"Xiao Fei is really awake! Xiao Fei, Xiao Fei..." Miao Ziqiong was so overwhelmed with emotion when she saw Xiao Fei's eyes slowly open that she nearly choked back sobs.
"Mother... Is that you? Am I dreaming?"
At this moment, Xiao Fei's eyes were already open. Her senses were gradually returning, and hearing Miao Ziqiong's voice, her previously blank gaze focused on Miao Ziqiong, beginning to regain its sparkle.
"Xiao Fei, it's me, it's your mother. You are not dreaming! Mother is right here! Heaven be merciful, you're finally awake!"
Miao Ziqiong rushed forward and embraced Xiao Fei, speaking excitedly.
"Mother, is it really you? How are you here? Isn't this the Vermilion Bird Realm?" Xiao Fei, holding Miao Ziqiong, finally believed she was in her mother's arms, but she couldn't help feeling puzzled, as she had originally come to the Vermilion Bird Realm alone.
"Xiao Fei, not only is Mother here, but your big brother is here too," Ye Yunfei said, looking at his gradually waking sister with an affectionate gaze.
Although his time spent with this younger sister in this lifetime wasn't particularly long, the bond between them was extremely close.
"Brother, why are you here too? Did you both come to the Vermilion Bird Realm? This is not a good place," Xiao Fei asked, her gaze shifting to Ye Yunfei with surprise as soon as she heard his voice.
Hearing Xiao Fei's words, Ye Yunfei's expression darkened instantly.
The Vermilion Bird Realm was one of the worlds within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds that possessed the highest levels of energy and laws. Countless living beings yearned to reside and cultivate there. Yet, in Xiao Fei's eyes, this Vermilion Bird Realm was 'not a good place'. This clearly indicated that she must have had an unhappy time here previously.
In fact, Ye Yunfei had already guessed this. Judging by the attitudes of the Old Wizard and Da Wangye towards Xiao Fei, it was obvious she must have suffered many hardships and endured much injustice during her years in the Vermilion Bird Realm.
"Da Wangye, Old Wizard!" Murderous intent surged within Ye Yunfei's heart. He swore silently that no matter what, he would not let these two chief culprits get away.
"Mother, Brother, it's really you! What is this place? How did I get here?" Suddenly, Xiao Fei jumped up from Miao Ziqiong's embrace, looking at her mother and brother in astonishment.
By now, she was fully conscious and remembered everything that had happened before!
She had taken the medicinal pills Ye Yunfei refined for her, and all the poison within her body had long been cleared. Her body had completely returned to normal.
"Mother, Brother, did the two of you come to the Vermilion Bird Realm? You need to leave, quickly! The Miao Clan of the Vermilion Bird Realm is extremely unfriendly to our family. If you are here, they won't welcome you. On the contrary, they might try to harm you. So please, both of you, leave immediately." After regaining full clarity, Xiao Fei's expression changed, worry creeping in.
During her few years in the Vermilion Bird Realm, she had learned of the Miao Clan's attitude towards their family. It could be described as utter disdain, even outright hostility!
"Xiao Fei, relax. With your brother here, you don't need to worry about anything. My purpose for coming this time is precisely to take you back. Starting now, you no longer have to stay in the Vermilion Bird Realm," Ye Yunfei said to his sister.
"Brother, you and mother came to the Vermilion Bird Realm... to take me back? But, will the Miao Clan agree?" Xiao Fei hesitated for a moment after hearing Ye Yunfei's words before asking.
"It's not up to them to agree or disagree. From now on, the Miao Clan of the Vermilion Bird Realm will no longer be able to interfere with the affairs of our family!" Ye Yunfei replied with a cold laugh.
"Xiao Fei, tell me about what happened with your poisoning. How did you get poisoned and fall into a coma? Was it done by someone from the Miao Clan?" Ye Yunfei then asked.
