"You really think fire can overcome my poison? How naive!"
That Green-robed Man's face darkened. With a wave of his hand, a green treasure umbrella appeared before him.
The green treasure umbrella spun at high speed as it shot forward, blocking all the fiery tongues and even repelling them.
At that moment, several more men of mysterious origins joined the fight, surrounding and capturing members of the Fire Bird Clan.
In a mere moment, dozens of Fire Bird Clan members were seized and subjected to interrogation.
Every single member of the Fire Bird Clan possessed a stubborn and resolute nature, facing death with equanimity. In their hearts, the Celestial Flame Divine Bird was their clan's protector from ancient times to the present, their core totem and spiritual pillar, sacred beyond compare. Therefore, prying information about the Celestial Flame Divine Bird from their lips was incredibly difficult.
Not only did these Fire Bird Clan members refuse to disclose the whereabouts of the Celestial Flame Divine Bird's treasure, they even hurled abuse and spat at their captors.
Not long after, all dozens of these Fire Bird Clan members were killed.
"It seems… the creator in the unseen world truly intends to exterminate our clan.
The task entrusted to our clan by the Celestial Flame Divine Bird… I fear we will be unable to continue fulfilling it," the elderly Fire Bird Clan leader, witnessing this scene, felt grief and indignation, unable to stop himself from letting out a long sigh towards the heavens.
"Members of the Fire Bird Clan, listen! My Princess says: if your clan hands over the Tianyan Divine Pearl, my Princess can guarantee your Fire Bird Clan will not be wiped out today."
At that moment, one of Immortal Maiden Qingxia's maidservants took a step forward and declared loudly.
Others who heard the maidservant's words all had subtle shifts in their expressions.
Everyone had come here for the treasure of the Celestial Flame Divine Bird, and the Tianyan Divine Pearl was likely one of the most precious items left behind.
This Immortal Maiden Qingxia kept saying she could protect the Fire Bird Clan if they handed over the pearl. Did that mean she would then oppose everyone else?
Some who glanced at Immortal Maiden Qingxia couldn't help but curl their lips into a cold smirk.
If it truly came to that, so what if she was Immortal Maiden Qingxia? They would fight all the same.
"Our two factions are using divine treasures to fight those five great birds, but these guys are just taking the opportunity to swoop in and snatch benefits. That's unfair."
At this moment, the eight Advanced Demigods of the Shen Family and the Demon Race were secretly conferring via sound transmission. Then, the demonic blade and the Seven-Colored Treasure Vase high in the sky descended simultaneously, landing in the hands of one Advanced Demigod each from the Shen Family and the Demon Race.
"Everyone listen! Capture a batch of Fire Bird Clan members and interrogate them for the location of the Celestial Flame Divine Bird's treasure!"
The Shen Family's Advanced Demigod shouted loudly, then activated the Seven-Colored Treasure Vase, sending it flying towards the elderly Fire Bird Clan leader. The blast sent the old man flying backwards, blood spraying from his mouth.
At the same time, with the two divine-level treasures no longer blocking them high above, the five massive scarlet birds dove down with immense speed, attacking the enemies besieging the Fire Bird Clan.
The two Advanced Demigods from the Shen Family and Demon Race activated their divine treasures to protect their respective forces.
Those who didn't belong to these two factions, however, had to face the frenzied assaults of the five scarlet birds.
"A mere imprint of Soul Power dares to provoke me? Seeking your own doom."
The Green-robed Man watched a scarlet bird hurtling towards him and snorted coldly.
The green treasure umbrella before him spun furiously, lunging towards the attacking scarlet bird.
The next instant, the green treasure umbrella was blasted back.
"Interesting!"
The Green-robed Man's expression changed slightly. With a soft shout, six more green treasure umbrellas simultaneously appeared around his body. Seven green treasure umbrellas now floated around him, all spinning rapidly and releasing torrents of green mist.
The seven umbrellas shot skyward together, forming a combat formation as they attacked the scarlet bird.
So, these seven green treasure umbrellas belonged to a single set of treasures.
Jin Yuehai was also under attack from a scarlet bird at that moment. He retreated several steps, his hands forming a mysterious seal. Then, a single golden feather shot out from his dantian, rapidly expanding and erupting with a dazzling golden radiance that surged towards the scarlet bird.
"That golden feather's power is quite remarkable, it seems equivalent to a divine-level treasure," Ye Yunfei, watching the golden feather Jin Yuehai produced, couldn't help but be inwardly shocked.
