"Ahead lies the Lingxiao Sect Headquarters."
Ye Yunfei halted before a relatively large world cluster. This cluster of worlds was precisely the headquarters of Lingxiao Sect.
Lingxiao Sect was a formidable major force within the Sixth Void, occupying an entire world cluster as its headquarters.
Looking from afar, the Lingxiao Sect Headquarters was heavily guarded, with squadrons of patrols moving back and forth through the surrounding space, their auras radiating deadly killing intent.
The great war between Lingxiao Sect and the Guardian Faction was imminent. Fortified defenses were already fully prepared.
Beyond those patrols, the area around Lingxiao Sect Headquarters was densely layered with numerous Formations.
One after another, visible or invisible barriers of formation light flickered intermittently. Their sheer number presented a spectacular and imposing sight.
Furthermore, occasional waves of powerful Soul Power energy swept out, scouring and probing the surrounding space.
This Soul Power energy emanated from Lingxiao Sect's Heavenly Gods.
Lingxiao Sect, having allied with a number of large factions, had formed a sizable coalition. They had fortified this place into an impenetrable fortress, readying themselves for battle against the Guardian Faction.
"This should have been a substantial force against the Guardian Faction," Ye Yunfei thought coldly, gazing into the distance. "A pity you had to cross our Alliance Army.
Having offended the Alliance Army, prepare to pay in blood."
After voicing these words inwardly, Ye Yunfei willed it, and the entire force of the Alliance Army was instantly transported out, standing arrayed in the void.
"This is the Lingxiao Sect Headquarters!"
The high-ranking members of the Alliance Army, observing the heavily defended world cluster ahead, paled in shock and immediately recognized its identity.
"Young Master Ye…"
Their gazes turned toward Ye Yunfei, carrying questions.
They were well aware that Ye Yunfei was here to settle accounts with Lingxiao Sect, but the specifics of his plan were unclear to them.
"Deploy our battle formation," Ye Yunfei commanded, his gaze icy as he looked toward the Lingxiao Sect Headquarters. "Then deliver an ultimatum to Lingxiao Sect. They have one hour to release every last one of our Alliance Army members previously stationed within their headquarters. Every single one must be returned unharmed and without exception. Furthermore, they must offer compensation. Failure to comply means war. They will pay in blood."
Upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words, the Alliance Army's higher-ups hesitated.
Lingxiao Sect possessed formidable strength. Furthermore, they had allied with numerous major factions to form a coalition. This was their headquarters, now heavily defended. In their view, engaging Lingxiao Sect here held little chance of victory.
"Young Master Ye, Lingxiao Sect has a significant number of Heavenly Gods…" one high-ranking official ventured cautiously.
"No matter," Ye Yunfei responded, understanding his concern about the odds of victory here. "Proceed as I have ordered."
"Everyone, let's do as Young Master Ye commands," declared an elder of the Earth Demon Clan, his voice ringing clear. "I believe Young Master Ye will undoubtedly lead us in claiming justice from Lingxiao Sect."
"Indeed, Young Master Ye has never let us down!" chimed in the elder of the Liu Family, raising his voice. "I support every decision and command from Young Master Ye."
The three Earth Demon Clan elders and the Liu Family elder were among the earliest founders of the Alliance Army when Ye Yunfei established it. Having followed Ye Yunfei all the way in expanding the Alliance Army to its current scale, they held immense respect for him, coupled with an unconditional trust.
Soon, other high-ranking members also voiced their support, pledging to resolutely carry out Ye Yunfei's orders.
Guided by these leaders, the Alliance Army forces deployed their battle formations and set up camp.
Then, an elder from the Earth Demon Clan personally drafted the declaration of war, strode forward, and took out a great bow, preparing to shoot the message into the Lingxiao Sect Headquarters.
"I'll do it," Ye Yunfei stated flatly.
The Earth Demon Clan elder hurriedly handed over a powerful longbow and an arrow tied with the declaration of war.
Ye Yunfei notched the arrow, nocked it to the bowstring, and infused it with the power surging within his body.
With a sharp “whoosh,” the arrow tore through the void, emitting an earsplitting shriek. It instantly pierced the spatial layers, streaking toward the interior of Lingxiao Sect Headquarters.
Witnessing this, numerous patrol squads both outside and inside the headquarters surged forward to intercept the arrow.
However, the arrow was imbued with Ye Yunfei's terrifying physical might. These ordinary Lingxiao Sect members couldn't hope to stop it. Dozens of patrol members were instantly pierced by the arrow before their bodies directly exploded.
Over a dozen True Gods charged at the arrow from different directions, only to be blown to pieces by the terrifying force it carried.
Thus, the arrow continued its flight, emitting that sharp shriek, until it finally shot into the very heart of the Lingxiao Sect Headquarters.
From within the headquarters, roars of shock and fury erupted immediately as many members detected the arrow and attempted to intercept it. But no matter what means they employed—deploying magical treasures, unleashing various techniques and secret arts, or simply charging forward bare-handed to seize it—none proved effective.
