"Damned! Who are you?"
The Heart-Devouring Demon Elder realized something was amiss. In a fury, dozens of magical artifacts manifested before him, blocking his front, while simultaneously releasing vast amounts of terrifying negative energy and emotions, which coalesced into a massive shield protecting his demonic form.
This Heart-Devouring Demon Elder was at the Perfected Demigod realm. Though he hadn't broken through long ago and was only an ordinary-strength Perfected Demigod, being a high-level member of the Heart Devourer Race who practiced core racial legacies, his combat prowess was immense.
Boom...
The massive blade radiance Ye Yunfei unleashed plowed through the dozens of magical artifacts, smashing them aside with sheer force. Some exploded on impact, reduced to a rain of debris.
Bang!
The shield condensed from negative energy was also struck by the blade radiance. It trembled violently, cracks spider-webbing across its surface in the blink of an eye before shattering with another bang.
Boom...
The massive blade radiance continued its forward slash.
"How is this possible?!"
The Heart-Devouring Demon Elder, seeing this, paled, his heart trembling with fear as he retreated repeatedly.
Whoosh...
The space above him instantly grew overcast, dense clouds covering the sky as a mournful, gentle drizzle began to fall. The rain carried a desolate, sorrowful atmosphere, steeped in solitude.
Woo woo…
Initially resembling the late spring rains of March or April, a bleak incessant downpour, the scene suddenly transformed. Autumn winds and autumn rain replaced it; the wind howled desolately, the cold rain seemed to penetrate the bones, making one feel utterly despondent.
"Well now, so this is the phenomenon conjured by the Heart Devourer Race's cultivation arts," Hun Lao couldn't help but exclaim.
It turned out this Heart-Devouring Demon Elder was executing a legacy art, saturating the surrounding space with terrifying negative energy and simultaneously manifesting this phenomenon of continuous gloom and drizzle.
With the appearance of this phenomenon, this area became the Elder's arts-based domain.
"The Heart Devourer Race excels in negative energy. Their conjured phenomena are also emotion-related, designed to manipulate an opponent's emotions. Once a foe's emotions are disturbed, they slowly sink into a controlled state. In the end, their soul body is devoured before they even realize it," Ye Yunfei transmitted.
Ye Yunfei had absorbed the soul bodies of many Heart-Devouring Demons and thus had a good understanding of this race's unique cultivation traits.
"Worthy of being a true Elder," Ye Yunfei sneered coldly.
Rumble...
With a thought, Ye Yunfei simultaneously unleashed several Mental Force martial techniques, attacking this Elder's soul body. He also released immense amounts of Mental Force energy, vast and billowing like an ocean, spreading out and instantly carving out a massive clearing in space.
Within this cleared space, all phenomena formed from negative emotions vanished without a trace.
"How can this be?!"
The Heart-Devouring Demon Elder's face fell in horror as he discovered this area was now flooded with powerful Mental Force energy—precisely the bane of negative emotions.
"Alright, time to end this," Ye Yunfei said coldly.
The next moment.
Ye Yunfei simultaneously unleashed a Soul Power martial technique and his Mental Force arts against this Elder's soul body.
"Damn it… My soul body is being suppressed!"
The Elder was both startled and enraged.
Boom...
A fist hurtled toward the Heart-Devouring Demon Elder, continuously enlarging. A torrent of terrifying, pinnacle-level power erupted from the fist like a collapsing mountain or breaching sea, instantly causing the vast space ahead to cave in.
"You're a human! How can you possess such terrifying physical strength?!"
Sensing the power in Ye Yunfei's physique, the Elder's expression contorted wildly in fear.
By now, Ye Yunfei had revealed himself, murderous intent radiating from him, allowing the Elder to recognize he was human.
Though this Heart-Devouring Demon Elder was a member of the demon race, in terms of physical power and physique quality, he was far inferior to Ye Yunfei.
Using physical strength to engage an enemy was characterized by simplicity, directness, and speed. Once close to a foe, its effectiveness was unleashed.
Ye Yunfei was now extremely close to this Elder. At such proximity, unleashing his physical power instantly subjected the Elder to immense pressure, making movement difficult.
Thus, both the Elder's soul body and physical form were simultaneously suppressed, leaving him utterly defenseless.
With a "splat," Ye Yunfei's fist smashed forward, pulverizing the Heart-Devouring Demon Elder's body directly into a bloody mist.
"Thinking of escaping?"
Ye Yunfei's eyes narrowed as he issued a cold laugh. Eighteen Soul Power stars then shot out, surrounding the Heart-Devouring Demon Elder, who was attempting a stealthy escape, before swarming over him. They quickly seized control and dragged him into Ye Yunfei's Soul Sea.
"Aaaaah… You dare kill me, you brat? I'm an Elder of the Heart Devourer Race! If you kill me, the entire race, even the whole Demon Race, will not let you go! Think carefully!"
