Late in the morning.
Boom...
A deafening explosion erupted from the sealed chamber where Cui Tianguo was in closed-door cultivation, shaking the entire City Lord's Manor with force.
And then.
"Commander Ye! I have finally broken through to the Ninth-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm!
All of this was given to me by you, Commander!"
Cui Tianguo hurried into Ye Yunfei's room, speaking with great excitement.
Breaking through to the Ninth-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm meant he had now become one of the most elite experts atop the Tianxuan Continent.
Even the City Lord of Hudao City, Gu Chengzhu, would now be on equal footing with him!
"A mere Ninth-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm is nothing to speak of.
If I wished, pushing your cultivation to the Tenth Level Grotto-Heaven Realm, or even to the initial stage of the Mysterious Elixir Realm, would be of no great effort for me."
Ye Yunfei said nonchalantly, his hands clasped behind his back as he gazed elsewhere with a placid expression.
"Commander Ye..."
Upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words, Cui Tianguo trembled, his breathing immediately turning heavy.
"Commander Ye, I, Cui Tianguo, swear that for this entire lifetime, I will forever follow you!
Should I ever break this vow, may I be struck by heavenly lightning!"
Cui Tianguo understood the meaning behind Ye Yunfei's words. He took a deep, calming breath and prepared to kneel before him. At that moment, he had made his decision.
Ye Yunfei flicked his sleeve, and a tremendous force surged to lift Cui Tianguo, preventing his knees from touching the ground.
"I have no use for superficial courtesies.
Do you stand by your words?"
Ye Yunfei's tone remained indifferent.
After his breakthrough to the Ninth-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm, Cui Tianguo felt that the intensity of the spiritual power within his body had increased by at least dozens of times compared to before.
Yet, that gentle force Ye Yunfei exerted had made it absolutely impossible for him to complete his bow!
This left Cui Tianguo inwardly reeling with shock, making his attitude before Ye Yunfei all the more respectful and humble.
"I stand by them!"
Cui Tianguo nodded heavily, no longer harboring the slightest hesitation.
"Good. Remember your words.
Should you ever break them in the future, you need not fear heavenly thunder—if I decide to execute you, it will be effortless."
Ye Yunfei's voice carried a sharp edge.
"Commander Ye can rest assured. I understand completely!"
Cui Tianguo replied with deference.
"Take these treasured pills. Consuming them will quickly stabilize your spiritual power cultivation realm.
For now, engage in battle frequently, seeking to temper yourself and accumulate combat experience.
If your tempering and accumulation are sufficient, I can assist you in stepping into the Tenth Level Grotto-Heaven Realm within half a year at most, or three months at best."
Ye Yunfei casually tossed a jade bottle to Cui Tianguo and added,
"I have a battle formation here called the White Tiger Metallic Gold Formation. Select tens of thousands of your subordinates and have them train in units of ten thousand each.
Remember, choose those who are loyal to you, so they can be cultivated as your personal forces in the future."
Ye Yunfei flicked his finger, and a jade slip landed before Cui Tianguo.
Although this White Tiger Metallic Gold Formation's power could not compare to the Slaughter Formation, it was still a formidable battle formation focused on sheer destructive force.
At the very least, it was far more potent than the battle formations of the Ancient Demon Race.
"Understood."
Cui Tianguo accepted the jade slip reverently.
Battle formations were essentially legends among martial artists on the Tianxuan Continent and were exceedingly rare.
"Now, assemble the troops immediately. We depart for the Southern Frontier."
Ye Yunfei commanded.
"Yes, Commander!"
Cui Tianguo responded.
A moment later.
Ye Yunfei led an army of six hundred thousand soldiers, grand and imposing as they marched towards the Southern Frontier.
At this time, all territory in the Southern Frontier had long since fallen into the hands of the Otherworldly Army.
The Otherworldly forces stationed in the Southern Frontier numbered roughly over three hundred thousand.
