63: Chapter 63 Blazing Flames in the Desolate Valley, Earthly Fire Melting the Heart

The moment Han Li was knocked flying, the camp's defensive line collapsed, and the Yinkui Sect Cultivators' attention was drawn to the remaining resistance—Lin Ye moved!

He pushed his Mystic Jade Body and Ice Soul Sword Art to the limit. His figure was like an arrow released from the string, like a phantom blending into the night, erupting from the shadows of the rock wall. He didn't rush toward the battlefield, nor did he flee to the perimeter, but instead dashed desperately toward the pitch-black, steam-filled entrance of Red Rock Valley behind him!

"Hm? Another little mouse trying to run?" A Yinkui Sect Cultivator at Qi Refining Stage 8, who was pursuing and killing Lingyun Sword Sect Disciples, noticed him. He sneered and waved his hand, striking out a pitch-black chain that coiled toward Lin Ye's back like a venomous snake.

The chain was extremely fast, arriving in the blink of an eye!

Without looking back, Lin Ye threw several low-grade "Ice Explosion Talismans" behind him.

Boom! Boom!

Ice mist exploded. Although it failed to stop the chain, it caused its direction to shift slightly. The chain grazed past Lin Ye's left rib, tearing away a patch of flesh and skin, causing a searing pain.

But Lin Ye also used the momentum to increase his speed even further, diving headlong into the narrow entrance of Red Rock Valley!

"Pursue!" The Qi Refining Stage 8 Cultivator snorted coldly, taking his two Qi Refining Middle Stage subordinates with him as they chased into the valley. In their view, a Qi Refining Middle Stage Disciple serving as a medicine boy fleeing into a dead end was merely catching a turtle in a jar.

Inside Red Rock Valley, the terrain was even more rugged and complex than outside. On both sides were towering crimson rock walls where not a blade of grass grew. The ground was covered in fissures, and scorching air currents gushed out from them, carrying a pungent smell of sulfur. The temperature was extremely high; an ordinary person would dehydrate and die within moments of arriving here.

Lin Ye endured the pain in his ribs and the scorching heat, pushing his speed to the limit as he sprinted deep along the narrow valley path. He could feel three cold Auras rapidly approaching from behind.

He had to shake them off, or... utilize the environment here!

His gaze swept rapidly across the rock walls on both sides and the fissures in the ground. Not far ahead, there was an exceptionally wide, bottomless fissure in the ground, with crimson magma slowly flowing deep within, emitting a terrifying heat. The rocks at the edge of the fissure were brittle.

That was it!

Lin Ye rushed to the edge of the fissure, and without hesitation, he leaped, actually jumping toward the roiling magma below!

"Courting death!" The three Yinkui Sect Cultivators who arrived at the edge of the fissure were stunned to see Lin Ye jump down. The Qi Refining Stage 8 Cultivator snorted coldly and probed downward with his spiritual sense. He saw that after falling about ten zhang, Lin Ye suddenly reached out both hands, grabbed a protruding, relatively sturdy rock on the cliff wall, steadied his figure, and did not fall into the magma.

"A dying struggle!" The Qi Refining Stage 8 Cultivator said with disdain, about to go down and capture him.

Suddenly, a crisp "crack" sound came from the edge of the fissure where he was standing!

When Lin Ye jumped down earlier, he had deliberately kicked hard at the edge, and the already brittle rock immediately shattered!

"Not good!" The Qi Refining Stage 8 Cultivator's expression changed. He wanted to retreat, but the rock beneath his feet collapsed, making him lose his footing and slide downward! He hurriedly tried to control his Magical Artifact to fly up, but the scorching, chaotic air currents in the valley caused massive interference.

The other two Qi Refining Middle Stage Cultivators screamed as they tried to pull him, but they were dragged down by his momentum, stumbling and losing their balance as well.

Boom!

A large section of rock collapsed. The three of them screamed as they, along with the debris, plummeted toward the bottomless, magma-roiling fissure below!

Their screams were quickly swallowed by the roar of the magma and the intense heat.

Hanging on the rock wall, Lin Ye felt no ripples in his heart as he listened to the collapse and screams above. He carefully moved laterally along the rock wall, searching for a foothold.

Finally, on a rock wall about twenty zhang below the fissure, he discovered a narrow opening, only wide enough for one person, obscured by hanging crimson vines. Faint firelight and an even hotter Aura surged out from within the opening.

Having no choice, he pushed aside the vines and crawled in.

