"Quick, retreat inside!"
The elderly man of the Fire Bird Clan watched his own clansmen suffer heavy casualties and roared with immense grief and indignation.
The remaining members of the Fire Bird Clan swiftly charged into the palace one by one.
"Let's go in too!"
An Advanced Demigod from the Demon Race took the lead and rushed forward, controlling the resplendent demonic blade that bloomed with rolling divine radiance.
At this moment, the palace doors were still slightly ajar. However, just as this Advanced Demigod of the Demon Race charged to the palace doors, they suddenly and swiftly shut automatically.
This Advanced Demigod of the Demon Race couldn't help but fly into a rage, urging the demonic blade to slash towards the palace doors.
The next instant, a tremendous metallic clang rang out. The demonic blade struck the palace doors, igniting a cascade of dazzling, brilliant sparks, but the doors didn't move an inch.
The Advanced Demigod continued, driving the demonic blade to strike the palace doors relentlessly, blow after blow.
However, to everyone's astonishment, even though this demonic blade was a Deity-level treasure, a dozen consecutive strikes couldn't shift the palace doors in the slightest.
"They're actually this tough!"
Everyone was somewhat taken aback.
An Advanced Demigod of the Shen Family immediately activated the Seven-Colored Treasure Vase, unleashing rolling divine radiance and fiercely crashing it against the palace doors. The impact made the space before the palace tremble, yet the doors remained completely unmoving.
"Everyone, strike together! What are we waiting for?"
The Advanced Demigod of the Demon Race shouted loudly.
The youth from the Wasteland Forbidden Land promptly controlled the half-piece of finger bone floating before him, which erupted with towering, pristine white divine radiance and terrifying energy, and fiercely slammed into the palace doors.
Subsequently, the other powerful individuals all joined in as well. One treasure after another, one powerful attack after another, continuously fell upon the palace doors.
In the end, aside from Ye Yunfei, Princess Qingxia, and the maids by her side, everyone present had already taken action.
But to everyone's astonishment, the palace doors remained as still as ever.
"Princess Qingxia, what are you still waiting for? If you want to obtain the Tianyan Divine Pearl, you must join forces and cooperate with us to break into this palace. Otherwise, you can only look on helplessly," a man turned his head and shouted loudly at Princess Qingxia.
"How presumptuous! Does the actions of our princess require your instruction?"
One of the maids immediately shouted back fiercely.
"Never mind. Let us strike as well. The Fire Bird Clan is too stubborn. He's right. To obtain the Tianyan Divine Pearl, I must enter this palace," Immortal Maiden Qingxia pondered for a moment before speaking slowly.
A white, jade-like flute flew out from her sleeve. As soon as it appeared, the flute began playing beautiful and otherworldly melodies, the sound mellifluous, intoxicating every creature present.
After manifesting, this jade flute instantly pierced through space and arrived before the palace doors. It then erupted with rolling divine radiance and crashed directly into the doors.
Infinite energy poured out from this jade flute, continuously bombarding the palace doors.
Everyone noticed that under the jade flute's impact, the palace doors actually quivered slightly.
"Truly worthy of Princess Qingxia!"
Everyone was delighted.
"What's the matter with you people? Dealing with a mere Fire Bird Clan has taken this long?"
Just at that moment, an dissatisfied voice came from afar, followed by a tall-bodied Demon Race expert arriving through the air.
This demon was covered in green scales and had two curved horns on its head, exuding the powerful demonic energy of a Perfected Demigod.
"Greetings, my lord."
The other members of the Demon Race quickly turned around and respectfully bowed upon seeing this expert.
Simultaneously, an Advanced Demigod from the Demon Race stepped forward and briefly recounted what had transpired.
"I see."
The newly arrived Perfected Demigod of the Demon Race nodded, then gestured and took over the demonic blade.
This demonic blade was a Deity-level treasure. In the hands of a Perfected Demigod expert, it could unleash even greater power.
With a *boom*, the Perfected Demigod of the Demon Race grasped the demonic blade and slashed it towards the palace doors.
