"For such a matter, your Miao Clan should best seek my mother's and Xiao Fei's opinions. I cannot decide for them."
Having listened to the Vermilion Bird King, Ye Yunfei thought for a moment before answering.
"Good. Their opinions should indeed be sought," the Vermilion Bird King nodded.
With a flick of his intent, Ye Yunfei transported his mother and Xiao Fei out of his space.
"Ah, excellent! Within our current Miao Clan, the two of you possess the purest and most advanced bloodlines! You two are the hope of our Miao Clan's future!"
The moment Miao Ziqiong and Xiao Fei appeared, the Vermilion Bird King, accompanied by over a dozen major Miao Clan elders, moved to surround them, greeting the pair with utmost enthusiasm.
Over this period, Miao Ziqiong and Xiao Fei had long since perfectly fused the Vermilion Bird bloodline they had obtained into their bodies within the Phantom Tower. They had also gained insights into part of the Vermilion Bird's legacy, resulting in a substantial increase in their strength.
Surrounded by over a dozen Miao Clan elders, it took Miao Ziqiong and Xiao Fei a while to figure out what was happening.
"From now on, your main task will be to cultivate diligently. Do not worry; the cultivation resources you require will be fully provided by our Miao Clan," the Vermilion Bird King said amiably to the two of them.
"I wish to return to Hongmeng Continent," Miao Ziqiong said after some thought.
"Yes, I wish to return as well. I haven't seen Father for a long time!" Xiao Fei chimed in.
"That can be arranged. I will dispatch Miao Clan experts to escort you back. Perhaps you can also bring your loved ones to settle in our Vermilion Bird Realm in the future, allowing you to cultivate here without worry," the Vermilion Bird King nodded in agreement.
Seeing the Vermilion Bird King's attitude, Ye Yunfei felt much better towards the Miao Clan. After all, the previous Miao Clan was primarily controlled by Da Wangye and the Old Wizard. Now that these two prime culprits had been slain by him, his impression of the Miao Clan began to change.
One day later.
Inside a secret chamber within a luxurious palace in the Vermilion Bird Realm.
"Young man, you are quite mysterious. I cannot see through you. You definitely possess unknown origins and secrets," the Vermilion Bird King said, looking at Ye Yunfei who sat cross-legged before him.
By this time, the Vermilion Bird King had already led most of the Miao Clan's forces out of the Vermilion Bird Divine Grotto, leaving only a portion of their younger members inside to continue exploring and treasure-seeking.
The most valuable item within the Vermilion Bird Divine Grotto was the Vermilion Bird Skeleton, which had now been split among Miao Ziqiong, Xiao Fei, and the Vermilion Bird King. To the Vermilion Bird King and the Miao Clan elders, it no longer held great attraction.
After returning to the Miao Clan headquarters, the Vermilion Bird King and Ye Yunfei entered a secret chamber.
The Vermilion Bird King was, after all, an expert at the Heavenly Emperor level; his eyes were sharp, and he could see Ye Yunfei's extraordinary nature.
"Everyone has their own secrets, don't they?" Ye Yunfei replied.
"Yes, everyone has their own secrets. Be at ease. I will not investigate your origins or secrets. I hope you remember that, technically, you are also a descendant of our Miao Clan. Whatever happened in the past, from now on, you and our Miao Clan share glory and shame," the Vermilion Bird King said, looking deeply at Ye Yunfei.
"How I treat the Miao Clan depends on the Miao Clan itself," Ye Yunfei answered evenly.
Ye Yunfei's meaning was clear: how the Miao Clan treated his family would determine his attitude towards them.
"You can rest assured. Henceforth, no one in our Miao Clan will trouble your mother and younger sister. They are now key figures being groomed by our clan; no one dares to cause them any more trouble," the Vermilion Bird King naturally understood Ye Yunfei's implication.
"Good," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Being a Heavenly Emperor, why were you injured so severely that you needed to lie low for such a long period for recovery?" Ye Yunfei suddenly asked.
In his previous life, Ye Yunfei had no connection with the Vermilion Bird King, so he didn't know the specifics of his situation. He didn't even know if he possessed Heavenly Emperor-level strength, let alone that the Vermilion Bird King was gravely injured and needed to convalesce in seclusion.
"There's no harm in telling you. My injury stems from the World-Destroying War," replied the Vermilion Bird King, a hint of ruefulness in his expression upon hearing Ye Yunfei's question, letting out a soft sigh.
"The World-Destroying War! You also participated in it?" Ye Yunfei was somewhat surprised.
"Yes. I was injured precisely because I fought in the World-Destroying War. Though I am a Heavenly Emperor, I was insignificant in that conflict," the Vermilion Bird King nodded.
"Young man, from your tone, it seems you are already aware of the World-Destroying War," the Vermilion Bird King asked.
"Yes. I have heard of the World-Destroying War. Do you know Emperor Yan?" Ye Yunfei nodded and inquired.
"Of course I know him. A comrade from the same battle line! Do you know him?" the Vermilion Bird King looked somewhat surprised.
"I've met him once," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"You have met Emperor Yan! How is he doing now?" the Vermilion Bird King asked in astonishment.
"I don't know. What I met was one of his avatars. I don't know how his true self is faring," Ye Yunfei answered truthfully.
"So that's how it is. It seems you know quite a bit about the World-Destroying War. In that case, there's no need for me to explain what it is," the Vermilion Bird King gave a light nod.
