The tribulation soon began. There wasn't much difference between Ye Yunfei's tribulation this time and the last one. The only distinction was its increased intensity. Countless bolts of lightning transformed into a roaring thunderfall that descended from the sky.
Ye Yunfei offered no resistance. Standing amidst the overwhelming tide of lightning, he allowed thick bolts of thunder to strike his body, raising plumes of smoke.
Not long after, Ye Yunfei successfully broke through, becoming an Advanced Earth Immortal.
By then, the dark clouds in the high sky had dissipated. Ye Yunfei stood in mid-air, his fists clenched tightly. Vast, torrential streams of Earth Immortal-level energy gushed forth from within his body like a mountain flood and transformed into a rolling hurricane of energy that swept out in all directions, shaking the space of the entire world.
"So powerful!"
All the top brass of the Light Faction were thoroughly shocked by the Immortal Power energy Ye Yunfei released, retreating backward. Some weaker high-ranking members were nearly blown away, their faces pale.
"Why do I feel the density of Immortal Power energy Ye Yunfei possesses now surpasses even that of most Perfected Earth Immortals!" one senior couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
Seeing the effect of the energy he unleashed, Ye Yunfei quickly withdrew his Immortal Power.
"Seniors, my apologies. I got a bit carried away," Ye Yunfei came before Old Man Chu and apologized to the Light Faction's high-level members.
"Hahaha…
No problem, Ye Yunfei. The surprise you gave us was too great!"
"Truly, heroes emerge from the young!"
...
The Light Faction elders praised him one after another.
"Good lad! Now, I'm afraid even I am probably no match for you!" Monk Tianwu stepped forward and patted Ye Yunfei's shoulder, saying with satisfaction.
"What is the situation outside now? Have Dark Faction forces already come looking in this region?" Ye Yunfei asked.
Although Ye Yunfei had been in secluded cultivation all this time, due to his powerful Soul Force energy, he had a vague awareness of events occurring outside.
"Yes, a batch of Dark Faction personnel has indeed arrived in this part of the Chaotic Void where the backup base is located to search. However, they haven't discovered our backup base for now."
Old Man Chu nodded and replied.
"Then, has the person we sent to contact the Beast Lord returned?" Ye Yunfei asked again.
"Not yet," Monk Tianwu answered.
"Senior Chu, I now plan to go out and lure away those Dark Faction forces. You all should continue hiding in this base," Ye Yunfei thought for a moment before speaking.
"You go out to lure them away? The Dark Faction is currently searching everywhere for you. Rumor has it it was a command from the Dark Ancestor himself—to find you alive if possible, and dead if not. For you to willingly go out now is too dangerous; you might even draw the Dark Ancestor himself.
I think you should stay here with us. If this base is discovered later, we can relocate together. Don't worry, we anticipated this situation long ago, so we prepared several backup bases within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds in advance," Monk Tianwu, hearing Ye Yunfei's words, quickly tried to dissuade him.
"Senior Tianwu, there's no need to worry on my behalf. Given my current strength, aside from the Dark Ancestor, I fear none of the Dark Faction's experts.
Moreover, during this period, the Dark Ancestor has only been sending out clones to act. I suspect his true body is likely guarding that Yin Seed in the Nurturing Yin Land because, aside from our Light Faction, many other powerful figures desire it.
Thus, I intend to seize this opportunity to eliminate a batch of the Dark Faction's experts," Ye Yunfei replied.
"Even if the Dark Ancestor's true body is guarding the Yin Seed, he has many clones. If you reveal yourself, his clones are sure to come and cause trouble for you," Old Man Chu considered for a moment before speaking.
"I am not afraid of the Dark Ancestor's clones. Even if I cannot defeat them, I have the confidence to retreat unscathed," Ye Yunfei stated confidently.
All the Light Faction elders were astonished to hear his words.
Several of the Dark Ancestor's clones had been active everywhere lately. Although they were merely clones, wherever they went, no one had been a match for them.
"It's said the Beast Lord of the Demon World was injured by a clone of the Dark Ancestor and almost killed. At the critical moment, it took dozens of ancient demons jointly sacrificing one of their race's ancestral treasure to block the Dark Ancestor's attack temporarily and allow the Beast Lord to escape.
So, Ye Yunfei, you absolutely must not underestimate the Dark Ancestor's clones!" one elder told Ye Yunfei.
The other Light Faction seniors also chimed in, urging Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei was now one of the strongest experts in the Light Faction; none wished to see him come to harm.
"Seniors, rest assured. I have encountered a clone of the Dark Ancestor before, so I know what to expect. I would not gamble with my own life.
Right now, the Dark Faction is rampaging across this space-time, slaughtering cities and annihilating worlds. Every so often, another world might be destroyed by them. Someone must step forward to stop their atrocities.
