"Who are you people? Why are you killing members of our Guardian Faction?"
At this moment, the dozen or so True Gods from the Guardian Faction and Yin Corpse Hall had come face-to-face with the twenty True Gods Ye Yunfei had brought. A Guardian Faction Intermediate True God, seeing his side's heavy casualties, roared in fury.
"We're killing you *because* you're from the Guardian Faction. Enough talk. Prepare to die!"
An Ancestor of the Demon Race soared forward, executing a high-level fist technique as he punched fiercely towards that Intermediate True God. Frightening fist force transformed into rolling, tumultuous waves that crashed towards the opponent.
The three Demon Race Ancestors had received many Divine Pills refined by Ye Yunfei during this period, their strength continuously improving. Thus, even though they had only recently broken through to Intermediate True God, they could easily battle seasoned veterans at that level. Add to that the Demon Race's incredibly robust physical bodies, which granted them an advantage in combat. After just a few exchanges, the Guardian Faction's Intermediate True God grew more and more alarmed.
The other True Gods brought by Ye Yunfei were like tigers descending the mountain, closing in on and besieging the dozen-plus True Gods from the Guardian Faction and Yin Corpse Hall. Ye Yunfei's side held a numerical advantage, so moments later, they began gaining the upper hand.
"This battle shouldn't be prolonged. Settle it quickly," Ye Yunfei said softly, observing the chaotic battlefield.
Ye Yunfei knew that if the dozen or so Guardian Faction and Yin Corpse Hall True Gods before him were to fall, it would surely enrage the higher-ups of both factions. They would immediately dispatch more and stronger experts. Therefore, they had to finish the fight swiftly and leave promptly.
With a wave of his hand, Ye Yunfei unleashed a thick, rolling sword beam that instantly forced an Initial True God into retreat.
Ye Yunfei's figure flashed, arriving in front of this Initial True God. He threw a punch. With a *bang*, the Initial True God was sent flying high into the air.
The legacies of Sword World and the Giant Strength Fiend's physical martial arts made Ye Yunfei's combat power terrifying. This Initial True God was utterly incapable of fighting back against him.
In less than three moves, his Soul Body was forcibly devoured. This was only because Ye Yunfei wanted to preserve his corpse to give to Huang Shang for use in corpse refinement. Otherwise, Ye Yunfei could have killed him in a single move.
Ye Yunfei continued to strike, using astonishing speed to slay one Initial True God after another. Indeed, any Initial True God Ye Yunfei targeted couldn't last beyond three moves.
In mere moments, Ye Yunfei had killed nine Initial True Gods.
"Too terrifying!"
This scene made the remaining few True Gods from the Guardian Faction and Yin Corpse Hall gasp in horror, feeling ice-cold from head to toe.
Even Ye Yunfei's own twenty True Gods were shocked to see him cutting down enemy True Gods as easily as cutting melons and vegetables.
"Young Master Ye's strength is truly fearsome!"
Each of Ye Yunfei's True Gods was inwardly amazed.
Ye Yunfei let Huang Shang devour roughly half of the slain True Gods' Soul Bodies, devouring the other half himself.
"Now it's your turn."
Moving at astonishing speed, Ye Yunfei instantly appeared before an Intermediate True God from the Guardian Faction and spoke coldly.
As he spoke, Ye Yunfei punched with both fists simultaneously—Great Calamity Godfist with his left, World-Piercing Fist with his right. The mighty physical strength empowered both fists, instantly causing the space ahead to deeply concave.
"Such terrifying physical power!"
The Intermediate True God was startled. After all, body refiners who cultivated their physical strength to the True God level were exceptionally rare. Moreover, everyone knew that when fighting a body refiner, the greatest fear was letting them get close. Once closed in, their combat advantage became overwhelming. Thus, the Intermediate True God immediately executed a movement art, desperately retreating to create distance.
Ye Yunfei activated his will. Using Heartforce martial arts and Soul Power martial arts simultaneously, he attacked the Intermediate True God's Sea of Consciousness. At the same time, he stamped his foot, causing several large-scale earth formations to materialize in the surrounding space. They rumbled as they closed in to surround the Intermediate True God.
Soon, under Ye Yunfei's torrential barrage of attacks, the Intermediate True God was overwhelmed and forced into continuous retreat.
The fist techniques Ye Yunfei executed were overwhelmingly domineering. An unending stream of physical force, like layers of towering waves, swept towards his opponent, who struggled just to defend.
Finally, Ye Yunfei swung his arm, releasing several thick sword beams that cleanly severed both of the Intermediate True God's arms. Following up with two punches that struck the enemy's torso, he sent him flying.
"Now your physical strength and sword techniques can easily handle Intermediate True Gods," Hun Lao said with a smile.
"Your movement arts and Soul Power energy level are also no worse than an Intermediate True God's. Combined, ordinary Intermediate True Gods are no match for you at all."
Hun Lao assessed Ye Yunfei's combat power.
As they spoke, Ye Yunfei sent that Intermediate True God flying once again. Then, together with Huang Shang, he used Soul Power martial arts to forcibly devour the Intermediate True God's Soul Body.
