Chapter 2932: Chapter 2932
Ye Liuyun and his first clone continued to devour divine soul energy, but only half of it was allocated to the second clone.
Both of them were already preparing for future battles. After all, if their own strength wasn’t sufficient, they had to rely on some special powers.
He was thinking long-term—if things continued this way, the ancient demons scattered across the remaining demon realms would only grow in number, making future battles increasingly difficult.
He checked in with his other forces, who were also engaged in battles of their own, each seizing their own opportunities and striving to improve. So he didn’t plan to summon them immediately. Instead, he intended to hold the line with the forces he had now, giving them ample opportunity to train and temper themselves.
By now, the demon beasts and women by his side had all undergone significant improvements. With the varying strengths of the ancient demons here, this was the perfect chance for them to hone their skills.
Thus, he summoned all the demon beasts, the women capable of fighting, and all the captives subdued by Tian Dao Ye to join the battle. As for the newly subdued ancient demons, he tasked the Tiger-Headed Demi-Beast King to train them, while Black Mountain continued his missions of capturing more enemies.
The Divine Order Banner had already absorbed several planets. Though the pace of subsequent battles slowed, under the protection of their formations, they suffered almost no casualties.
Some of the women, who hadn’t fought frequently before, began to grow complacent. Believing their enhanced strength made battles easy, they let their guard down.
The moment Ye Liuyun noticed this dangerous trend, he deliberately allowed a few ancient demons—two minor realms stronger than them—to slip past during battle, giving them a harsh lesson.
However, he controlled the situation carefully. Thanks to their tempered physiques, the women wouldn’t be instantly killed by opponents two realms higher, but they could still be injured—enough to teach them not to underestimate their enemies.
Sure enough, as soon as the opponents’ strength increased, the women were caught off guard. Wu Qingcheng, Su Miaoyin, and Qin Mengxi were the first to be struck down, followed by Liang Xue, Feng Hongxiu, Li Xinran, and other formidable fighters.
At first, Thunder Roar and the Dragon Maiden immediately wanted to rally the demon beasts to rescue them, but Ye Liuyun stopped them.
"Don’t save them. While the battle isn’t too intense yet, let them suffer a bit. It’ll teach them to protect themselves better in the future!" Hearing this, Thunder Roar and the Dragon Maiden reluctantly held back.
Only when the women were battered to the ground, too injured to fight back, did Ye Liuyun step in, gathering them into his spatial world to heal with the waters of life.
The women who hadn’t participated in the battle rushed over in a panic to tend to them, shocked that such heavy injuries had been inflicted. In the past, Ye Liuyun had always protected them fiercely—never had they been wounded so severely.
Moreover, so many of them had been injured at once. Not only were they worried about the women’s wounds, but they were also concerned about Ye Liuyun’s safety.
It wasn’t until their injuries had healed that Ye Liuyun returned with Lei Ming and the other beasts to rest and recover.
The moment Lei Ming came back, she immediately tattled on Ye Liuyun: "Miss Liang, Little Brother deliberately tricked you all! Should we gang up and give him a beating?"
Ye Liuyun rolled his eyes in exasperation at Lei Ming’s betrayal and sighed, "You little traitor!"
Liang Xue, however, just chuckled and patted Lei Ming’s head. "We already figured it out—of course, we’ll make him pay for it. But this also made us realize something: our own strength isn’t enough. We’ve been protected for so long that we’ve forgotten what real danger feels like."
She continued seriously, "From now on, we should rely on ourselves in battle and take every fight seriously. Otherwise, when real danger comes, we won’t even react in time, let alone protect ourselves!"
Ye Liuyun nodded in agreement. "Exactly. The ancient demons here are the perfect challenge for you to sharpen your skills. I’ll have to truly step back and let you face the danger yourselves. From now on, wear your armor inside and out, carry your treasures, and figure out your own ways to survive!"
Jin Yuanhui, feigning indignation, chimed in, "Hmph! Now that you’ve tricked us into your hands, you just abandon us!" Her exaggerated complaint made Liang Xue, Wu Qingcheng, and the others burst into laughter.
In truth, after discussing it while recovering, they had already guessed that Ye Liuyun had deliberately exposed them to danger.
After all, the battle outside hadn’t been particularly intense—they’d faced far worse before, yet Ye Liuyun had never let them suffer even a scratch. Over time, they’d developed a fixed mindset: if Ye Liuyun allowed them to fight, they could go all out without worry—nothing bad would happen.
But this time, their injuries had made them realize how lacking their combat awareness truly was. If real danger struck and Ye Liuyun couldn’t protect them, they wouldn’t even have the ability to save themselves.
Before Ye Liuyun and the others had returned, they had already agreed among themselves to take this opportunity—while the ancient demons here were still manageable—to truly experience danger firsthand.
Liang Xue shared their decision with Ye Liuyun, easing his mind considerably. He had been genuinely worried they might resent him for it.
With a gentle smile, Liang Xue pulled Ye Liuyun into the circle of women, assuring him they understood his intentions and that he shouldn’t worry. But then, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, she asked, "Still... since you let us all get beaten up, how are you going to make it up to us?"
And with that, she pinched him hard.
Ye Liuyun dared not resist either, forcing an apologetic smile. But soon the women swarmed around him again, several hands pinching him once more.
Ye Liuyun exaggeratedly gritted his teeth and howled in mock pain, begging the women to spare him. The group dissolved into laughter, leaving Li Xinran and Qin Mengxi watching with envy.
Their teasing didn’t last long before they released Ye Liuyun to resume his cultivation. With battles still raging outside, they couldn’t afford to linger. The women themselves quickly began replenishing their vital energy, preparing to rejoin the fight.
This time, however, each emerged clad in dual-layered armor, armed with numerous defensive and offensive treasures—their preparations meticulous.
Their recent injuries had sharpened their combat instincts, banishing any carelessness. They even paired up in teams of two, coordinating to challenge ancient demons two realms above their own.
Fighting opponents one realm higher had become routine, no longer testing their limits. Only by leaping two realms could they forge themselves under true pressure.
True to form, Ye Liuyun didn’t join them this time, focusing solely on restoring his mystic energy—a deliberate move to heighten their sense of responsibility.
Yet unbeknownst to them, his doppelgänger was already engaged in battle outside, ensuring they wouldn’t be left to perish. As they emerged, the clone’s golden pupils scanned each one, verifying their defenses before allowing them to proceed.
Throwing themselves wholly into the fight, the women shed reliance on external protection, channeling every ounce of focus into combat. Against such formidable foes, their growth accelerated rapidly.
