"Understood! Patriarch, I will go and arrange it immediately!"
A black-robed figure respectfully acknowledged the order, then turned and departed.
At this moment, a terrifyingly intense battle was still raging outside the core base of the 26th Battalion. Violent combat energies of an extreme degree spread out in all directions, shaking vast areas of the chaotic void and tearing open numerous dark, yawning spatial fissures.
"This is too terrifying!"
Lifeforms had gathered from afar throughout the surrounding space-time, all coming to witness this conflict. The war between the Light Faction and the Dark Faction had now become the paramount event across the Three Thousand Worlds, with beings from across the cosmos fixated on its developments.
By this stage in the battle, the Light Faction's disadvantage had become evident. They were being steadily beaten back, casualties continuously mounting, appearing thoroughly bedraggled.
"Do not get bogged down in protracted fighting! If you see an opportunity, escape immediately! Preserve our strength!"
Amidst the conflict, the leaders of the seven Light Faction Battalions repeatedly sent Sound Transmission to the members of their respective units, urging them to seize any chance to break free.
Only Commander Cang of the 26th Battalion wore a complex expression. He quietly led the forces of Battalion 26 to the rear of the other seven allied battalions.
It wasn't just Commander Cang; nearly half of Battalion 26's upper echelons also wore conflicted looks, many clearly struggling internally. Only a minority of the battalion's leaders wore cold sneers, and some even looked expectant!
Right at that moment.
"We've finally reached the battlefield!"
Ye Yunfei's figure abruptly appeared in the distance. Gazing coldly at the fiercely contested battlefield ahead, he spoke.
"The Dark Faction has mobilized over two hundred Earth Immortal experts! Our Light Faction has at least the strength of five or six battalions here to fight. However, it seems our Light Faction's situation is rather grim. Whether in terms of expert numbers or overall numbers, we are inferior to the enemy."
Using his Soul Power, Ye Yunfei swiftly sensed the distant battlefield and grasped the general situation.
"Everyone, prepare to move. We begin the slaughter!"
Ye Yunfei's gaze turned icy as he sent a Sound Transmission to the upper echelons of his three battalions.
"I think it would be best if you first enter the battlefield alone and stealthily," Hun Lao advised Ye Yunfei. "Then, suddenly release everyone and launch a surprise attack. That would have the greatest impact."
"That's a good plan."
Ye Yunfei nodded in agreement. He immediately activated the Time-Space Annihilation Art and shot towards the distant battlefield.
Following his substantial increase in spatial energy comprehension, Ye Yunfei's mastery of the Time-Space Annihilation Art had reached an extremely profound level, bordering on being formless and traceless. As he moved, even Earth Immortal experts would find it difficult to detect him promptly.
Back on the battlefield, the situation for the Light Faction forces grew more perilous by the moment, with casualties steadily increasing.
"Commander Cang! Your 26th Battalion may act now! Let's end this tedious battle. We don't have time to waste on these doomed souls."
At this point, a Dark Faction expert coldly sent a Sound Transmission to Commander Cang of the 26th Battalion.
Hearing this, Commander Cang couldn't help but tremble. The other upper echelons of the 26th Battalion also revealed expressions of hesitation.
"What is it? Still not moving?" The Dark Faction expert sneered.
*BOOM!*
At that very moment, four of the 26th Battalion's leaders suddenly stirred. They led a group of their forces to charge toward the rear of the other seven Light Faction battalions.
"The deed is done. Let us also act."
Witnessing this scene, two more Earth Immortal experts from the 26th Battalion sighed. With a wave of their hands, they led their own trusted followers and joined the charge, advancing against the troops of the other seven battalions.
"Heh heh... Watching the Light Faction kill their own—what a brilliant tactic! Once word of today's events spreads, it will surely shake the Light Faction's morale and greatly undermine the fighting spirit of their other forces!"
A Dark Faction expert laughed coldly.