The Heart-Devouring Demon Elder let out a shrill scream.
"Heh heh… So what," Ye Yunfei sneered.
"I remember now! You're Ye Yunfei, the Ye Yunfei from the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds! You actually dared to come to our Heart Devourer Race's headquarters! What is your purpose?!"
Only then did the Elder finally recognize Ye Yunfei's identity.
After all, Ye Yunfei was now quite famous in the Chaotic Void Sea. Many high-level figures of major forces possessed records of his appearance and soul aura.
This Heart-Devouring Demon Elder, being a Perfected Demigod, was not only a high-ranking member of his race but also of the Demon Race as a whole. Naturally, he knew of Ye Yunfei.
"Correct. I am indeed Ye Yunfei.
You Heart Devourer Race have invaded the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds twice in a row, harming my people. Did you really think I'm an easy target to bully?" Ye Yunfei sneered.
"Ye Yunfei, you have great audacity, daring to barge into the Demon Capital!"
The Elder roared.
"My courage has always been substantial. And now I have barged in, haven't I? What about it?
Once I've killed enough experts of your Heart Devourer Race, I'll leave. Wouldn't the Demon Capital then be somewhere I can come and go as I please?" Ye Yunfei replied lightly.
"Alright, you needn't concern yourself with so many things anymore. Because you're about to be completely annihilated," Ye Yunfei gave a cold laugh.
The next moment.
Boom…
Vast waves of Mental Force energy and Soul Power erupted simultaneously. The eighteen Soul Power stars swarmed up and began refining this Elder's soul body.
The Elder's soul body, now trapped in Ye Yunfei's Soul Sea, was utterly incapable of resistance.
At the same moment.
Whoosh whoosh…
A dozen-plus demonic shadows exuding Yin-cold energy auras appeared, rushing rapidly toward Ye Yunfei's location from all directions.
"Seems he already sent out a message earlier. The other high-level members of the Heart Devourer Race are coming," Hun Lao, watching the swiftly approaching demon shadows, quickly transmitted to Ye Yunfei.
"Let them come. They can't do anything to me," Ye Yunfei replied indifferently as he sensed the approaching shadows.
"What great audacity! A mere human brat dares cause trouble in our Heart-Eater Realm!"
About twenty-odd Demigods of the Heart Devourer Race arrived, surrounding Ye Yunfei in layers and immediately locking onto him.
Ye Yunfei wasn't concealing his aura at all.
"The Demon Capital's heritage is indeed terrifying. The Heart Devourers are merely one of many demonic races, yet they possess such a high number of Demigods. Then what about the entire Demon Capital? I estimate the number of Demigods they possess must be frightening," Hun Lao remarked, sighing as he observed the gathered Heart Devourer Demigods.
"Yes.
I underestimated the Demon Capital before.
If they had sent a sufficient number of Demigods to deal with me earlier, I probably wouldn't have been a match," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"It's possible the Demon Capital also underestimated you before. That's why they couldn't do anything to you for so long. By the time they realized their mistake, you had already grown to your current height," Hun Lao laughed.
"Is the Heart-Eater Realm such an extraordinary place that one cannot come? I've come anyway, and that's precisely what I did," Ye Yunfei retorted, sweeping a contemptuous gaze over the surrounding Heart Devourer Demigods.
"He is Ye Yunfei, the Ye Yunfei from the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds!"
Finally, the Heart Devourer Demigods recognized Ye Yunfei.
"It is indeed Ye Yunfei of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds," a high-ranking Perfected Demigod Heart Devourer said through gritted teeth, his eyes fixed intently on Ye Yunfei.
"It seems Fifth Elder has already fallen! Otherwise, he would have appeared long ago," a Mid-Level Demigod Heart Devourer exclaimed in shock, staring at the demonic palace behind Ye Yunfei.
It turned out the Heart-Devouring Demon Ye Yunfei had just killed was indeed the Fifth Elder.
"Fifth Elder has indeed fallen.
Ye Yunfei, you came to our Heart-Eater Realm? As they say, you had a wide road to walk in heaven, yet you chose this gate-less hell to break into. Today, this place shall become your burial ground!" The Perfected Demigod Heart Devourer declared, radiating killing intent.
Boom boom…
All the surrounding Heart Devourer Demigods released their energies. Demonic energy surged monstrously into the heavens; negative energy churned like a vast ocean.
The sheer volume of negative energy released simultaneously by so many Heart Devourer Demigods, gathered together, was utterly terrifying.
The atmosphere of this space immediately shifted, saturated with various negative emotions. The space itself became as viscous as congealed paste. Any being without sufficient mental fortitude, placed within such an environment, would likely commit suicide instantly from overwhelming despair.
