After leaving the spatial rift, Ye Yunfei took out an airship and headed back towards the Central Continent.
This airship had been obtained from an Otherworldly Army expert at the Tenth Level of the Grotto-Heaven Realm whom Ye Yunfei had slain.
It was an excellent airship, its speed far surpassing that of any airship on the Tianxuan Continent.
In less than half a day, he returned to the Central Continent.
At that moment.
Outside Hudao Academy, the forces of Hudao Academy and the forces of the four top powers were locked in a tense standoff, killing intent boiling from both sides.
With swords drawn and bows bent, the situation was ready to explode at a moment's touch!
"Xie Changkong, this is your last chance.
Three conditions: first, all the assets of your Hudao Academy are to be offered for our selection.
Second, hand over the murderer.
Third, surrender the Hudao Stele.
If you do, we can spare Hudao Academy today.
Otherwise, today will be Hudao Academy's end!"
the Fengyun Family Patriarch said with a cold laugh.
"More words are pointless.
If you wish to destroy my Hudao Academy, then attack if you dare!"
Xie Changkong took a step forward.
Above his head, the Hudao Stele erupted with billowing spiritual power pressure, soaring skyward like raging flames.
Within the Hudao Stele, the wisp of soul fragment left by Guardian Hu had completely become the artifact spirit, merging as one with the stele.
A magic treasure with a spirit possessed power far surpassing that of artifacts of the same rank.
The warriors surrounding them all changed expressions upon sensing the energy pressure emanating from the Hudao Stele.
"Kill!"
The forces of Hudao Academy split into two groups, forming two Slaughter Formations. They simultaneously stepped forward, roaring in unison as a mighty, sky-reaching killing intent surged forth.
"Hudao Academy truly lives up to its name as one of the top powers in the Central Continent. Their foundation is too profound!"
Many people secretly clicked their tongues in amazement.
Based solely on the strength Hudao Academy was displaying now, they could sweep across the majority of powers on the entire Tianxuan Continent!
"Heh heh…
Do you really think your Hudao Academy can withstand our assault?"
At that moment, an old man standing beside the Fengyun Family Patriarch within the Fengyun Family ranks sighed softly before stepping forward.
Rumble rumble…
A terrifying spiritual power pressure, akin to a ruptured heavenly river, bloomed from his body, shaking the surrounding heaven and earth.
"Tenth-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm!
You are Fengyun Qianshan!
You're not dead?!"
Gu Chengzhu stared at the old man, his pupils constricting as he cried out.
Fengyun Qianshan was a figure from the same era as Gu Chengzhu himself, once intimidating the entire Tianxuan Continent before suddenly secluding himself. Rumors had it he had perished.
No one expected him not only to be alive but to have also broken through to the Tenth-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm.
"Heh heh, City Lord Gu has a sharp eye. But I wonder if City Lord Gu still recognizes this old man?"
Another old man standing beside the Fengyun Family Patriarch chuckled softly.
Boom!
A surge of spiritual power shot skyward from this old man's body like a tidal wave.
"Fengyun En!"
Gu Chengzhu exclaimed in shock.
This Fengyun En, just like Fengyun Qianshan, was also a figure from that same era. He had unexpectedly also survived and possessed Tenth Level Grotto-Heaven Realm strength.
Boom! Boom!
Fengyun Qianshan and Fengyun En waved their hands, each retrieving a magic treasure, which they immediately activated.
Two High-Grade Flood Artifacts!
Next.
Boom! Boom…
From the ranks of the three powers — the Xiao Clan, the Shenfeng Sect, and the Tianyan Sect — two more Tenth Level Grotto-Heaven Realm experts emerged from each. Each was a super-veteran who had been in seclusion for ages and was rumored to have long since died.
Every single Tenth Level Grotto-Heaven Realm expert took out a High-Grade Flood Artifact.
Eight Tenth Level Grotto-Heaven Realm experts in total, wielding eight High-Grade Flood Artifacts, swarmed forward and encircled Xie Changkong.
Rumble rumble…
The surrounding heaven and earth immediately filled with terrifying spiritual power pressure.
"These four top powers have hidden their strength far too deeply!"
All the onlookers stared at the eight Tenth Level Grotto-Heaven Realm experts, utterly shocked, their hearts sighing in awe.
It could be said that only today, had these four top powers of the Central Continent truly revealed their real might!
"Hudao Academy is in grave danger.
With eight Tenth Level Grotto-Heaven Realm experts, plus eight High-Grade Flood Artifacts, Hudao Academy cannot possibly withstand this!"
"Indeed.
The strongest in Hudao Academy are Xie Changkong and Elder He.
It's said Xie Changkong recently broke through to the Seventh Level of Grotto-Heaven Realm, and Elder He to the Eighth Level.
But they are far too weak before eight Tenth Level experts.
Even with City Lord Gu, a Ninth Level expert, it's still nowhere near enough!"
the surrounding crowd whispered in discussion.
"Well done!
When the Otherworldly Army invaded the Tianxuan Continent not long ago, everyone on the continent rose in anger to resist, fighting with all their might.
