"Sect Leader, these two fellows are far too arrogant. Why don't we just capture them outright?"
Some higher-ups of the Lingxiao Sect saw Ye Yunfei and the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm showing such insolent expressions, and they couldn't help but feel their anger boil over.
Trapped here by the Guardian Faction's army all this while, unable to break free, they'd long felt bitterly stifled. Now, being openly provoked by two young juniors, the sky-high fury within them was hard to contain.
"No, this Ye fellow's strength seems even stronger than before. Since he could breeze in here so easily, perhaps we can rely on him to escape our predicament.
Our Lingxiao Sect's current situation is rather dire. We can't afford to make more enemies.
The best course would be to resolve our grievances with him, have him stand on our side, use him for our own purposes, and let him serve our Lingxiao Sect."
The Sect Leader of Lingxiao Sect had been sensing Ye Yunfei the whole time. He was shocked to discover that Ye Yunfei's power seemed significantly stronger than during their last encounter; he now found it difficult to grasp the true extent of Ye Yunfei's current strength.
"That's right, everyone. The Sect Leader makes a very good point. We'd be best off trying to win over this youngster and have him serve us," a green-robed elder standing beside the Sect Leader sent a sound transmission to the other Heavenly Gods.
This green-robed elder was the Great Mage of the Lingxiao Sect, his position within the sect akin to that of the old Wizard in the Guardian Faction. Among many of the major powers in the Sixth Void, there would be such a master skilled in the art of divination.
"Alliance Leader Ye, it is true that our Lingxiao Sect was wrong before, causing a great misunderstanding.
The Lingxiao Sect is willing to apologize, make reparations to your Alliance Army, dispel this misunderstanding, re-forge an alliance, and join forces against the Guardian Faction, fighting together for the justice of this void. Someone, bring out all members of the Alliance Army."
The Sect Leader spoke, his attitude appearing quite sincere. Shortly after, a group of people appeared in the distance.
"Young Master Ye, those are people from our Alliance Army!"
Ye Yunfei had already teleported the core higher-ups of the Alliance Army out to stand behind him. Seeing the newly arrived group, several of the Alliance Army's core high command cried out.
"Alliance Leader Ye, during this period, our Lingxiao Sect has treated these brothers of the Alliance Army as guests of honor. Their food, clothes, shelter, and travel have not been neglected; moreover, we've provided them with a batch of cultivation resources as compensation for our previous mistreatment."
The Lingxiao Sect Leader said with a smile.
"Come here," Ye Yunfei said, looking at the members of the Alliance Army.
Hearing Ye Yunfei's words, the Alliance Army members hesitated for a moment; for a time, no one stepped forward towards Ye Yunfei.
Seeing this, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but frown slightly.
"What are you afraid of? With Alliance Leader Ye here, we have nothing to fear. Hurry over."
After another moment's hesitation, several lower-ranking commanders finally gritted their teeth, stepped out from the crowd, and led the way, rushing towards Ye Yunfei.
"Yuan Hua, Zhang Qiang! What are you doing? We must act in unison, move together. How can you leave the group on your own? Is there no discipline?" A middle-aged man who remained standing still revealed an angry expression, loudly rebuking them.
Then, he waved his hand, saying, "Everyone, follow me and return to Alliance Leader Ye's side."
He led the way towards Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei gave this middle-aged man a faint glance, recognizing him as a mid-level commander in the Alliance Army, a complete Void God.
Soon, the middle-aged man led all the Alliance Army members detained by the Lingxiao Sect back to Ye Yunfei's side.
"Salutations to Young Master Ye!" The middle-aged man was the first to pay a respectful salute to Ye Yunfei.
"Salutations to Young Master Ye!" The other Alliance Army members who had just arrived also followed suit, paying their respects.
"No need for formalities. You've all endured hardship these days," Ye Yunfei said.
"Young Master Ye, during this time, your Alliance Army members have eaten well and lived comfortably in our Lingxiao Sect. If you don't believe me, you can ask them," the Lingxiao Sect Leader said, his face full of smiles.
"Report to Young Master Ye, what the Sect Leader says is true. During this period, the Lingxiao Sect has indeed treated us well, arranging many cultivation chambers for us to train in and providing many cultivation resources. We have all been living very well," the middle-aged man who had led the group earlier stepped forward and respectfully addressed Ye Yunfei.
"Ma Xiu, Young Master Ye hasn't asked you anything yet. There's no need for you to rush to reply," an elder from the Earth Demon Clan standing beside Ye Yunfei glared at the middle-aged man and said impatiently.
"Th-This lowly one dares not! I am simply overjoyed to finally see my lords again today, and lost my composure for a moment! Please punish me, Young Master Ye, and all you great lords!" The middle-aged man named Ma Xiu was startled and quickly spoke up.
"Last time, I gave the Lingxiao Sect three demands.
First, return the members of our Alliance Army intact and unharmed.
Second, provide compensation a hundredfold over for all casualties of our Alliance Army.
Third, hand over to our Alliance Army for punishment every member of the Lingxiao Sect who harmed our forces, including those indirectly involved—a debt of blood must be repaid in blood.
Now, these three demands remain unchanged.
If your Lingxiao Sect meets these three demands, then I can let bygones be with your sect. Otherwise, I don't mind personally taking action to demand justice."
Ye Yunfei clasped his hands behind his back, his gaze coldly sweeping over the Lingxiao Sect's Leader and its higher-ups as he spoke slowly.
"You..."
Upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words, the expressions of Lingxiao Sect's high command all changed drastically.
