Soon after, Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm led his forces to one of the worlds in the Southern Dipper World Cluster, landing before a magnificent mountain range.
The headquarters of a religious sect was situated within this mountain range. In truth, this sect was a branch stronghold of the Myriad Methods Merchant House. The Myriad Methods Merchant House's main business operations within the Southern Dipper World Cluster were managed by this sect.
Duan Rong from the Myriad Methods Merchant House had visited this place many times in the past. After obtaining Duan Rong's memories, Ye Yunfei was therefore extremely familiar with the situation here.
"Charge in!"
Without any extra words, Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm waved his hand and charged into the sect's headquarters within the mountain range at the head of the group.
Five Demigods soared into the air, unleashing their powerful celestial force energies together. They descended on the mountains like five sacred peaks, causing dust to billow and the earth to shake.
All the others charged forward as well. Huang Shang, Hu Miao, and the Blood Clan Clone all joined the assault.
Huang Shang, not long ago, had refined and absorbed dozens of Divine Crystals, elevating his Ghost Art cultivation by a full level.
Although Huang Shang cultivated ghost power, yin power, and Soul Power, Divine Crystals were high-level energy stones containing divine power that could be converted into energies of various attributes through different techniques. Therefore, they were quite useful for Huang Shang as well.
Huang Shang moved swiftly. In the blink of an eye, he teleported above the sect headquarters. His obsidian, lustrous Ghost Body resembled a profound black abyss, seeming to absorb and devour all surrounding light, instantly plunging that part of the world into gloom.
He then waved his hand, releasing vast clouds of ghostly fog that spread rapidly. The fog was thick and ominous, and countless malicious ghosts and tormented spirits issued shrill, anguished howls, transforming the entire area into a haunted realm.
Thousands upon thousands of these malevolent spirits drifted and shrieked as they poured into the sect headquarters, killing anyone they encountered.
Hu Miao had also refined and absorbed dozens of Divine Crystals some time ago, achieving a breakthrough in her bloodline. Consequently, the illusory magic she wielded now possessed significantly greater power.
Her figure was fiery, and she exuded a lethally captivating feminine charm with every movement. Stepping forward with bewitching grace, she walked straight into the sect headquarters. Wherever she went, dense, layered Illusory Realms immediately sprang into existence around her.
Any members of the sect headquarters who came near Hu Miao were instantly drawn into the numerous Illusory Realms, unable to free themselves.
Meanwhile, Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm transformed into a terrifyingly fast streak of golden light. This golden ray weaved back and forth rapidly within the sect's headquarters. Anyone it collided with head-on would instantly explode into a bloody mist, which then dissipated with the wind.
When the group first charged in, several guardian Formations were activated, but before they could take effect, Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm shattered them apart with direct collisions.
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm race could traverse different spaces and arrays freely. Leveraging their terrifying physical power, they excelled at breaking Formations by force. After identifying a Formation's flaw, they could simply charge through it to destroy the array.
Ye Yunfei glanced around, observing that Huang Shang, Hu Miao, and Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm had all significantly increased in strength, likely possessing battle power equivalent to a Primary-Level Demigod.
"Good," Ye Yunfei nodded.
Ye Yunfei used his Soul Power energy to sense through the sect headquarters and found that the strongest person there was merely a Primary-Level Demigod. With such a disparity in strength, he needn't intervene himself.
The difference in combat power was far too great. In just a short moment, this sect headquarters was completely annihilated.
"Who are you people?
This is a branch stronghold of the Myriad Methods Merchant House! Are you declaring war on our merchant house?"
An elder, besieged by the five Demigods under Ye Yunfei's command, bellowed in shock and fury.
"We're here specifically to kill people from your Myriad Methods Merchant House!
Go to hell!"
Gan Changfeng and the other four Demigod masters swarmed the Myriad Methods Merchant House elder and quickly ended the fight, utterly annihilating him, both body and soul.
"Loot everything!"
After the battle concluded, everyone began gathering the spoils, eventually taking everything of value from the sect headquarters. Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm then arrived before Ye Yunfei and said excitedly, "Excellent haul!"
