54: Chapter 54 Earth Core Fire Dragon Lizard

Bai Qi walked in front, using his Soul Power to sense the surroundings as he went.

Earth Core Fire Dragon Lizards liked to inhabit underground lava caves near volcanoes or geothermally active areas.

Although there were no active volcanoes in the Sunset Forest, his senses told him there was a geothermally abnormal area deep within the forest, a place where an Earth Core Fire Dragon Lizard might appear.

"Teacher Erlong, let's head in that direction."

After saying that, Bai Qi pointed toward the northeast.

Liu Erlong looked in the direction Bai Qi pointed, asking curiously, since the two of them were not yet within her sensing range.

"How do you know to go that way?"

Bai Qi smiled.

"The Earth Core Fire Dragon Lizard likes heat. Only that geothermal area in the Sunset Forest fits its habits."

Liu Erlong knew Bai Qi's sensing range was further than hers, so she didn't ask further and simply followed quietly behind him, her gaze falling on his back.

The two traveled through the dense forest for about an hour before the surrounding vegetation began to thin out, replaced by exposed rocks and parched, cracked earth.

A scent of sulfur filled the air, and the temperature was significantly higher than before.

"We're almost there."

Bai Qi slowed his pace and released his Soul Power, carefully sensing the Soul Power fluctuations underground.

Liu Erlong also released her Soul Power and soon captured a faint fluctuation coming from beneath the ground.

"There's something down there."

Liu Erlong said in a low voice.

Bai Qi nodded and crouched down, touching the rocks on the ground with his hand. Using his Soul Power to sense the cave system extending from the crevices, he quickly found the entrance.

"Found it."

After speaking, Bai Qi stood up and led Liu Erlong along the cliff face, stopping before a crack hidden by vines.

The crack wasn't large, only allowing one person to pass through sideways, but the hot wind blowing out from within indicated that the space inside was quite substantial.

"This is the place."

Bai Qi slipped inside sideways, with Liu Erlong following close behind.

The crack widened as they went deeper, though it was still only wide enough for one person to walk at a time. Eventually, they entered a massive underground cave.

The most striking feature was a lava lake in the center of the cave, where orange-red lava rolled slowly, with bubbles occasionally surfacing.

Bai Qi's Ultimate Fire made him completely indifferent to the high temperature, and Liu Erlong's Scarlet Dragon Martial Soul was not to be outdone.

The two exchanged a glance and moved cautiously along the edge of the cave.

On the other side of the lava lake was a massive rock platform where a huge Spirit Beast lay—it was the Earth Core Fire Dragon Lizard.

It was over five meters long, its body covered in dark red scales with faint flickers of fire light flowing between the gaps.

Its limbs were thick and powerful, its claws deeply embedded in the rock, and its tail was thick and long, ending in a bony, hammer-like structure.

It had its eyes closed, lying there silently and motionless as if in a deep sleep.

Bai Qi used his Soul Power to sense its cultivation; it was around eighty thousand years, making it perfectly suitable for Liu Erlong's eighth spirit ring.

"Eighty thousand years, just right."

Bai Qi whispered to Liu Erlong.

"Teacher Erlong, I'll control it, and you take the lead on the attack. Try not to give it a chance to resist, so we don't drag things out until other Spirit Beasts arrive."

Liu Erlong nodded, and her Martial Soul was released instantly. A Fire Dragon phantom emerged behind her, with seven spirit rings circulating around her body. A battle intent ignited in her eyes, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

Bai Qi also released his Martial Soul, the Torch Dragon phantom appearing faintly behind him as six spirit rings rotated slowly.

Bai Qi extended his left hand, aiming at the fire dragon lizard, and his second spirit ring lit up accordingly.

"Do it! Second Spirit Ability: Slow Dragon Domain."

Although Liu Erlong was surprised at when Bai Qi had obtained a sixth spirit ring—and a red, hundred-thousand-year one at that—now was not the time to ask about it. She immediately said:

"Seventh Spirit Ability: Scarlet Dragon True Body."

After speaking, Liu Erlong charged out, her body enveloped in Soul Power as she transformed into a dragon, lunging toward the fire dragon lizard.

