"My Mental Force has improved a great deal over this period," Ye Yunfei thought to himself after sensing the energy within.
"Alright, let's go out for a walk," he said.
Ye Yunfei then left his secluded cultivation spot with Hu Miao.
During this time, Ye Yunfei had been cultivating in seclusion in a world belonging to a rather ordinary World Cluster.
Upon leaving that world and wandering around the cluster, Ye Yunfei discovered that the most powerful experts in this cluster were merely a few Initial Demigods—hardly a threat to him.
As he explored, he found that the entire cluster was in a state of high tension. Every world, every faction was preparing, sharpening their weapons and tending their warhorses, as if anticipating some great war.
After making some inquiries, Ye Yunfei learned that during this period, many major powers in the Chaotic Void Sea had been launching wars of aggression everywhere, conquering and expanding their territories. World Clusters that were invaded often suffered heavy losses before being subjugated, forced to swear allegiance to those major powers.
As the news spread, fear permeated most World Clusters.
Many clusters had begun to band together, forming large armies and drilling their troops to defend against potential invasions by the major powers.
Some even reached out to other clusters, forming alliances between two or several clusters to strengthen their combined might.
After all, no one wanted to be invaded and ultimately reduced to a vassal. Submitting to a major power meant perpetual tribute and labor like beasts of burden.
"Who are you two? Are you from our Golden Horse World Cluster? Which world do you hail from?"
While Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao were wandering through the cluster, a patrol unit blocked their path. The leader, an Intermediate Heavenly Immortal, barked the questions imperiously. Seeing that Ye Yunfei was merely a Golden Immortal, the man looked down on him with disdain.
Due to the tense atmosphere, security patrols had been strengthened within the Golden Horse World Cluster. The patrol team, seeing the two unfamiliar figures loitering, had already grown suspicious.
"Master, let me handle this," Hu Miao said.
As soon as the words left her mouth, a deep rumbling filled the air. Hu Miao employed her Illusion Arts, layering one illusion after another until she completely enveloped the patrol unit blocking their way.
"Not good, where am I?"
"I seem to be in a perilous place! Danger everywhere! I must escape immediately!"
One by one, the members of the patrol squad panicked, crying out in alarm.
"Let's go. There's nothing much to see in this cluster. Let's head elsewhere," Ye Yunfei said to Hu Miao.
In the next moment, Ye Yunfei vanished along with Hu Miao.
It took quite a while for the patrol unit to finally shake off the illusions and regain their normal senses.
"We encountered an expert in Illusion Arts. That man and woman are complete strangers, not like any of our Golden Horse World Cluster's experts. This is serious—we must report back immediately!" the Intermediate Heavenly Immortal leading the squad said gravely.
Not long after, Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao were traveling within the Chaotic Void Sea, passing through one unfamiliar World Cluster after another.
Ye Yunfei saw that chaos had already erupted in many parts of the Chaotic Void Sea. The forces of the major powers were still launching wars of aggression everywhere, conquering cluster after cluster.
As time passed, not only were the major powers seizing territories and carving out domains of influence, but even the relatively weaker, average factions had begun to take advantage of the turmoil. They were attacking each other, engaged in open warfare and vendettas.
In short, traveling through the Chaotic Void Sea, Ye Yunfei witnessed signal fires rising everywhere, turmoil and conflict in all directions. One could say that within the sea, battles large and small were unfolding almost daily. Innumerable innocent lives were lost in these conflicts.
Ye Yunfei shook his head and sighed as he journeyed.
"The Chaotic Void Sea is far too chaotic. I wonder if it has always been this way, or if something special has caused it to become like this now? But regardless, times of war like this are an immense disaster for ordinary, innocent beings."
Witnessing the tragic human scenes wrought by war, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but sigh.
"I hear an army of the Demon Race is attacking the Ice-Snow World Cluster up ahead. We should steer clear. Those Demon Race fiends are similar to the Monster Race, bloodthirsty and cruel. It's best not to approach them without good reason."
On this day, as Ye Yunfei traveled leisurely with Hu Miao through the Chaotic Void Sea, he suddenly overheard faint voices from ahead in discussion. His powerful Soul Power could catch even the faintest sounds. Moreover, his Mental Force was now so strong that he could perceive even the Sound Transmissions of weaker beings, or even their inner thoughts!
"The Ice-Snow World Cluster?"
