As Zhong Fan's words fell, flames suddenly swept across his entire body. Whatever technique he cultivated, it was extraordinarily fierce and violent.
With a raise of his hand, a massive broadsword materialized in his grip. At first glance, it bore some resemblance to the Million Sword Yang Kai had once wielded — both belonged to the category of heavy blades with no edge, where raw power rendered fine technique unnecessary.
Yet this sword was clearly of a far higher grade.
With that single sword drawn, Zhong Fan's entire aura shifted dramatically. The flames coiled around the blade like living serpents, and the temperature across the hilltop surged.
Hu Yi and the others brightened with excitement, secretly elated. They had been cowed and terrified by Yang Kai's imposing aura moments before, but now seeing Zhong Fan take action, anticipation filled their hearts.
But just then, a synchronized battle cry suddenly rang out from the distance.
"Empire! Empire! Boundless might!"
With that uniform chanting, an overwhelming wave of light surged from the distance, shouting as they flew, as though terrified that anyone might fail to notice their arrival.
Everyone turned to look with bewildered expressions, and the knife-edge tension of the standoff abruptly stalled.
But once they made out the sheer number of arrivals, many faces changed. Even the three leaders of Sword Pavilion couldn't help but stiffen.
It was simple — far too many had come. The sky was thick with them, densely packed. At a rough glance, there were at least seven or eight hundred, possibly even a thousand.
The hilltop held barely a thousand in total, and this new wave nearly matched that number.
At their head strode a young man with an arrogant expression, a massive ghost-head saber resting on his shoulder, nostrils flaring upward. Before he even arrived, his voice carried across: "Empire business in progress! Outsiders, stand aside!"
Yang Kai narrowed his eyes slightly, an odd look crossing his face.
This fellow Ding Yi was like a lingering ghost — impossible to shake off, appearing wherever Yang Kai went. It was clear life had been treating him well lately; he had gathered quite a following again, and his confidence had once more ballooned.
Ding Yi's words were grandiose, naturally irksome. Many wore displeased expressions, and Zhong Fan let out a cold snort.
In the blink of an eye, the Empire's thousand-strong force had flown close. Ding Yi halted, and the crowd behind him stopped in lockstep, arranged neatly into several formations. They appeared well-drilled at first glance, and the thousand at his back made Ding Yi stand out like a crane among chickens — imposing and extraordinary.
Yet among this crowd, not a single Open Heaven realm cultivator was present. After all, the Empire was founded on the principle that the Emperor realm was supreme, so it naturally wouldn't recruit Open Heaven realm powerhouses.
Ding Yi pulled his saber free, slammed its tip into the empty air before him, and looked down with a swagger: "I hear there are Open Heaven realm bullies picking on Emperor realm cultivators here?"
Out in the real world, with an Open Heaven cultivator standing before him, he wouldn't dare spout such bold words — he'd probably be bowing and scraping. It was only in the unique environment of the Grand Void realm that he could speak so brazenly.
He relished being the center of attention, addicted to the illusion of commanding everything around him.
"Brothers! What do we say?" Ding Yi raised his saber and bellowed.
"Empire! Empire! Boundless might!" the Empire's forces roared in unison.
Ding Yi flashed a wide grin: "That's right! Which friend down there is being bullied? Don't worry — now that Ding Yi is here, I'll keep you safe!"
Over on the other side, Zhong Fan turned his head: "Who is this fellow?"
The court-robed woman Lu Xue stepped forward and whispered a few words to Zhong Fan. He nodded slightly, learning that the Empire had been making quite a name for itself lately — roaming under the banner of "Emperor realm supreme" and attracting many to its ranks. At its peak, he'd heard, the group boasted five thousand strong. He couldn't guess why only a thousand had come this time.
While Zhong Fan was speaking, Ding Yi spotted Yang Kai.
His eyes widened involuntarily: "It's you!"
"Fate brings old acquaintances together — we meet again." Yang Kai flashed him a grin.
Ding Yi's expression grew complicated, a flicker of hesitation and struggle crossing his face.
After fighting his way free from the beast tide's assault, Ding Yi had led his people into a valley, where he happened upon Yang Kai and his group resting. Their encounter had been unpleasant — Ding Yi had nearly been cut down on the spot. He'd barely survived, and afterward issued a standing order that none of his people were to clash with Yang Kai upon future encounters.
Yet here he was again, face to face with this fellow!
Recalling those scorching bare hands of Yang Kai's, and the grisly fate of those he had killed, even after several months, Ding Yi couldn't help but feel a shiver.
Still, having brought a thousand men today, it wasn't as though he lacked the opportunity to settle that old grudge.
After a brief moment of deliberation, Ding Yi seemed to steel himself and said through gritted teeth: "Since Open Heaven realm cultivators are present today, I won't hold our past grievances against you. Come here quickly — I've said I'd keep you safe, and I won't let a hair on your head be harmed. While Ding Yi stands here, no Open Heaven realm cultivator will bully an Emperor realm cultivator!"
No one knew what he had been through in the past to harbor such hostility toward the Open Heaven realm — he was willing to let go of his own grudge with Yang Kai and even offer him protection instead.
Yang Kai's eyes flickered upon hearing this. Finding the fellow almost endearingly foolish, he smiled faintly: "No need. I'll just stand right here and see who among them dares touch me."
Ding Yi was taken aback, then promptly gave a thumbs up: "Now that takes guts! Ding Yi admires courageous men like you most. You've got yourself a friend for life."
He swung his saber forward, glaring at Zhong Fan and the other Open Heaven realm cultivators: "All of you, scram — or face annihilation!"