Heaven-Dominating Martial Emperor

Before the colossal bronze pillar, the old Priest’s expression shifted from initial suspicion to gradual astonishment.

This was because as Ye Chen approached the bronze pillar, the mystic patterns on its body actually began to show signs of brightening!

”How is this possible?!” The old Priest could no longer contain his shock and cried out in alarm.

Behind him, the guard commanders responsible for the old Priest’s safety were also wide-eyed, their faces filled with disbelief.

’Could this outsider, who seems so out of place in the tribe, really have a way to awaken the totem’s power?’

Their hearts were no longer calm, as if a monstrous wave had been stirred within them, refusing to settle.

An ancient, vast aura rose from the bronze pillar. Ye Chen closed his eyes, sat down cross-legged, and began to comprehend the Vermilion Bird totem on the pillar!

For any tribe, allowing an outsider to comprehend their totem was an absolute taboo.

But not only did the old Priest not stop him, he stared blankly at the young man’s calm face, an unprecedented sense of anticipation welling up in his heart.

’Is our Vermilion Bird tribe really about to see its day of ascension?’

...

’This is... the ancient divine beast, the Vermilion Bird?!’

While the old Priest and the others were reeling in shock, Ye Chen’s mind had already completely emptied.

In a trance, he felt as though a phantom image had appeared in the space of his Divine Soul.

The phantom image spread its world-spanning wings, its body wreathed in roaring divine flames, like a sovereign of raging infernos. Around it, vast seas of fire bowed in submission.

That was the phantom of the Vermilion Bird!

After appearing, the Vermilion Bird actually showed a strong sense of affinity for Ye Chen.

It circled within the space of Ye Chen’s Divine Soul, scattering a sky full of radiant flames. Its cries were incessant, expressing an emotion of joyful cheer.

It was as if this wasn’t Ye Chen’s first time in the Vermilion Bird tribe, but rather a reunion with a long-lost friend!

This surprised Ye Chen.

’This is clearly my first time encountering the ancient divine beast, the Vermilion Bird.’

’So why doesn’t it seem to reject me at all?’

’Could it be that there’s something special about me that has attracted the Vermilion Bird’s remnant will from the totem?’

Just as Ye Chen was pondering this, the scorching sensation on his body grew even more intense.

Finally, as his injuries healed, he figured out the source of that scorching sensation!

It was the unique innate ability of the Chaos Five Elements Body, the Chaos Divine Fire!

To awaken the Chaos Divine Fire, Ye Chen first needed to collect three of the most powerful divine fires of heaven and earth.

Ye Chen had already collected the first kind: the Red Lotus Karma Fire.

As for the second and third, they were still nowhere in sight, with no clue where to find them.

And what was resonating with the power of the Vermilion Bird totem was precisely the ability of the Chaos Divine Fire.

Currently, the Chaos Divine Fire was only one-third awakened.

But after Ye Chen sensed the power of the Vermilion Bird totem, another third of it began to gradually awaken!

Realizing this, Ye Chen was suddenly overcome with ecstasy.

’Could it be that the Vermilion Bird totem contains some kind of divine fire of heaven and earth?’

This explained why just by getting close to the Vermilion Bird totem, Ye Chen’s whole body would grow hot, his potential would be stimulated, and his injuries would heal at a much faster rate than usual.

Finally, after circling joyfully, the Vermilion Bird phantom transformed into a brilliant ball of light and flame, hovering motionlessly within the space of Ye Chen’s Divine Soul.

Just like the Red Lotus Karma Fire, it was a wisp of a fire seed.

A fire seed inherent to the divine beast, the Vermilion Bird!

’No, that’s not right!’

’This fire seed isn’t yet strong enough to awaken the Chaos Divine Fire!’

Ye Chen frowned, a trace of doubt flashing through his mind.

Although the Chaos Divine Fire’s innate ability had been showing signs of awakening after sensing the Vermilion Bird totem’s power.

But in the end, all the unusual activity subsided, and those signs vanished without a trace.

The only change was the addition of a wisp of a fire seed in the space of Ye Chen’s Divine Soul.

This confused Ye Chen.

Back when he had first obtained the Red Lotus Karma Fire, the Chaos Divine Fire had indeed been successfully awakened. This proved that the Red Lotus Karma Fire was a top-tier divine fire of heaven and earth, precisely the kind of ultimate fire seed needed to awaken the Chaos Divine Fire!

But clearly, the fire seed inherent to the divine beast, the Vermilion Bird, didn’t seem to have reached that level yet.

While it could cause a stir in the Chaos Divine Fire, it wasn’t enough to fully awaken this innate ability.

’It seems like something is still missing!’

’But what could it be...’

Ye Chen frowned in deep thought. He wanted to try and sense the totem’s power from the bronze pillar again.

But as the Vermilion Bird’s fire seed took root in the space of his Divine Soul, Ye Chen no longer felt any special connection to the tribe’s totem.

This left Ye Chen feeling a bit regretful.

’It seems there might be many secrets here that I don’t understand.’

’I need to talk more with the old Priest!’

Ye Chen slowly opened his eyes, withdrawing from the state of comprehending the tribe’s totem.

The first thing that met his eyes was the pitch-black night sky.

Only then did Ye Chen realize it had already gotten dark!

”How long was I comprehending?” Ye Chen couldn’t help but ask, looking at the old Priest who was still waiting by his side.

The old Priest seemed to have long recovered from his shock.

He was sitting cross-legged nearby. Seeing that Ye Chen had stopped comprehending, he said with a complex expression, ”It has been two days.”

”Two days?!”

Ye Chen was a little shocked.

In his perception, only a short while had passed.

But in the outside world, two whole days had gone by. How could Ye Chen not be startled?

’Was I comprehending for that long?’

Ye Chen shook his head. His first thought was of Lin Qiyun.

’I haven’t been back for two days. Lin Qiyun must be worried sick by now, right?’

”Don’t worry. I informed Young Master Qiyun of your situation. She has also come to see you these past two days.”

The old Priest suddenly said, as if he had seen through Ye Chen’s thoughts.

”That’s a relief.” Ye Chen nodded.

”Logically speaking, allowing an outsider like you to comprehend our clan’s totem is already a grave taboo, let alone for two whole days.”

”But, looking at it now, it was all worth it!”

The old Priest spoke with a face full of amazement, and a brilliant light glinted in his cloudy eyes.

”Young friend, look ahead!”

He pointed at the bronze pillar, his voice trembling with excitement.

”What is it?” Ye Chen raised his eyes and looked forward.

The next moment, he was stunned.

An intense red light had suddenly ignited on the bronze pillar.

Every single pattern was pulsing with a vast wave of power!

The red light traced along the patterns, and on the body of the bronze pillar, a lifelike phantom of the Vermilion Bird was slowly emerging!

”Our tribe’s totem... has finally been awakened!”