With a *clang*, following a loud crash, the palace doors trembled slightly.
Right then, a plain-looking old man suddenly appeared by the Shen Family's side. With a wave of his hand, he took over the Shen Family's Deity-level treasure, the Seven-Colored Treasure Vase.
The other members of the Shen Family were both startled and overjoyed seeing this old man and hurriedly bowed in salute.
It turned out this old man who had suddenly appeared was a Perfected Demigod of the Shen Family. This Shen Family Perfected Demigod raised the Seven-Colored Treasure Vase high, pouring his internal energy into it continuously. The treasure vase then soared into the air and, carrying formidable energy, fiercely crashed into the palace doors, causing them to shake under the impact.
The arrival of these two Perfected Demigods from the Demon Race and the Shen Family made the collective assault even more powerful.
"Everyone, don't hold back! Attack with all your might! Once we break through this gate, we can get inside!" someone shouted loudly.
Everyone struck at the palace doors with full force, causing them to begin swaying unsteadily.
"Excellent! Looks like the palace doors are about to be broken through!" someone exclaimed in delight.
At the same time, inside the palace, the Fire Bird Clan elder stood not far from the gate, watching the precarious palace doors with intense anxiety in his heart.
He knew that once this palace gate was breached and the enemies outside charged in, the outcome that would greet the Fire Bird Clan would likely be complete annihilation.
After entering the palace, the Fire Bird Clan members immediately dispersed around an ancient altar within, sitting down in small groups to begin recuperating from their wounds.
Because the Fire Bird Clan had entered this palace before, there was no particular curiosity about its interior. Moreover, this palace was a holy ground in the hearts of the Fire Bird Clan. Everyone maintained utmost reverence upon entering, not daring to wander around recklessly or tamper with anything inside.
A moving image hovered before the Fire Bird Clan elder, depicting the situation outside the palace doors.
Within the image, a large group of powerhouses was employing various methods, attacking the palace doors with full force.
The gates were now shaking even more intensely.
"Only that human youth hasn't acted, simply standing back there watching."
At this point, the Fire Bird Clan elder noticed Ye Yunfei.
Throughout the entire process, Ye Yunfei had not struck a blow, merely observing from the rear.
"Even though he hasn't attacked, the purpose for coming to this world should still be to obtain the treasure left behind by our clan's guardian deity, the Celestial Flame Divine Bird, right?" the Fire Bird Clan elder said, looking at Ye Yunfei for a moment.
"Elder, the young princess is seriously wounded. We are running low on healing elixirs. We must find a way to break out and search for medicinal herbs and pills to treat her," a man walked up to the elder and spoke at that moment.
The Fire Bird Clan elder turned and approached a girl of about thirteen years old. This girl wore luxurious attire, with delicate features and pure, intelligent eyes. However, her face was pale, her aura feeble, and nearly half her clothes were stained red with blood.
"Princess, how do you feel?" the Fire Bird Clan elder asked gently.
"Elder, I'm fine. Since we've entered the ancestral hall, the enemies outside shouldn't be able to get in anymore, right?" the princess shook her head and asked.
She didn't want the elder to worry for her.
"Young princess, do not fret. Please rest and heal in peace. I will think of a way to deal with those enemies outside. The ancestral hall will also protect us," the elder nodded and replied.
In truth, this Fire Bird Clan elder was acutely aware that it would likely be difficult for the ancestral hall to keep the enemies barred outside the doors. Because the overall strength of the enemies was simply too great, and with so many Deity-level treasures, it was highly possible that the powerful foes outside would break through the doors in not much time.
"Elder, did our Fire Bird Clan lose many people? I can't see many uncles, aunts..." the young princess asked, her expression sorrowful.
The Fire Bird Clan elder's gaze swept over the Fire Bird Clan members recuperating around him, and he couldn't help but let out a silent sigh in his heart. Earlier, outside, several hundred clansmen remained of the Fire Bird Clan. However, many were killed again at the palace doors. Now, roughly only half remained.
Although the Fire Bird Clan was not completely annihilated, its numbers were indeed dwindling to a pitiful few.
