"I seem to sense some familiar energy."
Before Ye Yunfei could make a discovery, Hun Lao suddenly spoke up.
"I feel it too. It is indeed Miss Lu's energy," Ye Yunfei said with a smile appearing on his face.
While Ye Yunfei had long suspected that the Dark Queen of the Third Void should be Lü Dandan, it was only now that he finally confirmed it.
That was because, within this primeval forest before him, there was a trace of the energy that Ye Yunfei recognized as belonging to Lü Dandan.
Ye Yunfei was naturally very familiar with Lü Dandan. Moreover, his current level of Soul Power had already reached the Sovereign God level. Even if only the faintest trace of that energy existed, Ye Yunfei could acutely detect and confirm it.
"What a surprise, running into Miss Lu here in the Third Void.
Let's observe the situation for a moment," Ye Yunfei said with a laugh. He then found a spot near the primeval forest, performed his Invisibility Art, and sat cross-legged in the void.
At this time, more and more troops from the Ziyang Sect were pouring into this world, encircling the area near the primeval forest. Among them were several dozen Heavenly Gods.
Ye Yunfei noticed an elderly man with a thin face and three long whiskers dangling from his chest, in front of whom hovered a glowing tortoiseshell.
This elder was continuously performing divination. Streams of invisible, mysterious runes constantly diffused out from between his hands, drifting down into the primeval forest ahead.
The tortoiseshell in front of him also continuously exuded mysterious runes.
"It seems the reason Miss Lu was found by the Ziyang Sect people is mainly because of this fellow. He must have used a Divination Art to calculate Miss Lu's whereabouts, which is why the Ziyang Sect finally tracked her here," Ye Yunfei said to Hun Lao.
"Yes. It looks like this fellow's Divination Art should be quite good," Hun Lao replied, having also noticed the elder.
Ye Yunfei immediately used his Mind Reading Art to start reading that elder's thoughts.
The elder was in the midst of rapid divination when suddenly a powerful thought arose in his mind: he must stop the divination immediately and leave this place.
"What is going on?"
The elder was startled as his divination was forcibly interrupted. He retreated a dozen steps.
"What's happening? Could it be my Divination Art suffered a backlash? Is the Dark Queen I'm divining a fearsome taboo, an existence that shouldn't be divined?"
The elder stopped his divination, staring at the primeval forest before him with a shocked gaze, his face fluctuating between fear and uncertainty.
The use of divination arts was a delicate matter. If one tried to divine the whereabouts of extremely terrifying existences or beings blessed with great destiny, the diviner could suffer a backlash, bringing immense harm upon themselves.
Therefore, being suddenly subjected to such strong interference, the elder's first thought was whether the Dark Queen he was divining was a taboo he shouldn't touch.
"Impossible. I've been divining her for so long already, and I was close to pinpointing her exact location. I never suffered any backlash before. How could it suddenly happen now?
Let me try again."
The elder quickly pondered, gritted his teeth, and started performing the Divination Art once more.
Ye Yunfei immediately used his Mind Reading Art to interfere, and once again a powerful thought surged within the elder's mind: he must abort the divination immediately.
"Just what is going on?!"
The elder's divination was severely disrupted again. Shocked, he retreated over a dozen more steps, gazing at the primeval forest with terror-filled eyes.
"Could this Dark Queen I'm divining really be a taboo existence?
Forget it. If that's the case, I can't continue divining her. Otherwise, I might suffer severe backlash. The gains wouldn't be worth the losses."
Thinking this, the elder turned and started to leave.
"Master Lu, what happened?"
As soon as the elder turned to leave, several Heavenly Gods from the Ziyang Sect stepped forward and asked.
"Everyone, I'm sorry, but I can no longer continue the divination. Otherwise, I will surely suffer severe backlash. Regarding the payment you gave me, I will return it now."
Master Lu immediately took out a spatial ring and handed it to one of the Ziyang Sect Heavenly Gods, speaking in a panicked tone.
He had been disrupted twice in a row during his divination, and a deep sense of vigilance had already taken root in his heart.
During his previous divination attempts, a powerful notion abruptly arose both times: he must stop immediately, or a severe crisis would befall him.
As a master of divination, he trusted his own premonitions above all. So without hesitation, he decided to leave at once.
"Master Lu, what is the meaning of this?
While the Dark Queen has a formidable reputation, her actual strength isn't that impressive. You needn't fear her.
If the Dark Queen were truly that powerful, she wouldn't have been chased and forced into hiding by our Ziyang Sect, not daring to show her face like a turtle withdrawing into its shell."
