Rumble, rumble…
The entire palace began to shake violently. The space inside the palace started to continuously crack open, revealing thick spatial rifts. All the flames within the palace grew increasingly violent.
Boom! Boom! Boom…
Flower after flower of flames erupted violently, each explosion releasing terrifying explosive force.
The sheer number of flames existing within this palace was staggering. With so many erupting continuously, it was an utterly terrifying situation. Several young experts, failing to evade in time, were sent flying backward by the blasts.
"Not good! The space inside this palace seems about to completely collapse. We must leave, or we'll be caught in it," one young expert couldn't help but frown and say.
Boom! Boom! Boom…
As he spoke, a mass of flames surrounding him exploded, directly flinging his body backward. By the time he crashed onto the ground, he was pitch black, smoke billowing from his entire body, his hair, body hair, and skin all scorched and smoldering.
Other young experts soon found themselves in similar predicaments, their situations increasingly wretched.
"Let's get out first and talk then." One young expert shot out of the palace like a flash of light. At that moment, Ye Yunfei and that Three-Legged Golden Crow were still locked in fierce combat.
"We'll leave. Let this fellow and the Golden Crow weaken each other severely. We'll re-enter later." A young expert, watching the fierce battle between Ye Yunfei and the Three-Legged Golden Crow, suddenly spoke.
The other young experts were stirred by these words. If this unknown young man truly fought the Golden Crow to a mutual standstill, they could swoop in later and easily reap the benefits.
Thus, one young expert after another retreated from the palace, gathering outside the main entrance.
However, they were all prepared to re-enter the palace at any moment. Their minds were still fixed on the Three-Legged Golden Crow's inner elixir; none were willing to give it up easily.
"Brother, I'll help you!" Lu Shi did not exit. Gritting his teeth, he brandished his thick stone club and joined Ye Yunfei in attacking the Three-Legged Golden Crow.
"Brother Lu, you should leave first. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine," Ye Yunfei felt a touch of warmth at this gesture.
Though Lu Shi's words and actions seemed somewhat crude, even barbaric, and prone to causing offense, his nature was forthright and loyal. He was indeed someone worth befriending.
"Brother, in my opinion, maybe we should give up! Even though you are very strong, this Golden Crow is formidable too. Subduing it won't be easy. You're fighting tooth and nail here against it. If it ends in mutual injury, those guys outside will definitely rush in and profit from the conflict. It's not worth it!" Lu Shi tried to persuade him.
"Brother Lu, please trust me. Get out now. Your presence here will affect my performance," Ye Yunfei said to Lu Shi.
"My being here will affect your performance?" Hearing Ye Yunfei's words, Lu Shi was stunned.
"Yes, Brother Lu. No need to worry on my behalf. Go out first," Ye Yunfei said.
"Alright then. I'll leave first. Take this token. If you need help, send me a message immediately. This palace has very sophisticated restrictions—you might not be able to sense what's happening inside from the outside." Lu Shi thought for a moment, retrieved a Message Jade Slip, and handed it to Ye Yunfei.
"Alright. Thank you, Brother Lu," Ye Yunfei accepted the Message Jade Slip.
Lu Shi hesitated briefly, then finally shot out of the palace in a flash.
"It's time to end this now!" Ye Yunfei looked at the Three-Legged Golden Crow still charging toward him and slowly spoke.
As his voice fell, several hundred Deity-level puppets appeared simultaneously and swarmed forward, surrounding and attacking the Three-Legged Golden Crow.
These four hundred-plus Deity-level puppets were one of Ye Yunfei's trump cards.
Clang! Clang! Clang…
The Golden Crow's avian claws continuously struck the bodies of the puppets. But these puppets were all forged from extremely high-grade smithing materials, their bodies unbelievably hard, impervious to both fire and physical blows.
Because these puppets required extreme temperatures for forging and smelting during their creation, neither the flames spewed by the Golden Crow nor the flames within the palace had any effect on them.
The Golden Crow's attacks could only knock the puppets flying; they could not damage them in the slightest.
The hundreds of Deity-level puppets continuously assailed the Three-Legged Golden Crow. Once knocked away, they immediately charged back. Additionally, Ye Yunfei, Hun Lao, Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, and Hu Miao all employed their own techniques and secret arts, joining forces to suppress the creature.
Gradually, the Three-Legged Golden Crow began to buckle under the pressure.
"It's time!" Hun Lao softly exclaimed.
With a thought from Ye Yunfei, the four-hundred-plus Deity-level puppets pounced forward together, grabbing hold of the Three-Legged Golden Crow—some seizing its head, others its legs, wings, or tail.