"Sect Leader, it seems this kid has no intention of letting this rest. He holds a great grudge against our Lingxiao Sect. It's likely he won't be of use to us. It might be best to kill him directly. Keeping him around will always be a future threat," a blue-robed elder standing behind the Sect Leader said via sound transmission, murderous intent stirring deep within his eyes.
"Not yet. Wait a little longer. Our Lingxiao Sect is currently in a grave crisis. In such extraordinary times, it's necessary to endure insults and swallow pride. Accepting a bit of humiliation doesn't matter," the Lingxiao Sect's Leader, after hearing Ye Yunfei's words, though outwardly showing little fluctuation in emotion, was internally furious. After all, as the Sect Leader of a major power in the Sixth Void, a junior dared show him no face at all. Under normal circumstances, he would have erupted long ago.
"Alliance Leader Ye, there indeed were some casualties among your Alliance Army members within our Lingxiao Sect's headquarters, but those were all accidents arising from misunderstandings and conflicts between our respective people. That's what led to those casualties, but it was never the Lingxiao Sect's intention.
I have ensured that all your Alliance Army members who died accidentally were given lavish burials. Moreover, I have also severely punished those Lingxiao Sect members involved in these matters.
Some of our members implicated in these events have already been thrown into prison by me. If you don't believe me, you can ask your own Alliance Army members," the Lingxiao Sect Leader said earnestly.
"That's right, Young Master Ye, everything the Sect Leader says is true. I saw it with my own eyes.
Those Lingxiao Sect members who attacked us before have all come one after another to apologize to us recently. If you don't believe it, ask everyone. Isn't that so?" As soon as the Lingxiao Sect Leader finished speaking, Ma Xiu immediately chimed in. After speaking, he glanced back at the Alliance Army members standing behind him.
The Alliance Army members behind Ma Xiu were all those who had been detained at the Lingxiao Sect headquarters. Hearing Ma Xiu's words, some immediately affirmed that the matters were true.
Some, however, showed hesitant expressions on their faces.
The perceptive power of Ye Yunfei's Soul Power was formidable; he clearly sensed all of this.
"Someone, bring out all the reparations our Lingxiao Sect is compensating the Alliance Army, and hand them over to Alliance Leader Ye," the Lingxiao Sect Leader declared loudly.
Immediately, a core disciple of the Lingxiao Sect stepped forward, retrieved ten spatial rings, and presented them before Ye Yunfei.
"Young Master Ye, our Lingxiao Sect is most sincere. I believe the grievances between our two forces can be written off with a single stroke.
From now on, we shall be allies, cooperating together to oppose the Guardian Faction.
I believe with Alliance Leader Ye's power and methods, you can certainly deliver a massive blow to the Guardian Faction.
Very well. Servants, arrange a camp for Young Master Ye and the Alliance Army. Then prepare a great feast! I wish to host a welcoming banquet for Young Master Ye," the Lingxiao Sect Leader spoke again.
"Sect Leader, why not arrange the Alliance Army's camp at the old site.
Ma Xiu, you quickly lead Young Master Ye and the Alliance Army to go set up camp and settle in," a elder stepped out from behind the Sect Leader and said.
"Young Master Ye, our Alliance Army camp is over there. Please follow me," Ma Xiu stepped forward and said respectfully to Ye Yunfei.
"When did I ever say I wanted to ally with your Lingxiao Sect?
Your Lingxiao Sect harbors wolfish ambitions, having attacked our Alliance Army. For that reason alone, our Alliance Army could never ally with you.
I'll say it once more: unless your Lingxiao Sect does exactly as I stated in my three demands, I will take matters into my own hands."
Ye Yunfei remained rooted on the spot, unmoving, and said coldly.
"Alliance Leader Ye, you..."
Hearing Ye Yunfei's words, the Lingxiao Sect Leader's face immediately darkened drastically.
Those Lingxiao Sect higher-ups behind him all turned furious.
"Young Master Ye..." Ma Xiu wanted to say something.
"Since when was it your place to speak here?"
Ye Yunfei's gaze suddenly fell upon Ma Xiu as he stated coldly.
*Boom!* An invisible pressure instantly enveloped Ma Xiu.
Ye Yunfei's current strength was such that merely a look, without even deliberately releasing his energy pressure, was unbearable for Ma Xiu. As if struck by lightning, in his panic he could no longer stand, his knees giving way, and he knelt on the spot, blood trickling from his nose and mouth.
"Sect Leader! Lords and Elders! Save me!" Ma Xiu looked towards the Lingxiao Sect's Leader and the elders, calling out loudly for rescue.
"So, there really was someone who betrayed our Alliance Army after all.
But it's hardly surprising. They were detained by the Lingxiao Sect; there were bound to be quite a few with wavering resolve who chose to surrender in that process.
That fellow is a complete Void God. If he surrendered, the Lingxiao Sect wouldn't refuse him.
It's just a pity not to know how many others surrendered besides this one."
Hun Lao sighed and said.
In fact, from the very beginning, both Hun Lao and Ye Yunfei had sensed something amiss about this Ma Xiu.
"Well done, Ma Xiu, you traitor. You've actually betrayed our Alliance Army!"
By this point, the Alliance Army higher-ups standing behind Ye Yunfei also realized that Ma Xiu had surrendered to the Lingxiao Sect. They were enraged. The Earth Demon Clan elder pointed at Ma Xiu, loudly cursing and berating him.
"Young Master Ye! My lords! I didn't betray anyone!" Ma Xiu, even more frightened, protested loudly for himself.
Having been in the Alliance Army for so long, his awe for Ye Yunfei was deeply ingrained. Even with so many Lingxiao Sect higher-ups present, he was still terrified that Ye Yunfei might suddenly attack him.
"Traitor! Utter half a word more and you die on the spot!" the Earth Demon Clan elder harshly shouted.