"Where do you think you're going!"
Just as Ye Yunfei was observing the surroundings within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, a loud shout suddenly rang out from afar.
Next, Ye Yunfei saw three elderly men protecting a young man, fleeing for their lives across the chaotic void.
A large crowd of pursuers rolled forward from behind.
The two old men were at the Advanced Half-Emperor level, the other was at the Perfected Half-Emperor level. Their auras were strong, indicating their strength shouldn't be weak.
However, the pursuers behind them numbered over a dozen Half-Emperor experts!
Once those pursuers caught up, these three old men and the youth would certainly be no match!
Moreover, all three elders were already injured. The situation looked dire!
"They won't get away."
With a single glance, Ye Yunfei could tell that the three old men and the young man would definitely not escape.
They already appeared exhausted, their energy seriously depleted. They had clearly been hunted for a long time.
"Jiao Zhong, you protect the Second Prince and escape. The two of us will block the pursuers!
Remember, take the Second Prince to a remote, hidden world and lie low!
No matter what, you must protect the Second Prince!
All these years, the Crown Prince's whereabouts are unknown. The Tianjiao King has only this last drop of bloodline left. You must protect him at all costs!"
Suddenly, two of the elders halted their flight and spoke to the other elder.
"This..."
That elder's face changed.
He knew that if these two stayed behind to hold off the pursuers, the consequence would certainly be death!
In other words, these two elders wanted to sacrifice their lives to help the Second Prince escape!
"Jiao Zhong, don't hesitate!
Among the three of us, your strength is greatest. Having you protect the Second Prince in the future will be safer. Our injuries are already severe; it would take a long time and effort to heal them. If we stayed by the Second Prince's side, we'd only become a burden!
The Tianjiao King showed us great kindness and favor back then. Now is the time for us to repay him.
Remember, you must protect the Second Prince, to let the Tianjiao King's last bloodline continue!"
The two elders urged him.
"Understood!"
Jiao Zhong's expression shifted violently. Finally, gritting his teeth, he nodded in agreement.
Over the years, protecting the Second Prince together, being hunted repeatedly, going through life-and-death situations together, their bond had grown deep and profound. Now, watching two of them go to their deaths, Jiao Zhong's heart was filled with pain. But he knew this was the only choice they had.
Someone had to stall the pursuers. Only then would the Second Prince have a chance to get away!
"Second Prince, take care of yourself!"
The two elders glanced at each other, seeing the resolve in each other's eyes. Then they both spoke to the young man at the same time.
"Uncles, no!
Let's escape together!"
The Second Prince understood their intent and cried out urgently, trying to stop them.
"Second Prince, if all four of us flee together, there's absolutely no way we can escape.
Second Prince, when you return to the Tianjiao Plane in the future, avenge us then!"
One of the elders sighed.
After speaking, both elders turned simultaneously and charged toward the group of pursuers.
"Tianjiao Plane?
Second Prince?"
Ye Yunfei's Soul Power energy was immensely powerful. Though separated by a great spatial distance, he had clearly overheard the dialogue between the three elders and the Second Prince.
"That's strange. I heard the Tianjiao King had at least a dozen children and that they have always remained within the Tianjiao Plane.
Why did that elder just say the Crown Prince's whereabouts have been unknown all these years and the Tianjiao King has only this last bit of bloodline left?
Has something happened in the Tianjiao Plane?"
Ye Yunfei felt a bit confused.
"Wait...
The Crown Prince, the Jiao Prince...
Could it be..."
Suddenly Ye Yunfei recalled an incident from the past.
Back when Ye Yunfei was still on the Primordial Continent, he had once, at the headquarters of the Protection Academy in Central State, encountered a Jiao Prince at the bottom of the Dragon Pond!
According to that Jiao Prince, he had once been the Crown Prince of the Heavenly Jiao tribe. His father was the Patriarch of the Heavenly Jiao tribe. Later, an elder from their tribe, plotting to usurp the throne, secretly rallied a group of accomplices to launch a surprise attack on the Tianjiao King, gravely wounding him. With his dying breath, the Tianjiao King used all his remaining strength to cover the escape of his two sons from the Tianjiao Plane.
The Jiao Prince at the bottom of the Protection Academy's Dragon Pond was the Crown Prince!
Furthermore, that Jiao Prince had gifted Ye Yunfei a Xuanhuang Tower.
The Xuanhuang Tower was the token of the Patriarch, a precious treasure of the Heavenly Jiao tribe!
