Chapter 37
However, compared to the whereabouts of the beautiful crown prince, Ye Qianli was more concerned about the situation in the Northern Region. Therefore, she cast her gaze towards You Ming once more, who was detained by her side.
Right now, she couldn’t personally go to the Northern Region to check out the situation, and as the first advisor of the Seventh Prince of the Black Tortoise Dynasty, this You Ming was undoubtedly the best way to investigate the truth.
Unfortunately, they were currently fleeing from trouble. Even though she was burning with anxiety, she was temporarily unable to ask anything. She could only wait until they arrived at the temple before finding a place to interrogate him at.
“Your Majesty, we have arrived at the destination you pointed out.” At the same time, the Eastern Sea King—who was leading the way—spoke up. As the only one who knew where the secret passage was, Rong Feng naturally walked forward, preparing to open it.
However, Rong Feng had only taken a few steps forward when Ye Qianli, who had been surveying the surroundings attentively with her right eye, realized that there seemed to be wisps of black fog faintly appearing from a patch of flowering grove not far ahead of them.
As for Rong Feng, he was walking towards this flowering grove. Just as he was about to step into the forest, the Eastern Sea King—who was following beside him along with several important generals of the imperial court—was also about to enter.
This made Ye Qianli, who sensed that something was wrong, immediately open her mouth to warn him, “Your Majesty, wait a moment.”
Boom! Boom! Boom! However, the entire Sacred Palace underwent an explosion of attacks at the same time, producing a deafening sound! The sound of countless palace halls collapsing happened to extinguish Ye Qianli’s warning.
Because of this, Rong Feng and the others did not hear Ye Qianli’s voice at all. They had already stepped into the flowering grove hastily, and Rong Feng himself had already activated his innate talent’s power, causing his body to radiate a red light that soared into the sky.
Screech—
Immediately, a giant bird in the shape of a sparrow emerged from the red light and sank into the flowering woodland like a flying roc falling into the sea. In an instant… The floor of the entire flowering woodland began to slowly glow with a cluster of rays.
Buzz!
Buzz, buzz…!
Strands of mysterious energy were constantly rising from the ground at this moment, urging that cluster of fiery lights to rise from the ground and blaze towards the sky! They slowly gathered to form a giant Vermilion Bird Gate.
This door was obviously the entrance of the secret passageway that led to the Vermilion Bird Temple. It was slowly opening, but what surged out of the door were wisps of black fog?!
“This…” Looking at such a scene made Rong Feng, who was opening the secret passage, turn pale. He could tell! The secret passage… was probably destroyed, or perhaps the Vermilion Bird Temple had already been invaded?!
Bang!
At the same time, the Vermilion Bird Gate suddenly opened completely. The berserk black fog rushed down from mid-air like a flood discharge. The first to bear the brunt of the attack would be Rong Feng!
“Your Majesty!” The Eastern Sea King, who was closest to Rong Feng, had a drastic change in expression. Even though he was old, his body was still strong, and he stood in front of Rong Feng without any hesitation.
Not only that…!
“Sea Scepter—” The Eastern Sea King had already called forth his primary battle weapon. Under the urging of his mystic energy, a giant wolf instantly erupted from his shiny trident like a tidal wave, devouring and entangling with that black mist that was pouring out wildly.
It seemed that the strength of the East Sea King was enough to withstand this sudden turn of events. However, before everyone’s hearts could level out a little, they heard a hissing sound!
Roar—!
A terrifying roar filled with impressive divine might came from behind the Vermilion Bird Gate. It sounded so close! The divine might was so powerful that it almost instantly shattered the waves that the Eastern Sea King had created.
Closely following that—
Bang!
Everyone at the scene watched in horror as a giant beastly foot stepped through the Vermilion Bird Gate. Everyone recognized it as the Black Tortoise’s foot! It was so real…
The Black Tortoise Dynasty’s guardian beast, the Black Tortoise, had really crossed over its domain! Moreover, at this moment, it directly descended in front of them, stepping onto the secret passage leading from the Vermilion Bird Sacred Palace to the Vermilion Bird Temple.
