404: Chapter 404 Using underhanded tactics and ambushing the victim

After traveling for about another hour and passing through a long, narrow, scorching rock crevice, an underground space appeared before the four of them.

Above the space was a dark red rock ceiling, and below was a churning lake of crimson magma. A wave of intense heat rushed toward them, accompanied by a scorched odor.

A natural stone bridge made of red rock spanned the magma lake, leading to the opposite shore.

On the other side were numerous cave entrances of various sizes; some flickered with flames, while others flowed with magma. This was the entrance to the core area of the Flame Cave.

At the end of the stone bridge near the opposite shore, as well as on several protruding rock platforms on both sides of the bridge, figures could be seen faintly moving.

Although these people were well-hidden, with Ye Tian's powerful spiritual sense, he could still sense them. Two of the presences were particularly formidable; they were likely Nangong Zhaotian and that Fourth Stage Peak of the Sea Transformation Realm Guest Elder.

Moreover, he discovered that Nangong Zhaotian's cultivation seemed to have improved again, actually reaching the Fourth Stage of Sea Transformation!

"As expected of the Nangong Family's number one Genius," Ye Tian marveled inwardly.

Dongfang Xinghe and Pei Tieshan also saw the figures on the opposite shore.

"Junior Brother Ye, look over there," Shui Qingdie suddenly signaled in a low voice, pointing toward a rock wall on the other side of the magma lake, quite far from the stone bridge.

There was a crack shrouded in scorching steam, with traces of concealment around its edges. If one didn't look closely, it would be extremely easy to overlook.

"There... it seems we can circle around to their rear?" Dongfang Xinghe's eyes lit up.

Ye Tian's spiritual sense quietly spread out to investigate carefully.

The crack led into the depths of the Flame Cave, but it bypassed the stone bridge and the obvious cave entrances on the opposite shore. It seemed to be a Fire Vein passage leading to the interior of the Flame Cave.

"This place isn't marked on the map. It looks like a secret path, perhaps opened by previous explorers or naturally formed and then covered up."

Ye Tian made a decision. "We'll enter through there. Be careful to restrain your auras and follow me closely."

Using the heat radiating from the magma lake as cover, the four of them stayed close to the rock wall and sneaked toward the crack.

Fortunately, the attention of Nangong Zhaotian and the others seemed to be focused on the stone bridge and the entrances on the opposite shore. They didn't pay much attention to this remote and sweltering edge of the magma lake.

Perhaps in their view, no one would be foolish enough to avoid the stone bridge and choose to climb the scalding rock walls instead.

The four of them arrived in front of the crack.

Ye Tian flashed in first, his Chaos True Essence forming a protective shield on his body's surface to block the high temperatures, while his spiritual sense scouted the way ahead.

Dongfang Xinghe, Pei Tieshan, and Shui Qingdie entered one after another, holding their breath and remaining cautious.

The interior of the crack was deeper than expected, and the temperature grew higher and higher.

The rock walls were baked until they were scalding hot and turned red; in some places, traces of flowing lava could even be seen.

After traveling for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the crack gradually widened. From ahead came the sound of flowing magma and... human voices!

Ye Tian immediately raised his hand to signal. The four of them stopped, held their breath, restrained all their auras, and quietly crept forward.

The end of the crack connected to a small magma cave.

One side of the cave was a slowly flowing magma river, while the other side was a rock platform.

At this moment, there were three people on the platform sitting together, talking in low voices. Next to them was a pile of miscellaneous items and food; it seemed to be a temporary outpost.

Of these three, two were at the Sea Transformation Second Layer, and one was at the Sea Transformation First Layer Peak. Their clothing was not the Nangong Family's uniform, so they seemed to be Loose Cultivators recruited or coerced by Nangong Zhaotian.

Their location was quite hidden, situated next to a remote Fire Vein on the outskirts of the Flame Cave.

From here, they could monitor a small path leading to the depths of the Flame Cave as well as part of the magma river area.

"Damn it, this ghostly place is hot as hell. That kid from the Nangong Family sure knows how to enjoy himself, waiting in the largest lava cave up front while making us brothers feed the mosquitoes in this godforsaken place!"

A man at the Sea Transformation Second Layer with a scar on his neck complained. He grabbed a water skin, took a gulp, then spat it out. "The water is even scalding!"

"Keep it down, Lao Wang," another tall, thin Sea Transformation Second Layer Cultivator whispered. "The Nangong Family is powerful, and Nangong Zhaotian is even more ruthless. If we want to stay alive, we have to do the work."

"Staying here is better than being a target over at the stone bridge."

