"There's no time to waste. We'll set off immediately. Both of you should enter my spatial magic treasure. It will help you avoid the eyes and ears of the Heavenly God Hall," Ye Yunfei said.
"Okay." Both Peng Rou and her brother nodded in agreement. They also had no desire to be discovered by the Heavenly God Hall along the way, as that would only invite trouble.
Peng Rou and her brother then entered the Phantom Tower.
Ye Yunfei activated his movement technique and began heading in the direction indicated by Peng Rou, making his way toward the Tianyan World Cluster.
According to Peng Rou, the Tianyan World Cluster was quite a distance from their current location. Under normal circumstances, it would take at least three months to reach it. However, given Ye Yunfei's speed, if there were no delays on the road, he might be able to arrive within a month and a half.
Ye Yunfei was in no particular hurry and didn't mind much. Since he currently had no clear destination, it was all the same to him; he would just wander around the Chaotic Void Sea for now.
At the same time.
Somewhere in the Chaotic Void Sea, within an extremely unusual world cluster brimming with dark energy, inside an ancient, heavily guarded palace located in a vast, pitch-black world...
An emaciated-looking old man sat cross-legged and motionless.
His body was covered by a thick layer of dust of ages.
This dust was the residue left after the spatial-temporal laws in this area had decayed and annihilated over an extremely long passage of time. It proved that this emaciated old man had been sitting here for many, many long years.
The location of this dark, ancient palace was within the forbidden grounds of the Dark Faction's headquarters!
This emaciated old man was a powerful expert from the Dark Faction, once famed across the entire Chaotic Void Sea. However, he had been in seclusion, laying low for a very long time.
The purpose of his secluded cultivation was very clear: to break through and become a Deity!
"Why is it that every time I can feel the critical moment for deification, I always fall short at the final step, ultimately unable to cross that last threshold? I have been immersed in the Perfected Demigod realm for such a long stretch of time. In principle, my accumulation and enlightenment should be sufficient. I possess the conditions needed to become a Deity. So why do I always fail?"
This emaciated old man had been as still as a statue, without even a wisp of aura emanating from him. Suddenly, a sigh filled with doubt and disappointment escaped his lips.
Then, the old man slowly opened his eyes. Two jet-black beams of light shot forth from his sockets, directly cleaving numerous deep, dark spatial cracks in the space before him.
"Could that legend truly be real? Has this world truly entered the post-Deity era, where the Fortune to Become a God has been exhausted, collapsed, and dissipated? For living beings of later generations to want to become Deities, they must first seek out and plunder sufficient Fortune to Become a God. Only then can they obtain enough fortune to qualify for a breakthrough?" the emaciated old man murmured to himself.
"Someone, come here."
After pondering for a while, the withered old man spoke indifferently.
"Master! You have finally emerged from seclusion!"
A member of the Dark Faction with an extremely tall physique and pitch-black skin, upon hearing the old man's voice, was overjoyed. He immediately appeared at the entrance to the palace before respectfully walking inside and approaching the elder.
"How is that Yin Seed we cultivated back in the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds faring now? Didn't I instruct you before not to let anything happen to it?" The withered old man asked calmly, sweeping a glance over the tall Dark Faction member.
"This disciple failed in his duty and deserves ten thousand deaths! I beg Master to condemn me to death!"
Upon hearing this, the Dark Faction member trembled all over with fear. He immediately prostrated himself on the floor, kowtowing repeatedly in terror and trepidation.
He knew that although his Master appeared frail and had an ordinary aura, his true strength was horrifying. He belonged among the top-ranking supreme experts within the Chaotic Void Sea. Over these years, this withered elder had been secluded, cultivating to impact the Deity realm. Though he hadn't succeeded yet, after these years of secluded cultivation, his strength must have progressed further, becoming increasingly terrifying.
