Fang Xiaoyu offered to go with Wan Lei, but Wan Lei forcefully pressed her down.
The reason given was that someone had to hold the fort in the alliance. If he went, Fang Xiaoyu would have to stay.
Moreover, the mission was too dangerous. If anything were to happen to him, Fang Xiaoyu would have to take over his mantle and continue to maintain the alliance.
After making arrangements, Wan Lei and Wan Liuchuan left the main hall and first went to the north to meet the Wan family members.
Wan Liuchuan also met his father.
Wan Honggong was someone with no cultivation talent. Ten years ago, he was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and he still was.
When Second Master rebelled, he participated in the fight and was imprisoned after the rebellion was quelled.
The last time Wan Lei returned home, he released all the imprisoned Wan family members and allowed them to atone for their crimes.
With his combat strength, he was sure to stay behind in their hometown, as the Wan family had brought only young elites this time.
However, he insisted on coming to the Central Domain.
Firstly, as he said, his old bones had no hope of further breakthroughs. Living was a waste of food. It was better to participate in the anti-demon war and contribute in some way.
Secondly, he had not seen his son for ten years, and Wan Liuchuan was unwilling to return to the Wan family. He had no choice but to come to the Central Domain himself to see his son.
After arriving in the Central Domain, he tried to contact Wan Liuchuan and meet him, but Wan Liuchuan always made excuses, saying he was busy and did not come to the Lei Di Hall.
Wan Honggong also understood what Wan Liuchuan was thinking: he felt his father was too embarrassing.
Not because of his low cultivation and poor talent, but because he felt ashamed that his father had joined Second Master's rebellion.
In Wan Liuchuan's opinion, that battle was purely internal strife for the Wan family, and it was completely unnecessary. It was all his paternal grandfather's fault.
Today, Wan Honggong finally met Wan Liuchuan and was so moved that tears streamed down his face.
However, Wan Liuchuan did not see him first. Instead, he knelt before Wan Yangfan and confessed his sins.
He was confessing the crime of Second Master's rebellion back then.
"Get up quickly, good boy. So many years have passed. This matter is not your responsibility. Now our Wan family is stronger than before. When you have time, come back and visit our hometown. It will always be your home."
Wan Yangfan helped Wan Liuchuan up, his eyes filled with gratification.
Wan Liuchuan explained his purpose, stating that he wanted to go with Wan Lei to persuade the Heavenly Tribulation Ferrymen to join the alliance, and that he wanted to rescue Liu Yuxin from the Liu family.
Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked and cried out that it was dangerous, urging them to reconsider.
Wan Liuchuan looked at his anxious father and smiled.
"Dad, just wait with peace of mind. When I bring back your daughter-in-law, she and I will serve you tea together."
"Then… you must be very careful."
"Don't worry, there are many people from our Heavenly Tribulation Ferrymen in the Liu family. With their support, we can ensure it's foolproof."
Although he said it was foolproof, Wan Liuchuan knew that this trip to the dragon's den was a matter of life and death, and the hope of returning alive was slim.
Watching Wan Lei and Wan Liuchuan leave, Wan Yangfan swallowed and patted Wan Honggong's shoulder.
"Alright, stop crying like a sissy. It's not manly. Now that the children have grown up, and they two brothers have shouldered their responsibilities, we should be gratified."
Leaving the Lei Di Hall, Wan Liuchuan and Wan Lei flew west.
Currently, the pattern of the Central Domain was that the Fang family in the north, the Kui Lian Sect in the northeast, the Yin Yang Sect in the east, and the Lei Di Hall in the center formed one faction.
The Huo family in the southeast, the Liu family in the south, and the Kai Tian Sword Sect in the southwest formed another faction.
The remaining western and northwestern regions were occupied by the neutral Wu, Zhou, and Dun families.
The mysterious headquarters of the Heavenly Tribulation Ferrymen was located at the border of the Wu and Zhou families in the west.
After taking the teleportation array to the Zhou family's territory, Wan Lei did not make a big show of appearing. The two traveled at extreme speed, and no one could see the arrival of the leader of the Thunder Emperor Alliance.
Flying further west, the plains became fewer and the mountains became more numerous. As they almost flew out of the Central Domain and into the Western Region, the mountains became more treacherous, and the population sparse.
Finally, Wan Liuchuan stopped in a wide, particularly barren mountain valley.
The valley before them was flat, with towering peaks on both sides. It looked nothing special.
"There's an array."
As the most outstanding array master in the Lei Feng Realm, Wan Lei was extremely sensitive to arrays. He immediately activated his array vision, and the empty valley before him revealed a vast and formidable array.
Wan Lei recognized the array at a glance; it was a combination of illusion, attack, and defense. It seemed to be of the level of an elder from the Heavenly Array Pavilion.
Unfortunately, any array was like nothing in Wan Lei's eyes.
Wan Lei suppressed the urge to take direct control of the array, as he was a guest and it would be disrespectful to the host.
"Are you sure you want to go in?"
At this point, Wan Liuchuan hesitated.
"The helmsman has replied, saying he has prepared a banquet for your arrival. But I can't see through this helmsman. I don't know if what he said is true."
"Anyone who can lead a nest of rats to burrow in this desolate wilderness is, at best, a slightly larger rat. What is there to fear?
The longer you delay at the entrance, the more I will lose face."
Wan Lei now spoke with the demeanor of someone in authority, no longer the carefree and unfettered person he used to be.
"Alright."
Wan Liuchuan nodded, took out an identity token from his embrace, took a deep breath, and pressed it onto the array.
A spatial fluctuation rippled through, and Wan Liuchuan stepped in first, with Wan Lei following closely behind, entering the array.
This valley was very flat. In the center of the array, there were many large courtyards. In front of the architectural complex, which resembled a city, was a large, flat open space.
Tens of thousands of people were gathered in the open space, holding weapons and staring menacingly at Wan Lei.
Seeing this, Wan Lei almost burst out laughing. He had already reached their headquarters, yet the helmsman of the Heavenly Tribulation Ferrymen did not appear personally. Instead, he sent so many subordinates to point knives at him, trying to intimidate him?
However, the aura of these people was clearly not strong.
Their eyes on Wan Lei were full of vigilance and a lot of fear. Their grip on their weapons was tight, clearly indicating extreme nervousness.
Seeing their fearful appearance, Wan Lei really wanted to shout, "You are all surrounded by me alone, quickly drop your weapons and surrender!"
However, Wan Lei did not say that. Joking was not appropriate in this situation; he had to maintain his aura.
Thus, the Alliance Leader Wan frowned, his expression showing displeasure, and he said sternly,
"Heavenly Tribulation Ferrymen helmsman, you rat who hides his head and shows his tail! I have come in person, why do you not come to greet me!"