"He casually pulls out a divine-level treasure just like that.
The Golden Peng Clan's heritage is indeed profound," Hun Lao couldn't help but exclaim with admiration.
"It seems you people of the Fire Bird Clan won't give up until you're truly at death's door.
Fine. Today, I will exterminate your clan."
At this moment, the youth from the Tianhuang Forbidden Land watched a scarlet bird charging towards him and his face darkened as he spoke coldly.
A dazzling white beam shot from his chest, erupting with divine radiance and terrifying energy.
The crowd was inwardly startled, looking over, and then they clearly saw: that white beam was actually a section of bone-white finger bone.
It appeared to be half of a finger bone, like pristine white jade, giving off a sense of sacred purity.
Rumble…
The section of finger bone continuously expanded, slowly pressing forward. Utterly terrifying energy poured forth unceasingly from it.
Boom!
The finger bone collided head-on with a scarlet bird charging towards it. The impact actually sent the scarlet bird flying backward, its form also dimming somewhat.
"Whose finger bone is this?
Its power is too terrifying; it's also comparable to a divine-level treasure," Hun Lao, staring at the white-jade-like finger bone before the Tianhuang Forbidden Land youth, was utterly shocked.
"I have a feeling this might very well be a finger bone left behind by some Deity from ancient times?
And definitely not an ordinary Deity, but a powerhouse among Deities. Otherwise, a mere finger bone—no, actually half a finger bone—couldn't possibly possess such terrifying might," the Golden-horned Dragon Silkworm exclaimed in astonishment.
"Princess, these Fire Bird Clan members are too stubborn, they completely disregard your generous offer," one of the maidservants beside Immortal Maiden Qingxia said indignantly to her.
"Enough. It is their choice. Let them be.
Regardless, since I am here, I will definitely obtain the Tianyan Divine Pearl."
Immortal Maiden Qingxia glanced at the fierce battlefield before her and spoke in a cold voice.
At that moment, besides Immortal Maiden Qingxia, Ye Yunfei also stood at a distance, not taking action.
"What should we do? Just stand here and watch?
If this continues, the Fire Bird Clan will be killed or captured in no time.
When those guys find out the whereabouts of the Celestial Flame Divine Bird's treasure, should we follow them and snatch it then?
Or perhaps we should also act, capture a few Fire Bird Clan members for questioning?"
The Golden-horned Dragon Silkworm sent a sound transmission to Ye Yunfei.
"The Fire Bird Clan hasn't offended me. So I won't move against them."
Ye Yunfei thought for a moment and shook his head.
Although Ye Yunfei had come here for the Tianyan Divine Pearl, using force or even massacring Fire Bird Clan members for that purpose… he simply couldn't bring himself to do it.
"So you are Ye Yunfei from the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds?
I've heard you've been rather prominent recently."
Just then, a cool, clear voice sounded by Ye Yunfei's ear.
Ye Yunfei turned his head to see Immortal Maiden Qingxia's icy gaze resting on him.
This Immortal Maiden Qingxia treated everyone with the same aloof, cold demeanor, seemingly lofty and keeping others at a thousand miles' distance.
Ye Yunfei felt no interest in speaking to her whatsoever, so he merely glanced at her before withdrawing his gaze.
"How dare you!
Didn't you hear my Princess asking you a question?
You dare to ignore her? Do you have a death wish?"
Seeing Ye Yunfei's dismissive attitude, the maidservants beside Immortal Maiden Qingxia were instantly provoked, berating him in unison.
"Enough. Some people, after achieving a bit of success, become arrogant and full of themselves, looking down on everyone. They simply don't realize there are heavens beyond heavens and people beyond people. I overestimated him; don't bother with him."
Immortal Maiden Qingxia cast a look of disgust at Ye Yunfei, shook her head, and then no longer paid him any attention.
She hadn't been particularly concerned about Ye Yunfei in the first place; it had merely been a casual question.
"Everyone, listen! Prepare to retreat to the Ancestral Hall!"
Right then, the elderly leader of the Fire Bird Clan suddenly shouted loudly.
By this time, the Fire Bird Clan had suffered heavy casualties, nearly a third of their clansmen lost.
If this continued, many more Fire Bird Clan members would be killed, potentially leading to the true extinction of their clan.
Hearing the elder's words, the remaining Fire Bird Clan members began to retreat while fighting.
"Form the Fire Bird Battle Formation!"
