"Indeed, who has ever seen such a quest? While previous secret realms had dangers, they were all standard treasure hunts and trials.
But this time, they're using the heads of cultivators in the Great Ascension stage as stakes.
How many Great Ascension cultivators does our Lei Feng Realm even have? The Lei Feng Realm has been peaceful for years; it's been ages since a Great Ascension expert died. Now, six of them are dead, and who knows how many more will follow.
It's wicked and goes against heaven! If foreign tribes were to invade, these losses would cripple our Lei Feng Realm's strength."
Elder Chen Yijun, kind-hearted and caring for the world, wore a compassionate expression at the thought of these matters.
Wan Lei respected her, but he dared not voice his disagreement with her viewpoint.
Wan Lei chuckled softly,
"Elder Chen, I believe everyone who enters the secret realm has already accepted the possibility of death. Where else can one gain benefits without facing danger?
Moreover, we only wish to return alive; we have no intention of harming others. It was they who were aggressive, seeking to kill me. Out of self-preservation, I could only kill them.
My only desire is to escort the people from Kui Lian Sect, Yin Yang Sect, and the Fang family who entered this time back safely.
Right now, those six Great Ascension experts have joined forces, clearly intending to annihilate us all. We cannot simply wait for death.
If they want to live, they must come to kill us. If we don't want to die, then they must die.
Elder Chen, please don't carry too heavy a psychological burden."
"I understand. You're afraid I might be too soft-hearted when it comes time to act, aren't you? Rest assured, that won't happen. If someone's sword is already at my old bones' neck, am I supposed to reason with them?
I am not one for pedantry, nor do I wish to die.
This matter is not your fault, nor mine. It's solely the fault of the rules set by that immortal.
That immortal truly doesn't value the lives of our Lei Feng Realm."
"Fortunately, when I came this time, I brought two warships. They belong to the Kui Lian Sect, and they'll be useful now.
My luck has been good too; I encountered a large tribe right after arriving.
Along the way, I've also gathered quite a few disciples from the Kui Lian Sect and Yin Yang Sect. Our strength is not weak now.
When the time comes, if those families dare to block us, this old woman will fight to the death."
After chatting for a while, Chen Yijun proposed to check on the arrangements for the Kui Lian Sect's affiliated tribe. Wan Lei and Fang Xiaoyu escorted her out.
From a distance, they could see a tall banner fluttering in the wind, bearing the two characters "Kui Lian."
Before this, only the banner of the Deng Yan Tribe was present.
All other tribes were reorganized, losing their original tribal titles and joining the Deng Yan Tribe.
However, Chen Yijun was a Great Ascension expert herself, and her tribe was not weak. Wan Lei did not directly annex them.
"Sacred Divine Beast Spirit, bless with fortune and well-being, turn misfortune into blessing, and adversity into prosperity!"
"Sacred Divine Beast Spirit, bless with fortune and well-being, turn misfortune into blessing, and adversity into prosperity!"
Before they had walked much further, deafening cheers erupted from a distance. Chen Yijun flew up and saw tens of thousands of people gathered, all kneeling and bowing in one direction.
She even saw many people from the tribes she had brought. Before their tents were even set up, they had rushed over, kneeling outside those already present, shouting the slogans together.
"Wan Lei, what is this..."
"Ah, Elder Chen, you may not know, but that is our Sacred Divine Beast. Everyone is paying homage to the Sacred Divine Beast."
"You have a Sacred Divine Beast?"
Chen Yijun immediately flew towards that direction. Soon, she saw a small yellow dog emanating lightning all over its body, sitting on a small hillside, occasionally muttering something.
From time to time, the little yellow dog would unleash a green bolt of lightning, striking an injured person. After a cry of pain, the person's injuries would immediately heal.
Those who witnessed this scene became even more devoted to the Sacred Divine Beast, refusing to rise from their knees.
In reality, this was a small trick by Wan Lei. He lent the dog wood-based lightning to bewitch the populace.
Chen Yijun released her divine sense to investigate but found no trace of flesh and blood within the small yellow dog. Instead, it was filled with chaotic lightning.
Yet, this entity could transform into a seemingly real, thinking dog. Could it truly be a Sacred Divine Beast?
"Alas, our Sacred Beast, come back quickly."
"Where did you run off to? Come back quickly."
"Oh dear, forget the Sacred Beast, hurry and worship the Sacred Divine Beast; perhaps your injuries will heal."
Within the Kui Lian Sect tribe, humans and Sacred Beasts were divided into two directions. All humans ran towards the Sacred Divine Beast, while all Sacred Beasts ran towards the Myriad Monster Array.
This was Wan Lei's tactic: to control people's hearts with the Sacred Divine Beast, making them believe in him, and to brainwash the beasts with the Myriad Monster Array. In this way, both humans and beasts were firmly within his grasp.
Seeing this, Chen Yijun sighed. In less than half a day after her arrival, both her tribe and her Sacred Beasts had been taken by Wan Lei.
Furthermore, it was done in a way that left her no room for rebuttal.
Time passed quickly, and more and more disciples from the three families arrived and joined Wan Lei's banner.
Finally, two months later, Fang Jufeng arrived with his contingent.
He was not far away, so he was the last to arrive because they had all walked here.
Once they could pinpoint Wan Lei's location, Wan Lei had immediately dispatched warships to pick up all of them.
Having been in the Land of Fate for nearly a year, he no longer wished to wait.
After settling Fang Jufeng's tribe, everyone gathered in the main tent for a meeting.
"Now that everyone is more or less assembled, Qian Duoduo, what is the status of the Yin Yang Sect personnel you've counted?"
Wan Lei looked at Qian Duoduo.
"All those who could be contacted have arrived. As for the others... alas."
Presumably, they were dead.
"Elder Chen, what about the Kui Lian Sect side?"
"They have all arrived."
"Elder Fang..."
"Call me Uncle."
Wan Lei's mouth twitched.
"Uncle, what is the status of the Fang family personnel?"
"They have all arrived. I brought twenty thousand people and thirty thousand Sacred Beasts."
Fang Jufeng was somewhat arrogant, likely believing that with his strength and tribe, he would be the main force this time.
"Good, I won't mince words. This battle will determine our survival; we must have a united front.
I will be the leader this time. Everyone will follow my orders, and during combat, all must cooperate..."
"Wait a minute, why should you be the boss? I'm your uncle."
Fang Jufeng puffed out his chest, quite full of himself.
"And you think you should be the boss?"
"Otherwise?"
"On what grounds?"
"On the grounds that I am a mid-stage Great Ascension cultivator!"
"Six Great Ascension experts have already died by my hand."
Wan Lei's tone became somewhat chilling, the threat implicit.
Fang Jufeng's expression changed. He suppressed the urge to fight Wan Lei to the death.
Indeed, if he were to truly fight Wan Lei now, he might not necessarily win.