The moment this old man arrived, Ye Yunfei had already begun using his Mind Reading Art to scan his thoughts and intentions. Ye Yunfei knew that within the Dark Faction headquarters, many subordinates loyal to the three elders who had already betrayed the faction were lying in wait. Those three elders had been operating within the Dark Faction for a long time, and almost anyone could be a covert agent they had secretly cultivated.
"He's fine," Ye Yunfei nodded after a moment, saying to Hun Lao.
"Young Master Ye..."
The old man felt slightly strange seeing Ye Yunfei's gaze fixed on him without any response and cautiously spoke up.
"First, go back and tell the Dark Queen that many traitors are lurking within your Dark Faction. She should be careful. After you go in, I will sneak in quietly. This way, we can avoid the eyes and ears of those traitors and make my actions easier."
Ye Yunfei transmitted his voice to the old man.
"What? There are still traitors lurking in our Dark Faction?"
The old man was greatly shocked upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words.
"That is indeed the case. Just go back and relay my words to the Dark Queen."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Alright, Young Master Ye. I will return immediately and report your words to the Dark Queen."
The old man nodded, then turned and transformed into a streak of black light, instantly rushing into the headquarters.
After the old man entered, Ye Yunfei immediately entered the Phantom Tower. He then had the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm carry the Phantom Tower and quietly slip through space, infiltrating the Dark Faction headquarters.
With Ye Yunfei's current strength, combined with the cooperation of Hu Miao and the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, they all employed their respective expertise in stealth techniques. Even if a Sovereign God were to pass by, it would be difficult for them to detect Ye Yunfei.
***
"Just as I suspected, there indeed are many traitors lurking within our Dark Faction."
At this moment, within the Dark Faction headquarters, inside a sunless palace, Lü Dandan sat cross-legged on an altar in the center.
The old man from before stood before her, reporting Ye Yunfei's words verbatim. After hearing it all, Lü Dandan's expression grew somber. "So it's true," she said coldly.
It turned out Lü Dandan had previously harbored suspicions, thinking that the Dark Faction likely still harbored underlings loyal to the three elders who had already betrayed them. She had even dispatched her own trusted aides to begin a covert investigation. Lü Dandan knew Ye Yunfei's methods and character; he would never make unfounded guesses about something he wasn't sure of. Since Ye Yunfei said there were traitors, then there certainly were traitors.
"No wonder the various decisions and arrangements our Dark Faction has made recently have all been known to the enemy. So it's those traitors' doing. But they will soon learn how the Dark Faction deals with traitors."
Lü Dandan's voice was icy, sending chills down the spines of every being who heard it.
"My Queen, Young Master Ye may have already entered our headquarters by now."
The old man spoke respectfully.
"Young Master Ye is a distinguished guest of our Dark Faction. He may come and go as he pleases. Do not interfere with his actions in any way."
Lü Danedan declared.
"Understood. I will relay the order immediately."
The old man replied.
***
At this moment, Ye Yunfei had indeed entered the Dark Faction headquarters. The headquarters was filled with vast, dense Dark Energy and dark laws; it was a place devoid of sunlight as far as the eye could see.
"How do we find those traitors?"
After entering the Dark Faction headquarters, the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm asked Ye Yunfei.
"We should go meet Miss Lu first before deciding. After all, she is the leader of the Dark Faction, and she should be most familiar with this place. We can find the traitors through her."
Ye Yunfei thought for a moment before speaking.
Then, Ye Yunfei quietly arrived outside a black palace. He could sense that Lü Dandan was inside this palace.
The moment Ye Yunfei arrived outside the palace, the palace doors quietly opened a crack. Ye Yunfei's figure flashed, entering the palace. Lü Dandan was already standing inside, waiting for him.
Ye Yunfei told Lü Dandan about his earlier experience.
"So those two were actually traitors."
Upon hearing that the two old men she had sent to see Ye Yunfei had long betrayed her, Lü Dandan's face instantly turned frosty.
"Although those three old men have already left the Dark Faction, they operated within it for a very long time. Their network here has deep and tangled roots. It wouldn't be difficult for them to leave behind some trusted subordinates lurking within the Dark Faction. If we don't clean out these individuals, who knows when they might act, becoming a hidden calamity for you."
Ye Yunfei said to Lü Dandan.
"I understand that principle," Lü Dandan replied with a frown. "But I have just taken over the Dark Faction. It's not an easy task to locate and eliminate all the trusted subordinates of those three old men in a short time. Those three old men previously wielded immense power within the Dark Faction. Literally anyone could be their trusted agent. I cannot screen everyone one by one."
"That's easy to handle," Ye Yunfei said with a smile. "Starting now, you just need to summon everyone you suspect. I will help you distinguish which ones are traitors."
Ye Yunfei believed that with the Mind Reading Art he had cultivated, even a Sovereign God would find it difficult to completely conceal their thoughts and intentions in front of him.
"You really have a method?"
Lü Dandan was somewhat excited upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words. She knew Ye Yunfei possessed exceptional talent and numerous methods; perhaps he really had some means to identify the traitors.
"Miss Lu, don't worry. As long as they come before me, I can help you identify which ones are traitors."
