents. Our Zhu Family's Patriarch Elder's intention is to let them stay by your side, Young Master Ye, allowing you to instruct them properly."
The Third Elder of the Zhu Family spoke flatteringly to Ye Yunfei.
Earlier, when Zhu Ziyan inquired, Ye Yunfei had told her his name.
Given Ye Yunfei's current strength and hidden cards, he was already capable of battling Heavenly Boundary Realm experts. Therefore, Ye Yunfei no longer planned to hide his identity.
"Third Elder, what are you saying!"
Zhu Ziyan, hearing the Third Elder's words, was both angry and anxious.
This Third Elder was determined to give them away to Ye Yunfei!
"Stay by my side?"
Ye Yunfei was startled.
"Hehe… Little Brother, it seems the Zhu Family, in order to win you over, intends to give these two young girls to you."
Xuanlong Daozhang saw at a glance what this Third Elder meant.
"Third Elder, let's be frank. It's best your Zhu Family doesn't get too close to me. Recently, I've provoked quite a few forces and experts. It's possible you might get implicated at any time. Alright, please leave quickly."
Ye Yunfei thought for a moment, then said coolly.
In fact, Ye Yunfei knew that although he and the Flame Emperor had pacified Guyin Valley, Guyin Valley belonged to the Dark Faction. Once the creatures of the Dark Faction investigated and traced it back to him, they would definitely launch a terrible retaliation.
Moreover, Ye Yunfei knew that the Lord of the Heavenly God Palace would also inevitably find out he was on the Feixian Continent.
Whether it was the Dark Faction or the Heavenly God Palace, none were powers the Zhu Family could withstand.
Furthermore, Ye Yunfei's current strength was already increasingly approaching the Semi-Emperor level. He was not far from the Heavenly Heavenly Emperor Realm!
Next, in order to return to the Heavenly Heavenly Emperor Realm, Ye Yunfei knew he was destined to tread a terrifying path filled with hardships and slaughter.
Every Heavenly Emperor in the mortal world was not born easily. They were all forged by walking a road of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, killing their way up by force!