"We cannot let that brat escape just like that. He is gravely wounded now; this is the perfect opportunity to eliminate him!"
The Perfected Earth Immortal controlling the Black Great Seal said in a deep voice.
"And as for these Light Faction members, kill as many as we can, and preferably, don't let a single one get away!"
Another Perfected Earth Immortal looked towards the distant Light Faction forces who were withdrawing.
"First, kill all these Light Faction members quickly, then we'll go after Ye Yunfei! Move out!"
Yet another Perfected Earth Immortal spoke.
With a wave of his hand, this Perfected Earth Immortal led a large group of the remaining Dark Faction forces in pursuit of the Light Faction members.
Earlier, having received Ye Yunfei's telepathic message, the commanders of the ten Light Faction Battalions had already led their troops in a hasty retreat.
"Commander Cang, your 26th Battalion now belongs to our Dark Faction, not the Light Faction any longer. Why aren't you taking your men to pursue the Light Faction? What are you doing standing there?"
Suddenly, a senior Earth Immortal from the Dark Faction addressed Commander Cang of the 26th Battalion, his tone tinged with displeasure.
During the previous great battle, whether out of guilt or some other reason, the forces of the 26th Battalion had barely made any move, almost like bystanders.
"Pursue them!"
After hearing the Dark Faction expert's words, Commander Cang had no choice but to wave his hand, leading the 26th Battalion to follow behind the Dark Faction forces in pursuit of the ten Light Faction battalions.
However, just at that moment, a farmer dressed in coarse hemp clothing suddenly appeared in the chaotic void ahead, blocking the path of the Dark Faction forces.
"Who are you? Why are you blocking our way?"
All seven Dark Faction Perfected Earth Immortals were secretly wary, for they couldn't even discern when this middle-aged man dressed like a farmer had appeared ahead to block their path. Such movement techniques were somewhat startling.
"Everyone, disperse. I do not wish to trouble you," the farmer said lightly.
"This is a matter between our Dark Faction and the Light Faction. What is your status, sir? Do you intend to interfere in the affairs of our two factions?" a Perfected Earth Immortal asked gravely.
"Why waste words with him? This fellow is most likely from the Light Faction. Just kill him directly!"
Another Perfected Earth Immortal grew impatient. Taking a step forward, he pointed a finger. A dark longsword blasted out, dragging countless black waves of sword energy and radiating formidable dark power, its killing intent staggering.
This dark longsword was a precious artifact personally bestowed by the Dark Ancestor, its offensive power terrifying.
"Hmm. An artifact of the Dark Faction. Quite powerful. However, it cannot harm me," the farmer said indifferently.
The next moment, with a deafening roar, a simple-looking hoe shot out from the farmer's body, rapidly enlarging until it transformed in the blink of an eye into a colossal hoe that swung towards the Dark Faction forces.
The energy pressure emanating from this gigantic hoe was utterly terrifying. It immediately made the Dark Faction members' limbs go soft and their Soul Bodies wobble, unable to withstand it.
"Be careful!"
The Perfected Earth Immortal controlling the dark longsword sensed the hoe's assault, his face changing drastically as he shouted.
Boom!
Another Dark Faction Perfected Earth Immortal summoned the Black Great Seal, causing it to swell and move forward to block.
With an earth-shattering clang, the dark longsword, the Black Great Seal, and the giant hoe collided almost simultaneously. Sparks flew everywhere, instantly illuminating a vast expanse of space-time.
"How is this possible?!"
All seven Dark Faction Perfected Earth Immortals were aghast. The hoe had actually blocked the combined might of the two artifacts personally bestowed by the Dark Ancestor, not retreating a single step, its imposing aura astounding.
One must know, under the combined assault of these two artifacts, Ye Yunfei had been severely wounded in mere moments. Yet, this farmer before them had squarely blocked the combined attack of both artifacts—his combat strength was simply astounding.
"Attack together!"
All seven Dark Faction Perfected Earth Immortals charged at the farmer simultaneously.
