Ye Yunfei activated the Space Transportation Token and instantly left the Xianling Realm, arriving in the outer chaotic void. He then took out the token to send messages to Yan Xiaoquan and the others.
After a moment, Yan Xiaoquan and the others arrived before Ye Yunfei.
"Alright, we can now officially begin the mission for our team. Our team has been assigned a total of two battlefields. The entrance and exit for the first battlefield are inside a Small World within the Beidou Continent. Let's depart for the Beidou Continent immediately to enter that Small World," Yan Xiaoquan stated.
"A Small World within Beidou Continent? But all four of you are at the Mystic Immortal realm, and I am a Perfected Heavenly Emperor. Can beings like us enter a Small World? Aren't we afraid of being repelled by the will of that world or being stopped by the Ancient Covenant?" Ye Yunfei asked immediately.
"Don't worry. Before we set out, Elder Liu gave me a talisman. It can conceal our auras for a short period, allowing us to enter the Small World," Yan Xiaoquan replied.
"Alright, let's head out." Yan Xiaoquan waved her hand and took the lead towards the direction of Beidou Continent.
......
"Remarkable. To have grown to this stage in such a short time. It proves we didn't misjudge him back then." At a certain location within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, two individuals were watching Ye Yunfei from afar. One of them spoke.
If Ye Yunfei were here, he would immediately recognize these two as the Fat Monk and the old man from before. They were the ones who had urged Ye Yunfei to participate in this operation, and they had been keeping an eye on him all along.
"Yes, the speed of his growth has already exceeded our expectations. His actual combat power now must be approaching that of a True Immortal. If he continues growing at this rate, he'll probably become a pillar of strength who can handle major responsibilities for our Light Faction soon," the Fat Monk nodded, his face filled with admiration.
"Hehe, truly, the younger generation inspires awe," the old man chuckled and nodded.
"By the way, Old Man Chu, what moves has the Dark Faction made lately?" the Fat Monk suddenly asked the old man.
"Recently, the Dark Faction's actions mainly revolve around three points," Old Man Chu answered. "The first is they are still establishing branch bases everywhere, extending their influence into various Major and Minor Worlds. Even in some extremely weak Small Worlds, they have set up branches and even taken control of quite a few.
The second is they are constantly lobbying major powers throughout the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds. Many major powers have already defected to the Dark Faction.
Of course, our Light Faction has also secured the allegiance of many major powers. Especially some ancient powers that participated in the World-Destroying Wars of the past know what the Dark Faction is about and have joined us automatically.
The third is they have dispatched a group of experts everywhere to collect the essence of flesh and blood as well as fragments of Soul Bodies left behind after living beings perish."
"They aren't even sparing the Small Worlds. It seems this time, the Dark Faction intends to act against all the worlds of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds. According to Light Venerable, this should be the final World-Destroying War," the Fat Monk said gravely.
"Yes. Light Venerable also said that the final World-Destroying War will destroy the entire Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds. In this stretch of space-time, very few living beings will survive," Old Man Chu nodded.
"There's one thing I've never understood. What reason drives the Dark Faction to destroy this stretch of space-time?" the Fat Monk suddenly questioned with puzzlement.
"Once, I heard Light Venerable utter a sentence: 'The Seed has begun to ripen, the final World-Destroying War is about to arrive.' After hearing that, I immediately asked him what he meant. But he didn't answer, instead saying I would understand in due time," Old Man Chu said.
"The Seed has begun to ripen? The final World-Destroying War is about to arrive? What on earth does that mean? Oh right, did Light Venerable ever say what our Light Faction's chances of winning are in this World-Destroying War?" the Fat Monk was taken aback.
"I asked. Light Venerable's answer was that the chances for our Light Faction are very low. Even if we ultimately win, it will be a pyrrhic victory, requiring immense sacrifice," Old Man Chu said slowly.
Hearing Old Man Chu's words, the Fat Monk fell into silence.
"Regardless, we are beings born of this stretch of space-time. This is our homeland. No matter the cost, we must do everything in our power to stop the Dark Faction from destroying this stretch of space-time!" Old Man Chu's gaze suddenly turned resolute as he spoke solemnly.
"Yes! No matter the cost, we must protect the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, protect this stretch of space-time, protect the living beings within it!" the Fat Monk also gave a firm nod.
Then, the two turned and left.
......
At the same time.
At the edge of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, within a space shrouded in eternal darkness, a figure with an utterly terrifying aura sat cross-legged.