Within the Xuanhuang Tower contained many Xuanhuang Heavy Auras. During his physical cultivation process, Ye Yunfei had refined a lot of those Xuanhuang Heavy Auras, gaining considerable benefits.
"So, could this youth be the younger brother of that Jiao Prince I met at the bottom of the Protection Academy's Dragon Pond?
If that's the case, then I cannot ignore this matter."
Ye Yunfei focused his senses on that young man's body and discovered a rich and powerful Jiao bloodline swirling within him. Faintly, he could perceive a crimson flood dragon shadow swimming and roaring inside him.
Back then, when that Jiao Prince at the bottom of the Dragon Pond gave him the Xuanhuang Tower, he had asked Ye Yunfei that if he ever gained the power, to help him seek vengeance in the future.
Ye Yunfei had promised in the end.
With Ye Yunfei's character, once he gave his word, he wouldn't go back on it.
Having made up his mind, Ye Yunfei didn't hesitate any longer. His figure flashed as he took large strides in that direction.
At this moment, Jiao Zhong was protecting the Second Prince, fleeing at full speed into the distance. The other two elders had turned back, charging straight at the pursuers.
"You beasts dare to help a treasonous usurper turn against the Second Prince! You all deserve death!
You aren't worthy to be called people of the Jiao Clan!"
The two elders roared simultaneously. Their bodies began to erupt in flames. They intended to burn their origin essence and life force to stimulate their potential – a fighting stance fully aimed at a desperate, last stand!
"Hmph!
The two of *you* are the real traitors, still spewing lies to confuse people!
The current Tianjiao King is the true king of our Jiao Clan!
You remnants, you dare betray the current Tianjiao King and seek to usurp the throne? According to the clan's rules, you've been sentenced to death!
Prepare to die!"
The massive group of pursuers was drawing closer. A green-robed elder at the front sneered and spoke.
"Jiao Zheng! Back then you were just an ordinary member of our Jiao Clan. It was the Tianjiao King personally trained you and promoted you to become a Deacon within the clan! Now you personally lead men to hunt the Second Prince. Is this how you repay the Tianjiao King?
Just you wait. One day, you'll face retribution!"
Hearing the green-robed elder's words, both old men were furious.
"Hahaha...
As a current Elder of the Jiao Clan, what right do you, mere remnants, have to judge me?
Do you fools still believe you have a chance to escape?
This time, all of you remnants will be wiped out. Not one will escape, including that little bastard!"
Jiao Zheng burst into loud laughter.
*Oh no!*
The hearts of the two old men sank. They felt a sense of foreboding.
The next moment.
"Running where, now?"
Dozens of beings wrapped entirely in black robes appeared before Jiao Zhong and the Second Prince, blocking their path.
These several dozen beings' movement techniques were strange, constantly teleporting. In less than a breath of time, they tightly surrounded Jiao Zhong and the Second Prince.
All were Half-Emperor experts!
"We can't escape!"
Seeing these dozens of black-clad beings radiating Half-Emperor auras, Jiao Zhong and the other two old men alike revealed expressions of despair.
"We have failed the Tianjiao King. We couldn't even protect his last remaining drop of bloodline."
All three old men were filled with self-reproach, feeling utterly unwilling.
"Hahaha...
Well? Run! Why have you stopped running?
All of you, remnants, you will all die today!"
Jiao Zheng laughed maniacally.
"Little bastard, is the Xuanhuang Tower on you?
Hand over the Xuanhuang Tower immediately, and perhaps I will grant you a swift death!
Otherwise, I don't mind letting you experience the tortures I have at my disposal!"
Jiao Zheng's gaze fell upon the Second Prince as he spoke coldly.
Following the orders of the current Tianjiao King to hunt down the Second Prince, this Jiao Zheng's primary objective was, in fact, the Xuanhuang Tower!
The Xuanhuang Tower was not only the token of the Heavenly Jiao Clan Patriarch, but also a heavy treasure, immensely valuable to any member of the Heavenly Jiao tribe!
"Ahem...
You want the Xuanhuang Tower?
You're asking the wrong person. The Xuanhuang Tower is not on him. It is on me."
Just then, a young man walked over from the distance, speaking calmly.
It was none other than Ye Yunfei!
By now, Ye Yunfei understood clearly. The Second Prince before him was indeed the younger brother of that Jiao Prince he'd met at the bottom of the Dragon Pond!
Therefore, he would see this matter through.