This batch of troops was wholly comprised of the Restorer Faction from the Sixth Void. Their overall strength completely overpowered the Guardian Faction army before them.
Thus, as soon as the battle commenced, the Guardian Faction forces were pushed to a disadvantage, with little ability to fight back.
The twelve True Gods of the Guardian Faction were surrounded by forty to fifty True Gods, and by this point, they too had no hope of counterattacking. Each of them was filled with both shock and rage.
"What is going on? Why have so many fearsome experts suddenly appeared?"
This sudden turn of events left all members of the Alliance Army astounded, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
One moment, the Guardian Faction army had been insufferably arrogant, lording over everyone. The next, they were utterly surrounded and beaten into a sorry shape. The reversal was simply too swift.
"What's happening? Who are those people? Why are they helping the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds against the Guardian Faction?"
By this time, the void surrounding the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds was already packed with spectators drawn by the commotion. Seeing the sudden appearance of such a terrifying host attacking the Guardian Faction army from within the worlds, they were all filled with suspicion and curiosity, speculating amongst themselves.
"Everyone, I've got it! These people must be connected to Young Master Ye. They should be reinforcements summoned by him. No wonder Young Master Ye told us not to flee. So he already had a countermeasure prepared! Fantastic!"
Seeing the utterly composed expression on Ye Yunfei's clone, Xiao Ziming suddenly realized that these unexpectedly powerful troops must be linked to Ye Yunfei. Excited, he sent a sound transmission to the other high-ranking members of the Alliance Army.
"Correct! These must be the reinforcements Young Master Ye called for."
"I said it all along! With Young Master Ye here, our Alliance Army need not fear anyone."
...
After receiving Xiao Ziming's transmission, the other Alliance leaders were also overcome with excitement.
Just at that moment, a figure strode into the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, hands clasped behind his back, his steps steady and deliberate. It was Ye Yunfei's true body.
As Ye Yunfei's true body entered the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, his clone vanished, having merged back into the main body.
"Hahaha… It seems the old fellow in the Colorless Abyss did not deceive us. Young Ye Yunfei actually managed to return in time! And he's brought back so many True Gods with him. It appears he's had quite a few fortuitous encounters during his time in other voids. Otherwise, how could he have gained the allegiance of so many True Gods in such a short time? I feel like this kid manages to thrive wherever he goes."
At this moment, within the secluded world where Elder Kang Wan and the other five old-timers resided, the six of them watched Ye Yunfei striding into the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds and burst into hearty laughter.
When they first saw the sudden appearance of the forty to fifty True Gods and the troops of the Restorer Faction from the Sixth Void, they too had been puzzled. But now, seeing Ye Yunfei's true body, they immediately understood these forces must have been brought by him.
Within the Colorless Abyss, atop a tall mountain peak, two grey-robed elders sat facing each other.
"I said it, didn't I? He wouldn't disappoint us. Now, we two old coots need not meddle further. We can just sit back and watch the show. I'm truly a little curious. Just how much stronger has he become after this single trip outside?"
One of the grey-robed elders gazed intently at Ye Yunfei in the distance and said with a smile.
"I have a feeling it won't be long before he grows into an expert capable of standing on his own," the other grey-robed elder responded with a chuckle.
"Who are you people? How dare you attack the Guardian Faction? You are all True Gods. You certainly aren't from this Eighth Void. There are no True Gods here. You must have come from other voids, just like us. Aren't you afraid of incurring the wrath of the Guardian Faction by attacking us?"
By now, the twelve Guardian Faction True Gods had lost all ability to resist, completely overwhelmed by the forty to fifty True Gods. They were all sealed, immobilized, lying there filled with a mixture of fury and terror.
When they first entered the Eighth Void, each of them had felt superior and insufferably arrogant, like emperors descending upon some remote, rustic corner of the world, facing a bunch of simple country folk, believing they could effortlessly control everything. Never did they imagine they would end up sealed and stripped of all mobility.
"To hell with your damn 'wrath'! You really think your Guardian Faction is something special? You think I'm afraid of your Guardian Faction's 'wrath'? To tell you the truth, I've already killed countless members of your lot. Go on, show me your 'wrath'!"
The Earth Demon Clan ancestor stepped forward and slapped the Guardian Faction True God who had spoken across the face over a dozen times. Instantly, his face was torn open, swelling up like an ugly pig's head.
"You…!" The Guardian Faction True God was both shocked and enraged.
