At this moment.
Beneath the Miao Capital, inside an underground hall.
Several dozen elders sat encircling an altar.
Seated cross-legged upon the altar was the Miao Clan's Crown Prince, Miao Yifan, who was refining and absorbing various treasures, including crystals, pills, herbs, and all kinds of heavenly materials.
Having absorbed an immense amount of energy over this period, his body radiated waves of spiritual power pressure, howling around him like a hurricane.
At the center of the altar was a small pool, its surface churning with crimson-red liquid.
A girl who looked about ten years old lay unconscious beside the pool — it was Xiao Fei.
"Elder Grand Elder, the auspicious moment has arrived!"
One of the elders suddenly spoke up.
"Indeed.
Everyone, begin!"
The Elder Grand Elder declared clearly.
The other elders all perked up, their spirits lifting.
"Everyone remember, the Vermilion Bird Divine Meridian is no trifling matter; it will not yield easily.
Therefore, our primary task is to suppress it together by force and fuse the Vermilion Bird Divine Meridian into Crown Prince Miao Yifan's body."
The Elder Grand Elder continued.
Having said this, he took out a white token, formed a seal with his hand, and pointed towards the more than one hundred white jade pillars erected around the altar.
Boom… Boom…
The over one hundred white jade pillars trembled simultaneously, unleashing waves of Formation pressure as grand arrays manifested, descending towards the altar.
"Crown Prince, enter the pool at once!
Within the pool are over a dozen types of Spiritual Milk. They will provide you with immense energy while you are fusing with the Vermilion Bird Divine Meridian!"
The Elder Grand Elder instructed Miao Yifan.
"Good!"
Miao Yifan's figure flickered as he leapt into the crimson-red liquid at the center of the pool.
The Elder Grand Elder flicked his sleeve. All the crystals, pills, herbs, and heavenly materials on the altar that had not yet been refined by Miao Yifan were sent plunging into the pool.
Immediately, the crimson-red liquid within the pool erupted into a furious boil, producing rumbling roars.
It was precisely at this moment.
The Elder Grand Elder's face suddenly shifted slightly. He took out a communication jade slip and sensed its contents.
"That Giant Arm has actually barged into the Miao Capital!
There's also a Bloody Figure who destroyed the main prison!
Just who in the heavens are they?"
Having received the message from the Miao Clan's upper echelons and now aware of the events outside, the Elder Grand Elder couldn't help but frown deeply.
"However, the most crucial matter at present is still transplanting the Vermilion Bird Divine Meridian into the Crown Prince's body. This is a matter of paramount importance for our Miao Clan's future development!"
After a moment's thought, the Elder Grand Elder put away the communication jade slip and paid no further mind to the events outside.
"Everyone, act together!"
The Elder Grand Elder gave a soft shout.
Boom… Boom…
Led by the Elder Grand Elder, all the elders surrounding the altar simultaneously extended their palms, pressing them against the altar's edge as they channeled waves of spiritual power into it.
Rumble…
The entire altar was fully activated, erupting with dazzling radiance.
Then, above the altar, an enormous energy hand actually appeared, slowly reaching towards Xiao Fei's body.
At this very moment.
Boom…
The Vermilion Bird Divine Meridian within Xiao Fei's body seemed to sense the threat and began to riot, unleashing deafening roars.
Alongside these, high-pitched shrieks rang out as a Vermilion Bird, its whole body bathed in a sea of flames, materialized within Xiao Fei's body. It shone brilliantly, its entire form seemingly carved from scarlet gemstone.
With the appearance of this Vermilion Bird.
Rumble…
A sea of fire suddenly erupted, surging forth from Xiao Fei's body and nearly igniting the entire altar.
"Beast! Cease your violent actions!"
The Elder Grand Elder roared.
Boom…
The massive energy hand above the altar, radiating terrifying energy pressure, reached out to seize the Vermilion Bird.
Simultaneously, the over one hundred white jade pillars surrounding the altar unleashed even more formidable Formation power, suppressing the Vermilion Bird.
