"No, the consequences of these two methods are different. While I could certainly use the Soul Force Star Method to easily devour their Soul Bodies and obtain their memories, that would cause their Soul Bodies to cease to exist, leaving only a physical shell. Although I could control their bodies to make them act through continued expenditure of my Soul Force Energy, those fellows would essentially be dead. However, the Soul Bodies purified by my Soul Purification Art only lose their memories, thoughts, will, and such. The essence of their Soul Bodies remains, and their vitality endures. I only need to imprint my Soul Force mark onto a purified Soul Body to transform it into a perfect clone. The Soul Force Energy consumed by a single mark is negligible. Such clones can even cultivate to continuously improve their realm and strength. In this way, I will possess many perfect clones capable of growth. These perfect clones can act, cultivate, and advance independently without requiring me to expend further Soul Force Energy to sustain them. Think about it. Owning a group of these perfect clones that can act, cultivate, and grow independently—how much benefit will that bring me in the future?"
After listening to Hun Lao, Ye Yunfei thought for a moment and answered.
"Good point," Hun Lao couldn't help but nod repeatedly in agreement at Ye Yunfei's analysis. "Hearing you explain it this way, the advantages brought by a Soul Force Martial Art like the Soul Purification Art are indeed vastly different from those of the Soul Force Star Method. They cannot substitute for each other. The Soul Force Star Method allows you to seize others' memories, while the Soul Purification Art allows you to acquire a large number of what can be called perfect clones."
"Master," Hu Miao suddenly interjected, "I think these two Soul Force Martial Arts, the Soul Purification Art and the Soul Force Star Method, can be used in combination. After you use the Soul Force Star Method to obtain the cultivation techniques and secret arts of these factions, you could let the clones created by the Soul Purification Art cultivate them. For example, you've already obtained many techniques from the Yin Corpse Hall. You could use the Soul Purification Art to control a group of Yin Corpse Hall members, turn them into your clones, and then have them continue cultivating Yin Corpse Hall techniques and secret arts. That way, the energy and laws cultivated by your clones would be identical to what they cultivated before losing their memories, preventing their strength from weakening due to memory loss."
"Excellent, Hu Miao. That's a great suggestion. I'll follow your advice," Ye Yunfei said with a smile. In truth, Ye Yunfei had already thought of this point.
During the recent battle, Ye Yunfei had already controlled many experts from the Yin Corpse Hall, the Guardian Faction, and Sifang Tower, purifying their Soul Bodies and transforming them into his clones. He had then imprinted all the techniques and secret arts he previously obtained from these factions onto these clones. Thus, the techniques cultivated by these clones were nearly identical to what they practiced before losing their memories. The various energies and laws they had cultivated earlier could still be utilized, preventing any significant weakening of their strength.
"It seems your gains from entering this Reincarnation Passage are truly substantial this time," Hun Lao remarked to Ye Yunfei. "This Soul Purification Art will elevate your strength and methods to another level. In the future, possessing a large group of clones like this will make many things much more convenient for you."
"Yes. I will have these clones travel throughout the Sixth Void on my behalf, carrying out many tasks for me. Moreover, even if a clone is lost, I'd only be losing a Soul Force mark, which is essentially no loss to me," Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
At this moment, Ye Yunfei had already fully controlled the remaining Advanced True Gods. Using the Soul Purification Art, he purified their Soul Bodies and imprinted his own Soul Force mark upon them. Thus, apart from the peak-level True Gods, the dozens of True Gods who had been besieging Ye Yunfei earlier had all become his clones.
"What are you all doing?! Attack now! We must combine our strength to have a chance against this brat!" Among the four peak-level True Gods, one couldn't help but yell out upon discovering that, besides the four of them, all the other True Gods who had been besieging Ye Yunfei had ceased moving. They stood silently around, hands hanging limply, their faces devoid of any expression. This situation bewildered and alarmed them.
But the other True Gods paid him no heed whatsoever.
"Now I can finally deal with you four without restraint," Ye Yunfei slowly turned, his cold gaze falling upon the four peak-level True Gods.
Earlier, since Ye Yunfei needed to divert significant attention to purifying the other True Gods' Soul Bodies, he had merely used sword arts and physical strength to keep these four peak-level True Gods at bay, not attacking them with full force. Of course, Huang Shang and Hu Miao had also assisted in restraining the four.
Now, not just Ye Yunfei, but Huang Shang, Hu Miao, the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, the Nine Divine Beasts, the Blood Clan Clone, and more, surrounded the four peak-level True Gods.
Seeing this formation, the four peak-level True Gods grew somewhat flustered. They hadn't been able to overcome Ye Yunfei and his companions even with all those True Gods attacking earlier. Now, with only the four of them remaining, they held no confidence.
"I think we should find an opportunity to break out together. This brat is strange, and he has several powerful helpers beside him. If we keep fighting, we might not win," one of them transmitted to the other three, his courage for continued battle having vanished.
"Fine, let's combine our efforts to break out. We'll settle the score with this brat another time," the other three naturally agreed.