At this point, six Earth Immortal experts from Battalion 26 were already leading their troops to attack the other Light Faction forces. The assault was completely unexpected. The members of the other seven battalions were barely holding their ground against the Dark Faction's relentless advance. Who could have anticipated an attack from their own rear? In an instant, many were slain. Four Earth Immortals were even killed amidst the chaos by those six Earth Immortals from Battalion 26, and another was severely wounded!
Even more serious was that the battle formations of the seven allied battalions were instantly disrupted by the charge of Battalion 26's forces.
"Cang Tong! What are your people from Battalion 26 doing?!"
The commanders of the other seven battalions all spun around simultaneously, shouting angry demands.
"Everyone," Commander Cang faced the furious gazes of the members from the other seven battalions, sighed, and spoke. "I, Cang Tong, have let you down. Our 26th Battalion has let you down. But we had no choice."
"Cang Tong! So, this crisis your 26th Battalion supposedly faced, the need for rescue—it was all a trap! A scheme concocted by your 26th Battalion in collaboration with the Dark Faction! The goal was to lure us here to be surrounded and slaughtered!" One of the battalion commanders asked angrily.
"Hahaha... Correct! That is exactly the truth of the matter! Battalion Twenty-Six has already pledged allegiance to our Dark Faction. We set this trap precisely to gather you all here and wipe you out in one go, sparing us the trouble of hunting you down one by one."
Before Commander Cang could reply, the Dark Faction expert who had just ordered Battalion 26 to act burst into wild laughter, brimming with satisfaction. This was the effect he wanted—to use Light Faction members to kill other Light Faction members!
"Commander Cang! Your 26th Battalion has performed excellently. From this moment, you are qualified to serve our Dark Faction as slaves!" This Dark Faction commander declared loudly.
"Fine then, Cang Tong! So you've already colluded with the Dark Faction! You've led Battalion Twenty-Six to surrender to the Dark Faction! You traitor!"
"Cang Tong! The Light Faction will never forgive you, nor will we forgive Battalion Twenty-Six!"
Hearing the Dark Faction expert's words, the commanders of the other seven battalions were shocked and enraged, roaring one after another.
"Hmph! It seems you lot still haven't grasped the reality of your situation. Let me advise you: give proper thought to your current predicament. You will all die here today. Stop concerning yourselves with other matters."
A black-clothed elder from Battalion 26 coldly snorted and spoke in a loud voice.
"I recognize you! You are Gao Yunyu of Battalion Twenty-Six! Gao Yunyu, back when you suffered cultivation problems that left severe hidden injuries, it was Elder Yan from headquarters who personally treated you! Without him, you would never have reached the level of a high-level Earth Immortal in this lifetime! And now you dare betray the Light Faction?! You ungrateful wolf-hearted, dog-lunged scum!"
A Light Faction Earth Immortal expert cursed him vehemently.
"Enough! I have no interest in listening to your verbal sparring here," the Dark Faction expert spoke coldly. "Take action! Battalion Twenty-Six will lead the charge! Whoever kills the most will receive hefty rewards from me later!"
"I humbly obey the High Envoy's command! Rest assured, High Envoy, I will strive to the utmost to kill the enemy and earn your rewards!"
Gao Yunyu of Battalion 26 immediately fawned.
"Hmm, not bad, you. Don't worry, I will properly elevate you," the Dark Faction expert said approvingly.
"Many thanks, Lord High Envoy!" Gao Yunyu was somewhat excited.
At this moment, the members of the seven besieged Light Faction battalions felt a touch of despair in their hearts. Their own side's strength was already inferior to the Dark Faction's. Now, discovering that Battalion 26 had turned coat made the Light Faction's overall strength even weaker!
"Everyone! The situation is critical! We have no choice but to fight for our lives!"
One of the battalion commanders gritted his teeth as he communicated with the other leaders.
"We can only fight now! Kill one to break even, kill two for profit!"
The other commanders also nodded one after another, knowing that a desperate struggle was their only option.
However, just at that moment.
"You will not have the chance to collect any reward. Because you are about to die."
A voice suddenly rang out. Everyone then saw a young man abruptly appear within the battlefield, stepping toward Gao Yunyu with a chilling expression.
It was none other than Ye Yunfei!