Gurgle... gurgle…
The blazing magma rolled like boiling water, bubbling and hissing. The scorching heat twisted the air itself, warping the surrounding space with rippling distortions.
Zi Yan frowned as she looked down at the crimson sea of molten fire. Sticking out her tongue, she muttered in displeasure, "Big Brother, what are we even doing here? It's so hot!"
Qing Lin also furrowed her brows but kept silent. The serpentine blood in her veins made her fond of cold and shadowy places, and this fiery world was the last thing she would ever enjoy.
Seeing the discomfort on both of their faces, Liu Xi realized his oversight — not everyone was as attuned to or fond of heat as he was. With a flick of his hand, a protective Dou Qi barrier expanded around them, blocking the intense temperature.
"My mistake," he said apologetically. "Qing Lin, if you feel uncomfortable, you can go back first. You don't need to wait here — I don't know how long this will take. The real reason I'm heading into the magma isn't just for cultivation. When I trained here before, I sensed a spatial barrier deep below. There's definitely a great secret hidden there, and I need Zi Yan to help me explore it."
"Secret~?" Zi Yan's purple eyes lit up immediately. Her curiosity flared, washing away her earlier complaints. "A big secret? I'm coming!"
Liu Xi smiled faintly. "Good. I'll be counting on you this time." His gaze then turned toward Qing Lin.
After a brief hesitation, Qing Lin nodded softly. "Three days," she said firmly. "I'll wait above the magma for three days. If you and Zi Yan don't return by then, no matter what, I'll come down to find you."
Her tone was resolute — if Liu Xi didn't return, she would dive straight into the lava without hesitation.
Liu Xi chuckled gently and rubbed her head. "Silly girl."
Qing Lin smiled softly, her eyes half-closed as she leaned into his touch. In her heart, Liu Xi had always occupied the most precious place. Even after nearly ten years apart, her feelings had never faded.
Retracting his hand, Liu Xi waved. "Go on. We'll head down now."
Zi Yan puffed up her chest. "Don't worry, Sister Qing Lin. If anything goes wrong, I can tear space open and take Big Brother with me. A little magma can't stop me!"
Qing Lin only smiled quietly as she watched them. When Liu Xi took Zi Yan by the hand and the two plunged into the magma with a splash, she finally turned away.
She didn't go far, merely returning to the bottom layer of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. Finding a spot to sit, she closed her eyes and began silently counting the seconds.
Meanwhile, beneath the molten waves, Liu Xi kept Zi Yan close as he unfolded a protective dome of cyan flame. Circulating the Nine Nether Flame Suppressing Technique, he absorbed and refined the fiery energy from the magma around them.
Inside the azure flame shield, the suffocating heat turned into a soothing coolness. Zi Yan hung from Liu Xi's shoulders, gazing curiously into the crimson depths. "Big Brother, what do you think is hidden down there?"
With one arm wrapped securely around her slender waist, Liu Xi increased his speed. "Whatever it is, it's definitely valuable," he said with a grin. "Who knows — maybe it'll even help you grow stronger."
Zi Yan's eyes sparkled. Still stuck at the Dou Zong realm, she was desperate for any chance to improve. But even the countless pills she devoured barely made a difference. For a creature of the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe, true growth required decades — even centuries. It was no wonder she hadn't changed much over the years.
The magma around them glowed a deep, oppressive red, swallowing all light. Only the cyan hue of Liu Xi's flame barrier offered contrast in this lifeless world. The silence beneath the molten surface was unnerving. Zi Yan, normally energetic and loud, clung closer to Liu Xi, as though the warmth of his body could drive away the suffocating loneliness of this place.
Here, there was no sense of direction, no measure of time — only the pull toward ever-increasing heat. As they descended, the magma shifted from crimson to black-red, the temperature climbing to a terrifying degree.
Fortunately, with Liu Xi's Heavenly Flames and formidable Qi Method, he could move through the inferno unharmed, his energy consumption negligible.
"Big Brother, how much farther?" Zi Yan finally asked.
"Almost there," Liu Xi replied. "The magma suppresses my Spiritual Perception, but I can still sense an unusual disturbance ahead." In truth, the ancient emperor's hidden chamber lay deeper than he'd expected.
If he could locate it, the rewards for Zi Yan would undoubtedly be immense — the old Dragon Emperor owed her that much. Perhaps Liu Xi himself might even benefit… though he couldn't rule out the possibility of the old dragon chasing him away empty-handed. After all, not many men bring someone's daughter to raid her father's tomb.
Suddenly, his expression changed. "Not good."
He had sensed movement — dozens, perhaps hundreds, of life auras emerging within the magma. Some were weak, around the Dou Wang or Dou Huang level; others were far stronger, reaching Dou Zong and even Dou Zun tiers.
'The Fire Lizards guarding the ancient emperor's ruins are coming.'
Liu Xi lowered his gaze to Zi Yan nestled against his chest and spoke quietly, "Zi Yan, hold on tight and be ready to tear open space at any moment. We've got company."
"Enemies? Where!?" Zi Yan leapt from his arms, her eyes shining with excitement instead of fear. The Inner Academy's little dragon was never one to back down.
Smack!
Liu Xi's hand came down sharply on her backside. "No fooling around," he said sternly. "These creatures here guard something important. They're powerful — some at the Dou Zun level, maybe even a Half Saint among them. We can't fight them head-on. We go straight down and avoid conflict."
Zi Yan pouted but quickly nodded, curling back into his arms.
Liu Xi's eyes hardened, sharp as blades, fixed on the depths below — the direction of the ancient emperor's resting place, and of the swarming Fire Lizards that protected it.
Within his body, vast Dou Qi surged like a roaring tide. His aura flared, condensing into focused power as his entire being readied for the plunge.
'No entanglements,' he thought grimly. 'There's at least one Half Saint down there… such a creature isn't something I can face yet.'
(End of Chapter)
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