Furthermore, Qing Luo's fate is unknown, her whereabouts a mystery. I must find a way to locate her.
In short, I cannot just wait here," Ye Yunfei said slowly.
"Seniors, please don't try to dissuade me any further. I will protect myself."
Ye Yunfei then looked at Old Man Chu. "Senior Chu, I want you to protect a group of people for me."
"I know who you want me to protect. Very well, entrust them to me. Rest assured, as long as this old life of mine remains, I will protect their safety," Old Man Chu nodded, no longer trying to persuade Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei immediately transferred a large group of people out from the Phantom Tower, including his family, clansmen, and others closely connected to him.
"Fei'er, where are you going?"
Miao Ziqiong, knowing her son's character, stepped forward anxiously. Whenever he entrusted his family to others for protection, it meant he was about to undertake something dangerous.
"Mother, the situation outside is extremely chaotic. I plan to go and see. Please don't worry," Ye Yunfei replied.
After dealing with his mother's inquiries, Ye Yunfei took out his Space Teleportation Token, activated it, and left this world.
During this period of secluded cultivation, Ye Yunfei had nearly exhausted most of his cultivation resources. However, his gains were tremendous. Compared to before, his combat power had increased by several times over.
Given the chaotic situation now, Ye Yunfei had no intention of lingering idly in this backup base.
In the next moment, Ye Yunfei appeared somewhere in the Chaotic Void near the backup base.
He first released his Soul Force energy and soon sensed a patrol of Dark Faction members in the distance. Their leaders were five Earth Immortals!
"From now on, I will kill every Dark Faction member I encounter!" Ye Yunfei fixed a cold gaze on the Dark Faction members, his voice dripping with killing intent.
Without the slightest hesitation, Ye Yunfei moved, his form instantly appearing before the Dark Faction patrol. He employed his fleshly body strength, slapping his palm forward.
Boom!...
The palm Ye Yunfei struck out continuously expanded, instantly filling the entire space in front of him. The terrifying physical force it unleashed suppressed the Dark Faction members until they could not move a muscle, each standing there frozen with terror as Ye Yunfei's massive palm powerfully crushed down toward their heads.
"It's Ye Yunfei!"
The five leading Dark Faction Earth Immortals recognized him at that moment and screamed in fright.
Then, the entire Dark Faction patrol was struck by Ye Yunfei's palm and exploded, transforming into clouds of blood mist.
Including the five leading Earth Immortals!
Of these five Dark Faction Earth Immortals, only one was an Advanced Earth Immortal; the others were all Intermediate and Primary level. Given Ye Yunfei's current strength, they were far too weak.
"What happened?!"
The disturbance immediately spread outward. Dark Faction members from other nearby areas heard the commotion and rushed over at once.
Ye Yunfei used his Concealment Secret Art, directly vanishing his form and the aura of his soul body.
Soon after, a large group of Dark Faction members rushed over.
"One of our patrol teams was wiped out! Right at this location! Who was it?!" an Advanced Earth Immortals, sensing the scene, exclaimed angrily.
"Most likely the Light Faction! It seems we haven't come to the wrong place. The Light Faction might be nearby! Everyone, be careful!" another Advanced Earth Immortal shouted warily.
Boom!...
Before his words finished echoing, a massive fist streaked in from the distance, growing bigger and bigger like a colossal divine mountain, containing an utterly fearsome power that shattered the surrounding space as it traveled.
"Flee, quick!"
A few of the Dark Faction Earth Immortal experts, sensing the terrifying force within that fist, changed color in fright and simultaneously screamed.
However, at this moment, Ye Yunfei had already employed his Space Cage Secret Art. An invisible spatial cage descended from above, directly suppressing the bodies of these Dark Faction members, instantly rendering them all immobile.
Then, the giant fist swept across horizontally, smashing the Dark Faction members one after another like bursting bubbles, annihilating them completely.
"Incredible! Although you are only an Advanced Earth Immortal now, you seem to possess Golden Immortal-level combat power!"
Hun Lao, witnessing the fearsome combat prowess Ye Yunfei displayed, couldn't help but exclaim.
"My physical strength is approaching approximately ten thousand jiaos, which should indeed classify as Golden Immortal-level power. But other energies, such as Soul Force Energy and Mind Force Energy, likely still don't fully qualify as genuine Golden Immortal-grade energies yet," Ye Yunfei pondered before replying.
"Who cares! Anyway, you now possess Golden Immortal-level combat power. Even encountering a true Golden Immortal, you could probably put up a bit of a fight," Hun Lao stated.
"Probably," Ye Yunfei nodded. Having fused six Golden Immortal-level artifacts, Ye Yunfei was confident that, relying on his physical strength and the quality of his reinforced flesh, he could at least manage to tangle briefly with ordinary Golden Immortal-level experts.
Of course, he referred to common ones, such as Primary-level Golden Immortals.
