Another moment passed, and the two Heavenly Gods from the Guardian Faction began to falter.
"This is bad. We're not their match. If we continue fighting like this, we both might be in danger. We can't drag this out any longer. We need to escape quickly."
At this moment, the two Heavenly Gods from the Guardian Faction started to panic. After conferring via voice transmission, they retreated swiftly together. Feinting a move, they turned and fled.
"Where do you think you're escaping?"
The old man and the Lingxiao Sect's Heavenly God both roared and gave chase simultaneously. The speed and movement techniques of these four Heavenly Gods were utterly terrifying. In the blink of an eye, they were already gone into the distance, disappearing without a trace. Only the boundless leftover combat energy remained, and terrifying energy laws pervaded the location of the previous battle. Endless light and heat continued to churn violently there, making anyone reluctant to approach.
"Just the residual combat energy is something a Void God cannot withstand. Heavenly Gods truly possess formidable strength."
Ye Yunfei recalled the battle scene involving those four Heavenly Gods with deep feeling.
"It seems I should find a quiet place to properly digest and absorb my insights."
After taking one last glance in the direction the four Heavenly Gods had disappeared, Ye Yunfei turned and left.
Not long after, Ye Yunfei entered an ordinary world cluster, found a secluded spot, laid out dozens of formations to create a small spatial enclosure. He entered it and then retreated into the Phantom Tower to begin closed-door cultivation.
While contemplating the insights gained from observing the Heavenly Gods' battle, Ye Yunfei also cultivated several other techniques and secret arts. The nine divine beasts of the Nine Palaces Totem Wheel were also released. Vast quantities of cultivation resources were piled before them for consumption.
During the previous battle, Ye Yunfei had subdued another batch of True Gods, turning them into Clones. Naturally, all the cultivation resources on those True Gods had fallen into his hands. The combined resources from so many True Gods amounted to a considerable sum.
Unbeknownst to him, three years passed within the Phantom Tower during Ye Yunfei's cultivation session.
After three years, Ye Yunfei suddenly opened his eyes.
"It's time for a breakthrough."
Ye Yunfei abruptly felt his realm was on the verge of breaking through. Thus, he emerged from the Phantom Tower.
Dark clouds had long gathered in the high sky, with thunder rumbling intensely. Thick bolts of lightning and crackling arcs of electricity snaked about wildly.
Ye Yunfei teleported out over ten True God-level Clones and several thousand Void God-level puppets from the Phantom Tower, ordering these Clones and puppets to stand guard.
Soon after, Ye Yunfei's lightning tribulation began.
Majestic, waterfall-like torrents of thunder descended from the heavens, covering a vast expanse of space. Tens of thousands of dazzling thunder dragons charged and roared collectively—a spectacular scene.
Ye Yunfei released Lei Ze, the beast of the Nine Palaces Totem Wheel, placing it beside him. It began tilting its head back and voraciously swallowing the massive thunderbolts plummeting from above.
This Lei Ze's strength had already reached the True God level. Thousands upon thousands of arcs of electricity coiled around its body. Its dazzling and colossal form possessed an extremely strong visual impact.
Ye Yunfei stood with his hands clasped behind his back next to Lei Ze, neither dodging nor evading. He let the enormous thunderbolts fall directly upon his physical body. He needed to use this lightning to temper his physique.
"Truly abnormal. For his tribulation, he doesn't need to dodge the lightning, nor does he fight against it. Instead, he treats the bolts as tools for body tempering. This is equal to cultivating his body while undergoing the tribulation—taking care of both at once."
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, watching Ye Yunfei standing calmly amid the churning thunder with his hands behind his back, couldn't help but comment.
"Probably only my master would dare to unreservedly allow the tribulation lightning to strike his physical body. If it were any other True God, they'd have been blasted to pieces long ago. My master is truly incredible!"
Hu Miao cheered Ye Yunfei on from the side, speaking proudly.
The tribulation lightning here quickly alerted some experts within this world cluster. However, when they tried to approach, they were immediately repelled by Ye Yunfei's Clones and puppets.
In the end, Ye Yunfei successfully transcended the tribulation, smoothly breaking through to become an intermediate True God.
While this realm breakthrough didn't bring a massive increase in Ye Yunfei's overall combat power, breaking through his cultivation limit allowed him to progress further on his path in the future.
After succeeding in his breakthrough, Ye Yunfei left the world cluster and emerged into the void outside.
Immediately, he received voice transmissions from several nearby Clones, learning shocking news:
A Heavenly God of the Guardian Faction had fallen, and another had been severely wounded.
