"The Third Prince's true strength? Old Wizard, it seems you knew about this all along? Why did you never mention it to me?"
Da Wangye asked, puzzled upon hearing this.
"I divined it not long ago, but it was merely a conjecture. Only now has it been confirmed," the old Wizard replied.
"Take action! Stop that coffin! Do not let it near the palace!" the old Wizard shouted.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
A large group of men immediately surged forward, tightly guarding the palace perimeter.
Just then, that crimson coffin rushed right up to the front of the palace, its momentum fierce, and directly rammed towards the palace entrance.
BOOM! BOOM!
Seven elders bore the brunt of the charge, immediately erupting with terrifying energy as they launched attacks towards the red coffin, trying to prevent it from nearing the palace doors.
All seven were Half-Emperor experts!
Following them, another large group charged up, surrounding the red coffin.
These were all subordinates of Da Wangye and the old Wizard.
Within the entire Miao Clan, Da Wangye and the old Wizard possessed the most powerful faction and had gathered a significant number of experts in the clan to work for them.
"Scram!"
A furious roar suddenly erupted from within the crimson coffin.
RUMBLE!
A devastatingly savage energy pressure erupted from the coffin, spreading out like a boundless sea.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Instantly, a large portion of those surrounding the crimson coffin were sent flying. Even the seven Half-Emperor experts were forced back several steps, their expressions turning to shock.
"It seems Third Brother has truly hidden his abilities all these years!"
Witnessing this, Da Wangye's eyes narrowed as he spoke in a heavy voice.
The old Wizard, however, gave a cold sneer.
"The Third Prince's objective is the same as yours, Great Prince — it is also that Vermilion Bird skeleton," the old Wizard said to Da Wangye.
"Hmph! It seems Third Brother has utterly no self-awareness. So what if he hid his true strength all these years! If he dares compete with me for that Vermilion Bird skeleton, I will not spare him. Today might very well be his death anniversary!" Da Wangye's face darkened as he spoke word by word.
RUMBLE...
Right then, the crimson coffin once again erupted with terrifying energy pressure, charging towards the palace entrance.
"Take action! All Half-Emperor experts, move out! You must stop that crimson coffin! Absolutely do not allow it to enter the palace!" Da Wangye waved his hand and barked sharply.
BOOM! BOOM!
Immediately, another dozen or so Half-Emperors of the Miao Clan rushed forward, attacking the crimson coffin.
Now, a total of over twenty Half-Emperor experts were jointly assaulting the coffin, a truly formidable formation.
Moreover, aside from these twenty-plus Half-Emperors, a large group of elite Miao Clan forces also encircled the area. They formed combat formations, attacking together and conjuring majestic phantom images of the Vermilion Bird that swooped down upon the coffin.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
Suddenly, a dozen or so figures shot out from within the crimson coffin. Each figure's body and head were wrapped in voluminous crimson cloaks, making them impossible to identify.
BOOM! BOOM!
These dozen crimson-cloaked beings attacked together, striking outwards in all directions.
They were all Half-Emperor experts!
"How is this possible? Third Brother actually gathered so many Half-Emperor experts! But I recognize every Half-Emperor expert in the Miao Clan. Why do these Half-Emperors' auras feel somewhat unfamiliar?" Da Wangye was deeply shocked upon seeing this.
You must understand, all along, in Da Wangye's mind, the Third Prince had always been weak in strength and lacking in power. Seeing him suddenly release over a dozen Half-Emperors now filled Da Wangye with both shock and fury.
"Well done! All these years, Third Brother seemed so leisurely and unambitious. Turns out it was all an act, just a facade. He actually gathered so many experts in secret! This is clearly a move to vie for power within the Miao Clan! Hmph, thankfully he revealed his true colors today! I will definitely not spare him this time!" Da Wangye gnashed his teeth.
Over the years, in order to compete for power within the clan and become the next Vermilion Bird King, he had no choice but to cultivate and strengthen his own faction. Moreover, using ruthless methods, he oppressed members of other factions within the Miao Clan, gradually becoming the most powerful high-ranking official in the clan, practically having taken control of the entire Miao Clan!
However, he never imagined that now, the Third Prince would suddenly appear to contend with him for the Vermilion Bird skeleton. This was something he absolutely could not accept, and a savage killing intent surged within his heart.
"Third Brother, you brought this extinction upon yourself. Don't blame me for being ruthless!" Da Wangye's gaze, filled with killing intent, was fixed on that crimson coffin.
"Kill them! Don't leave a single one alive!" Da Wangye shouted to the Half-Emperor experts under his command.
"Old Wizard, we should take action as well. According to our prior plan, you cover for me. We'll rush into the palace together. Then, you protect me while I refine that Vermilion Bird skeleton," Da Wangye said to the old Wizard.
"Very well, let's move," the old Wizard nodded.
BOOM! BOOM!
Da Wangye and the old Wizard moved simultaneously, charging towards the palace entrance.
Just at that moment...
RUMBLE...
A crimson flying ship rumbled forward, shaking the heavens and earth.
This crimson flying ship arrived with overwhelming force, its speed astonishing. In the blink of an eye, it crashed to a spot before the crimson palace, charging towards the palace entrance, attempting to directly breach the palace.
"Second Brother! You came too! Don't even think about contending with me for the Vermilion Bird skeleton!" Da Wangye roared fiercely.
"Go! Stop him!" the old Wizard waved his hand and shouted loudly.
In fact, the old Wizard and Da Wangye had long anticipated that the Second Prince would come, so they had prepared a large group of experts and troops, standing ready.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
Another dozen or so Half-Emperor experts rushed forward, blocking the crimson flying ship.
"Big Brother, who says that Vermilion Bird skeleton belongs only to you? Everyone is entitled to it. You cannot monopolize it!"
A tall, slender elder charged out from the flying ship, leading a group of men.
This elder was precisely the Second Prince of the Miao Clan.
His faction within the clan, though not on par with Da Wangye's, had carefully built up over the years, gathering quite a few clan members to his side.
A total of fourteen Half-Emperor experts followed at the Second Prince's side, and including the Second Prince himself, there were fifteen Half-Emperors in total.
Apart from the fifteen Half-Emperors, a large group of troops also clustered around the Second Prince.
"Cover for me. Kill our way through!" the Second Prince shouted.
Then, he sprang into motion, charging towards the palace entrance.
"Halt!" Da Wangye shouted, slashing out with his palm. A torrent of crimson flame poured from his palm, condensing into a Vermilion Bird that shot towards the Second Prince.
"Big Brother, you are too overbearing! Do you think I fear you?" the Second Prince punched back, blocking Da Wangye's palm strike, then charged once more towards that palace.
"Things are getting a bit chaotic. All three Princes have appeared, each wanting to seize that Vermilion Bird skeleton," Ye Yunfei mused inwardly upon seeing this scene.