"I never imagined that the Soul Purification Art I left behind back then would be obtained by a human descendant, and that he would use it to control other living beings. This goes against my original intention. However, back when the Chaotic Void Sea suffered a calamity and was shattered into fragments, and even now, it remains threatened by that individual. This young descendant is currently at odds with the forces under that individual's command, and his actions could be considered as saving the many beings of the Chaotic Void Sea. So, for now, let him be. Later, after he completes this mission, I'll reclaim this Soul Purification Art."
After gazing into the distant void for a moment, the ancient, dust-covered mud statue emitted a faint murmur.
Then, its head slowly returned to its original position, resuming its former appearance before falling silent once more. As in the past, it lay still without a trace of aura.
Not far from the statue, a small pebble path lay, upon which dozens of souls walked stiffly and numbly forward.
At the same time, in the Colorless Abyss of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds within the Eighth Void, atop a lofty mountain.
Two Patriarchs sat in a pavilion on the peak, flanked by six elders standing respectfully beside them.
Had Ye Yunfei been here, he would have immediately recognized the six elders standing to the side: Kang Wan and the others.
"Very good. This young man surnamed Ye suits my tastes quite well. I imagine he won't need much longer to gain control over the Seventh Void. To control three successive voids—such strength, courage, and organizational prowess are truly first-rate. When I was his age back in the day, I couldn't match him at all. Truly, heroes emerge from the young," said one of the seated elders in a tone of approval.
"Ye Yunfei hails from our Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds; he is the pride of our World Cluster. Who would have thought that after so many years, our World Cluster would produce such an outstanding young genius? Perhaps this foretells that the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds are destined to rise once more," the other seated elder remarked with a smile.
"Esteemed Seniors, will there be any issues regarding the six of us remolding physical bodies?" Kang Wan inquired respectfully. He and the other five elders stood to the side, their gazes full of deference toward the two seated elders. Before these two, they could only refer to themselves as juniors, for the seniority of the seated figures was astoundingly ancient.
"Of course there won't be any issues; don't worry. It won't be long before the six of you can reform your physical bodies. However, since you all rely on remnant souls to reshape your Soul Bodies and physical forms, even if successful, your strength won't match your former peak states. I can't even guarantee whether you'll still be truly yourselves. You must be psychologically prepared for this," one of the seated elders replied.
"Senior, rest assured. We've long since made peace with that. We six are mere remnant souls to begin with; to be able to reshape our Soul Bodies and physical flesh is akin to a second life. How could we have further demands? Even if our strength cannot match our former peaks, once we possess complete Soul Bodies and physical forms, we can cultivate to continuously improve. Moreover, we retain most of the memories from our previous lives. So, after reforming our bodies, we should be able to progress quite satisfactorily," Ding Qianjie spoke up.
"Since you are mentally prepared, that is best," nodded a seated elder.
"After the six of you reform your bodies, you should possess the cultivation and strength of Initial Heavenly Gods. However, with the memories from your previous lives, you will certainly be able to advance rapidly through cultivation. In the future, you may assist Ye Yunfei and stand with him against the Guardian Faction. This Guardian Faction has plagued the Chaotic Void Sea for far too long; it is best to eliminate them. From now on, Ye Yunfei represents our Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds; we must all support him. Given Ye Yunfei's talent, strength, and current momentum, I believe he will inevitably elevate our Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds into an immensely powerful World Cluster, potentially restoring its former glory. We old-timers have no desire for further commotions. Let capable young ones like him develop and elevate the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, fulfilling our shared aspirations. Remember, back in the day, the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds were a renowned and mighty World Cluster, its prestige resounding across the realms," the other seated elder said, a note of nostalgia in his voice.
"We understand, esteemed Seniors. After reforming our bodies, we will go to follow Young Master Ye," Kang Wan and the other five elders nodded.
At the same time, within another void.
"Truly, the young are to be feared! Not long after we departed the Sixth Void, Young Master Ye had already defeated the Guardian Faction there and gained control of it. Now, he is preparing to move against the Guardian Faction in the Seventh Void. Such speed is something even I hadn't anticipated initially," remarked one of two men as they gazed toward the Seventh Void.
"Heh, this proves our judgment back then wasn't wrong. Young Master Ye has now led his army into the Seventh Void and will soon engage the Guardian Faction in war. We must provide him with some support," said the other.
"I will dispatch people to the Seventh Void immediately, ready to lend assistance if necessary. However, our side's Sovereign Gods should remain low-key for now and avoid early exposure. Otherwise, it could draw attention and harm our secret arrangements. Of course, if Young Master Ye truly needs help, then our Sovereign Gods must intervene. We cannot let Young Master Ye fall into danger. Young Master Ye possesses immense developmental potential; we must aid him in his smooth growth and advancement," said the first man.