Fire Bird Clan's leader shouted again.
As soon as his voice fell, the other Fire Bird Clan members, already prepared, instantly began arranging themselves.
In fact, every single Fire Bird Clan fighter was quite strong and held the advantage of favorable terrain. Though their numbers were small and they were now at a disadvantage with little ability to retaliate, they still fought in an organized, disciplined manner, maintaining their formation.
In moments, the remaining Fire Bird Clan members formed a battle formation.
Rumble…
The moment the formation took shape, the five massive scarlet birds soared skyward simultaneously before diving back down.
The five scarlet birds, already greatly weakened and their massive forms growing increasingly illusory, abruptly plunged into the grand formation formed by the Fire Bird Clan members and disappeared.
"Fight as you retreat!"
The Fire Bird Clan leader, while directing the formation, also urged everyone to continuously fall back.
"Where do you think you're escaping to?!"
Two Advanced Demigods from the Shen Family and the Demon Race simultaneously stepped forward. The two divine-level treasures shot skyward together, attacking the battle formation formed by the Fire Bird Clan.
At that very moment, a high, piercing bird cry emanated from the Fire Bird Clan's formation. Everyone saw an enormous, vividly solid scarlet bird erupt from the formation and shoot into the sky.
The energy pressure radiated by this colossal bird was even stronger than that of the previous five. Toweringly huge, it occupied a vast swath of the high sky, surging forward. Its two sharp talons reached out and clawed forward, actually repelling the two divine-level treasures.
However, the great bird was also forced back a distance.
The elderly Fire Bird Clan leader directed his clansmen, maintaining the formation while rapidly ascending toward the summit of the massive volcano behind them.
"Don't let them escape!"
The two Advanced Demigods from the Shen Family and Demon Race commanding the divine treasures shouted simultaneously, driving their treasures in pursuit. The rest of their forces also surged forward.
In moments, the old man led the Fire Bird Clan to the summit of the great volcano, arriving at the crater's edge.
From the crater, boiling, scalding lava poured forth endlessly. The temperature and heat were astonishing. Looking inside the crater, even more scarlet lava could be seen, forming an expansive scarlet lava lake within, bubbling and roiling, constantly belching smoke.
"Hahaha…
Where do you think you feather-brained lot can hide now?
Even if you hide inside this volcano, it will be useless."
One of the Demon Race's Advanced Demigods laughed uproariously.
However, many inwardly sighed with admiration. The overall combat power of these Fire Bird Clan members was truly impressive. Under siege by so many experts and divine treasures, they had managed to hold out until now.
No wonder the Tianyan Realm had once been such a perilous secret realm. Most likely it was because these Fire Bird Clan members guarded it, attacking any outsider who dared enter to explore for treasures.
Many Demigods who had perished within the Tianyan Realm in the past had actually been slain by these very Fire Bird Clan members.
"You outsiders, craving the treasures left by the Celestial Flame Divine Bird… you are simply delusional!
You will never succeed!"
The Fire Bird Clan leader cried out angrily.
"Gentlemen, I suggest we join forces to deal with these Fire Bird Clan members. If this drags on, who knows how much more of our time will be wasted."
At this moment, one Advanced Demigod from the Shen Family suddenly looked towards Jin Yuehai and the other strong individuals and spoke.
Besides Jin Yuehai, there were over a dozen other men present, each hailing from major, powerful clans or factions, including the youth from the Tianhuang Forbidden Land.
"The reason these Fire Bird Clan fighters are so strong is that here, they occupy a position of power.
The volcano beneath their feet and the surrounding space provide them with a constant source of energy.
Moreover, I suspect this very volcano is connected to the Celestial Flame Divine Bird.
Because within this world, the energy and laws present at this location should be the most advanced.
Also, the Fire Bird Battle Formation they've deployed seems to have drawn forth a wisp of the Celestial Flame Divine Bird's spirit essence, which is why it can wield such power and withstand divine treasures.
I suspect the treasure left by the Celestial Flame Divine Bird, or perhaps the cultivation cave abode or dwelling where it resided in life, should be somewhere nearby."
The youth from the Tianhuang Forbidden Land slowly explained.
Hearing his words, the eyes of the others lit up.
"Let's join forces.
Capture the Fire Bird Clan members if possible; kill any we cannot to avoid wasting time."
The Tianhuang Forbidden Land youth then added.
"Very well, let us join forces then."
The Green-robed Man, with seven green treasure umbrellas spinning around him, nodded in agreement.
