"Hmph." Huang Ming's eyes turned cold. "Is it just the Wei, Cai, and Shen Families nearby? Their own oases have suffered heavy losses, yet they still dare to come and seize opportunities. If their Family Head is only Rank 4, kill anyone you encounter without mercy."
The Huang Family group responded in unison and soon arrived at the base of Ember Passage Ridge.
Up close, the massive ridge looked like a living thing. Its base resembled a churning swamp, constantly shifting. The surface was riddled with pits and tunnels, countless openings leading deep inside. Layers of sand and soil kept peeling off, falling into the desert below, but instead of forming craters, they flowed like liquid, merging into the sand and vanishing without a trace.
The entire ridge bore the marks of a fierce battle. Its upper half had already collapsed, and even now, it continued to sink and break apart, as if its structure could no longer hold itself together.
Huang Ming looked at the dense network of caves covering the ridge and frowned. "This is the habit of the Thick Earth Giant Lizard Clan. They hollow out sand dunes into cave systems for rest. The passages inside will be as complex as a maze."
He paused, then added, "More importantly, this clan carries traces of dragon blood. They like to hide their treasures in different places. If we want to collect resources, we'll have to split up."
Hearing this, Lin Yan understood at once. No wonder that mysterious Gu Immortal hadn't bothered collecting the remaining treasures after killing the desolate beast. For someone at that level, anything below Rank 5 simply wasn't worth the effort.
Clan Head, Huang Ming had clearly prepared in advance. He took out a batch of Passage Gu and distributed them to everyone. "This is a one-time Gu. It can be used to locate your position and call for support. I hold the mother Gu and can respond quickly. No need to waste time—enter and gather resources."
Everyone's expressions turned serious. One after another, they activated their defensive Gu and stepped into the range of Ember Passage Ridge.
Lin Yan activated his Rank 3 Flame Armor Gu. Layers of glazed armor spread across his body, condensing like crimson-gold flames into a solid, imposing suit. Nine dao marks intertwined across the surface, while the five fire apertures resonated with each other, giving him a strong sense of stability.
Suddenly, his body sank slightly. He looked down in surprise. The sand beneath his feet seemed to pull at him, as if an invisible force was dragging him downward. Moving within this area felt like carrying a heavy mountain on his back, each step slow and difficult.
Huang Ming spoke at once, his tone serious. "Be careful. Ember Passage Ridge has a natural pull—it drags down living beings. Alone, it only makes movement difficult. But in groups, it directly suppresses flight. It is said that even Gu Immortals can be forced down."
This was the origin of its name. There was even an old saying in the Western Desert: "Don't cross the ridge… yet you still cross it. If you die there, no one can save you."
Hearing this, everyone activated their movement Gu to assist.
Among them, Lin Yan activated Treading Fire Gu, and its effect was immediate. Each time the sand tried to swallow his feet, flames burst out beneath him, blasting open the ground. His body surged upward, leaving behind trails of red lotus-like fire that spread into a burning path, his speed increasing sharply.
In just a moment, he caught up to the Rank 4 and Rank 5 experts of the Family and entered one of the caves within Ember Passage Ridge. The elders glanced at him with subtle surprise. He had only reached Rank 3 not long ago, yet his Gu setup was already so complete, his combat ability not inferior to seasoned experts.
After entering the ridge, the Huang Family quickly split up. Small groups of three or four formed, each watching the others' backs while searching for resources, making the process faster and safer.
Family Head, Huang Ming remained calm. Even if they encountered other Family forces, he was confident his side would not be at a disadvantage.
Lin Yan teamed up with his uncle, Shan Shayuan. Not far away, Shen Kuang snorted coldly when he saw this, then turned and headed toward another cave, clearly unwilling to walk the same path.
Lin Yan's expression turned slightly strange. "That old man is still coming to explore at his age?"
Shan Shayuan laughed. "He has no choice. To extend his lifespan, he's already in heavy debt. Whether it's worth it or not… who knows what he's thinking."
Lin Yan nodded. "Time is priceless."
"Exactly. Let's move." Shan Shayuan felt a bit emotional as well. In just two years, Lin Yan had grown to this level—strong enough to stand beside him and explore together.
Since neither of them knew the layout of Ember Passage Ridge, they chose a random pit and stepped inside.