"Haha, Dean Ye! This time, we were able to defeat the invading Otherworldly Army. You deserve the most credit!"
Amidst the cheers, Cui Tianguo approached Ye Yunfei, laughing heartily and appearing extremely cordial.
The Grotto-Heaven Realm experts also stepped forward one after another, trying to get on friendly terms with Ye Yunfei.
Only those Grotto-Heaven Realm experts belonging to the four top powers stood in the distance, their expressions ugly.
The more attention Ye Yunfei received, the more displeased they became.
"Commander Cui, you flatter me," Ye Yunfei replied.
Just at that moment.
A great rumbling sound echoed from afar as clouds of dust rose into the sky. A large army advanced toward them in a grand procession.
It was the reinforcements from the Tianxuan Continent.
Leading them were two old men, both of them Grotto-Heaven Eighth Level experts.
"Old Cui, where are the Otherworldly troops?" one of them asked in confusion.
He had led the reinforcements here with great anticipation, fully expecting a fierce battle, yet upon reaching Qingzhou City, all he heard were celebratory cheers.
"Old Cui, don't tell me the garrison forces you lead here defeated the Otherworldly Army?!"
"How is that possible? I received word that this time, the Otherworldly Army dispatched over a hundred Grotto-Heaven Realm experts and two hundred thousand troops!
Old Cui, I never expected your military prowess to be this formidable!"
The other old man exclaimed with surprised laughter.
"You two, there's a misunderstanding. The Otherworldly Army was indeed defeated, but not by me. It was defeated by Ye Yunfei."
Cui Tianguo pointed at Ye Yunfei as he spoke.
"Ye Yunfei!"
Only then did the two old men notice Ye Yunfei standing beside Cui Tianguo.
"Young friend Ye Yunfei, you are truly a phoenix among men! With you guarding Qingzhou City, it stands as firm as a rock!"
Upon hearing what had transpired on the battlefield earlier, the two old men were utterly astonished and lavished praise upon Ye Yunfei.
"Young friend Ye Yunfei, how about this: starting now, you will be the Deputy Commander of Qingzhou City. Assist me in guarding Qingzhou," Cui Tianguo proposed.
"Absolutely not!"
The moment Cui Tianguo finished speaking, someone voiced opposition.
"Commander Cui, Qingzhou City already has one chief commander and two deputies—three commanders in total. Furthermore, all three were personally appointed by City Master Gu.
Although Ye Yunfei has made some contributions today, he is ultimately a junior, still young. Having him serve as Deputy Commander is too hasty a decision. I fear it will not earn the respect of the masses!
I believe we must report this to the headquarters of the Tianxuan Army and let the headquarters deliberate and decide."
A green-robed elder stepped forward, declaring this in a clear, resonant voice.
This green-robed elder was a Fengyun Family Elder.
"Elder Fengyun Yue, Ye Yunfei contributed the most to our victory in today's battle. You saw it yourself earlier—the garrison troops of Qingzhou City fully support him; he enjoys the support of the masses. Having him serve as Deputy Commander can unite morale and rally our forces, which is advantageous for Qingzhou's defense."
Cui Tianguo argued.
"Commander Cui, I agree with Elder Fengyun Yue's opinion. The position of Deputy Commander is not something to be decided so hastily.
Within the Tianxuan Army, there are countless senior figures of great prestige and respect, more qualified than Ye Yunfei to hold the Deputy Commander position.
This matter must be reported to headquarters and decided there."
A gray-robed elder also voiced his opposition.
This gray-robed elder was a Xiao Clan Elder.
"I also oppose," a skinny elder spoke up.
He was a Divine Wind Sect Elder.
"I also oppose." An elder with an unusually large head but an unusually short stature also spoke.
He was a Sky Flame Sect Elder.
"This..." Cui Tianguo hesitated.
He knew that Ye Yunfei held deep enmity with the four top powers of the Central Continent.
If he insisted any further, he might offend the four top powers.
The others also feared the four top powers, and no one dared to speak up in support of Ye Yunfei.
"What are you all implying?! If not for Dean Ye today, Qingzhou City most likely would not have held. By now, you all might be dead at the hands of the Otherworldly Army!
Besides, Dean Ye is a Vice Dean of our Hudao Academy. In terms of status, he ranks higher than you!
Why wouldn't Dean Ye be qualified to serve as Deputy Commander of Qingzhou City?!"
A Guardian Elder from Hudao Academy spoke angrily.
"Hmph! Letting a junior serve as Vice Dean is your Hudao Academy's own business and has nothing to do with us.
Our Tianxuan Army cannot let a junior hold the position of Deputy Commander—it would not earn the respect of the people."
