Chapter 187 Exploring the Dou Di Cave

After the Black-Corner Region was purged, Gu He instructed Yun Yun and the others to guard Jia Nan Academy, then took Zi Yan and Medusa to head towards the mysterious Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's Cave Abode.

The original site of the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower.

Gu He took Zi Yan, preparing to enter the magma world beneath the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower.

"Hmm, do we need a key to enter the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's Cave Abode?" Zi Yan suddenly thought of this question.

Gu He smiled: "Of course we do, but don't worry, I have the key, the door to the Immortal Cave will open right up."

Zi Yan remembered something: "Is it that piece of ancient jade?"

Gu He nodded.

Medusa chuckled: "You always do so much when we don't know."

"I wonder how many more surprises we haven't discovered yet..."

The magma rolled scorching hot, like waves of heat.

Gu He carefully used his strange fire to form a protective barrier, enveloping the bodies of the three, until they reached the bottom of the magma world.

To be honest, Gu He had always known that the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's Cave Abode was beneath the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower, but at that time his strength was insufficient, and he didn't have the key, so he hadn't gone in.

And now, with everything ready, it was time to open this legendary Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's Cave Abode.

"Wow, there are actually magma creatures with Half-Saint strength in here!"

Zi Yan, a dignified Dragon Emperor, opened her eyes and mouth wide, looking exactly like someone who had never seen the world.

Medusa pointed to the other side: "That giant beast over there has the Aura of a Dou Sheng."

Zi Yan pursed her lips and made a face at the Dou Sheng-level giant beast, but Medusa quickly pulled her back.

"Behave yourself, they are not our target."

After being forged by the Nine-Colored Origin Stone, Medusa's Bloodline successfully leveled up, and she was now a One-Star Dou Sheng. Combined with her Nine-Colored Sky Swallowing Python Bloodline, she could almost display the strength of a Two-Star Dou Sheng.

But even though all three were Dou Sheng, Medusa still didn't want Zi Yan to cause trouble everywhere. At the very least, this willful personality had to be reined in a bit, but Gu He just liked to indulge her.

Gu He smiled, "It's fine, we are almost there."

As they spoke, a huge barrier appeared before the three. The transparent barrier shimmered with a pearl-like light. Although beautiful, it emitted an extremely strong power of space, which could not be broken without great force.

Zi Yan curiously launched an attack. The thick Dragon Qi turned into a sharp blade, but was instantly absorbed by the spatial barrier.

Gu He patted her head: "Let's do it together."

The three joined forces to break through the spatial barrier.

Behind the barrier was a thousand-meter dark tunnel.

Gu He had sharp eyes and saw a glimmer of light at the end. He took Zi Yan and Medusa's hands, "Let's go, the Immortal Cave is just ahead."

The two women had no doubts, and the three walked forward together.

Not long after, a huge Immortal Cave appeared before the three. The Immortal Cave was magnificent and grand, unlike a mundane object.

The Aura emitted from the giant gate faintly gave one the urge to worship and submit.

A trace of terror flashed in Zi Yan's eyes, "This terrifying Aura... is this a Dou Di?"

"Even if it's not appearing before us, even if it's just an Immortal Cave, it's still so terrifying..."

Medusa nodded: "Indeed, compared to a Dou Di, those magma creatures outside are not worth mentioning, and even we..."

Even though they were One-Star Dou Sheng, Four-Star Dou Sheng, Six-Star Dou Sheng, or even Nine-Star Dou Sheng, in front of a Dou Di, they still felt like ants.

Gu He quickly overcame this strange feeling. He narrowed his eyes and said to Medusa and Zi Yan: "We can also become Dou Di."

His voice was not loud but filled with power, making the two women's spirits perk up.

"Mhm!"

Gu He was just about to take the System's simulated Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade from his storage ring to open the cave gate, when a murky voice sounded, "Do the arrivals have the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade...?"

Gu He's movement of pulling out the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade paused. Medusa took a Night Pearl from the East Sea out of her storage ring. The bead's light was faint, but it gradually brightened and burst into brilliant light. The three followed the elderly voice and looked down at their feet.

Zi Yan looked at her feet, her expression stunned: the ground beneath them was actually transparent!

Beneath the transparent crystal floor was a thick black shadow; it seemed some monster was trapped inside.

Zi Yan couldn't help but squat down to take a closer look.

That strange creature seemed to be lying down, but its head and tail could not be seen. Seeing it, Zi Yan felt it was strange, and also felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

"This... what is this?" Zi Yan murmured.

Gu He sighed, leaned down, and rubbed her head, his tone tinged with complexity: "This is likely your father, the long-disappeared Dragon Emperor of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan."