At the same time.
Boom… Boom…
Below the altar, the ground suddenly cracked open as geysers of yellow energy shot skyward, resembling great rivers crashing towards the Vermilion Bird.
The Vermilion Bird's form sank as if mired in a quagmire, its movements becoming sluggish.
"Hahaha…
With this ley line present, it is sufficient to suppress the Vermilion Bird Divine Meridian!
After all, this Vermilion Bird Divine Meridian has not yet reached its full potential!"
Seeing this, the Elder Grand Elder laughed heartily.
The other elders also breathed a sigh of relief.
On the altar, the massive energy hand suddenly clutched the Vermilion Bird and then moved towards Miao Yifan, aiming to fuse this Vermilion Bird Divine Meridian into Miao Yifan's body.
At the same time.
Outside.
Inside the Miao Capital, the Miao Clan's upper echelons led their men in searching practically every corner of the capital, yet they failed to locate the Giant Arm and the Bloody Figure.
"Patriarch, we've searched everywhere. We haven't found them."
One by one, Miao Clan higher-ups returned to report to Miao Hanlin.
"How is the situation at the main prison?"
Miao Hanlin asked after a moment's thought, his expression grim.
"Half of the prison's exterior has collapsed. At least three hundred cells were damaged, and quite a few prisoners have escaped as a result.
Our men are hunting down those escaped prisoners.
Also, Patriarch, Miao Ziqiong has also disappeared. She has escaped from her cell."
A high elder stepped forward and reported.
"Oh?
She has also escaped from her cell?"
Miao Hanlin frowned slightly.
"Patriarch, rest assured. Miao Ziqiong's cultivation has been sealed; she couldn't even lift a feather. Furthermore, our Miao Capital's defenses are tight. With her current abilities, she absolutely cannot escape.
She is most likely hiding in some corner of the capital. After all, she knows the Miao Capital like the back of her hand.
We will capture her sooner or later."
The high elder said.
"Hmm."
Miao Hanlin nodded.
"Everyone, I just contacted the Elder Grand Elder. Everything is proceeding normally on his end.
It should not be long before Crown Prince Miao Yifan officially possesses the Vermilion Bird Divine Meridian.
Therefore, the celebration ceremony shall proceed as planned!
At the same time, increase patrols!"
After a moment's consideration, Miao Hanlin declared clearly.
"Patriarch, experts from various major powers across the Tian Luo Star Sea are continually arriving. With so many powerful experts gathered in our Miao Capital, I refuse to believe that Giant Arm and that Bloody Figure dare to cause trouble!"
One Miao Clan expert declared.
"Indeed. When those two appear, we can have the experts from all the major forces join forces to deal with them and exterminate them!"
Other Miao Clan higher-ups chimed in one after another.
"Good, everyone. The celebration ceremony will begin shortly. Come with me to receive our guests!"
Miao Hanlin proclaimed.
At the same time.
Following the ten bloody sigils, Ye Yunfei burrowed beneath the ground. Not long after, he entered an underground hall.
Whoosh… Whoosh…
The ten bloody sigils rushed towards an altar at the center of the hall, attaching themselves to an unconscious little girl.
Ye Yunfei's gaze immediately fixed on that little girl. A sense of kinship, born of shared bloodline, surged through his heart.
It gave rise to an irresistible, powerful urge within him — an urge to protect this little girl.
"Xiao Fei!"
Ye Yunfei knew that this little girl was undoubtedly his own blood sister, Xiao Fei.
Then, his gaze fell upon the Vermilion Bird Divine Meridian.
"They really are stripping away Xiao Fei's Vermilion Bird Divine Meridian!
To dare lay a hand on my sister's Divine Meridian... every single one deserves to die!"
At this moment, the murderous intent in Ye Yunfei's heart was boundless. The bloody mist on the surface of his body churned wildly, and from his eyes, two terrifying beams of bloody light shot forth.