Behind the entrance was a downward-sloping tunnel with clear signs of manual excavation. The four walls were smooth and carved with some blurred flame patterns. The further down he went, the higher the temperature became. The fire-attribute Spiritual Qi in the air was so dense it almost materialized, carrying a violent and chaotic undertone.

Was this a passageway opened by an ancient Cultivator leading to the depths of the Earth Fire?

Lin Ye endured the high temperature, continuing downward. He Cultivated the Ice Soul Sword Art, so his resistance to high heat was relatively weak; he could only continuously circulate his Spiritual Qi to protect his body, consuming a massive amount of energy.

After walking for about a quarter of an hour, a huge, scorching cavern appeared ahead.

In the center of the cavern was a dark red magma lake over ten zhang in diameter, boiling and roiling! Air bubbles constantly burst in the center of the lake, splashing up crimson magma. Heat waves that distorted the air rose from the surface of the lake.

On the edge of the magma lake, on the rock wall side closer to Lin Ye, stood an ancient, dilapidated altar cast from some kind of dark red metal! The altar was covered in dust and burn marks, and there was a depression in the center, the shape of which... seemed somewhat similar to the starfall cold iron fragment he had obtained earlier, the one that had already lost its essence?

What shocked Lin Ye even more was that next to the altar lay several charred skeletons; judging by their clothing, they seemed to be from a long time ago. And in the air above the magma lake directly opposite the altar, three things were floating:

On the left, a slowly rotating flame lotus emitting a searing white light (geocentric fire lotus?).

On the right, a crystal about the size of a human head, crimson and transparent, with what looked like flowing magma inside (molten crystal core?).

In the center, a palm-sized... token, dark gold throughout, with an ancient design and cracks covering its surface? An ancient "Flame" character was engraved on the token, emitting an Aura that was desolate, majestic, yet extremely unstable.

This place was actually a Secret Realm of Earth Fire! Moreover, it seemed related to "Flame" and might perhaps have a connection to that starfall cold iron fragment (flame sun key?).

But Lin Ye had no time to examine the treasures in detail at this moment. Because within the roiling dark red magma bubbles of the magma lake, a colossal creature was slowly rising!

It was a giant python formed entirely of crimson magma, over five zhang long! The giant python had no eyes, only two holes that constantly spat out sparks, emitting a terrifying heat and a tyrannical Aura. It had actually reached the Second Stage Middle Stage, equivalent to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage!

The Guardian Essence Spirit of the magma lake—[Lava Fire Python]!

It seemed to be disturbed by Lin Ye, the intruder. It raised its ferocious head toward Lin Ye, opened its huge mouth, and a crimson, searing column of magma, as thick as a water bucket, roared out!

The Aura of death instantly enveloped Lin Ye!

This Secret Realm of Earth Fire was both a place of Opportunity and a deathtrap!

Ahead was the Lava Fire Python, and behind was a dead end (the tunnel had been sealed off by high heat and possible collapse?).

There was no avoiding it!

A madness flashed in Lin Ye's eyes. Since there was no path to retreat, he would fight for his life!

He no longer held back, pushing the icy Spiritual Qi of his Ice Soul Sword Art to the limit within his body to form a thick frost shield in front of him, which constantly condensed and was constantly vaporized by the high heat. At the same time, the power of his Mystic Jade Body exploded beneath his feet as he lunged to the front left, attempting to avoid the direct hit of the fire column.

Boom—!!!

The searing magma fire column slammed fiercely into the frost shield!

The shield couldn't even withstand it for a single breath before it instantly vaporized! The terrifying heat and impact force sent Lin Ye flying, slamming him heavily against the hard rock wall behind. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his back was charred black, and the searing pain of burning flesh washed over him.

If not for the frost shield offsetting most of the power, and his Mystic Jade Body resisting part of the impact and heat, this single blow would have been enough to turn him to ashes!

Seeing that its blow failed to kill this "insect," the Lava Fire Python let out a silent roar (the magma churned). Its thick body fully emerged from the magma lake, bringing with it a sky full of fire rain as it crushed toward Lin Ye! Its body, composed entirely of magma, radiated an Aura that destroyed everything.

Lin Ye endured the excruciating pain and struggled to stand up. His gaze swept over the altar and the three treasures, then looked at the aggressive fire python.

Fighting head-on was a dead end. The environment here was extreme; it was home turf for the fire python, but a deathtrap for himself.