"Master, originally that year, I intended to personally go to the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds to nurture that Yin Seed. But you, Master, instructed me that the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds were extremely complex, and it was best to send some clever-minded but low-strength disciples to handle this matter. So I dispatched the weakest disciple under my command to the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds to be responsible for this task. Although that disciple's strength was relatively weak, his ability to handle matters was very strong. He operated within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds for a long time, and things went very smoothly. Seeing this situation, I relaxed and lowered my guard. Unexpectedly, later, a youth named Ye Yunfei appeared in the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds. He actually seized the Yin Seed and claimed it for himself. Moreover, the news about the Yin Seed somehow spread. When the Yin Seed was about to mature, many major factions from the Chaotic Void Sea dispatched forces to the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds to snatch the Yin Seed. It was precisely this reason that gave Ye Yunfei the chance to take advantage of the chaos and steal the seed."
While kowtowing, the Dark Faction member explained. His black head struck the floor before him with loud thumps, sending sparks flying in all directions.
Yet, he dared not stop kowtowing until the withered old man told him to.
"You've already reported the course of events to me once before. I ordered you to send people to find that Ye Yunfei and retrieve the Yin Seed. Has he been found?"
"Not long after Ye Yunfei stole the Yin Seed, rumors emerged from the Colorless Abyss within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds about the appearance of divine traces. I immediately dispatched a large number of experts to the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, both to recover the Yin Seed and to explore the divine traces. However, later, a divine corpse actually appeared within the Colorless Abyss, killing many demigod experts. Since then, no external experts dared to enter the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds casually. I stationed many forces around the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, waiting for an opportunity to capture Ye Yunfei. But later, I received news that Ye Yunfei had already left the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds and appeared in the Tiange World Cluster, entering the Xuwu Realm to explore and seek treasures. Upon receiving this news, I immediately sent a group of subordinates to the Tiange World Cluster to search for Ye Yunfei. Once we find him, we will bring him back to headquarters and hand him over to you, Master."
While kowtowing, the tall Dark Faction member narrated.
His physique, forged through thousands of trials, was originally extremely sturdy. But this dark palace was his Master's seclusion site, arranged with the most profound and terrifying forbidden techniques of the Dark Faction. Every location was horrifyingly hard. Thus, after continuously kowtowing for a period, blood had already begun to flow from his forehead. Pitch-black ink-like blood streamed down his face, looking extremely bizarre.
"Mmm. I've also heard about the divine corpse appearing in the Colorless Abyss of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds. You acted correctly. From now on, we absolutely must not casually send experts into the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds. If we anger the divine corpse within, it could bring unimaginable disaster upon our Dark Faction. The majesty of a Deity is not to be violated. Even a Deity's corpse is not something we ordinary beings can afford to offend. Sigh... if one does not become a Deity, one remains an ant after all!"
The withered old man sighed softly.
"Speaking of which, what has Lord Black Nothingness been busy with lately?"
The withered old man asked casually.
"Lord Black Nothingness has been closely monitoring the movements of other major factions within the Chaotic Void Sea. According to what Lord Black Nothingness said, recently, quite a few major factions within the Chaotic Void Sea seem to be stirring, conquering cities and seizing territories everywhere. Even many of our Dark Faction's territories have come under threat."
The tall Dark Faction member replied.
As he spoke, he continued kowtowing without pause, his forehead rhythmically striking the floor, the sounds emerging in an equally rhythmic pattern.
"It seems because our Dark Faction has been restraining itself for too long, the other major factions in the Chaotic Void Sea have started to forget our strength. Hmph! When our Dark Faction cultivated a Yin Seed in the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, so many major factions actually sent people to snatch it. This shows they do not put our Dark Faction in their eyes."
The withered elder's gaze turned sharp as he spoke slowly.
"Exactly! If those major factions hadn't dispatched forces to the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds to join in snatching that Yin Seed, that kid Ye Yunfei wouldn't have had the chance to take advantage of the chaos to steal it! Perhaps that Yin Seed would already have been brought back and presented to you, Master! Those major factions in the Chaotic Void Sea are treating our Dark Faction with less and less regard!"
The tall Dark Faction member immediately chimed in.
"It seems it is time for our Dark Faction to properly bare our fangs. Otherwise, we will truly become targets for them to bully. Have they forgotten that in ancient times, our Dark Faction once ruled the Chaotic Void Sea?"