"'You' what? Say one more unnecessary word, and I'll annihilate you right now, leaving neither shape nor spirit!"
The Earth Demon Clan ancestor, radiating an imposing aura, slapped the Guardian Faction True God another dozen times, making his face swell even more grotesquely. His eyes were squeezed into bloody slits, completely robbing him of his physical sight.
"Senior, please don't ruin his fleshly body. I still have use for it."
Ye Yunfei had now arrived before the twelve Guardian Faction True Gods and spoke with a smile.
"Young Master Ye, these fellows have been subdued by us. They are now at your disposal," the Earth Demon Clan ancestor said, taking a step back.
"It's Young Master Ye's true body! I can sense it! It really is Young Master Ye! He's back!"
As Ye Yunfei strode from the outside into the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds and finally arrived before the twelve Guardian Faction True Gods, all the high-ranking members of the Alliance Army fixed their gazes on him, sensing with all their might. They soon realized that this Ye Yunfei before them was not a clone but his true body. Then, all the Alliance leaders grew increasingly excited.
"Young Master Ye has returned!" someone couldn't help but shout out in exhilaration.
"Young Master Ye is truly awe-inspiring! He returns and immediately sweeps across the battlefield, completely subduing all these Guardian Faction characters!"
"As long as Young Master Ye is here, our Alliance Army fears nothing!"
"Young Master Ye was right earlier! Now, it's not our Alliance Army that needs to flee, but these Guardian Faction guys who will want to run. With Young Master Ye here, these Guardian Faction scum won't even have a chance to escape!"
…
Once confirming this was indeed Ye Yunfei's true body, all the Alliance Army leaders erupted in cheers and shouts.
Even the ordinary members couldn't help but join in the excited cheers.
"So the Alliance Army's leader, Ye Yunfei, has returned! He is indeed the undisputed number one expert of our Eighth Void, living up to his reputation!"
"These Guardian Faction experts from the outside were all so arrogant before. Yet, as soon as Young Master Ye returned, he completely reversed the situation."
"Young Master Ye is the savior of our Eighth Void! I believe that with Young Master Ye here, these outsiders from the Guardian Faction will absolutely not be able to bully our Eighth Void."
…
By now, many spectators in the void surrounding the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds recognized Ye Yunfei and couldn't help but discuss him animatedly.
However, not everyone felt excitement. During this time, many had already pledged allegiance to the Guardian Faction. Watching Ye Yunfei's true body suddenly return, bringing such a terrifying host of experts with him, members of these turncoat factions paled, their hearts chilled. They knew things had taken a dire turn.
"This is bad. I must report back immediately. That little scourge, Ye Yunfei, has suddenly made a powerful comeback and subdued the Guardian Faction's twelve lords. Next, our factions who have already submitted to the Guardian Faction will likely face Ye Yunfei's reckoning. A calamity is brewing!"
Many people from these defecting factions dared not linger further. They immediately turned and hurried back to report.
"We pay our respects to Young Master Ye!"
Within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, the Alliance Army leaders swiftly rushed to stand before Ye Yunfei, greeting him respectfully and excitedly.
"Young Master Ye, you returned in the nick of time! Our Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds and the Alliance Army are saved," Elder Kong said, overwhelmed with emotion.
"Everyone, rest assured. Everything is fine now. With just these fellows before us, they pose no threat to the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds," Ye Yunfei said with a calm smile.
His gaze then fell upon the twelve Guardian Faction True Gods. Of course, Ye Yunfei recognized at a glance that two of them were actually experts from the Yin Corpse Hall.
These two Yin Corpse Hall experts had followed the Guardian Faction army primarily to collect corpses.
"Kid, are you Ye Yunfei from the Eighth Void? You have enormous gall, daring to stand against our Guardian Faction. I suspect you are unaware of our true depth and strength. I'll be honest with you; no matter how powerful you are, you cannot be a match for the Guardian Faction. Our true might is far beyond what you Eighth Void insects can even imagine."
The twelve True Gods were also sizing up Ye Yunfei. The lead Perfected Void God spoke up, shouting at Ye Yunfei sternly.
"Even in such a state, you still dare to speak such threatening words to me. Truly an idiot. There's no point conversing with fools like you."
Ye Yunfei's gaze was cold and indifferent, his tone faintly dismissive.
He immediately began employing the soul technique of the Reincarnation Ghost race.
"What's happening? I suddenly feel incredibly sleepy... I really want to fall into a deep slumber!"
