Before long, Ye Yunfei arrived before a sea of flames. Looking out, the path ahead was completely blocked by overwhelming fire that blotted out the sky. Blazing tongues of flame soared into the heavens, painting the world above and below in a fiery red. The scorching heat caused the space ahead to become so unstable it wavered like water.
This was an ocean composed entirely of fire. Just standing before it, the terrifying heat made one's mouth parched and throat dry. Some weaker individuals even had their clothes begin to ignite, forcing them to hurriedly retreat from the fiery sea.
Quite a few people had already gathered before the sea of flames, watching and observing, while a significant number had already ventured into the conflagration, cautiously advancing further.
"I heard that the Three-Legged Golden Crow left behind by the Yangming King might be hidden deep within this sea of fire. That crow possesses a trace of bloodline from the true mythical golden crow of the primordial chaos — incredibly precious."
"But according to ancient legends, during that great battle, the Yangming King's Three-Legged Golden Crow suffered fatal injuries. It might already be dead. How could it still be within this sea of fire?"
"That Three-Legged Golden Crow possesses mythical beast bloodline. It wouldn't die so easily. And even if it is dead, its essence blood or remnant soul would be priceless treasures. Moreover, some master diviners speculate it's highly likely that golden crow cultivated an inner elixir in its lifetime. So what's in this sea of fire could very well be the inner elixir left behind by the Yangming King's Three-Legged Golden Crow."
"The Three-Legged Golden Crow's inner elixir contains its lifetime's essence. Its value isn't much lower than the real thing. Obtaining it would be a monumental fortune."
...
Before the sea of fire, many people were discussing, but this inferno was too dangerous. Without sufficient strength, attempting to charge in would likely result in being reduced to ashes.
Many who observed the terrifyingly hot sea of flames turned pale. Forget entering, they couldn't even withstand getting too close.
"Forget it. The Three-Legged Golden Crow may be precious, but only the strong are qualified to obtain it. We weaker ones shouldn't dwell on it. Let's go look elsewhere, not waste time here."
Facing the roiling sea of fire before them, many who judged their strength insufficient began to turn and leave. The allure of the Three-Legged Golden Crow was great, but life was more important.
"The Three-Legged Golden Crow is quite useful for our Tianhao Imperial Dynasty. I shall enter to retrieve it. Wait here for me."
Suddenly, a palace-attired beauty arrived before the sea of fire, leading a group. This beauty was graceful and poised, her red lips parting as she spoke with a captivating voice.
"Princess, the temperature of this sea of fire is extremely high. Perhaps let us accompany you inside. Before departure, His Majesty instructed us to ensure your safety, Princess."
A guard stepped forward to speak. Though just a guard, he possessed the strength of an intermediate Void God — a testament to the terrifying depth of the Tianhao Imperial Dynasty's foundation.
"It's Princess Taiping of the Tianhao Imperial Dynasty! I heard she's the most monstrous young genius of the dynasty. This time she's personally leading the expedition to explore the Yangming Secret Realm. The entire Tianhao Imperial Dynasty attaches great importance, secretly dispatching True Gods to protect her!"
Seeing the palace-attired beauty, many expressions turned to shock. The Tianhao Imperial Dynasty was a famously powerful force in the Sixth Void; even the Guardian Faction currently avoided provoking them.
"Unnecessary. I can handle it. This sea of fire is too dangerous for you all; unnecessary casualties would occur. Wait outside."
Princess Taiping stated plainly. After speaking, she lightly lifted her lotus feet and stepped into the towering sea of flames. Flames from all directions gathered like roaring waves, surging forth to engulf her.
Boom...
A seal rushed from above her head, radiating boundless imperial majesty. Instantly, it drove away all surrounding flames. Where she trod became a clear, cool environment. Faintly, the phantom of an emperor appeared behind her, surveying all directions and intimidating the cosmos.
In the blink of an eye, Princess Taiping disappeared into the boundless sea of fire.
"Princess Taiping, wait for me! This unworthy one is willing to venture into this sea of fire with you to retrieve the Three-Legged Golden Crow. Consider it my small contribution to the Tianhao Imperial Dynasty!"
At that moment, a handsome, dashing young master stepped through the air to arrive, waving a folding fan, a charming smile gracing his lips. His appearance immediately attracted fervent gazes from many young women.
"It's Young Master Sun Ruyu, elegant and unrestrained — the white knight in many young ladies' hearts!"
"Yet he loves only Princess Taiping, pursuing her passionately."
"I heard thus far, Princess Taiping has remained cold towards him, while Young Master Sun Ruyu hasn't changed his heart, as infatuated as ever. Ah, such is fate's trickery! A perfect golden boy and jade girl, yet until now they cannot come together."
...
Seeing Young Master Sun Ruyu appear, everyone began to discuss.
Young Master Sun Ruyu stepped into the sea of fire ahead, chasing after Princess Taiping's direction.
The few dozen beauties who followed Young Master Sun Ruyu all stopped outside the sea of flames to wait.
It was widely known these beauties were all family-assigned attendants to Young Master Sun Ruyu — all Deities, each possessing formidable combat strength.
Boom...
Just then, a burly, muscular man strode over. With each step, the earth shook several times, as if a prehistoric beast had arrived behind the crowd.
"Not good! Move aside! It's Lu Shi of the Lu Family! He's fiercely powerful and has a violent temper! Whoever blocks his path will suffer injury or death!"
Many were so frightened they pissed themselves, scrambling frantically to dodge aside.
But the burly man's speed was too fast. With one step, he crossed a great distance. Several who couldn't dodge in time were sent flying forward by his collision, tumbling into the sea of fire ahead. Not only were they injured and spitting blood, but they were also ignited by the flames, their bodies blazing before they scrambled out in sorry states.
"Lu Shi, you went too far! Why did you injure our Zhang Family people!"
Someone, unconvinced, spoke up to question.
"I just bumped into them. Got a problem? Come duel me if you're dissatisfied."
Lu Shi's eyes widened as he spoke to that person, simultaneously brandishing the large cleaver in his hand.
The Zhang Family member, though furious, dared not speak further. He knew Lu Shi had a violent temper, feared nothing under heaven or earth, and possessed terrifying innate divine strength. Once he fought, even intermediate Void Gods wouldn't dare clash with him head-on.
"Hmph! If you won't duel, then piss off! I'm going in to get the Three-Legged Golden Crow!"
Lu Shi coldly snorted, then stepped into the sea of flames.
"This sea of fire has an astonishing blaze. It's probably been burning here for many long years. There must definitely be fire-attribute magic treasures inside," said the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm.
"Yes, there definitely are fire-attribute or yang-attribute treasures inside, and highly valuable ones. I'm going in to investigate," Ye Yunfei said, looking at the sea of fire ahead while his Soul Power continuously sensed its conditions.
"Master, this sea of fire seems quite dangerous. Are you sure you want to enter?" Hu Miao said.
"Look, Sima Jie is here!"
Just then, someone whispered.
Everyone saw a blue-robed youth striding over, stopping before the sea of fire, with six young people following behind.
"I heard Sima Jie is one of the outstanding talents of the Sima Family's younger generation, among the few most gifted geniuses. This generation of the Sima Family truly has talent emerging in droves, destined to flourish in the future!" someone said enviously.
"Wait here for me. I'm going in to investigate," that Sima Jie said to the six behind him, then flashed into the sea of fire ahead. The six Sima Family youths waited within the fiery border.
Next, several other famous young geniuses arrived one after another, entering the sea of fire to search for the Three-Legged Golden Crow left behind by the Yangming King.
"You all, enter the Phantom Tower. The Phantom Tower should be able to isolate this sea of fire's heat energy," Ye Yunfei said.
Ye Yunfei knew Hu Miao and the others might struggle to withstand this sea of fire. Especially Huang Shang — as a ghost cultivator, he practiced dark-attribute energy and laws, directly opposed to fire energy. This sea of fire was extremely unfriendly to him.
Ye Yunfei teleported Hu Miao and the others into the Phantom Tower, then flashed into the towering sea of fire ahead.
"Look, another kid just went in. Just who is this kid? I've never seen him before. He actually dares enter this sea of fire!"
The moment Ye Yunfei stepped into the fire, many immediately noticed him. Those who had entered earlier were all relatively famous young geniuses. Everyone could tell this sea of fire was extremely dangerous; only those young strong ones dared enter. Those without sufficient strength wouldn't dare charge in to seek death.
Just after Ye Yunfei entered the sea of fire ahead, a dozen-plus figures rapidly approached from behind.
"Members of the Guardian Faction have arrived."
Seeing this group's arrival, many expressions turned wary, secretly sending voice transmissions to warn others.
"Everyone, our Guardian Faction is offering a bounty to hunt several individuals. If anyone recognizes them and can provide their whereabouts, our Guardian Faction will reward heavily."
One man waved his hand. Several paintings flew out, suspending before the crowd, automatically unfurling.
On them were two men, two women, and a jet-black, ghostly humanoid creature exuding sinister aura — precisely Ye Yunfei, the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, Qin Xiaoyu, Hu Miao, and Huang Shang. (The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm's current form was that of a handsome youth in golden robes.)
Since many had seen Ye Yunfei's group mining that Divine Crystal Vein earlier, after questioning some people, the Guardian Faction had painted likenesses of them, each painting infused with corresponding Soul Body auras.
"Eh? That's him! I just saw this kid enter the sea of fire ahead," someone immediately exclaimed, pointing at Ye Yunfei's painting the moment they unfurled.