"Report, Young Master Ye. We will soon reach the Guardian Faction headquarters."
A scout rushed over from a distance to report to Ye Yunfei.
"Has the Guardian Faction shown any movement?" Ye Yunfei asked casually.
In truth, Ye Yunfei didn't care at all about the Guardian Faction's movements. His side now possessed two True God-Level Dao Weapons, no small number of Deities, and he himself commanded many Deity-level puppets. Ye Yunfei believed the army he led had sufficient strength to engage the Guardian Faction and would not come out worse for it.
He was even confident that he alone, with a single True God-Level Dao Weapon, was enough to turn the Guardian Faction headquarters upside down.
"Young Master Ye, this time we absolutely must wipe out the Guardian Faction! Eradicate this, the greatest tumor in our void.
All along, it has been the Guardian Faction hunting us Restorers. Who would have thought our Restorer Faction would finally get the chance to openly march on the Guardian Faction headquarters? Well, the tables have turned. I've waited a long, long time for this day."
The Great Leader walked beside Ye Yunfei, looking at the vast, mighty army behind them with great excitement.
"Great Leader, don't worry. The Guardian Faction will pay the price," Ye Yunfei nodded in reply.
"Report, Young Master Ye. The Patriarch of the Sky Ox Tribe requests an audience."
Right at that moment, another scout came charging from afar to report to Ye Yunfei.
These scouts all knew that the true core of this great army was actually Ye Yunfei, and many decisions were made by him.
"Sky Ox Tribe?" Ye Yunfei was momentarily taken aback.
"Report, Young Master Ye. The Sky Ox Tribe is a very ancient race.
They remained hidden and inactive in the past, only re-emerging after the dawn of the new era. Their overall strength is considered quite decent.
However, I heard that ever since the Sky Ox Tribe produced two Deities, they have been relentlessly hunted by the Guardian Faction. Lately, they've been hiding everywhere."
The scout explained.
"I see.
Alright, then. Let the Sky Ox Tribe Patriarch come see me," Ye Yunfei thought for a moment and nodded.
Soon after, a tall, sturdy old man came jogging over to stand before Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei glanced at the old man and noticed the faint image of a majestic, towering giant ox shimmering behind him, radiating an overwhelming murderous aura. It was likely an illusion manifested by the cultivation technique he practiced.
"This old ox pays his respects to Young Master Ye."
The old man bowed respectfully to Ye Yunfei.
"Why have you come to see me?" Ye Yunfei asked directly.
"Young Master Ye, our Sky Ox Tribe wishes to follow the army of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds to campaign against the Guardian Faction, to fight them to the death."
The elder hurriedly replied.
"Oh? Does your Sky Ox Tribe also have grievances with the Guardian Faction?" Ye Yunfei asked indifferently.
"In reply to Young Master Ye, our Sky Ox Tribe previously had two Peak Demigods preparing to undergo their Divine Tribulation. We sent envoys to request the Guardian Faction's approval, but they despised the tribute offerings from our tribe as too meager and thus refused permission.
Our Sky Ox Tribe, on the verge of finally giving birth to two Deities, how could we simply accept being strangled by the Guardian Faction?
Therefore, our two Peak Demigods secretly underwent their tribulations and ultimately succeeded in becoming Deities. But it was precisely from that moment onward that our Sky Ox Tribe began suffering the Guardian Faction's relentless pursuit.
Over this period, I led our Sky Ox Tribe members to flee east and hide west, living in constant fear and anxiety. Moreover, during our flight, many of our clansmen tragically died at the hands of the Guardian Faction. We of the Sky Ox Tribe and the Guardian Faction now share a sea of blood enmity that cannot coexist under the same sky.
When I heard Young Master Ye was leading the army of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds to deal with the Guardian Faction, I immediately gathered all our Sky Ox Tribe's forces and rushed here.
I beg Young Master Ye to permit our Sky Ox Tribe to join the campaign against the Guardian Faction."
The Sky Ox Tribe Patriarch answered Ye Yunfei's query.
"So that's how it is.
Very well, then. Let us go together to deal with the Guardian Faction," Ye Yunfei nodded.
The Sky Ox Tribe had two Deities; they should be able to contribute.
"Many thanks, Young Master Ye!" The Sky Ox Tribe Patriarch couldn't help but be overjoyed.
Soon, a host of people arrived in a grand procession, following behind the Sky Ox Tribe Patriarch.
Above the heads of this host, the faint image of a colossal giant ox shimmered, its two horns emanating rolling divine radiance that illuminated a vast expanse of the void.
"This Sky Ox Tribe likely possesses the bloodline of the Divine Ox Clan from the ancient era. They might even be descendants of the Divine Ox Clan," Hun Lao suddenly spoke up.
"Divine Ox Clan? Is this clan powerful?" Ye Yunfei was somewhat curious.