Ye Yunfei urged the white short sword to repeatedly slash at the Golden Crow's head, feeling that if the ancient Three-Legged Golden Crow truly had left a remnant soul behind, it was most likely hidden within the bird's skull.
"Truly, heroes emerge from among the youth. I never imagined the Nine-Yang Ancient Scripture would find a worthy successor." Just as Ye Yunfei and the puppets began to suppress the Three-Legged Golden Crow, a voice suddenly rang out, carrying a hint of appreciation.
Upon hearing this, Ye Yunfei was startled and quickly turned to look. He saw a scholarly-looking middle-aged man, hands clasped behind his back, standing amidst the billowing flames, his gaze appraising Ye Yunfei.
"Who is he? Why couldn't I sense his presence at all before?" Ye Yunfei was inwardly shocked.
"He's a Soul Power imprint. If I'm not mistaken, he should be a Soul Power imprint left behind by Yangming King," Hun Lao transmitted his voice to Ye Yunfei.
"Correct, it's indeed a Soul Power imprint." Ye Yunfei, at this moment, also perceived it. The middle-aged man who had suddenly appeared was indeed a Soul Power imprint, albeit one emanating extraordinarily powerful energy.
For a mere Soul Power imprint to possess such a strong energetic aura indicated that its original form must have been a peerless expert.
"I once left one of the Three-Legged Golden Crow's inner elixirs here precisely to await a fated individual. Young man, you cultivate a yang-aligned technique, and your aptitude is good. This inner elixir is a gift to you. There's no need to fight anymore." The middle-aged man looked at Ye Yunfei and slowly spoke.
He then pointed a finger. The Three-Legged Golden Crow directly vanished.
Next, Ye Yunfei saw a golden inner elixir suspended there, radiating dazzling golden divine light.
With a gentle wave of his hand, the middle-aged man sent the golden inner elixir floating slowly over to Ye Yunfei.
"I'll bestow upon you two more yang-aligned techniques. Paired with the Nine-Yang Ancient Scripture you currently cultivate, the results will be very good." The middle-aged man pointed a finger, transmitting a fragment of soul force information into Ye Yunfei's soul sea.
"Indeed, it's information about two technique arts. These techniques passed down by Yangming King himself are sure to be exceptionally powerful," Hun Lao said with pleasant surprise.
"Many thanks to you, Senior, for this great grace of passing on these arts!" Ye Yunfei quickly expressed his gratitude loudly.
"May I ask if you are Yangming King, Senior?" Ye Yunfei cautiously inquired.
"Correct. I am indeed a Soul Power imprint left behind by Yangming King," the middle-aged man nodded.
"However, the purpose of this imprint of mine was mainly for this Three-Legged Golden Crow inner elixir, waiting here for the fated individual. Now that I've given it to you, my mission is complete." Yangming King continued, his figure then slowly fading away.
"Senior! Senior… wait!" Ye Yunfei called out several times.
But the middle-aged man paid Ye Yunfei no mind, quickly vanishing completely.
"The energy of this Soul Power imprint has been exhausted. It could no longer sustain itself," Hun Lao softly said.
"Yes, the energy of that imprint just now has been fully depleted, completely gone," Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm also spoke up.
Ye Yunfei looked at the spot where the middle-aged man had disappeared, a trace of regret in his heart. He had many questions he wished to ask Yangming King regarding this Yangming Secret Realm, Yangming King himself, and the ancient Three-Legged Golden Crow.
But it was clear this Soul Power imprint of Yangming King existed solely for the sake of this inner elixir. Having bestowed it upon Ye Yunfei, its energy immediately ran out and vanished.
"I thank you, Senior, for your great kindness!" Ye Yunfei respectfully performed a deep bow toward the spot where Yangming King had vanished, then stowed the inner elixir away.
Subsequently, Ye Yunfei noticed that the terrifyingly hot flames within the palace were beginning to slowly disappear.
"Time to leave." Ye Yunfei turned and walked out of the palace.
"Well? Should we rush in now? I bet that kid and the Golden Crow have already fought to the point of mutual injury." Outside the palace gates, the young experts were itching for action, ready at any moment to charge back inside.
"I wonder how that brother is doing now?" Lu Shi clutched a Message Jade Slip, looking somewhat anxious.
"It's been this long. That kid and the Golden Crow might have already settled the outcome. Even if not, they should be exhausted from the fight. If we charge in now, we can perfectly capitalize on their exhaustion."
"Alright then, let's go in now." One young expert declared clearly, then shot toward the palace entrance, taking the lead.
However, before he could pass through the palace gates, Ye Yunfei had already emerged from within.