The departure of the First Army to the Ninth Quadrant of the Universe quickly stirred widespread discussion among the Human Race.
As nearly thirty percent of the First Army's soldiers had dark or light skin, the news spread rapidly throughout the entire Human Race.
"Departing for the Ninth Quadrant of the Universe? The Empire's current pace of conquest is too swift. Is His Majesty not being overly adventurous with this move?" Everyone believed the First Army was the legion Ye Yun kept to defend the Empire.
"Within the Empire, if the five major armies of the alien races are His Majesty's sharp right sword, then the Human Race's First Army is His Majesty's left shield. Now His Majesty is turning the shield into a sword as well, which is somewhat puzzling!"
"It seems His Majesty is planning something big. Many people thought His Majesty needed the First Army to guard the borders. Now, His Majesty's actions will undoubtedly cause some ambitious individuals to take extreme measures. But have they ever considered that these soldiers were cultivated by His Majesty? His Majesty alone is enough to suppress the entire Empire!"
"Hmph, with such intelligence, they think they can become Great Emperors? With all six major armies dispatched, what will they use to suppress us? Without those legions in the Empire, why should I pay such heavy taxes?"
...
Across the vast territories of the Empire, numerous powerful figures who had received fiefdoms read the information in their hands. Some felt a tremor of ambition, while others remained clear-headed. It could be said that with the First Army's expedition, the major powers within the Empire's domains became increasingly restless.
This was especially true for the ancient clans that once controlled entire star systems. Orders were issued by their elders, and countless streams of information flowed in secret.
Ye Yun remained unfazed by the undercurrents within the Empire. In his view, while the Empire might be sustained by countless powerful soldiers, this was not the case for him. Regardless of how the great clans behaved, if they dared to overstep their bounds, annihilation would be the least of their concerns, as Ye Yun did not mind having slaves within his Empire!
Three days later, one hundred million soldiers of the First Army flew out from the Nine Dragon Yang Void Palace, heading directly for the Ninth Quadrant of the Universe. Ye Yun also took the opportunity to re-isolate the star system he had destroyed when he advanced in his cultivation, separating it once more from the turbulent void. However, he was powerless to restore the planets that had turned to dust, as the entire star system had been shattered by spatial turbulence, and even the dust had been swept away.
Following this, Ye Yun's divine sense, aided by the laws of space, aggressively permeated the entire Ninth Quadrant of the Universe. As long as it was within his domain, Ye Yun viewed it as if from the perspective of a god, overlooking his dominion and his countless subjects.
Suddenly, Ye Yun, whose mind had wandered, detected a dark and deep canyon. Within this canyon, he sensed a familiar aura.
*Little girl?*
As Ye Yun's divine sense surged in, he quickly located Xiao Tong. An eruption of rage surged through Ye Yun, engulfing the entire Imperial Palace. The ninth-story imperial chambers where Ye Yun resided were covered in a purple flame. Then, Ye Yun's figure vanished from the Tenth Quadrant of the Universe.
"What happened? That burst of anger just now felt like His Majesty's!" Those familiar with him could instantly recognize the fleeting rage.
"Damn, the boss is truly the boss. A single bout of anger can make the skies from the second to the sixth heavens resemble a majestic sunset over Kyushu. I just don't know why he's so furious," Wang Chen said leisurely from a lounge chair in the medicine garden, gazing at the sunset in the distance and sighing with admiration.
...
In the Ninth Quadrant of the Universe, within the Heng Lian Star Domain, a purple light suddenly appeared in the void. This purple light, carrying a terrifying heat, illuminated over one hundred and seventy planets within the star domain.
"This is the territory of my Ten Directions Empire! Who dares to act so presumptuously here!"
As soon as Ye Yun appeared, over a hundred divine senses swept towards him. However, upon touching the area around Ye Yun, they instantly retracted. Then, over one hundred and seventy figures appeared before Ye Yun from their respective planets.
"Your humble servant, the steward of the Heng Lian Star Domain, greets Your Majesty!" Over one hundred and seventy newly appointed stewards rushed forward and immediately knelt upon seeing Ye Yun. They were all talented individuals selected from various star domains, mostly at the Main God Realm. After six months of training at the Heavenly Dao Academy, they were appointed to the position of steward.
"Rise. Number 3587, who is responsible for the He Na Star?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, I am..." A steward in a black robe stepped forward.
However, before he could finish speaking, he felt his pupils contract. Then, he found himself above a canyon.
"What place is this?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, this is the dwelling place of the You Ming clan. In ancient times, the You Ming tribe was few in number. As an outsider race, they were oppressed by other races in this star domain. To avoid trouble, they simply hid within this dark canyon, and it gradually came to be known as the You Ming Valley."
*You Ming clan?*
Hearing this race, Ye Yun couldn't help but be surprised. He had seen relevant information about this race in the Imperial Clan Compendium at the Heavenly Dao Academy. This race was not few in number and had once suppressed the entire Ten Directions Universe.
Five million years ago, the You Ming clan produced a peerless prodigy who was born at the Great Sage realm! Within twenty years, he achieved the Main God realm, and within a hundred years, he broke through to the Monarch realm. Ten thousand years later, he comprehended the first law, 'Yellow Springs,' after breaking through the extreme realm. Over the next million years, he comprehended five laws and achieved the Quasi-Emperor realm! He then contended with the prodigies of the Emperor's Path at that time and emerged victorious! He was known as the Nine Nether Great Emperor in the Ten Directions and Nine Lands!
Alas, victory on the Emperor's Path did not guarantee becoming a Great Emperor. The Nine Nether ultimately fell to the greatest obstacle on the Emperor's Path: heavenly tribulation!
Who would have thought such a heaven-defying individual would end up in such a state? Eventually, the entire You Ming clan was implicated and, under the siege of countless enemies, migrated from the First Quadrant of the Universe to the Ninth Quadrant.
"To the highest heavens and the deepest Yellow Springs, I never expected that fellow Nine Nether would leave behind a law realm condensed from the Yellow Springs for his clan even before his death."
Ye Yun extended his index finger and pointed towards the dimly lit canyon below. Instantly, the entire canyon erupted with a terrifying tremor. This canyon was, after all, merely an entrance to a secret realm. For those who had not comprehended the law of space, this entrance could only be opened by the owner of the secret realm; otherwise, outsiders could not find it.
However, for Ye Yun, whose comprehension of the law of space was perfect, and whose divine sense had already surpassed the fourth realm, this secret realm was not just an entrance; everything within it was completely exposed before his eyes.
Within the You Ming Secret Realm at this moment, amidst an endless expanse of pale colors, in the central plaza of a deep brown palace complex, a colossal bronze coffin floated. The ground beneath the coffin was covered with black runes, upon which yellow liquid flowed, resembling corpse fluid, filled with infinite filth.
And a thousand meters above the coffin, a young girl with her eyes closed hovered in the air. Endless deep yellow spiritual energy permeated her skin, bit by bit.
Boom...
The sky trembled, and the endless pale yellow clouds were instantly scattered. The deep yellow spiritual energy that had been flowing into the girl's body was like hitting a solid wall, unable to penetrate further.
"What is happening? Who is disturbing the sacred ceremony of my You Ming clan!" Within the secret realm, tens of millions of You Ming people looked up at the sky covered in pale yellow clouds.