"Report, Venerable One. During this period, our Dark Faction has already established branch bases in roughly over seven hundred Major and Minor Worlds. Moreover, within these seven hundred-plus worlds, we have secured the allegiance of a batch of powers. It can be said that our Dark Faction has secured a foothold in each of these worlds," a black-robed being arrived before the terrifying figure and reported respectfully.
"That is far from enough. The Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds were originally a vast expanse of space-time. In the very beginning, there were indeed three thousand worlds. But in every World-Destroying War of the past, many worlds were destroyed, or drifted from their original positions, falling into sealed-off spaces, isolated from the rest. Also, many worlds were sealed away by experts of the Light Faction to serve as territory for their faction.
Up to now, of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, only about a thousand worlds remain. That is far from meeting our requirements.
This time, we must find all the worlds. Not a single world can be missed.
Because this will be the final World-Destroying War. Every single living being across the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds must die. Only then can we collect a sufficient quantity of flesh and blood essence and soul essence.
Otherwise, all our previous efforts will be wasted!
I will now give you the complete information on all worlds that have ever existed within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds. Immediately dispatch our Dark Faction forces to locate all the lost worlds and those occupied by the Light Faction, then find ways to infiltrate them.
Also, dispatch a team to retrieve all the experts of our Dark Faction who went missing during the previous World-Destroying Wars.
In short, for the final World-Destroying War, no one can be absent. Everyone, be it from the Light Faction or our Dark Faction, must participate!" the figure with the terrifying aura slowly declared.
"Rest assured, Venerable One. I understand what must be done," the black-robed being hurriedly nodded and replied.
"Oh, Venerable One, during this period, the resource collectors we dispatched have collected another massive batch of flesh and blood essence and soul essence. It's all here," the black-robed being retrieved a black cloth sack and respectfully presented it to the seated figure.
"Excellent. From now on, have our Dark Faction personnel intentionally sow discord among the various powers within each world, incite as much hatred as possible, and let more beings slaughter each other. Then dispatch even more resource collectors to gather more flesh and blood essence and soul essence," the figure received the black sack and instructed.
"Yes!" The black-robed being hastily acknowledged, then bowed and turned to leave.
"Once the final World-Destroying War concludes, I will have completed my mission. This stretch of space-time will thoroughly move toward destruction, then return to nothingness," the seated figure murmured softly.
"Now, let the worlds within this stretch of space-time undergo another round of upgrades. The stronger the beings of this space-time become, the better." After some thought, the figure spoke again.
Then, he brought his hands together, forming a strange hand seal. One mysterious black sigil after another emerged from this hand seal.
Roar...
Next, numerous black threads appeared around the figure. Each of these black threads connected to a specific world within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds.
The black figure's hand seal began to shift continuously, releasing even more black sigils. These black sigils traveled along the black threads toward the other ends.
Rumble...
At this moment, most of the worlds within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds began to tremble. The energy and laws within these worlds started to continuously elevate.
"Great news! It seems our world is upgrading again! Hahaha... Our world has already undergone several upgrades in succession previously. Who would have thought it's starting to upgrade again now! This is truly a joyous occasion!" Since these worlds had experienced several world upgrades before, the beings within quickly understood what was happening. They were all elated and excited.
......
At this time, the five — Ye Yunfei and his companions — had already arrived at the Beidou Continent.
The Beidou Continent was also a world with considerable strength, similar to the Xianling Realm.
As soon as the five of them set foot on Beidou Continent, they discovered the continent was shaking continuously. The energy and laws within the continent were constantly elevating.
"World upgrade!" The five immediately understood what was happening.
"It must be the doing of the Dark Faction again! What kind of trick are they playing? Since they intend to destroy the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, why do they keep causing these worlds to undergo upgrades? What benefit do they gain from these world upgrades?" Yan Xiaoquan watched the continuously elevating Beidou Continent before her, her flawless brow furrowed as she spoke.
"Forget it. Such matters are beyond our ability to comprehend. I believe the higher-ups of our Light Faction must know the reason and have already devised countermeasures. Let's just focus on completing our mission," Zhou Ye said.
"Brother Zhou makes sense," Wu Wang nodded.
Thus, Ye Yunfei and the other four stopped paying attention to the world's upgrade. After searching for a while, they finally found the entrance to that Small World.
The entrance to this Small World was extremely well-hidden, located deep under the sea on a vast ocean at the edge of the Beidou Continent.
Ye Yunfei and the others dived to the ocean floor and found an ancient, massive gate.
Pushing the gate open and walking in, they encountered a spatial transportation gate.
Yan Xiaoquan took the lead and stepped through.
Boom...
A powerful transportation energy enveloped the five, initiating the teleportation.
