"Using the Black Demon Blade Stele to deal with these Greater Sovereign Gods will absolutely result in a one-sided trampling, as it is a Chaos Deity-level magic treasure. It can be used against enemies even when encountering a Chaos Deity, let alone a few Eighth-Level Sovereign Gods," Hun Lao said with a smile.
"Senior, you may come in now. This branch stronghold has been taken under my control; all the blade cultivators inside are now my people," Ye Yunfei sent a sound transmission to Shoudi Laoren, who had been waiting outside the entire time.
Shoudi Laoren, leading his Earth Gate forces, had been stationed just outside the entrance to this Blade Realm branch stronghold. He wasn't worried about Ye Yunfei's safety, knowing full well that with Ye Yunfei's capabilities, entering this branch stronghold was perfectly secure.
Upon receiving Ye Yunfei's transmission, Shoudi Laoren immediately led his Earth Gate troops into the stronghold.
Every blade cultivator inside this branch had become either Ye Yunfei's clone or slave. All those Sovereign Gods above the Fifth Level had either had their Soul Bodies devoured by Ye Yunfei or were imprisoned within the Phantom Tower.
"Young Master Ye, your methods are truly brilliant! Even this old man finds them dazzling," Shoudi Laoren said with a laugh as he strode directly into the main hall and saw a large group of blade cultivators standing respectfully beside Ye Yunfei.
With his discerning eye, Shoudi Laoren could tell at a glance that these blade cultivators had all had their Soul Bodies controlled by Ye Yunfei, now completely obedient to his commands.
"You flatter me, Senior. These little tricks of mine are nothing in your presence," Ye Yunfei replied, smiling.
"No, Young Master Ye, when I was your age, I wouldn't have been fit to tie your shoes! I just have the advantage of age; I've cultivated far, far too long. One grows wily with age. By the time you reach my years, your achievements will likely far surpass mine," Shoudi Laoren said cheerfully.
Previously, his goodwill toward Ye Yunfei stemmed from Ye Yunfei being his lifesaver. But now, his appreciation for Ye Yunfei was genuine and heartfelt.
"Senior, let's continue to the other Blade Realm branch strongholds. Those Blade Realm fellows are arrogant and domineering; it's high time we taught them a lesson," Ye Yunfei said to Shoudi Laoren.
"Indeed, those Blade Realm fellows are far too overbearing. Since they've provoked me, they should be prepared to pay the price," Shoudi Laoren nodded upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words.
Then, Ye Yunfei and Shoudi Laoren led the Earth Gate forces out of this Blade Realm branch stronghold and headed towards another.
At the same time, in the First Void, within a bustling and prosperous world, inside a palace concealed among famed mountains and great rivers, a youth who looked fifteen or sixteen sat cross-legged atop a high platform.
A multitude of living beings knelt around the platform, each one appearing exceedingly devout, their eyes burning with fervor.
"Reporting, my Lord. I recently discovered in the First Void a group of beings whose Soul Bodies had been controlled by someone else. I suspect they were controlled by our Soul Race's Puppet Soul Thread Secret Art. However, after investigating for some time, I couldn't determine which of our clansmen actually subdued them, so I brought them all back," a tall, handsome man said as he suddenly walked into the palace.
Behind him trailed a large group of Lesser Sovereign Gods, their movements slow and rigid.
"That's not surprising. Our Soul Race has begun gradually returning to the Chaotic Void Sea. Not only in the First Void, but in many other voids, our clansmen are already active. There's no need to be alarmed, nor is it necessary to concern yourself with the affairs of other clansmen," the youth seated on the high platform said slowly, not even lifting his eyelids.
The youth looked exceptionally young, but his voice sounded unnaturally aged, like an elder weathered by the vicissitudes of life—a stark, disjointed contrast to his appearance that gave off an odd feeling.
"My Lord, the reason I brought these beings back is that, after studying their Soul Bodies, I suspect they might have been controlled by the highest level of our Soul Race's Puppet Soul Thread Secret Art. As you know, although most members of our Soul Race practice the Puppet Soul Thread Secret Art, it is divided into many grades. The highest grade is a top secret of our clan. Generally, only members of our clan with the most noble bloodlines—the Imperial Clan—are qualified to practice it. However, to my knowledge, those Imperial Clan members qualified to practice this highest level secret art seem to be in secluded cultivation recently, including you, my Lord. I am not aware of any Imperial Clan lord being active in the First Void," the tall man reported respectfully.
"Could it be slaves subdued by one of our Imperial Clan powerhouses long ago, only discovered by you now?" the youth frowned slightly before asking.
"My Lord, that was also my initial thought when I first encountered these controlled individuals. However, after sensing the Puppet Soul Threads within their Soul Bodies, I couldn't recognize which Imperial Clan lord planted these threads—their aura was completely unfamiliar. Logically, I know the vast majority of our Soul Race's Imperial Clan lords; I shouldn't be unable to recognize which one planted these threads," the tall man answered again.
