405: Chapter 405 Deployment Plan

The further they went, the higher the temperature became; the rock walls took on a molten dark red hue, and the rocks underfoot were scorching hot. An ordinary Martial Artist, without a special Cultivation Technique or defensive treasure, would likely struggle to endure for long.

The concentration of fire-attribute Spiritual Qi in the air also grew higher and higher, eventually forming a pale red mist that exerted an increasingly obvious suppression on Shui Qingdie, Dongfang Xinghe, and Pei Tieshan.

Especially for Shui Qingdie; by this point, her face had turned pale and the hair on her forehead was soaked with sweat. She had to continuously circulate her Cultivation Technique, condensing a water-attribute protective shield to resist the intense heat.

Although Dongfang Xinghe and Pei Tieshan were slightly better off, they also had to divide their attention to resist it, consuming a significant amount of True Essence.

Only Ye Tian, possessing the Chaos True Essence, felt somewhat comfortable amidst the dense fire-attribute Spiritual Qi of this place.

He even deliberately slowed down his refinement to avoid causing violent fluctuations in the surrounding fire-attribute Spiritual Qi, which might alert the enemy.

"Junior Brother Ye, your Cultivation Technique is truly incredibly miraculous..."

Dongfang Xinghe noticed Ye Tian's relaxed state and, while carefully avoiding the erupting scorching geothermal Qi, sent a telepathic message with curiosity in his eyes.

Ye Tian nodded slightly and explained via telepathy: "I was fortunate enough to Cultivate the Five Elements Sword Body at the Sect's Wan Jian Cliff, which allows me to be compatible with Spiritual Qi of various attributes. Although the fire-attribute Spiritual Qi here is intense, it is still within my tolerance range. Senior Brother Dongfang, Senior Brother Pei, Senior Sister Shui, please hold on a little longer. I will try my best to find a path where the fire-attribute Spiritual Qi is relatively sparse."

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Xinghe was startled.

He naturally knew of Wan Jian Cliff; it was one of the Sect's forbidden grounds.

He never expected that Ye Tian had actually been to such a place, not only surviving miraculously but also cultivating the Five Elements Sword Body. Such talent and Luck were truly enviable.

Ye Tian was unaware of what was going through Dongfang Xinghe's mind. At this moment, he had his spiritual sense fully engaged, carefully probing every inch of space ahead.

He tried his best to avoid areas with warning Formations or sentries, while simultaneously searching for weak points in the fire-attribute Spiritual Qi.

"The fork to the front left has slightly weaker fire-attribute fluctuations, but there is a faint life signature, suggesting a Yao Beast is lurking there. Let's go around it." Ye Tian guided them telepathically.

"Thirty zhang up the right rock wall, there are residual traces of a hidden surveillance Formation. It has already malfunctioned, but pass carefully and do not touch the rock wall."

Ye Tian's reminder made everyone's hearts tighten. Nangong Zhaotian had indeed made meticulous arrangements; even such remote corners had defenses. If not for Ye Tian's superior spiritual sense, they would have very likely triggered an alarm.

They sneaked along the way, avoiding several overt and covert sentry posts, and also conveniently dealt with two Late Stage second-order Vicious Beasts lurking in the passage.

"Junior Brother Ye, your True Essence attribute seems to have an extremely strong suppression effect on the fire element." A strange brilliance grew in Shui Qingdie's beautiful eyes.

She cultivated a water-attribute Cultivation Technique and had a keen sense for the fire element. She could clearly feel that when Ye Tian attacked, the aura contained within his True Essence greatly restricted the Fire-Scaled Lizard's protective Yao power.

"I had a slight stroke of Luck and obtained a bit of special power." Ye Tian did not say much more; the Chaos True Essence was of great importance, and the fewer people who knew about it, the better.

He changed the subject, saying: "We have already penetrated deep into the heart of the Flame Cave. According to the Talisman Seal's sensing and the previous map, the direction of the Five Elements Unification Hall is further inside.

However, Nangong Zhaotian's ambush circle should be near that 'Magma Lake Central Area' ahead. Everyone be careful, restrain your Qi, and we will climb to a high vantage point to take a look."

The passage ahead gradually widened, and the scorching red light became increasingly dazzling.

Ye Tian signaled for everyone to stop and pointed to a rock wall on the side that was riddled with hot steam vents.

There was a crevice there that could be climbed up to a protruding rock ledge above. The view was excellent, and it was shrouded in steaming hot air, making it suitable for concealment.

The four of them were all agile individuals; holding their breath and focusing, they quietly climbed onto the rock ledge.

The space above the rock ledge was not large, but it was enough for the four of them to lie prone.

Pushing aside the scorching steam in front of them, they saw a huge underground space below. In the center was a crimson magma lake with a diameter of over a hundred zhang. The surface of the lake churned with bubbles, occasionally spewing out pillars of magma and fire.

Around the magma lake were jagged rock platforms. At this moment, on the largest few platforms, more than ten people were distributed in the shadows.

Ye Tian's gaze was sharp, and he instantly locked onto several key positions.

On the largest platform, Nangong Zhaotian, dressed in a crimson brocade robe, was sitting cross-legged on a piece of Red Flame Crystal, eyes closed and regulating his breathing.

His aura was deep and condensed, and faint phantoms of red fire lingered around his body. He was clearly already at the Fourth Stage of the Sea Transformation Realm!