Ye Yunfei said, smiling.
"Alright, I will summon all the suspects immediately."
After hearing Ye Yunfei's words, Lü Dandan did not hesitate further and nodded in agreement.
"Also, Miss Lu, even those you consider your trusted aides should be summoned so I can properly screen them as well,"
Ye Yunfei reminded her. Not long ago, the two old men Lü Dandan had sent to the Guhai Sect headquarters to see Ye Yunfei were actually two of her trusted subordinates. But in reality, they had always been trusted agents of the three elders who had betrayed the faction, placed by their side long ago as planted pawns. So even those Lü Dandan regarded as confidants could be traitors.
***
Not long after, following Lü Dandan's order, many suspected Dark Faction members were summoned by her, one by one.
"What? The Dark Queen is summoning so many people?"
After Lü Dandan's command was issued, many members within the Dark Faction headquarters immediately showed expressions of surprise.
"What exactly is that little wretch trying to do? I think this news must be transmitted immediately."
In a corner of the Dark Faction headquarters, an old man shrouded in a black robe shifted his gaze uneasily, thinking to himself. He had a bad premonition, so he immediately took out a communication jade slip and quietly sent out a message.
"Elder Wu, the Dark Queen summons you. Please go immediately."
Just at this moment, two Dark Faction members flew over from a distance, landing before this old man and speaking respectfully.
"Why does the Dark Queen want to summon me? I'm very busy right now, handling faction affairs and unable to leave."
This Elder Wu was taken aback for a moment before hesitantly replying.
"We don't know why the Dark Queen suddenly summoned you, Elder Wu. But it's best if you go. The Dark Queen isn't only summoning you, Elder Wu; there are quite a few others as well."
One of the men spoke.
"Since that's the case, I shall go."
Although Elder Wu had a bad premonition, after some internal deliberation, he still decided to go see Lü Dandan.
***
Meanwhile, inside Lü Dandan's palace, one Dark Faction member after another who had been summoned entered the palace in succession.
Every member Lü Dandan summoned held some position of status or responsibility within the Dark Faction.
Ye Yunfei had set up a small formation space, hiding in a corner of the palace. He used his Mind Reading Art on each Dark Faction member who entered, reading their thoughts and intentions.
For the first few consecutive members who entered, Ye Yunfei found nothing unusual in their thoughts, indicating these few members were not problematic.
"Your humble servant pays respects to the Queen!"
Not long after, a dark figure walked in. This was a Dark Faction member with the strength of a mid-level Heavenly God, an ordinary steward within the Dark Faction headquarters. Although his position wasn't particularly high, he was somewhat well-known within the headquarters because he was responsible for defense duties in one region, usually leading a large patrol team to conduct inspections.
"Your humble servant pays respects to the Queen!"
This steward immediately dropped to his knees upon entering, shouting respectfully.
"Rise and speak."
Lü Dandan's expression was indifferent as she spoke calmly.
An invisible surge of Dark Energy instantly appeared, lifting the steward to his feet, causing him to feel a chill in his heart and his expression to change slightly.
At this moment, Ye Yunfei had already begun using his Mind Reading Art to read this steward's thoughts. He was merely a mid-level Heavenly God. His Soul Body and Soul Power were far too weak in Ye Yunfei's eyes, so Ye Yunfei instantly took control of his thoughts, seeing through every inner thought.
"A discovery at last," Ye Yunfei felt a surge of spirit.
Because this steward was indeed a trusted subordinate planted within the Dark Faction headquarters by those three old men. He had been their trusted agent for a very, very long time. When those three old men left the Dark Faction headquarters, they had specifically instructed him to continue lurking within the headquarters to gather intelligence, monitor the Dark Queen, and observe the actions of the other high-level members.
Facing the Dark Queen now, feeling the terrifying majesty she exuded, this steward was already somewhat panicked and terrified. Even though he had the backing of three early-stage Sovereign Gods, this was still the Dark Faction headquarters, completely under the Dark Queen's control. If his identity was discovered by the Dark Queen, the consequences would be unthinkable.
"What are Your Majesty's orders?"
The steward forcibly suppressed the panic in his heart and spoke in as respectful a tone as possible.
"Do you know how our Dark Faction punishes traitors?"
Lü Dandan looked at the steward before her, her gaze growing increasingly icy. She had just received a sound transmission from Ye Yunfei, informing her that this steward before her was a traitor lurking within the headquarters.
"My Queen, I…"
Hearing the Queen's question, the steward immediately paled, his whole body trembling.
"What's going on? Has the Dark Queen already discovered my identity?"
Thinking of this, the steward could no longer control the fear in his heart. His entire body began to tremble uncontrollably.
BOOM...
The terrifying Dark Energy released from Lü Dandan's body surged forth like a vast black ocean, pressing down upon the steward.
Already panicked and unable to stand steadily, the steward could no longer hold his ground under the pressure of Lü Dandan's aura. His knees gave way, and with a loud *thud*, he heavily knelt on the ground.
"My Queen, I…"
The steward opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but the fear within him robbed him of words. Moreover, he had no idea what to say.