"Be careful. These negative emotions are quite dreadful," Hun Lao reminded Ye Yunfei.
"It's fine. I can withstand it," Ye Yunfei replied. By now, he had released Mental Force energy, protecting both his body and soul body.
"Ye Yunfei, prepare to die!"
The Perfected Demigod Heart Devourer roared loudly.
Whoosh…
A torrential downpour of black rain immediately began falling above Ye Yunfei's head, instantly inundating the space where he stood.
"Another phenomenon!" Hun Lao said.
Rumble…
With a thought, Ye Yunfei unleashed his Mental Force energy. Surging waves of this energy rose skyward, forming an umbrella-shaped protective barrier around his body. The torrential black rain, pouring down relentlessly, was thus completely incapable of affecting him.
Whoosh!
Ye Yunfei's figure flickered as he charged toward the Perfected Demigod Heart Devourer.
"Ye Yunfei, my realm is higher than yours. My years of cultivation far surpass yours. You think I would fear you?!"
The Perfected Demigod Heart Devourer roared furiously, his figure also moving as he charged at Ye Yunfei.
Boom…
Boundless demonic energy churned, forming a massive demonic hand that appeared above Ye Yunfei's head and crashed down with a pressurizing force.
Whoosh whoosh…
Numerous black long-arrows materialized directly within the sky of pelting rain before shooting toward Ye Yunfei at astonishing speeds.
These black arrows were all condensed from powerful negative energy and sophisticated negative laws, exuding an eerie aura.
Boom…
Ye Yunfei enlarged his palm and swept it out, aiming to block the incoming black arrows.
To his surprise, however, these arrows seemed unaffected. They ignored the obstruction of his palm, passing through as if through empty air, and continued their relentless flight toward him.
"Negative energy is an emotional energy, somewhat peculiar in nature, somewhat similar to the Mental Force you cultivate. It's extremely difficult to block physically. Most likely, only Mental Force energy or Soul Power can counter it," Hun Lao immediately transmitted to Ye Yunfei.
In the blink of an eye, a large cluster of black arrows had pierced through the curtain of falling rain and were shooting toward Ye Yunfei's body.
Ye Yunfei's mind stirred.
A massive bell materialized before him.
Clang! Clang! Clang!…
Dozens of black arrows struck the bell consecutively, producing a series of clear, metallic ringing impacts.
This giant bell was a manifestation conjured by his Heart Demon Bell.
"Indeed, using Mental Force energy against negative energy is most effective," Ye Yunfei thought inwardly.
Boom boom…
Ye Yunfei swept his hand out in a slash. Massive blade radiances howled as they swept out in all directions.
At the level of "300,000 Swords Return to One," the power of these blade radiances was utterly terrifying. Instantly, this area of space brimmed with dazzling sword energy.
With the presence of such vast sword energy, the negative energy in this space began to melt away and retreat like snow under a blazing sun.
Aaah!...
Three Initial Demigod-level Heart Devourers were caught off guard, unable to dodge in time. They were immediately shredded by the blade radiances into puffs of bloody mist, dying instantly.
Four or five more Demigods were also severely injured by the blade radiances.
"Using sword arts to deal with these Heart-Devouring Demons seems quite effective as well," Ye Yunfei laughed.
"These guys excel at using negative energy to manipulate others' emotions, thus controlling their soul bodies. Once negative energy becomes ineffective, their combat power is quite mediocre actually. So, encountering you is essentially meeting their natural bane," Hun Lao commented.
"Brothers, this brat Ye Yunfei's strength is a bit frightening. Let's attack him together!"
The Heart Devourer Demigods finally began to panic somewhat.
Boom! Boom! Boom!...
All Heart Devourer Demigods unleashed their negative energy, releasing vast tides of it that surged toward Ye Yunfei.
For a time, boundless negative energy surged like terrifying ocean waves, creating thousand-zhang high walls of energy that crashed toward Ye Yunfei, attacking him from all sides.
Ye Yunfei realized the space he occupied was practically inundated by negative energy. A continuous, endless stream of negative energy relentlessly hammered toward his head, trying to breach his Soul Sea.
Fortunately, the protective layer around him formed from Mental Force energy proved effective, blocking more than half of the negative energy onslaught.
"I think you should depart after killing a few more Heart Devourer Demigods.
The news of what's happening here has surely already spread. I estimate many Demigod experts from the Demon Race are rushing here.
If you get surrounded by that many Demigods, things will become troublesome," Hun Lao said to Ye Yunfei.
He understood that Ye Yunfei's purpose in coming to the Demon Capital and infiltrating the Heart Devourer Race headquarters this time was to deliver a warning, not to annihilate the entire race or wage full-scale war against the Demon Capital.
"Alright. I'll kill a few more Heart Devourer Demigods, then leave," Ye Yunfei nodded.