"I heard they're planning to ambush people from the Liuli Xuan Sect. Those few aren't to be trifled with, especially that one named Ye Tian. They say he embarrassed Nangong Zhaotian so badly at the entrance of the Secret Realm that he couldn't back down."

"Nonsense!" The third Cultivator, a short and fat man at the Sea Transformation First Layer Peak, curled his lip in disdain. "No matter how powerful he is, how powerful can he be? Can he beat the Nangong Family's Guest Elder?"

"I heard that the Black-robed Guest Elder beside Nangong Zhaotian is at the Fourth Stage Peak of the Sea Transformation Realm! There are also several at the third stage. Those kids from the Liuli Xuan Sect, if they dare to come, they're dead for sure!"

"We're staying here just to prevent them from slipping in from somewhere else. If we send a signal, we've completed our task."

"That's true." Lao Wang nodded, but still looked a bit worried. "However, I just don't feel right."

"What if that Ye Tian really doesn't play by the rules and doesn't take the stone bridge, but sneaks in through this godforsaken place instead?"

"Do you think they're stupid?" The short, fat Cultivator sneered. "This place is hot and remote, and there's no path. Unless they can fly or burrow their way in! Otherwise... uh..."

Just as he was halfway through his sentence, he suddenly stopped.

Because he saw that, at some point, four figures had appeared in front of him.

The leader, dressed in green robes, was quietly watching them.

The short, fat Cultivator's throat felt as if it were being choked by something, and he couldn't say another word.

Lao Wang and the tall, thin man noticed something was wrong. They followed his gaze and immediately froze in place. Their pupils constricted, and the color drained from their faces.

"You... you all..." Lao Wang's voice was dry. His hand reached for the blade at his waist, but it was trembling violently.

Ye Tian didn't give them any chance to react.

Transforming into a bolt of lightning, he instantly appeared before Lao Wang and pointed a finger.

Dongfang Xinghe's sword instantly entangled the tall, thin Cultivator. Pei Tieshan directly lunged at the short, fat Cultivator, his heavy fist smashing down.

Shui Qingdie stood guard at the exit of the crack to prevent anyone from escaping or sending a signal.

The battle started quickly and ended even faster.

Lao Wang was only at the Sea Transformation Second Layer; he was no match for Ye Tian. He didn't even see how Ye Tian attacked before he felt a pain in his brow and instantly lost consciousness.

The tall, thin Cultivator was entangled by Dongfang Xinghe's exquisite sword techniques. Within just a few moves, his shoulder was pierced by the sword, and he lost his fighting capacity.

The short, fat Cultivator was even worse off. He was struck in the chest by Pei Tieshan's fist; his sternum collapsed, blood sprayed wildly, and he fell to the ground, unable to get up.

From the moment Ye Tian attacked to when the three of them fell, only two or three breaths had passed. They weren't even given the chance to scream or sound an alarm.

Ye Tian's spiritual sense swept through the cave, confirming there were no other ambushes or warning Restrictions. Then he walked to the pile of miscellaneous items, rummaged through them, and found a bone fragment engraved with simple Communication Runes, likely used to report to Nangong Zhaotian.

"It seems Nangong Zhaotian has set up more than just this one outpost on the outskirts of the Flame Cave." Ye Tian crushed the bone fragment and said calmly.

"Junior Brother Ye, how should we handle these people?" Dongfang Xinghe asked.

Ye Tian looked at the three fallen men, his gaze calm. These three had assisted a villain and set an ambush here; killing them wouldn't be unjust.

But from their conversation, Ye Tian also knew that these three Loose Cultivators were forced by the Nangong Family's power and had no choice but to do this, so he didn't kill them immediately.

"Cripple their cultivation, erase their relevant memories, and leave them here to fend for themselves." Ye Tian made his decision.

Crippling their cultivation in this dangerous Secret Realm was no different from death, but it was a slim chance at survival nonetheless.

Erasing their memories was to prevent them from revealing the four of them's tracks.

Dongfang Xinghe and Pei Tieshan nodded and did as he said.

Shui Qingdie watched silently from the side, having no objection to Ye Tian's handling of the situation.

Being kind to your enemies is being cruel to yourself; she understood this principle.

For Ye Tian to spare their lives was already the height of benevolence.

After dealing with the outpost, Ye Tian looked toward the depths of the cave, where the magma river flowed and which vaguely led to the core area of the Flame Cave.

"Let's go. The hunt... has begun."

A cold light flickered in Ye Tian's eyes as he took the lead, sneaking toward the depths where the magma river flowed.

Nangong Zhaotian probably never imagined that before the hunter had even arrived at his carefully laid net, the prey had already quietly slipped in and had already pulled out one of his "teeth."