He had to utilize the environment, or... that altar and the treasures!

He noticed that the Lava Fire Python seemed to be consciously or unconsciously avoiding the area where the altar and the three floating treasures were located. Could the altar or the treasures have some restraint over it?

Gamble it is!

Lin Ye didn't hesitate anymore, turned around, and sprinted toward the altar!

The Lava Fire Python seemed to be enraged; its giant tail swept over, bringing with it monstrous heat waves and debris as it smashed toward Lin Ye.

It was as if Lin Ye had eyes in the back of his head. The instant the giant tail was about to hit him, he violently lunged forward and rolled, dodging it by the narrowest of margins. At the same time, he reached out with his right hand, grabbed the edge of the altar, and used the momentum to leap onto it!

The altar was cast from some unknown material; it was ice-cold to the touch and could actually isolate part of the Earth Fire's high heat. Standing on the altar, the scorching sensation immediately lessened significantly.

Seeing Lin Ye leap onto the altar, the Lava Fire Python seemed even angrier, but its huge body stopped in front of the altar. Its scarlet "gaze" stared fixedly at Lin Ye, and it let out a low, magma-roiling roar from its mouth, yet it dared not easily strike the altar with its body, only continuously spitting out small magma fireballs, bombarding the perimeter of the altar.

The altar seemed to be protected by some kind of power; those magma fireballs would dissipate as soon as they hit a zhang away from the edge of the altar, unable to penetrate.

Temporarily safe.

Lin Ye slumped onto the altar, panting heavily, and checked his injuries. His back had large areas of burns, his internal organs were shaken, and his Spiritual Qi was exhausted. He took out his only remaining Medicinal Pill for healing and swallowed it, then grasped a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone (water attribute, very little left), absorbing it frantically to restore his Spiritual Qi.

The Lava Fire Python kept spitting fireballs and roaring outside, but it could do nothing.

Lin Ye recovered a sliver of strength and began to carefully examine this altar and the three floating treasures.

The depression in the center of the altar indeed matched the shape of the starfall cold iron fragment. Did he need to insert the fragment to activate the altar, or... control that Lava Fire Python?

He took out the starfall cold iron fragment that had lost its essence but was still hard in material, and tried to place it into the depression.

It fit perfectly!

Hum—!!!

The entire altar shook violently! Dust fell from the surface, and those blurred flame patterns suddenly lit up with a crimson light! An ancient, scorching, yet familiar (Blazing Sun True Explanation) Aura of intent awakened from the altar.

At the same time, the dark gold "Flame" token floating above the magma lake also seemed to be summoned; it trembled slightly and slowly flew toward the altar.

The Lava Fire Python let out a terrified hiss, its body actually retreating a little, as if it was extremely wary of this token.

The token flew above the altar and hovered quietly. Lin Ye could feel that a faint connection had formed between himself and this token, seemingly through the altar and the starfall cold iron fragments.

He attempted to communicate with the token using his spiritual sense.

Hum!

The token flashed with light, and a stream of information flowed into Lin Ye's mind:

"Earth Fire Secret Realm, Flame Lord's secondary residence. Holding the 'flame sun token' (damaged), one can control earth fire and command fire spirits (Lava Fire Python). However, the token is damaged, and the fire spirit is fierce; use with caution."

flame sun token? Can control earth fire and command fire spirits?

Lin Ye's heart raced! This was actually the key to controlling this Secret Realm and that terrifying Lava Fire Python!

But the token was incomplete (its surface covered in cracks), and the warning about the "fire spirit being fierce" indicated it was clearly not so easy to control.

He attempted to inject a sliver of spiritual power into the "flame sun token" according to the crude token-control incantation in the information.

The token brightened slightly, and the cracks on its surface seemed to widen a bit. The Lava Fire Python outside let out a roar intertwined with pain and anger, its body twisting violently, but the look in its eyes as it gazed at Lin Ye (or rather, the flame sun token) now held a hint of... fear and obedience?

It was effective! Although barely, it seemed he could temporarily intimidate and even give simple commands to this fire python!

Lin Ye felt slightly more settled. With this flame sun token and the Lava Fire Python, he now had the capital to protect himself and even counterattack within this Earth Fire Secret Realm.

He looked at the other two treasures—the geocentric fire lotus and the molten crystal core. Both were supreme fire-attribute treasures, worth a fortune. But now was not the time to collect them; the control over the flame sun token was unstable, and the fire python was in a volatile state. Rashly moving the treasures might lead to unforeseen complications.