Yet you four powers hid your strength, unwilling to lend your power to the Tianxuan Continent.
Now, with the Otherworldly Army defeated, you jump out to claim kingship and dominance, bullying the other powers.
I never imagined you four powers had such treacherous and ambitious designs!
Today, I have truly witnessed it!"
Gu Chengzhu glared at the eight Tenth Level Grotto-Heaven Realm experts, trembling with rage, his voice quivering.
"Hujie City no longer has a reason to exist.
From now on, our four great powers will replace Hujie City's position.
You no longer need to be its city lord.
All Hujie City's forces will be taken over by our four powers!
You all, come here at once!"
The Sect Master of Shenfeng Sect took a step forward, roaring at the Hujie City forces standing behind Gu Chengzhu.
"Ha ha…
Our Hujie City has never retreated a single step against the Otherworldly Army all these years.
Today, facing your so-called four top powers, we will definitely not retreat either!"
Gu Chengzhu laughed angrily, stepping forward as a High-Grade Flood Artifact appeared in his hand. He activated it directly, letting out a great laugh.
"Fight!"
The Hujie City forces behind him also roared in unison.
"If that's the case, then there's nothing more to say!
Kill them all!
Slaughter every last one of Hudao Academy and Hujie City's people, leave none alive!"
The Fengyun Family Patriarch waved his hand and shouted.
"Kill!"
Both sides' forces surged forward simultaneously.
The great battle erupted!
Mighty waves of combat energy, like mountain collapses and sea tsunamis, spread in all directions.
At that moment.
Within the crowd of onlookers in the distance, a young woman in a red dress gazed at the distant battlefield with worried eyes.
"Senior Sister Wu, do you think Hudao Academy can win?"
The girl suddenly whispered to a woman with an oval face standing beside her.
"Judging by the formations of both sides, Hudao Academy will likely lose."
That Senior Sister Wu shook her head.
If Ye Yunfei were here, he would definitely recognize that the girl in red was Deng Xianxian, and the oval-faced woman was Wu Yuechan.
Wu Yuechan and Deng Xianxian were both disciples of the Zhencang Sect from the Great Qin Empire in the Eastern Region.
Back when Ye Yunfei was still in Yuanyue City and entered the Heavenly Beast Forest for training, he had briefly journeyed with them.
Recently, when the Otherworldly Army invaded the Eastern Region, many people from the Eastern Region had poured into the Central Continent to seek refuge.
Wu Yuechan, Deng Xianxian, and a group of other core disciples from Zhencang Sect, brought by their master, had also come to the Central Continent to take shelter.
"If Ye Yunfei were still alive, these four powers would definitely not dare to besiege Hudao Academy. No matter how many Grotto-Heaven Realm experts they have, they wouldn't be able to defeat Ye Yunfei!"
Deng Xianxian said.
Mentioning Ye Yunfei made her eyes slightly redden.
Back then, hearing the news of Ye Yunfei's death had saddened her for a long time.
She still could not forget the two separate occasions in the Heavenly Beast Forest when Ye Yunfei had saved her.
The image of Ye Yunfei had remained in her heart all this time!
After arriving in the Central Continent, she had very much wanted to secretly go find Ye Yunfei, but Ye Yunfei's fame now was simply too great!
She didn't know if Ye Yunfei would still recognize her as a friend, so she had never dared to go.
"It's a pity that Ye Yunfei is already dead. Saying this is useless."
Wu Yuechan sighed.
Mentioning Ye Yunfei reminded Wu Yuechan of when she first met Ye Yunfei in the Heavenly Beast Forest, how she had looked down on him in her heart.
In the end, Ye Yunfei rose up all the way, becoming the number one expert on the Tianxuan Continent!
"Back then, my judgment was simply too poor. I failed to recognize the true dragon he was.
It's just a shame; the heavens envy true talent."
Wu Yuechan couldn't help but sigh softly.
"Yeah, Ye Yunfei saved the Tianxuan Continent. He was a great hero and brave man.
Yet he just died like that. It's so saddening…
He even saved me back then…"
Deng Xianxian let out a soft sigh, tears faintly glistening in her beautiful eyes as she wiped her eyelids.
Just at that moment.
Suddenly.
The corner of her eye caught a familiar figure.
"Ah!"
Deng Xianxian's gaze froze, staring fixedly in that direction, a slender hand covering her mouth as she cried out in shock.
As if she had seen a ghost!
"Xianxian, what's wrong?!
Jumping in fright like that…
Ah!
He…"
Wu Yuechan frowned, chiding her, even as her own gaze followed Deng Xianxian's. Then she also let out a cry of surprise, pointing a delicate, jade-like finger towards the distance, stunned.
There, in the distance, a young man strode forward, hands clasped behind his back, his gaze icy and sharp!
At that moment, many people turned around, as if struck by a body-freezing spell, staring fixedly at this young man.
"Ye Yunfei has returned!
He's still alive!"
Finally, someone shouted in astonishment.