202: Chapter 202 First Soul, Obtaining the Flame Dragon Soul from the Fire Dragon Abyss

7 hours after the Heavenly Court - First Generation jumped from the orbit of the Dragon Clan Main Star.

On the holographic star map, a crimson star is rapidly approaching.

It is a dead star on the edge of the Ziwei Star Field—no life, no atmosphere, only an active volcano piercing the crust.

[Fire Dragon Abyss · Ziwei Star Field Zone 17]

[Coordinates: Ziwei Star Field · H-47, N-31]

[Danger Rank: ★★★★★]

[Core Threat: Flame Demon Lord (Rank 85 Elite)]

[Hidden Threat: ??? (Saint-Grade)]

Lin Ye stands in the center of the command cabin.

He looks at the crimson star.

3 seconds.

He speaks.

"Chen Hao."

"Present."

"Enter synchronous orbit."

"All personnel prepare for landing."

17th minute.

The Heavenly Court - First Generation passes through the volcanic ash clouds on the periphery of the dead star.

Those ash clouds are not ordinary dust.

It is "Lava Ash".

Temperature: 1,700°C.

Thickness: 17 km.

The ship's energy shield dropped from 100% to 73% while passing through the clouds.

[System Prompt: You have arrived at the periphery of "Fire Dragon Abyss"]

[Current Coordinates: Volcano Crater Edge · North Platform]

[Environmental Parameters:]

[Gravity: 1.3 G]

[Temperature: 47°C (Platform) / 3,700°C (Abyss Bottom)]

[Spiritual Qi Density: Ziwei Star Field Standard × 300% (Fire Attribute)]

[Fire Attribute Resistance Requirement: ≥ 70% (Recommended)]

[Current Team Average Fire Resistance: 47% (Lin Ye) + 31% (Su Qingyue) + 17% (Shi Potian) ...]

[Recommendation: Consume Fire Resistance Potion]

The hatch opens.

A scorching heatwave rushes into the ship cabin.

The temperature of that heatwave is only 47°C, but it carries a strong smell of sulfur and volcanic ash particles capable of burning the lungs.

Lin Ye is the first to step out of the hatch.

[Fire Resistance: 47%]

[Environmental Damage Per Second: 0 (Damage threshold not reached)]

He stands on the edge of the volcanic crater.

Beneath his feet is a giant crater with a diameter of about 17 km.

At the bottom of the abyss, a crimson lava lake is slowly churning.

With every churn, a lava jet thousands of meters high gushes out.

The jet explodes above the crater, turning into countless fine lava rain, falling onto the surrounding mountain walls.

[Fire Dragon Abyss · Structure]

[Depth: approx. 17 km]

[Layers:]

[1. Upper Layer (0-3 km): Volcanic ash clouds, temperature 1,700°C, 3,000 damage per second]

[2. Middle Layer (3-10 km): Lava waterfall area, temperature 2,700°C, 5,000 damage per second, Lava Trolls patrolling]

[3. Lower Layer (10-17 km): Lava lake, temperature 3,700°C, 7,000 damage per second, Flame Demon Lord entrenched]

[4. Abyss Bottom (Below 17 km): ??? (Saint-Grade entity sleeping)]

Lin Ye looks at the line "Saint-Grade entity sleeping".

3 seconds.

He turns around.

Looking at the 9 people behind him.

"Shi Potian," Lin Ye says.

"Your fire resistance is the lowest."

"Stay on the ship."

Shi Potian's left fist tightens.

But he does not speak.

"Su Qingyue," Lin Ye says.

"You come down with me."

"Your Ice element can counter the Fire element."

Su Qingyue nods.

"Others," Lin Ye says.

"Stay on the upper platform."

"If something happens to us down there—you evacuate immediately."

No one speaks.

But 7 people, 7 pairs of eyes, are all looking at him.

1st minute.

Lin Ye and Su Qingyue swallow Fire Resistance Potions.

[Fire Resistance Potion · Advanced]

[Effect: Fire Attribute Resistance +50%, lasts 30 minutes]

[Lin Ye Fire Resistance: 47% → 97%]

[Su Qingyue Fire Resistance: 31% + Ice element counter = 81% + 50% = 131% (Overflow)]

They jump into the crater.

3rd second.

Pass through the volcanic ash clouds.

[Environmental Damage: 0 (Fire Resistance 97%)]

7th second.

Reach the middle layer.

Lava waterfall area.

Countless crimson lava streams pour down from the upper mountain walls, weaving into a giant fire net in the space between 3-10 km altitude.

Between the fire nets, 17 [Lava Trolls] are patrolling.

[Lava Troll · Rank 77 Elite]

[HP: 170,000]

[Attack Power: 11,300-13,700]

[Traits: Immune to fire damage, physical resistance +50%]

Lin Ye does not stop.