The urgent priority was to recover from his injuries as quickly as possible, familiarize himself with the flame sun token, and find a way to leave this place.

He sat cross-legged on the altar, holding Spirit Stones in his hands, and began to heal and recover with all his might. With the altar isolating the high temperature and the threat of the fire python, this place had instead become a temporary safe zone.

Time passed in silence (except for the churning magma and the occasional low roar of the fire python).

One day later, Lin Ye's injuries had stabilized, and his cultivation had recovered to Qi Refining Stage 5. His control over the flame sun token had also become slightly more proficient; at least he could make the Lava Fire Python stay put and stop attacking.

He began to explore this Earth Fire Secret Realm. Using the flame sun token as a guide, he sensed that at the bottom of the magma lake, there seemed to be a passage leading deeper into the earth fire, where there might be a way out. However, the temperature there was higher, and there were unknown dangers.

Perhaps he could drive the Lava Fire Python to scout the path?

He attempted to use the flame sun token to give the Lava Fire Python the command to "dive to the bottom of the lake and investigate the passage."

The fire python's scarlet "gaze" flickered, appearing somewhat reluctant, but under the suppression of the flame sun token, it still slowly sank into the magma lake.

A moment later, the fire python returned and transmitted a blurry mental image to Lin Ye—there was indeed a wide, downward-sloping magma passage at the bottom of the lake, leading to an unknown destination, but deep within the passage, there seemed to be stronger and more violent fire-attribute energy fluctuations.

Dangerous, but it could also be the way out.

Lin Ye pondered. Staying here, while temporarily safe, was not a long-term solution, and the Yinkui Sect might still be searching outside. He had to leave.

He looked at the geocentric fire lotus and the molten crystal core. Since he was leaving, these two treasures could not be left behind.

He manipulated the flame sun token and ordered the fire python to retrieve the two treasures.

The fire python complied, using magma to condense into a palm, carefully taking down the geocentric fire lotus and the molten crystal core, and placing them on the altar.

As he held the geocentric fire lotus, the pure and vast fire-attribute energy made Lin Ye's palm burn. The molten crystal core was even more scorching. He quickly used jade boxes (obtained from an ancient Cultivator's water mansion) to store the two treasures and Seal them well.

Then, he put away the starfall cold iron fragments (the flame sun token seemed to be able to be barely controlled without them) and, holding the flame sun token, stood at the edge of the altar, looking at the churning magma lake.

It was time to leave.

He took a deep breath, used the flame sun token to protect his body, ordered the Lava Fire Python to clear the way ahead, and then leaped, jumping into the scorching magma lake!

The flame sun token emitted a dark golden light barrier, wrapping him and the Lava Fire Python together, isolating most of the magma's high temperature and erosion. Like he was riding a boat of flames, under the guidance of the Lava Fire Python, he sank down towards the passage at the bottom of the lake.

The passage was deep and secluded; the further down they went, the greater the pressure and the higher the temperature, and the flame sun token's light barrier began to shake slightly. Lin Ye maintained it with all his might, while remaining vigilant in his heart.

He did not know how long they had been sinking, but suddenly, the space ahead opened up.

At the end of the passage was actually an even larger, even more scorching underground space!

This place was like a vast underground magma sea, boundless and endless, with crimson magma flowing slowly, forming rivers and lakes. From the top of the space hung countless crimson stalactites, dripping with scorching magma.

And in the center of the magma sea, there stood an imposing yet dilapidated ancient palace built entirely of black boulders! Most of the palace was submerged in the magma, with only a small portion of the palace body and a tall palace gate exposed.

The palace gate was tightly shut, covered in complex and ancient flame runes, emitting a heart-palpitating pressure.

What shocked Lin Ye even more was that on the magma sea in front of the palace, there floated a tattered, huge ship wreckage that seemed to be made of some kind of metal and bone. And near the wreckage, as well as in the magma further away, he actually saw... many moving figures!

There were skeletons wearing tattered armor walking in the magma; there were humanoid spirits made entirely of flames; and there were even several flame Yao Beasts of various forms, whose Auras all reached the 2nd or even 3rd rank, playing and fighting in the magma...

Was this place actually a settlement for underground flame creatures? And what was that black palace?

Lin Ye was terrified in his heart and quickly ordered the Lava Fire Python to stop and hide behind a huge floating stone.

