304: Chapter 304 The One-Horned Lava Crystal Armor Crocodile King

Seeing the Lava Horn Cannon condensed by the One-Horned Crocodile King growing stronger and about to erupt, Ye Tian stepped down, channeled his True Yuan into sword, and avoided the direct line of fire. sword transformed into purple lightning, slashing at the joint between the Crocodile King's horn and its head!

Simultaneously, he pressed his left palm out into the air, striking the side of the charging horn with a burst of searing energy to interfere with it!

Under extreme compression, the lightning at the sword's tip reached a terrifying level of penetration. It actually pierced through the gaps in the crystal armor and sank into the joint of the One-Horned Crocodile King's head!

Violent thunder power instantly exploded inside its skull!

"Roar!"

The One-Horned Crocodile King let out a miserable howl. The half-condensed "Lava Horn Cannon" spiraled out of control, exploding inside its mouth and skull!

Its body thrashed violently, smashing the surrounding lava and rocks into a mess as its aura rapidly weakened.

Ye Tian pulled back quickly, avoiding the Crocodile King's deathbed counterattack.

After a few breaths, this powerful Rank 4 Yao Beast finally collapsed and died.

The lava lakeside fell into a dead silence. The three Yanding Sect Disciples watched this scene in a daze, unable to believe their eyes.

A youth at the ninth level of the True Martial Realm had actually crossed realms to kill a Rank 4 One-Horned Lava Crystal-Armored Crocodile King?!

What kind of terrifying combat skills were required for this?!

Hou Xiaojie ran out from behind a rock, his face full of admiration: "Senior Brother is so amazing!"

Ye Tian panted slightly. Though the strike seemed effortless, it had consumed a significant amount of energy.

He stowed away sword and looked toward the three Yanding Sect Disciples.

The three finally snapped out of it. Supporting each other, they stepped forward and solemnly cupped their fists toward Ye Tian: "I am Zhao Yan, an Inner Sect Disciple of the Yanding Sect. This is my Junior Brother Sun strong, and my Junior Sister Liu Ru."

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for saving our lives!"

"Might I ask your esteemed name? The Yanding Sect will never forget this kindness!"

"A nameless Loose Cultivator, Ye Jiu."

Ye Tian gave a fake name. "This place is dangerous, and the three of you are heavily injured. It would be best to leave as soon as possible."

Zhao Yan gave a bitter smile: "Fellow Daoist Ye is right."

"To be honest, we ventured deep into the Land of Flowing Fire to harvest several stalks of Crimson Flame Gold-Veined Grass growing by this lava lake, which an Elder of our sect needs for Alchemy."

"Unexpectedly, we disturbed the Yao Beast in the lake and nearly died here."

"If not for Fellow Daoist Ye's intervention, we would be dead."

"This life-saving debt is beyond repayment..."

He hesitated for a moment, then took out a crimson token from his robes and handed it to Ye Tian. "This is a Guest Elder token of my Yanding Sect. Holding this token, you can enjoy certain conveniences in our sect's outer markets. If needed, you can also use it to seek non-principled assistance at our sect's outpost in 'Crimson Flame Town' outside the Land of Flowing Fire."

"A small token of gratitude, please accept it, Fellow Daoist Ye."

Ye Tian glanced at the token and did not refuse, taking it and putting it away.

Another friend meant another path. The Yanding Sect's reputation in the Northern Region was decent; perhaps it would be useful in the future.

"Thank you. Since there is nothing more here, I shall take my leave."

"Fellow Daoist Ye, wait!"

Liu Ru suddenly spoke. She seemed to hesitate before saying in a low voice, "Fellow Daoist Ye is highly skilled and has shown us kindness."

"There is something... perhaps I should warn you about."

"Lately, the Land of Flowing Fire has been unstable. Besides the inherent dangers, people from the Wanren Sword Pavilion and Shadow Calamity Tower have been frequently active nearby. They seem to be looking for someone and have set up many hidden sentries."

"If you intend to travel through the Land of Flowing Fire, you must be extremely careful. Try to avoid the directions of the Earth Fire Demon Abyss and Sulfur Valley; those are their primary monitoring areas."

Ye Tian's heart stirred. As expected!

Ling Juexiao had already set up defenses here.

His expression remained unchanged as he nodded. "Thank you for the warning, Miss Liu. I have noted it."

"Farewell."

With that, he took Hou Xiaojie and, with a flash of his figure, vanished into the depths of the lava stone forest.

