"Oh?
So you've come out to move about. Has a new round of the Harvest Great Operation officially begun already?
Was it you who broke the seal and released me?"
Once his initial excitement subsided, the black figure who had just charged out from within the Black Great Door swept a glance at the black creatures kneeling before him and asked, sounding somewhat surprised.
Normally, creatures of the Dark Faction receded from the world, and only in some forbidden lands across various major and minor worlds might one find their traces.
Yet once these black creatures openly walked the mortal realm, it meant a calamity for all the myriad races and creatures of the world was about to descend.
"Senior, the new round of the Harvest Great Operation has not officially begun yet, but the timing has been set. It will soon formally commence.
We have come here this time to chase and kill two human creatures.
Not long ago, one of this faction's forbidden lands was destroyed, and these two human creatures are suspected to have some connection to it. We were ordered to apprehend them and bring them back."
One black creature replied respectfully.
The other black creatures remained kneeling prostrate on the ground, not daring to move an inch.
Within the Dark Faction, the hierarchy was extremely strict. Ranks were distinct, and order was meticulously observed. The weak had to be absolutely obedient before the strong; the slightest mistake could lead to annihilation, with no reasoning required.
"I see. So it wasn't you who broke that seal. Rather, the seal's own power has been continuously weakening, allowing me my chance to break out.
However, not long ago, it was precisely because I sensed a battle raging on this land, and you were employing a forbidden secret art of our faction, that I was stirred from my slumber.
Good. You have rendered service."
The black figure spoke slowly, its words carrying a note of praise.
As it spoke, the black figure was gradually solidifying, materializing into a tall humanoid creature. Its body was covered in black scales, and running down its back were a total of thirteen pairs of black wings, gently fanning and stirring up billowing gales of black energy.
"Hmm?
There are Half-Emperor level beings?"
At that moment, this bizarre black creature suddenly looked into the distance.
In the distance, the Heavenly God Palace Master, leading a group from the Heavenly God Palace, stood high in the sky, watching this bizarre black creature with profound shock.
"This is a legendary creature of the Dark Faction!"
Being the master of the Heavenly God Palace and a semi-imperial level old-timer, he was naturally familiar with many of the hidden secrets of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds and recognized the origin of these black creatures at a glance.
"I've heard that when these Dark Faction creatures appear in the mortal world and walk openly, it signifies the world will suffer a terrible disaster, and even a terrifying upheaval may shake the Three Thousand Worlds.
Now they suddenly appear in the Feixian Continent—does this foretell that the world falls into great chaos?"
The Heavenly God Palace Master was filled with apprehensive doubt.
He stared at that strange black creature with thirteen pairs of wings and did not act rashly. He could sense that the creature's power was immensely terrifying.
From another direction, an old man whose body flickered with sharp sword rays was also examining that strange black creature with astonishment.
"Why are so many Dark Faction creatures here?"
The old man asked the green-robed elder standing beside him.
This old man's aura was terrifying. The space around him where he stood was continuously fractured by streaks of sword energy—he was a Half-Emperor level expert!
"It seems those creatures came here to trouble that brat Ye Yunfei.
As for that one… it burst out from underground."
The green-robed elder replied.
"Hahaha...
I've finally escaped from that accursed place!"
Right at that moment, a thunderous noise erupted from the depths of the earth. Everyone saw a black shadow abruptly blast out from the ground, emitting an earsplitting, maniacal laugh.
Then...
Boom... boom...
Two or three more black figures continuously surged up from underground, lifting their heads to the sky and laughing wildly.
The energy auras emanating from these black figures were utterly terrifying. Vast, surving black energy shot skyward, shaking heaven and earth, causing this region to tremor.
"All of them are Half-Emperor level experts!"
The people from the Heavenly God Palace and the Sword Emperor Pavilion watched the procession of black figures rushing out from deep underground and couldn't help but feel a twinge of alarm.
If it was just a single Half-Emperor level expert, the forces from the Heavenly God Palace and the Sword Emperor Pavilion wouldn't be too afraid. After all, the Heavenly God Palace had their Master present, and the Sword Emperor Pavilion also had one Half-Emperor expert.
But now, there were already four or five Half-Emperor level Dark Faction experts, unleashing such horrifying pressure that this entire region was transforming into a black world. Black mist billowed everywhere, accompanied by strange cries and wails—a truly hair-raising scene.
"Heh heh...
Human creatures. Just in time to use them as a snack."
Suddenly, the gaze of one black creature swept over towards the people from the Heavenly God Palace and the Sword Emperor Pavilion.
"Even though the Harvest Great Operation hasn't officially started, it's not a bad idea to practice on these fellows."
The black creatures that had just rushed out from underground all set their sights on the forces of the Heavenly God Palace and the Sword Emperor Pavilion.
Their ability to break free fastest and be the first to charge out from behind the Black Great Door attested to their terrifying power.
