141: Even the rocky outcrops are searched for, and the sparks of fire pave a new path.

It was unknown how long this bloody feast lasted.

The summit of the volcano had already turned into a human purgatory.

At this moment, those who could still struggle in the pool of blood were all individuals with astonishing willpower or truly top-tier strength.

"Poof!"

Zhou Wanhe cleaved a Provincial Government Team Member who attempted a sneak attack, but his own chest was cut open by the opponent's dying counterattack.

He had lost count of how many times he had engaged in such life-for-life fighting.

He gasped for breath, his crimson gaze sweeping across the battlefield.

His two younger brothers, Zhou Wanjiang and Zhou Wanhe, were covered in blood, collapsed not far behind him.

Zhou Wanjiang's left arm was severed at the shoulder, blood gushing out, his face pale.

Zhou Wanhe was even more tragic; his abdomen was pierced by a huge bloody hole, his intestines spilling out, and his breath was barely perceptible.

"Third Brother! Fourth Brother!" Zhou Wanhe's eyes were bloodshot as he let out a roar of grief and indignation.

He wanted to rush over, but several equally frenzied Card Masters immediately swarmed him.

More people from the Provincial Government!

"Get lost!" Zhou Wanhe was like a mad tiger, his Blood Fiend Great Saber dancing impenetrably, forcing back his enemies one by one.

But he also sustained continuous injuries, adding several ghastly wounds to his body.

On the other side, De Xiner's situation was also precarious.

The carefully selected disciples of Deyun Hall had been completely wiped out, not a single one left alive.

She herself was severely wounded, her left shoulder scorched black by a violent bolt of lightning, and blood constantly seeped from the corner of her mouth.

If not for her elusive footwork, coupled with occasionally scattering some unpredictable poisons to repel enemies, she would have likely perished long ago.

Even so, she was already at the end of her rope, each dodge proving exceptionally difficult.

"Hehehe... you all must die... you all must die..."

The Provincial Government's team also suffered heavy losses.

Zhang Yue and Duan Kong had already turned into mortal enemies!

They were fighting fiercely!

Duan Kong's Adamantine Demon-Subduing Pestle was stained with red and white matter, each swing accompanied by a heavy whooshing sound.

Zhang Yue's thunder roar spear struck like a dragon, but the lightning at the spear tip was far less intense than before.

They were all holding on... Around them, only Li Qian and a mere three or four other team members were still struggling.

A stealthy stab here, a chop there.

Everyone was covered in blood, their clothes torn, their eyes bloodshot and weary.

If not for the extreme desire for those stone tablets still sustaining them, they would have likely collapsed long ago.

"Captain... we... we can't hold on much longer!" Li Qian's voice was hoarse; his Thick Earth Shield was covered in cracks, as if it would shatter completely at any moment.

"Hold on! You must hold on!" Zhang Yue roared, forcing Duan Kong back with a spear thrust. "These stone tablets... they are ours!"

"Bullshit!"

"They are... they are mine!"

Just as this tragic slaughter was about to reach its final curtain, and all survivors were exhausted—

"It should... be enough."

An ancient and majestic voice, like a grand bell, resonated in everyone's mind.

It was none other than the Old Flame Spirit, who had been observing with cold eyes.

He slowly lowered his head, his gaze sweeping over the blood-soaked battlefield.

An invisible force, like a clear spring, brushed over the minds of all survivors.

"Om..."

The frenzied desire for slaughter finally receded, and a long-lost sense of clarity once again occupied their consciousness.

"Uh..." Zhou Wanhe shook his head, the crimson in his eyes rapidly fading.

He looked at the corpses strewn across the ground, at his two severely wounded and dying brothers, and a strong wave of grief and regret surged into his heart.

"What... what have I done?"

Zhang Yue and Duan Kong also sobered up. They looked at the few remaining team members beside them, and the bodies of their former comrades, their faces showing extremely complex expressions.

"This..."

Li Qian trembled as he lowered his shield, looking at his blood-stained hands, his eyes filled with confusion.

De Xiner's face was even paler; she looked at the tragic scene around her, her stomach churning, almost making her vomit.

But very quickly, everyone's gaze, without prior agreement, turned towards the dark red stone tablets floating in mid-air.

However, no one made a move; their apprehension towards them finally outweighed their desire at this moment!

Just as the atmosphere at the volcano's summit began to warm up.

A figure appeared on the other edge of the volcanic crater.

It was Bedrock.