Hearing the name of this cluster, Ye Yunfei was inwardly stirred. He immediately thought of Big Ice.
Previously, back in the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, three elders from the Ice Demon Clan had brought Big Ice to bid farewell to Ye Yunfei, saying they intended to leave that realm and return to the Great Ice and Snow World.
"Could this Ice-Snow World Cluster be related to the Great Ice and Snow World? If it is truly connected to the Ice Demon people, perhaps I can learn of Big Ice's whereabouts through this cluster," Ye Yunfei thought to himself.
"Regardless, since I've come across it, I might as well go take a look," he then said.
"Your news is out of date. I've just heard that the Demon Race has already attacked and entered the Ice-Snow World Cluster. They've reportedly conquered most of its territories. The Ice-Snow World Cluster is finished. From now on, it will become a subjugated territory of the Demon Race, its people reduced to Demon Race slaves," another voice suddenly chimed in.
"Oh? The Demon Race has already invaded?"
Hearing this, Ye Yunfei's eyebrows knit together slightly.
"Master, shall we just fight our way in?" Hu Miao asked, having also overheard the whispers from ahead.
"No. Let's keep a low profile for now, slip into the Ice-Snow World Cluster and assess the situation first," Ye Yunfei replied after some thought.
"Very well, Master. I'll follow you as always," Hu Miao nodded.
Before long, Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao arrived before the Ice-Snow World Cluster. Sure enough, ahead lay a cluster of worlds radiating bone-chilling cold—this was indeed it. However, at this moment, billowing demonic energy completely overshadowed the frigid aura within the Ice-Snow World Cluster. The piercing shrieks of the Demon Race echoed from within periodically, chilling the soul.
Patrol teams of demon race soldiers, radiating overwhelming demonic energy, roamed the surroundings of the cluster, maintaining a tight defense.
"This cluster is indeed under Demon Race occupation," Ye Yunfei inwardly noted.
"Attention, all! This Ice-Snow World Cluster now belongs to our Demon Realm! All factions within have submitted to our Demon Race, and all living beings are now slaves of our kind!
"Henceforth, this cluster will remain open to the outside world as before. Beings from outside are free to enter. However, you must undergo our scrutiny and pay a certain amount of Immortal Crystals for entry.
"Additionally, we, the Demon Race, will be holding a large-scale auction within the Ice-Snow World Cluster. The primary auction items are various treasures from within this cluster, as well as a group of exquisitely beautiful Snow Maidens.
"If you are interested and have sufficient wealth, you are welcome to enter and participate in the auction!"
At that moment, a Demon Race cultivator, at the strength of a Senior Heavenly Immortal, appeared within the Ice-Snow World Cluster. His terrifying demonic eyes first swept across the Chaotic Void surrounding the cluster, and then he declared in a clear, loud voice.
As the demon spoke, a torrent of sound waves surged into the heavens, instantly spreading throughout a vast expanse of the Chaotic Void.
"The Demon Race is truly too savage. After conquering the Ice-Snow World Cluster, they are actually auctioning off its treasures, even the Snow Maidens! They are essentially treating this cluster as their personal grazing ground."
Hearing the demon's announcement, many beings surrounding the Ice-Snow World Cluster were stunned. Someone couldn't help but whisper.
"Dare to gossip about matters of our Demon Race? Die!"
A cold demonic voice rang out. A massive demonic banner suddenly shot out from within the Ice-Snow World Cluster, rapidly enlarging before smashing violently against a certain patch of space.
"Ah!"
A sharp scream followed—the being who had just spoken was instantly pulverized on the spot. Even some bystanders relatively close by were caught in the blast and killed as well.
Witnessing this scene, not a single being dared to utter any further idle remarks about the Demon Race.
"An auction for the Ice-Snow World Cluster's treasures and Snow Maidens! Let's go in and look!"
"I hear those Snow Maidens are all stunningly beautiful, top-tier ladies. If the price is right, bidding for one to bring back and enjoy at my leisure wouldn't be bad..."
Some beings harboring less than honorable intentions began making their way into the Ice-Snow World Cluster.
Quite a few outsiders, after paying a designated amount of Immortal Crystals, successfully entered the cluster.
Seeing this, Ye Yunfei also led Hu Miao towards the entrance of the Ice-Snow World Cluster.
"Halt! Submit to inspection, and pay twenty thousand Golden Immortal-level Immortal Crystals!"