The Xiao Clan Elder sneered.
"You..."
The Guardian Elder was so enraged he couldn't utter a single word.
"Commander Cui, forget it. I came here to kill enemies," Ye Yunfei spoke calmly, "not to contend for power and engage in intrigue. I have no interest in the Deputy Commander position."
Until now, Ye Yunfei had observed everything coldly from the sidelines.
"Hmph! He says he has no interest. Who knows what he's really thinking," the Fengyun Family Elder sneered.
"You've provoked me repeatedly in public. Aren't you afraid I might kill you?"
Ye Yunfei's gaze turned cold as he stared at the Fengyun Family Elder and spoke.
"Ye Yunfei! What are you trying to do?! Do you dare commit murder in public?! This is the garrison of the Tianxuan Army!"
The Fengyun Family Elder couldn't help but feel a sudden surge of fear.
Although he was a Grotto-Heaven Seventh Level expert, the combat power Ye Yunfei displayed was simply terrifying.
In the battle at Shenfeng City, he had slain forty-four Grotto-Heaven Realm experts.
In today's battle at Qingzhou City, he had slain over sixty Otherworldly Grotto-Heaven Realm experts!
So far, more than a hundred Grotto-Heaven Realm experts had perished at Ye Yunfei's hands!
Given such horrifying battle accomplishments, who wouldn't be afraid?
"In my actions, I, Ye Yunfei, listen to my own heart," Ye Yunfei said, staring at the Fengyun Family Elder and speaking word by word. "If I want to kill you, the location makes no difference. From now on, do not provoke me if you value your life."
After finishing his statement, Ye Yunfei waved his hand and led the members of Hudao Academy into Qingzhou City. They found an empty area to recuperate and rest.
The Fengyun Family Elder clenched both fists tightly, shooting a venomous glare at Ye Yunfei's departing figure.
But in the end, he did not dare to utter another word.
"Dean Ye, Esteemed Elders, in this battle, our Hudao Academy suffered a total of twenty fatalities. The number of injured exceeded two hundred."
An executive had conducted a roll call.
"Mm. Distribute these medicinal pills among everyone. Let them consume them to recover swiftly."
Ye Yunfei waved his hand, sending out hundreds of jade vials.
These vials contained medicinal pills—some for healing injuries, others for restoring spiritual energy.
Ye Yunfei had prepared abundant pills this time.
Soon, all the pills were distributed, and the members of Hudao Academy began to recover rapidly.
"Master, we've obtained roughly twenty thousand corpses of Ancient Demon Race members. Among them, there are twenty-eight with Grotto-Heaven Realm strength."
Hu Miao and Huang Shang had already tallied the spoils of war within the Mirror Illusion Tower.
"Too few. It's not even as much as the number of Ancient Demon Race corpses we obtained last time at Sanye City in the Southern Territory," Ye Yunfei said, slightly disappointed.
Last time at Sanye City in the Southern Territory, Ye Yunfei had obtained over thirty thousand Ancient Demon Race corpses in total!
"When the number of collected Ancient Demon Race corpses reaches two hundred thousand, I will commence cultivation of the seventh layer of the Heavenly Demon Merging Blood Body Tempering Art," Ye Yunfei muttered to himself. "Perhaps by then I may also be able to develop a physical divine ability of ten-zhang height."
"It seems I must hurry and collect more Ancient Demon Race corpses."
Ye Yunfei felt a sense of urgency in his heart.
He understood that his enmity with the four top powers of the Central Continent ran deep. Furthermore, with the invasion of the Otherworldly Army, in such chaotic times, having sufficient strength was the foundation of his existence.
Soon, news of what had transpired in Qingzhou swept across the entire Central Continent—indeed, across the entire Tianxuan Continent—like a hurricane.
The entire Tianxuan Continent was in an uproar.
For a time, every martial artist on the continent felt inspired and filled with joy.
The name Ye Yunfei became the subject of fervent discussion among countless martial artists.
After all, ever since the invasion of the Otherworldly Army, victories had been few for the martial artists of Tianxuan Continent.
Now, Qingzhou City had emerged victorious against a numerically superior foe, scoring a significant triumph that would greatly boost the morale of the entire army!
"Hu Miao, Huang Lao," Ye Yunfei transmitted his thoughts after one day, unable to remain idle any longer, "merely waiting here isn't the way. I plan to take the initiative and hunt down members of the Ancient Demon Race to collect more of their bodies."
"Good," both Hu Miao and Huang Shang expressed their support.
Thus, after giving some instructions to the three Guardian Elders, Ye Yunfei quietly departed Qingzhou City and headed toward the location where the Otherworldly Army was stationed.