Not long after, a flash of light met their eyes, and they found themselves inside a Small World.
Ye Yunfei discovered that this Small World's power level was very weak, almost on par with the Tianxuan Continent.
Rumble...
The intrusion of Ye Yunfei and the other four immediately drew the rejection of the Small World's will. All the energy of this world gathered together, surging tumultuously to crush Ye Yunfei and the others.
Yan Xiaoquan immediately took out an old, yellowed talisman and activated it directly.
Boom...
The yellow talisman burst forth with a yellow light curtain that directly shrouded Ye Yunfei and the other four.
The next moment, the will of the Small World began to gradually calm down, ceasing its rejection of the intruders.
"The effect of this talisman is quite good," Ye Yunfei couldn't help but praise.
"The vast majority of talismans within our Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds come from other stretches of space-time. Probably no one in our current space-time understands the art of talisman crafting. These talismans, having flowed into the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, are randomly scattered among the Major and Minor Worlds. Acquiring one depends entirely on luck," Wu Wang explained.
"So that's how it is," Ye Yunfei nodded.
Ye Yunfei had come into contact with talismans before back on the Tianxuan Continent. But until now, he had never met anyone who understood talisman crafting. It seemed these talismans truly came from other stretches of space-time.
"Everyone, we're about to enter that ancient battlefield now. This ancient battlefield is one of the sites from the last World-Destroying War. It contains a large number of lingering war wraiths and possibly residual combat energy. Let's be cautious," Yan Xiaoquan said.
Following Yan Xiaoquan's lead, the five arrived at a forbidden area within this Small World.
This forbidden area was quite famous in this Small World, known by its inhabitants as the Land of the Fallen Gods. It had existed for an extremely long time, said to be a place where ancient Deities perished. It was very mysterious and perilous. The beings of this Small World absolutely dared not approach it.
However, in reality, within this forbidden area known as the Land of the Fallen Gods lay sealed an ancient battlefield — a battlefield from the last World-Destroying War!
"Let's go in." Yan Xiaoquan took the lead. The five entered the Land of the Fallen Gods, walking inward.
Ahead, they saw majestic mountains and rivers, dense forests on ridges, thick Immortal mist rising, and numerous birds and beasts moving about. Auspicious energies filled the air. It was simply a paradise on earth.
But as they continued inward, the scenery gradually began to change. Vegetation grew sparse; scorched earth was everywhere.
Faintly, ahead came the sounds of battle, charges, the clashing of swords and blades, the rumbling of energies, roars, mournful cries — all kinds of sounds that made one's flesh creep continuously reached their ears.
"We are about to enter that ancient battlefield!" Yan Xiaoquan's spirits lifted as she announced.
The others also perked up.
Everyone knew the ancient battlefield ahead certainly held dangers, but all of them were at the Mystic Immortal level; they weren't afraid.
Approximately two hours later.
Finally, the five stepped into a vast, ancient battlefield!
Before them lay an endlessly desolate land. For millions of miles, the earth had turned to ruins.
Looking around, the ground was covered with fissures hundreds or even thousands of meters wide, stretching across the earth like a spider's web.
Countless mountain ranges had crumbled on the ground, rivers had vanished — a scene of utter desolation.
In the sky, shattered spatial cracks were everywhere, like giant maws of beasts, a heart-stopping sight. Endless fragments of space-time transformed into hurricanes that swept forth continuously.
Rumble...
Whether in the sky or on the ground, a terrifying baleful aura saturated everything, madly washing over the area, saturated with a frighteningly violent ferocity that made one's hair stand on end.
Kill!
Ye Yunfei saw countless war wraiths still on this vast land, charging, clashing, and killing each other frenziedly. Many lingering war wraiths were continuously slain, only to reform, enduring horrific agony.
"Be careful! True Immortal experts actually fought in this battlefield and perished here!" Yan Xiaoquan exclaimed in shock, warning everyone.
Rumble...
Not far away, a colossal figure reaching up to the heavens suddenly appeared. Clutching a great blade, it made a horizontal slash, instantly annihilating a large group of blackened beings.
"This is an expert from our Light Faction!" Wu Tianyu couldn't help but cry out in joy.
"Don't approach! This Senior is in the midst of slaying enemies. If we rush over now, we'll likely become targets of his attacks!" Yan Xiaoquan immediately shouted.
"Let's start with this Senior. Let's see if this Senior perished in battle back then. If we can establish contact, even if he is already fallen, he'll surely be able to provide us with useful information," Ye Yunfei said, gazing at that heaven-reaching, towering figure.