Soon, more than a dozen demon sentries barred Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao's path. Their gazes were all fixed on Hu Miao, captivated by her beauty.
"What race does this woman belong to? She's even more tempting than the Snow Maidens!" one demon said.
Hu Miao belonged to the Ancient Nine-tailed Fox clan, innately charming and seductive. Not only was she skilled in Illusion Arts, but she also naturally possessed her clan's bewitchment arts. Her every movement was alluring to male eyes.
As was well known, demons were inherently lascivious, and so were monsters. These two major races were naturally lustful by nature. Now, seeing Hu Miao, these demons naturally began to drool.
Ye Yunfei took out twenty thousand Golden Immortal-level Immortal Crystals and tossed them over.
"Sir, this woman is too enticing. Shouldn't we..." one demon transmitted privately to a small chieftain among them.
"Wait. This man and woman are shrouded in mystery, especially the woman. I cannot even sense her cultivation realm. Let them enter the Ice-Snow World Cluster first; we'll deal with them later. If a conflict erupts here and they manage to escape, our losses would be too great."
The small chieftain swept a glance over Hu Miao, licking his lips, before replying via Sound Transmission.
"Wise, sir! Let them enter first," the demon who had made the suggestion hastily agreed.
Thereafter, the group of demons made way.
With his powerful Mental Force, Ye Yunfei had already perceived their malicious intent, and inwardly sneered in contempt.
As long as he didn't encounter any Demigod-level opponents, common demons did not concern him.
Upon entering the Ice-Snow World Cluster, Ye Yunfei swept his senses over the area and discovered it was a cluster of merely five or six worlds—not particularly large. A sweeping glance revealed a vast expanse of white frigid qi, and pieces of perpetually hard Dark-Ice floated throughout the void.
Every world was bitterly cold, wrapped in ice and snow.
Simultaneously, he could see bloodied corpses, severed limbs, and chunks of flesh everywhere. Many shattered bits of space-time floated like dark, eerie holes, alongside many broken weapons and magical treasures.
It was evident that during the Demon Race's invasion, this place had experienced a terrifying war.
At that moment, aside from Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao, many other outsiders were also entering the Ice-Snow World Cluster.
Ye Yunfei, with Hu Miao, followed the stream of people into one of the worlds within the cluster.
Inside, demons were everywhere, the demonic energy oppressive and overwhelming.
As Ye Yunfei was observing their surroundings, a squad of demon soldiers marched by, escorting a large group of tall and burly members of the Snow Human Race. The Snow Humans were much larger than ordinary humans, each possessing thick skin and dense white fur. Their physiques were exceptionally robust.
However, at this moment, nearly every one of these Snow Humans bore wounds where their skin had been split open, their flesh torn, looking utterly miserable.
The demons each wielded a long, thick steel whip adorned with sharp barbs. Every lash torn into the Snow Humans' flesh ripped off a significant chunk of meat, demonstrating horrifying cruelty.
"Kid, get out of the way! If you block our path, we'll seize you and send you off for forced labor in the mines alongside them!"
Suddenly, a demon with a face full of malevolence bellowed at Ye Yunfei.
"That bastard is too hateful! Let me kill him!" the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm angrily roared within Ye Yunfei.
"They're small fries, leave them be. Let us first assess the situation fully," Ye Yunfei replied.
By "assess the situation," Ye Yunfei was determined to investigate the strength of the most powerful demon cultivators within the Ice-Snow World Cluster.
Only after clarifying that would he decide how to proceed.
Ye Yunfei distanced himself and Hu Miao from that squad of demons. Nevertheless, some demons continued to watch them with unmistakably sinister eyes.
"Master, we seem to be drawing the Demon Race's gaze. These disgusting creatures probably have designs on me," Hu Miao remarked with a light laugh.
"I know. Don't mind them for now," Ye Yunfei nodded in response.
He had already perceived with his Mental Force that some demons were monitoring himself and Hu Miao from afar.
It couldn't be helped—Hu Miao's allure was simply too potent. From the moment she set foot in the Ice-Snow World Cluster, she had captured the demons' attention.
With their cruel nature, once the Demon Race coveted something, they seldom gave up easily.
"If these demons dare make a move against me, I'll slaughter them all, leaving not a single one behind!" Hu Miao said indignantly.
"Don't worry, there's no need to fear them," Ye Yunfei said with a faint smile.