Before their eyes, a dark vapor was released from the orifices of the horde before them. The Wave Wolves didn't even get to attack properly, when all the creatures in the field looked to the sky and ripped open their mouths so wide their jaw dislocated.
Then the Ye Family Residence was shaken by a hauntingly terrifying cry, as all the corpses began roaring in unison. It didn't only come from the northern gates, but also within the estate, where the severed tentacled had landed.
"Kill them! Quick! Slaughter them before they finish what they are doing! Whatever it is!" the commander of the Wave Wolves ordered his man, and they entered the crowd of undead like a scythe in a field of wheat.
However, every corpse they cut down only released even more of the same black fog before it collapsed. The dark mist joined the ubiquitous, growing darkness in the surroundings. The men accidentally breathing in the dark fog felt themselves lose inner energy and their very bodies growing weaker.
Something similar happened to the grass and earth below their feet. As they stood there and watched, unable to do anything to stop whatever was happening, the grass and earth lost their color, turning an ashen gray.
Where the heap of melded together bodies was still trying to rip down the outer walls, the darkness was the greatest. Even as a Peak Nascent Soul cultivator like Ye Man De felt severely weakened when trying to get closer to the beast.
"You fools! What do you think you are doing?! Stop these creatures immediately! Expel the darkness by releasing it from your whole body and strike the beasts with pure energy!" Elder Ye Sima suddenly appeared in the outer district. He was an old man at the peak of the Soul Severing Realm.
He gave clear instructions, but unfortunately, he came too late. By the time the Wave Wolves and Ye Man De acted upon his orders, most of the fog had already concentrated in the place where the north gate used to be.
Bright and clear energy blades were fired by the elder to sever the orb of darkness, but his actions did nothing to dispel the ritual. Then the ball started sinking. Formation lines and barriers flickered. Ancient preparations were activated to protect the ancestral estate. Powerful machinations attempted to stop the orb, but it simply phased through the defenses.
They all watched as it entered the earth without damaging the formations or being slowed by them. When the orb was completely submerged, it was as if all color and life were sucked out of the surrounding land.
Tree and grass withered away, the earth became gray dirt, and the water running in channels across the Ye estate took on a dark, murky tint. Even Ye Tian, in his palace a considerable distance away, felt the change in the atmosphere.
Suddenly, he felt as if his true essence was constantly siphoned away from him, making it harder to focus and control. In this state, he was unsure whether he could use even 80% of his true power if he were to fight.
This was a serious change, especially for the people still down there. When he realized that he was distracted by his own state, he quickly checked the status of the battlefield, only to realize that everything except for the warriors and Wave Wolf Squad had turned to ashes.
The threat was gone for now, but they had left a mark on their ancestral home. Was the mark their goal? Would they come back later? Would others come? The young master had only questions, but no answers.
Looking around his luxurious room, he pondered for just a moment, then he started packing his things. With a wave of his hand, anything of monetary or practical value was loaded in his storage ring. Once everything was packed, he stepped out of the room.
"Young Master, you- urgh!" "Ye Tian what- Agh!"
With two targeted jabs, he knocked out the guards that were supposed to keep an eye on him. The Ye Family was massive and great, yes, but nothing was holding him here.
He was just one of many young masters of an auxiliary family. He had stayed despite the political schemes because the resources were better than being a drifter. However, he had long since reached the Nascent Soul Realm in secret, even without the great secret medicine the main family was hoarding.
With this level, he would be welcome in most sects. Ye Tian had few reasons to stay and a couple to leave, but the most prominent was his gut feeling. The instincts of a cultivator were never just an unfounded hunch, especially not at his level.
...
"I didn't know you knew the ritual for
"I got it as a gift during our exchange with Arget Nore," Evee explained, her focus concentrated on the state of the estate below.
"Why would they simply gift that away? Isn't that one of their secret weapons or something?" her big brother asked, a little doubtful.
"Why not? It's not like it can harm their people. If anything, they will be happy to see others spread this "blessing"." she said and waved her hand to bring forth a set of liches. It seemed like it was now time to get a little more serious.
Just like the low-level necromancers leading the makeshift horde, these Liches helped her managing undead in greater numbers. It was a strategy she adapted from Natina during the Battle of Delta. These liches also happened to be her storage units/commanders for the soldiers and undead of said battle. Evee was able to raise or steal from Natina.
The undead of Spatia were high-level undead ranging from between lv.88 to lv.92. They had been a terrifying force when they were alive, and Evee had put some effort into training them further after death.
A couple of the undead players had even evolved into greater undead like Death Knights, Hell Knights, Doom Archers, and even a couple of Desecrated Priests. The latter being supporters that could not control the undead themselves, but had an even higher ability to strengthen and heal them than a necromancer.
On another note, Seth had been nice enough to not strip the undead pilfered from the battle off their equipment. That meant these roughly 8000 troops, a mix of undead she stole from Natina and raised from the dead soldiers, were wearing the epic armor sets of Spatia or almost equal equipment.
"Do you think these will be enough to lure out the boss?" Edward asked. In his opinion, this army was probably enough to outright crush the Ye Family. The most common high-level unit these clans and sects had was cultivators in the Golden Core Realm, which ranged between lv. 70-90.
Each of the undead assembled with their equipment was far above an ordinary cultivator in that realm. In addition, they would become even stronger on the Land of the Dead Evee had just established. If they wanted to, these were more than enough to slaughter anyone moving down there. But that wasn't the plan.
"Once we overrun the outer sector, they will have no choice but to reveal themselves," Eve said confidently. Although individuals at the Peak of the Nascent Soul Realm would be able to fight the undead, only those of realms above would have a significant impact in the upcoming battle.
The elders and family leaders would have to step up if they wanted to protect their ancestral home. These were their primary targets. They would kill anyone able to revive the Ye Family at any point in the future and leave the rest to tell the tale of their demise.