As everyone gathered around Elder Zhuo offering their congratulations, vast clouds of yin fog rolled in from the distance, dropping the temperature of the surrounding space by more than ten degrees.
"So it's them." Ye Yunfei's eyes fell upon several familiar figures among the approaching gloom.
It was precisely the Eight Sky-Soaring Nether Monkeys he had once subdued, including the one who was the Sage Son of the Flying Sky Yin Monkey Tribe. Ye Yunfei had later sent them back to the Netherworld. He hadn't expected them to seek him out again now.
"Let's land on the ground!" Ye Yunfei commanded. He led the five elders down to the earth. The elders understood his intent immediately—wherever there was land, it was effectively Ye Yunfei's domain!
Upon landing, Ye Yunfei immediately retrieved a substitute statue, merged with the ground, and began laying down a variety of earth-based formations. Meanwhile, the overwhelming yin fog drew closer, plunging the area into an unnatural darkness as if night had fallen prematurely.
Eerie, soul-shaking laughter echoed from within the roiling fog.
"It seems to be beings from the Netherworld," Elder Qi said with a frown.
"Our Light Faction has never had much interaction or dealings with the Netherworld," Elder Zhuo mused, puzzled. "Why would Netherworld creatures come targeting us like this?"
As Earth Immortals of the Light Faction, the five elders of the 35th Battalion were experienced and knowledgeable, immediately recognizing the nature of the approaching beings.
"These are Flying Sky Yin Monkeys from the Netherworld. They are here for me," Ye Yunfei transmitted via Sound Transmission.
"Flying Sky Yin Monkeys from the Netherworld?" The five elders were somewhat taken aback.
"Commander Ye, don't worry. Our Light Faction does not fear the Netherworld," Elder Chi declared. "If these Netherworld creatures dare act against you, we will simply fight them!"
"Indeed, the Light Faction has nothing to fear from the Netherworld!" The other four elders nodded in agreement.
"Let's not be hasty. We should ascertain their purpose first," Ye Yunfei replied.
At that moment, Ye Yunfei was using the Puppet Soul Threads secret art, attempting to contact the eight Sky-Soaring Nether Monkeys. He soon discovered, however, that the Puppet Soul Threads he had implanted in their soul seas years ago seemed unresponsive, as if suppressed by a powerful force.
"What's going on? Has the Puppet Soul Threads art been broken?" Ye Yunfei's brow furrowed slightly.
"Their strength seems to have increased astonishingly! Especially that Sage Son—he's actually an Initial Level Earth Immortal! In that case, they must have gained enough power from their improved realms to suppress the threads. Could that be the reason they are no longer under the threads' control?" Sensing the realms of the eight monkeys, Ye Yunfei was inwardly shocked.
Back when he subdued them, their power had been pathetically weak, not even reaching Heavenly Emperor level. Yet now, the Sage Son was an Initial Level Earth Immortal, and the other seven had all reached Immortal realm strength. Such rapid progress was indeed staggering.
With an overwhelming aura of sinister ferocity, the group of Flying Sky Yin Monkeys arrived, landing on the ground. They stared at Ye Yunfei and the others with venomous, hate-filled eyes.
"It's him! This human brat used evil arts to control the eight of us back then, forcing us to obey his commands!" One of the Flying Sky Yin Monkeys stepped forward, pointing at Ye Yunfei as he spoke through gritted teeth.
"Commander Ye once controlled eight Flying Sky Yin Monkeys?" Hearing this, the five elders were all surprised.
"Boy! Do you still remember us?!" another Flying Sky Yin Monkey shouted, jabbing a finger towards Ye Yunfei.
"Of course I remember. It's been a long time," Ye Yunfei replied indifferently.
"So it truly is you. Boy, it seems you are affiliated with the Light Faction. Why did you dare use evil arts to control our Flying Sky Yin Monkey Tribe's Sage Son back then? Did you truly think our tribe was so easily bullied? Now you must return with me to the Netherworld to give our tribe a proper explanation," said a tall, ferocious-looking Flying Sky Yin Monkey with an intimidating aura, his cold gaze fixed on Ye Yunfei.
ROOOOAR!
As he spoke, a terrifying murderous aura surged forth like a tornado, rushing straight towards Ye Yunfei.
"Hmph! Beings of the Netherworld, it's best you don't provoke our Light Faction!" Elder Qi snorted coldly, taking a step forward and unleashing a powerful energy pressure that instantly blocked the oncoming tornado of killing intent.
"This boy bullied our Sage Son first. The Sage Son's dignity represents the dignity of our entire tribe. This boy must come with us to the Netherworld, or this matter is far from over," the Flying Sky Yin Monkey said coldly.
"Elder Li Chou, why waste words with them? Let's just capture this human brat directly, take him back, sever his head, and hang it from the eaves of our Sacred Temple to proclaim our tribe's holy might!" another Flying Sky Yin Monkey bellowed from the side.
"Seeking death!" Hearing that monkey's words, the five elders of the 35th Battalion were enraged. They stepped forward in unison, releasing vast, imposing energy pressure that pressed forward.
RUMBLE!
Seeing this, Elder Li Chou and several other Flying Sky Yin Monkeys also stepped forward, unleashing a tide of malevolent aura. In an instant, swords were drawn and bows bent, a great battle imminent.
"It's said the Flying Sky Yin Monkey Tribe of the Netherworld possesses formidable power, and indeed it's true. That elder must have formidable combat strength. Everyone, be wary of him," Elder Qi warned via a discreet Sound Transmission.
"No need for everyone to be tense. Leave them to me," Ye Yunfei transmitted back.
The next moment, Ye Yunfei stomped his foot. With a thunderous rumble, the entire earth trembled violently. Surging earth energy erupted from the ground, transforming into raging crimson flames upon contact with the air. In the blink of an eye, the land had turned into a seemingly boundless scarlet sea of fire.
ROAR! ROAR!
Under the stunned gazes of everyone present, one crimson dragon after another erupted from beneath the earth, soaring into the sky with dragon might that shook the heavens, their maws spewing torrents of flame.
The forbidden land Ye Yunfei had arranged this time was named the Thirteen Fiery Dragon Land—a yang-attributed, ominous earth site! Now, this land had become an endless scarlet inferno, with thirteen massive crimson dragons roaring in fury.
"As my skill with Formations has improved, my mastery of Geomancy Technique seems to have risen significantly as well. Those key principles of the art that Senior Lu Yuanzu imparted to me... I now seem to understand them far more profoundly," Ye Yunfei mused inwardly as he observed the thirteen colossal crimson dragons.
"We've fallen into a trap! Leave this place at once!" Elder Li Chou cried out, both shocked and enraged.
"It's already too late!" Ye Yunfei let out a cold laugh. With a wave of his hand, the thirteen crimson dragons surged forward, cutting off the Flying Sky Yin Monkeys' escape routes.
BOOM!
Utilizing Instant Teleportation, Ye Yunfei shot forward with astonishing speed. With another flick of his wrist, he instantly erected over a hundred overlapping formations, trapping the Flying Sky Yin Monkeys completely within.