Ye Yunfei activated his spatial teleportation technique, instantly closing the distance to the fifteen Dark Faction beings.
The eighteen Half-Emperor experts also followed Ye Yunfei, chasing after the Dark Faction beings.
"Kid, you just wait!"
Suddenly, one of the Dark Faction beings turned its head, fixing Ye Yunfei with a venomous, cold glare.
"Vanishing Art!"
The next moment, the creature uttered a soft shout.
Poof! Poof!
The bodies of the fifteen Dark Faction beings simultaneously exploded, transforming into fifteen clouds of black mist. Strands of the dark fog continuously expanded, dissipating into the surrounding space, disappearing completely in moments.
Under Ye Yunfei's Soul Power perception, he discovered that each wisp of the fine black mist contained a fragment of spiritual consciousness. In other words, these Dark Faction beings had actually exploded their very soul bodies, splitting them into at least dozens of parts that fled deep into different pockets of space.
This made them incredibly difficult to track.
"I never thought these Dark Faction beings would possess such a sophisticated escape method."
Ye Yunfei stopped, a grave expression appearing on his face.
Up to this point, Ye Yunfei had encountered these Dark Faction beings several times. He felt they were not only immensely powerful but also controlled many bizarre cultivation techniques and martial skills, making them exceptionally troublesome foes.
"Strange. The Zhuque Divine Grotto is a secret realm controlled by the Miao Clan. How did so many Dark Faction beings manage to infiltrate it?
Could it be that there is some treasure within this Zhuque Divine Grotto attracting them?"
Staring at the spot where the Dark Faction beings had vanished, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but frown slightly.
According to Emperor Yan, these Dark Faction beings were the source of the Devastation War!
That's why Ye Yunfei paid particular attention to them.
Next, Ye Yunfei teleported the eighteen Half-Emperor experts back into his Heavenly Dao Tower and returned to the previous valley.
Xiao Fei and Miao Ziqiong were still sitting cross-legged in the valley, refining the Three-Life Fire Essence Grass within their bodies.
Situ Kong'er was acting as their protector.
The valley floor was also littered with over a hundred corpses of Miao Clan disciples, all slain from a distance by Ye Yunfei's Heavenly Soul Sword.
"Brother Ye, you've returned!"
Seeing Ye Yunfei return to the valley, Situ Kong'er was overjoyed.
Ye Yunfei reached out with a hand, pulling all the possessions from the hundred-plus Miao Clan disciples toward him. Then, from one of the spatial rings, he retrieved five sealed Three-Life Fire Essence Grass plants.
These five plants had been jointly subdued and sealed by that group of Miao Clan disciples, who intended to share them later.
Ye Yunfei infused these five plants into his mother's and Xiao Fei's bodies respectively, allowing them to refine them.
"Brother Situ, these items are for you.
You gained nothing in this valley. Consider this a compensation."
Ye Yunfei then sent all the belongings of the Miao Clan disciples before Situ Kong'er with a smile.
"Alright then."
Situ Kong'er didn't decline, accepting them directly.
Half an hour later.
Xiao Fei and Miao Ziqiong finished refining and absorbing the Three-Life Fire Essence Grass simultaneously and stood up.
With his Soul Power, Ye Yunfei sensed that the spiritual energy within their bodies had become much more refined than before.
Two Vermilion Bird phantasms surged from their bodies, appearing far more solid and tangible than before. The pressure they emitted was also more terrifying, causing the space of the valley to twist and warp slightly.
"What a fearsome Vermilion Bird Divine Meridian!
No wonder the Miao Clan can be a prestigious and powerful clan among the Three Thousand Greater Worlds!"
Situ Kong'er couldn't help but exclaim in astonishment.
"Xiao Fei's and my mother's Vermilion Bird Divine Meridians are among the highest grade within the entire Miao Clan. Of course they are strong," Ye Yunfei said with a laugh.
"Alright, let's go," Ye Yunfei announced.
"Next, we need to search for an ancient palace!"
After a moment's thought, Ye Yunfei spoke decisively.
According to what Miao Yuguan had said, the Eldest Royal Lord and the old shaman had entered this Zhuque Divine Grotto with the primary goal of finding that ancient palace.
Ye Yunfei estimated that the Eldest Royal Lord and the old shaman were undoubtedly searching everywhere for that palace right now. Ye Yunfei had no intention of letting them snatch the prize before he could get there and acquire the Vermilion Bird skeleton within!
"Spread out and search. If you discover an ancient palace, send me a message immediately.
Remember this phrase: 'Where Yünze rises, the Vermilion Bird Divine Hall appears.'
Use this clue to guide your search."
After some thought, Ye Yunfei summoned thirty Half-Emperor experts from his Heavenly Dao Tower, instructing them to search for the palace in different directions.
These Half-Emperor experts all had restrictions placed within them by the ancient Emperor Huang. They were now absolutely under Ye Yunfei's control, so he had no worries about their loyalty.
Of course, Ye Yunfei did not make things difficult for them. From beginning to end, he maintained a respectful attitude toward them.
He had even promised that, given the chance in the future, he would help these Half-Emperor experts break the restrictions within their bodies and restore their freedom.
Therefore, the hundred Half-Emperor experts in the Heavenly Dao Tower had gradually let down their guard around Ye Yunfei.
Coupled with Ye Yunfei's now greatly increased strength and the astonishing combat prowess he displayed, which also left those hundred Half-Emperor experts in awe, they had begun to feel a trace of admiration for Ye Yunfei. Hence, they diligently carried out his various orders.
"Maintain a low profile as much as possible. Find ways to conceal your tracks."
Ye Yunfei warned them.
The thirty Half-Emperor experts nodded in succession, then shot off in different directions.
Ye Yunfei led his mother, Xiao Fei, and Situ Kong'er forward.
Along the way, they encountered many more treasures imbued with fire-attribute energy and laws, gaining considerable harvests.
However, Ye Yunfei was currently focused on finding the ancient palace quickly, so they didn't linger much or deliberately go treasure hunting.
In fact, the Zhuque Divine Grotto was a fairly large Small World. The heavens and earth were filled with astonishing fire-attribute energy and laws. In such an environment, a vast number of fire-attribute treasures were born.
Many Miao Clan disciples and beings from other forces within the Vermilion Bird Realm were exploring and treasure hunting throughout this Small World, making it a lively scene. Their harvests were generally quite good.
Within the Vermilion Bird Realm, besides members of the Miao Clan, most beings from other factions also primarily cultivated fire-attribute energy because the world's environment was rich in it.
Thus, the treasures within this Zhuque Divine Grotto were excellent cultivation resources for the vast majority of beings in the Vermilion Bird Realm.
Over half a day later.
Ye Yunfei was continuing forward with the other three when he suddenly received a message.
It was from one of the dispatched Half-Emperor experts!
'I think I've found the palace. It's in a marshland. A large group of Miao Clan experts has surrounded the entire area. It's very difficult to approach.'
That was the content of the Half-Emperor expert's message.