After the battle concluded, Ye Yunfei returned to the Phantom Tower and continued refining and absorbing his Space Crystals and Time Crystals.
Half a day later.
"Ahead lies the Vermilion Bird Realm," the Half-Emperor carrying the Phantom Tower suddenly stopped and sent a mental message to Ye Yunfei.
Whoosh!
Ye Yunfei emerged from the Phantom Tower and looked ahead.
Sure enough, he saw an enormous world. Of course, what Ye Yunfei saw was that world's spatial barrier. Within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, most worlds were enveloped by a spatial barrier, with vast, boundless space inside.
Ahead, the spatial barrier was blazing with fierce, roaring flames.
"It truly lives up to its name as the Vermilion Bird Realm. They say the divine beast Vermilion Bird favors such environments most," Hun Lao said to Ye Yunfei. "The Miao Clan of the Vermilion Bird Realm claims to be descendants of the divine Vermilion Bird, and their cultivation techniques and martial skills are largely fire-based. In an atmospheric environment like this, they are right in their element."
"Indeed, the very fabric of the Vermilion Bird Realm's environment is saturated with rich fire-attribute energy and laws," Ye Yunfei replied.
"Kid, if you want to rescue people first, you'd best find a way to infiltrate it, then act according to circumstances. Don't expose your whereabouts too early and startle the snake," Hun Lao advised Ye Yunfei.
"Yes, I need to think of a way to sneak in," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"The spatial barrier of this Vermilion Bird Realm is quite unique, perpetually blazing with red flames. And the Vermilion Bird race is extremely sensitive to fire energy and laws," Hun Lao continued. "So, we'd better not force our way into the Vermilion Bird Realm by breaking through the spatial barrier. That method could attract the attention of the realm's powerhouses at any moment. In fact, I suspect those flames burning on the spatial barrier have been imbued with special restrictions to prevent outsiders from breaching it!"
Hun Lao possessed astounding perception for time and space. He vaguely sensed what seemed like the aura of restrictions upon the Vermilion Bird Realm's barrier, hence his warning.
"No matter. With Brother Situ here, everything will be easy," Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
When Ye Yunfei returned to the Hongmeng Continent this time, he had brought Situ Kong'er along precisely because he valued Situ Kong'er's Seventy-Two Transformations divine ability.
With a thought, Ye Yunfei teleported Situ Kong'er out from the Phantom Tower.
"This is the Vermilion Bird Realm? By legend, this is an extremely terrifying high-level world! Brother Ye, you've actually come to the Vermilion Bird Realm!" Situ Kong'er stood beside Ye Yunfei, looking at the blazing spatial barrier of the realm before them. He couldn't help but feel deeply shocked.
"Brother Situ, we need to infiltrate the Vermilion Bird Realm. I'm counting on you," Ye Yunfei said.
"Alright, no problem! It's not our first time cooperating; we've got plenty of experience," Situ Kong'er replied with a smile.
Not long after, Ye Yunfei found the entrance-exit portal of the Vermilion Bird Realm. It was a tall spatial gate emanating a dense aura of time and space.
Not only were over a dozen sophisticated formations arranged around this gate, but a large contingent of guards was stationed there as well.
Following this, Ye Yunfei hid near the Vermilion Bird Realm's access portal, employing the Hidden Shadow Secret Art to restrain his aura, lying in wait motionlessly.
At his current realm and level of space energy, the Hidden Shadow Secret Art's effects were exceptionally potent. Even if a living being passed right beside him, they would be unable to detect him.
Only a Half-Emperor expert with exceptionally powerful perception, intentionally releasing their Soul Power for detection, might have a chance of discovering Ye Yunfei's form.
After waiting for two days, Ye Yunfei finally spotted a group of beings exiting from the Vermilion Bird Realm's portal. Once they emerged, they boarded a flying vessel and headed off into the distant Chaotic Void.
Generally, lower-realm beings traveling within the Chaotic Void mostly chose to ride in flying vessels. Only Half-Emperor level experts, with their powerful spiritual energy and movement speed, could navigate the Chaotic Void swiftly on their own.
Ye Yunfei's figure silently moved as he gave chase to that vessel. His current movement speed was at least equal to, if not faster than, an ordinary Half-Emperor's. Tracking this flying vessel was a trivial matter.
Ye Yunfei quietly tailed the vessel from behind.
"Miao Clan bloodline! It seems this fellow should belong to the Miao Clan of the Vermilion Bird Realm!" Ye Yunfei focused on one particular figure aboard the vessel—a young man in yellow robes. He discovered that this youth's bloodline bore a striking resemblance to his mother's, stirring his heart.
One hour later.
Whoosh!
Ye Yunfei suddenly revealed himself, accelerating with a single step that overtook the flying vessel. He then extended a massive hand that grew continuously larger, grabbing towards the vessel.
Terrifying energy radiated from Ye Yunfei's hand, fearsome to the extreme. In an instant, it suppressed every being within the vessel, rendering them immobile.
"Ah! I can't move!"
"Not good, Young Master Miao! It seems a terrifying expert is making a move on us!"
...
Panicked cries immediately arose from within the vessel.
"Esteemed Senior, I am a direct-line descendant of the Miao Clan of the Vermilion Bird Realm. I do not know why you act against me? Please, consider the Miao Clan's reputation and spare us!"
In his alarm, the young man in yellow robes shouted loudly, directly declaring his identity as a direct-line descendant of the Miao Clan, hoping to use his clan's prestige to intimidate the assailant.
It was widely known that the Miao Clan of the Vermilion Bird Realm was a race fiercely protective of its own. If any of its members were bullied by outsiders, they would retaliate with ferocious intensity!
Especially the Vermilion Bird King, a master of notoriously explosive temper and terrifyingly formidable strength, who had once single-handedly subdued the entire Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds in the past!
Though the Vermilion Bird King had now retreated from the public eye and rarely appeared, his deterrent power remained. Under normal circumstances, no faction or being within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds would provoke the Miao Clan of the Vermilion Bird Realm without cause.
"Capture!"
Ye Yunfei softly uttered the command. In a flash, he grabbed the flying vessel within his palm, then employed a divine ability to seal all the beings inside. None of those beings, whose strongest was merely at the early Heavenly Longevity Realm, possessed any capability to resist.
Ye Yunfei directly transported the vessel into the Phantom Tower. Then he seized all the beings aboard and pulled them out.
"You... who are you? Was it you who captured us just now?"
The young man in yellow robes, seeing that his captor was actually a young man around his own age, was taken aback. He had assumed it would be a senior expert.
"Young man, we are people of the Miao Clan of the Vermilion Bird Realm. Why have you acted against us? Don't you know the consequences of provoking the Miao Clan? Young man, release us immediately, and we may overlook your transgression. Otherwise, you will regret it."
An elder fixed his gaze on Ye Yunfei and spoke, his words laced with a strong undertone of warning.
"All of you, be quiet," Ye Yunfei commanded. "You, answer my questions."
He pointed directly at the young man in the yellow robes.