After breaking through to the Perfected Half-Emperor realm, Ye Yunfei's strength increased by another significant margin.
"I should be able to instantly kill any Perfected Half-Emperor I encounter now.
Even a group of Perfected Half-Emperors would be easy to deal with," Ye Yunfei remarked confidently, sensing the intensity of his spiritual power within his body.
Ye Yunfei already possessed the strength to defeat a Perfected Half-Emperor previously. Now, with his improved power, he could nearly eliminate such opponents with a flick of his finger.
"With your current level of Soul Power, you should be able to break the seals on the eighth and ninth layers of the Heavenly Dao Tower.
Who knows what Guhuang Great Emperor hid on those floors? Perhaps it will help enhance your strength," Hun Lao suddenly said to Ye Yunfei.
"Yes, I should be able to break them now.
Alright, I'll proceed to unlock the eighth and ninth layers of the Heavenly Dao Tower immediately," Ye Yunfei nodded.
The next moment, the Heavenly Dao Tower materialized before Ye Yunfei. He sat cross-legged and released his Soul Power perception into the tower, beginning to decipher the seal on the eighth layer.
Just as Ye Yunfei was working on breaking the seal of the Heavenly Dao Tower's eighth layer, an imposing carriage was speeding across the cosmic void of the Tianpo Realm toward the Small World where Ye Yunfei was located.
The carriage was pulled by three exotic beasts with dragon heads and horse bodies, rolling forward through the starry expanse. Behind it followed a large group of robust cavalrymen, each emanating sharp auras and clad in gleaming armor, evidently possessing formidable strength.
"Heh...
This journey has been quite fruitful. I managed to subjugate seven sects in total. Their forces are all quite impressive. I truly indulged in the role of supreme ruler at their headquarters these past days.
Upon returning to the Soul Realm, I'll bring out some clansmen and station them within those seven sects.
From now on, our Soul Race will gradually control more and more factions, seizing more territory within this Tianpo Realm," said a ruddy-faced old man inside the carriage with evident satisfaction.
Soon after, the carriage drew closer and closer to the Soul Realm.
"What's going on?
I can't seem to sense the avatar I left behind in the Soul Realm?
That's impossible! Within a certain distance, my true body and that avatar should definitely maintain a connection!
What on earth has happened?"
Suddenly, the old man inside the carriage paled slightly, frowning as he muttered to himself.
He then strained to sense his avatar, trying to establish contact, but no matter how hard he concentrated, he couldn't make a connection.
"Let me contact my eleven trusted aides and see what's really going on!"
The old man appeared somewhat anxious. He sat in a meditative posture and began to perform a long-distance sensing secret art.
A short while later...
"Roar...!
What in the world is happening? I can't even contact my eleven trusted aides! I can't even sense my other clansmen anymore!
Has something happened to the Soul Realm?!"
The old man suddenly let out a low, furious roar.
He then waved his hand. The three exotic beasts pulling the carriage abruptly increased their speed, their hooves causing the starry sky to tremble as they charged rapidly toward the Soul Realm.
The cavalry following behind also picked up their pace, racing after the carriage.
At the same time...
Within the Soul Realm, inside the Phantom Tower, Ye Yunfei was still working on the Heavenly Dao Tower's eighth-layer seal.
Three days later.
Following a crisp cracking sound, Ye Yunfei successfully shattered the eighth-layer seal.
"Hun Lao, let's go in and take a look," Ye Yunfei said.
Then, Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao simultaneously rushed into the eighth layer of the Heavenly Dao Tower.
The eighth floor was a small hall.
A man stood in the hall with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze profound, his expression bearing the weight of ages, smiling faintly at Hun Lao.
"Guhuang Great Emperor!"
The moment he saw the man, Hun Lao became instantly excited and rushed forward.
This man was indeed Guhuang Great Emperor!
To be precise, he was a trace of soul power imprinted here by Guhuang Great Emperor.
"Heh, Xiao Hun, you've worked hard over all these years," Guhuang Great Emperor said with a smile.
"Guhuang Great Emperor, I've missed you so much!"
Hun Lao choked up as he spoke.
"Xiao Hun, this doesn't suit your style. You weren't like this before," Guhuang Great Emperor said with a chuckle.
"Indeed... When I used to roam the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds with you, I was carefree and unburdened. I truly miss those days," Hun Lao nodded.
"No gathering under heaven lasts forever; there's no need to be saddened," Guhuang Great Emperor sighed softly.
"Guhuang Great Emperor, where is your true self right now?"
Hun Lao suddenly asked.
This was the question he had always wanted to know most.
"I do not know.
Back then, with the World-Destroying War imminent, killing intent filled every corner of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds. I too was targeted by a group of mysterious powerhouses and sensed a threat to my life. So, I sealed you inside the Heavenly Dao Tower and hid it away.
Then my true self went to participate in the World-Destroying War," Guhuang Great Emperor replied.
"Were those mysterious powerhouses who targeted you from the Dark Faction?"
Ye Yunfei suddenly interjected.
"Young man, you know about the Dark Faction too?"
Guhuang Great Emperor turned his gaze toward Ye Yunfei.
This spiritual imprint of Guhuang Great Emperor had already encountered Ye Yunfei before, so he knew of his identity.
"Yes.
From what I understand, the Dark Faction was the source of the World-Destroying War," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Correct.
The source of the World-Destroying War was indeed the Dark Faction.
However, the Dark Faction is adept at rallying and dividing the forces of various worlds across the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, so they have many allies.
In my memory, even before the World-Destroying War officially began, numerous factions within the Three Thousand Worlds had already started fighting amongst themselves, engaging in intense conflict.
The World-Destroying War, in truth, started with battles between the various internal factions of the Three Thousand Worlds.
I only learned by chance back then that the true origin of the World-Destroying War was the Dark Faction," Guhuang Great Emperor sighed.
"A new World-Destroying War is about to begin," Ye Yunfei said solemnly.
"A new World-Destroying War is coming?"
Guhuang Great Emperor was taken aback.
This spiritual imprint of his had remained within the Heavenly Dao Tower and was unaware of the situation in the outside world.
"Yes, Guhuang Great Emperor, a new World-Destroying War is approaching rapidly.
The Dark Faction has already begun operating everywhere across the Three Thousand Worlds. We've encountered their forces several times already, and Ye Yunfei has even fought them on a few occasions," Hun Lao explained.
"The Dark Faction... They simply refuse to let up," Guhuang Great Emperor said with anger in his voice.
"Xiao Hun, before I left to participate in the World-Destroying War, concerned for your safety, I left behind six tokens within the eighth layer of the Heavenly Dao Tower.
Each of these six tokens contains a sealed trace of my attacking power, equivalent to eighty percent of my full-strength strike.
I was a Perfect Heavenly Emperor; eighty percent of my full-power strike could repel a High-Level Heavenly Emperor.
These six tokens are the most formidable killing tools I left for you. Originally, I intended that if you ever encountered an unresolvable life-or-death crisis, this soul imprint of mine would notify you and hand over the six tokens to you.
However, you never truly encountered such a moment of crisis, so these tokens have remained hidden until now.
Since you've now reached the eighth floor, I'll entrust these six tokens to your own safekeeping."
As he spoke, Guhuang Great Emperor waved his hand, sending six jet-black tokens floating before Hun Lao.
"They can repel a High-Level Heavenly Emperor!"
Upon hearing Guhuang Great Emperor's words, both Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao were simultaneously shocked and overjoyed.
These six tokens were truly supreme weapons of mass destruction!