60: Falling into a trap, underground fire erupts

Young Master Ye, the core area of the Earth-Fire Grotto is just ahead!

A Disciple of the Ye Family, pointing excitedly at the cave entrance glowing with dark red light.

Ye Jun held a jade bone folding fan, gently fanning himself, a cool aura enveloped him, isolating most of the heat, his face bearing its usual arrogance.

"A untouchables who died by the roadside, yet still deludes himself into coveting such a treasure, truly laughable."

He remembered the Qingyun Sect Disciple he had casually ordered to be "dealt with," a sneer of disdain playing on his lips.

Such an ant didn't even deserve a second of his memory.

"Everyone, be careful. The legendary crimson flame demon lotus must have a guardian Yao Beast."

Although Ye Jun was conceited, he wasn't foolish. After a reminder, he took the lead and stepped into the colossal underground cavern.

The moment they saw the scene inside the cave, everyone gasped.

A massive lava lake.

And at the center of the lake, that breathtakingly beautiful crimson flame demon lotus, about to bloom!

"Heavens... it really is the crimson flame demon lotus!"

"Look at its quality, a thousand-year-old! Young Master Ye's good fortune is boundless!"

The group of Ye Family Disciples instantly erupted, their breathing heavy, their eyes gleaming with unconcealed greed.

Ye Jun's heart was also pounding wildly.

He stared intently at the demon lotus, the arrogance on his face long replaced by wild ecstasy.

He seemed to already see himself refining the demon lotus, greatly increasing his cultivation, and becoming the Family's number one Prodigy, a glorious vision.

"This is my destiny!"

He muttered to himself.

"Young Master Ye, there doesn't seem to be any Yao Beast aura around..." A meticulous Disciple took out a spell disk to scan the area, somewhat puzzled.

Ye Jun, his mind clouded by ecstasy, also scanned with his spiritual sense and found no powerful life aura.

The Lava Megalizard's stealth talent was far beyond their ability to discern.

"Perhaps the guardian Yao Beast just went out!"

"Who cares! This is an Opportunity not to be missed!"

Ye Jun's greed completely overwhelmed his last shred of reason.

"You all stand guard for me here, I will go claim this heaven-sent Opportunity!"

He gave the order, his body flickered, and he flew towards the center of the lava lake, the triumphant smile on his face growing wider.

On the high stone platform, Lin Gou watched this scene, his eyes calm without a ripple.

It was like watching a play whose ending was already known.

The foolish prey was stepping, inch by inch, into the sweetest, yet deadliest, trap.

Ye Jun finally arrived before the demon lotus.

He no longer hesitated, spiritual power surged wildly within him, condensing into a giant azure hand that fiercely grabbed towards the demon lotus!

Just as the spiritual power palm was about to touch the petals.

A sudden change occurred!

"Roar—!!!"

A furious roar from primordial antiquity exploded without warning throughout the entire cavern!

The "charred rock" next to the demon lotus suddenly moved!

A giant head, comparable to a millstone, slowly lifted, a pair of molten gold-like vertical pupils locked onto Ye Jun in mid-air!

In its eyes, there was only the primal rage of its territory being invaded!

"No! It's the Lava Megalizard!"

"Young Master Ye, retreat quickly!"

The Ye Family Disciples on the shore were scared Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, letting out terrified screams.

Ye Jun's face also turned ashen in an instant.

He wanted to retreat.

But it was already too late.

And at this very moment.

On the high platform, Lin Gou, who had been sitting still, finally moved.

He merely flicked a finger.

An inconspicuous pebble flew from his fingertip, tracing a precise parabolic arc, and struck the giant stalagmite he had tampered with, without deviation.

"Snap."

A trivial soft sound.

Yet it was as if the first domino had been pushed over.

Crack—!

The giant stalagmite, supporting almost half of the cave ceiling, emitted a grating cracking sound from within!

Boom!

The stalagmite collapsed with a roar, triggering a violent chain reaction!

The entire cavern was shaking wildly!

