Then, with a single step, Ye Yunfei vanished on the spot.
Having successfully cultivated the first stage of the Myriad Spirits Body Forging Art, Ye Yunfei now possessed not only terrifying physical strength but also a massive improvement in movement speed. Currently, using only his physical power, a single stride could instantly carry him across an immense distance of space. Even the speed of a vessel specially designed for long-distance travel might not match the velocity Ye Yunfei's body now possessed.
While Ye Yunfei was traveling swiftly through the Sixth Void, five or six Heavenly Gods stood before the Ancient Desolate Sea.
All these Heavenly Gods were from the Guardian Faction. They had come here primarily to investigate the reason behind the sudden disappearance of the dozen or so Heavenly Gods who had been stationed here.
"I believe the situation is very grim. Based on my perception and deductions, I think those dozen or so Heavenly Gods must have all perished," one of the Heavenly Gods concluded after a careful round of sensing and deduction.
"Indeed, I too feel that our Allied Army's dozen-plus Heavenly God experts have all fallen," another Heavenly God immediately spoke up, and the rest voiced their agreement.
These Heavenly Gods all possessed powerful perception abilities. They could still detect the residual auras of the previously stationed Heavenly Gods here. Moreover, they had employed various divination arts, and the results indicated those Heavenly Gods had likely met with misfortune.
"But that was a dozen Heavenly Gods. How could they all have come to harm?
Who could possibly kill a dozen of our Guardian Faction's Heavenly Gods all at once?
This is no small matter. We must investigate thoroughly, find the culprit behind this, and bring them to justice." The faces of these Heavenly Gods were all grave.
A dozen Heavenly Gods perishing here, if news spread, would absolutely cause a stir throughout the entire Void. For the Guardian Faction, the loss of a dozen Heavenly Gods was a tremendous blow and also a severe provocation.
"We must report this to Old Wizard immediately," a Heavenly God said.
Just as this Heavenly God was about to send a message to Old Wizard, a spatial rift suddenly tore open at a certain spot in the distance. A radiant altar, blazing with rolling divine light, surged out from that spatial rift.
"Old Wizard is here." Seeing the dazzling altar, the five or six Guardian Faction Heavenly Gods' spirits rose.
The next moment, the altar arrived before them. Old Wizard sat cross-legged atop it, his face exceedingly dark.
"Reporting to Old Wizard, it appears that the dozen-plus Heavenly Gods our Guardian Faction had stationed here have all perished," a Heavenly God immediately stepped forward to report respectfully.
"I already know. I came specifically to investigate this matter," Old Wizard nodded, his expression extremely unpleasant.
Old Wizard then proceeded to activate some specialized divination instruments before him to begin deducing the event.
"So that lad has already emerged from the Ancient Desolate Sea.
Only, his aura has changed drastically, almost as if he has become a different person entirely.
What exactly did he experience inside the Ancient Desolate Sea?
The time he spent inside was actually not very long. What could have happened in such a short period to cause such a qualitative change in his aura, and even his entire body?" After some deduction, Old Wizard finally managed to capture Ye Yunfei's form and aura, speaking with astonishment.
He had discovered that Ye Yunfei had undergone a massive transformation, as if he had become a completely different person.
"He used to be a human, but the aura he now emits suggests his bloodline energy differs from that of a human, almost as if he's changed his race.
How strange. What has happened to that lad?" Old Wizard murmured while continuing his deductions.
"Could it be that it's no longer him? Was he possessed by something inside?" Old Wizard couldn't help but frown. He found he could no longer clearly discern Ye Yunfei's aura.
"No matter what, I must find him again. Whether he remains the original lad or has been taken over by some existence from the Ancient Desolate Sea.
Since he killed a dozen of our Guardian Faction's Heavenly Gods, he has forged a blood feud with our Guardian Faction. This is the gravest provocation against us!" Old Wizard stated solemnly.
The old wizard continued his deductions for a while longer, then took out several dozen jade slips. He imprinted Ye Yunfei's likeness and current aura onto them and distributed them among the Heavenly Gods, instructing them to take these slips and hunt down Ye Yunfei's whereabouts. Because Ye Yunfei's aura had changed compared to before, Old Wizard produced a new batch of jade slips about him.
Suddenly, Old Wizard's brow lightly furrowed. He took out a communication jade slip and perceived its message.
"How can this be?
The forces sent to deal with the Earth Demon Clan have returned defeated once more! And the three Heavenly Gods leading them have all perished!
How could a mere Earth Demon Clan be so difficult to handle? Has this clan been hiding its true strength all along, only revealing it now?" Old Wizard's face was full of rage as he spoke darkly.
Originally, a minor Earth Demon Clan wouldn't warrant his attention. However, over this period, the Guardian Faction forces sent to deal with them had been defeated several times. This last instance even had three Heavenly Gods personally leading the charge, yet all three had fallen. Repeated defeats for the Guardian Faction's forces forced Old Wizard to take this seriously.
"Very well. A tiny Earth Demon Clan has actually caused our Guardian Faction to lose so many personnel, even sacrificing the lives of three Heavenly Gods. It seems I truly underestimated them before," Old Wizard seethed with anger, gritting his teeth.
At this time, Ye Yunfei was traveling through the Sixth Void. The entire Allied Army was inside the Phantom Tower. After receiving the cultivation resources Ye Yunfei gave them, the high-ranking members of the Allied Army were now all in seclusion, attempting to break through their realms.
"There's a Guardian Faction branch stronghold nearby." Ye Yunfei, moving at an astonishing speed through the Sixth Void, suddenly halted, his gaze turning in a certain direction.
