The sealing of the Void Demons brought instant peace to the Immortal Realm. Under Yang Hao's command, Zhuge Liang led the Vermillion Bird Legion and occupied the two border regions.
Having obtained ninety billion points of luck and merit, as the Great Han further consolidated its hold on the two border regions, the Vermillion Bird, who emerged from the Ancient Star Road, appeared in Chang'an City, gazing at the majestic imperial palace before her.
The Vermillion Bird closed her eyes, sensing everything within the depths of the imperial palace. After half an hour of searching, her gaze finally fell upon Yang Hao. As her eyes opened, she instantly found herself within a peculiar space.
Yang Hao, who was attending to state affairs in the depths of the imperial palace, also entered the strange space with her.
Seeing the world change suddenly before him, Yang Hao was bewildered. He had no idea how he had entered this peculiar space.
"The aura of the Vermillion Bird!"
Yang Hao furrowed his brow. From the depths of the space, he clearly sensed the aura of the divine beast Vermillion Bird. He cautiously scanned his surroundings. He couldn't leave; an invisible, powerful presence had locked down everything here.
To be so easily pulled into this space, under the surveillance and suppression of the Great Han's Nine Cauldrons of Luck, there was only one being in the entire Immortal Realm capable of such a feat: the supreme Immortal Emperor!
However, Yang Hao was not at all flustered. He still held a scroll in his hand, and he instantly grasped the Overlord Xiang Yu scroll. After half an hour of contemplation, he stepped forward and walked towards the depths of the space.
Slowly, he sensed a faint aura. He knew that this was intentionally allowed by the being present, for with his cultivation at the Immortal Monarch realm, how could he possibly sense the aura of such a powerful being?
"Who are you?"
Yang Hao stopped, his voice cold. For a long time, no sound echoed back.
"To drag me into this space, what is your intention?"
After a long silence, with no reply, he asked himself.
"To see you."
Just then, a gentle voice sounded.
Yang Hao's body trembled. The space before him instantly transformed into a world, with palaces and pavilions rising from the ground, filled with auspicious birds and beasts, exuding great tranquility.
"Creak!"
A palace gate opened. Yang Hao gazed for a long time before stepping inside. Within, there were only two floor cushions, separated by a table. A woman dressed in a crimson robe smiled at Yang Hao.
"Please, sit!"
The Vermillion Bird, seeing Yang Hao's cautious demeanor, smiled gently. A plate of immortal fruits, unknown to Yang Hao, appeared on the table, along with two cups of immortal tea, brimming with potent immortal energy.
"Who are you?"
"To be able to enter my Great Han so easily and drag me into this space, which Immortal Emperor are you?"
Yang Hao looked at the Vermillion Bird, who was smiling at him, his heart still filled with vigilance. The Great Han was unfamiliar with all the forces in the Immortal Realm, save for Danxue Mountain.
"I belong to no force in the Immortal Realm, nor do I have any beings who submit to me. I am alone, roaming the Immortal Realm."
The Vermillion Bird replied, her smile unwavering. She extended her palm and said, "Please, sit!"
Yang Hao heard her and took a step forward. At this moment, he could see the contents of the immortal tea. It was a dragon's gall, a gall brimming with vital energy. In this Immortal Realm, any force with dragon bloodline was extraordinary. Yang Hao could tell that this dragon's gall was no ordinary item; it must have belonged to a being from the core bloodline of the dragon race.
"Please, sit!"
The Vermillion Bird spoke the invitation for the third time, her attitude extremely gentle. Even though Yang Hao remained full of caution, the Vermillion Bird's expression was calm, and a smile always adorned her lips.
Yang Hao took another step, bowed slightly, and sat down cross-legged.
"Please!"
The Vermillion Bird picked up the teacup filled with immortal tea and said, "This is the gall of a Cang Dragon, containing surging vital energy. However, you need not worry. Its emperor's might has been removed by me, and seven-tenths of its vital energy has been extracted. This is our first meeting, and though the method was a bit abrupt, I hope the Saint Emperor will not blame me."
"Have we met before?"
Why would an Immortal Emperor treat him so amicably? Although Li Yuanba was renowned throughout the Immortal Realm, no one had concrete proof that an Immortal Emperor of the human race originated from the Great Han.
"Three Thousand Dao Provinces!" The Vermillion Bird smiled slightly and said, "I have visited the Three Thousand Dao Provinces. In essence, Xia Xinyu is a disciple I left behind in the Three Thousand Dao Provinces."
"However, this is not the reason I have come to see you personally."
"Then what is it?"
Yang Hao's vigilance eased slightly. The Vermillion Bird of the Three Thousand Dao Provinces, in Yang Hao's opinion, must be a clone of this powerful being.
"The other Vermillion Bird on your person!" the Vermillion Bird said softly.
"En!"
Yang Hao instantly tensed, his pupils contracting sharply.
"You need not be nervous. I could sense the aura of this Vermillion Bird, which was revealed during your few breakthroughs. However, it took me quite some time to find you. I am truly curious, how did you, an Immortal Monarch, evade my lock?"
The Vermillion Bird narrowed her eyes.
"What do you want?" Yang Hao asked.
"You need not be so tense. The Immortal Realm is vast, and myriad races coexist. Each race is endowed with certain special powers by the Great Dao. For example, your human race possesses unparalleled talent among all races, and so do I!"
"Vermillion Bird!" Yang Hao probed.
"Indeed!" The Vermillion Bird smiled slightly and said, "You must know that despite the vastness of the Immortal Realm, there is no place for my Vermillion Bird clan. Each generation of the Vermillion Bird stands alone, bearing the glory of the Vermillion Bird lineage."
"If the previous Vermillion Bird has not perished, the new generation of Vermillion Bird cannot exist in the world!"
"From the era of creation until now, this has been a curse from the Great Dao, never broken. But today, I see hope in you!"
"Perhaps my Vermillion Bird clan cannot thrive, but at least there is a breakthrough, isn't there!"
"Is that so?"
Yang Hao looked at the Vermillion Bird and said.
"I stand before you, yet another Vermillion Bird has been born within you. This is the true reason I have come to find you personally," the Vermillion Bird said.
"An unbreakable ironclad rule of eternity!"
"The curse imposed by the Great Dao has been broken by you today. How did you achieve this?"
"I don't know, do you believe me?" Yang Hao didn't know how to answer.
"I believe you!"
The Vermillion Bird smiled faintly. "I have pondered this question for a very, very long time. I have lived for countless ages and still cannot understand it. Your saying that you don't know makes you trustworthy."
"Rest assured, I will not take him away. He is still very weak. Hiding within you allows him to evade the Great Dao's lock; this is his best refuge. Following me into the world, he might not survive!"
The smile vanished from the Vermillion Bird's lips, replaced by sadness.
"Perhaps in the near future, he will be able to appear in the world!" Yang Hao grasped the teacup.
"Hahaha!"
The Vermillion Bird laughed heartily. "You truly do not understand the situation!"