"Thinking of escaping now? It's too late," Ye Yunfei, who cultivated Mental Force, possessed acute perception of others' thoughts and intentions. With a glance, he discerned the four peak-level True Gods' desire to flee and spoke coldly.
His words still hung in the air as Ye Yunfei surged forward. Four True God-level magical weapons shot out simultaneously, releasing torrents of energy pressure to suppress the four peak-level True Gods. Holding the Violet Rainbow Sword in his left hand and clenching his right fist, Ye Yunfei simultaneously employed sword techniques and fist arts as he charged. Moreover, he unleashed Mental Force Martial Arts and Soul Force Martial Arts to attack the four peak-level True Gods simultaneously.
Together atop the Nine Palaces Totem Wheel, the Nine Divine Beasts collectively propelled the enormous wheel forward in its most powerful combat stance, immediately forcing one peak-level True God into constant retreat. Meanwhile, the Blood Clan Clone wielded a crimson longsword, executing unique Blood Clan swordsmanship as it assailed another peak-level True God. Huang Shang employed ghost cultivation techniques, while Hu Miao weaved illusions, both complementing Ye Yunfei's assault.
Boom! Rumble!
One Earth Formation and spell formation after another continuously manifested, encircling the four peak-level True Gods.
Truthfully, Ye Yunfei's own power alone was sufficient to deal with these four. However, his intention was to purify all their Soul Bodies and turn them into his clones. That's why he had Hu Miao, Huang Shang, and the others emerge to surround them together, aiming to purify their Soul Bodies one by one. Were it his old combat style, he would have long since shattered these peak-level True Gods to dust.
Swiftly, Ye Yunfei employed Soul Binding Art, the Soul Force Star Method, Soul Swords, and Mental Force Martial Arts to tightly surround the Soul Body of one peak-level True God, depriving it of any capacity to resist. He then activated the Soul Purification Art, beginning to purify his Soul Body.
"Ahh!... Brat, what are you doing to my Soul Body?! What kind of evil art is this?! Stop! I am a member of the Guardian Faction! If you harm me, the Guardian Faction will never let you go!" This first peak-level True God belonged to the Guardian Faction. Discovering his consciousness, memories, and such were continuously fading while his Soul Body sizzled and smoked as if something supremely important was being stripped away, his awareness also gradually blurring, he was scared out of his wits. Rage overcoming him, he roared desperately. But it was futile. His Soul Body had been forcefully suppressed by Ye Yunfei. Ye Yunfei's current Soul Force Energy far surpassed that of a peak-level True God, more than sufficient to suppress him.
"Brat, what are you doing?!" The other three peak-level True Gods were shocked. They were straining every muscle to attempt a breakout, yet Ye Yunfei, Huang Shang, Hu Miao, the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, the Nine Divine Beasts, the Blood Clan Clone, and even a large group of corpses tightly encircled them, leaving them utterly unable to escape for the time being.
A short while later, that peak-level True God's Soul Body was finally purified, stripped of all consciousness and memory, standing there dully. Although his Soul Body and physical form remained unharmed, he now possessed no self-awareness nor any past memories. His current state resembled that of a newborn infant, perceiving the world from a blank slate. Ye Yunfei then forcibly imprinted his own Soul Force mark upon his Soul Body, gaining complete control over this utterly purified Soul Body. In the future, Ye Yunfei could use this mark to forcibly imbue his own will into this pure Soul Body, making him one of his clones.
"Good. Finally subdued a peak-level True God," Ye Yunfei gazed at the motionless peak-level True God standing there with a pure yet vacant gaze, feeling immensely satisfied.
"Your turn!" Ye Yunfei slowly turned his gaze toward another peak-level True God.
"Brat, what do you want?!" Startled by Ye Yunfei's gaze, that peak-level True God involuntarily took several steps back. Having just witnessed the peak-level True God from the Guardian Faction scream for a while before suddenly standing still as if bewitched, his gaze vacant and seemingly devoid of consciousness, he now saw Ye Yunfei suddenly targeting him and felt his scalp tingling.
"What do you think I want?" Ye Yunfei gave a cold laugh before unleashing various Soul Force Martial Arts and Mental Force Martial Arts to assail this peak-level True God's Soul Body.
Moments later, Ye Yunfei had purified this peak-level True God's Soul Body and imprinted it with his Soul Force mark.
"Good. This fellow's Soul Body quality is high. I'll make sure he cultivates diligently to achieve even greater attainments in the future," Ye Yunfei remarked with satisfaction upon gaining control, noting that this peak-level True God's Soul Body quality was significantly higher than the previous one's.
"This brat is too sinister. We must escape immediately, or the consequences will be dire," thought the remaining two peak-level True Gods. Seeing the previous two standing there motionless and unresponsive, their hearts chilled, a cold dread rising within them. They desperately wished to get far away from Ye Yunfei immediately. But they were tightly encircled, powerless to break free in the short term.
Without any further suspense, Ye Yunfei proceeded to purify the Soul Bodies of the final two peak-level True Gods one after the other. And just like that, all four peak-level True Gods had become Ye Yunfei's clones.