The pressure accumulated in the energy channels blocked by Lin Gou instantly reached its critical point!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three incomparably thick pillars of lava light shot up from the bottom of the lava lake, directly striking the fragile cave dome!

Boulders rained down like drops.

The tiny cracks on the walls, now deadly weapons, sprayed out scorching lava like high-pressure water guns, weaving into a net from which there was no escape!

The entrance they had come through was completely sealed by a lava waterfall pouring down from above!

The retreat route was cut off!

The entire underground cavern, in just a few breaths, transformed from a treasure trove into a sealed inferno of Hell!

"Ah—!"

A Ye Family Disciple was hit by a lava flow and instantly vaporized.

"Save me! Young Master Ye, save me!"

Another had his legs broken by a falling boulder and was swallowed by the magma gushing from a crack in despair.

The scene turned into a human Hell.

Ye Jun's mind was blank.

A second ago, he was a Prodigy.

The next second, he was trapped in a desperate situation with no way out, no way in.

Why did this happen?!

He had no time to think, because the thoroughly enraged Lava Megalizard was already pouncing on him with immense force!

"Get lost!"

Ye Jun's eyes were bloodshot, his jade bone folding fan unleashed a fierce storm, striking the Megalizard's body, but only sparks flew, utterly failing to break its defense!

The Megalizard's sharp claws tore through all his protective shields!

Bang!

The last claw struck him squarely in the chest.

Pfft!

Ye Jun was struck by lightning, spitting out blood wildly, crashing heavily against the rock wall, his sternum shattered, internal organs displaced.

His companions were also slaughtered in this short time.

Only he remained alive in the entire cavern.

Ye Jun's eyes were filled with endless fear and regret.

Why?

The collapse of the sky and earth, the eruption of ground fire... all of this was too coincidental!

So coincidental, it was as if... someone was meticulously planning it behind the scenes!

A vague figure he had long since forgotten suddenly appeared in his mind.

That nameless Qingyun Sect untouchables he had ordered to be "dealt with."

Was it him?

Impossible! He had already been pushed into the Earth-Fire Fissure, dead without a trace!

How could a dead man... Just as his mind was in chaos and he was on the verge of collapse, his pupils, magnified by fear, inadvertently swept towards the highest point of the cave dome.

There.

Against the backdrop of the sky full of flames and falling boulders.

He saw it.

He saw a figure standing quietly.

That figure stood there so calmly, looking down from above, indifferently, at this feast of death he had personally directed.

Although it was just a blurry outline.

But Ye Jun, in that instant, saw it clearly!

It was him!

It was that untouchables he thought had long been dead!

A chill, a thousand times more terrifying than death itself, instantly shot from his tailbone straight to his crown!

Not an accident!

Not a natural disaster!

All of this was designed by him!

It was him! It was him who fooled all of us!

He treated us... as prey!

This thought, like the most vicious curse, instantly shattered Ye Jun's last psychological defense.

On his face, pride, anger, fear, regret, and an extreme, incomprehensible absurdity, intertwined into a twisted tableau.

"You..."

He opened his mouth, wanting to utter a final question.

But the Lava Megalizard's huge head was already close to him.

It opened its massive, fanged maw.

Its hot, sulfur-smelling breath completely swallowed Ye Jun's last consciousness...

On the high platform, Lin Gou watched expressionlessly as Ye Jun was swallowed by the Megalizard.

He slowly turned and prepared to leave.

A new death had been completed.

New rewards were about to be obtained.

As for the crimson flame demon lotus, he had not given it a second glance from beginning to end.

Merely external possessions.

How could it be as interesting as personally directing a perfect death?

And at this moment.

Outside the Earth-Fire Grotto, in the distant sky.

A clear, cold white sword light, sensing the extremely violent energy fluctuations here, paused slightly.

Above the sword light, Li Hanyue's cold, beautiful face showed a hint of doubt.

She glanced at the energy pillar, mixed with black smoke and flames, rising into the sky from that direction.

After a brief thought, the sword light changed direction, transforming into a streak of light, and sped towards the source of this chaos.