!!

Zi Yan turned her head back in astonishment.

She thought Gu He was just joking, but Gu He's eyes were incomparably firm, and combined with his tone just now...

Zi Yan stood up abruptly, her eyelashes fluttering, her eyes full of disbelief, "How is that possible?!"

Her father had been missing for so long, and it was actually because he coveted the treasures of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's Cave Abode, and then, being outmatched in strength, he was trapped underground?

Because of his disappearance, the Ancient Void Dragon Clan split apart, many Elders went out to search for his trail but returned empty-handed... even she, Zi Yan, ended up wandering outside.

Now that her father was found, Zi Yan's excitement faded, replaced by more complexity... She naturally had many fond memories with her father, but at this moment, what flooded her mind more was the panic after her father disappeared, and the pain of missing him day and night...

Gu He couldn't help but gently pat her back. Zi Yan sobbed silently and accepted this fact.

She lowered her head again to look at the black shadow below, slowly releasing the Dragon Qi that belonged uniquely to their Ancient Void Dragon Clan, cautiously confirming: "Father... is that you?"

The behemoth below moved after hearing Zi Yan's voice, and then uncertainly emitted a sound: "Zi Yan... is that you?"

After hearing the giant creature call her name, Zi Yan burst into tears, sobbing: "Father, it's Zi Yan..."

Driven by her Dou Qi, Medusa's Night Pearl emitted a light like the scorching sun. Zi Yan was able to see the full appearance of the black creature below. Cold purple-gold scales covered its body, its eyes were a faint red, the pupils overlapping, very large. It looked at the three of Gu He with caution, but upon scanning Zi Yan and feeling the same Bloodline, it suddenly relaxed all its vigilance.

The giant creature beneath the floor suddenly moved significantly, as if wanting to break free from something, but its movements were firmly restricted by the chains behind it.

"Zi Yan, Father is currently sealed below and cannot get out..." Zhu Kun made a sound.

Zi Yan's heart tightened, and she tried to attack the thick chains.

"Clang!"

The huge Seal on the chains remained intact. Zi Yan was even sadder, "What should we do..."

"Father, how did you get trapped here?"

Zhu Kun sighed heavily: "Back then, I wanted to obtain the Legacy of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor, but I didn't expect his Immortal Cave to have such ingenious mechanisms. I was careless for a moment and was locked in here..."

Listening to these words, Zi Yan was very anxious and couldn't help but tug on Gu He's sleeve, "Gu He, Gu He, help me, okay?"

Gu He looked at the giant dragon below, a flash of thought in his eyes: "I can try, but you must be mentally prepared. After all, this is a Dou Di's Seal, it's not easy to break."

"Okay!" Zi Yan nodded.

Her father had been trapped here for many years and had no way to break this Seal, so it was only natural for Gu He to warn her in advance.

However, deep in her heart, Zi Yan had a faint hope; she felt that Gu He would definitely be able to do it!

Zhu Kun below couldn't see the situation above clearly, he asked: "Zi Yan, are you with friends?"

Zi Yan quickly said: "Yes, I brought two very strong friends here. We will break the Seal together, we will definitely be able to!"

"Good..." A yearning and expectation for life also rose in Zhu Kun's old voice.

He began to use his abilities to attack the Seal, and Gu He also made his move.

He used the high-intensity power of space he gained after advancing to Six-Star Dou Sheng, mixed with his seven-colored strange fire, to launch continuous attacks on the Seal.

Medusa and Zi Yan were not idle either.

After two days and two nights, this Dou Di's Seal finally loosened.

"Snap!"

At this moment, the Seal completely shattered, and Zhu Kun regained his freedom.

The giant dragon moved, black light flared, and a middle-aged man with long purple-gold hair slowly appeared before the three. He opened his golden eyes, carrying a faint Dragon Aura.

"Hahaha, I, Zhu Kun, have finally come out!"

"This young man, you must be my daughter's friend, right? You are not old, yet you have mastered so many types of strange fire. For Zi Yan to be able to make friends with you, it is truly her good fortune!"

Gu He gently patted Zi Yan's shoulder: "Zi Yan is also very outstanding; she is already the new Dragon Emperor."

Zhu Kun nodded, his eyes full of gratification.

He had been away from the Ancient Void Dragon Clan for so many years, and great changes must have occurred within the clan. For Zi Yan to successfully inherit his position was the best outcome.

Zi Yan's eyes were red, her fair little face covered in tear stains, and she couldn't help but step forward and take Zhu Kun's hand: "Father..."