"Is that so?" The youth, hearing the man's words, couldn't help but open his eyes, revealing a puzzled expression. "Bring them over. Let me see."
His gaze fell upon the Lesser Sovereign Gods behind the man as he spoke.
The man immediately waved a hand and led the Lesser Sovereign Gods to stand before the high platform.
The youth on the platform immediately released his Soul Power energy, enveloping all the Lesser Sovereign Gods in an instant, then sent his perception into their soul seas.
Wrapped around the Soul Bodies of these Lesser Sovereign Gods were numerous translucent Puppet Soul Threads, deeply embedded and intricately binding them.
"Indeed, these are the highest grade Puppet Soul Threads of our Soul Race. Yet, even I can't recognize who planted them? How strange. Could there be a clansman within our Imperial Clan I don't know? That shouldn't be possible!" The youth, after perceiving for a moment, couldn't help but frown deeply, voicing his confusion.
"My Lord, could it be that some ordinary-blooded clansmen secretly practiced this highest grade Puppet Soul Thread Secret Art?" the man ventured cautiously.
"What?! Our Soul Race has regulations stating that only the Imperial Clan is qualified to practice this highest grade secret art. For an ordinary clansman to dare practice it is the capital crime of clan betrayal! Very well, I want to see just which foolhardy individual dares to steal and practice our Imperial Clan's secret art. Investigate this matter immediately. If it truly is an ordinary clansman who stole it, then pursue it to the fullest extent, implicating three generations!" The youth's face darkened as he spoke coldly.
"Rest assured, my Lord. I will immediately dispatch people to investigate this matter with full effort. With these individuals here," the tall man pointed to the Lesser Sovereign Gods behind him, "I believe we should be able to find a lead."
"My Lord, these individuals' identities are actually somewhat special, as they were all members of a branch stronghold of the Watcher Faction," the man added.
"All of them are from the Watcher Faction? The overall strength of the Watcher Faction is not weak. They are currently at war with the Hunyuan Sect. Regarding such powerful factions, it's best we avoid direct confrontation for now," the youth frowned upon hearing this.
"Please be at ease, my Lord. I secretly entered that Watcher Faction branch stronghold to capture these individuals. The Watchers certainly don't know who did it," the tall man quickly assured.
"That's good. Our Soul Race's return to the Chaotic Void Sea must be low-key. Before our clan fully controls the Chaotic Void Sea, we should avoid large-scale movements that attract excessive attention. Otherwise, we might repeat the scenario of ancient times, drawing numerous races and powers to oppose our Soul Race," the youth declared.
"Rest assured, my Lord. I understand what must be done," the tall man said.
"By the way, my Lord, some time ago, our people discovered signs that a branch of our Soul Race once existed in a Small World within the Eighth Void. The overall strength of that branch was quite weak, the strongest being only a Soul Emperor," the tall, middle-aged man spoke again.
"That's good news. However weak, summon them back immediately. Back then, our Soul Race left the Chaotic Void Sea in too much haste, leaving many clansmen scattered across different regions of the Chaotic Void Sea. Now that our Soul Race is returning, we ought to call back those lost clansmen to bolster our overall strength," the youth nodded in agreement.
"Reporting, my Lord, the Small World only shows signs that a branch of our Soul Race once existed there. That branch was later completely exterminated, with none surviving. Furthermore, the forces I dispatched investigated that Small World and found that it seems a young fellow named Ye Yunfei was the one who annihilated our clansmen there," the tall, middle-aged man added.
"Oh? A young fellow named Ye Yunfei? Could he be that Ye Yunfei who has gained some fame in the Chaotic Void Sea recently? He actually annihilated a branch of our Soul Race. If that's truly the case, then I shall take the time to settle accounts with him," the youth said coldly.
"My Lord, it's highly likely that Ye Yunfei is the one who has gained some notoriety lately. Rest assured, I will dispatch people to investigate him. I've heard that this Ye Yunfei is skilled in some rather peculiar Soul Power secret arts, even somewhat similar to our Soul Race's arts. It is said he often employs soul techniques to overcome enemies in battle, which is very much like our Soul Race," the man stated.
"Is that so? Then he truly warrants a thorough investigation," the youth lifted his eyelids slightly, seeming increasingly interested in Ye Yunfei.
"My Lord, I will take these individuals to investigate now," the tall man said.
"Go. These Divine Pills are specifically left for you; they can strengthen your Soul Body significantly in a short time," the youth nodded, then flicked a finger, sending a white jade bottle flying through the air to land before the tall man.
"Thank you, my Lord, for the reward of Divine Pills!" The man promptly bowed in thanks, visibly excited.
He knew these Divine Pills from the Imperial Clan were extremely useful, capable of giving his Soul Body a substantial boost in a short period.
Then, the man led the Lesser Sovereign Gods from the Watcher Faction out of the palace.
If Ye Yunfei were here, he would immediately recognize those Lesser Sovereign Gods as none other than his own slaves.