Chapter 186: The Green Lotus Core Flame Stolen
As the dark cave entrance appeared before him, Xiao Yan's face lit up with a hint of excitement. He descended steadily to the ground, then stepped inside, heading deeper into the dim passage.
"Young Master, I… I'm scared," Qing Lin whispered timidly, clutching at Xiao Yan's sleeve with her small hand.
Looking at her frightened, fragile demeanor, Xiao Yan suddenly remembered she was just a defenseless young girl with no cultivation to protect herself.
"Don't worry," Xiao Yan said gently, patting her petite shoulder. With a flick of his hand, he summoned a dazzling flame a multicolored Beast Flame that shimmered with an otherworldly beauty.
The vibrant hues illuminated the previously pitch black tunnel, making the path ahead clear. Qing Lin's large green eyes sparkled with wonder as she stared at the beautiful flame.
"Do you like it?" Xiao Yan asked, glancing at her innocent face.
"Yes!" Qing Lin nodded eagerly.
Ah, women, Xiao Yan thought with a wry smile. Always so easily charmed by flashy things.
Shaking his head in mock exasperation, he added silently, Unlike us men. We're only charmed by flashy women.
Progressing Through the Tunnel
The two continued down the passageway, encountering occasional obstacles. Xiao Yan dispatched them effortlessly, reducing each challenge to rubble with a casual strike.
Watching her new master's overwhelming power, Qing Lin grew increasingly awed and curious about him. However, her deep seated timidity and low self esteem kept her from asking any questions.
At the end of the tunnel, several branching paths appeared. Without hesitation, Xiao Yan chose one and strode forward. As a Three Star Dou Sect with immense soul power, he easily tracked the faint aura of the Green Lotus Core Flame, making navigation through the maze like passages a trivial matter.
As they ventured deeper, waves of heat began rolling through the air. Xiao Yan remained unfazed, his face calm and dry despite the rising temperature a testament to his formidable cultivation.
Unexpectedly, Qing Lin, despite her apprehension, also showed no signs of discomfort.
"Interesting," Xiao Yan mused, his lips curling into a small smile. He crouched to examine her closely, their faces nearly level.
"Y Young Master… what are you doing?" Qing Lin stammered, startled. She instinctively crossed her arms over her chest, her face full of panic.
Am I really that terrifying? Xiao Yan thought, suppressing a sigh.
His gaze focused on her bright green eyes. Within their crystalline depths, he spotted three small petal like green dots.
"Emerald Serpent Tri Flower Pupils," he muttered to himself, a flicker of realization crossing his mind.
Her unique physique confirmed Xiao Yan's suspicions. Could Qing Lin possess the bloodline of the Seven Colored Serpent Clan? After all, the snakepeople are descendants of that legendary clan.
Though the thought intrigued him, Xiao Yan pushed it aside for now. His priority remained the Green Lotus Core Flame.
The Molten World
As they delved deeper into the tunnel, the heat became more intense. Finally, a faint red glow appeared ahead, and Xiao Yan's pace quickened.
"Almost there," he murmured, excitement glimmering in his eyes.
Moments later, the tunnel opened up into a vast underground world. Before them lay a seemingly endless sea of molten lava, its fiery red surface bubbling and churning.
For Qing Lin, the sight was both awe inspiring and terrifying. For Xiao Yan, however, the scene was deeply troubling not because of the lava, but because of what lay within it.
Near the lava's edge was the lifeless body of a Two Headed Flame Spirit Serpent. Its once mighty form was now riddled with wounds, its two magic cores and other valuable parts long since removed.
This creature, equivalent to a Dou Spirit in strength and impervious to even Dou Kings within its fiery habitat, had been slain.
The serpent's fate wasn't Xiao Yan's main concern. What truly worried him was the fate of the Green Lotus Core Flame that should have been hidden beneath the molten sea.
Turning to Qing Lin, he asked, "Do you want to come with me to check beneath the lava?"
"Yes wait, what?" Qing Lin blinked in confusion.
"You want to go under the lava?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Exactly," Xiao Yan replied calmly.
Without waiting for her to process his words, he scooped her up by the waist and enveloped them both in a protective barrier of Dou Qi, enhanced by the Yin Yang Saint Spirit Flame.
"Ahhh! Young Master, nooo!" Qing Lin screamed as Xiao Yan leapt into the molten sea with a loud splash.
Beneath the Lava
When Qing Lin opened her eyes, she found herself surrounded by an eerie, crimson world. There was no sound, no ground only the oppressive heat of the molten lava pressing against the barrier.
"I'm dead… this must be hell," she thought, her face pale.
But then, she realized she was still being held by Xiao Yan. Looking up, she saw his handsome face, focused and determined.
"Young Master is so… cool," she thought, her cheeks flushing slightly.
To her amazement, the terrifying lava outside couldn't penetrate the protective barrier. In that moment, her respect for Xiao Yan deepened.
"This man… he's truly a powerful figure. Could this be my escape from my miserable fate?" Qing Lin wondered, her heart filling with hope.
As they descended deeper into the lava, the temperature and pressure increased dramatically. Yet Xiao Yan remained composed, his Dou Qi barrier holding firm.
With his Three Star Dou Sect strength and the protection of his flame, the lava posed no real threat to him.
Discovery
"Young Master, it's about 3,000 meters ahead," came Xiao Wen's voice from behind. Though not a pharmacist, the semi saint's soul power was formidable.
Soon, a faint blue light appeared in the distance. Xiao Yan's eyes lit up, and his pace quickened.
When they reached the source of the glow, the oppressive heat suddenly abated. They passed through a protective blue barrier into a serene space within the lava.
Inside, a crystalline blue lotus bloomed radiantly, its stem stretching over ten meters as it absorbed the surrounding fire energy.
But Xiao Yan's excitement vanished as his gaze fell on the lotus's center.
The lotus platform, which should have housed the Green Lotus Core Flame, was missing.
Only a bare, empty space remained where the flame had once burned.
The Green Lotus Core Flame… had been taken.
Xiao Yan's expression darkened. Someone has already been here.
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