Zhu Kun affectionately stroked Zi Yan's head, opened his mouth, and had many things to say, but for a moment, he couldn't speak.

Zi Yan introduced: "He is Gu He... my best friend, and also the greatest contributor who helped me unify Dragon Island!"

Zhu Kun turned to look at Gu He, "This young friend Gu He, hello."

The look in his eyes as he gazed at Gu He was filled with endless appreciation. He, Zhu Kun, had cultivated for a thousand years to reach his current Nine-Star Dou Sheng stage, and this young man before him was clearly much younger than him, even younger than his daughter Zi Yan in actual age, so he greatly appreciated this young junior.

Even if Zi Yan were to marry him, it would be no problem.

Gu He nodded, "Zi Yan, you take the Senior out first. The Senior has stayed in this dark, sunless place for so long, you should keep him company and talk to him more."

Zi Yan nodded, her small hand holding Zhu Kun's large hand, the look in her eyes as she gazed at Gu He filled with endless gratitude and admiration.

Zhu Kun, however, was stunned, his golden eyes looking at the tightly closed gate of the Immortal Cave: "Gu He, are you intending to enter the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's Cave Abode?"

"Without the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade, no one can enter."

Zhu Kun considered himself to be the one who knew this place better than anyone else.

After all, he hadn't been the cave-guarding beast for all these years for nothing.

And the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade was divided into eight, held by the eight great Families. Zhu Kun did not think Gu He would have this hard-to-collect Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade.

After all, even he hadn't obtained it, right?

Zi Yan's lips moved, wanting to speak, but she noticed Gu He's gaze and closed her mouth.

Gu He said: "I want to try. If it really doesn't work, I will retreat. Don't worry."

Zhu Kun sighed helplessly, and with Zi Yan's support and Medusa's company, he slowly left the bottom of this magma.

...

After the three left, Gu He looked at the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's Cave Abode.

A Seal flowed on the huge stone gate of the Immortal Cave. Gu He took out the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade and pressed it firmly.

"Whoosh!"

In an instant, the cave gate burst into brilliant light.

"Snap!" The cave's Seal shattered.

Gu He pushed the gate open. The mysterious, ancient Aura rushed towards him, and the faint Dou Di Aura also pressed down on Gu He like a thousand-jin burden.

Gu He bore the Aura, protected his body with Dou Qi, and stepped towards the depths of the Immortal Cave step by step.

The first thing that caught Gu He's eyes was a vast expanse of white, empty ground. After stepping onto the land, he found a direction and kept walking.

Half an hour later, Gu He finally saw a huge ancient palace.

This huge stone palace was like a behemoth, looking down on all living things with an Aura like a monarch.

Gu He stepped onto the palace, walked on the white jade tiles, and naturally saw the dozens of huge stone pillars standing there.

"So many strange fires..."

"This is the Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Fire, ranked twenty-second on the strange fire ranking list, and this is the Yin Yang Twin Flames, ranked twenty-first..."

Gu He walked along the way and saw many strange fires. But these strange fires had all had their Origin power drained, leaving only a shell.

Gu He walked all the way to the pillar of the Golden Emperor Sky Burning Flame, which was fourth on the strange fire ranking list, before stopping.

He looked at the three bare pillars in front; on them were originally the two strange fires that had already escaped, and the Origin strange fire of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor who had already become a Dou Di.

Now, naturally, they were empty.

"System."

Gu He called out unexpectedly.

["System is here."]

"Previously, you could absorb the Burning Technique and the Incomplete Manual. Can you absorb the strange fires here?"

Gu He himself possessed the seven-colored strange fire and could feel that the dozen or so flames here were only shells. Even if he absorbed them using the Myriad Fire Art, he wouldn't get the greatest benefit, so it was better to ask the System.

["Yes, host."]

"Then absorb them."

Are they just for decoration here? Gu He thought while sitting cross-legged.

["Okay!"]

["Absorbing Golden Emperor Sky Burning Flame..."]

["Absorbing Living Spirit Flame..."]

["..."]

["Strange fire absorption complete!"]

["Congratulations to the host for advancing to Seven-Star Dou Sheng!"]

["Congratulations to the host for advancing to Eight Star Dou Sheng!!"]

Eight Star Dou Sheng!

Gu He was shocked.

Feeling the surging power in his body, he couldn't help but palm at the nearest pillar.

The palm wind was invisible; in an instant, all the pillars that had previously held the strange fires turned to dust! Only the pillars supporting the ancient palace remained in place.

And this was only a fingernail's worth of an Eight Star Dou Sheng's ability.

Gu He couldn't imagine how terrifying a Dou Di would be!

He continued to walk towards the depths of the ancient palace...