"Princess, please do not worry about this. Our Fire Bird Clan will continue to be passed down," the elder comforted.
This young girl possessed the purest bloodline among the Fire Bird Clan, the youngest prodigy closest to a reversion to primordial state. Since childhood, she had been revered as the princess of the Fire Bird Clan, their greatest hope for resurgence in the future.
*Clang! Clang! Clang!…*
At that moment, even more intense metallic collision sounds echoed into the palace from outside the doors, and the doors shook all the more violently.
Every member of the Fire Bird Clan inside the palace understood what this signified. It probably wouldn't be long before the palace gates were breached.
The Fire Bird Clan elder stood up and walked behind the palace doors, gazing at the shaking gates. For a moment, he couldn't think of any countermeasure.
With a wave of his hand, another image appeared before him, showing the situation outside the palace doors.
"That human youth… seems to carry a somewhat familiar aura."
Suddenly, the Fire Bird Clan elder's gaze locked intently on Ye Yunfei within the image.
Ye Yunfei stood at the very rear of the crowd, hands behind his back, silently watching the group that was collectively attacking the palace doors.
The Fire Bird Clan elder stared fixedly at Ye Yunfei, then recalled a time, long ago, when a Deity had entered the Tianyan Realm.
At that time, even though the Celestial Flame Divine Bird had already fallen, a clone still remained stationed in the Tianyan Realm.
That Deity from outside and the Celestial Flame Divine Bird seemed to be old acquaintances, specifically coming in to reminisce.
The foreign Deity conversed merrily with the clone of the Celestial Flame Divine Bird, staying within the Tianyan Realm for half a year before bidding farewell and leaving.
Back then, this Fire Bird Clan elder was a young attendant beside the Celestial Flame Divine Bird, responsible for serving tea and water. Thus, he was intimately familiar with that foreign Deity's aura.
He remembered that the Deity was skilled in swordplay. Vast amounts of sharp and overbearing Sword Qi swirled all over his body, slicing open one tiny black spatial rift after another in the space around him, no matter where he stood.
Just a moment ago, from Ye Yunfei's body, he sensed a sword aura similar to that Deity's.
Though Ye Yunfei's sword aura was much weaker than that foreign Deity's aura from long ago, unmistakably and significantly weaker, they came from the same lineage—it was most likely part of the same sword technique inheritance.
"Could this youth be the descendant or disciple of the Deity powerhouse from back then?"
The Fire Bird Clan elder's gaze fixed on Ye Yunfei, perceiving the sword energy emanating from him, and he couldn't help but speak aloud.
"If that's truly the case, then our Fire Bird Clan and he could be considered close allies. Then, what is the purpose for him coming to this world? By all logic, if he is the descendant or disciple of that Deity, he should know about the circumstances of our Flame Realm. Could he be here to find our Fire Bird Clan people?"
The Fire Bird Clan elder speculated.
"Looks like these guys are about to breach the palace doors soon. The treasures left by the Celestial Flame Divine Bird are likely inside. When they break through, we should charge in too. We mustn't let them get the first strike," the Golden-horned Silkworm sent a Sound Transmission to Ye Yunfei.
"Agreed. If they break through, we'll follow and go in," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Young man, may I ask, are you a descendant or disciple of Lord Jian Shenzi?"
Just at that moment, a Sound Transmission suddenly entered Ye Yunfei's mind.
"Descendant or successor of Lord Jian Shenzi?"
Ye Yunfei was taken aback for a moment, then remembered that back in the Sword Grave of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, the green-robed man had once told him that Jian Shenzi was his master.
The Grand Unification of Ten Thousand Swords technique was the swordsmanship inheritance left behind by Jian Shenzi. Counting it that way, he truly was Jian Shenzi's successor.
"Correct. I could be considered Lord Jian Shenzi's successor," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Lord Jian Shenzi and our clan's protector, the Celestial Flame Divine Bird, were old acquaintances. Lord Jian Shenzi once entered the Tianyan Realm long ago to discuss the Path of Cultivation with the Celestial Flame Divine Bird. He stayed in our world for half a year before departing. Hence, I am quite familiar with Lord Jian Shenzi's sword technique inheritance."
