247: Lava Behemoth

The "night" in Burial God Abyss was long and oppressive.

The lead-gray sky seemed frozen, without a single sliver of starlight peeking through.

In the valley, only the fluctuations of spiritual power triggered by Xiao Huohuo and Lin Shishi's Breakthrough existed,

flickering like weak candle flames in the darkness, signaling the presence of life.

Time passed quietly amidst the tense vigilance.

When the lead-gray canopy finally revealed an almost imperceptible, grayish-white glimmer,

within the stone cave, two powerful auras erupted like dormant volcanoes!

Boom! Boom!

Two brilliant golden lights shot into the sky,

instantly shattering the simple isolation Formation Yue Shan had set up, illuminating the valley as bright as day!

The pressure of the Late Golden Core Stage spread out like a tide;

though it was far from the vastness of a Nascent Soul Cultivator, it was full of vigorous vitality and a solid Foundation!

As the light receded, the figures of Xiao Huohuo and Lin Shishi appeared.

The eyes of both shone with sharp light, their auras steady and condensed;

every movement was full of power, as they had both successfully broken through to the Late Golden Core Stage!

"Hahaha! It's done! Late Golden Core Stage! Senior Brother Yao, I've done it!"

Xiao Huohuo leapt up excitedly, feeling the power within him that had surged several times over, dancing with joy.

Lin Shishi's pretty face was also filled with irrepressible joy.

She bowed deeply to Yao Delong, her voice carrying gratitude and determination:

"Thank you, Senior Brother Yao, for the pill! Shishi will not let down Senior Brother's high expectations!"

[Ding! Target Lin Shishi, Favorability +5, current Favorability 70 (Admiration and Trust)!]

A gratified smile appeared on Yao Delong's face, and he felt a sense of relief in his heart.

With the team's strength increased once more, they had a better chance of facing the upcoming dangers.

"Congratulations to you both! Your Foundations are solid and your auras are condensed; it seems the Profound Dao Pill's effect was excellent."

Lin Qingxue and Han Yun also nodded slightly, their eyes filled with approval.

To be able to stabilize their Realm in such a short time showed that both of them had good talent and Heart-Nature.

"Alright, since everyone has broken through, there's no time to lose."

Yao Delong's gaze swept over everyone as he quickly made a decision.

"The ruins are guarded by an eighth-rank Demon Ape, and the guardian of the cold pond is unknown; both carry great risks.

The cave Senior Sister Han discovered has strong fire-element fluctuations,

but the internal situation is relatively simple, and there are fire-element spiritual items! We will explore this place first!"

"Good!" Everyone responded in unison, their Battle Intent soaring.

Under Han Yun's lead, the six people turned into several streaks of light, galloping toward the eastern side of the valley.

In just a moment, they arrived at that unremarkable cave entrance.

The entrance could only accommodate two or three people side-by-side; looking inward, it was a deep, dark abyss,

with only the faint scorching heat coming from deep within indicating the extraordinary nature of the interior.

"Restrain your auras and proceed with caution," Yao Delong said in a low voice, taking the lead as he stepped into the cave.

The tunnel inside wound downward, getting deeper and deeper, and the temperature rose sharply.

The rock walls appeared dark red, as if they had been scorched by Earth Fire all year round.

The air was filled with the smell of sulfur and molten rock.

Everyone suppressed their auras to the lowest level, moving through the darkness like ghosts.

After traveling several miles, the passage suddenly opened up into a huge karst cave space.

Countless sharp stalactites hung from the ceiling, while a crimson, boiling river of lava flowed across the ground,

emitting a suffocating heatwave and piercing red light.

Deep in the cave, a group of creatures hanging upside down from the ceiling could be vaguely seen,

sleeping like giant bats; they were a swarm of fourth-rank Demon Bats.

"Daytime is when they rest; bypass them carefully," Han Yun sent a voice transmission.

Everyone held their breath and focused, sticking to the rock walls,

carefully avoiding the area where the Demon Bats nested as they continued deeper into the cave.

The further they went, the more violent and pure the scorching fire-attribute energy became,

as if countless tiny fire needles were stimulating their skin and Meridians.