"The Myriad Methods Merchant House is an ancient trading house with a long history. Each of its branch strongholds has operated for quite some time, so it's normal for them to have accumulated considerable wealth.
If an established merchant house like this had no money, *that* would be strange," Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
"Let's go! To one of the Eternal Fortune Merchant House's branch strongholds in the Southern Dipper World Cluster!"
Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm waved his hand and eagerly led the group toward the location of an Eternal Fortune Merchant House branch stronghold within the Southern Dipper World Cluster.
The overall strength of this Eternal Fortune Merchant House branch in the Southern Dipper World Cluster was similar to the Myriad Methods Merchant House branch they had just destroyed, also having only a Primary-Level Demigod stationed there.
Such strength was naturally unable to resist them. When Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm's forces arrived at this Eternal Fortune branch stronghold, they annihilated it in short order, not allowing a single person to escape.
All the wealth from this Eternal Fortune Merchant House branch fell into Ye Yunfei's hands.
"We mustn't delay!
We should seize the time and continue the operation!" Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm urged Ye Yunfei.
In the following period, Ye Yunfei and Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm led their forces across the Chaotic Void Sea, assaulting various branch strongholds of the two merchant houses.
Although these two merchant houses were ancient and possessed considerable overall strength, the strongest cultivator at each branch was only an Intermediate-Level Demigod at best. In fact, most branches were only garrisoned by Perfect Heavenly Immortal-level experts. Such a level was, of course, no match for Ye Yunfei and Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm's party.
Ye Yunfei and Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm led their forces like autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves, destroying branch stronghold after branch stronghold within the Chaotic Void Sea at an astonishing speed.
Each branch stronghold of these two merchant houses had operated for an extremely long time and had amassed considerable wealth. Now, all these riches from the branches had fallen into Ye Yunfei's hands.
In this manner, Ye Yunfei and Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm's group wiped out over fifty branch strongholds belonging to the two merchant houses in one swift, continuous campaign.
In truth, Ye Yunfei seldom needed to personally intervene. Most of the time, he simply monitored the battle from the rear.
Later on, Ye Yunfei simply stayed inside the Phantom Tower to cultivate, letting Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm manage the operations. Ye Yunfei only stepped out personally when an Intermediate-Level Demigod proved difficult to handle.
"Hahaha… This operation is truly exhilarating! Let's see if those two merchant houses understand the consequences of provoking our Golden Dragon Merchant House now!"
Having just destroyed another Eternal Fortune Merchant House branch, Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm felt immensely gratified and laughed heartily.
"We've destroyed so many of these two merchant houses' branch strongholds. Their headquarters have surely received news and will soon send experts to investigate and seek revenge," Ye Yunfei said to Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm.
"That's perfect. Aren't you exactly waiting for experts from these two merchant houses?" Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm replied.
"Correct. I am waiting for them. If we don't thoroughly cow them, they'll continue targeting the Golden Dragon Merchant House in the future. For the Golden Dragon Merchant House to continue operating, we must give them a severe lesson," Ye Yunfei nodded.
In the subsequent period, Ye Yunfei and Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm continued leading their forces against the two merchant houses' branches, wiping out over a dozen more in quick succession.
Because Ye Yunfei possessed detailed information about the locations and conditions of these branches from his acquired memories, and their movements were extremely swift—constantly utilizing Spatial Transmission Plaques to teleport—they could travel from one annihilated branch stronghold to another in a very short time. This allowed them to destroy so many branch strongholds of the two merchant houses in such a limited timeframe.
Meanwhile, the news of the massive destruction of their branch strongholds finally reached the headquarters of the two merchant houses.
During this period, the primary task for both merchant houses had been investigating everywhere for the mysterious culprits who had stolen their ancestral treasures—Duan Rong, an unfamiliar youth, and a tree!
Consequently, as branches were rapidly annihilated one after another, the upper echelons of the two merchant houses couldn't receive timely reports and react quickly.
"What?
So many of our Myriad Methods Merchant House's branch strongholds have been destroyed?
Who on earth did this?"
Upon receiving the news, the Myriad Methods Merchant House's upper ranks reacted with shock and fury, stampeding in rage. The House Master roared on the spot.