The Earth Core Fire Dragon Lizard was startled awake, but with Bai Qi controlling it, before it could even stand up, it was sent flying by the tail of the Scarlet Dragon that Liu Erlong had become, crashing into a nearby rock wall.

As soon as it landed, it opened its large mouth, and a stream of scorching lava erupted from it, shooting directly toward Liu Erlong.

Liu Erlong sidestepped to avoid it, and the lava shot straight into the cave ceiling, burning pits into the rock.

Seeing the opportunity, Bai Qi's fourth spirit ring lit up. He gathered power in both hands and shouted:

"Fourth Spirit Ability: Bursting Torch Dragon Bullet."

Just as the Earth Core Fire Dragon Lizard intended to continue firing at Liu Erlong—

Boom! A loud explosion cut it off, and the Scarlet Dragon also exhaled a Dragon Breath, which shot toward the fire dragon lizard.

The Dragon Breath exploded on the lizard's face, the scorching heat causing it to retreat a few steps in pain.

The Scarlet Dragon seized the opportunity and charged directly at the Earth Core Fire Dragon Lizard.

The Scarlet Dragon slammed heavily into the lizard's head.

The Earth Core Fire Dragon Lizard's head was smashed downward violently, its limbs going weak as it collapsed to the ground. However, it hadn't lost consciousness yet and struggled to stand up.

But the figure of the Scarlet Dragon vanished, replaced by Liu Erlong, who stepped on its head with her small black high-heeled shoes.

Bai Qi's fourth spirit ring lit up again, and a fist-sized Bursting Torch Dragon Bullet condensed in his hand before being fired at the Earth Core Fire Dragon Lizard's abdomen.

The lava bullet exploded the moment it hit the abdomen, and blood and scorching bodily fluids surged from the wound.

The Earth Core Fire Dragon Lizard let out a shrill roar, completely losing its ability to resist.

Liu Erlong did not hesitate; she gathered power in her left hand, aimed at the lizard's head, and smashed down.

The lizard's body convulsed violently a few times before it went completely still.

A black Ten-thousand-year spirit ring slowly rose from the corpse, hovering in the air and emitting a deep luster.

Liu Erlong withdrew her Martial Soul and let out a long breath, turning to look at Bai Qi with a hint of a smile in her eyes.

"It's done."

Bai Qi nodded, walked to her side, glanced at the black spirit ring, and said:

"The spirit ring's quality is excellent, and the age is just right. Teacher Erlong, hurry and absorb it; I'll protect you."

Liu Erlong didn't hesitate; she sat down cross-legged and guided the black spirit ring to merge into her body.

Bai Qi retreated a few steps, releasing his Soul Power to vigilantly sense the surroundings. Suddenly, he sensed two Spirit Beasts rushing aggressively toward them from one of the cave openings.

Seeing this, Bai Qi only smiled slightly and walked toward the cave opening.

By the time he reached the opening, Bai Qi's expression had turned cold and emotionless. He released his Torch Dragon Martial Soul and spirit rings, looking down from above at the two fire dragon lizards that were climbing up.

These two fire dragon lizards also noticed Bai Qi and the dead lizard not far behind him, and they roared twice at him.

Bai Qi looked at them, then back at the dead lizard, and said slowly:

"If you had come a little earlier, we might have already left."

After saying that, Bai Qi directly activated his Hundred-thousand-year spirit ring to its full potential. He tilted his head slightly and looked at the two beasts, saying:

"I'm sorry about this, but leave quickly, or else I'll beat you up."

Even though these two Spirit Beasts, with cultivation of only twenty-three thousand years, were being suppressed by Bai Qi's Soul Power—

They only retreated two steps and glanced at each other, not quite wanting to back away.

Bai Qi watched them and tilted his head. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration hit him; he pressed his left hand to his forehead, and the Dragon God Seal appeared.

The two fire dragon lizards instantly crawled down, showing their submission.

Seeing their behavior, a bunch of black lines instantly appeared on Bai Qi's forehead as he said to them:

"You two, stay here and guard the cave entrance."

The two fire dragon lizards seemed to actually understand him; they turned their bodies around as if they were guarding the gate.