If he encountered those particularly powerful Golden Immortals, Ye Yunfei understood he was still outmatched.
"Speaking of which, you should thank Mr. Liu. If it weren't for his spell seal helping you suppress the first Golden Immortal-level artifact, you might not have succeeded in the fusion. He is your benefactor."
"Yes, I most certainly should thank Mr. Liu. Regarding how I've achieved such formidable physical strength now, besides thanking Mr. Liu, I must also thank the few elders of the Heavenly Gold Race. If they hadn't imparted the Incarnate as Artifact Secret Art to me, and hadn't gifted me their clan's origin source blood essence, I absolutely could not have cultivated such an ingenious secret art of the Heavenly Gold Race," Ye Yunfei replied with a smile.
"It's over there! There seemed to be movement just now!"
At that moment, another group of Dark Faction members rushed towards the location where Ye Yunfei had been killing.
Ye Yunfei gave a cold sneer, employed the Great Space Body Movement Technique, and in an instant appeared before this group of Dark Faction members. He then cast his Space Cage Secret Art. An invisible spatial cage descended from above and immediately locked down and heavily suppressed this entire space.
"Ye Yunfei! It's you!"
The leader, a Dark Faction Advanced Earth Immortal, looked at Ye Yunfei with eyes full of terror as he recognized him.
"Indeed, it is I," Ye Yunfei stated indifferently, then sent out a slap.
Poof!
That Dark Faction Advanced Earth Immortal was instantly slapped into a cloud of blood mist. Several other Earth Immortals beside him were also caught in the force and violently exploded.
Ye Yunfei then threw a punch, annihilating the entirety of this Dark Faction group.
These Dark Faction members, the Earth Immortals included, were all far too weak before the current Ye Yunfei.
It was akin to a flock of chicks encountering a fierce tiger!
Ye Yunfei extended his Soul Force energy afar and soon discovered several more groups of Dark Faction members scattered in the surrounding Chaotic Void.
These Dark Faction forces had come to this region of Chaotic Void precisely to search for traces of the Light Faction.
That was because the Dark Faction's Diviner Hei Que had deduced that the Light Faction was likely hidden somewhere within this part of the Chaotic Void. Consequently, he dispatched a large contingent to search here.
Ye Yunfei employed his Great Space Body Movement Technique, instantly appearing before another group of Dark Faction members actively searching around, and took direct action. In less than two breaths, he had slaughtered this entire Dark Faction group as well.
And so, Ye Yunfei continuously deployed the Great Space Body Movement Technique, ceaselessly hunting down all Dark Faction personnel within this region of Chaotic Void.
Finally, Ye Yunfei arrived before a Perfected Earth Immortal of the Dark Faction, fixing a cold gaze upon him.
"Ye Yunfei, so it was you all along! No wonder my subordinates were being slaughtered!" The Perfected Earth Immortal immediately recognized Ye Yunfei, suddenly enlightened.
He was responsible for leading the team to this Chaotic Void to search for the Light Faction. Just moments ago, he had realized that the members he led were constantly being massacred. However, Ye Yunfei's movement technique was too profound, his speed of slaughter was too fast, and moreover, Mr. Liu's spell seal masked his aura. No matter how he looked, he could not find the perpetrator.
Only now, with Ye Yunfei appearing before him, did he understand.
"That's right. It was I. Now die," Ye Yunfei stated icily.
He then threw a punch.
"Such terrifying physical power!"
Sensing the horrifying might within Ye Yunfei's fist, this Dark Faction Perfected Earth Immortal immediately wore an expression of terror, wanting to turn and flee.
But it was already too late.
Bang!
Ye Yunfei's punch pulverized the Dark Faction Perfected Earth Immortal into a cloud of blood mist.
Instant annihilation!
"All the Dark Faction personnel in this part of Chaotic Void have been eliminated by you.
However, you've left many traces here. The Dark Ancestor will likely soon receive word," Hun Lao said to Ye Yunfei.
"No need to worry. I can appear elsewhere from now on. That will attract the Dark Faction's gaze, causing them to stop sending further search parties here," Ye Yunfei replied.
"From now on, I will definitely kill every Dark Faction member I encounter.
Though I am no match for the Dark Ancestor, I can defeat all other Dark Faction members."
"In that case, why don't you simply kill all the other Dark Faction members first? Eventually, only the Dark Ancestor will be left, a commander without an army—much easier to deal with then," Hun Lao said with a chuckle.
"That is precisely my intention. At the same time, I have another critical matter: I must find Qing Luo," Ye Yunfei nodded.
Subsequently, Ye Yunfei returned to the entrance-exit of the Light Faction backup base and deployed a large number of formidable formations to help conceal this access point.
Then Ye Yunfei activated his Space Teleportation Token and departed from this Chaotic Void.