103: Earth Core Fire Chalcedony

The three stood on the edge of the volcano, gazing at the churning magma below. A scorching heatwave assaulted them, making even breathing feel like a burning sensation.

Lei Lie swallowed, a rare hint of hesitation appearing on his rugged face.

"Are we really going down?"

Xiao Han's expression was stern, his gaze sweeping over the magma's surface as he said indifferently, "Since we're here, we should at least confirm it clearly."

Liu Qingsi's fingertips were wreathed in poisonous mist, her red lips slightly curved, her tone playful. "If Junior Brother tries to trick us, I'll pull his ear when we get back up."

The three exchanged glances, no longer hesitating. Dou Qi surged around them, forming protective barriers, and then they leapt, diving into the magma!

"Gurgle..."

Inside the magma, the temperature was even more terrifying than outside. Even Dou Ling Experts felt a burning pain on their skin, and their Dou Qi consumption accelerated.

Lei Lie held his long staff, stirring and searching in the magma, muttering curses under his breath. "Damn it, this hellhole, stay too long and I'll probably be roasted alive!"

Xiao Han's gaze was sharp, searching inch by inch along the rock wall, his fingertips condensing Dou Qi, trying to sense if there were any hidden spiritual material fluctuations.

However, apart from the scalding magma and broken Magical Beast shells, he found nothing.

Liu Qingsi manipulated the poisonous mist, spreading it to probe the magma, but soon, she frowned slightly, retracted the mist, and sighed softly. "It seems there really isn't anything here."

The three continued to search for another ten minutes, still finding nothing.

Lei Lie finally couldn't hold back, cursing, "Let's go! Let's go find that kid and settle the score!"

"Splash!"

The three leapt out of the magma, landing on the edge of the volcano, still steaming slightly, their faces not looking too good.

Lei Lie shook his arm, which was red from the magma, and grinned, but a dangerous glint was in his eyes.

"Junior Brother Jiang, it seems your guess wasn't quite accurate, huh?"

Xiao Han crossed his arms, his stern gaze sweeping towards Jiang Donghua. Although he didn't speak, his oppressive presence was palpable.

Liu Qingsi, however, walked forward with a smile, poisonous mist swirling around her fingertips, her tone gentle but with hidden killing intent. "Junior Brother, shouldn't you explain?"

Seeing this, Jiang Donghua's heart skipped a beat, and he let out two dry laughs. "Three Senior Brothers and Senior Sister, don't rush, perhaps we missed something!"

Lei Lie burst into laughter, throwing an arm around his shoulder with such force that it almost made him stumble. "Missed something? You little brat, you wouldn't be intentionally playing a trick on us, would you?"

Liu Qingsi sighed softly, feigning disappointment as she shook her head. "Alas, I was thinking, if we really found something good, I'd give you a share."

Jiang Donghua's forehead was sweating, and he quickly waved his hand. "Wait! I have another guess!"

The three paused, their gazes simultaneously fixed on him.

Seeing their gazes, he coughed twice and spoke again.

"Then, did you find any strangely colored stones or oddly shaped things inside the magma?"

"Sometimes, some medicinal ingredients don't necessarily look like the herbs in the forest."

The three pondered for a moment, and Xiao Han spoke with some uncertainty. "It seems there was a strange white jade stone during the search just now, but it could also be that the magma made it turn a different color."

Jiang Donghua's eyes lit up, and he quickly pressed, "White jade stone? Where exactly was it?"

Xiao Han recalled briefly, pointing to a section of the rock wall deep within the magma. "Near the bottom, embedded in a crevice, its surface was smooth, but it had been scoured by magma for too long, so its original texture couldn't be seen."

Lei Lie scratched his head, saying gruffly, "I thought it was a broken bone and almost smashed it with my staff!"

Liu Qingsi lightly stroked her chin with her fingertips, deep in thought. "The magma temperature is extremely high; ordinary jade would have melted long ago. For it to remain intact, it's probably not an ordinary item."

