However, it was clear that using force to attack was useless.
The continuous attacks from over a dozen soul beasts didn't even cause the light screen to tremble slightly!
After this round of fierce attacks, most of the soul beasts stopped.
At this moment, a Vermilion Bird flapped its wings, unleashing an overwhelming aura.
The pressure made the surrounding soul beasts and Ma Hongjun breathless.
All eyes were focused on it.
"Eeya eeya!"
The little Vermilion Bird seemed very excited, chirping excitedly in the arms of another Vermilion Bird, protected by the old Vermilion Bird's soul power.
This Vermilion Bird releasing such powerful pressure was one of the two that had attacked it earlier.
Ma Hongjun didn't know if these two Vermilion Birds were its parents, but they must be its elders.
The flames of that Vermilion Bird were pale white!
Just by spreading its wings, the power it emitted caused the surrounding soul beasts to lower their bodies.
This was a suppression of aura, strength, and race.
Ma Hongjun also felt its power.
This casual release of power was already stronger than the 300,000-year-old Vermilion Bird that had previously attacked the light screen with all its might.
Judging from the reactions of the other spirit beasts present, it was undoubtedly the strongest spirit beast in the area.
This was the most powerful spirit beast Ma Hongjun had ever seen.
However, in terms of size and appearance, it was not particularly different from other Vermilion Birds, and was even slightly smaller.
Its pale flames were extremely intimidating.
The surrounding Vermilion Birds subconsciously distanced themselves from it.
"At least 500,000 years old!"
This was Ma Hongjun's estimate,
because he had never seen such a powerful spirit beast before. He
didn't know if spirit beasts older than 100,000 years had any special differences.
The Vermilion Bird King moved. Its agile wings flapped, and its crimson feathers unfolded, each feather unique, forming a blade-like edge.
A layer of pale white light shone on the blade-like wings.
The Vermilion Bird King moved to the side, and the blade-like wings sliced through the light screen.
The crimson-gold light screen finally reacted, slightly dented under the pale attack of the blade-like wings.
This gave the Vermilion Bird King hope, and the Pale Flame erupted completely.
Its crimson wings were now covered in pale light.
Even the churning Heavenly Fire Pool below was suppressed by its flames. The rising flames gradually weakened.
The wing blades rose, and feathers detached from the Vermilion Bird King's wings, piercing towards the light screen.
Under the attack of the Vermilion Bird feathers,
the light screen!
A gap was actually torn open.
The pale flames and crimson light clashed.
The crimson light was consumed.
At this moment, the Throne of Inheritance suddenly lit up, the crimson-gold throne rotating.
A beam of crimson light shot out, striking the Vermilion Bird King.
The Vermilion Bird King's momentum faltered, and it let out a mournful cry.
A confrontation formed between the Vermilion Bird King and the Throne of Inheritance.
The Throne of Inheritance wouldn't allow the Vermilion Bird King to sit on it.
The Vermilion Bird King's actions seemed determined to force its way in.
Seeing how other soul beasts attacked the Throne of Inheritance, they all forcefully pushed their way in.
Only the Vermilion Bird King's power slightly shook the Throne of Inheritance.
Ma Hongjun wondered if the methods these soul beasts used were flawed!
Since the Throne of Inheritance was established by the God of Fire specifically for the advancement of soul beasts, it shouldn't obstruct them.
This barrier of light was a test.
Ma Hongjun felt that the test shouldn't involve breaking through the barrier itself.
Otherwise, so many soul beasts would be attacking without any reaction.
The Vermilion Bird King had seemingly broken through, but the Throne of Inheritance began to rotate and attack it.
This clearly showed that the Vermilion Bird King hadn't gained the Throne of Inheritance's approval.
Breaking through the barrier under these circumstances was practically impossible.
That was a power set by the gods.
If one could break through, wouldn't they possess divine power?
If one already possessed divine strength, would they still need the qualification for divine inheritance?
Therefore, this test of the barrier must involve more than just strength; there were other aspects as well!
The Vermilion Bird King seemed unwilling to give up, still struggling to break through, its feathers spitting out one after another.
One of the Throne of Inheritance's feet pressed down.
The Vermilion Bird King spat out a mouthful of blood.
A mournful cry rang out again.
It was unwilling to give up; it still wanted to break through.
It felt its power could pierce this barrier of light.
But why was the Throne of Inheritance rejecting it?
The little Vermilion Bird cried out worriedly, its large, bright eyes fixed on the Vermilion Bird King,
like a helpless child.
Tears welled in its eyes.
The Vermilion Bird holding it also looked at the Vermilion Bird King with concern.
The surrounding soul beasts dared not move, holding their breath.
If even the Vermilion Bird King couldn't break through, then they had even less chance.
It seemed that at this moment, the Vermilion Bird King had become their only hope.
The soul beasts looked at the Vermilion Bird King with awe.
This was a challenge against fate.