The Myriad Methods Merchant House had operated within the Chaotic Void Sea for an extremely long time. These numerous branch strongholds were essentially the foundation of the merchant house, because as a trading enterprise, the core business is commerce and profit. Managing commerce had to rely on the various branch strongholds spread across the Chaotic Void Sea; they couldn't operate solely from the headquarters.
Now, those branch strongholds being annihilated was akin to destroying the very roots of the Myriad Methods Merchant House.
"Immediately dispatch people to investigate this matter thoroughly! Find the mastermind behind this! We will fight to the death!" the House Master shouted.
Soon, large numbers of experts and troops emerged from the Myriad Methods Merchant House headquarters, heading in different directions. Most of the merchant house's upper echelon and a large portion of its forces mobilized.
At the same time, furious roars echoed within the headquarters of the Eternal Fortune Merchant House. Its high-ranking officials collectively sank into a state of rage.
Following the House Master's orders, vast groups of Eternal Fortune Merchant House experts and troops surged out of their headquarters, beginning investigations into the reasons behind the destruction of so many branches and searching for the perpetrators.
"We must have revenge!
The enemy seeks the complete destruction of our Eternal Fortune Merchant House! This is a feud of life and death!
No matter who the opponent is, our Eternal Fortune Merchant House will fight to the bitter end, engaging in a bloody war of extermination!"
The enraged shouts of the Eternal Fortune Merchant House Master reverberated through their headquarters like crashing thunder.
"Report to the House Master!
Based on clues left at the sites of the destroyed branches, it appears to be the work of the Golden Dragon Merchant House.
Within every destroyed branch stronghold, phantom projections of golden dragons were seen floating—it's the symbol of the Golden Dragon Merchant House!"
Just as the Eternal Fortune Merchant House Master finished speaking, a middle-aged man responsible for intelligence gathering hurried to his front and reported.
"What?
The Golden Dragon Merchant House is responsible?
How is that possible?
Some of our destroyed branch strongholds had Demigod experts stationed there! The Golden Dragon Merchant House's strongest experts are only Perfect Heavenly Immortals! How could they possibly destroy branches with Demigod guards?
Did you investigate this properly?!"
Hearing the report, the Eternal Fortune Merchant House Master found it hard to believe because he had previously dispatched people to investigate the Golden Dragon Merchant House in detail, knowing that their strongest members were only Perfect Heavenly Immortals, far inferior to his own house's strength.
"Master, I have sent people to investigate every destroyed branch.
They indeed all bore the mark of the Golden Dragon Merchant House. This indicates that incidents at those branches must be related to the Golden Dragon Merchant House," the middle-aged man quickly explained.
"I never imagined the Golden Dragon Merchant House would hide their true capabilities so deeply!
I misjudged them!" The Eternal Fortune Merchant House Master's face turned extremely unpleasant, his eyes seemingly spouting fire.
"Since we know it's the Golden Dragon Merchant House's doing, matters are clear. They shall bear the retribution!
No matter what hidden strength the Golden Dragon Merchant House possesses, that merchant house will not have the chance to continue existing!" the Eternal Fortune Merchant House Master said through gritted teeth.
Not long after, the Eternal Fortune Merchant House mobilized a large force and set out from their headquarters in a mighty, imposing manner, seeking vengeance against the Golden Dragon Merchant House.
At the same time, the upper echelon of the Myriad Methods Merchant House also received reports that each destroyed branch stronghold bore the mark of the Golden Dragon Merchant House—a golden dragon!
"So it was the Golden Dragon Merchant House!
We must annihilate them!"
The House Master's furious roar shook the entire Myriad Methods Merchant House headquarters, causing everyone within to quake with fear. They had never seen him so enraged.
But they understood his fury: with so many branches destroyed, it was akin to severing the roots of the Myriad Methods Merchant House!
If all branch strongholds were annihilated, how could the Myriad Methods Merchant House continue trading? They might as well disband.
After these two major merchant houses dispatched their forces, all their affiliated factions received orders. All were mobilized. Some went to protect the remaining branch strongholds of the two merchant houses; others went to confront the Golden Dragon Merchant House.