Then, with a flash, he charged over. Soon after, he entered a world cluster. Within this world cluster existed a branch stronghold of the Guardian Faction.
Many Guardian Faction branch strongholds had been destroyed by Ye Yunfei before, so most had now reinforced their defenses. Some even had Heavenly Gods personally stationed there.
However, given Ye Yunfei's current strength, even encountering a Heavenly God was something he could directly crush.
Entering the Guardian Faction's branch stronghold in this world cluster, Ye Yunfei discovered the strongest present were only three peak-stage True Gods. He immediately unleashed various soul techniques, subduing all the True Gods and all the Void Gods within the stronghold, turning them into his clones. The entire process was swift and effortless. In moments, Ye Yunfei had taken control of this branch stronghold.
Ye Yunfei continued his journey through the Sixth Void. Whenever he encountered a branch stronghold of the Guardian Faction or major powers closely affiliated with them, he showed no mercy, directly charging in and subduing all True Gods and Void Gods within, converting them into his clones.
"There's a Lingxiao Sect branch stronghold in this world cluster." Outside a world cluster, Ye Yunfei stopped, looking inside as he spoke softly.
He then entered one of the worlds within this cluster.
A large group guarded the entrance and exit of this world, but Ye Yunfei's movement speed was far too fast. Before these guards could even react, Ye Yunfei had flashed past and entered the world.
"Halt!
You, boy! Who are you?
This is Lingxiao Sect territory. No one is allowed to enter without permission!" Ye Yunfei had just appeared in this world when he was immediately discovered by a patrol squad.
The squad leader dashed forward first, scrutinizing Ye Yunfei with sharp eyes. Upon confirming Ye Yunfei was a stranger, his face darkened as he demanded an answer.
Ye Yunfei ignored him, releasing his Soul Power energy. Instantly, he sensed all members of the Lingxiao Sect within this branch stronghold.
Ye Yunfei discovered this Lingxiao Sect branch stronghold contained over twenty True Gods in total, the strongest being a peak-stage True God.
"Boy, who are you?
Why have you barged into our Lingxiao Sect territory?
What is your intention?
Answer my questions immediately, or don't blame me for being impolite." Seeing Ye Yunfei actually ignoring him, the squad leader flew into a rage.
However, in the next moment, Ye Yunfei vanished with a flicker, reappearing before the peak-stage True God.
This peak-stage True God was in seclusion within his secret chamber, when he suddenly noticed a young man standing before him. His face paled in fright, and he immediately rose to his feet.
"Boy, who are you?
Why have you trespassed into my cultivation chamber?" The peak-stage True God asked grimly.
He knew this unfamiliar young man must possess considerable power.
"Now, tell me why your Lingxiao Sect attacked the members of the Allied Army. Whose idea was it?
Tell me everything you know," Ye Yunfei asked lightly.
"Boy, who exactly are you?
Why are you questioning our Lingxiao Sect's affairs?
How our Lingxiao Sect operates is not for you to meddle in!
Also, what is your relation to the Allied Army?
Confess truthfully.
Could you be from the Allied Army?
If you are from the Allied Army, submit to capture immediately!" Hearing Ye Yunfei's questions, the peak-stage True God was both shocked and furious.
He then directly attacked Ye Yunfei, activating five or six magical treasures and sending them suppressing towards Ye Yunfei. Of course, he understood that this unfamiliar young man, capable of suddenly appearing in his secret chamber, must possess significant strength. Therefore, he didn't underestimate Ye Yunfei, going all out from the start.
After sending out the treasures, he immediately unleashed his most powerful secret techniques against Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei casually backhanded, sending all those magical treasures flying. Then his hand shot out and grabbed the peak-stage True God, lifting him like a chick.
"It seems your Lingxiao Sect harbors no goodwill towards our Allied Army.
In that case, I needn't be polite with you either." Ye Yunfei sneered.
In the next moment, Ye Yunfei employed a soul technique, directly devouring this peak-stage True God's soul body and acquiring his memories.
Although this peak-stage True God was stationed at this branch stronghold, he was a trusted aide of a highly influential Elder within the Lingxiao Sect's headquarters and was quite familiar with its affairs.
Thus, through his memories, Ye Yunfei immediately learned much about the Lingxiao Sect's headquarters, including the fate of those Allied Army members detained there.
Through this peak-stage True God's memories, Ye Yunfei now knew exactly which individuals within the Lingxiao Sect's headquarters were primarily responsible for persecuting the Allied Army members.
This was also one of his purposes for entering this branch stronghold: to learn about the Lingxiao Sect headquarters through the memories of their True Gods.
Based on this True God's memories, Ye Yunfei also learned that a majority within the Lingxiao Sect looked down upon the Allied Army, even intending to make trouble for them at the first opportunity.
"Very well. If that's the case, there's nothing more to be said." A cold smile appeared on Ye Yunfei's face.
Previously, because the Lingxiao Sect's enemy was the Guardian Faction, Ye Yunfei had harbored a final shred of goodwill towards them. But now, Ye Yunfei felt none at all.
Subsequently, Ye Yunfei subdued the majority of True Gods and Void Gods within this Lingxiao Sect branch stronghold, turning them into his clones. After leaving the stronghold, he headed straight for the Lingxiao Sect headquarters.
From the peak-stage True God's memories, Ye Yunfei learned that the situation of the Allied Army members within the Lingxiao Sect headquarters was extremely dire. At regular intervals, a portion of them would die from unbearable torture.
"Lingxiao Sect, prepare to pay a debt of blood!" With astonishing speed, Ye Yunfei traveled through the Void, his killing intent palpable, drawing ever closer to the Lingxiao Sect headquarters.