That voice sounded again within Ye Yunfei's mind.
By now, Ye Yunfei had discerned that the one sending the Sound Transmission was the red-robed elder leading the Fire Bird Clan.
"Is that so? Lord Jian Shenzi once entered this world and even discussed cultivation with the Celestial Flame Divine Bird? How is that possible?"
Hearing the elder's words, Ye Yunfei was somewhat surprised.
According to what the blue-robed man in the Sword Grave of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds had said, Jian Shenzi should be an ancient Deity, moreover from the legendary Sword Realm, not belonging to this void. How could he be acquainted with the Celestial Flame Divine Bird, even entering this Tianyan Realm to converse with it?
"Senior, are you certain Lord Jian Shenzi truly entered this world and spoke with the Celestial Flame Divine Bird?" Ye Yunfei couldn't help but send a Sound Transmission to ask.
"Of course I'm certain. Because I was the one serving tea by the side back then. Precisely because of that, I am very familiar with Lord Jian Shenzi's aura. Young man, the sword aura on your body is almost identical to Lord Jian Shenzi's sword aura. That is how I know you cultivate his inheritance," the elder replied.
"When did that specific event happen? I heard the Celestial Flame Divine Bird is an ancient divine bird, having already perished in ancient times. Could what you're saying happened during ancient times?"
Ye Yunfei felt secretly astonished and transmitted another inquiry.
If what the elder described happened in ancient times, that would mean this Fire Bird Clan elder also belonged to that era, making his seniority terrifyingly high.
"Although the Celestial Flame Divine Bird perished in ancient times, it once left behind a clone stationed within our world for a very long time. Only later did that clone of the Celestial Flame Divine Bird suddenly vanish. The clone most likely left our world to venture outside. The one who formed a bond with Lord Jian Shenzi was precisely that clone of the Celestial Flame Divine Bird."
"So that's how it was."
Upon hearing the Fire Bird Clan elder's words, Ye Yunfei finally understood.
Suddenly, Ye Yunfei also recalled what the blue-robed man in the Sword Grave had once said: Lord Jian Shenzi originally also had a clone stationed within the Sword Grave, but later left the grave, whereabouts unknown.
"Could it be that back then, it was Lord Jian Shenzi's clone who entered this Tianyan Realm and formed an acquaintance, socializing with the clone left behind by the Celestial Flame Divine Bird?" Ye Yunfei pondered inwardly, simultaneously conveying his conjecture to Hun Lao.
"It wouldn't be anything novel. This is indeed highly possible," Hun Lao, hearing Ye Yunfei's words, replied.
"Young man, you are Lord Jian Shenzi's successor, meaning you and our Fire Bird Clan are close allies. Because our protector, the Celestial Flame Divine Bird, shared a fine friendship with Lord Jian Shenzi. Back then, Lord Jian Shenzi stayed within our Tianyan Realm for a full half-year," the Fire Bird Clan elder transmitted.
Listening to the elder's transmission, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but fall silent.
If indeed, as this Fire Bird Clan elder stated, Jian Shenzi once entered this Tianyan Realm, befriending the Celestial Flame Divine Bird, and he himself had inherited Jian Shenzi's swordsmanship legacy, effectively becoming Jian Shenzi's successor, then he truly shared a connection with the Fire Bird Clan. However, the meaning behind this Fire Bird Clan elder's words was clear: he wanted Ye Yunfei to take action and assist the Fire Bird Clan.
The Fire Bird Clan's current predicament was dire. The majority of its members had already been slain, with only a small portion remaining. Moreover, their ancestral hall was nearly breached.
With so many experts gathered here, the Fire Bird Clan could be no match.
Once the palace gates were broken through, the Fire Bird Clan members would likely be slaughtered by these powerful foes in an instant.
Even Ye Yunfei himself lacked the confidence to simultaneously battle so many experts.
After all, there were many Deity-level treasures present here too!