At this point, only three True Gods remained from the Guardian Faction and Yin Corpse Hall, all at the Intermediate True God level. Witnessing over a dozen of their companions slaughtered in such a short time filled them with dread, sapping their will to fight. After a quick telepathic exchange, they turned and fled simultaneously.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Eight Intermediate True Gods from Ye Yunfei's side gave chase, intercepting two of them respectively. Ye Yunfei and Huang Shang intercepted the third.
Moments later, Ye Yunfei and Huang Shang combined forces to slay this Intermediate True God, dividing his Soul Body between them.
"This guy was carrying quite a few valuable items," Huang Shang remarked, thoroughly looting all the valuables from the corpse.
This Intermediate True God hailed from the Yin Corpse Hall. He carried a large batch of black corpse bags, each containing a multitude of refined corpses—exceedingly precious treasures for Huang Shang.
Apart from these corpses, he also carried many other cultivation resources related to the corpse path.
The other two Intermediate True Gods weren't faring well either. Among the twenty True Gods Ye Yunfei brought, eight were Intermediate True Gods. These eight split into two groups, surrounding the two Guardian Faction Intermediate True Gods from all sides.
Though Ye Yunfei's eight Intermediate True Gods had all only broken through recently, they had been supplied with a large batch of True God-level pills from Ye Yunfei during this time. After consuming and refining these pills, their strength had continuously improved, granting them combat power sufficient to handle ordinary Intermediate True Gods. Now, with a four-to-one numerical advantage, they fought with even greater ease, like fish in water.
"End the fight!"
Ye Yunfei charged over and killed the two Guardian Faction Intermediate True Gods in short order.
"Excellent. The quality of these Intermediate True Gods' Soul Bodies is truly superb," Huang Shang couldn't help but exclaim in delight after devouring one.
"Young Master Ye, thanks to your timely arrival, our Liu Family has suffered few casualties," the Liu Family Patriarch said, leading his clan's upper echelons to stand before Ye Yunfei. They all expressed their gratitude.
"The Guardian Faction and Yin Corpse Hall will absolutely not let this go. With another dozen True Gods killed here, they'll likely send even stronger experts very soon. Your Liu Family must evacuate your headquarters. You cannot stay here," Ye Yunfei told the Liu Patriarch.
"Young Master Ye, I will immediately organize our entire clan to leave. One part will go to the Xuanhuang Continent, the other to several of our Liu Family's secret strongholds," the Liu Patriarch replied at once. He knew Ye Yunfei was right.
Thus, the Liu Patriarch immediately returned to the Liu Family headquarters and mobilized the clan's forces. Moments later, he emerged, bringing out all the Liu Family members.
"I have a bad feeling. We must leave this place immediately," Hun Lao suddenly said to Ye Yunfei.
"Yes, I can sense it too. An extremely dangerous aura is approaching this location. The Guardian Faction or Yin Corpse Hall must have dispatched powerful experts who are on their way," Ye Yunfei replied with a grave expression, nodding.
At Ye Yunfei's command, everyone hurriedly departed.
Ye Yunfei led a large group into a flying ship, racing back towards the Xuanhuang Continent at top speed.
Moments later, Ye Yunfei's expression drastically changed. He perceived an intensely terrifying surge of Soul Power energy rolling towards them, directly locking onto the ship. Ye Yunfei faintly sensed a colossal figure rapidly closing in from behind.
Even at a great distance, the aura emanating from that enormous figure felt exceedingly dangerous, exerting immense pressure across the void.
"Not good! I suspect that being is an expert above the True God level. Possibly a Heavenly God... or perhaps a God King," Hun Lao transmitted urgently to Ye Yunfei, his voice filled with shock.
"The Guardian Faction's foundation truly is formidable," Ye Yunfei couldn't help but say with a bitter smile. "My current strength is quite solid, but if I encounter their truly powerful experts, I can only run."
"A Heavenly God or God King-level opponent is no match for us. We must flee, quickly!" urged the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm upon hearing Hun Lao.
By this time, the two Demon Race Ancestors also seemed to have sensed something amiss. They combined their efforts to push the flying ship to its absolute maximum speed. The vessel continuously traversed through space as it surged forward through the void.
Ye Yunfei took out the Jade Ruyi, activating it. He attempted to envelop the entire ship within the artifact's concealing aura.
"I wonder if that treasure of yours can block the perception of a Heavenly God or God King. Beings of that level possess perception far superior to ours," Hun Lao expressed some concern.
"The pursuer behind us has already locked onto our ship and the auras of everyone aboard. Even if I use the Jade Ruyi to mask our auras now, it will likely be difficult to quickly shake off his pursuit. Only if I had used the Jade Ruyi to mask our auras from the very start might I have been able to isolate his perception."
Ye Yunfei sensed that colossal figure in the far distance behind them still gaining step by step, continuously narrowing the gap. He couldn't help but sigh. "Bad, Master! I feel that fellow is getting closer and closer," Hu Miao cried out anxiously.
"Although it's still distant, the aura radiating from that enormous figure behind us is too horrifying," Ye Yunfei said, sensing the relentless terror chasing them and frowning. He faced a dilemma about where to go. "If we head back to the Xuanhuang Continent in these circumstances, it would be akin to bringing disaster upon it and simultaneously exposing our identities."