What did this mean?
Many people were unwilling to think about it, but even if they did not want to think about it, this group of officials from the Vermilion Bird Dynasty all understood that this meant that the Vermilion Bird Temple had probably already been destroyed.
Otherwise…
How could this secret passage that led straight to the temple, which was also protected by the Vermilion Bird’s divine power, be so easily broken? Also… If the Vermilion Bird Temple wasn’t in trouble, why didn’t any of the consecrators of the dynasty within the temple come out?
The Vermilion Bird Dynasty had reached its most critical moment. These consecrators of the dynasty should have gone to battle, but they did not come out… This could only mean that something had happened to them.
This knowledge made all the court ministers’ hearts collapse…
Bang!
At this time, the Black Tortoise’s second foot had already stepped into the Vermilion Bird Gate. This caused the Eastern Sea King, who was originally struggling to hold on, to spew out a mouthful of blood on the spot.
“Your Majesty, leave quickly…”
The Eastern Sea King, who had been severely injured, could no longer hold on and was forced to kneel on the ground. Beads of sweat formed on his aged forehead. The veins on his arms, which were holding the trident high up in the air, looked incomparably hideous. Those sturdy lumps of muscles on his arms looked like they were going to burst. Anyone could tell that he was about to give out soon.
But…
Where could they go?
The Sacred Palace had already been surrounded, and the Vermilion Bird City had already fallen into enemy hands. They were unable to proceed towards the Vermilion Bird Temple, and even if he could go there, the Vermilion Bird Temple was probably already in trouble. Then, where could he go?
Rong Feng didn’t know. He only knew that since there was no way to retreat, then he would fight!
“Everyone, heed my command. Fight to the death! Even if the divine beast Black Tortoise is at the forefront, fight to the death!” Rong Feng unsheathed the sword on his body after speaking. It was a three-foot-long sword that exuded an ancient aura and had divine vermilion bird runes engraved on it.
As soon as this sword appeared, it naturally emanated an extraordinary, unyielding, and imposing aura. Strands of Vermilion Bird flames were like the flames of the stars, and at this moment, it brought the last trace of light to everyone present.
“Fight to the death!”
At this moment, whether it was the civil officials or the military officials, all of them slowly dispelled the fear on their faces. They either took out their weapons or activated their mystic energy and stood upright.
That’s right… Since there was no way to escape, why should they still flee? They could only fight to the death.
“Ye Qianli.” But before the battle to their deaths, Rong Feng called out Ye Qianli’s name once more, causing the solemn Ye Qianli to be involuntarily stunned.
“As the Emperor, I order you to bring the National Seal and escape! In the future, hand it over to the Crown Prince.” Rong Feng handed over a fire-colored square box that obviously contained the Vermilion Bird Dynasty’s National Seal to Ye Qianli and also gave her the most prudent imperial command.
Even though he did not know where Crown Prince Rong Mo was, Rong Feng firmly believed that his son was still alive and definitely would not die in this disaster.
“Your Majesty…” Ye Qianli looked at the fire-colored square box in front of her and only felt immense pressure. There would be a problem for her to escape herself, so why did he let her carry such a thing?
“Little girl from the Ye family, I hope to hear the news of you and His Highness the Crown Prince avenging our blood feud in the Underworld in the future.” The Eastern Sea King, who was struggling to hold on, looked up at Ye Qianli and said with a carefree look in his eyes.
“Miss Ye, please avenge our blood feud!” The rest of the civil officials and generals spoke one after another. They had already revealed their courage of facing death with equanimity. This caused Ye Qianli to have no choice but to reach out and take this heavy box! It was a box of national fate that carried the deepest hopes of the entire Vermilion Bird Dynasty.
However, just as Ye Qianli’s hand grasped onto this heavy box…
Screech—! An arrogant and tyrannical cry rang out from the Vermilion Bird! It was as if the sound of nature had burst out between heaven and earth all of a sudden.