"Very well. Let's go now."
After a brief, private discussion via Sound Transmission, the two Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods of the Guardian Faction quickly made a decision.
"Seniors, they plan to flee. Stop them quickly! Don't let them escape. Let's join forces and kill them," Ye Yunfei said urgently through Sound Transmission to the two Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods of the Hunyuan Sect, having discerned the enemy's intent to retreat through his heart-reading technique.
"You bastard surnamed Ye, just you wait! You've killed so many Sovereign Gods of our Guardian Faction and ruined the battle merits we should have earned on this battlefield. We will settle this score with you!" the two Guardian Faction Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods snarled through clenched teeth, their gazes burning with infinite killing intent as they looked at Ye Yunfei.
Immediately, the two Hunyuan Sect Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods intensified their attacks, going all out, unleashing various lethal grand moves and summoning dozens of magical treasures to block their opponents' escape.
One of the Guardian Faction Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods took out three talismans and threw them, instantly activating them. Three enormous golden halos materialized, blocking the onslaught of attacks from the two Hunyuan Sect Sovereign Gods.
Seizing this chance, the two Guardian Faction Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods turned and took a step, instantly piercing through space and vanishing.
"Those were high-grade talismans from the Rune Sacred Land!" Hun Lao remarked.
"Yes. The grade and power of those three talismans were quite impressive," Ye Yunfei said, his expression grim. He had originally intended to slay those two Sovereign Gods, but they had escaped in an instant.
"Our apologies, Young Master Ye. The power of those three talismans they threw was formidable. We couldn't instantly dispel them and were thus unable to prevent their departure," said one of the two Hunyuan Sect Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods, both wearing expressions of chagrin.
Since Ye Yunfei's arrival, the tide of battle on this field had been completely overturned in a short time, utterly crushing the Guardian Faction army. Apart from tying down the two enemy Sovereign Gods, they themselves hadn't achieved anything noteworthy. They had even failed to fulfill Ye Yunfei's request to block their opponents. In Ye Yunfei's presence, these two mighty Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods secretly felt a bit useless in their hearts, unable to match a young man like him. A sense of shame welled up within them.
"Seniors, please do not stand on ceremony. If you hadn't helped me hold off those two earlier, we wouldn't have been able to achieve victory in this battle so swiftly," Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
"Young Master Ye, the credit for this great victory on our battlefield belongs chiefly to you," one of the Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods stated.
"Indeed, Young Master Ye. We will report to headquarters that the merit lies with you. We absolutely will not rob you of your credit," the other Seventh-Level Sovereign God also declared.
"Seniors, you overstate matters. The victory in this battle is the result of our collective cooperation. The credit belongs to everyone on this battlefield, not me alone," Ye Yunfei replied, shaking his head. "If I had to fight this battle alone, a great victory would certainly have been impossible. Seniors, I believe the most important thing now is to go support the other battlefields. This is but one battlefield. Only by defeating the Guardian Faction on more battlefields can we achieve ultimate victory."
"Young Master Ye speaks wisely. Victory on a single battlefield is not final victory. Since the fighting here has concluded, we must hurry to reinforce other fields, striving to defeat the Guardian Faction on more fronts," the two Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods said simultaneously, their hearts jolting by Ye Yunfei's words.
The two elders exchanged a glance, quickly conferring via Sound Transmission. Then, one of them spoke, "Young Master Ye, from this moment on, command of our forces on this battlefield rests with you. We two old fellows will also follow your orders."
"Seniors, that is simply untenable! It should still be you who commands," Ye Yunfei hastily declined.
"Young Master Ye, you need not refuse. You have already led our Hunyuan Sect armies to victory on three battlefields, completely routing the Guardian Faction forces on each. This proves your capability," the Seventh-Level Sovereign God insisted. "I believe entrusting you with command is the best choice. For the sake of combating the Guardian Faction, Young Master Ye, please decline no further. Rest assured, Elder Feng and I will support you fully."
"Elder Gan speaks correctly," the other Seventh-Level Sovereign God, Elder Feng, chimed in, nodding repeatedly beside him. "Young Master Ye, having you lead the army is the best choice."
"Young Master Ye, I also find the two elders' reasoning sound," Elder Wu added as he walked over. In previous battles, Elder Wu had been addressed as 'Lord Wu'; his true identity was that of an ordinary, relatively low-ranking elder of the Hunyuan Sect.
"Since all you seniors honor me so, very well," Ye Yunfei finally nodded in acceptance.
"Immediately take stock of all our forces. Let them rest briefly where they are, then we march to support the next battlefield," Ye Yunfei considered for a moment before continuing. "Also, dispatch as many scouts as possible to gather intelligence on the other battlefields. We shall select one most in need of reinforcement and proceed there."
At Ye Yunfei's command, the Hunyuan Sect experts sprang into action, beginning to tally the various armies. Several forces had now converged on this battlefield, including the army Ye Yunfei had brought. His forces comprised both alliance troops and members of the Hunyuan Sect from the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Voids.
Before long, the tally of all forces was complete.
