Then the Soul Race member, controlling Elder Yan's body, kept backing away, getting closer and closer to the palace's entrance.
"What are you all waiting for? Act together and suppress the Soul Race member hiding within Elder Yan's Soul Sea! This member of the Soul Race dared to act against a member of our Dark Faction; we absolutely cannot let him leave!" Lü Dandan's gaze suddenly shifted to the other high-ranking members of the Dark Faction, her voice cold.
The other high-ranking members were taken aback by Lü Dandan's words.
"Everyone, the Dark Queen orders us to act. Let us strike together now and deal with the Soul Race member in Elder Yan's Soul Sea," several elders of the Dark Faction immediately called out loudly, almost in unison. These elders were Lü Dandan's most trusted confidants.
"Indeed. We shall obey the Dark Queen's command and strike together." Immediately, even more high-ranking members expressed their stance, simultaneously moving to surround Elder Yan.
"No matter what, we follow the Dark Queen's orders." More high-ranking members began to act.
Everyone understood that regardless of whether the being before them was a Soul Race member or Elder Yan himself, this was the moment to declare their stance. If they wished to continue following the Dark Queen, they had to act now; otherwise, they would surely be distanced by her in the future. To put it bluntly, it was a time to choose sides.
After coming to this realization, all the high-ranking members within the palace closed in on Elder Yan and began their attacks.
"Everyone, do not harm Elder Yan's physical body. Just suppress and seal him, or deal with the Soul Race member within his Soul Sea," Lü Dandan reminded immediately upon seeing some high-ranking members manipulating magical artifacts to blast at Elder Yan's physical form.
"Given this, Elder Yan truly might be controlled by a Soul Race member." Many high-ranking members, hearing Lü Dandan's words, began to believe slightly that Elder Yan was under a Soul Race member's control. If the Dark Queen truly wanted to deal with this Elder Yan, she could simply have him killed directly; there was no need for such complexity or the need to protect his physical body.
Ye Yunfei continuously unleashed various Soul Force Martial Arts, attacking the Soul Race member within Elder Yan's Soul Sea. That Soul Race member also began to counter with various Soul Techniques. However, Ye Yunfei's side had superior numbers and the combined suppression of two powerhouses, Ye Yunfei and Lü Dandan, keeping the Soul Race member consistently at a disadvantage.
Despite this, the attacks from Ye Yunfei's side had yet to inflict significant damage on this Soul Race member because his body was surrounded by numerous golden shields. When these shields were knocked away, they would automatically return to their positions, and even if destroyed, new ones would quickly appear. Simultaneously, this Soul Race member also began to counter with various profound Soul Force Martial Arts. Previously, he had wanted to continue impersonating Elder Yan and thus hadn't used any distinctive Soul Race arts to retaliate, but now, with the situation critical, he could no longer afford such concerns.
"Truly worthy of being from the Soul Race, managing to hold out until now," Ye Yunfei remarked with admiration after using the Soul-nurturing Tree to quietly cleanse his Soul Sea of several hundred fine, hair-like needles. These needles were part of a Soul Force Martial Art employed by that Soul Race member, capable of stealthily invading another's Soul Sea before erupting to attack the Soul Body. Their deceptive nature was extreme, often allowing the target's Soul Body to be struck before they could even react. Ye Yunfei had used the Soul-nurturing Tree to handle these needles; a sky full of emerald-green branches instantly intercepted all the needles, then began refining them, as these needles were all formed from the pure Soul Force Energy of that Soul Race member.
"This fellow possesses strength equivalent to a Sovereign God. Such power should count as a formidable expert among the Soul Race. Moreover, the Soul Race is innately skilled in Soul Force Martial Arts. Right now, everyone is attacking him with Soul Force Martial Arts, which is essentially challenging him in his area of greatest expertise. It's naturally not possible to defeat him so quickly," Hun Lao said with a smile.
"Everyone, why do you all believe the Dark Queen? Have you no regard for past camaraderie?" At this moment, under the combined assault of the group, the Soul Race member was forced into a sorry state. Most of the various high-level Soul Force Martial Arts he employed were intercepted by Ye Yunfei and Lü Dandan. The several Soul Force Martial Arts used by Ye Yunfei, along with the Darkening Secret Art unleashed by Lü Dandan, greatly affected him, leaving him feeling somewhat powerless to cope.
"Elder Yan, I advise you to stop struggling and surrender quietly. I believe that if you truly haven't had your body seized by a Soul Race member and are still the original Elder Yan, the Dark Queen will surely give you fair treatment," one high-ranking member spoke while using spatial techniques to seal the space around Elder Yan's location.
*Boom!*
In the midst of battle, Lü Dandan manifested a huge black energy hand that reached down from a commanding position towards Elder Yan's head. A loud explosion came from within Elder Yan's head, followed by a massive palm formed from Soul Force Energy extending outwards to collide with the black energy hand.
"And you still claim you're not a Soul Race member? This is clearly a Soul Race technique. Since when has Elder Yan cultivated Soul Race techniques?" Lü Dandan sneered.
"Indeed, that seems to be a Soul Race technique. Elder Yan's strength was always quite good, but he was never particularly adept at Soul-related techniques. Yet now, how is he able to perform such profound Soul Force Martial Arts? Something's not right. This is not Elder Yan. It's possible he truly is a Soul Race member," a high-ranking Dark Faction member finally realized and shouted.
"What do you know? Who says I was never skilled in Soul Force Martial Arts? I'll let you have a taste right now." Elder Yan's gaze suddenly locked onto that speaking high-ranking member.