"Yes, it was done by Miao Tian Datongling. Miao Tian Datongling led our Miao Clan forces into a Small World to fight the local beings for the mining rights to a large crystal ore deposit. I was in the midst of battling those beings when suddenly, Miao Tian Datongling appeared before me and struck me with his palm. At that moment, I felt a massive amount of potent poison being forced into my body through his hand," Xiao Fei explained after thinking for a moment.
"The poison affecting Xiao Fei really was done by one of her own clansmen!" Miao Ziqiong became furious upon hearing Xiao Fei's account.
"Miao Tian Datongling is actually a subordinate of Da Wangye. Da Wangye must have ordered him to do this," Xiao Fei added.
"As I suspected. Xiao Fei, don't worry. Both this Miao Tian Datongling and Da Wangye will pay the price. Your brother will definitely avenge you," Ye Yunfei said, his sneer returning.
"Brother, Da Wangye is very powerful. Not only is he a Half-Emperor expert himself, but he also commands a number of Half-Emperor experts under him!" Xiao Fei quickly interjected.
She knew nothing of Ye Yunfei's current strength and was afraid that if he went to confront Da Wangye and Miao Tian Datongling, he would come to harm.
"Merely a few Half-Emperor experts, that's all. Xiao Fei, don't worry. Your brother's strength is now far beyond what it once was. Half-Emperor experts are nothing much to me anymore," Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
"Really? Brother, you aren't afraid of Half-Emperor experts now?" Hearing this, Xiao Fei was half-believing, half-doubting.
Although she had always greatly admired her brother, Half-Emperor experts stood on a lofty plane. It wasn't a matter of simply saying you weren't afraid and then not being afraid.
"Xiao Fei, look." Ye Yunfei extended a palm, gently circulating his spiritual power.
Boom...
A formidable surge of spiritual power erupted magnificently from Ye Yunfei's palm, causing the surrounding space to distort slightly.
"This is... energy at the Half-Emperor level? Brother, could it be you've already become a Half-Emperor expert?" Feeling the oppressive energy pressure released from Ye Yunfei's palm, Xiao Fei was astounded and asked.
"Correct. Your brother is now a Half-Emperor expert. So, set your mind at ease. With me here, you no longer have to fear anyone bullying you," Ye Yunfei replied with a smile.
"That's fantastic! Mother, Brother is actually a Half-Emperor expert! Brother is truly incredible!" Xiao Fei cried out excitedly.
Having been in the Vermilion Bird Realm for several years, and as one of the outstanding young disciples of the Miao Clan, her horizons and knowledge were different from before. She knew just how fearsome a Half-Emperor expert was.
A Half-Emperor expert belonged to the ranks of mighty existences commanding the wind and summoning the rain throughout the entire expanse of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds!
"Mother, I plan to see Grandfather now," Ye Yunfei suddenly said to Miao Ziqiong.
"Brother, you're going to see him? What use is there in seeing him? He can't help us," Xiao Fei was taken aback, then said.
It was clear Xiao Fei harbored little goodwill towards her grandfather.
"I'm not going to seek his help. He indeed cannot help us. If he could help our family, he would have done so long ago. He wouldn't have waited until now. I'm going to ask him some things," Ye Yunfei stated.
"Fei'er, decide for yourself. But make sure safety comes first," Miao Ziqiong said softly.
"Mother, don't worry. I'll be careful," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Xiao Fei, these cultivation resources are for you. Starting now, you must cultivate diligently. No matter what resources you need, just tell me, and I will find them for you." Ye Yunfei waved his hand, conjuring over a dozen spatial rings and sending them floating before Xiao Fei.
"Brother, don't worry. From now on, I will definitely cultivate seriously! Only by becoming strong can I protect Mother, protect our family!" Xiao Fei accepted the spatial rings and nodded firmly.
Subsequently, Ye Yunfei exited the Phantom Tower and headed towards San Wangye's territory.
Just at that moment, explosive news began to spread throughout the Vermilion Bird Realm.
One day later, the Vermilion Bird Divine Cave would open!