"Old Wizard, the Prison Warden sent me to ask, when exactly is the best time to dispatch our troops?"
An elder suddenly walked into the palace, bowed to the old Wizard, and posed his question.
"About six days from now, more or less. Once I deduce the optimal time for deployment, I will send a message to the Prison Warden," the old Wizard replied.
"By the way, Elder Peng, pass down the order. During this period, we must intensify our search for the headquarters of the Alliance Army within the Sixth Void. Report immediately if discovered," the old Wizard added.
"Old Wizard, rest assured, I will dispatch more personnel immediately to track them down," Elder Peng answered promptly before turning and leaving the palace.
"Our Guardian Faction's rule over this Sixth Void is finally upon us. However, in my divinations, lingering threats always appear. If we do not eliminate these hazards, they could eventually harm our Guardian Faction. That youngster who fled into the Ancient Desolate Sea is one of the sources of my unease. I will not rest easy until he is eradicated!"
The old Wizard sighed as he spoke.
At the same time, in the skies above the Xuanhuang Continent, numerous severed limbs and torn flesh floated everywhere. Surging blood pooled together, forming crimson rivers that flowed turbulently. Many shattered weapons and artifacts lay scattered about.
One incomplete corpse after another bobbed in the space surrounding the Xuanhuang Continent.
From a distance, the space around the Xuanhuang Continent looked battered and broken. Dark spatial cracks spiderwebbed across it in a horrifying display.
On the land of the Xuanhuang Continent, a group of senior Alliance Army commanders, drenched in blood, stood gasping for breath.
The ground was covered with exhausted Alliance Army soldiers. Many corpses of their comrades were laid out on the earth, surrounded by mourners weeping and grieving, their expressions pained and their faces streaked with tears.
"Those bastards from the Guardian Faction have finally fled with their tails between their legs!"
A senior commander looked at the chaotic space around them and spoke, though his words carried a tinge of bitterness. The expressions of the other Alliance Army leaders were equally complex.
Although they had just won a battle, the Alliance Army had paid a heavy price. The previous fight had been almost a bloodbath. In the end, while they had driven off the Guardian Faction's forces, their own casualties were devastatingly severe.
"Everyone, the Guardian Faction will certainly not give up. They are likely to dispatch another army soon, and next time their forces will undoubtedly be stronger. We must prepare ourselves," said a senior commander with white hair and beard, his tone grave.
"Fortunately, we have already evacuated most of the important personnel and resources from the Xuanhuang Continent. Next time, if we cannot hold against the Guardian Faction's army, we retreat immediately. We must not die defending this continent.
As long as the green hills remain, fear not lack of firewood.
Preserving our strength is paramount."
An ancient ancestor of the Earth Demon Race looked at the mountain of corpses on the ground and spoke solemnly.
"Indeed," another elder nodded in agreement. "In this period, our Alliance Army has engaged the Guardian Faction several times. Although we managed to win each time by relying on the unique terrain of the Xuanhuang Continent, our casualties grow increasingly grievous. One could say the number of troops our Alliance Army has lost during this time exceeds two-thirds. Continuing like this, the complete annihilation of our Alliance Army will not be far off."
This elder was precisely the Liu Family ancestor. The other Alliance Army leaders fell silent, their hearts heavy.
"Elder Qi, is there any news of Young Master Ye from the Ancient Desolate Sea?"
One senior commander suddenly asked.
"There's still no news of Young Master Ye for now,"
Elder Qi shook his head and sighed.
"Let us hope Young Master Ye returns safely. I believe that if he does return safely, he will undoubtedly lead our Alliance Army to further growth and power,"
said an ancestor of the Earth Demon Race.
At the edge of the Ancient Desolate Sea, on a certain stretch of water, a Lotus Lamp floated upon the surface. The lamp was exceedingly small, about the size of a needle tip, and blended into the dark sea, making it nearly impossible to detect.
Inside the Lotus Lamp, within the Phantom Tower, Ye Yunfei was still in secluded cultivation.
"I have been constantly divining the situation outside recently and found that the Alliance Army's circumstances are likely quite dire,"
Hun Lao suddenly spoke up.
As a member of the Chaos World Tree Race, Hun Lao not only possessed formidable spatial attainments but their race also had unique divination arts. As his strength continuously increased, so did his divination ability.
"We'll go out a little later. Then, we'll settle old scores."
Ye Yunfei's voice rang out before he resumed his secluded cultivation.
Outside the Ancient Desolate Sea, the dozen or so Heavenly Gods of the Guardian Faction were still waiting, but they had grown extremely impatient. These Heavenly Gods grumbled as they waited. Following the old Wizard's orders, they had been stationed here all this time, hardly moving an inch.