Rumble...
The hoe was raised high and then hacked down violently, carrying an energy pressure of extreme terror, forcibly repelling all seven Dark Faction Perfected Earth Immortals—including the Black Great Seal and the dark longsword.
"Too strong!"
The seven Perfected Earth Immortals were all terrified, their faces losing color.
"Everyone, you'd better not force me to make a move," the farmer said lightly, not taking the initiative to attack.
"Sir, are you not from the Light Faction then?" a Perfected Earth Immortal inquired.
For if members of the Light Faction and Dark Faction encountered each other, they would undoubtedly fight recklessly to the death without such talk.
"You need not know my identity," the farmer replied.
"If you are not from the Light Faction, why intervene to help them?" another Perfected Earth Immortal questioned.
"When I act, I do as I please. I need not explain myself to others. If you persist in entanglement, do not blame me for being impolite," the farmer said with a hint of impatience.
The enormous hoe hovered above the farmer's head, emanating a terrifying energy pressure that enveloped this region of the void.
The seven Dark Faction Perfected Earth Immortals looked indecisive, their expressions alternating. They communicated via telepathy to deliberate—should they do battle with this expert of unknown origins before them?
"Our true target is that brat Ye Yunfei. We should seize the time to pursue him. As for those ordinary Light Faction members, there's no need to waste too much time on them."
After conferring for a moment, the seven Perfected Earth Immortals reached a decision.
"Sir, we will remember today's events," one of the Dark Faction Perfected Earth Immortals declared grimly.
Then, all seven Dark Faction Perfected Earth Immortals simultaneously turned and raced in the direction Ye Yunfei had left earlier.
Because the farmer blocked the way ahead, the rest of the Dark Faction forces also dared not continue pursuing the ten Light Faction battalions. They turned and left in a different direction.
"Commander Cang, you will lead the 26th Battalion's forces to continue garrisoning its bases. From now on, the several bases of the 26th Battalion belong to our Dark Faction's territory. Rest assured, I will send a group of experts back with you to defend the 26th Battalion's bases together in the future," a senior Dark Faction Earth Immortal said to Commander Cang of the 26th Battalion.
"Understood," Commander Cang nodded in agreement.
He knew that from now on, the 26th Battalion could only cling to the Dark Faction.
"I wonder how that young man is faring now. I must go check on him. I cannot let him come to harm, or I'll have no way to answer to Mister Liu."
At this time, the farmer gazed in the direction Ye Yunfei had departed and spoke to himself.
In the next instant, he took a step and directly traversed the void, disappearing.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the Chaotic Void of the Three Thousand Worlds, a figure drenched in blood suddenly appeared, its aura somewhat feeble.
It was precisely Ye Yunfei.
"I must find a place to heal my injuries now," Ye Yunfei said to himself, frowning slightly as he assessed the state of his body.
"How are your injuries? I can sense that although your wounds are severe, the energy and laws within you are slowly elevating. This time, it seems your realm was not damaged," Hun Lao spoke up.
During the previous battle, Hun Lao had not taken action, remaining inside the Phantom Tower. Thus, when Ye Yunfei escaped, Hun Lao went with him.
As for the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, Hu Miao, Huang Shang, and the others, they had separated from Ye Yunfei.
"Yes. In fact, at the moment I was grievously wounded, my heavenly tribulation was already nearing completion and about to dissipate. Moreover, since I fused a drop of primal essence blood from the Myriad Laws Vine and have had the Worldly Myriad Laws Seed planted within me, my realm suffered no damage this time. After being wounded, my breakthrough was automatically completed in those final fragments," Ye Yunfei answered.
"Does that mean you are an Earth Immortal now?" Hun Lao asked, a bit surprised and pleased.
"One should say, an Earth Immortal who is grievously wounded," Ye Yunfei replied with a bitter smile.
"What does that matter? With your bodily quality, even injuries as severe as these can heal," Hun Lao said.