'This Third Prince seems somewhat strange. He only has Heavenly Boundary Realm strength, yet he shows absolutely no reaction to my energy pressure.'
Ye Yunfei watched the Third Prince, whose reaction remained placid, feeling a twinge of doubt.
He also became more vigilant.
Boom...
Ye Yunfei took a step forward, releasing his energy pressure once more. A dreadful energy, like a towering tsunami, surged toward the Third Prince, intent on overwhelming him.
Of course, Ye Yunfei held it at a measured degree. If he noticed the Third Prince couldn't withstand it, he would retract the energy immediately.
'A Half-Emperor expert. Interesting. A young man actually being a Half-Emperor expert. Young man, I am truly curious. What is your origin? What is your purpose in coming here to inquire about my father?'
The Third Prince remained unflustered. His gaze fixed on Ye Yunfei as he spoke.
Rumble...
As the Third Prince's words fell, a fearsome energy pressure instantly erupted, vast as an ocean, directly enveloping the entire room.
'Be careful! This is Heavenly Emperor-level energy pressure!' Hun Lao immediately warned.
Boom...
While speaking, Hun Lao directly activated the Heavenly Dao Tower, forming a layer of energy screen to protect Ye Yunfei.
'Could it be the Vermilion Bird King has made his move?'
Ye Yunfei thought of the Vermilion Bird King.
Within the Vermilion Bird Realm, only the Vermilion Bird King could potentially possess Heavenly Emperor-level energy pressure.
However, the next moment, Ye Yunfei noticed this recently erupted Heavenly Emperor-level energy pressure originated from a purple pearl on the Third Prince's hand.
Inside that purple pearl, there seemed to be a violet Vermilion Bird bathing in a sea of flames, soaring through the heavens, its might stunning.
'What kind of treasure is this? It actually possesses Heavenly Emperor-level energy pressure!'
Ye Yunfei was somewhat astonished.
He understood now that the Third Prince had relied on this pearl to deflect his own energy pressure.
Ye Yunfei's Soul Power probed toward the purple pearl.
'Scram!'
A majestic voice suddenly rang out, forcefully repelling Ye Yunfei's Soul Power.
'There's a Soul Power Clone of a Heavenly Emperor within!'
Ye Yunfei finally realized the origin of this purple pearl and couldn't help but change countenance.
Rumble...
While Ye Yunfei was shocked, a large formation violently erupted, materializing and tightly sealing off the room.
Subsequently, a stern-faced old man appeared, hands clasped behind his back, standing atop the formation. His gaze was indifferent, as if looking across time and space into the distance.
'Is this... the Vermilion Bird King?'
Ye Yunfei took a step back, staring at the imposing old man, his heart filled with alarm.
'Young man, didn't you want to ask about my father? My father is here right now. You may ask him.'
The Third Prince watched Ye Yunfei and spoke plainly.
Facing a Half-Emperor expert like Ye Yunfei, he hadn't shown much panic from beginning to end.
'It seems the Vermilion Bird King truly is a Heavenly Emperor-level expert!' Ye Yunfei thought to himself.
Boom...
The next moment, the Vermilion Bird King suddenly extended a hand, aiming at Ye Yunfei, and slowly pressed forward, preparing to make his move.
As the Vermilion Bird King acted, the formation beneath him violently unleashed a powerful suction force, forcibly drawing in the energy and laws of the surrounding heaven and earth, causing the formation's power to rise continuously.
Ye Yunfei felt that he was now firmly imprisoned within this space!
A single look told Ye Yunfei this formation was likely personally laid here by the Vermilion Bird King himself!
'So, the rumors are mistaken! If the Vermilion Bird King truly neglected this third son, he definitely would not have personally set up a formation here to protect him!'
The thought occurred to Ye Yunfei immediately.
'Speak.
Were you sent by the old Wizard?
I told you to leave earlier, but you didn't. Now, I'm afraid you cannot leave even if you wish to.'
At this moment, the Third Prince's gaze grew increasingly sharp as he watched Ye Yunfei, his voice cold.
'Kid, the situation looks bad. Let's leave here first,' Hun Lao transmitted to Ye Yunfei.
'Fine,' Ye Yunfei nodded.
'Mm?
Young man, I keep sensing a familiarity from you, as if we share some connection?
Moreover, this feeling grows stronger by the moment.
Why is that?'
Just as Ye Yunfei prepared to employ various methods and trump cards to leave this room, the Third Prince suddenly let out a soft exclamation. Staring at Ye Yunfei with a puzzled look, he spoke.
'Also, this sense of connection seems to stem from... bloodline?
Young man, could it be that you are also of our Miao Clan?
But you don't seem like it.'
The Third Prince examined Ye Yunfei closely.
The Vermilion Bird King's extended palm stopped, hanging mid-air.
The Third Prince's gaze toward Ye Yunfei gradually began to shimmer with excitement.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Suddenly, three drops of essence blood flew out from his body, exploding with a bang and transforming into countless blood threads.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Then, those blood threads rapidly extended toward Ye Yunfei, seeking to merge into his body.
Ye Yunfei flicked his hand, releasing a force of bloodline power, directly severing the blood threads and turning them to nothing.
'Young man, you... you...
Could you be Zi Qiong's son?'
Witnessing this, the Third Prince's body began to tremble slightly. His voice quivered as he spoke.
'Correct.
My mother is Miao Ziqiong.'
Ye Yunfei knew the Third Prince had already discerned his identity. He didn't conceal it further and directly admitted it.
What the Third Prince had just performed was an advanced secret art for seeking kin through bloodline. Those blood threads, upon detecting a nearby being sharing the same or a closely related bloodline, would actively extend toward them to establish a connection.
'Your mother is Zi Qiong!
Good child, so your mother is Zi Qiong!
That means you are my grandson!
Quick, come, let me have a look!'\
The Third Prince was stirred to the extreme. Old tears streamed down his face, his entire body trembling violently.
However, Ye Yunfei took a step back instead, standing there, watching him coldly.
By now, Ye Yunfei was certain this Third Prince's strength was absolutely not as weak as legend claimed. Moreover, he had a Soul Power Clone of the Vermilion Bird King protecting him personally. Even encountering a Half-Emperor level expert, he could put up a decent fight.
Yet, possessing such power, he had over the years allowed his own daughter to be bullied without lifting a hand to help.
Xiao Fei and Miao Ziqiong had come to the Vermilion Bird Realm one after another, bullied jointly by the Grand Prince and the old Wizard, having their Vermilion Bird Divine Meridians extracted daily—and this Third Prince had not interfered.
These past few days, the higher echelons of the Vermilion Bird Realm's Miao Clan were even forcing Xiao Fei to marry the Jiao Clan's Second Prince—and still, this Third Prince did not step in to assist.
All of this made it impossible for Ye Yunfei to approach him.
'Good child, quick, come, let me see!'
The Third Prince called out.
But Ye Yunfei stood unmoving, his eyes cold.
'Good child, you...'
The Third Prince was taken aback. Then, the light in his eyes began to dim.
'Indeed, child, I know. I have wronged Zi Qiong, and I have wronged Zi Qiong's children. I am useless.
You should hate me.'
The Third Prince calmed down and sighed softly.