Beside him stood an old man in a black robe with a deep aura, no weaker than Nangong Zhaotian. He was none other than that Guest Elder at the Fourth Stage Peak of the Sea Transformation Realm!

Around the two of them were four Martial Artist guards with strong auras, all at the Sea Transformation Third Stage.

"So he is indeed here. Nangong Zhaotian... has he reached the Fourth Stage of the Sea Transformation Realm?" Ye Tian's eyes narrowed slightly, but his heart remained calm.

The gap in Realm was not insurmountable for him, but the opponent had many people and occupied the favorable terrain; fighting head-on was certainly not a wise move.

Besides the main platform where Nangong Zhaotian was, there was the only stone bridge leading to the opposite bank of the magma lake.

At both ends of that natural stone bridge spanning the lake surface, and on several nearby rocky outcrops easy to defend, personnel had been deployed—about seven or eight people, with cultivation levels ranging from the Sea Transformation First Layer to the Third Stage.

These people appeared to be walking around or meditating casually, but in reality, their positioning was clever, echoing each other, sealing off the passage to the stone bridge and the surrounding area.

Anyone wanting to pass through the stone bridge towards the Five Elements Unification Hall could not escape their eyes.

"What a tight arrangement." Dongfang Xinghe sent a telepathic message with a grave expression, "The main platform is garrisoned by Nangong Zhaotian and that black-robed old man, plus four Sea Transformation Third Stage guards.

Both ends of the stone bridge and the key passages are guarded by two to three people each, forming interlocking fire. Further away, there seem to be roaming sentries.

If we try to force our way through, we will inevitably fall into a heavy encirclement, allowing them to wait at their ease and defeat us one by one."

Pei Tieshan licked his lips, his eyes burning with Battle Intent, but he also understood the situation: "Damn it, there are quite a lot of them. Junior Brother Ye, what are we going to do? Sneak over and take them out one by one?"

Shui Qingdie observed the distribution and movement patterns of the personnel below and said softly: "They appear scattered, but in reality, the distance between them is not far. Once one place is attacked, the others will arrive in a moment.

Furthermore, that black-robed old man on the main platform seems to have an extremely strong spiritual sense, constantly scanning the surroundings in a vague manner.

If we had gotten any closer just now, we would likely have been detected."

Ye Tian observed silently, his mind racing. A head-on assault was not advisable; although he was not afraid, it would be hard to guarantee that Dongfang Xinghe and the others wouldn't be in danger.

Especially Shui Qingdie; she was already the weakest in cultivation, and with her attributes suppressed, merely maintaining her state was already a struggle. They absolutely could not fight head-on!

His gaze scanned below, and the chaos bead pulsed slightly, pointing in a certain direction deep within the magma lake, where there seemed to be obscure fluctuations.

"Senior Brother Dongfang, you have been immersed in the Dao of Formations for years. I wonder if you could set up some Formations here to interfere with or trap the enemy?

We don't need them to be lethal, just enough to create chaos and buy time." Ye Tian asked via telepathy.

Dongfang Xinghe carefully sensed the surrounding environment and mused: "The fire-attribute Spiritual Qi here is violent and chaotic, making it difficult to set up stable Formations.

However, if we only utilize the existing environment to set up some simple Formations or trigger-based Talisman Seals like the 'Flowing Fire Bewildering Formation' or 'Earth Fire Explosive Flame Talisman Formation', it might be possible.

It's just that Materials are limited, and we cannot cause too large a fluctuation in Spiritual Qi, otherwise, we will be detected by that black-robed old man."

"It doesn't need to be complex; as long as it can create a moment of chaos and block line of sight and spiritual sense probing, that will suffice."

Ye Tian already had a plan in mind and continued, "Senior Brother Pei, you have great strength. Later, listen for my signal; I need you to strike that rock wall node with your maximum power."

He pointed to a rock wall on one side of the magma lake, where the internal structure had been loosened by high temperatures and geothermal Qi.

Pei Tieshan looked in the direction Ye Tian pointed. Above that rock wall was a small path leading further inside, and next to the path were two Nangong Family Martial Artist guards.

His eyes lit up, seemingly understanding Ye Tian's plan, and he nodded heavily: "Leave it to me!"

"Senior Sister Shui," Ye Tian looked at Shui Qingdie, his tone softening, "Your 'Condensed Wave Sword' and water-attribute Cultivation Technique are under the greatest suppression here, and a frontal assault is disadvantageous for you.

Once the chaos starts, I need you to use illusions to coordinate with Senior Brother Dongfang's Formations to interfere with the enemy's perception to the maximum extent, especially the spiritual sense probing of that black-robed old man.

Don't seek to injure the enemy, only seek to confuse them."

Shui Qingdie met Ye Tian's gaze and nodded gently: "Qingdie understands. Illusions are formless and focus most on the mind. Although the environment here suppresses my True Essence, it has no effect on illusions. I will do my best."

"Good." Ye Tian cast his gaze back down, "Our goal is not to annihilate the enemy; that is unrealistic.

The goal is Nangong Zhaotian, and to weaken his effective strength as much as possible, create chaos, and then take the opportunity to seize the token, or at the very least, severely injure Nangong Zhaotian so that he cannot come looking for trouble with us again for a short time!"