"Indeed, this senior's seniority is astonishingly high!"
Upon hearing the old man's words, Ye Yunfei silently nodded to himself.
"Young Master Ye, you needn't worry about my origins for now. I am, after all, a native of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds; this is my homeland. Therefore, when necessary, doing whatever I can for my home is my obligation," the elder replied, already knowing Ye Yunfei wished to press further regarding his identity.
Ye Yunfei felt it improper to continue questioning.
"In the past, our Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds was one of the core regions of the entire Chaotic Void Sea. Back then, no faction dared to come and bully us. Who would have thought that after experiencing an Era Without Deities, the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds would decline to such an extent?" The elder looked at the space-time of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds before him and let out a soft sigh. "However, the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds will surely rise again. A brand new Era of Deities has arrived. I believe that in this new Era of Deities, our Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds will definitely have many more outstanding young talents like yourself."
"An Era of Deities!"
Hearing the elder's words stirred something within Ye Yunfei. Previously, Cui Hong had said the same thing—that a new Era of Deities was about to arrive. It seemed this elder also knew about the Era of Deities and the Era Without Deities.
"Senior, does the arrival of a new Era of Deities mean beings within the Chaotic Void Sea can now break through to become Deities?" Ye Yunfei asked.
"The arrival of a new Era of Deities signifies that the laws of this Chaotic Void Sea are beginning to change gradually, slowly allowing living beings to break through to become Deities. However, this requires a process. It has only just begun; the laws of the Chaotic Void Sea are still evolving. I estimate beings won't break through to become Deities so quickly. After all, cultivating to godhood is no easy task. Even in an Era of Deities, only a very small portion of beings in the world can cultivate to become Deities. Only those with extraordinary talent and unyielding will, who have undergone countless trials, can possibly cultivate to godhood.
Furthermore, aside from talent and willpower, cultivating to godhood also requires focusing on destiny. Without sufficient destiny, there is no chance of cultivating to godhood.
A new Era of Deities has already begun. Whoever can be the first to successfully cultivate to godhood will be able to seize the initiative.
Because there are currently no Deities in the Chaotic Void Sea, whichever faction produces a Deity can immediately dominate this Chaotic Void Sea, seizing resources and destiny.
Simultaneously, they could also eliminate those with the potential to become Deities in other factions, aiding members of their own faction. This scenario is referred to as 'seizing the initiative,'" the elder answered. He didn't seem the least bit surprised that Ye Yunfei knew about the Era of Deities.
"If that's the case, then surely those long-established major factions in the Chaotic Void Sea would find it easier to seize the initiative," Ye Yunfei couldn't help but frown as he spoke. "Because as far as I know, those old major factions have already accumulated many Perfected Demigods, most of whom are secluded in bitter cultivation, desperately seeking a breakthrough to godhood. They have long possessed the foundation for becoming Deities, but because they existed in the Era Without Deities, restricted by the laws, they were unable to ascend.
Now that we've entered a new Era of Deities and the laws of the Chaotic Void Sea have changed, won't those Perfected Demigods from the major factions be able to cultivate to godhood immediately? Doesn't this situation seem unfair to weaker factions?"
"Precisely, that's exactly the reasoning. As for fairness or unfairness, pondering this question holds absolutely no meaning. Reality is always cruel," the elder replied.
After hearing the elder's words, Ye Yunfei fell silent again. What the elder said was indeed true. In the world of martial divinities, fairness was non-existent.
"Young Master Ye, you needn't be disheartened either. Your talent and destiny are not bad. If you can grasp the opportunity presented by the arrival of this new Era of Deities and work diligently, perhaps you too will have a chance to cultivate to godhood. If you can become a Deity, you could lead the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds to rise again. I have quite some confidence in you," the elder said with a smile.
"Alright, Young Master Ye, I plan to return and enter seclusion for a period of cultivation. I need to properly replenish myself. There's no helping it; this Remnant Soul of mine overexerted itself in battle today and expended quite a bit of energy," the elder said to Ye Yunfei.