The withered elder's voice grew increasingly icy.
As he spoke, two beams of jet-black light shot from his eyes like two black rods, lifting the tall Dark Faction member up and making him stop kowtowing.
"Thank you, Master, for your mercy!"
The Dark Faction member let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly offered his thanks. He knew that if his Master wanted to kill him, it would only require a flick of the wrist.
"Go tell Lord Black Nothingness that our Dark Faction should properly display its fangs. From now on, let the entire Chaotic Void Sea tremble because of our Dark Faction. Of course, the most important thing is to begin competing for the Fortune to Become a God from this moment on. Only by seizing this fortune can our Dark Faction possibly give birth to true Deities, becoming the true overlords of this Chaotic Void Sea. As for how to compete for this fortune, Lord Black Nothingness should know. If he has forgotten, tell him to consult the ancestral texts."
The withered elder said indifferently.
"Master, I understand!"
Fired up, the tall Dark Faction member immediately responded. He then turned and left the dark palace.
* * *
Not long after, this Dark Faction member arrived in a pitch-black secret chamber and spoke to a certain soul body.
"Little Blackie, I now bestow power upon you once more."
If Ye Yunfei were here, he would immediately recognize this as the soul body of the Dark Ancestor!
Back in the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, both the Dark Ancestor and his senior brother had their physical bodies destroyed by Ye Yunfei. Even their soul bodies were nearly annihilated. In the end, the two of them fled the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds together and returned to the Dark Faction headquarters.
After returning, the Dark Ancestor's soul body had been locked up in this secret chamber by his Master.
Dark Ancestor was his title within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds. In truth, at the Dark Faction headquarters, his Master addressed him as Little Blackie.
"Thank you, Master, for sparing my life!"
The Dark Ancestor was ecstatic and immediately bowed in gratitude.
"Here is the token. Go now to the Blackening Pool in the Ancestral Land. Enter the pool, and in less than a day, you can regain a physical body and power. Then set off immediately to find Ye Yunfei and bring him back to me. Alive or dead, I want to see him. Besides you, I have already dispatched another batch of people to capture Ye Yunfei. I'm only giving you this chance to atone for your crime through meritorious service. I hope you will grasp it well."
The Dark Ancestor's Master spoke calmly.
"Master, rest assured! This time, I will personally capture that little bastard Ye Yunfei and bring him back!"
The Dark Ancestor immediately vowed.
* * *
At the same time.
In the Demon Capital.
The Demon Capital was the headquarters of the demon race, capable of governing the demons of the world.
At this moment, deep within the Demon Capital, in a rather inconspicuous secret chamber, an aged-looking elder demon sat cross-legged like dried wood, unmoving and emanating not the slightest trace of aura. It was as if he lacked any life.
However, at a certain moment, the elder demon's eyelids suddenly twitched, then slowly opened.
"I remain unable to take that final step. All these years, my goal of becoming a Demon God remains unattained."
The elder demon sighed softly.
"It seems that legend must be true. In this post-Deity era, wanting to become a Deity isn't so simple. One must obtain sufficient Fortune to Become a God?"
The elder demon's gaze held both doubt and bewilderment.
Over these years, for the sake of becoming a Deity, he had striven arduously, expending who knows how much time, effort, and wealth. Yet, in the end, it had all come to naught. Up until now, he still hadn't found a way to become a Deity.
"Alright then. If truly one must obtain sufficient Fortune to Become a God to qualify for a breakthrough, then so be it. With the strength of our Demon Capital, we should be able to seize enough Fortune to Become a God!"
The elder demon muttered to himself.
Then, the elder demon summoned his trusted aide and gave some instructions.
"Ancestor, please rest assured. I understand. I will go and make arrangements immediately, mobilizing the armies of our Demon Capital to show all beings in the Chaotic Void Sea the true power of our Demon Capital!"
A demon race expert with deep green skin respectfully accepted the command. Though he was a high-ranking official with heavy responsibilities within the Demon Capital, before this elder demon, he was merely an extremely meek and subservient minor figure.