As the experts and troops of both merchant houses surged forth in full force, they quickly attracted attention.
After all, these two merchant houses were considered established powerhouses within the Chaotic Void Sea, possessing considerable overall strength and reputation, with dealings with many major forces.
It could be said most forces and individuals in the Chaotic Void Sea had conducted business with these two merchant houses.
"What happened?
Both the Myriad Methods Merchant House and the Eternal Fortune Merchant House have dispatched large armies. Who are they targeting?"
"I heard these two merchant houses recently lost a massive number of branch strongholds, incurring terrible losses. It seems they are mobilizing armies for revenge!
These are both long-established merchant houses, with Perfect-Level Demigods guarding their headquarters and impressive overall strength. Usually, no one dares provoke them.
Now someone has actually annihilated so many of their branches. Who could have done it? Have they offended some terrifyingly powerful, major faction, provoking such a blow?"
"It is said to be the Golden Dragon Merchant House's doing. I heard the Myriad Methods Merchant House and Eternal Fortune Merchant House previously joined forces against the Golden Dragon Merchant House, attempting to wipe them out. Now the Golden Dragon Merchant House is likely retaliating…"
"How is that possible? The Golden Dragon Merchant House is a newly established merchant house. How would they dare act against these two well-established powerhouses simultaneously?"
…
Once the actions of the two merchant houses drew notice, widespread discussion and debate erupted.
Meanwhile, even as the armies of the two merchant houses surged out, Ye Yunfei and Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm continued leading their forces, destroying several more of the two merchant houses' branch strongholds.
"Excellent!
These two merchant houses live up to their legacy as old houses. Each branch has amassed considerable wealth! We've destroyed so many branches; the combined wealth we've gained so far is substantial indeed!"
Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm felt immensely satisfied during this period. The resentment from being pursued and fleeing everywhere previously had now been thoroughly vented.
"Report, Young Master Ye! I've just received word that both the Myriad Methods Merchant House and the Eternal Fortune Merchant House have dispatched large numbers of troops targeting the Golden Dragon Merchant House."
A man suddenly hurried forward to report.
"Let them come.
I've been waiting for them."
Ye Yunfei smiled coldly.
"Immediately go scout. Report the moment you discover traces of the two merchant houses' troops," Ye Yunfei ordered calmly.
"Yes, sir!"
The man responded clearly and turned to gather information.
Not long after, Ye Yunfei received another report identifying a force belonging to the Myriad Methods Merchant House.
This Myriad Methods Merchant House unit was preparing to assault a Golden Dragon Merchant House branch stronghold.
The Golden Dragon Merchant House had lost several branches earlier to the combined attacks of the two rival merchant houses, but many still remained intact.
"Let's go and meet the Myriad Methods Merchant House's people," Ye Yunfei said.
Soon after, Ye Yunfei arrived at a place known as the Thousand Flowers World Cluster.
Within this World Cluster lay a Golden Dragon Merchant House branch that was still operating normally.
However, this Golden Dragon Merchant House branch was now tightly besieged by a Myriad Methods Merchant House army.
"I'm giving you a chance. Immediately order your Golden Dragon Merchant House Master to come grovel before me! Otherwise, I will raze this Golden Dragon Merchant House branch and slaughter everyone inside! None shall escape!"
A Myriad Methods Merchant House Intermediate-Level Demigod stood at the forefront of the troops and declared loudly.
*Rumble…*
As he spoke, the Intermediate-Level Demigod released vast waves of celestial force energy, pressing down on the Golden Dragon Merchant House branch ahead, causing the surrounding space to tremble.
"Let me go kill him!
This fool dares to parade his might before our Golden Dragon Merchant House territory? He's tired of living!"
In the distance, Ye Yunfei and Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm had already arrived and were observing the scene. Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm fumed.
"Let me handle it," Ye Yunfei said, stopping Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, who was eager to charge forward.
"Time to test the Flying Sword Art. A Divine-Grade Flying Sword Technique should have decent power," Ye Yunfei murmured to himself.
*Clang!*
In the next moment, a flying sword shot forth, traversing the void towards its target.