He was panting, having gone off to enjoy himself somewhere.

Standing with his hands behind his back, he surveyed the tragic scene of corpses strewn everywhere below, clicking his tongue in disapproval.

"A bunch of fools."

"The real core isn't here."

He had no interest in the floating stone tablets.

He checked his wristwatch; it was almost time.

Bedrock slowly took out an emblem from hisHuai.

It was the 'Spark' emblem!

He gently pressed the emblem onto the rocky ground beneath his feet.

Then, he began to chant an ancient and obscure incantation.

No, it should be called a secret technique!

The syllables of the incantation were very peculiar, more like a dialect.

Listening carefully, one could vaguely distinguish terms like "Spark," "guidance," and "return to origin."

As the incantation was chanted, the ground beneath Bedrock's feet slowly began to change—

An esoteric magic array pattern, centered around the emblem, rapidly spread across the rock.

The structure of the array bore some resemblance to the light screen previously summoned by the Old Flame Spirit, but its scale was much smaller, and the nature of its energy appeared more restrained, carrying a sense of tracing back to the source.

"Heh! It's done!"

Bedrock looked at the forming teleportation array beneath his feet, a look of joy on his face.

He didn't hesitate for a moment, stepping directly into the teleportation array.

With a flash of light, Bedrock's figure instantly disappeared.

The teleportation array beneath his feet also dimmed and rapidly dissipated, as if it had never appeared.

At the same time, inside the main hall of the Fire Source Temple.

Lu Yuan was sitting cross-legged, toying with the stone fragment that had just performed a miraculous feat, racking his brain for a way to break the deadlock.

"One stone fragment can only temporarily suppress a small section of the chain, and it will also recover on its own..."

"How many of these damn stone fragments will it take to free the crown?"

"Am I supposed to bring all those stone tablets from outside in here?"

The more he thought about it, the more his head hurt.

Just then—

Buzz!

A faint energy fluctuation suddenly came from the direction of the temple entrance.

Immediately after, a small teleportation gate appeared out of thin air.

"Hmm?"

Lu Yuan's heart tightened, and he immediately became alert, his gaze fixed on the abruptly appearing teleportation gate.

Had the Old Elf returned?

The Flame Sprites also chirped, flying to Lu Yuan's side and adopting defensive postures.

The next moment, a figure stumbled out of the small flame teleportation gate, falling to the ground with a thud, looking rather disheveled.

The person grunted and struggled to raise his head.

Lu Yuan looked closely and was immediately stunned.

"It's you?!"

The person who stumbled out of the teleportation gate was none other than Bedrock, the Yao Family's enshrinement!

"How are you here?"

They spoke in unison. Bedrock clearly hadn't expected to see Lu Yuan here. He looked up, saw Lu Yuan's startled face, and was also filled with surprise and bewilderment.

"Little Friend Lu Yuan?!"

"Enshrinement Bedrock?!"

Before he finished speaking, Bedrock's gaze was drawn to the floating crown in the center of the temple.

The moment he clearly saw the crown, Bedrock's pupils suddenly contracted, and his face lit up with joy!

"This... this is..."

"Chirp! Chirp!"

The Flame Sprites, seeing Bedrock, this unfamiliar intruder, immediately became restless.

They let out a series of threatening screeches, flailing their limbs and blocking Lu Yuan's front, the flames on their heads burning even more fiercely, as if ready to attack at any moment.

"Don't get excited, Little Fellows." Lu Yuan quickly spoke to calm them.

His heart was also filled with questions.

How did this Bedrock find his way here?

The teleportation method he just used seemed somewhat similar to that of the Old Flame Spirit, but not entirely the same.

Could he also have some connection to the Flame Spirit race?

Bedrock's attention was currently completely drawn to the crown.

It seems the organization's intelligence was correct; this is the true Temple!

And this crown, presumably, is the supreme object!

However, he soon became aware of Lu Yuan and the Flame Sprites' presence.

Bedrock took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his heart, the wild joy on his face quickly receding, returning to his usual inscrutable demeanor.

He slowly stood up, brushed the dust from his clothes, and turned his gaze to Lu Yuan, forcing a smile.

"Little Friend Lu Yuan, what a coincidence." Bedrock said in a calm tone, "I didn't expect to reunite with you in this place."

His gaze subtly swept over the crown again, as well as the chains binding it, a glint flashing deep in his eyes.

"May I ask how Little Friend came to this sacred place?"

"This temple... have you discovered anything?"

...