"What? Senior, you are just a Remnant Soul?"
Hearing the elder's words, Ye Yunfei froze on the spot, simply unable to believe it. The strength this elder displayed was at least that of a Perfected Demigod, yet now he claimed to be merely a Remnant Soul!
"Yes, I am indeed only a Remnant Soul. And I have been slumbering for an extremely long time. When we first met previously, I had only just awakened," the elder sighed as he replied.
"So that's how it is!" Comprehension dawned on Ye Yunfei. It seemed that during the periods when the Dark Faction launched successive World-Destroying Wars within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, this elder had been in a deep slumber all along and thus was unable to intervene; otherwise, the Dark Faction would never have had the opportunity to cultivate the Yin Seeds within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds.
"Ah yes, actually the factions wanting to target the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds today were not limited to just those three. At the very least, forces from three other major factions had also arrived nearby, they just hadn't made their move. Later, seeing the situation turn unfavorable, they quietly slipped away," the elder reminded Ye Yunfei.
"So that's how it was!" Hearing this, Ye Yunfei's expression darkened.
"It seems this senior's perception is much stronger than yours. You didn't detect it, but he sensed the forces from three other major factions," Hun Lao sent a sound transmission to Ye Yunfei.
"Also, Young Master Ye, the monstrous talent you've displayed is bound to attract the attention of some old monsters. These old monsters originally belonged to the previous Era of Deities. When the previous Era of Deities ended, these old monsters found places to lie dormant, waiting for the arrival of this Era of Deities.
Now that a new Era of Deities has arrived, those old monsters must have started to emerge one after another.
They will discard their old, rotten, decaying physical bodies and search for new, vibrant, and full of vitality bodies to seize for Possession. Then, using the new bodies, they will compete for the resources of this current Era of Deities.
A young, monstrously talented being like yourself would likely be targeted by those old monsters," the elder spoke again to Ye Yunfei.
"Old monsters who lay dormant since the previous Era of Deities will attempt Possession on monstrously talented young lives?" Hearing the elder's words, Ye Yunfei was inwardly alarmed.
"Here then, Young Master Ye, I will impart to you a specific Soul Power Secret Art designed to resist Possession. Find some time to cultivate it. If you encounter an old monster attempting to possess you, it should prove somewhat useful," the elder said. He then pointed a finger, sending a stream of soul information into Ye Yunfei's soul sea.
Sure enough, it was a Soul Power Secret Art.
"Alright, Young Master Ye, I must go into seclusion to cultivate now.
But rest assured, if powerful enemies come to attack in the future, I will emerge to contribute the strength I owe to this world cluster." Having said this, the elder turned and left before Ye Yunfei could speak, vanishing with a single step.
"Senior..." Ye Yunfei called out loudly from behind, but there was no response.
"Don't bother calling. He's already gone," Hun Lao said to Ye Yunfei.
"This senior is far too mysterious," Ye Yunfei couldn't help but sigh as he gazed in the direction the elder disappeared.
"Regardless, having such a powerful figure here means those major factions in the Chaotic Void Sea won't dare to casually provoke the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds anymore. Didn't he just say it? If those major factions come to cause trouble for the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds in the future, he will still intervene," Hun Lao said.
"Yes, with this senior present, no one will dare to bully our Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds casually anymore," Ye Yunfei nodded.
A Perfected Demigod coupled with a Deity-Level Treasure—such a combination meant no major faction in the Chaotic Void Sea would dare to casually come to the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds looking for trouble.
"Young Master Ye, I've just received a report. There were indeed forces from three other major factions stationed far away for quite some time, but they've already left. They were the Heavenly God Hall, the Greater Underworld, and the Beast-Taming Aristocratic Family, the Zhan Clan," Gan Changfeng hurried to Ye Yunfei's side.
"Just as expected. Even the Zhan Clan came. I'll remember them," Ye Yunfei nodded with a cold smile.
The elder had already told Ye Yunfei about the other three major factions. Now, it proved to be true.