Finally, after traveling another ten-plus miles, the scene before them opened up!

A karst cave even larger than the previous one appeared before their eyes.

In the center of the cave, an even wider and more turbulent river of lava surged and roared, emitting a terrifyingly high temperature.

On the opposite bank of the river, a massive, entirely crimson stalactite,

which seemed to be composed of solidified lava, hung from the ceiling. At its tip,

drops of a liquid as thick as blood, emitting startling fire-attribute energy and profound dao rhyme, were slowly falling!

Drip... drip... the red-gold liquid fell into a naturally formed stone pool below, about ten feet square.

A thick layer had already accumulated in the pool, with red-gold light swirling within,

like liquid fire, emitting a heart-palpitating, majestic energy!

"heart-burning stone milk!" An irrepressible wild joy erupted in Yao Delong's eyes!

This aura, this form—it was exactly as the System described and the ancient records stated!

Moreover, the amount in this pool far exceeded his expectations!

By a rough estimate, there were over two thousand catties! This was simply a windfall from the heavens!

"My god! So much!"

Xiao Huohuo's eyes were fixed, and saliva almost dripped out of his mouth.

"How many Spirit Stones must this be worth! Senior Brother Yao, we're rich!"

In his excitement, he subconsciously wanted to circulate his spiritual power and fly directly across the lava river to collect it.

"Huohuo! Be careful!" Yao Delong and Han Yun shouted at the same time!

But it was too late!

Just as Xiao Huohuo's body left the ground and flew over the lava river—

Boom!

A fiercely intense, thick pillar of fire made of pure lava

shot out without warning from the churning lava below!

It was as fast as lightning, carrying a temperature that could incinerate everything, heading straight for the back of Xiao Huohuo's heart!

"Hmph!"

Yue Shan, who had been on high alert, reacted the fastest!

He gave a furious hmph and slammed his palm, as large as a cattail leaf fan, downward!

Buzz!

Incomparably thick, earthy-yellow elemental power erupted instantly,

condensing beneath Xiao Huohuo into a massive rock shield several feet thick, shimmering with a stony luster!

Boom!!!

The lava pillar slammed violently into the rock shield, producing a deafening explosion!

Violent flames and stone fragments flew in all directions!

The rock shield vibrated violently, its surface instantly scorched red

and covered in cracks, but it ultimately blocked the fatal blow!

Xiao Huohuo's Soul Flew Away and Spirit Scattered in fear, cold sweat instantly soaking his back.

Using the force of the impact, he flew back to the shore in a disheveled state, his heart pounding wildly and his face pale.

The power contained in that strike just now had definitely reached the Nascent Soul level!

"Roar—!!!"

A low, angry roar, sounding as if it came from the depths of the earth, rang out!

The entire karst cave was vibrating!

Rumble!

The lava river churned violently as a colossal creature slowly rose from the crimson molten rock!

It was a terrifying giant ten zhang tall!

Its body was composed entirely of flowing, dark-red lava,

its surface covered in cracked patterns, with piercing gold-red light flowing through the gaps.

On its massive head, there were no features,

only two huge hollows constantly spewing lava and flames, like burning eye sockets!

Its thick arms were like two massive lava pillars, each swing bringing scorching air currents and splashing lava!

A violent, scorching pressure filled with the aura of destruction

crushed down like something physical, making it instantly difficult for the Golden Core Stage Xiao Huohuo and Lin Shishi to breathe!

A seventh-rank Peak Yao Beast—a Lava Behemoth!

Its aura was so powerful that it had reached the Peak of the Late Nascent Soul Stage!

Even more terrifying was its body made of lava, which, under the nourishment of the heart-burning stone milk for years on end,

exuded a terrifying texture that was indestructible and resistant to all arts!

"Vile beast!" Yue Shan roared, without the slightest hesitation!

He knew the terrifying defense of this beast, so he struck with his full power from the start!

The Dark-Gold Giant Axe in his hand, as large as a door panel, erupted with piercing earthy-yellow light,

carrying a terrifying power that could split mountains and crack the earth as it slashed fiercely toward the Lava Behemoth's chest!