"Look! The Fengyun Family forces have also arrived!" someone cried out.
With a rumble... War chariots sped in from the horizon, halting in the sky above Tianjin City. Then, group after group of Fengyun Family members emerged from the chariots, descending into the city.
"Fengyun Yujie, Fengyun Rong, Fengyun Ning... Many of the Fengyun Family's elite juniors have come too!" a warrior exclaimed.
Next, forces of the Xiao Clan and the Tianyan Sect arrived successively. Every faction had numerous elite disciples making an appearance, eliciting waves of astonishment.
Tianjin City was simply packed to the brim, with almost every inn completely full. A huge number of warriors simply slept on the ground in the open.
The time Ye Yunfei had set for the prisoner exchange was tomorrow. So, the four top forces temporarily settled in Tianjin City, planning to enter the Tianjin Mountain Range only tomorrow.
At that moment.
Deep within the Tianjin Mountain Range.
Ye Yunfei led the seven deacons and over a hundred students as they busily labored within a mountainous region, deploying a large number of formations. These formations were all coordinated and interconnected! In total, there were one hundred and eight formations, each one set upon a mountain peak or a small hilltop.
"The One Hundred and Eight Heavenly Stars and Earthly Fiends Grand Formation is finally complete! Although the power of this array can't be considered very strong—it's only a low-level formation—it's still barely sufficient for dealing with Grotto-Heaven Realm experts." After most of the day, Ye Yunfei stood atop one of the higher peaks, releasing his Soul Power to sense the one hundred and eight formations, murmuring to himself.
To Ye Yunfei, the One Hundred and Eight Heavenly Stars and Earthly Fiends Grand Formation was just a very low-level formation. However, given Ye Yunfei's current strength and the formation materials he possessed, he could only deploy this kind of low-level formation.
"Master, actually, we could also set up some Illusion Formations. Several types have surfaced in my memories; I can try to set them up," Hu Miao suddenly said.
The Ancient Celestial Fox was a member of an ancient legacy beast species. Imprinted within her bloodline were many racial inheritances that would surface in her memory as she slowly matured.
"Oh? Hu Miao, you want to try setting up Illusion Formations?" Ye Yunfei was somewhat pleasantly surprised.
"Yes. Master, seeing you deploy this array has made my hands itch to try it too," Hu Miao laughed.
"Alright then. I still have some formation materials here; you can use them," Ye Yunfei replied.
Thus, Hu Miao emerged from her inner dan, appearing beside Ye Yunfei.
"Who is this...?" The seven deacons and the hundred-plus students were greatly shocked to see a stunningly beautiful woman suddenly appear beside Ye Yunfei.
"Here," Ye Yunfei took out a batch of formation materials and handed them to Hu Miao.
"Master, I'll go set them up now," Hu Miao chuckled lightly, transforming into a flash of green light that streaked out to begin deploying Illusion Formations within the area.
"Master? This great beauty actually calls Ye Yunfei 'Master'!" The seven deacons and the hundred-plus students stared dumbfounded.
One hour later, Hu Miao had completely used up all the formation materials Ye Yunfei had given her. She had deployed over twenty Illusion Formations!
"Master, the formation materials were limited. These Illusion Formations are all shrunken, simplified versions. Their power is just average; we'll have to make do," Hu Miao said upon returning to Ye Yunfei's side.
"Good," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Let's go. We'll go capture a few more people. That way, tomorrow's prisoner exchange will have even more leverage," Ye Yunfei said, his gaze sweeping over the seven deacons as he smiled.
"Where will we capture them from?" the seven deacons were taken aback.
"I believe that by now, those factions' forces must have already arrived near the Tianjin Mountain Range," Ye Yunfei said.
"Things have gotten so big this time; I'm afraid Grotto-Heaven Realm experts might come," one of the deacons said worriedly.
"Don't worry. Even if Grotto-Heaven Realm experts come, as long as we're careful, nothing will happen. Just trust me," Ye Yunfei stated.
"Alright! Ye Yunfei, we'll follow your command for all actions. If it weren't for you, we'd still be prisoners now," one deacon said.
The other six deacons also nodded.
Thus, under cover of night, Ye Yunfei led the seven deacons and the hundred-plus students, making their way out of the Tianjin Mountain Range.
At that moment.
Within Tianjin City, news spread.
The City Lord of Tianjin City, Lord Fei, was hosting a banquet at his manor, inviting the young talents of the four top forces: the Fengyun Family, the Xiao Clan, the Shenfeng Sect, and the Tianyan Sect.
It was said that City Lord Fei was a Mid Stage Mystic Liquid Realm expert. Stationed at Tianjin City, he was considered a regional authority figure within the Wutang Empire.
By evening, the vast City Lord's Manor was brightly lit and buzzing with excitement. A large group of young talents gathered there, chatting merrily and drinking freely.
Many servants and maids wove through the lively crowd.
Besides the young talents of the four top forces, many distinguished figures from Tianjin City also attended the banquet as guests. Additionally, a number of exceptionally outstanding young geniuses from other forces were also invited.
"Haha! Tonight, it is my great honor, Fei, to be able to invite so many gifted heroes to gather together. I am truly delighted! Come, come! Don't stand on ceremony, you young talents; drink to your heart's content!"
In the center of the main hall, City Lord Fei accompanied over a dozen youths of exceptional bearing and extraordinary caliber, his face beaming with smiles as he continuously urged them to drink.
These dozen or so youths were all infamous monster geniuses from the four top forces!
He Tiange, Fengyun Yujie, Xiao Tianhao, Ouyang Wei... Every single one was a Mystic Liquid Realm expert! Every single one was a name that shook the Central Continent!
Seated alongside them were, apart from City Lord Fei, the high-level officials of the City Lord's Manor, as well as the ancestor-level figures from various prominent families of Tianjin City and elders from sects.
It could be said that these dozen or so youths were the main protagonists of this City Lord's Manor banquet, the most dazzling existences!
Of course, aside from these youths, there were many other young warriors—almost over two hundred of them! It could truly be called a magnificent banquet!
"Oh? The City Lord's Manor is holding a banquet, inviting the outstanding talents of the four top forces? Heh, that's perfect."
At this moment, an ordinary-looking young man walking on the streets of Tianjin City overheard this news and couldn't help but let out a cold laugh, his gaze shifting toward the direction of the City Lord's Manor.
This youth was none other than Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei had already used the Heavenly Secrets Transformation to alter his appearance and Soul aura.
Upon arriving in Tianjin City, Ye Yunfei discovered that there were Grotto-Heaven Realm experts present in the city—and not just one. They were likely from the four top forces of the Central Continent.
However, Tianjin City was swarming with warriors. Ye Yunfei believed that, having used the Heavenly Secrets Transformation, as long as he was careful, those Grotto-Heaven Realm experts would find it very difficult to detect him.