Now, the higher-ups at the Guardian Faction's headquarters were utterly enraged. They were mobilizing troops and preparing to attack the Lingxiao Sect's main headquarters to utterly annihilate them.
This was the most shocking news in the Sixth Void recently.
Subsequently, Ye Yunfei received more messages from his Clones.
Many Branch Strongholds of the Guardian Faction, which he had already taken control of, had received orders from headquarters. They were preparing to assemble their forces and set out to participate in the operation to assault Lingxiao Sect's main headquarters.
"No way? One of those two Guardian Faction guys was actually killed, and the other was seriously injured? That's awesome!"
Upon learning this, the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm immediately cheered loudly, feeling immensely pleased.
"The fall of a Heavenly God should be a significant loss for the Guardian Faction. Next, the Guardian Faction will not let this go. They will certainly launch a fierce, thunderous revenge.
For a superpower like the Guardian Faction to seek revenge means the Sixth Void is truly going to erupt into chaos because their foundation and strength are no simple matter."
Hun Lao sighed and remarked.
"Yes, the Sixth Void is truly going to start descending into chaos from now on."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Next, I will take advantage of the chaos to deal with the Guardian Faction."
After thinking for a moment, Ye Yunfei spoke.
Then, Ye Yunfei immediately dispatched a few Clones back to the Xuanyang Continent, instructing the higher-ups of the Alliance Army to prepare to deploy troops against the Guardian Faction.
Since the Alliance Army had already formed an alliance with Lingxiao Sect, they naturally couldn't stand idly by.
"No, I need to subdue more Clones, especially True Gods from the Guardian Faction and forces related to them. The more, the better."
After pondering again, Ye Yunfei voiced his thoughts.
Following that, he activated his movement technique and headed toward a nearby world cluster because it contained a Branch Stronghold of the Guardian Faction. Though it was a relatively small Branch Stronghold, it still housed two or three True Gods.
Ye Yunfei entered this Branch Stronghold and, without the slightest effort, subdued all the True Gods within, turning them into Clones. He then purified all the Void Gods as well, taking complete control of the stronghold.
In the following days, Ye Yunfei accelerated his efforts, continuously infiltrating one Branch Stronghold after another belonging to the Guardian Faction or forces associated with them. He subdued every True God and Void God within these outposts, turning them all into his Clones.
Thus, before long, Ye Yunfei had gained control of another batch of Branch Strongholds belonging to the Guardian Faction and its allied factions.
Since Ye Yunfei's Clones were spread throughout the Sixth Void, he could receive news about all sorts of events in the Sixth Void within the shortest possible time. This was especially true for news regarding the Guardian Faction, which he could receive at any moment.
After all, not only had Ye Yunfei taken control of numerous Guardian Faction Branch Strongholds, but there were also many of his Clones within their main headquarters.
"Six days from now, the Guardian Faction's forces are preparing to set out and attack Lingxiao Sect's main headquarters. They've also allied with a large number of subordinate forces, including the Yin Corpse Hall."
Upon receiving this message, Ye Yunfei immediately informed Hun Lao and the others.
"You've taken control of so many Guardian Faction Branch Strongholds. When the battle starts, you should just make the Guardian Faction's own people fight each other. That would be fun."
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm said with a laugh.
"Yes. More than half of the Branch Strongholds I control have been mobilized to participate in the operation against Lingxiao Sect's headquarters. The forces under my control naturally won't exert any effort; they might even secretly turn against the Guardian Faction's personnel during the fight. However, those Heavenly Gods will likely be the ones truly deciding the outcome."
Ye Yunfei nodded and spoke.
"Indeed, the Heavenly Gods will determine the war's outcome. I wonder just how many Heavenly Gods Lingxiao Sect actually possesses.
However, I suspect the two seniors secretly aiding you will also dispatch Heavenly Gods to join the fight. So, Lingxiao Sect might not necessarily lose this battle, and the Guardian Faction might not necessarily win.
Furthermore, you yourself are a variable. You've now secretly taken control of so many of the Guardian Faction's forces. Once the battle begins, on the True God and Void God levels, the Guardian Faction's forces are sure to collapse."
Hun Lao said.
"There are still six days. During these six days, I need to subdue even more Clones and strengthen my power further."
After considering it, Ye Yunfei voiced his plan.
However, right at that moment, Ye Yunfei's expression suddenly changed drastically.
"Bad! There's trouble in the Xuanyang Continent. It seems some mysterious external enemies have invaded. I must hurry back to deal with it."
A mix of alarm and anger appeared on Ye Yunfei's face as he spoke.