"Yes. The Divine Ox Clan once flourished for a period during the ancient era. In truth, the true forms of the Divine Ox Clan are all oxen, a type of divine beast.
In ancient times, there existed what were called the Twelve Chinese Zodiac Deity Clans, also known as the Twelve Divine Beast Clans. While the strength of these twelve divine beasts couldn't compare to the legendary supreme divine beasts like dragons, phoenixes, and qilins, they were still mighty and renowned. Ordinary Deities wouldn't dare provoke them," Hun Lao elaborated.
"Oh? There were clans like these?" Ye Yunfei felt rather surprised.
Ye Yunfei knew Hun Lao possessed the racial memories of the Chaos World Tree clan. What he said was likely true.
"Report, Young Master Ye! Envoys from the Demon Gu Forbidden Land have come seeking an audience!"
After the army advanced for a period, another scout rushed over urgently to report to Ye Yunfei.
"The Demon Gu Forbidden Land?
Very well, let them come," Ye Yunfei was first taken aback, then nodded.
"Young Master Ye, the Demon Gu Forbidden Land is a somewhat renowned Forbidden Land within our void.
In past eras, the Demon Gu Forbidden Land was also in a state of seclusion. After entering the new Divine Era, it re-emerged.
It's said the Demon Gu Forbidden Land harbors many mysterious experts skilled in using gu. It seems this Forbidden Land has definitely been driven into a corner by the Guardian Faction's oppression," Kong Lao, following behind Ye Yunfei, said to him.
Not long after, a group of people radiating an eerie green light arrived before Ye Yunfei. Around their bodies drifted streams of strange, glowing symbols resembling green fireflies.
"This humble maiden pays her respects to Young Master Ye."
The leader was a beautiful woman clad in a green cheongsam, her figure alluring. She bowed gracefully to Ye Yunfei. A peculiar fragrance centered on her, slowly drifting out in all directions.
"Young Master Ye, ever since our Demon Gu Forbidden Land emerged, we have suffered constant suppression from the Guardian Faction, which demands our submission.
But we of the Demon Gu Forbidden Land clearly understand the Guardian Faction's wolfish ambition. Once we submit, we would forever become their beasts of burden, driven and ordered about at will.
The Guardian Faction has already caused our Demon Gu Forbidden Land significant losses, severely restricting our development.
This is an insult I simply cannot swallow. Therefore, I request Young Master Ye permit our Demon Gu Forbidden Land's forces to follow you and campaign together against the Guardian Faction."
The green-cheongsam woman's voice was melodious and clear, like the song of a cuckoo.
"Very well, let's go together.
The Guardian Faction is inherently the common enemy of all within our void. For everyone to join forces against them is only right and proper," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Young Master Ye, it seems the Guardian Faction truly views the beings of our void as slaves!" Kong Lao couldn't help but exclaim.
"That's correct. In the eyes of the Guardian Faction, our void is a large-scale prison.
All beings within this prison are deeply sinful and must atone for their crimes.
The members of the Guardian Faction, meanwhile, view themselves as prison guards tasked with overseeing this jail. Thus, of course, they show no goodwill towards any being within our void.
Right now, it is only because rebellious forces like ours still exist that the Guardian Faction hasn't yet gone too far.
If the Guardian Faction were to wipe out all rebellious factions like ours, then all beings within this void would sink into profound suffering, forever subjected to their torment," the Great Leader spoke up.
"Well said. The higher-ups of the Guardian Faction have repeatedly claimed our Sky Ox Tribe is deeply sinful and must properly atone.
In their eyes, all beings of our void are inferior, meant to serve them as cattle and horses."
The Sky Ox Tribe Patriarch, who had been following behind Ye Yunfei, couldn't help but interject, speaking through gritted teeth.
He was recalling the various oppressions his tribe had suffered from the Guardian Faction in recent times.
In the time that followed, even more varied forces came forward, seeking to follow Ye Yunfei against the Guardian Faction.
Without exception, these forces had all suffered oppression from the Guardian Faction—oppression so severe they could endure it no longer.
Now, hearing the army of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds was moving against the Guardian Faction, they all came.
These forces hailed from various world clusters, major clans, large religious sects, or various Forbidden Lands.
Ye Yunfei gave his consent to all who requested to join the campaign against the Guardian Faction.
Thus, the army following behind Ye Yunfei grew larger and larger. In the end, looking out, the dense, vast host resembled surging cosmic torrents, sweeping through the boundless void as they rolled and thundered forward.
At the same time, within the Guardian Faction headquarters...
"How dare they! That little bastard Ye Yunfei actually dares to bring men to provoke our Guardian Faction headquarters. The audacity!"
An enraged roar echoed through a magnificent, golden-hued palace.
At the center of this palace sat four figures radiating powerful auras. The central one was a white-haired elder. The other three were a man in pale gold robes, a slightly plump elder, and the former Second Leader of the Restorer Faction. All four were Advanced Void Gods.