A multitude of disciples quickly gathered in Ye Luo’s direction.

However, when everyone converged, they truly realized how devastating the losses were.

It could be said that no matter the faction, at least half of their people had perished!

Some factions fared even worse—nearly all the disciples who entered the Cloud Opening Holy Palace were slaughtered!

Ye Luo had no interest in addressing these losses. It wasn’t because Ye Luo was cold-hearted, but because he understood that the dead could never return to life. He simply lacked the power to do anything about it.

However, for those who were injured, Ye Luo still had the ability to provide assistance, so he continually treated the wounded.

The crowd gathered around Ye Luo, waiting an entire day amidst the field full of Demon Clan corpses. Yet, as time passed, it became increasingly apparent that no one else was coming. People gradually understood that those who hadn’t arrived yet likely never would.

Because they had probably perished.

At this moment, Ye Luo had changed into a fresh set of clothes, still an extremely ordinary outfit, avoiding the ornate attire that symbolized his identity as a prince.

After all, Ye Luo had known from the beginning he wasn’t truly a prince.

"Alright, everyone. Now that we’re here, let me make myself clear. From this point on, we will all move as one. Given the potential for Demon Clan stragglers to lay in wait, we can’t afford to let our guard down. But let me make this ugly rule upfront: if treasures are discovered, you may compete for them, but no killing is allowed in the process. Moreover, once someone successfully obtains an item, no one else is allowed to snatch it from them. If anyone violates this rule, don’t blame me, Ye Luo, for being merciless!"

"On this journey into the Cloud Opening Holy Palace, the Human Race has already lost too many lives. I don’t want to see any more deaths!"

Ye Luo’s voice resounded across the entire assembly of over two thousand people. Upon hearing Ye Luo’s words, no one dared to refuse. No one wished for more deaths, as Ye Luo had said—too many had already been lost!

"We obey His Highness’s command!"

The crowd responded with one collective voice, filled with deference.

No one doubted Ye Luo’s capabilities. The sea of corpses around them served as the most telling proof. If the elite forces of the Demon Clan couldn’t kill Ye Luo despite deploying so many to ambush him, then surely, it was futile for anyone else to try.

A Qi Cyclone Realm cultivator? No. If anyone still believed Ye Luo’s strength was limited to just the Qi Cyclone Realm at this point, they would be nothing less than fools!

Ye Luo’s power far exceeded what could be perceived by mere Divine Sense!

Seeing everyone’s unanimous response, Ye Luo nodded in satisfaction and addressed the crowd once more: "Next, since we have so many people here, we should head directly to the main hall of the Cloud Opening Holy Palace. Perhaps there, we’ll find treasures sufficient for all of us to share. I hope everyone gains something meaningful."

Naturally, no one objected to Ye Luo’s decision. And so, they set off once more, an immense column of over two thousand people.

But could the main hall of the Cloud Opening Holy Palace truly be free of danger?

The chances were slim!

As the mists surrounding the Cloud Opening Holy Palace dissipated, the cloud spirits once concealed within the mist would inevitably converge upon the main hall. The lack of significant threats encountered earlier might very well be because these dangers had moved elsewhere.

For this reason, the main hall was likely to be the most perilous location.

At the same time, it was also where the greatest treasures of the Cloud Opening Holy Palace were to be found.

As Ye Luo had surmised, only the treasures within the main hall would be sufficient to ensure everyone could walk away with something. Exploring other areas would mean too few treasures, guaranteeing new chaos and conflict.

Besides, with over two thousand individuals gathered together now, they had earned the right to challenge the main hall.

The main hall of the Cloud Opening Holy Palace was not difficult to identify—the tallest structure was unmistakably its location. Thus, without the slightest hesitation, the group surged forward.

Along the way, they did encounter certain dangers, but the advantage of numbers enabled them to easily neutralize these threats.

At last, they arrived at the entrance to the main hall of the Cloud Opening Holy Palace.

"Your Highness, watch out!"

Suddenly, a Human Race elite stepped in front of Ye Luo.

"What’s wrong?"

Ye Luo asked the individual, puzzled.

"Your Highness, please look; those two statues up ahead are unusual!"

Statues?

Ye Luo raised his head and looked ahead. Before them stood two enormous statues, each towering over ten meters high, both depicting warriors holding swords.

With the man’s warning, Ye Luo observed the statues closely. Sure enough, they were suspicious.

Though the statues exuded no signs of life, they radiated an overwhelming aura of strength.

"Your Highness, these might be warding puppets, and we must not underestimate them!"

Warding puppets?

Ye Luo recognized the term. Within certain special sites of the Great Tang Empire, warding puppets were created that combined formations, puppetcraft, and technological elements.

Each warding puppet possessed terrifying power. Without a special entry token, anyone attempting to pass would be attacked mercilessly.

Such warding puppets were exceedingly rare. Even in the Great Tang Empire’s Imperial Palace, warding puppets guarded only the royal gates, making them a rare sight elsewhere.

Unexpectedly, two warding puppets stood guard outside the main hall of the Cloud Opening Holy Palace.

"Your Highness, allow me to test the strength of these warding puppets first!"

Another Human Race elite stepped forward bravely. Given the warding puppets’ notorious power, only someone bold and courageous would dare to approach.

Ye Luo nodded. "Be careful. The rest of you, prepare to provide backup!"

At Ye Luo’s command, everyone readied their magical treasures, prepared to intervene at a moment’s notice.

The volunteer moved with extreme caution, maintaining full vigilance as he slowly approached the warding puppets.

Initially, nothing unusual happened. But as the man crossed an unseen threshold, one of the warding puppets abruptly opened its eyes. Without any additional motion, two deadly beams of energy were unleashed at lightning speed the moment its eyes snapped open.

"Fall back immediately!"

Ye Luo shouted urgently.

Of course, the man didn’t need Ye Luo to tell him—he was already retreating.

Yet the power of the two energy beams was overwhelming. In an instant, they closed the distance to their target.

The man immediately activated his protective aura and simultaneously deployed several defensive magical treasures.

Yet all of it was destroyed in the blink of an eye!

Thankfully, the group had been prepared; everyone acted at once to block the terrifying attack in time.

"Your Highness, there’s no way to get past! The warding puppets’ attacks are far beyond anything we can withstand!"

Someone reported to Ye Luo, but Ye Luo already understood the dire reality all too well.