"Report! An urgent matter! Xijian City has been wiped out! All our Sword Emperor Pavilion personnel stationed in Xijian City are dead, and the city itself has been destroyed, reduced to a wasteland!"
Within the headquarters of the Sword Emperor Pavilion, an urgent-sounding steward rushed before the Pavilion Master and several elders, anxiously delivering the news.
At that moment, the Pavilion Master and the elders were in the middle of discussions.
"What happened? Who was responsible?"
The Pavilion Master and the elders all paled, rising to their feet simultaneously. Xijian City was one of several important cities near the Sword Emperor Pavilion's headquarters, holding great significance. Its destruction was a major event!
"It was that little bastard Ye Yunfei! I received word that Ye Yunfei suddenly appeared in Xijian City, went on a mad killing spree, and slaughtered all our Sword Emperor Pavilion members. Even City Lord Liu died by his hand!" the steward reported.
"Ye Yunfei!"
The Pavilion Master and elders were both shocked and furious. They had just been discussing how to lure Ye Yunfei into a trap and seize the Heavenly Dao Tower. They hadn't expected Ye Yunfei to appear so soon, let alone so brazenly destroy Xijian City!
"So he really has come. It seems he does care about those Mao Clan people. Pass down the order: have everyone prepare. Ye Yunfei may come to rescue the captives at headquarters at any time. The moment his trace is found, report it immediately!" the Pavilion Master stated frostily.
"Pavilion Master, City Lord Liu of Xijian City was at the peak of the Heavenly Boundary Realm. Besides him, there were five or six other Heavenly Boundary Realm experts in the city. The fact that Ye Yunfei killed them all… doesn't that suggest his combat power is close to Half-Emperor level?" an elder nearby suddenly spoke up.
"Possibly. One must admit, that kid truly is a monstrous genius rarely seen in this world! However, since he has provoked our Sword Emperor Pavilion, he has only one path left to him: death!" the Pavilion Master said coldly.
"Yes. Even if he truly possesses Half-Emperor level combat strength, the moment he sets foot in our headquarters, he will still meet his end!" The other elders also exuded killing intent.
One must know that the Sword Emperor Pavilion possessed several Half-Emperors, all seasoned experts at that level!
"Ye Yunfei is undoubtedly targeting those Mao Clan people. Issue the order: guard those hundred-plus Mao Clan captives strictly!" the Pavilion Master added after a moment's thought.
"Ye Yunfei, come. Our Sword Emperor Pavilion awaits you," the Pavilion Master said slowly, his killing intent shocking.
Half a day later.
"Report! We have just received news: Tianjian City has been wiped out by Ye Yunfei! All our Sword Emperor Pavilion personnel stationed in Tianjian City have been killed, all valuables have been plundered, and the entire city has been blasted into rubble, becoming a wasteland! The situation is the same as with Xijian City!"
Another steward hurriedly appeared before the Pavilion Master and elders to deliver the news.
"What? Tianjian City has also been destroyed by Ye Yunfei?!"
The Pavilion Master and the elders were once again shocked and enraged.
"Damn it! You filthy Ye Yunfei, I will hack you into ten thousand pieces!" the Pavilion Master roared in fury.
"Pavilion Master, it appears that Ye Yunfei intends to strike at several cities around our Sword Emperor Pavilion first before targeting the headquarters," an elder stated.
"I think we should dispatch a Half-Emperor expert to investigate. Otherwise, several cities around the headquarters might be picked off by Ye Yunfei one by one!" another elder suggested.
"Alright. Immediately send a Half-Emperor expert to check the situation!" the Pavilion Master decided after a moment.
Soon, an elder shot up into the sky, leaving the Sword Emperor Pavilion headquarters. Transforming into a sharp streak of sword light, he streaked toward a city named Shijian City near the Pavilion with terrifying speed.
Meanwhile, in Shijian City, Ye Yunfei was strolling down the main street.
"Master, why haven't you made your move yet?" Hu Miao asked curiously.
"I've consecutively destroyed two cities belonging to the Sword Emperor Pavilion. This place is very close to their headquarters, so their higher-ups must have received the news. It's highly likely they have sent a Half-Emperor expert to investigate. So, I'll wait a bit, see if a Half-Emperor expert shows up here, then make my move when an opportunity arises," Ye Yunfei replied with a smile.