Looking in the direction Ye Tian had left, Zhao Yan and the other two remained silent for a long time.

"Senior Brother, is that 'Ye Jiu' really just a Loose Cultivator?"

"His sword techniques, movement skills, and that lightning sword..." Sun Lie couldn't help but whisper.

Zhao Yan shook his head, his eyes filled with awe. "I don't know. But this youth is definitely no ordinary person."

"To be able to kill a Rank 4 Yao Beast with a True Martial Realm cultivation... his combat power is likely no inferior to a Cultivator who has just entered the Sea Transformation Realm."

"Ye Jiu..."

"Ye Tian..."

"Could it be..."

"The name he gave must be a fake. Perhaps... he is related to the one who has been the subject of so many rumors lately."

"But regardless of who he is, the life-saving grace is real."

"Regarding today's events, when we return, we shall only say we encountered danger while harvesting Crimson Flame Gold-Veined Grass and narrowly escaped. Do not mention Fellow Daoist Ye, lest we bring trouble upon him."

"Yes!" Sun Lie and Liu Ru responded solemnly.

The three did not dare to linger. They quickly gathered the Crimson Flame Gold-Veined Grass by the lava lake, took the Yao Cores and crystal armor from the two Lava Crystal-Armored Crocodiles, and then hurriedly left the lava lake area.

Not long after they left, Ye Tian quietly doubled back.

He came to the edge of the lava lake, frowning as he looked at the bubbling red surface.

"The fire spirit marrow liquid mentioned by Venerable Jiehuo might not be in this lake, but in the earth veins connected beneath it... However, this place has already been noticed by the Wanren Sword Pavilion. It's not suitable to stay and investigate."

He turned his gaze toward the Earth Fire Demon Abyss and Sulfur Valley mentioned by Liu Ru.

Those two places were famously perilous spots in the Land of Flowing Fire, where fire energy was even more violent and chaotic, but also more likely to nurture rare treasures.

Ling Juexiao was monitoring those areas heavily, likely having guessed that he might need extreme fire-attribute energy.

"The most dangerous place might be the most likely place to find fire spirit marrow liquid, and also the place most easily overlooked..."

He had to take the risk!

But before that, he needed to settle Hou Xiaojie and make more thorough preparations.

Taking Hou Xiaojie with him, he left the lava lake area and headed toward the "Crimson Flame Town" mentioned by the Yanding Sect Disciples.

He needed to obtain more detailed intelligence there, purchase some necessary supplies, and find a temporarily safe hiding place for Hou Xiaojie.

However, about an hour after they left, several black figures with cold auras and mysterious movement techniques appeared by the lava lake.

They inspected the One-Horned Crocodile King's corpse and the traces of battle. The leader looked in the direction Ye Tian had gone, a cruel smile flashing in his eyes as he whispered a few words into a transmission jade talisman.

"Suspected target has appeared, moving toward Crimson Flame Town. Requesting further instructions."

Land of Flowing Fire, outer region.

Ye Tian led Hou Xiaojie, traveling swiftly toward the "Crimson Flame Town" mentioned by the Yanding Sect Disciples.

As they gradually moved away from the core area of the Land of Flowing Fire, the temperature dropped, and the two felt much more comfortable.

Hou Xiaojie, carrying the still-unconscious Dragon Ape, followed behind Ye Tian and asked softly, "Senior Brother, is that Crimson Flame Town safe? Will there be people from the Wanren Sword Pavilion?"

"I'm not sure, but..." Ye Tian scanned the path ahead, paused, and said, "We need intelligence from there, and we also need a safe place to stay."

"The Yanding Sect has a decent reputation in the Northern Region; their outpost might provide some shelter."

"However, we must be careful in everything."

He had already wrapped sword tightly with thick cloth strips and carried it on his back, making it look like an ordinary wooden stick.

He also suppressed his aura to the third or fourth level of the True Martial Realm. Combined with his altered skin tone and a deliberately hunched posture, he looked like a travel-worn, low-level adventurer traveling with his younger brother.

About an hour later, a small town built of crimson rock appeared before them.

The town wasn't large, but its walls were high, with guards stationed at the entrance. Most of the buildings inside were low and rugged in style.

The air was thick with the smell of sweat and alcohol.

This was Crimson Flame Town, the largest human gathering point on the outskirts of the Land of Flowing Fire. People from all walks of life converged here—Cultivators seeking treasure, merchant caravans buying Materials, and spies planted by various major powers.