At this moment, the five Demigods on Ye Yunfei's side, along with a large group of Kong Lao's Heavenly Gods, had all gathered around Ye Yunfei. Their expressions were filled with excitement.
That battle just concluded had been extremely perilous, yet in the end, the forces of three major factions were utterly routed and retreated.
Such an outcome was exhilarating.
A mysterious powerhouse had appeared in the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, and he possessed a Deity-Level Treasure!
Mention of this fact made these people who had come from other world clusters to seek refuge with Ye Yunfei feel their decision to come to the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds was undeniably correct.
"Pass down the order: begin cleaning up the battlefield," Ye Yunfei declared.
"By Young Master Ye's order, everyone begin cleaning the battlefield!" Gan Changfeng immediately shouted loudly.
Following that, the five Demigods led their people in cleaning the battlefield.
Both sides had suffered casualties in the recent battle. The battlefield was littered with numerous corpses, damaged magical treasures, and many Remnant Soul fragments.
Huang Chang emerged from the Phantom Shadow Pagoda. Utilizing a ghost cultivation secret art, he materialized a colossal Ghost King that stood tall, its head reaching the heavens. Opening its mouth wide, it continuously sucked in the scattered remnant souls across the battlefield, swallowing them one after another.
For a ghost cultivator, these Soul Body fragments were crucial cultivation resources.
Not long after, the battlefield was cleaned up.
"Young Master Ye, these are all the items left behind on the battlefield."
Gan Changfeng and the other four Demigods came before Ye Yunfei, bringing out a large number of spatial rings. They floated densely in the space before Ye Yunfei.
"Seniors, please take charge of tallying these spoils and then distribute them based on need," Ye Yunfei said after a moment's thought.
"Understood, Young Master Ye. We understand what to do," Gan Changfeng and the other four Demigods nodded simultaneously.
Even though they had come to pledge allegiance to Ye Yunfei, he had always treated them with great respect, consistently addressing them as 'seniors.' This filled them with gratitude.
The five Demigods took the spatial rings and left to begin counting and distributing the spoils within them.
"Kong Lao, you are responsible for collecting the medicinal pills required for everyone's recovery. For any pills that are lacking, compile a list of their names and report to me," Ye Yunfei instructed Kong Lao.
Both sides had suffered significant casualties in the previous battle.
"Yes, sir!" Kong Lao quickly nodded.
"I need to enter seclusion for a period of cultivation. It's time to break through to the next realm," Ye Yunfei said softly as he looked upon the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds gradually returning to normal order.
After experiencing a major battle, Ye Yunfei felt his realm was somewhat stirred; it was time for a breakthrough.
"However, before the realm breakthrough, I need to set up a new batch of Earth Formations and Formations," Ye Yunfei surveyed the void outside the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds and saw that most of the Earth Formations and Formations he had previously established had been destroyed.
Three Perfected Demigods plus a Deity-Level Treasure had shattered over two-thirds of the Earth Formations and Formations encircling the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds in a short time.
These Earth Formations and Formations were of great use to the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, acting as a solid protective layer.
Following this, Ye Yunfei began deploying Earth Formations and Formations in the void surrounding the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds.
Although a large portion of the previously established Earth Formations and Formations had been destroyed, the earth energy and earth laws contained within those shattered formations had not been erased. Instead, they returned to this vast void.
Now, Ye Yunfei could reuse these earth energies and earth laws to create new Earth Formations and Formations.
Concurrently, Ye Yunfei dispatched seven avatars to leave the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds and travel to other world clusters to capture Earth Dragons.
While Ye Yunfei was busy arranging Earth Formations and Formations, news of the events in the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds began to spread across the Chaotic Void Sea at an astonishing pace.
The battle that had just concluded had already caused a tremendous commotion in the Chaotic Void Sea.
Three major factions joining forces to attack the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, with three Perfected Demigods leading the charge, and even deploying a Deity-Level Treasure—such an event was utterly shocking!
