Commander Zhang's eyes widened in disbelief.
He stared at the vines binding his body, his expression filled with shock and incredulity.
"What… is this?"
He instinctively exerted force, attempting to break free. However, the vines wrapped tightly around him, holding him firmly in place.
No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't move an inch!
"Argh!"
With a furious roar, Zhang summoned a powerful burst of energy, attempting to shatter the vines with brute force.
But to his astonishment, the vines remained completely intact, unyielding under his strength.
"Release him," Ye Fan commanded in a calm tone.
As soon as Ye Fan spoke, the vines instantly loosened and retreated.
Zhang fell to the ground with a heavy thud.
Bang—
Though the impact was hard, his recently strengthened physique, bolstered by cultivation, absorbed most of the fall. Aside from a stinging pain, he was unharmed.
"Ye… Ye Zonggu, what is this?" Zhang asked as he got up, staring at the vines beside Ye Fan. His face betrayed a mix of fear and disbelief.
"These are seeds I brought back from the otherworld," Ye Fan replied.
The vines remained suspended mid-air, moving eerily, as though imbued with a life of their own.
"Seeds? You planted these?" Zhang approached cautiously, his curiosity piqued.
"Yes," Ye Fan nodded slightly.
"Attack there."
At Ye Fan's command, the vines shot toward a large rock in the distance.
Boom—
The rock was struck with such force that it shattered into two halves.
Witnessing this, Zhang was dumbfounded.
The sheer power of these vines was far beyond his expectations!
"This… this is incredible," Zhang muttered, swallowing hard.
"These aggressive plants from the otherworld are extraordinarily powerful," Ye Fan explained. "When planted here, they can follow commands to attack any invading beasts or otherworldly beings, serving as a defensive measure."
"Brilliant!" Zhang's eyes lit up at the idea.
"Bring a group of soldiers here," Ye Fan said, his gaze shifting toward the spatial rift. "I'll guide you into the otherworld so you can familiarize yourselves with gathering medicinal herbs."
"Yes!" Zhang nodded emphatically.
He was well aware of Ye Fan's alchemical prowess and knew the required materials could be found in the otherworld.
Soon, thirty soldiers who had just begun cultivating gathered at the site.
"Let's go."
This was their second expedition. Previously, Ye Fan had already led a team into the otherworld from Tianyun City.
As before, the moment the soldiers stepped through the rift, they were overcome with a wave of discomfort.
"Take a moment to adjust," Ye Fan instructed, his tone steady. "Focus on your breathing."
The soldiers took several deep breaths, gradually alleviating the unbearable sensation.
"Why does it feel like this?" Zhang wiped the sweat from his forehead, his voice shaky.
"Gravity," Ye Fan replied succinctly.
Gravity?!
Zhang blinked, his mind racing. Yes, upon entering, he had indeed felt an oppressive force weighing down on him.
So that was it—it was the gravitational difference!
This was their first time entering the otherworld. Although they had undergone basic training, they needed time to adapt.
"Due to the stronger gravity here, even a simple fall could result in broken bones," Ye Fan warned calmly.
"Be cautious."
Zhang and his men nodded solemnly, proceeding with greater care.
"But the energy in the air here is incredibly dense," Zhang remarked as he began to relax. Taking a deep breath, he felt the abundant energy saturating the air and couldn't help but marvel at how refreshing it was.
"It's invigorating."
"Yes," Ye Fan agreed, his tone casual as he led the way. "If there's time, you can bring more soldiers here to cultivate. However, remember—training here comes with risks."
"Risks?" Zhang hesitated.
Before he could dwell on Ye Fan's words, the ground ahead suddenly swelled and erupted!
From the earth emerged a group of colossal beasts, their imposing figures sending shockwaves through the air.
"What are those?!" Zhang exclaimed, his eyes wide with fear. He instinctively gripped the long blade in his hands.
In that moment, he recalled why Ye Fan had instructed them to leave their guns behind.
The pressure and gravitational pull in the otherworld were completely different from their own world. Firearms, already unreliable, might not even fire properly here.
And most importantly—these beasts weren't afraid of bullets.
However, the blades they carried were said to be capable of slaying these creatures.
The beasts that emerged resembled enormous black rats, but their bodies were hairless, covered instead by an armor-like carapace.
Their claws gleamed wickedly, and their exposed teeth were sharp and menacing.
Ye Fan narrowed his eyes, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly. In one swift motion, he unleashed a slash!
Whoosh—
In an instant, a piercing sound cut through the air. A terrifying wave of sword energy surged forward, slashing toward the incoming beasts.
The monstrous creatures were cleaved apart, their blood and entrails splattering across the ground.
The soldiers stared, wide-eyed, their throats dry as they swallowed hard.
The sheer power of Ye Fan's swordsmanship left them speechless.
Though they had seen Ye Fan kill otherworldly beasts from a distance before, witnessing it up close was an entirely different experience.
"Let's go."
"These lower-tier beasts are still beyond your ability to handle," Ye Fan said casually, continuing forward.
As he walked, the dense energy in the air seemed to converge around him, flowing continuously into his body.
The War God Burning Heaven Technique he cultivated began to operate automatically, though the speed of improvement was much slower now.
To progress further, the fastest method would be to slay the Evil God.
But for now, the Evil God's whereabouts remained unknown.
Ye Fan pondered silently, considering whether the demonic giant bound to him through the master-servant contract might serve as a clue. However, for now, the creature was incapable of escape.
"There it is—this area is where the Huiyuan Grass grows," Ye Fan said, pointing ahead.
The soldiers followed his gaze, spotting a vast stretch of tall, slender grass swaying gently.
At that moment, a distant rumble echoed through the area.
"Hm?"
Ye Fan frowned.