In the next moment, numerous fine, small needles appeared within that high-ranking member's Soul Sea, stealthily attacking towards his Soul Body. These needles were extremely tiny and completely devoid of aura, making them very hard to detect. Only when his Soul Body was about to be struck did the high-ranking member suddenly realize, a look of fear instantly appearing on his face. By then, it was already too late to evade or resist.
At that very moment.
*Whoosh...*
A dense profusion of emerald-green branches suddenly surged from the outside into his Soul Sea. Their numbers were immense, like countless green serpents, instantly enveloping all the needles that had invaded his Soul Sea, then refining them all.
"Many thanks for your assistance, Young Master Ye!" Perceiving that these emerald-green branches came from Ye Yunfei, that high-ranking member immediately thanked Ye Yunfei in pleasant surprise.
"I know now! You are definitely a Soul Race member, absolutely not Elder Yan! I've known Elder Yan for so long, and I can say with certainty Elder Yan never cultivated such profound Soul Force Martial Arts. Moreover, Elder Yan and I have shared life-and-death camaraderie; Elder Yan would not kill me!" Having experienced the earlier danger, this high-ranking Dark Faction member had thoroughly realized that the being before them was certainly Elder Yan possessed by a Soul Race member, and pointed an accusing finger at 'Elder Yan,' angrily crying out.
*Boom!*
Various kinds of Soul Force Energy, like a vast ocean, poured in from all directions into Elder Yan's Soul Sea. At this moment, all the high-ranking members of the Dark Faction wanted to perceive what was happening within Elder Yan's Soul Sea, to see if it was truly occupied by a Soul Race member.
Although that Soul Race member's strength was considerable, facing the collective Soul Force siege of so many Dark Faction high-ranking members, plus the presence of Ye Yunfei and Lü Dandan, two powerhouses, he soon found it impossible to hold out.
"Everyone, mountains and rivers may part but shall meet again; I will remember you all." Suddenly, an eerie smile appeared on Elder Yan's face.
In the next moment, a Soul Body within Elder Yan's Soul Sea suddenly exploded, splitting into fifty or sixty fragments. These fragments of Soul Body then fled in different directions.
"Everyone, be careful! This Soul Race member wants to escape! Quickly, intercept every one of his Soul Body fragments!" Ye Yunfei understood immediately that this Soul Race member was likely using some kind of escape art to flee and promptly shouted.
Everyone within the palace focused on a specific Soul Body fragment, unleashing Soul Force Martial Arts to attack. Even so, several Soul Body fragments still managed to flee the palace. These fragments seemed to possess some bizarre ability to pierce through space. No matter how people tried to block and attack, they couldn't stop these few fragments from instantly piercing through space and escaping outside the palace. Other Soul Body fragments scurried about inside the palace.
"The Soul Race truly is a bizarre race. Even when its Soul Body has split into so many fragments, they still retain such formidable vitality, able to scurry about under the siege of so many people. An ordinary living being, once its Soul Body exploded, would probably immediately lose all ability to resist, possibly even perishing outright," Hun Lao couldn't help but exclaim with admiration.
"Indeed. In ancient times, the Soul Race was one of the most powerful races in the world. That reputation wasn't undeserved," Ye Yunfei also remarked admiringly.
"I think that fellow might have already escaped this palace. Among the several fragments that fled outside, one of them might be the main fragment of his exploded Soul Body," Hun Lao said to Ye Yunfei.
"It's possible. Let's chase out and see." Ye Yunfei hesitated a moment, then with a flash of his figure, rushed out of the palace.
Once outside, Ye Yunfei immediately saw that the few Soul Body fragments that had fled earlier were heading in different directions and had already reached quite a distance. With a thought, Ye Yunfei immediately created over a dozen weapons and five long spears, sending them through the air to attack those several Soul Body fragments.
"Let's split up and chase. They are only fragments of a Soul Body; we should all be able to handle them," Hu Miao spoke up.
"Alright. We'll split up and chase." Ye Yunfei nodded.
Thus, Ye Yunfei, the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, Huang Shang, and Lü Dandan each chased after one of the Soul Body fragments. However, Ye Yunfei had only taken a few steps before he suddenly halted.
"Something's not right." Ye Yunfei frowned, looking at the Soul Body fragment he intended to pursue.
Ye Yunfei had discovered that the energy of that Soul Body fragment was becoming weaker and weaker, even nearing the point of vanishing.
"This is a disguise. It's a Soul Power Mark. It was disguised so well earlier that I mistook it for a fragment of a Soul Body," Ye Yunfei stated.
Soul Power Marks and Soul Body fragments were different. Soul Body fragments were the remnants left after a Soul Body exploded, while a Soul Power Mark was an imprint condensed from Soul Power Energy. Soul Power Marks were far inferior and weaker than Soul Body fragments.
"We've been fooled. That fellow's true Soul Body might still be inside the palace." Ye Yunfei immediately turned around and rushed back towards the palace behind him.
At the same time, Lü Dandan, Hu Miao, the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, and Huang Shang also realized that what they were pursuing were merely Soul Power Marks. Recognizing they'd been deceived, they too turned and rushed back into the palace.
In the next moment, Ye Yunfei and the others all returned to the palace.
Ye Yunfei's first sight was of Elder Yan collapsed on the floor, unconscious. At this moment, Elder Yan's face was pale, his aura feeble. Several high-ranking Dark Faction members were surrounding Elder Yan to prevent his escape. Other high-ranking members were inside the palace, sensing out and pursuing the other remaining Soul Body fragments.