He rushes directly toward the nearest troll.

[Void Step · Evolved Version]

[Cost: 7% Divine Power]

[Distance: 17m teleport]

[Cooldown: 0.3s]

His figure flickers between the lava waterfalls.

1st flicker.

Appears behind the troll.

Sword—pierces its back neck.

[Hit Weakness]

[Damage Dealt: 23,000 (Chaos Power +50%)]

The troll turns around.

Its right arm turns into a lava hammer, smashing toward Lin Ye.

Lin Ye's 2nd flicker.

Disappears.

Appears behind another troll.

3rd flicker.

4th flicker.

5th flicker.

7th second.

17 trolls, all fell.

[Kill × 17]

[Time taken: 7 seconds]

[Lin Ye Divine Power consumption: 49%]

Su Qingyue does not attack.

She just stands 17 meters behind him.

Watching.

Lin Ye sheathes his sword.

Continues downward.

13th second.

Reach the lower layer.

Lava lake.

[Lower Layer · Lava Lake]

[Diameter: 7 km]

[Temperature: 3,700°C]

[Damage per second: 7,000 (210 after 97% fire resistance)]

Lin Ye stands on a rock on the edge of the lava lake.

The rock is in a semi-molten state under the 3,700°C high temperature.

His combat boots leave 3 cm deep footprints on the rock.

In the center of the lake.

There is a giant beast.

[Flame Demon Lord · Rank 85 Elite]

[Body Length: 17 meters]

[HP: 470,000]

[Attack Power: 15,300-18,700]

[Traits:]

[1. Lava Body: Immune to fire damage, 50% chance to trigger "Lava Splash" when receiving physical damage, dealing 5,000 damage to all targets within 10 meters]

[2. Flame Demon Heart: Recovers 10% of max HP every 30 seconds]

[3. Lava Breath: Deals 17,000 fire damage per second, lasts 3 seconds, cooldown 17 seconds]

[4. Flame Demon Summon: Summons 3 Rank 77 Lava Trolls every 60 seconds]

[Weaknesses:]

[1. The "Flame Demon Heart" in the center of the chest is a fatal weakness, defense -70%]

[2. Ice element damage +100%]

Lin Ye looks at that giant beast.

3 seconds.

He speaks.

"Su Qingyue."

"Present."

"Freeze the lake surface."

"30 seconds."

Su Qingyue raises her left hand.

[Vast Cold Descent · Partial Deployment]

[Cost: 30% Divine Power]

[Range: 50m radius]

[Duration: 7 seconds]

Ice-blue light gushes from her palm.

Falls onto the lava lake surface.

The moment lava meets ice, blinding white steam erupts.

In the steam, the lava lake surface is frozen into a black glassy ice layer with a diameter of 100 meters and a thickness of 0.3 meters.

Lin Ye steps on the ice layer and rushes toward the center of the lake.

[Movement Speed: +200%]

[Arrives in front of the Flame Demon Lord within 3 seconds]

The Flame Demon Lord wakes from its slumber.

It opens its eyes.

Those eyes are two burning, crimson flames.

It sees Lin Ye.

Its right claw lifts.

Lin Ye does not wait for it to fall.

His sword—pierces the center of its chest.

[Flame Demon Heart · Hit]

[Damage Dealt: 47,000 × 2 (Ice element counter) = 94,000]

[Flame Demon Lord HP: 470,000 → 376,000]

The Flame Demon Lord roars.

Its left claw sweeps over.

Lin Ye's 1st flicker.

Disappears.

Appears behind it.

2nd sword.

[94,000]

[376,000 → 282,000]

3rd second.

The Flame Demon Lord summons.

3 Lava Trolls crawl out of the lava lake.

Lin Ye does not look at them.

He looks at the crack in the Flame Demon Lord's chest.

Deep in the crack, that pulsating [Flame Demon Heart]—has already cracked a seam.

4th second.

3rd sword.

[94,000]

[282,000 → 188,000]

5th second.

4th sword.

[188,000 → 94,000]

6th second.

5th sword.

[94,000 → 0]

[Kill · Flame Demon Lord (Rank 85 Elite)]

[Time taken: 6 seconds]

[Lin Ye Divine Power consumption: 49% → 73% (Void Step consumption)]

3 Lava Trolls collapse simultaneously the moment the Flame Demon Lord falls.

Their existence depends on the Flame Demon Heart.

Heart broken, they perish.

Lin Ye stands on the corpse of the Flame Demon Lord.

His sword is still stuck in its chest.

He pulls out the sword.

On the sword, there is a fist-sized, crimson crystal.

[Flame Demon Heart · Loot]

[Type: Fire element core Materials]

[Quality: Legendary]

[Effect: Can be used to refine Fire element Medicinal Pill / forge Fire element equipment / activate Fire element Formation]

Lin Ye puts it into his bosom.