"Let's retreat."
The Heavenly God Palace Master frowned and spoke softly.
He had no wish to face these legendary Dark Faction creatures for no good reason. It was unnecessary.
"We're withdrawing immediately!"
The Half-Emperor expert from the Sword Emperor Pavilion also commanded softly, leading his contingent to quietly pull back.
"Heh heh...
Trying to leave now? Too late."
A black creature sneered.
Swish...
One after another, the black figures moved, charging respectively toward the Heavenly God Palace and the Sword Emperor Pavilion.
Ah! Ah!
Suddenly, members from both the Heavenly God Palace and the Sword Emperor Pavilion clutched their heads and screamed in agony.
"Heh heh...
You're already trapped within our Black Malevolence Formation. Escape is impossible."
A cold, eerie voice rang out.
Boom! Boom!
Black mists of catastrophic proportion erupted, sealing the heavens above and the earth below.
"Not good! There's some strange energy invading their bodies, trying to control them!"
The Sword Emperor Pavilion's Half-Emperor expert's expression changed slightly.
The Heavenly God Palace Master also frowned as he noticed that the screaming members of his palace were similarly being invaded by a bizarre energy.
"It's that black mist! Everyone be careful, don't get tainted by it!"
The Palace Master warned.
Rumble...
A formidable energy pressure erupted from his body, sweeping clear all the black mist around him.
Sizzle...
With a wave of his hand, the Sword Emperor Pavilion's Half-Emperor expert struck out, instantly forcing back the black mist in the surrounding expanse of space.
Swish, swish...
Several black shadows charged towards the Heavenly God Palace and Sword Emperor Pavilion forces.
"What's happening?
It looks like a fight has broken out?"
Far away, on a mountain peak several hundred li distant, Ye Yunfei suddenly appeared behind a great tree and peered towards the mountain range from earlier.
After the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm had carried the Phantom Tower through the deep layers of space for a while, Ye Yunfei, finding that no one was chasing, had cautiously emerged on this distant peak to observe the situation.
At this moment, Ye Yunfei employed his Stealth Secret Art. Even across a distance of hundreds of li, he reckoned a Half-Emperor level expert probably couldn't detect him instantly. He had great confidence in his secret technique.
"Dark Faction Half-Emperor experts. And there are five or six of them!
It seems like they all rushed out from that Black Great Door underground!
Just what kind of place lies behind that door? How could there be so many Dark Faction Half-Emperors in there?"
Ye Yunfei was somewhat astonished.
"Get back!
We of the Sword Emperor Pavilion have no quarrel with you! Why attack us?"
At that moment, the Sword Emperor Pavilion's Half-Emperor expert suddenly roared in fury. The longsword in his hand shot forward, forcing back one of the black creatures.
"Heh heh...
Quarrel? There's no need for quarrels. Filthy lower races like you are by nature the prey of our kind. When hunters encounter prey, there's no need to reason. You just hunt them."
That black creature was also a Half-Emperor level expert. It emitted a sinister laugh and closed in once more, extending a massive pitch-black hand to grab towards the Sword Emperor Pavilion forces.
Simultaneously, two or three more black creatures also launched attacks on the Heavenly God Palace forces.
The Heavenly God Palace Master threw a punch. Boundless golden light erupted from his fist, simultaneously repelling those several black creatures.
It had to be said, the power of the Heavenly God Palace Master was terrifying. Though only a clone, he could still contend against a genuine Half-Emperor level expert.
Very quickly, the Heavenly God Palace Master and the Sword Emperor Pavilion's Half-Emperor expert were locked in fierce battles with the black creatures.
However, both the Palace Master and the Sword Emperor Pavilion expert were unwilling to prolong the fight. As they exchanged blows, they retreated, seeking an opportunity to escape.
For more and more black creatures were continuously surging out from underground. Every single one of these creatures emerging from below possessed monstrous power!
Right at that moment.
"You filthy creatures! You've indeed escaped!"
A great roar suddenly echoed through the heavens, and then a rusted long spear appeared in the firmament. It swelled continuously, carrying with it terrifying, unimaginable energy, and simply stabbed downwards.
Boom...
Instantly, a dense forest of countless spear afterimages was born across that region of sky and earth, cascading down upon the Dark Faction creatures.
"It's That Man From Back Then! Run!"
Upon seeing that rusted spear appear in the heavens, those black creatures who had just escaped from underground all let out terrified shrieks.
Pfft! Pfft!
On the spot, several of the newly escaped black creatures were struck by the spear, bursting like so many black soap bubbles, instantly disintegrating into nothingness.
Then, everyone saw an old man clad in armor, clutching that rusted long spear, descended from the sky. He looked like an ordinary soldier, his eyes wide with fury, his murderous aura billowing.
Rumble...
The old man slammed onto the earth, causing the ground to shake violently. Dust and debris flew everywhere as if a great earthquake had struck.