The Holy Lord of the Chaotic Holy Land and the Sect Master of the Primordial Demon Sect headed to the Central Continent, engaging in fierce battles with peak powerhouses at the Half-Immortal level.
Even the Lord of Death joined the fray, fighting alongside Li Daolin and Murong Shengtian.
Their battlefield was the Central Continent, a more intense and world-ending theater of war.
...
One month later.
Yellow Springs Demonic Sect.
A mountain peak where spiritual energy was exceptionally dense.
What was once a peak adorned with various spiritual plants was now filled with overwhelming vital energy and littered with ruins.
On the fringes of the mountain, numerous warriors from the Dark races and the Evil Spirit clan were wantonly slaughtering everything in sight, while cultivators from the Desolate Ancient Continent fought back against the myriad of enemies.
Fierce battles erupted all around.
At the summit of the mountain, before a grand hall, Tang Siqi and Tang Yuning stood guard.
On the edge of the mountain, a stunning woman with lively eyes and exquisite features held the exquisitely carved Xue'er, playing with her happily.
"Sister Ye, food, hungry!" Little Xue'er, seemingly accustomed to the surrounding vital energy, said in a milky voice to the beautiful woman.
The beautiful woman was Ye Ling, the disciple of the Lord of Death, Ye Qingxian.
Under the instructions of the Lord of Death, she was here to protect Jiang Li, who had yet to emerge from his seclusion.
"Eat, eat, eat whatever you want!" Ye Ling said with a gentle smile.
With that, she produced a pile of spirit herbs for Little Xue'er.
Due to the battles of the past two days, Ye Ling had often acquired numerous spirit herbs. Coupled with her being the disciple of the Lord of Death, even with Little Xue'er's voracious appetite, Ye Ling was not worried.
Little Xue'er then began to feast on various spirit herbs with great relish.
She had consumed so many spirit herbs during this time that Ye Ling felt the resources she had devoured could have nurtured an Emperor.
"What kind of monster is this little girl?" Ye Ling shook her head, muttering inwardly.
"Miss Ye, can you tell when Young Master Jiang Li will emerge from seclusion?" Tang Yuning approached Ye Ling and asked.
Jiang Li had been in seclusion for a year and a half, and his prolonged absence caused Tang Yuning great concern.
"I'm not sure, but don't worry. With me here, no one can interrupt Jiang Li's seclusion!" Ye Ling said slowly.
Hearing Ye Ling's words, Tang Yuning felt an inexplicable sense of security.
She had already witnessed Ye Ling's strength. Even the currently ascendant Xiao Yun was no match for Ye Ling, so protecting Jiang Li was certainly not an issue.
After Jiang Li entered seclusion, Xiao Yun had once again become famous throughout the Desolate Ancient Continent by leveraging the widespread chaos of the war.
The matter of Jiang Li defeating Xiao Yun was now rarely mentioned.
Currently, Xiao Yun was recognized by many as the number one among the younger generation, and even many peak quasi-emperor powerhouses of the older generation were no match for him.
Given that Ye Ling could defeat Xiao Yun, her strength was evident.
"I didn't expect to find two such spirited little girls here. Excellent, excellent. If I present you to the Palace Master, he will surely be very pleased!" Just then, a hoarse voice echoed in their ears.
Following the voice, a man appeared, clad in a faint emperor's might and possessing the power of reincarnation.
The man's gaze was fixed on Ye Ling and Little Xue'er, his eyes burning with desire.
"Are you from the Temple of Reincarnation?" Ye Ling asked, frowning as she sensed the man's aura.
"That's right. I am the Branch Master of the Temple of Reincarnation, Cheng Jianhui!" the man replied nonchalantly.
The Branch Master of the Temple of Reincarnation? Ye Ling's expression immediately turned grim.
She knew that the Temple of Reincarnation was powerful and had reaped many benefits from the recent widespread war, leading to the improvement of many individuals' strength.
These Branch Masters were at least at the ninth level of the Quasi-Emperor realm, peak powerhouses at the Saint Venerable level.
Some stronger Branch Masters had even reached the realm of the Profound Realm Great Emperor.
"My master is the Lord of Death. Are you sure you still intend to attack us?" Ye Ling asked, her eyes filled with coldness.
"Oh? The Lord of Death? If it were before, I might have been wary. But now? I'd like to see what consequences will follow if I capture her disciple!" Cheng Jianhui said calmly, his gaze devoid of fear.
Seeing that Cheng Jianhui was unmoved, Ye Ling knew that the situation could not be resolved peacefully.
Immediately, Ye Ling unleashed a terrifying divine ability and struck towards Cheng Jianhui.
"A mere ant at the Quasi-Emperor realm dares to challenge a Great Emperor?" Cheng Jianhui sneered, and his imposing emperor's might erupted.
Instantly, a violent shockwave sent the charging Ye Ling flying, her aura becoming listless.
"Profound Realm Great Emperor!" Ye Ling's face turned extremely grim as she sensed the man's aura. If he were a Saint Venerable, she might have been able to contend.
But a Great Emperor was simply beyond her ability to resist.
Tang Yuning and Tang Siqi nearby felt their hearts sink. A Great Emperor? How could they resist?
"Surrender obediently. I don't wish to harm a delicate flower!" Cheng Jianhui said calmly.
"Surrender? Are you worthy?" Ye Ling gritted her teeth and retorted.
With that, she was about to charge forward to fight again.
However, Cheng Jianhui merely released his aura, and Ye Ling was completely suppressed, unable to move.
"Don't you dare hurt Sister Ye!"
Just then, Little Xue'er from not far away shouted loudly and ran in front of Ye Ling, spreading her arms to shield her.
"Little Xue'er, quickly get away! This person is a bad guy, I'm not afraid of him!" A warmth Ye Ling had never felt before surged within her as she said tenderly.
Seeing this, Tang Siqi and Tang Yuning wanted to rush to save them, but the terrifying aura completely immobilized them.
"Good child, little one. Come with me, and I'll spare your Sister Ye!" Cheng Jianhui paused, seeing Little Xue'er, then revealed a sinister smile.
Ye Ling's heart was filled with panic. She wanted to use her power to drive Little Xue'er away, but no matter how she urged her strength, Little Xue'er remained steadfastly in front of her.
"No, I have to protect Brother Jiang Li and Sister Ye. I won't go with you!" Little Xue'er said in a milky voice.
"Then there's no other way. I can only let your Sister Ye taste some hardship first!" Cheng Jianhui said indifferently, seeming to relish the sight of Little Xue'er's despair.
With that, Cheng Jianhui continued to unleash his emperor's might towards Ye Ling.
A sense of despair washed over Ye Ling. She hadn't expected her journey to end here.
"I told you to stop. Don't you understand human speech?" Just then, a majestic and cold voice rang out.
...