The Vermilion Bird King coughed up blood, a glob of crimson spraying onto the barrier.
At this moment, it was clear that the Vermilion Bird King's momentum had waned.
The moment the Throne of Inheritance pressed down, it was destined that the Vermilion Bird King had no chance!
But it refused to give up!
The Vermilion Bird King knew its situation.
It had lived for seven hundred thousand years.
But it had failed its seventh tribulation.
The Throne of Inheritance was its last chance.
It was either break through the light barrier and ascend the throne,
or fall exhausted and be reborn in heavenly fire!
There was no turning back! The Vermilion
Bird King coughed up blood incessantly, its pale flames now its dominant color.
Its cloudy eyes stared at the gash it had torn open.
Wings, claws, and sharp edges all pressed towards that gash.
This was the end for a beast king!
Tears streamed down the little Vermilion Bird's face as it suddenly flew out of the old Vermilion Bird's embrace.
Orange flames instantly enveloped its entire body; it was incredibly fast.
The old Vermilion Bird's attention had been entirely focused on the Vermilion Bird King, and it hadn't expected the little Vermilion Bird to suddenly break free and fly towards it.
The old Vermilion Bird let out a chirp and flapped its wings to chase after the little Vermilion Bird.
However, the distance was too short.
In the blink of an eye, the little Vermilion Bird was beneath the Vermilion Bird King.
It stretched out its claws towards the gash, orange flames shooting out—it wanted to help the Vermilion Bird King open this crack!
"Little Vermilion Bird!"
Ma Hongjun cried out in disbelief.
He hadn't expected the little Vermilion Bird to be so brave.
But then again, Ma Hongjun wasn't surprised by Little Vermilion Bird's actions.
Over the past ten days, Ma Hongjun and Little Vermilion Bird had enjoyed each other's company immensely.
Little Vermilion Bird was like an innocent child,
pure and simple.
The old Vermilion Bird also flew over, and the power of the three Vermilion Birds concentrated on the opening.
Only Little Vermilion Bird's petite body was at the very center of the opening.
One could imagine that this was the epicenter of the confrontation, with two powerful forces consuming each other.
With Little Vermilion Bird's strength, she certainly couldn't withstand it.
However, a miracle occurred.
The orange flames on Little Vermilion Bird's body actually crossed the light barrier.
Little Vermilion Bird, at the center of the storm, wasn't destroyed; instead, she became a point of convergence.
A touch of orange appeared between the previously clashing crimson and pale forces!
The crimson light blocked the pale flames,
but it didn't block the orange flames,
or rather, its blocking force was very weak.
The crack in the crimson light barrier grew larger and larger, and the Vermilion Bird King and the old Vermilion Bird worked together to tear the crack wider and wider.
Little Vermilion Bird's body was slowly pushed inside.
The two old Vermilion Birds witnessed this miraculous scene and instantly made a decision.
They were about to place the little Vermilion Bird on the throne.
Although they didn't understand why the little Vermilion Bird wasn't blocked by the crimson light, it was still a good thing for the two old Vermilion Birds. However
, the crimson light barrier seemed difficult to tear, and the two Vermilion Birds' strength wasn't enough.
Ma Hongjun had already summoned his twin martial souls; the Wind Dragon Wing Bone appeared and flew towards the little Vermilion Bird.
He also wanted to contribute and help place the little Vermilion Bird on the throne!
The patterns on the Martial God Spear lit up, and the flames of the Fire Phoenix were added to the Martial God Spear.
Ma Hongjun pushed the Martial God Spear up and inserted it into the crack.
The spearhead wedged into the crack, and with the combined strength of the two old Vermilion Birds, the crack grew larger and larger.
At this moment, the horde of spirit beasts on the field stirred, their eyes burning as they stared intently at the ever-widening crack!
They were itching to attack!
The Vermilion Bird King let out a cry, and
all the Vermilion Birds below sprang into action, forming a barrier around the Heavenly Fire Pool, keeping the other spirit beasts at bay.
The Vermilion Birds had the numerical advantage.
The other spirit beasts could only watch, not daring to make a move!
Under their watchful gaze, the little Vermilion Bird's body slowly entered the crack.
The crimson light seemed to favor the little Vermilion Bird's orange flames.
While it focused all its strength on resisting the power of the two Vermilion Birds and Ma Hongjun, it showed exceptional favor to the little Vermilion Bird.
Finally!
When the little Vermilion Bird's body was completely inside the crack, without its orange flames mediating in the middle, the crimson light screen instantly closed.
The instant the screen closed, a force spread out from the Heavenly Fire Pool.
The surrounding spirit beasts were blasted away.
The crimson light screen contracted, transforming into a ball of light.
The ball of light descended.
A powerful crimson light struck down.
Ma Hongjun and the two old Vermilion Birds were all hit.
Falling into the Heavenly Fire Pool!
And the little Vermilion Bird, drawn by the crimson power,
sat on the throne of inheritance!
...…