At the same time, within the headquarters of the Hunyuan Sect in the Fifth Void...
This was a very ordinary Small World. Although the Hunyuan Sect had been developing in the Fifth Void for a long time, they had always remained extremely low-key. Setting their headquarters in this inconspicuous Small World was precisely to conceal their presence.
"What? Our Hunyuan Sect has achieved complete victory on at least four battlefields? That’s excellent! Such results exceed my expectations. I originally thought that, given the overall strength of our Hunyuan Sect in the Fifth Void, the war with the Guardian Faction would be a long, drawn-out battle of attrition. I never imagined that in such a short time, our sect has secured victories on several fronts. Moreover, they completely annihilated the Guardian Faction's armies on those battlefields, delivering a tremendous blow to their forces. Splendid!"
Inside the main hall of the Hunyuan Sect headquarters, a white-robed elder spoke excitedly. Besides this elder, the hall contained several other core higher-ups of the Hunyuan Sect. A scout from the sect stood respectfully in the hall, reporting on the war situation to these key figures.
"Award the main commanders responsible for those victories. Determine their merits clearly. Those with the greatest contributions must be heavily rewarded," the white-robed elder continued. This elder was the overall person in charge of the Hunyuan Sect's operations in the Fifth Void.
"Reporting to Elder Lin," the scout announced clearly. "According to the messages we have received, the primary reason our Hunyuan Sect's armies were able to achieve victory on those battlefields is Young Master Ye. The main commanders responsible for those fronts have all sent us messages, instructing us to return and report that the primary credit for those victories should be attributed to Young Master Ye."
"What?! The greatest credit for those battlefield victories belongs to Young Master Ye? How is that possible? Although Young Master Ye possesses good talent and substantial strength, how could he possibly be the sole reason our Hunyuan Sect's armies achieved such sweeping victories? I believe the main reason for our victories on those battlefields must still lie with the commanders and armies our sect dispatched. Young Master Ye merely participated in those battles and, at most, played a supporting role. How can the lion's share of the credit be placed solely on his shoulders?" Upon hearing the scout’s report, the other core higher-ups present in the hall all wore expressions of puzzlement.
"Esteemed Elders," the scout reported again. "According to the information sent by the main commanders on those fronts, the primary reason our Hunyuan Sect's armies achieved such significant victories is precisely Young Master Ye. Without his intervention, our sect's forces on those battlefields would not only have failed to win but would have been soundly defeated. It was only through Young Master Ye's support that the tide of war was turned, allowing our armies to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat."
"How could this be? What exactly happened? Have you investigated the specifics clearly?" one of the sect's core higher-ups, hearing the scout’s report, became even more doubtful and questioned directly.
"Alright," Elder Lin addressed the scout. "Tell us everything you know in detail." He understood that the scout wouldn’t dare speak recklessly. There must be more to this story.
Thus, the scout proceeded to explain in detail everything he had gathered—primarily the process of how the Hunyuan Sect forces on those battlefields had routed the enemy armies and achieved victory. Since the main commanders on those fronts had already provided a general outline to the scouts for reporting, the scouts possessed a basic understanding of how those battles unfolded.
"What?! Young Master Ye's strength is truly so formidable? He actually wiped out so many Sovereign Gods of the Guardian Faction? These youngsters are truly awe-inspiring!" After hearing the scout’s account, the core higher-ups of the Hunyuan Sect in the hall showered Ye Yunfei with praise.
"I never would have imagined… Young Master Ye has been such a great help to our Hunyuan Sect's operations in the Fifth Void!" The sect's core members all sighed with emotion.
"Young Master Ye is currently leading our sect's armies to continue supporting various battlefields. According to the current situation, our Hunyuan Sect already holds the upper hand in the war here in the Fifth Void," the scout added excitedly.
"Good! Very good! You all continue gathering intelligence. Report any news promptly," Elder Lin nodded at the scout.
"Elder Lin," another Elder of the Hunyuan Sect suddenly spoke up from the side. "I suspect the Guardian Faction headquarters must have also received news regarding Young Master Ye by now. Those fellows from the Guardian Faction will undoubtedly harbor intense killing intent towards him and are sure to dispatch forces to deal with him."
"You are right. That is indeed very possible," Hearing this Elder’s words, the other Elders in the hall all had subtle changes in their expressions.
