Then Lin Yan activated Treading Fire Gu. Flames ignited beneath his feet, and with the push of the burning wind, the fire trailed behind him as the explosive force drove his body forward. He stepped through the air as if sprinting on invisible ground, landing steadily after a few strides.
On the other side, Shan Shayuan also responded quickly. He controlled the falling sand and soil, shaping it into an Earth Dragon beneath his feet, using it as a platform to descend safely.
The two stabilized themselves, and their surroundings suddenly opened up. It felt as if they had entered an entirely new world. The rock walls stretched endlessly in all directions, almost impossible to see the boundaries. Above them, the vaulted ceiling rose like the sky itself, riddled with massive openings where streams of sand and stone poured down like waterfalls.
They had fallen through one of those openings.
The space was filled with a heavy, oppressive qi that pressed down on the body. Lin Yan felt his movements slow slightly, his muscles tightening under the pressure. He immediately activated Clear Mind Gu, steadying his thoughts and easing the strain just enough to remain fully focused.
He looked around and saw more than twenty Gu Masters gathered in the space. Among them were Family Elders from the Huang, Cai, Wei, and Shen Families. The experts only glanced at Lin Yan and Shan Shayuan before withdrawing their gazes, each one alert and wary of the others.
At the very center, two figures faced each other, their presence dominating everything.
One stood on the ground, transformed into a four-armed giant nearly thirty meters tall, his body thick and heavy like a mountain. The other stood in the air, crimson eyebrows sharp against his face, his robust frame surrounded by a vast sea of fire clouds that spread across the space, overwhelming and majestic.
The latter was Huang Ming, Clan Head of the Huang Family, a Rank 5 expert.
Lin Yan's expression turned serious. The other figure had to be a Rank 5 as well, though he didn't recognize him. The people gathered here were clearly only part of those exploring Ember Passage Ridge. Huang Feng, the Huang Family's Rank 5 Second Elder, was nowhere to be seen, and several Rank 4 Elders were also missing.
At the center of the cave, a black-and-yellow light wheel hung overhead, illuminating a radius of a hundred li. It radiated the Aura of a Rank 5 Gu, strands of black qi falling down and wrapping around several colossal beast emperor corpses, each one as massive as a mountain.
Lin Yan's heart stirred. No wonder this place had drawn Rank 5 experts into direct confrontation and gathered so many strong Gu Masters. The value here could not be measured in primeval stones.
The cave was unbelievably vast—this was very likely the lair of the desolate beast that had once ruled Ember Passage Ridge.
"Hahaha! Zhang Bai, my reinforcements have arrived! You're finished today!" Huang Ming's voice rang out as he laughed loudly. "All Family Elders, follow my command—kill the enemies and clear the field! Rewards will be given afterward!"
The moment he finished speaking, he made his move. Vast fire clouds surged outward, covering a hundred li as they pressed down. The heat was terrifying—several massive earthen mounds nearby melted instantly under the pressure.
The four-armed giant roared, thrusting all four massive hands into the rolling sea of fire. With raw strength, he tore the flames apart, ripping open the blazing clouds as if they were nothing. The shattered fire scattered across the sky, turning into a rain of blazing meteors.
This Rank 5 expert was Zhang Bai, Clan Head of the Zhang Family, a nearby large family. He cultivated Transformation Path and had managed to survive and grow despite long-standing pressure from the Huang Family.
Lin Yan's gaze swept across the battlefield. The Cai, Wei, and Shen Families had already formed a tacit alliance, clearly unwilling to let the Huang Family seize the Rank 5 Gu and further strengthen their dominance.
Their Clan Heads were all present—each a Rank 4 expert—and they immediately entangled with the three Rank 4 Family Elders of the Huang Family. The situation leaned slightly in their favor. As Clan Heads, their access to resources far exceeded that of ordinary elders, and their combat strength reflected it.
On the Rank 3 battlefield, the Huang Family was at a clear numerical disadvantage. The moment Lin Yan activated Flame Armor Gu, two Rank 3 Family Elders rushed straight at him, not giving him any room to breathe.
Only at the Rank 5 level did the balance completely tilt. Huang Ming held absolute control of the fight, unleashing one terrifying killer move after another with ease, forcing Zhang Bai into a miserable state—his body covered in blood, barely holding on.
Lin Yan glanced at the two opponents charging toward him and felt a trace of helplessness. Having taken Huang Ming's resources, he had no choice but to fight for him. Whether it was worth it or not would depend on the rewards after this battle.
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