"So your surname is Ye, brother Ye. Brother Ye, did you run into some trouble?
Maybe you could use a hand. I'll go with you, perhaps I can be of some help."
Sima Bei acted with familiar ease.
"No need.
Let's go."
Ye Yunfei replied flatly.
He didn't know Sima Bei's background at all, so there was no point in further interaction.
"Alright, let's go now."
The Xiao Family's young woman turned and led Ye Yunfei away from the city, heading towards a certain location nearby.
"This guy seems a bit wary of me, but he looks like the scion of some super-powerful influence. Best to curry favor."
Sima Bei hesitated for a moment, then stealthily followed.
At this gathering, no one paid Sima Bei any attention whatsoever, so he figured he might as well secretly tail Ye Yunfei, find an opportunity to ingratiate himself, and seek a patron.
When Ye Yunfei left the city, in the central square of that city, a servant quietly approached Zhan Yuan.
"Young Master Zhan, that brat has taken the bait. He is leaving now, rushing to the rescue.
The Black Wind Group has already laid a dragnet, waiting for him," the servant said via Sound Transmission.
"Excellent. Follow them. Also, take some of our men. If necessary, intervene and help the Black Wind Group deal with that brat.
Anyone who dares oppose me cannot be allowed to live," Zhan Yuan nodded, replying via Sound Transmission.
"Young Master Zhan, rest assured, I know what to do."
"Furthermore," Zhan Yuan instructed, "inform the Black Wind Group that once they capture Xiao Huanhuan and Xiao Yueyue, take them to the designated location immediately. Then, send people to secretly escort the two of them to my secret palace. Remember, not a whisper of news must leak!
Under no circumstances can the Xiao Family find out I'm involved in this!"
"Understood, Young Master Zhan."
The servant answered via Sound Transmission and then left.
By now, Ye Yunfei had followed the Xiao Family's young woman to a certain part of the Chaotic Void near the Shangqing Realm.
"Young Lord Ye, up ahead is where Huanhuan, Yueyue, and I encountered the Black Wind Group. That's where we got separated," the Xiao Family young woman walking in front said to Ye Yunfei. Her gaze held a trace of excitement as she spoke. Because she was facing forward, back turned to Ye Yunfei, she thought he wouldn't notice this subtle expression.
However, the power of Ye Yunfei's Soul Power was simply too formidable. He had already perceived her every move and each fleeting change in expression.
"Indeed, there is a problem," Ye Yunfei thought to himself.
"Definitely a trap," Hun Lao transmitted.
"But Xiao Huanhuan and Xiao Yueyue being chased by the Black Wind Group is real. Even if it is a trap, I still need to see what happened to them," Ye Yunfei thought for a moment and replied.
"Then you'd better be prepared," Hun Lao said helplessly. He knew Ye Yunfei's temperament; trying to dissuade him was futile.
"We're here."
A moment later, the Xiao Family woman leading the way suddenly stopped.
Ye Yunfei also halted, his gaze cold as he looked at her.
The Xiao Family woman slowly turned around while retreating, subtly increasing the distance between them.
"Is this the place where Xiao Huanhuan and Xiao Yueyue encountered the Black Wind Group and were chased?" Ye Yunfei asked.
"Yes, this is exactly where they met the Black Wind Group," the woman answered.
"However, by now they should already be in the Black Wind Group's clutches. There's no need for you to rescue them, because you have your own problems to worry about now," the woman suddenly revealed a mocking expression, her tone shifting as she spoke.
As her words fell, a large group of people surged forth from the surrounding chaotic void, converging on Ye Yunfei from all directions.
"As expected, Black Wind Group men," Ye Yunfei glanced at them and gave a cold laugh.
This time, the Black Wind Group had dispatched over two hundred members. Many of them were Golden Immortals. There were more than a dozen Perfected Golden Immortals, and among them, five belonged to the Nine-fold Returning to Truth Immortal level of Perfected Golden Immortals.
Deploying such forces against Ye Yunfei showed the Black Wind Group's considerable regard for him!
"You are a member of the Xiao Family, yet you colluded with the Black Wind Group. Aren't you afraid of your family finding out?" Ye Yunfei paid little mind to the over two hundred Black Wind Group members, his gaze turning to the Xiao Family woman as he asked casually.
"Hmph! Who will know after we kill you?
Besides, your life or death is none of our Xiao Family's business. No one in our family cares about you. Even if they learned I collaborated with the Black Wind Group against you, it wouldn't matter."
Seeing Ye Yunfei surrounded by so many Black Wind Group members yet looking completely unafraid, the Xiao Family woman felt somewhat puzzled. Hearing his question, she immediately sneered in reply.