At that moment, Ye Yunfei had already activated the Thousand Transformations technique, altering his appearance and Soul Body aura. He was also employing the Concealing Shadow secret art, tightly masking his aura. Having obtained the Blood Essence of the Shadow Clan, Ye Yunfei had cultivated the Concealing Shadow secret art to an extremely high level. At his current cultivation, the effects were formidable.
Furthermore, Hun Lao had also activated the Heavenly Dao Tower, releasing an arcane stream of energy and laws that enveloped Ye Yunfei, further assisting in concealing his presence.
Even if a Half-Emperor were to stand right before him now, they wouldn't be able to perceive Ye Yunfei's true identity.
"Ah, so that's why," Hu Miao said, enlightened.
*BOOM!*
A moment later, a terrifying sword light cleaved through space, roaring over from the distance. In the blink of an eye, it arrived above Shijian City and stopped.
It was an old man.
A Half-Emperor expert!
"It's Elder Ruan! Pay respects to Elder Ruan!"
Soon, a large group of Sword Emperor Pavilion members rushed out from the city to stand before the old man, respectfully saluting.
"Has there been any unusual activity in Shijian City?" Elder Ruan asked indifferently.
"Reporting to Elder Ruan, Shijian City has been quiet so far. I have already ordered enhanced defenses! And I have activated the city's protective formation!" a green-robed elder stepped forward to reply.
This elder was the city lord of Shijian City. The news of Xijian City and Tianjian City's destruction had already reached him. He had long since reorganized Shijian City's defensive strength, implementing what was arguably the most stringent defensive measures the city had ever seen.
"Mn. Take this token. The moment you discover the whereabouts of that little thief Ye Yunfei, inform me immediately! I will come at once," Elder Ruan said, taking out a token and handing it to the city lord.
"Rest assured, Elder Ruan. I understand," the city lord said respectfully, accepting the token.
"Mn," Elder Ruan nodded.
*RUMBLE!*
Suddenly, a vast, ocean-like torrent of Soul Power energy surged forth from his head, pouring down to envelop the entire Shijian City, beginning a meticulous scan.
Elder Ruan's Soul Power energy was too terrifying. In an instant, every foot and inch of Shijian City's space was within his perception.
Within the city, many living beings looked up with reverent gazes at Elder Ruan, who stood high in the sky.
"Elder Ruan is a Half-Emperor!"
"I never thought I'd have the fortune to see a Half-Emperor expert in person!"
Many beings communicated secretly via Sound Transmission, expressing their shock.
Ye Yunfei, however, watched Elder Ruan in the sky with indifference, sneering inwardly.
Elder Ruan's Soul Power swept over Ye Yunfei's body several times, but it detected nothing out of the ordinary.
*"Master, even a Half-Emperor expert can't sense you!"*
Hu Miao spoke excitedly to Ye Yunfei via Sound Transmission.
*"Hu Miao, don't use Sound Transmission. Half-Emperor experts have powerful perception. They can detect the energy fluctuations caused by it,"* Ye Yunfei hurriedly cautioned mentally.
*WHOOSH!*
A moment later, Elder Ruan transformed back into a sharp streak of sword light and vanished into the distance in a flash.
"He's gone, and he's quite far away now," Hun Lao informed Ye Yunfei after a while.
"We'll make our move after waiting a little longer."
Another period of time passed.
"Time to move," Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
Then, Ye Yunfei began his slaughter.
*ROAR!*
The nine divine beasts charged out from behind him, annihilating all Sword Emperor Pavilion members they encountered.
The Blood Clan clone also appeared, killing and devouring bloodlines simultaneously.
In less than half the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Shijian City was forcefully wiped out by Ye Yunfei!
"Let's go." Ye Yunfei shot into the sky and streaked away in an instant.
A moment later.
"Little whelp Ye Yunfei, prepare to die!"
A sword light roared across the horizon in the distance, stirring up a wave of sword energy like a raging, turbulent tide.
The next moment, Elder Ruan reappeared in the skies above Shijian City.
But at this time, Shijian City had already become a wasteland!
Half a day later.
"Report! Shijian City has also been wiped out by Ye Yunfei! It has become a wasteland!"
Within the Sword Emperor Pavilion headquarters, yet another steward rushed back to deliver a report.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damnable Ye Yunfei! You deserve a thousand deaths!"
The Pavilion Master and the elders were completely enraged now, entering a state of utter fury.