It was bound to attract intense attention!
Indeed, even while the battle was still in progress, countless beings had flocked to observe the fight.
Thus, even before this astounding battle concluded, it had begun to spread through various channels within the Chaotic Void Sea, becoming known to nearly everyone.
Initially, everyone found it hard to believe that the result of this battle was the grand army of the three allied factions suffering a major defeat and retreating!
What was even more shocking was the sudden appearance at the very end of a mysterious powerhouse in the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, wielding a Divine artifact, who completely reversed the battle's momentum.
"Is it true that Ye Yunfei killed so many Demigod experts? How is that possible? I heard Ye Yunfei is only a Heavenly God, how could he possess the power to slay Demigod experts, and not just one?"
When some heard that Ye Yunfei had slain Demigods with ease during the battle, they simply refused to believe it, voicing their doubts on the spot.
"Of course it's true! Our clan's Patriarch personally saw it from a distance on the battlefield. How could it be false? According to our Patriarch, Ye Yunfei was like a Slaughter God descending to the mortal realm, effortlessly killing five or six Demigod experts in moments, simply unmatched," someone nearby immediately chimed in.
"That's simply too exaggerated!"
The surrounding crowd listened, utterly dumbfounded.
"Our Patriarch also said that at the final stage of the battle, a mysterious powerhouse suddenly appeared in the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, bringing out a Deity-Level Treasure. With a single move, he injured the three Perfected Demigods of the three allied factions, forcing their grand army to turn and flee!"
That person added further.
The individual hailed from a prominent clan whose Patriarch had been watching from the void near the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds throughout the entire battle, from start to finish, thus knowing the situation quite clearly.
Similar discussions were occurring everywhere within the Chaotic Void Sea. The names of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds and Ye Yunfei were being frantically propagated throughout the Chaotic Void Sea.
"It seems we can no longer look down on the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds. Pass down the order: from now on, our people are to avoid provoking the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds as much as possible!"
Upon receiving the news, the higher-ups of numerous world clusters, sects, races, and other factions issued similar commands.
The monstrous strength displayed by Ye Yunfei, a powerhouse suspected to be a Perfected Demigod, over a dozen Demigods protecting the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, coupled with a Deity-Level Treasure—combining these factors made the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds an entity within the Chaotic Void Sea that no one dared to provoke lightly.
If even the allied forces of the Demon Capital, the Monster Capital, and the Dark Faction could be driven off by the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, lesser ordinary factions stood no chance of daring to provoke them.
Simultaneously, more and more groups from world clusters that had lost their homes due to invasions by the major factions began considering seeking refuge with Ye Yunfei.
Due to this battle, news had already spread about over twenty world clusters having previously sent forces to join Ye Yunfei.
Not long after, groups from various world clusters within the Chaotic Void Sea began quietly heading towards the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds from different directions.
"Young Master Ye, I just received a report. Many more people from various world clusters are coming to join you," Ye Yunfei, currently occupied with setting up Earth Formations and Formations, received Kong Lao's report.
"You don't say..." Ye Yunfei smiled wryly, feeling a bit helpless.
"It's true. Many groups are already rapidly making their way here," Kong Lao insisted.
"Alright, we'll deal with them later," Ye Yunfei replied, then continued his work.
For some time now, Ye Yunfei had been deploying Earth Formations and Formations in the void surrounding the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds.
Ye Yunfei's dispatched avatars traveled to other world clusters, captured a large number of Earth Dragons, and brought them back, all placed within this chaotic space-time.
Gradually, the space-time surrounding the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds was again filled with dense Earth Formations and Formations.
Furthermore, as Ye Yunfei laid out numerous Earth Formations and Formations, his Geomancy Technique and Formations cultivation continuously improved. The enhancement in his Geomancy Technique and Formations proficiency, in turn, increased the power of the Earth Formations and Formations he constructed.
Approximately a month later, both the quantity and quality of the Earth Formations and Formations in the void surrounding the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds had recovered to the level they were before the great battle.