The power contained within the arrow was too horrifying. Those who tried to stop it were either maimed or killed outright.
During this process, many Formations also activated in succession, attempting to block the arrow. Having long ago deployed numerous Formations around their headquarters, these defenses triggered automatically upon attack.
Yet even these Formations failed to halt the arrow shot by Ye Yunfei. Finally, with a thunderous crash, the arrow blasted apart a resplendent, golden-hued palace within the Lingxiao Sect Headquarters, utterly annihilating it.
Due to the suddenness of the event, silence briefly fell over the headquarters, many unable to grasp what had just happened.
"Just what is going on?!"
Soon, however, enraged roars echoed from within the Lingxiao Sect Headquarters. Countless sharp, menacing figures streaked toward the location of the obliterated palace.
"That's the arrow! It has what looks like a letter tied to it!"
A high-level True God pointed angrily at an arrow embedded in the ground where a massive palace had once stood, now reduced to scorched earth.
A Heavenly God appeared above, reaching out with a wave of his hand to retrieve the arrow. He then unfurled the letter tied to it.
"This is a declaration of war from the Alliance Army!" the Heavenly God declared, his face twisting with fury the moment he saw its contents.
"What? The Alliance Army has declared war on our Lingxiao Sect?!"
The other Lingxiao Sect members around him were taken aback. For some time now, Lingxiao Sect had been sending people to scour the Sixth Void for traces of the Alliance Army, but without success. They certainly hadn't expected the Alliance Army to suddenly send a declaration of war shooting into their headquarters.
"Report! A large force has arrived outside and is currently setting up camp. They identify themselves as the Alliance Army!" someone rushed over and announced loudly.
"How audacious! The Alliance Army dares to come to our headquarters!" the Heavenly God who had just read the declaration sneered coldly. With a flicker of his figure, he shot out from the headquarters, emerging into the void outside.
By this time, many of Lingxiao Sect's higher-ups had emerged, gazing out toward the deployed and camped Alliance Army forces in the distance.
"It truly is the Alliance Army. I recognize them."
Many True Gods spoke up promptly. Previously, Ye Yunfei had led Alliance Army forces here, joining Lingxiao Sect in battle against the Guardian Faction's armies outside their headquarters. Some key figures from both sides remembered each other, especially Lingxiao Sect's True Gods, who had fought shoulder to shoulder with the Alliance Army's leaders, leaving a deep impression. Thus, recognition was immediate.
"Not a single Heavenly God among them," the Heavenly God who had read the declaration sneered, holding up the parchment. "With such strength, you dare come to our Lingxiao Sect Headquarters and issue demands?"
As he spoke, he released the declaration, letting it unfurl and flutter mid-air, its script clearly legible for all to see.
"Hahaha…
They dare make such demands of our Lingxiao Sect? This is a joke, right?!"
Others from Lingxiao Sect around him burst into mocking laughter.
"They didn't even weigh their own strength properly, daring to challenge us. Do they have a death wish?"
"You'd bring such weak overall force here to declare war? What were you thinking? Are you truly unafraid of death?"
"Why waste words on this trash? Just annihilate them. No need to waste time."
"Leave it to me. I'll do it one-handed while keeping my other hand behind my back! I can wipe out this so-called Alliance Army all by myself!"
……
Members of Lingxiao Sect offered nothing but cold ridicule and contempt. The Heavenly Gods in particular wore expressions of disdain, clearly not taking the Alliance Army seriously in the slightest.
One Heavenly God gestured with a finger, immediately shattering the declaration of war into dust and scattering it to the winds.
"Dealing with such trash doesn't require you Heavenly Gods to lift a finger," said a Peak True God, stepping forward respectfully. "Allow me to lead a force to eradicate this Alliance Army. Let the entire Sixth Void see the consequences of provoking our Lingxiao Sect."
"Very well," a Heavenly God nodded in agreement. "Consider this an opportunity for training. Drill our Lingxiao Sect's various combat Formations, as preparation for our upcoming battle with the Guardian Faction."
Seeking to display his worth before the Heavenly Gods, the Peak True God immediately led a large contingent of Lingxiao Sect fighters charging out. They swiftly deployed over a dozen battle Formations, each conjuring various, distinct and spectacular illusory phenomena.
"Prepare for destruction, Alliance Army!" the Peak True God leading the assault snarled with a vicious grin. "This is the fate of those who dare provoke Lingxiao Sect!"
The Lingxiao Sect's battle formations rolled forward, each unleashing ferocious auras. In preparation for their impending war with the Guardian Faction, the Lingxiao Sect forces drilled these formations almost daily, mastering them thoroughly.
Each formation involved thousands of participants, with over a hundred True Gods forming the core combat force for each one.
As the dozen formations advanced, their overwhelming momentum swept across the sky, making the vast surrounding void tremble and quake.