"We cannot let anything happen to Young Master Ye. This is what we'll do: immediately dispatch a group of experts specifically to protect him," Elder Lin thought for a moment before giving the order. Shortly after, a contingent of powerful experts from the Hunyuan Sect were assembled and set out from the headquarters to protect Ye Yunfei.
At this moment, Ye Yunfei knew nothing about these groups from the Guardian Faction and his own Hunyuan Sect moving because of him.
He was currently leading his mighty army in a grand advance through the void. Ship after ship soared through the emptiness, an imposing spectacle. Wherever they passed, the vast void trembled continuously.
They soon arrived before the next battlefield they intended to support.
"Report, Young Master Ye! The battlefield ahead seems to have undergone some unforeseen changes! The armies from both sides have temporarily ceased hostilities! The three Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods commanding this front for our Hunyuan Sect, as well as the three Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods from the Guardian Faction, have all entered a breached Spatial Rift and are currently exploring inside!" Before Ye Yunfei's command ship had even come to a full stop, a Sixth-Level Sovereign God hurriedly approached and reported loudly.
Ye Yunfei and the eight Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods from the Hunyuan Sect were all aboard this vessel. However, since Ye Yunfei was the supreme commander of this force, the Hunyuan Sect scouts reported directly to him.
"Oh? Such a situation exists? It seems that spatial breach holds secrets within. Let's go. We'll enter and investigate as well," Ye Yunfei considered and then spoke to the eight Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods beside him. These eight experts from the Hunyuan Sect also became interested and expressed their agreement.
Thus, Ye Yunfei ordered the army he led to find a suitable position near the battlefield and settle in. Then, Ye Yunfei and the eight Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods employed their movement techniques and rushed into the battlefield ahead.
At this moment, the two opposing armies had indeed temporarily ceased fighting. They stood on opposite sides, locked in a tense standoff. Under the perception of Ye Yunfei's soul force energy, he immediately discovered a massive, breached Spatial Rift in one corner of the battlefield. From within the rift wafted a rich, ancient aura of time and space.
"This should be an extremely ancient space," Hun Lao, who was very familiar with spatial principles, immediately communicated to Ye Yunfei. Ye Yunfei glanced around and indeed found none of the Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods from either side present on the battlefield.
"Let's go in and take a look." Ye Yunfei’s figure flashed as he took the lead, entering the Spatial Rift. The other eight Hunyuan Sect Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods all followed closely behind him.
After entering the rift, they first encountered a dark spatial tunnel stretching continuously forward. Before long, Ye Yunfei suddenly felt light before his eyes. Focusing his gaze, he found himself standing on a desolate continent filled with the aura of a primordial wasteland. The continent was vast in scale, yet utterly desolate and deathly silent. As far as the eye could see, it was barren, sandy ground sparsely dotted with vegetation, bereft of vitality.
"Young Master Ye, those three figures ahead belong to our Hunyuan Sect," Elder Gan pointed at three distant figures ahead and said to Ye Yunfei.
"However, I've discovered we cannot send long-range transmissions across this continent. Even though we can see them, we cannot establish contact. I feel we need to be cautious. This continent feels very strange," Elder Feng spoke up.
"Let's explore a bit," Ye Yunfei said, surveying the desolate, silent continent before them. He then strode forward, with the eight Hunyuan Sect Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods closely following.
"This continent has existed for an extremely long time. It likely holds a very ancient history," Hun Lao informed Ye Yunfei.
"Indeed. This land has endured countless ages," Ye Yunfei nodded, examining the deathly still expanse.
"Young Master Ye, look in that direction. There seem to be three fellows. They are probably the three Seventh-Level Sovereign Gods from the Guardian Faction," Elder Feng suddenly spoke up, pointing towards another direction. On that horizon, three indistinct figures were moving forward.
"Then let's head in that direction. If we catch up with those three, we'll eliminate them directly," Ye Yunfei thought briefly and declared coldly. Then, taking the lead, he set off with great strides towards that direction.
At the same moment Ye Yunfei was leading the eight Hunyuan Sect masters across the desolate continent, a large group of people radiating intense blade energy arrived outside, sweeping onto the battlefield. Several Sixth-Level Sovereign Gods from the Guardian Faction immediately stepped forward to greet and respectfully receive this newly arrived force.
"An ancient Small World has been exposed on this battlefield. Where is it?" an elder whose body coiled with dominating currents of blade energy demanded curtly.