"What about Xiao Huanhuan and Xiao Yueyue? I'm guessing their encounter with the Black Wind Group was also your doing, wasn't it?" Ye Yunfei pressed.
"Nonsense!
I have no idea what you're talking about.
In any case, you're a dead man today. No outsider will learn what happens here," the Xiao Family woman's face paled slightly at Ye Yunfei's question before returning to normal as she said coldly.
Observing her expression change, Ye Yunfei knew for sure that this Xiao Family woman was indeed responsible for Xiao Huanhuan and Xiao Yueyue's encounter with the Black Wind Group here. Perhaps she had tricked the two sisters into coming here while notifying the Black Wind Group to lie in wait.
"Why harm Xiao Huanhuan and Xiao Yueyue?
Are you also competing for your family's Saintess position, trying to eliminate them? Or was it Xiao Qinglian who instructed you to do this?" Ye Yunfei asked another question.
"Brat! You're on death's doorstep, yet you have so many questions. You should worry about yourself!" the Xiao Family woman suddenly grew furious, pointing and scolding Ye Yunfei.
"She's right, brat. You should worry about yourself.
You've killed so many of our Black Wind Group men. Today marks your end," a tall, gaunt middle-aged man from the Black Wind Group now spoke up, his voice cold.
This middle-aged man was the squad leader of these Black Wind Group members, in charge of this operation against Ye Yunfei.
He was a Perfected Golden Immortal at the Nine-fold Returning to Truth Immortal level.
"Attack! Kill this brat!" the middle-aged man barked.
Immediately, several dozen Black Wind Group members rushed forward. Some drew weapons, others unleashed magical treasures, while yet others employed various martial arts and secret techniques, attacking Ye Yunfei from different directions.
"I never wished to make enemies of your Black Wind Group. Yet your Black Wind Group has time and again forced my hand. Since that's the case, there's nothing more to be said. I can only unleash my slaughtering intent," Ye Yunfei watched the Black Wind Group members surging forward from all sides like fierce wolves and tigers, his expression turning cold as he spoke.
Originally, having just left the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds and entered the Chaotic Void Sea, Ye Yunfei hadn't wanted to make enemies. But now that the Black Wind Group actively sought his demise, he had no other choice.
"Brat! Facing death, you still dare to boast!
Do you really think you're all that powerful, unleashing slaughter? Do you think you can defeat all of us?
Die!"
A Black Wind Group member with the strength of an advanced Golden Immortal brandished a large blade and cleaved towards Ye Yunfei.
Dense, domineering waves of blade light, dazzling and brilliant, surged towards Ye Yunfei.
*Crack!*
Ye Yunfei swept a glance at this Black Wind Group member and unleashed the Myriad Swords Return to One Great Art. With a flick of his hand, he sent forth a slash—a thick sword beam shot out, directly severing the Black Wind Group member's large blade into two pieces before shredding his body, exploding it into a bloody mist.
Instant kill!
Previously, within the Sword Tomb of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, Ye Yunfei had already cultivated the Myriad Swords Return to One Great Art to the level of 'Three Hundred Thousand Swords Return to One'. Later, Ye Yunfei had not stopped training, instead continuously practicing swordsmanship with one of his Soul Bodies. Therefore, his swordsmanship level had been steadily rising.
The Myriad Swords Return to One Great Art Ye Yunfei now wielded was even mightier!
Dealing with an advanced Golden Immortal was effortless!
"How is this possible?"
The others nearby, seeing Ye Yunfei instantly kill an advanced Golden Immortal with a single sword strike, were all taken aback, unable to believe it.
"This brat is truly bizarre, no wonder he could kill so many of our Black Wind Group members before!
Everyone, attack together!" the leading tall, gaunt middle-aged man roared.
*Whoosh! Whoosh!…*
Even more Black Wind Group members swarmed forward, surrounding and attacking Ye Yunfei.
*Clang! Clang!…*
Ye Yunfei drew a Golden Immortal-level longsword, continuously slashing out thick sword beams. Nearly every one of those sword beams instantly killed a Black Wind Group member.
Those weaker Black Wind Group members were slain several at a time by a single slash from Ye Yunfei!
During the fight, Ye Yunfei employed his Great Spatial Movement Technique. His speed was terrifyingly fast—suddenly to the left, suddenly to the right, forward, backward—making it impossible for the Black Wind Group members to accurately lock onto his position.
"How can this guy be so strong?"
The Xiao Family woman stood observing the battle from afar. Seeing Ye Yunfei display such might, continuously slaying Black Wind Group members with each sword stroke, her expression began to change.