At most, there were only fifty or sixty Grotto-Heaven Realm experts among them.
And the strongest among these were merely at the Ninth-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm.
With such strength, they naturally posed no barrier to the army led by Ye Yunfei.
In a mere three days, Ye Yunfei's army thoroughly reclaimed the entire Southern Frontier.
In fact, as soon as the Otherworldly troops garrisoned in the Southern Frontier received news that Ye Yunfei's army was approaching, they were frightened to the core. Nearly half of the Alien Forces secretly fled in advance, retreating into the Western Sea!
Thus, Ye Yunfei's army encountered very little resistance in the Southern Frontier.
Wherever they went, the Otherworldly forces either fled at the merest rumor of their arrival or were subjected to one-sided slaughter.
During the battles, many troops of the Ancient Demon Race formed their race's battle formations, attempting to mount a desperate stand.
The result? Cui Tianguo selected contingents from the army to form five or six White Tiger Metallic Gold Formations. On the battlefield, these formations moved like autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves, utterly crushing the Ancient Demon Race's formations.
Ye Yunfei barely needed to intervene at all!
He merely oversaw the battles to secure morale.
Three days later, not a single Otherworldly soldier remained on the lands of the Southern Frontier!
All the people of the Southern Frontier broke into song and dance, a scene of great rejoicing.
Even when the news spread across the entire Tianxuan Continent, everyone was profoundly stirred.
"With Commander Ye present, the Otherworldly Army can no longer stir up any storm!"
"Commander Ye truly is our great savior of the Tianxuan Continent!"
"Hundreds of years ago, the Hudao Academy produced the Master of Protection. Now, hundreds of years later, we have Ye Yunfei. This is a blessing for all of us on the Tianxuan Continent!"
...
Across the entire continent, hearts were filled with joy and excitement, plunging into a sea of celebration.
The oppressive sense of despair brought by the Otherworldly Army in recent times was swept clean away!
Northern Wastelands.
Within the headquarters of the Tianxuan Army.
In a large hall.
"Commander Ye’s military campaigns are simply divinely assisted!
In such a short time, he actually managed to reclaim both the Eastern Region and the Southern Frontier in one breath. Yet here we are in the Northern Wastelands, already locked in a stalemate with the Otherworldly Army for days.
We simply cannot compare to Ye Yunfei!"
After receiving the news, City Lord Gu couldn't help but sigh with a bitter laugh.
"With Ye Yunfei here, the Otherworldly Army should be unable to raise any significant storm."
"This young man, Ye Yunfei, is the most monstrous youth I have ever encountered in my lifetime.
To achieve such feats at such a young age...
If he continues to develop like this in the future, I fear he is destined to become the premier figure of our Tianxuan Continent!"
...
The other senior leaders of the Tianxuan Army also voiced their sentiments one after another.
Originally, in recent times, thanks to Ye Yunfei, the Otherworldly Army had been retreating continuously, collapsing in defeat.
As members of the Tianxuan Continent, they should be pleased.
Yet the thought that a junior like him had completely stolen the limelight, completely overshadowing seasoned veterans like themselves, left a somewhat sour taste in their mouths.
"New waves from the river ever push the old before them. This is inevitable.
Perhaps... we really have grown old."
An elderly man sighed.
As for those Grotto-Heaven Realm experts from the four top powers of the Central Continent, they remained silent, their faces grim.
The forceful rise of Ye Yunfei and his might shaking the Tianxuan Continent was precisely what they wished least to see.
"Report, City Lord Gu! The Otherworldly Army in the Northern Wastelands has assembled, totaling close to four hundred thousand troops. They are preparing to fight our Tianxuan Army to the death!"
A man clad in armor hurried into the hall to report.
"Relay the order! Have everyone prepare for a final battle against the Otherworldly Army!
This time, we must secure a victory!"
City Lord Gu waved his hand. Everyone in the hall rose to their feet.