He lifts his head.

Looks deeper into the bottom of the lake.

There, there is a crimson light.

100 times brighter than the lava lake.

1,000 times brighter than the sun.

The light pulses at a frequency of 1.7 seconds/time.

Synchronized with his heartbeat.

[System Prompt: Saint-Grade life fluctuation detected]

[Rank: ??? (Above Saint-Grade)]

[Distance: approx. 1.7 km (Bottom of the lake)]

[Status: Waking from slumber]

Lin Ye does not move.

He just looks at that light.

3 seconds.

In that light, a voice comes out.

That voice does not come from any direction.

It is from the "inside".

From the depths of Lin Ye's Soul.

"Human Race."

"Rank 70."

"Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body."

"You killed my servant."

Lin Ye does not speak.

"But I don't blame you."

The voice continues.

"He is too weak."

"Deserved to die."

Paused.

"What are you looking for."

Lin Ye speaks.

"Flame Dragon Soul," he says.

The voice is silent.

3 seconds.

Then it laughs.

The laughter is very light, very faint, carrying a trace of... playfulness.

"Flame Dragon Soul," it repeats.

"One of the five elements dragon soul."

"You want to become a Dragon."

"Yes," Lin Ye says.

"Becoming a Dragon requires five Souls," the voice says.

"Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth."

"Do you already have the Fire Soul?"

Lin Ye shakes his head.

"Then you came too early," the voice says.

"The Fire Soul is not here with me."

Lin Ye's pupils shrink slightly.

"But there is a 'Flame Dragon Remnant Soul'," the voice continues.

"It was shed by me thirty thousand years ago."

"Much weaker than the real Flame Dragon Soul."

"But enough for you to pass the Dragon Transformation Tribulation."

Lin Ye does not speak.

"Do you want it?" the voice asks.

"Yes," Lin Ye says.

The voice laughs again.

"Good."

"Take it."

A crimson light shoots out from the bottom of the lake.

Stops 3 meters in front of Lin Ye.

That is a fist-sized, transparent crystal.

Inside the crystal, there is a crimson, swimming dragon-shaped phantom.

[Flame Dragon Remnant Soul · Fire Soul substitute]

[Type: five elements dragon soul Materials]

[Quality: Legendary]

[Description: The remnant Soul shed by the real Flame Dragon thirty thousand years ago, containing 70% of the power of the Flame Dragon's Origin fire. Although not as good as the true dragon Soul, it is enough for the Dragon Transformation Tribulation.]

[Effect:]

[1. Used as "Fire Soul", complete the Dragon Transformation Tribulation · five elements dragon soul task]

[2. After refining, permanently increase Fire Attribute Resistance +30%]

[3. Has a probability to comprehend "Flame Dragon Breath" skill]

[4. Can be fused with true dragon essence blood, increase Bloodline purity]

Lin Ye reaches out.

Holds that crystal.

[System Prompt: You obtained "Flame Dragon Remnant Soul" × 1]

[five elements dragon soul task progress: 1/5]

He lifts his head.

Looks at the crimson light at the bottom of the lake.

"Who are you," he asks.

The voice is silent.

For a long time.

Then it speaks.

"Flame Dragon," it says.

"The real Flame Dragon."

"Saint-Grade."

"Lived for 470,000 years."

Lin Ye's pupils shrink slightly.

"After you collect all five Souls," the Flame Dragon continues.

"You can come to see me."

"Where," Lin Ye asks.

"After you collect them," the Flame Dragon says.

"You will naturally know."

The light begins to dim.

The voice gets further and further away.

The last sentence echoes in the depths of Lin Ye's Soul.

"Collect all five Souls."

"Come to see me."

The light disappears.

The bottom of the lake returns to calm.

Lin Ye stands in place.

He looks at that [Flame Dragon Remnant Soul].

3 seconds.

He puts it into his bosom.

He turns around.

Walks toward the lake surface.

17th second.

He returns to the upper platform.

9 people are all waiting for him.

Shi Potian is the first to speak.

"Did you get it?" he asks.

Lin Ye nods.

Shi Potian does not ask "how did you get it".

He just raises his left fist to his chest.

Lin Ye looks at him.

3 seconds.

He reaches out.

Holds that fist.

[System Prompt: five elements dragon soul task progress]

[Fire Soul: Completed]

[Remaining: Gold / Wood / Water / Earth]

[Remaining time: 27 days]

Lin Ye closes that prompt.

He looks at the four flashing light points on the holographic star map.

Dragon Clan Ancestral Land.

Eternal Star Domain Ancient Forest.

Big Dipper Star Field East Sea Secret Realm.

Hegemon Body Ancestral Star core crack.

"Next stop."

Lin Ye says.

"Dragon Clan Ancestral Land."

"Gold Dragon Soul."

[Chapter 202 · End]