"According to Emperor Yan, the next World-Destroying War is coming," Ye Yunfei said.
"Yes. Based on my deductions, the next World-Destroying War will arrive before long. The 3,000 Worlds and Smaller Realms will inevitably suffer immense destruction, with countless innocent lives lost once more. Even experts of the Heavenly Emperor level like us will not be able to stand apart from it. It is a cycle, repeating at regular intervals," the Vermilion Bird King sighed, appearing worried.
"My greatest concern is for our Miao Clan. Before the last World-Destroying War, our Miao Clan was much more powerful than we are now. Yet we suffered heavy casualties, with over half of our top experts perishing. Our clan's strength has diminished significantly. If another World-Destroying War occurs, I don't know if our Miao Clan can survive. So, from now on, I must do everything in my power to raise the overall strength of our clan," the Vermilion Bird King added.
"Are the Dark Faction the source of the World-Destroying War?" Ye Yunfei pondered before asking.
"Yes. However, there are some matters, some names, I cannot utter. Otherwise, we may inadvertently be detected, bringing disaster upon you and me," the Vermilion Bird King nodded.
"I understand," Ye Yunfei replied.
The Vermilion Bird King meant that among the Dark Faction existed certain terrifying entities whose perception enveloped the entire 3,000 Worlds and Smaller Realms. The names of these terrifying beings and their deeds could not be mentioned by ordinary beings, lest they immediately sense it and deliver punishment.
For a moment, Ye Yunfei and the Vermilion Bird King fell silent. Merely mentioning the World-Destroying War weighed heavily on their hearts.
The Vermilion Bird King had personally experienced the World-Destroying War and knew full well its horror and cruelty.
Although Ye Yunfei hadn't experienced it personally, he had encountered many things related to world-destruction and could imagine the terror of such a war. A war in which even Heavenly Emperors could fall was, for ordinary beings, unthinkably horrifying!
"Within the 3,000 Worlds and Smaller Realms, Heavenly Emperors are beginning to appear more frequently! I can feel it," the Vermilion Bird King suddenly said softly.
Just as the Vermilion Bird King spoke these words...
Within the Heavenly God Palace headquarters in the Xianling Realm.
Above a certain palace, lightning suddenly flashed, thunder roared, and overwhelming tribulation clouds rolled in.
"I have finally welcomed my Emperor Tribulation!"
Inside the palace, a middle-aged man meditating in seclusion cultivation fiercely opened his eyes and exclaimed excitedly.
This middle-aged man was none other than the Heavenly God Palace Master!
Whoosh!
The Heavenly God Palace Master's figure flashed, disappearing directly from the secret chamber. In the next moment, he was above the palace, standing in mid-air.
Boom! Boom! Boom...
A majestic Lightning Tribulation began to descend from the heights, as if heralding the end of the world. The entire Xianling Realm shook from the force. The terrifying tribulation energy even transmitted beyond Xianling Realm, causing the surrounding primal chaos void to tremble and sway.
"The Emperor Tribulation! This is the Emperor Tribulation! Heavens, a being in Xianling Realm is undergoing the Emperor Tribulation!"
Soon, countless experts within and outside Xianling Realm sensed these terrifying fluctuations of tribulation energy and couldn't help but cry out in shock.
One after another, powerful figures began to appear, standing in the void, releasing their Soul Power to sense and locate the direction of the tribulation energy.
"It's at the Heavenly God Palace headquarters! I've heard that during this period, the Palace Master and several Supreme Elders have been in seclusion, striving to breakthrough to the Heavenly Emperor realm. I wonder which one has finally ushered in the Emperor Tribulation!"
Soon, these experts pinpointed the source of the tribulation.
"If someone from the Heavenly God Palace is undergoing the Emperor Tribulation, it must be the Palace Master! He is the only one with the highest potential to break through to the Heavenly Emperor realm." Several ancient beings gazing towards the Heavenly God Palace headquarters uttered the same sentiment.
Swiftly, figures rushed towards the Heavenly God Palace headquarters.
Soon, the area around the Heavenly God Palace headquarters was surrounded by numerous powerful experts.
"Protect our Palace Master during his ordeal!"
All the Heavenly God Palace's high-ranking members had emerged, including several Supreme Elders who were previously in seclusion. One of them commanded in a deep voice.
Leading a large contingent of Heavenly God Palace members, the elders formed a strict defensive perimeter, safeguarding the Palace Master during his trial.
Most of the day later.
The Lightning Tribulation finally concluded.
"From this day forth, I am a Heavenly Emperor!"
As the billowing tribulation clouds dissipated, the Heavenly God Palace Master stood high in the sky, his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze sweeping across all beneath him as he spoke plainly.
Though his words were soft, they resonated as one with the world's laws of heaven and earth. To other beings, they seemed to represent the very will of the cosmos, as if the heavens themselves were proclaiming wrath. His declaration resounded grandly, spreading to every corner of the Xianling Realm, then transmitting beyond its borders, disseminating throughout the primal chaos void of the 3,000 Worlds and Smaller Realms.
"Another Heavenly Emperor has appeared in the 3,000 Worlds and Smaller Realms!" Countless experts lamented in awe.
"A Heavenly Emperor must not be offended! Yet, a junior has slain my avatars several times before. It is time to settle this score. Furthermore, all factions and beings who have ever opposed our Heavenly God Palace must face a reckoning," the Heavenly God Palace Master stated coldly.