"With so many Black Wind Group members… they couldn't possibly lose to just this one guy, could they?" the Xiao Family woman thought to herself while subtly retreating, ready to flee at the first sign of trouble.
"Go!
Together!"
The tall, gaunt leader of the Black Wind Group, seeing his men being slaughtered one after another, roared in fury and shock.
He took the lead personally, a short-handled silver war halberd in each hand, charging towards Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei focused his will, unleashed a Soul Sword that invaded the tall man's soul sea, and simultaneously swung his sword, sending a sword beam slash hurtling towards him.
"Too strong!"
The tall man's face paled in fright as he retreated repeatedly, not daring to confront Ye Yunfei head-on.
*Clang!*
The sword beam Ye Yunfei sent forth sent the two halberds in the tall man's hands flying backward.
"Impossible!" the tall man cried out in shock and horror.
*Clang! Clang!…*
Ye Yunfei did not pursue the tall man. Instead, he continued slashing away, killing other Black Wind Group members.
Though the Black Wind Group had the advantage in numbers, the sword art Ye Yunfei wielded had overwhelming lethality. One sword, one kill—every stroke precise and unerring!
Any Black Wind Group member who got close to Ye Yunfei was instantly slain.
While employing his sword techniques, Ye Yunfei also intermittently unleashed Soul Sword attacks, combining assaults to even greater effect.
In a short while, Ye Yunfei had killed about half the Black Wind Group members!
The remaining hundred or so members were all frightened, looking at Ye Yunfei with terrified gazes.
They had personally witnessed Ye Yunfei kill so many comrades in such a brief time, among whom were even Perfected Golden Immortals of the Nine-fold Returning to Truth Immortal level!
These Black Wind Group members finally understood that the youth before them, only an Intermediate Golden Immortal in realm, possessed truly fearsome combat power. They had truly kicked a metal plate!
"Brat! You've killed so many of our Black Wind Group members. From this moment on, our Black Wind Group will pursue you to the death!" The leading tall, gaunt middle-aged man glared at Ye Yunfei with a look full of hatred, gnashing his teeth as he enunciated each word.
He had originally thought that bringing such a force to deal with a mere Intermediate Golden Immortal brat was definitely overkill, something he could easily accomplish. He never imagined such an outcome. He had already lost half the Black Wind Group members he brought. Upon returning, he would undoubtedly face reprimand from the group leader.
"Nonsense!
Your Black Wind Group has already sent people to kill me. It was already a fight to the death," Ye Yunfei sneered.
"Those who kill shall be killed in turn," Ye Yunfei added.
As he spoke, Ye Yunfei continued slashing repeatedly. In the blink of an eye, he beheaded another seven or eight Black Wind Group members.
"It's not that your Black Wind Group fights to the death now, but that I will fight you all to the death!"
Ye Yunfei, now incited by the slaughtering momentum, gave a great shout and charged forward.
Ye Yunfei combined Soul Sword attacks with the Myriad Swords Return to One Great Art. Like a tiger plunging into a flock of sheep, he was invincible wherever he went, cutting down those Black Wind Group members so they couldn't even fight back.
Moreover, Ye Yunfei's movement technique and speed were terrifyingly fast. Once any Black Wind Group member was targeted, not one could escape.
Originally, the Black Wind Group members had surrounded Ye Yunfei. Now, it seemed as if Ye Yunfei were alone, encircling and hunting down the Black Wind Group members. They wanted to flee but couldn't.
"This brat's combat power is too terrifying!
We are simply no match for him!
Run!"
Finally, the remaining Black Wind Group members' morale crumbled. They scattered, attempting to flee.
"Now you think of running? Too late," Ye Yunfei sneered, sending out slash after slash of thick sword beams that whistled through the air, constantly killing fleeing Black Wind Group members.
"Oh no! So many Black Wind Group members, yet they can't handle this brat!
I must flee immediately!
Otherwise, once he finishes off those Black Wind Group members, he'll come for me!"
The Xiao Family woman was utterly terrified. Not daring to linger a moment longer, she turned and fled.
"And where do you think you're fleeing to?"
The moment the Xiao Family woman had fled some distance, a voice echoing with chilling, spectral energy sounded from ahead.
Then, before her, a vast expanse of ghostly mist suddenly erupted and surged forth. Countless resentful wraiths and fierce ghosts continuously materialized, pouncing towards the Xiao Family woman.
Immediately afterward, a tall figure, its entire body cloaked in thick, dripping blood, appeared beside the Xiao Family woman and lunged at her.
"What kind of monsters are these? Get away!"
The Xiao Family woman was so frightened her soul nearly fled her body as she screamed in horror.