Upon entering the palace, Ye Yunfei immediately noticed an ancient altar in the very center of the hall. Upon the altar lay a colossal skeleton!
The Vermilion Bird Skeleton!
Ye Yunfei's gaze fixed on the skeleton, scrutinizing it carefully.
The entire skeleton was crimson red, smooth and lustrous. Faintly, wisps of phantom Vermilion Birds seemed to rush out from within the bones, issuing sharp, high-pitched cries.
All around the skeleton, fierce red flames blazed, akin to a sea of scarlet fire.
Boom...
A terrifying wave of energy pressure surged forth, forcing Ye Yunfei to take several steps back.
'Is this skeleton truly from the legendary divine beast, the Vermilion Bird?
Regardless, whether it is the true divine beast or not, the master of this skeleton in life was surely overwhelmingly powerful!
It likely belongs to a terrifying existence even mightier than the Heavenly Emperor!'
Feeling the energy aura emanating from the skeleton, Ye Yunfei felt a tremor in his heart.
It was evident that the owner of this skeleton had fallen a vast stretch of time ago, yet it still retained an immensely powerful energy pressure.
Even a Half-Emperor expert at the Perfection stage would find it difficult to resist!
At this moment, the old Wizard was inching his way closer to the skeleton.
It was clear he was under immense strain, his face flushed crimson with the effort.
Furthermore, several dozen beings clad entirely in black robes followed closely behind the Wizard.
These were all Dark Faction beings!
And every one of them was a Half-Emperor expert!
Ye Yunfei finally understood why so many Dark Faction beings had appeared within this Zhuque Divine Grotto. It was all because of this old Wizard.
Ye Yunfei even began to suspect that this old Wizard might himself be a member of the Dark Faction!
'Kid, how did you get in here?'
Noticing Ye Yunfei, the old Wizard halted his steps and whirled around, staring at him with astonishment.
'I enter as I please.'
Ye Yunfei replied coldly.
'Kid, it seems I underestimated you after all.'
The Wizard's expression darkened.
'Kill that brat!'
He shouted sharply.
Immediately, over a dozen Dark Faction beings charged towards Ye Yunfei.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
With a wave of his hand, Ye Yunfei summoned a dozen or so Half-Emperor experts. They engaged the oncoming Dark Faction beings in fierce combat.
'Hmph!
Kid, I never imagined you had so many Half-Emperor experts by your side!
It seems your origins are anything but ordinary!
However, daring to provoke me means there is only one road for you today—the road to death!'
The old Wizard's face turned gloomy as he spoke coldly.
Then, he gestured again, sending another group of Dark Faction beings charging towards Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei waved his hand once more, teleporting out another batch of Half-Emperor experts to intercept this new wave.
Thus, both sides now had twenty to thirty Half-Emperor experts each. A violent battle erupted as immense energies clashed.
'Mother, Xiao Fei, come out.'
Ye Yunfei teleported Miao Ziqiong and Xiao Fei out.
'Brother, is that skeleton really from the divine beast Vermilion Bird?"
Xiao Fei stared at the colossal skeleton at the palace center, both shocked and excited.
"Yes, this skeleton belongs to a Vermilion Bird."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Is it because the Miao Clan ancestors obtained a portion of the Vermilion Bird bloodline from this skeleton that they shaped the entire clan's glory?"
Xiao Fei studied the skeleton and asked curiously.
"Yes.
Provided the legends are correct."
Ye Yunfei nodded in confirmation.
"Mother, Xiao Fei, I will protect you now. Let us all approach the skeleton together and see if we can refine it to obtain the bloodline heritage contained within."
Ye Yunfei spoke up.
"This skeleton looks terrifying. Wouldn't it be dangerous?"
Miao Ziqiong asked with concern.
Her foremost concern was always the safety of her son and daughter!
"Mother, don't worry. With me here, there is no need to fear. There will be no danger."
Ye Yunfei assured her.
As soon as he finished speaking.
Ye Yunfei stepped forward towards the Vermilion Bird skeleton.
Xiao Fei and Miao Ziqiong followed closely behind him.
"Kid, you think you can snatch this Vermilion Bird skeleton from me? Think again!
A smart person would turn and leave immediately. Otherwise, today marks your death!"
Seeing this, the old Wizard couldn't help but flare up in fury.
With that, he turned and quickened his pace towards the Vermilion Bird skeleton.
The terrifying energy pressure rolled towards him like a boundless, turbulent ocean.
However, this old Wizard's strength was indeed extraordinary. He forcefully withstood the skeleton's terrifying pressure, inching forward step by step.
Ye Yunfei led his mother and sister, approaching the skeleton continuously from another direction.
Boom...
The old Wizard suddenly produced a black sphere and activated it. It hovered above his head, erupting with a vast and mighty surge of black energy pressure to counter the pressure emanating from the Vermilion Bird skeleton.
Aided by the black sphere, the Wizard's speed increased significantly.
This was a Heavenly Emperor level magic treasure!
"It seems this old Wizard is definitely a Dark Faction being. His infiltration of the Miao Clan was undoubtedly ill-intentioned from the start. Perhaps he came precisely for this Vermilion Bird skeleton!
Of course, the large number of confidants he cultivated and drew close to within the Miao Clan was likely also part of a plan to control the clan."
Observing that Heavenly Emperor level magic treasure, Ye Yunfei thought to himself.
"I will deploy the Heavenly Dao Tower to aid you!"
Hun Lao sent a Sound Transmission to Ye Yunfei.
"Alright!"
Ye Yunfei nodded.
The Heavenly Dao Tower was a Heavenly Emperor level artifact. Moreover, Hun Lao had long been proficient in controlling it and could unleash its immense power.
Boom...
Hun Lao directly activated the Heavenly Dao Tower. It materialized before Ye Yunfei, releasing powerful energy pressure that enveloped and protected all three of them, opposing the pressure from the Vermilion Bird skeleton.
Instantly, the energy pressure weighing down Ye Yunfei and his two companions decreased substantially.
Ye Yunfei immediately quickened his pace, advancing towards the skeleton.
Xiao Fei and Miao Ziqiong followed closely behind.
A moment later.
The old Wizard finally drew near the Vermilion Bird skeleton.
Ye Yunfei and the other two also approached the skeleton from their direction.
"Xiao Fei, Mother, I'll hold that guy off. You two figure out if you can refine and absorb this skeleton."
Ye Yunfei said to his mother and sister.
"You can manifest your Vermilion Bird Divine Meridians and try to commune with this skeleton. See if it works.
The Vermilion Bird Divine Meridians within you are of the same origin as this skeleton; perhaps they will resonate!"
Ye Yunfei reminded them.
"Okay, I'll try right away!"
Xiao Fei was eager to give it a try.
At this very moment.
The old Wizard suddenly took out a large batch of black formation flags and began hurling them out, one after another. Each flag landed in the space surrounding the skeleton.
Ye Yunfei knew the old Wizard was attempting to set up a formation to bind this skeleton.
Those black formation flags were all Emperor level magic treasures!
"This old fellow uses nothing but Emperor level treasures. He's no simple character."
Hun Lao couldn't help but sigh in admiration.