The Ziyang Sect Heavenly God did not reach out to take the spatial ring and instead spoke.
"I apologize. I trust my own premonitions. I can no longer continue divining the Dark Queen. You had best seek someone else," Master Lu said resolutely, then turned and walked away without a second thought.
Hearing Master Lu's words, the Ziyang Sect Heavenly Gods exchanged confused looks.
"Master Lu, this is a gift from our Ziyang Sect. Even if you no longer help us with the divination, please accept it. Once the Ziyang Sect gives a gift, we do not take it back."
The Heavenly God quickly composed himself, holding the spatial ring and chasing after Master Lu, trying to force it into his hand.
"No. It's not that I don't want it. It's that I dare not take it. For if I take it, I will become entangled in the corresponding karma."
Master Lu did not dare take the spatial ring at all. He quickened his pace and instantly left this world.
"What on earth happened to make Master Lu so frightened? Could the Dark Queen truly be far more powerful than we imagined, to the point even Master Lu fears her so much?"
After Master Lu left, the Ziyang Sect Heavenly Gods gathered together to discuss.
"Impossible. If this Dark Queen were truly so powerful, how could she possibly be hiding from our Ziyang Sect's pursuit?
We've killed so many Dark Faction members recently. If the Dark Queen were really that formidable, she would have long since come out to seek revenge against our Ziyang Sect.
I suspect Master Lu's sudden departure definitely has another reason.
Everyone, since we've already confirmed the Dark Queen is within this primeval forest, we absolutely cannot give up. Let's begin."
After a moment of discussion, the leading Heavenly God gritted his teeth and spoke.
"Correct. The fact that this Dark Queen has been in hiding, not daring to show her face despite being chased by us for so long, proves her strength is rather ordinary. We needn't have any reservations.
Let's act. Level this primeval forest. As long as the Dark Queen is here, she will certainly not escape."
The other Ziyang Sect Heavenly Gods all nodded in agreement.
"All troops, heed my command! Commence the attack now!"
A leading Heavenly God raised his hand high and swung it down forcefully. The troops encircling the primeval forest immediately surged forward like a tide, charging and killing their way into the forest ahead.
"You of the Ziyang Sect have pressed us relentlessly. Do you truly believe our Dark Faction fears your sect?"
Just as the Ziyang Sect's army charged toward the primeval forest like a tide, an angry voice suddenly rang out from the forest's center. Immediately afterwards, figures radiating sharp, intimidating auras soared into the sky from that central location.
These figures all exuded dark or frigid energies. Around some of them, the surrounding space instantly began to crystallize into chunks of black mystical ice. Clearly, these suddenly appearing shadows cultivated darkness-type techniques and secret arts.
Moments later, a large group of beings stood in the sky above the primeval forest's center. Black fog billowed and chilling cold pressed in, the rolling black mist rapidly spreading, instantly shrouding a vast area of space and darkening this stretch of heaven and earth significantly.
"So it really is those fellows from the Dark Faction."
Seeing the roiling black fog, the Ziyang Sect Heavenly Gods all sneered.
"Why have you filthy, dark creatures stopped hiding? Did you truly believe you could evade the eyes and ears of our Ziyang Sect?
Today marks the day your Dark Faction perishes!"
The leading Heavenly God of the Ziyang Sect took a step forward and proclaimed loudly. He deliberately released a powerful surge of divine energy, mingling it with his voice to form a formidable sonic wave that rolled toward the Dark Faction forces like towering, raging billows.
"Do you really think our Dark Faction is easy to bully?"
A being shrouded entirely within a black robe took a step forward. An intensely frigid energy instantly erupted, rolling outward like waves in all directions to collide with the sonic onslaught.
In the next instant, many of the tall plants and beings within the primeval forest, unable to withstand the collision of the two energies, exploded and turned to dust.
"Dark Queen, I know you are hiding among these Dark Faction members. Come out at once and face your death! Our Ziyang Sect's army has completely surrounded this place. You absolutely cannot escape."
The leading Ziyang Sect Heavenly God took another step forward. As he searched among the Dark Faction ranks for the Dark Queen, he continued to announce loudly.
After the Dark Faction members appeared, the Ziyang Sect Heavenly Gods immediately released their Soul Power, searching for the Dark Queen. But even now, they had yet to determine exactly which one she was.
At this moment, Ye Yunfei stood in the distant void, his gaze settling on one unremarkable-looking Dark Faction member, a smile spreading across his face.
That was because Ye Yunfei could immediately tell that this seemingly ordinary Dark Faction member was none other than Lü Dandan.