Jiang Donghua's breathing quickened slightly, but his voice tried to remain steady. "Three Senior Brothers and Senior Sister, could we go down again? That jade stone is very likely what we're looking for!"

Lei Lie glared. "Go down again? You little brat, you wouldn't be trying to trick us again, would you?"

Xiao Han's gaze was sharp, staring at Jiang Donghua. "Reason."

Jiang Donghua took a deep breath and explained, "Ancient texts record that certain heaven and earth spiritual materials form a 'jade-like' outer shell in extreme environments, containing their essence. The white jade stone in the magma is very likely an 'earth core fire jade marrow,' a supreme treasure capable of greatly enhancing Dou Qi strength!"

Liu Qingsi's red lips curved slightly, a glint of interest flashing in her eyes. "Oh? If that's true, it's worth another trip."

Lei Lie grinned, his fists cracking. "Alright! But if it's another wasted trip, I don't care about Junior Brother or not, I'll beat you up first!"

The three exchanged glances, Dou Qi surging around them once more, and they leapt into the magma!

This time, their target was incredibly clear: the overlooked white jade stone.

Dou Qi surged around the three of them, and they plunged into the magma like three meteors.

This time, they headed straight for the rock wall crevice Xiao Han had mentioned. The peculiar white jade stone was embedded in the crimson magma, its surface radiating a pearlescent matte glow.

"Move!"

Lei Lie roared, his five fingers hooking onto the edge of the jade stone. His arm muscles bulged, veins popping.

Dou Qi exploded from his fingertips, causing the surrounding magma to boil and churn.

It didn't budge.

Xiao Han's eyes narrowed. He brought his fingers together like a sword, and ice-blue Dou Qi condensed into a blade as thin as a cicada's wing, precisely cutting into the seam between the jade stone and the rock wall.

Sparks flew, and deep marks were carved into the rock wall, but the jade stone remained as solid as ever.

"What the hell?"

Lei Lie's eyes widened. "I can tear apart the scales of a Fourth-Tier Magical Beast with my bare hands, and I can't even deal with a rock?!"

Liu Qingsi narrowed her eyes. Poisonous mist seeped from her sleeve, transforming into countless hair-thin tendrils that drilled into the crevices at the base of the jade stone.

But in the next second, the poisonous mist was repelled, and a faint golden pattern flashed across the jade stone's surface.

The three exchanged glances, a ruthless expression appearing on their faces simultaneously.

Lei Lie clapped his hands together, and his long staff 'hummed' as it tripled in size. The staff was wreathed in crimson Dou Qi, and he swung it in a wide arc, smashing it towards the jade stone.

"Open for me!"

Boom!

The magma was split apart by the shockwave, the rock wall cracked, and the entire volcano trembled.

Xiao Han seized the opportunity, pressing his palms to the ground. Ice Dou Qi spread along the cracks, freezing the rocks around the jade stone until they were as brittle as thin crackers.

Liu Qingsi, meanwhile, leapt into the air, her poisonous mist condensing into a heavy hammer, which she slammed down with force onto the top of the jade stone!

Crack—!

A crack finally appeared on the jade stone's surface, followed by a spiderweb-like pattern that spread wildly.

With their Dou Qi fully unleashed, the three forcibly pried the stubborn jade stone from the rock wall!

The three rushed out of the magma with the white jade stone, their Dou Qi barriers trembling slightly, clearly indicating that the violent excavation had consumed a considerable amount of energy.

Lei Lie placed the jade stone on the ground with a dull "thud." Magma slid off its surface, but it didn't erode it in the slightest.

He grinned, patting the jade stone. "Good heavens, I used ten-tenths of my strength and couldn't budge it. This thing is tough!"

Xiao Han condensed Dou Qi at his fingertips and lightly traced the jade stone's surface, his brow furrowing. "For it to withstand magma erosion for a thousand years without being destroyed, and for external forces to barely damage it, is indeed extraordinary."

Liu Qingsi circled the jade stone, her poisonous mist tentatively wrapping around it, but it was instantly repelled. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, followed by a deeper smile. "Junior Brother, it seems you didn't lie to us this time."