"I think that kid is most likely already dead inside. With his level of strength, how could he possibly survive within the Ancient Desolate Sea for so long? We should report this possibility to the old Wizard,"
one of the Heavenly Gods said.
"The old Wizard only believes in his own divination results. He won't believe your conjecture. So we'd better keep waiting here obediently,"
the Heavenly God next to him replied.
"Hmph, I think that kid is most likely scared. He entered the Ancient Desolate Sea and probably found a place to hide somewhere near the edge. With his strength, he wouldn't dare to wander around inside, and he's afraid to come out and face us, so he has no choice but to hide in some secluded, safe spot."
Another Heavenly God sneered.
"That's actually quite possible. If that kid hides in some remote corner within the Ancient Desolate Sea and refuses to come out, won't we have to wait for him here forever? How long are we supposed to wait like this?"
Hearing this, someone immediately began to complain.
Every one of these Heavenly Gods could be considered a true powerhouse in the Sixth Void. When they traversed the voids, they were revered and exalted wherever they went, basking in glory and prestige. Being stuck here waiting for some junior brat made them feel utterly frustrated, as if their talents were being wasted on a trivial task.
"Who would have thought that brat is the so-called leader of that Alliance Army? Still so young and daring to openly oppose our Guardian Faction. He truly doesn't know the meaning of fear. Now he regrets it, doesn't he? Hiding inside the Ancient Desolate Sea, not even daring to show his face. No one in the entire Sixth Void who dares oppose our Guardian Faction will come to a good end."
One Heavenly God sneered coldly.
The news that Ye Yunfei was the Alliance Army leader had long since spread widely throughout the Sixth Void.
"I hear the old Wizard is currently searching for the location of the Alliance Army headquarters. Once found, he will definitely dispatch troops to annihilate it. When that kid comes out, he'll discover that the so-called 'Alliance Army' he built has been utterly obliterated,"
another Heavenly God said coldly.
"That kid made us wait here for so long. When he comes out, I'll definitely skin him alive, tear him to pieces, and subject him to every one of our Guardian Faction's tortures, letting him taste a fate worse than death."
Yet another Heavenly God gnashed his teeth.
"Right! He made us wait so long. Once he falls into our hands, we won't let him die a quick death."
The other Heavenly Gods nodded in agreement, cold smiles appearing on their faces.
"Oh, with just you lot? You overestimate yourselves too much."
Just at that moment, a clear, cold voice suddenly emanated from the Ancient Desolate Sea.
"What?!"
Hearing the voice, the dozen waiting Heavenly Gods of the Guardian Faction simultaneously jolted their heads around in alarm. They then saw a young man step by step walking out from the billowing, monstrous waves of the Ancient Desolate Sea.
The young man's face was calm, his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze indifferent. His movements seemed unhurried, yet in but an instant, he stepped right before these dozen Heavenly Gods, regarding them with a cold stare, even with a trace of disdain tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"It's him! He's finally out!"
Since Ye Yunfei's speed was so astoundingly fast—his appearance and his arrival before them happening in a single moment—it was only now that these Heavenly Gods finally reacted. One couldn't help but shout loudly.
"Such audacity! Brat, knowing we are here, you still dare to show yourself."
The dozen Heavenly Gods instantly dispersed, surrounding Ye Yunfei on all sides. One shouted loudly.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
All dozen Heavenly Gods unleashed their energy auras, erupting like twelve volcanoes. Vast, surging Heavenly God level energy waves washed out in all directions, shaking the heavens.
The simultaneous release of energy pressure by over a dozen Heavenly God powerhouses was a truly terrifying sight!
Everything within this spatial region was suppressed and sealed by the energy of these dozen Heavenly Gods. Endless storms of energy howled wildly.
"Brat, you made us wait here so long. Prepare to die!"
Someone roared.
"Kid, not bad for the leader of the Alliance Army! Seeing us here, you dare to walk out without changing expression. Your nerve is commendable, but unfortunately today you will die at our hands."
Seeing Ye Yunfei's complete composure, another couldn't help but offer a word of admiration.
"What nerve does he have? He must have been forced out because he couldn't stay in the Ancient Desolate Sea any longer. Even we dare not linger long within that sea, let alone an ant-like character like him. He must have been scared out of his wits by all the dangers inside and finally, desperately fled out."
Someone immediately retorted.
For the moment, a dozen Heavenly Gods surrounded Ye Yunfei, each with menacing expressions, murderous intent swirling around them.
They had already completely locked onto Ye Yunfei's aura, leaving him no chance to escape.