While Lü Dandan could deceive the perceptions of the Ziyang Sect's Heavenly Gods, she could not deceive Ye Yunfei's.
"It really is Miss Lu. I never expected her to come to the Third Void and even become the queen of this Dark Faction. She's doing quite well for herself," Hun Lao said, having also locked onto Lü Dandan by now.
"Kill all these Dark Faction creatures. Don't let a single one escape!"
The leading Ziyang Sect Heavenly God was still unable to identify which one was the Dark Queen, because over half of these Dark Faction members were entirely shrouded in black robes or enveloped by dense black mist, making their appearances difficult to perceive clearly.
Moreover, Lü Dandan had used a highly sophisticated Disguise Art to meticulously conceal her appearance and energy. Even Heavenly Gods would find it hard to recognize her.
"Right. Kill all these Dark Faction members. The Dark Queen hiding among them will certainly die as well."
The other Ziyang Sect Heavenly Gods all nodded in agreement.
*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!...*
The next moment, Heavenly God after Heavenly God from the Ziyang Sect soared into the air, summoning their magical treasures and releasing their divine energies, ready to surround and attack the Dark Faction group. The Ziyang Sect forces following behind the Heavenly Gods also roared and charged toward the Dark Faction members like a tide.
"These Dark Faction members are quite strong, but almost half of them are already injured. Their remaining combat power is limited, and their numbers are also inferior to the Ziyang Sect's forces. Once this battle truly begins, the Dark Faction will immediately be at a disadvantage and could suffer heavy casualties," Hun Lao said to Ye Yunfei.
"No need to worry. With me here, no matter how much these Ziyang Sect people stir things up, it will be useless," Ye Yunfei replied with a smile.
Even though there were dozens of Heavenly Gods from the Ziyang Sect here, dealing with them was effortless for Ye Yunfei at his current strength.
Ye Yunfei flashed and appeared beside the Dark Faction group, his gaze directed toward Lü Dandan.
"Miss Lu, long time no see!" Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
Despite it being a tense moment of armies clashing on the verge of battle, Ye Yunfei completely ignored all the Ziyang Sect forces charging toward them like a tide.
"What?"
Hearing Ye Yunfei's call, Lü Dandan abruptly looked up, her gaze filled with shock as she turned toward the direction of his voice.
Lü Dandan was currently disguised as an ordinary Dark Faction member. She had been seriously wounded a while ago after being surrounded and attacked by several of the Ziyang Sect's core experts, so she had been hiding out and meticulously disguised.
Lü Dandan had originally planned to slip away quietly amid the chaos, but now she suddenly heard someone call her name. She couldn't help but feel extremely shocked, wondering if she was hallucinating.
"Kid, who are you?"
It was only now that the Dark Faction members noticed Ye Yunfei's presence, all turning their gazes upon him.
Looking at this unfamiliar young man, the Dark Faction members all grew wary.
"Damn it! When did this kid get next to us? I didn't detect him at all!"
Many Dark Faction experts roared inwardly, unable to believe that a junior youth could silently appear near them without warning.
"Could this kid be with the Ziyang Sect?"
Some Dark Faction experts prepared to attack Ye Yunfei.
"Wait!"
Lü Dandan, however, immediately stopped them via Sound Transmission. Because just now, that voice had sounded very much like a certain person's voice from her memories.
Lü Dandan fixed her eyes on Ye Yunfei, sensing his appearance and energy.
Ye Yunfei was currently in his true form, not using any Invisibility Art.
"How is this possible? Could it really be him?
But... how could he possibly have come to the Third Void?
Am I hallucinating due to my serious injuries?"
Lü Dandan couldn't bring herself to confirm Ye Yunfei's identity at this moment. She stared at him with uncertain, bewildered eyes.
"My Queen, the enemy has charged. We must prepare to retreat!"
Seeing their queen lost in thought at such a critical juncture, the Dark Faction experts immediately reminded her via Sound Transmission.
"Miss Lu, I'll help you repel the enemy first," Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
As soon as his words fell, a figure radiating dark ghostly energy instantly appeared. With a wave of its hand, it released billowing clouds of ghostly mist.
Following that, a corpse army and a ghost army simultaneously appeared, charging to meet the Ziyang Sect forces. The clash began instantly.
"Come, all of you, come! You will all belong to me soon enough!"
Huang Shang stared at the Ziyang Sect forces charging like a tide, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he shouted.
"I'll collect the spoils of war!"
The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm also appeared, shouting.
"It really is you!"
At this moment, Lü Dandan finally confirmed that the person before her was indeed Ye Yunfei.
Because she had seen Old Huang and the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm.