Outside the palace were nothing but transparent flames, but upon stepping inside, flames of various colors and properties appeared. Looking out, turbulent waves of fire in all shades and elements surged violently.
This was a world entirely composed of flame. The space here, having been relentlessly scorched by these terrifyingly high temperatures over countless years, possessed a structure fundamentally different from the outside world. A glance revealed no fixed spatial framework; space itself seemed to flow and ripple like water, continuously shifting and drifting.
Even time here grew indistinct and hazy. The laws of time pervaded the atmosphere, faintly giving the impression that time flowed past like a swift river. Yet, at other moments, time seemed to stand utterly still, returning to nothingness.
In short, the sense of space and time within this palace was profoundly peculiar.
Upon entering, aside from the multicolored flames everywhere, nothing else could be discerned clearly.
Bang! Within the bewildering space and time, amidst the dense array of flames of varying hues, a massive firebird suddenly flashed past, its entire body radiating a cold, metallic luster, moving at extreme speed before vanishing in an instant.
The elite young talents who had entered were currently employing various methods to withstand the terrifying temperatures inside the palace, thus diverting much of their focus. They could only vaguely capture a glimpse of the firebird's fleeting form.
"A bird with three legs!
So the Three-Legged Golden Crow truly is here."
The eyes of one young talent gleamed as he noticed the creature that had flashed by possessed three feet.
Instantly, everyone's spirits perked up. After all the hardships endured to reach this place, this Three-Legged Golden Crow was their ultimate goal.
"Indeed. I too saw clearly that the firebird had three legs, and its body seems to be forged from metal. That should indeed be the Three-Legged Golden Crow," Hun Lao transmitted via sound to Ye Yunfei.
"It went in that direction."
Hun Lao indicated a direction to Ye Yunfei. Although the sense of direction inside this palace was highly unstable, fluctuating constantly like water, Hun Lao possessed an innate talent for spatial manipulation. Even within such chaotic space, he could accurately discern spatial orientation.
Ye Yunfei immediately strode forward in the direction indicated by Hun Lao.
At this moment, the other young elites who had entered the palace were also moving to pursue the recently flashed Three-Legged Golden Crow based on their own perceptions of direction.
However, the space and time here were far too chaotic. Nearly half of the young elites perceived the wrong direction, which was opposite to the one Hun Lao had shown Ye Yunfei.
Only three or four young talents charged in the same direction as Ye Yunfei.
But soon, Hun Lao had Ye Yunfei change course again, heading towards another direction.
According to Hun Lao's explanation, the interior space and time of this palace were extremely disordered, making spatial orientation similarly chaotic. Relying on ordinary perception alone would never lead to the correct direction.
Thus, guided by Hun Lao, Ye Yunfei altered his course several times along the way. Finally, he spotted ahead a giant, colossal bird standing tall, its form seemingly cast entirely from metal, radiating a cold metallic sheen, its eyes frigid, gazing down at him imperiously.
Around its massive body swarmed flames of every color, and hovering behind its head was the faint outline of a massive sun, radiating blindingly brilliant sunlight.
"So it is the Three-Legged Golden Crow. I've finally found it!"
A woman's voice rang out, and then Princess Taiping arrived beside Ye Yunfei, her face alight with delight as she gazed eagerly at the giant bird ahead.
"Princess Taiping, your prowess is remarkable!
In such an environment, you still managed to accurately locate this Three-Legged Golden Crow. I truly bow to your superior skill!"
Sun Ruyu also arrived by Princess Taiping's side.
"Now that we've found the Three-Legged Golden Crow, let's take action and subdue it," Sun Ruyu added.
He then waved his hand, and a streak of white light shot from his palm, exploding with a bang before transforming into a vast, white net that descended towards the three-legged giant bird.
The white net emitted a terrifyingly cold aura. Wherever it passed, the flames in the surrounding space instantly extinguished, even forming patches of white, esoteric ice.
Considering the extreme temperature of the flames within this palace, the cold air emitted by this white net was actually capable of extinguishing them, a testament to its formidable power.
"This net is quite a decent treasure, extremely tough and resilient," Hun Lao remarked with a nod of approval.
However, no sooner had Hun Lao finished speaking than the three-legged giant bird opened its beak and spewed a torrent of scorching fire that directly set the white net ablaze.
"Careful! This Three-Legged Golden Crow is too powerful!"
Sun Ruyu's expression changed immediately. He summoned the white net back with a beckoning gesture.
But the Three-Legged Golden Crow abruptly opened its beak and inhaled, actually swallowing the white net whole into its belly! Then, with another spit, a vast column of fire swept toward Sun Ruyu like a fiery dragon.
Both Sun Ruyu and Princess Taiping paled and hastily retreated together.
A seal engraved with a crest flew forth from Princess Taiping's slender form, erupting with boundless imperial aura. Then, a tall, ancient-looking, vaguely defined emperorly figure materialized, swinging its fist to punch toward the Three-Legged Golden Crow.
"My Glacial Net! You beast! Return my treasure to me!" Sun Ruyu, witnessing his white net being devoured by the Golden Crow, was utterly heartsick.
"This Princess Taiping indeed has some connection to the Golden Wheel Imperial Dynasty," Ye Yunfei noted inwardly, sensing the energetic aura radiating from that seal. Because he cultivated techniques inherited from the Golden Wheel Imperial Dynasty, he was quite familiar with the signature energy of their methods.
At this point, Ye Yunfei had long since retreated some distance, keeping away from the Golden Crow's attack range.
"So the Three-Legged Golden Crow is here!"
The fluctuations of power released by Sun Ruyu and Princess Taiping's engagement with the Golden Crow immediately drew the attention of all the other young elites within the palace.
"We've finally found the Three-Legged Golden Crow!"
The other arriving young elites were extremely excited as they gazed upon the massive three-legged bird.
Rumble…
Immediately, someone rushed forward to attack.
Yuan Yidao, gripping a long saber in his hand, swung a slash that instantly cleaved apart the flames ahead. A roaring blade radiance shot toward the Three-Legged Golden Crow at a shocking speed.
The two young geniuses from the Sima Family, Sima Hao and Sima Jie, also acted simultaneously, each controlling a powerful magical treasure that erupted with dazzling divine light.
"We should act too."
At this moment, Lu Shi arrived at Ye Yunfei's side. He brandished a hefty stone club, sweeping it violently at the Three-Legged Golden Crow, instantly extinguishing a large swathe of flames ahead.
Then, one after another, the young elites took action. All sought to be the first to subdue the Three-Legged Golden Crow.
Boom! Suddenly, the Three-Legged Golden Crow retreated, moving so fast it was almost imperceptible, instantly vanishing into the billowing flames.
"Not good! It escaped again. This Golden Crow is too fast!"
A dozen or so young talents gave chase.
Yet, because the space and time here were so chaotic, almost everyone felt a different spatial orientation. Thus, before long, everyone was chasing in different directions again.
"Go that way."
At this moment, Hun Lao once again provided Ye Yunfei with directional guidance.
Not long after, Ye Yunfei once again saw the Three-Legged Golden Crow up ahead, its form large and erect, standing there, its icy gaze looking down at him from a lofty vantage.
"So it is here."
As soon as Ye Yunfei caught sight of the Three-Legged Golden Crow, Princess Taiping and Sun Ruyu arrived as well.
"It seems this Princess Taiping must have some method to lock onto this Three-Legged Golden Crow," Hun Lao transmitted via sound to Ye Yunfei.
"So what if she can lock onto it? This Golden Crow's power is immense. Subduing it will be no easy task.
Moreover, within this palace, the temperature of these flames is terrifying. Any action taken here comes with a hefty penalty, one's strength severely diminished, making subduing the Golden Crow even more difficult," Ye Yunfei said to Hun Lao while sensing the terrifying energy emanating from the Three-Legged Golden Crow.
Upon seeing the Golden Crow, Princess Taiping and Sun Ruyu immediately launched their attacks.
Sun Ruyu usually appeared to be an elegant, refined young master, but once he moved into combat, an aura of domineering, world-shaking power radiated from him. Gripping a golden war halberd, he swept it horizontally, causing space to tremble as he instantly dispersed a vast expanse of flames ahead.
Princess Taiping lifted her delicate, jade-like hand, palm upwards, cradling the seal. Imperial aura spread mightily, shaking the Eight Directions, and an ancient, ghostly emperorly form accompanied her movements, throwing a powerful punch forward.
The Three-Legged Golden Crow's cold eyes never flinched. Neither dodging nor evading, it extended a massive bird's claw, flashing with icy metallic luster, to swat forward.
For a time, the energy within this space became tumultuous and vast, divine light blazed with intensity, and flashes of lightning even crackled amidst rumbles of thunder.
"These two possess not insignificant strength," Hun Lao remarked, observing Sun Ruyu and Princess Taiping.
"I think it's mainly because they hail from factions with incredibly deep foundations, giving them many good treasures," the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm opined.
"What are they compared to Master? Before our Master, their so-called strength barely merits standing at the sidelines," Hu Miao snorted disdainfully.
"Hmm?
Brother over there, is it because the power of this Three-Legged Golden Crow is too great, its energy too intimidating, that you dare not act?
It's no matter. With the two of us here, harming you will not be easy for it.
How about this: you assist the two of us in our assault. If we succeed in subduing this Three-Legged Golden Crow together, we shall consider it a great meritorious deed jointly achieved by the three of us for the Tianhao Imperial Dynasty.
I will ask Princess Taiping to grant you a handsome reward. Furthermore, from then on, you could befriend both my clan and the Tianhao Imperial Dynasty."
Sun Ruyu, seeing Ye Yunfei standing by watching the battle without joining in, assumed that Ye Yunfei was intimidated by the Golden Crow's energy and too afraid to act. Thus, he made this offer.
The conditions were enticing. Both the Sun Clan and the Tianhao Imperial Dynasty were major powers within the Sixth Void. To simultaneously establish friendly relations with both was something countless beings dreamed of.
"Ah, that reminds me. Given your ability within this palace to track this Golden Crow's movements even faster than the two of us, it seems you must possess some high-grade treasure for pursuit purposes, correct?" Sun Ruyu added as an afterthought.
Princess Taiping's gaze merely swept past Ye Yunfei fleetingly, as cool as ever. From beginning to end, she did not utter a single word.
Of noble birth, possessing extraordinary talent, and with outstanding appearance, she was one of the famed beauties of the Sixth Void. The men pursuing her were truly legion, which she found quite a headache. Consequently, she had long cultivated an attitude of cold indifference towards unfamiliar men.
Let alone strangers, even someone like Sun Ruyu, who persistently sought her affection, received nothing more than a lukewarm, detached demeanor from her.