"Young Master Ye, our combined army boasts over three hundred and forty Sovereign Gods, with approximately seventy-odd being Fifth or Sixth-Level Sovereign Gods. As for Seventh Level Sovereign Gods, there are only Elder Feng and myself. The scale of our forces is quite respectable," Elder Gan reported to Ye Yunfei.
"Assemble all Sovereign Gods before me immediately. I will help them enhance their strength," Ye Yunfei nodded and instructed.
"Young Master Ye, you wish to help the Sovereign Gods in our army improve their strength?" Elder Feng hesitated slightly before speaking. "However, it would be best for us to move swiftly to aid other battlefields. We don't have much time to linger here for cultivation." He assumed Ye Yunfei intended for everyone to stay behind and cultivate in seclusion to improve their power—a process that would consume considerable time.
"It won't require much time. I will provide some Divine Pills specifically tailored to their realms and strength, allowing for rapid enhancement," Ye Yunfei explained.
"Very well. I will gather all the Sovereign Gods," Elder Feng voiced no further objection, nodding in agreement. After all, command of this army now rested with Ye Yunfei, and he and Elder Gan had just pledged their full support.
Soon, all Sovereign Gods gathered before Ye Yunfei. As he assessed the cultivation realms and strength of those present, Ye Yunfei also inquired about the cultivation techniques and secret arts they practiced. Then, he began to refine pills targeted specifically for these Sovereign Gods.
Ye Yunfei's alchemy skill had improved further. His over a dozen clones had been tirelessly refining vast quantities of pills within the Illusory Tower. This relentless, high-intensity alchemy practice had steadily elevated his proficiency. Moreover, Ye Yunfei had been continuously comprehending the alchemical inheritance left by Tianmu Shenjun and could now refine pills suitable for Seventh Level Sovereign Gods. Given his current alchemy level, concocting pills to enhance the strength of these Sovereign Gods was a relatively simple task.
Not long after, various Divine Pills continuously streamed out from the Illusory Tower, delivered into the hands of the Sovereign Gods. Receiving these pills, the Sovereign Gods were immensely excited, sensing their tremendous potential.
"We have some too?" Elder Feng and Elder Gan were pleasantly surprised to see Ye Yunfei also handing them each a bottle of Divine Pills.
"Elders, while these two bottles won't lead to a realm breakthrough for you in the short term, they will definitely strengthen your combat power and enhance the might of your cultivation techniques and secret arts. Moreover, they may pave the way for a potential realm breakthrough in the near future," Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
"So potent?" Elder Gan and Elder Feng found Ye Yunfei's claim somewhat hard to believe. After all, they were both Seventh Level Sovereign Gods. The next breakthrough would make them Eighth Level Sovereign Gods—figures who could rank highly throughout the entire Chaotic Void Sea. The strongest beings in the Chaotic Void Sea were the legendary Chaos Deities, but they rarely showed themselves across the voids and were few in number; each major faction possessed only a handful. Therefore, on the surface, Eighth and Ninth Level Sovereign Gods formed the core upper echelons responsible for managing the affairs of each major power.
"Regardless, Young Master Ye, thank you. I can sense this bottle of pills will certainly benefit me," Elder Gan said, a delighted expression spreading across his face as he perceived the aura emanating from the pills within the bottle.
"Indeed. These Divine Pills are beneficial to me as well," Elder Feng echoed, his own face lighting up with delight after sensing the pills in his bottle. As Seventh Level Sovereign Gods, they naturally could perceive the usefulness of these pills.
Thus, the two elders took their pills and departed immediately, finding spots nearby to rest and refine the Divine Pills Ye Yunfei had gifted them.
Not long after...
Boom! Rumble...
In a region of the void not far from the battlefield, thunder rolled and dark clouds churned violently. A Fourth Level Sovereign God had begun undergoing his Lightning Tribulation.
"Excellent! I've been stuck at the Fourth Level Sovereign God realm for a long time, unable to break through. I never imagined that after refining the Divine Pill gifted by Young Master Ye, I would immediately usher in the Lightning Tribulation, with the potential to advance!" the Fourth Level Sovereign God exclaimed joyfully, standing beneath the raging thunder.
Then, torrents of lightning continuously descended, marking the official commencement of his tribulation.
Boom! Rumble...
Soon after this Fourth Level Sovereign God's tribulation began, from another direction in the void not far from the battlefield, another Sovereign God underwent his Lightning Tribulation.
"Marvelous! I can finally break through my realm!" a Third Level Sovereign God shouted excitedly beneath the churning tribulation clouds.
Subsequently, around the battlefield, more and more Sovereign Gods began welcoming their Lightning Tribulations.
"Young Master Ye, these Divine Pills are truly extraordinary!" Elder Gan exclaimed emotionally. "I've just refined one and feel my energy intensity has increased considerably. My combat power must have also risen significantly."
"Haha... My Divine Power energy has also increased notably," Elder Feng chimed in excitedly, having also refined one of the pills Ye Yunfei had given him.
Then, both elders noticed the numerous Sovereign Gods undergoing Lightning Tribulations in the void surrounding the battlefield.
"They refined the Divine Pills given by Young Master Ye and actually broke through their realms..." the two Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods exchanged a glance, astonishment evident in their eyes. "Young Master Ye's Divine Pills are truly miraculous!"