The other men also nodded one after another. Only Immortal Maiden Qingxia stood aloof in the distance, her expression cold and silent.
From beginning to end, no one paid any attention to Ye Yunfei.
At that moment, everyone began attacking the Fire Bird Clan in unison. The Tianhuang Forbidden Land youth drove the half-finger bone, which erupted with divine radiance as he charged to the forefront.
Everyone now understood: this half-finger bone was undoubtedly divine bone from some Deity of ancient times, equivalent to a divine-level treasure.
It was said that a Deity's body contained mysterious divine energy. Even after a Deity fell, their remains retained tremendous energy. Even a single bone or drop of blood was not something lower-level beings could casually approach.
Above the battle formation formed by the Fire Bird Clan, the colossal scarlet bird flapped its vast wings. Its sharp talons contained terrifying force, each forward swipe shredding the space ahead to pieces.
There was no denying the immense combat power of this scarlet bird.
However, under the combined assault of so many experts and so many divine treasures, the scarlet bird soon began to falter, being forced to retreat continuously.
The Fire Bird Clan members beneath the scarlet bird also grew pale-faced, clearly having consumed too much energy. Some began to bleed from the corners of their mouths.
The Fire Bird Clan leader saw his clansmen growing increasingly listless and pale. He knew they truly could not hold on much longer.
He directed his people to retreat further and further back until they all reached the very rim of the crater. Any further back, and they would plunge into the roiling lava lake below.
Rumble…
As the Fire Bird Clan members reached the crater's edge, from within the churning, bubbling scarlet lava below, a red palace suddenly rose upward.
Seeing this sudden appearance of a red palace, everyone was somewhat shocked.
"This palace must be the Celestial Flame Divine Bird's true cultivation cave abode and dwelling.
The treasure it left behind is highly likely to be inside.
Everyone, let's storm this cave abode together and seize the Celestial Flame Divine Bird's treasure!"
Seeing the red palace rising from the seething lava, everyone's eyes shone brightly. The Tianhuang Forbidden Land youth immediately shouted.
Hearing his words, the others grew even more excited.
"Everyone, prepare! Let's storm this palace together!"
The Shen Family and Demon Race Demigods roared in unison.
At this point, the Fire Bird Clan leader had already led his people to the grand entrance of the red palace.
"Sacred Ancestral Hall!
To preserve some semblance of our bloodline, we have no choice but to seek refuge within the Ancestral Hall!"
The elderly Fire Bird Clan leader wore a complicated expression. Originally, he shouldn't have led these outsiders here.
But the Fire Bird Clan members were few in number, facing imminent extermination.
He simply couldn't bear to see his clan truly vanish, so he had no choice but to retreat here with his clansmen, hoping to enter the Ancestral Hall for refuge.
He didn't know if his decision was right or wrong, nor what consequences it might bring. But matters had progressed this far; he had no other options left.
"So, shall we also prepare to enter this palace?
The Celestial Flame Divine Bird's treasure is indeed likely inside," the Golden-horned Dragon Silkworm said to Ye Yunfei.
"Ancestral Holy Spirit! Our clan faces extermination and seeks refuge within the Ancestral Hall!
We beseech the Ancestral Holy Spirit to grant permission!"
At that moment, the elderly Fire Bird Clan leader gave a mighty roar. He turned, knelt, then raised his hands high, forming a peculiar hand seal resembling a bird in flight.
"We beseech the Ancestral Holy Spirit to grant permission!"
The other Fire Bird Clan members all felt complex emotions, as most already regretted leading the outsiders here. But there was no choice now; they followed the leader's example, shouting in unison.
Boom!
The great doors of the red palace cracked open slightly.
"Inside!"
The leading elder roared. Throwing his red spear forward, it transformed into a red dragon that lunged towards the enemies ahead.
Roar…
All Fire Bird Clan members exerted their full power, activating the Fire Bird Battle Formation. A scarlet bird surged forth, ferociously charging towards the enemies ahead.
At the same time, the elder led the Fire Bird Clan members as they retreated towards the palace doors.
"Stop them!"
All eight Advanced Demigods of the Shen Family and Demon Race roared together.
Boom! Boom!
Treasures, weapons, and torrents of violent energy, like a rainstorm, bombarded the area of the palace doors.
"Aaaah!"
Immediately, nearly half of the Fire Bird Clan members could no longer withstand it. Agonized screams rang out as they fell, instantly dead.