The Perfected Void God abruptly felt an overwhelming sense of drowsiness. Immediately after, he sensed his Soul Body being tightly bound by some bizarre, coiling rope.
"What is going on?"
Knowing something was terribly wrong, he struggled to rouse his increasingly drowsy and sluggish Soul Body.
"Kid! Is this your doing? What have you done to my Soul Body?"
The Perfected Void God was both shocked and furious, roaring angrily at Ye Yunfei.
While employing the Reincarnation Ghost race's soul technique, Ye Yunfei also cast a Soul-Binding Art, firmly binding his opponent's Soul Body.
Then, Ye Yunfei began employing a soul purification technique, starting to purify the Perfected Void God's Soul Body.
By now, the other Guardian Faction troops had long since been overwhelmed by the Restorer Faction forces from the Sixth Void. Completely encircled, none of the Guardian Faction soldiers could escape.
"Kid! Stop! What are you doing to my Soul Body? Cease immediately, or I swear you will not be spared! Nor will the Guardian Faction let you go!"
The Perfected Void God now realized in horror that his thoughts, will, memories—everything related to his Soul Body—were slowly fading away. Scared out of his wits, he couldn't help but scream in terror.
But Ye Yunfei paid him no heed, continuing to use the soul purification technique on the Soul Body.
"Young Master Ye's methods are truly astonishing... terrifying!"
Watching the Perfected Void God constantly screaming, the leaders of the Sixth Void's Restorer Faction felt inwardly shocked.
A moment later, the Perfected Void God stopped screaming. His gaze grew vacant and confused. His Soul Body had been completely purified.
Next, Ye Yunfei forcibly imprinted his own Soul Power mark upon that Soul Body.
"You've gained another Perfected Void God-level clone. Not bad!" Hun Lao said with a chuckle.
"These Guardian Faction True Gods are likely from different voids. I need to devour the Soul Bodies of a few of them to access their memories and learn about the situations in other voids. Therefore, I cannot turn all these True Gods into my clones," Ye Yunfei mused.
"In that case, leave the corpses of the True Gods whose Soul Bodies you devour for me afterward. I can use them for my cultivation," Huang Chang interjected promptly.
A True God whose Soul Body is devoured is essentially deceased and of little further use to Ye Yunfei.
"Agreed," Ye Yunfei nodded with a smile.
Next, Ye Yunfei utilized the Soul Star Devouring technique to consume the Soul Body of one of the True Gods and absorb his memories. From this, Ye Yunfei learned which void each of the twelve True Gods hailed from.
'I need to devour a True God from each void to obtain their memories. That way, I will gain understanding of every void. The remaining True Gods will all become my clones,' Ye Yunfei thought to himself.
Proceeding as planned, Ye Yunfei devoured the Soul Bodies of three more True Gods, obtaining their memories as well. The remaining True Gods had their Soul Bodies entirely purified, all becoming Ye Yunfei's clones.
Then, Ye Yunfei walked toward the other thoroughly encircled, defenseless Guardian Faction troops.
Among this batch of Guardian Faction forces were a considerable number of Void Gods. Ye Yunfei employed the soul purification technique, purifying these Void Gods' Soul Bodies, imprinting them with his Soul Power mark. Consequently, all these Guardian Faction Void Gods also became Ye Yunfei's clones.
For Ye Yunfei, the consumption of Soul Power energy required to create a single Soul Power imprint was negligible. Therefore, he could produce a vast number of such imprints to control these clones.
"Good. Take your men and return to headquarters," Ye Yunfei ordered impassively.
Following Ye Yunfei's command, the twelve True Gods immediately led the Guardian Faction army in a grand procession away from the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds.
Some of these twelve True Gods had become Ye Yunfei's clones, while others had been subdued by Huang Chang using corpse-control techniques. Therefore, all twelve now acted according to the will of Ye Yunfei and Huang Chang, a fact difficult for outsiders to discern.
"What's going on? Young Master Ye actually let the Guardian Faction army leave? And the twelve Guardian Faction True Gods were clearly all under control, screaming in agony just moments ago. Yet now they seem completely fine. What is happening?"
Witnessing this scene, all the spectators in the void near the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds felt bewildered.
"What's the meaning of this? Why did Young Master Ye let these Guardian Faction scoundrels go?"
Even within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, the Alliance Army leaders were equally puzzled, unable to understand Ye Yunfei's actions.