In the Seventh Void, Ye Yunfei had now taken control of an even greater number of the Guardian Faction's branch strongholds and affiliated forces.
During this period, whenever he learned of the location of any Guardian Faction branch strongholds or affiliated forces, Ye Yunfei would immediately head there to carry out his plan.
However, Ye Yunfei noticed that many of the Guardian Faction's branch strongholds had suddenly received emissaries dispatched from their headquarters, claiming they had come to investigate certain matters.
Since all the True Gods and Void Gods in these branch strongholds were now Ye Yunfei's clones, controlling everything, these emissaries naturally saw no flaws.
"It seems the Guardian Faction's headquarters has sensed something," Hun Lao said to Ye Yunfei.
"It's highly probable that someone with considerable skill in divination exists within the Guardian Faction's headquarters. They might have divined something, which is why they sent people out to investigate," Ye Yunfei mused before speaking.
"Yes, that's most likely the case. Although your actions this period have been very discreet, by controlling so many of their branch strongholds, you've inevitably diminished the Guardian Faction's fortune. Their divination master must have perceived something through divination," Hun Lao said.
"Fortune? Does fortune truly exist?" Ye Yunfei immediately asked upon hearing Hun Lao's words.
"Of course it exists. Although ethereal and incredibly mysterious, fortune has existed since ancient times to the present day," Hun Lao replied.
"Master, if even reincarnation through Samsara on the Reincarnation Path is real, it's no surprise that fortune is genuine!" Hu Miao interjected.
"Hu Miao, you make a good point," Ye Yunfei nodded after hearing her words. Indeed, if reincarnation was real, then fortune being genuine wasn't strange at all.
"It seems we ordinary beings understand very little about the ultimate truths of this world. If fortune is real, then who is it that arranges it, who governs fortune?" Ye Yunfei whispered softly.
"Let's not dwell on such complicated questions for now. We've taken control of so many of the Guardian Faction's branch strongholds and affiliated forces. Shouldn't we begin formal operations and launch an assault on their headquarters?" Jinjiao Longcan said.
"Our harvests have been quite rewarding this period. I'm certain the Guardian Faction's headquarters is even richer," Jinjiao Longcan added.
During this time, each time Ye Yunfei took control of a Guardian Faction branch stronghold or affiliated force, he would comb through their assets, unceremoniously taking anything useful for himself. Jinjiao Longcan had gained quite a haul, so he was now itching to storm the Guardian Faction's headquarters and plunder to his heart's content.
"It is indeed time to commence formal action," Ye Yunfei nodded.
By now, Ye Yunfei had taken control of every known Guardian Faction branch stronghold and affiliated force.
Not long after, the silver-robed elder and the middle-aged Daoist nun received Ye Yunfei's message and promptly led the army in a grand, majestic march toward the Guardian Faction headquarters in the Seventh Void.
At the same time, upon Ye Yunfei's order, all the personnel from the already-controlled branch strongholds and affiliated forces also began to advance, surging toward the Guardian Faction's headquarters like a tidal wave.
Thus, the entire Seventh Void began to stir with activity.
"What exactly is happening? Why are so many troops suddenly marching through the void?" Many beings were astounded to see the dense formations of troops traversing the void, scrambling to deduce what had transpired.
"Look! That army's scale is enormous, yet they appear completely unfamiliar. I can't tell which force in our Seventh Void they belong to!" The vast host led by the silver-robed elder and middle-aged Daoist nun advanced majestically through the void, swiftly drawing a crowd of curious onlookers. However, no one could identify which force this suddenly appearing army belonged to.
"It seems even the Guardian Faction's forces have mobilized. Look! Large numbers of troops are emerging from many of the Guardian Faction's branch strongholds. Where are they headed?" Many other beings noticed batch after batch of troops marching orderly from the Guardian Faction's branch strongholds.
By this time, Ye Yunfei had long since secretly arrived just outside the Guardian Faction headquarters in the Seventh Void.
The Guardian Faction headquarters occupied a sizable World Cluster. Around this World Cluster, numerous patrol teams moved back and forth in vigilant defense.
Within the interior of this World Cluster, radiant glows from various formations periodically surfaced, manifesting various wondrous phenomena. From the outside looking in, it presented a spectacularly multifaceted scene, grand and magnificent.
"I'll infiltrate first," Ye Yunfei thought to himself after observing from a distance for a while.
He then produced several clones. These clones were officers in charge of one of the Guardian Faction's branch strongholds—all True Gods. Ye Yunfei entered the Phantom Tower, and a Peak True God clone, carrying the tower, then strode confidently forward toward the Guardian Faction's main headquarters.