He observed carefully. Those flame creatures seemed to fight each other, yet they also seemed to follow some kind of Order, not approaching that black palace.

And the palace gate seemed to have traces of having been opened; from the crack in the door, Auras that were of the same origin as the flame sun token, but even purer and more ancient, were faintly drifting out.

Could it be... that this palace was the true core of the Earth Fire Secret Realm? The main hall of the Flame Lord's secondary residence?

Was the flame sun token (damaged) in his hand perhaps one of the keys to opening the palace gate?

Just as Lin Ye was filled with doubt, wondering whether to risk approaching to investigate.

A sudden change occurred!

On the distant magma sea, that huge, tattered bone ship wreckage suddenly shook violently!

Immediately after, a figure slowly rose from the wreckage.

It was a giant three zhang tall, pieced together entirely from dark red bones, with golden flames burning in its eye sockets! The Aura it emitted had actually reached the 3rd rank Early Stage, equivalent to the Golden Core Early Stage!

The bone giant let out a silent roar towards the sky, and all the flame creatures in the magma sea, regardless of strength, prostrated themselves, signaling their submission.

Then, the bone giant's eye sockets, burning with golden flames, suddenly turned towards the direction of the floating stone where Lin Ye and the Lava Fire Python were hiding!

He had been discovered!

The terrifying Aura of the 3rd rank bone giant pressed down instantly like a tangible mountain!

Lin Ye only felt his breathing hitch, and the flame sun token's light barrier flickered violently, almost collapsing. The Lava Fire Python beneath him was trembling even more, letting out wails.

Escape? In this magma sea, how could he outrun the pursuit of a 3rd rank existence?

Fight? It would be no different from an ant trying to shake a tree.

The bone giant seemed to have taken an interest in the Aura of the flame sun token; it stepped out with its huge bone feet, treading on the magma, each step spanning dozens of zhang, and walked slowly towards the floating stone. With every step it took, the magma churned, and the pressure grew even stronger.

A desperate situation had arrived once again, and it was more despair-inducing than any time before.

Lin Ye gripped the flame sun token in his hand tightly, thoughts racing through his mind.

Perhaps... only that black palace was the only path to survival?

The flame sun token was of the same origin as the palace; perhaps it could open the palace gate?

But the palace gate was not far behind the bone giant; how could he bypass it?

Or... detonate the geocentric fire lotus or the molten crystal core? Create chaos?

Just as the bone giant's huge bone claw was about to touch the floating stone—

A trace of determination flashed in Lin Ye's eyes; he suddenly poured all his spiritual power, along with a sliver of his realization of "ice and fire complementing each other," entirely into the flame sun token, and at the same time, bit his tongue and sprayed a mouthful of essence blood onto the token!

"flame sun token, open for me!"

Hum—!!!

The flame sun token erupted with an unprecedented, blinding light, and the cracks on its surface spread wildly, as if it would completely shatter at any moment! But a more ancient, majestic Aura, as if it could command all fires under heaven, erupted from within, transforming into a dark golden beam of light that shot straight towards the tightly closed gate of the black palace!

The bone giant's movements suddenly paused, and a flash of shock, and even... a trace of fear, passed through its golden flame eye sockets!

The dark golden beam struck the palace gate.

Those ancient flame runes on the palace gate, like oil lamps being lit, lit up one by one!

Rumble—!

The heavy palace gate, amidst the rumbling sound, slowly opened a crack inwards!

A more pure, vast, scorching Aura that seemed to come from the ancient primordial era surged out from the crack in the door!

At the same time, the flame sun token made a "crack" sound; its surface was covered in dense cracks, its light rapidly dimmed, and it was almost completely ruined.

And the bone giant, the moment the palace gate opened, let out a roar filled with longing and fear, actually abandoning Lin Ye, turning around, and rushing madly towards the opened palace gate!

Not only it, but all the flame creatures in the magma sea, regardless of strength, were like they had gone mad, surging towards the opened palace gate!

It was as if behind that palace gate lay an attraction they could not resist, or... the meaning of their existence!

Opportunity!

Lin Ye endured the severe pain and weakness brought on by the backlash of the flame sun token, and ordered the Lava Fire Python to rush towards the crack in the opened palace gate, regardless of everything!

He had to take advantage of the chaos and rush into the palace!

Ahead were countless mad flame creatures, that 3rd rank bone giant, and the unknown ancient palace.

Behind him was a dead end.

Life and death, perhaps, hung in this fleeting moment.