30: Chapter 30: A Great Fortune Lies in the Ancestral Land of the Fire Kingdom; Exploring the Forbidden Land of the Nine Netherworld Hounds

"Swish!"

The setting sun withdrew its final ray of twilight, and the night at Chixia Ridge was illuminated by countless subterranean fires, revealing a bleak and stunning red.

A farce finally came to a temporary close under the coaxing of Princess Huo Linger.

That "angry little bird" — the Red-Feather Vermilion Bird.

Although it was still screaming for dear life about its "purity being insulted" and "letting the wolf into the house," it was ultimately held in the palm of Princess Huo Linger's hand.

It reluctantly led everyone to its habitat — the Vermilion Bird Dojo.

It was a crimson palace suspended above a massive volcanic crater, surrounded by rolling magma.

Countless Fire Dao runes emerged and vanished in the void, exuding a sacred and ancient aura.

"Hmph, if it weren't for the Princess's sake, I would never let you black pig step even half a step into this holy land!"

The miniature Red-Feather Vermilion Bird nestled in Princess Huo Linger's embrace, enjoying her petting while rolling its eyes at Wang Teng beside it.

Wang Teng crossed his arms, completely ignoring the haughty bird.

Ever since stepping into the core area of Chixia Ridge, the Nine-Nether Ao bloodline within his body had begun to stir inexplicably.

That feeling was like a hungry wolf smelling rotten meat buried deep underground, or like some homologous law of destruction resonating.

"There is... something down there."

Wang Teng stopped, not walking into the luxurious palace, but standing at the edge of the cliff.

His pair of deep, double-pupiled eyes stared fixedly at the rolling, bottomless ocean of magma below.

In his vision, this was not ordinary magma.

Deep in the earth, beneath the cover of endless fiery red, there was a mass of chaotic, indistinct grey mist.

Interwoven there were chaotic space-time, incomplete array patterns, and a breath of... corpse aura that would make even the Ten Fiends feel palpitations.

"Gulp."

Wang Teng's Adam's apple bobbed, and his eyes instantly became fervent.

"Such dense Chaos Qi... and the scent of an aged corpse, top-notch!"

Seeing Wang Teng's "want to eat" expression, the Red-Feather Vermilion Bird was so frightened that all its red feathers stood on end:

"You... what do you want to do?!"

Below is the ancestral land of my Fire Kingdom! It is the location of the Saint Emperor Palace!

That is a forbidden area! It buries the great secrets of my Fire clan, outsiders absolutely cannot..."

"Outsiders?"

Wang Teng turned around, a playful arc curling at the corner of his mouth.

He swept an arm around Princess Huo Linger's slender waist, and amidst her exclamation, he domineeringly declared his sovereignty:

"Linger is my wife, and I am her husband.

A son-in-law returning to his mother-in-law's home to stroll through the backyard is called 'visiting relatives,' how can that be called an outsider?"

"Husband, do you feel that there is something down there?"

Although Princess Huo Linger was shy, she had blind trust in Wang Teng.

She knew that Wang Teng possessed the bloodline of the Ten Fiends, and his sensory abilities far exceeded those of ordinary people.

"Yes, a great opportunity."

Wang Teng nodded, his eyes becoming somewhat serious.

"Moreover, there seems to be an incomplete, peerless killing array down there, currently on the verge of losing control.

If I don't go down to check, it will explode sooner or later, and by then the entire Fire Kingdom imperial capital will be blown to the sky."

"What?!"

"Let me go down."

Wang Teng looked at the Red-Feather Vermilion Bird, his tone admitting no doubt.

"I can feel that the thing down there is fated to be with me.

Besides... even if you don't allow it, I can forcibly break through this crust and drill down, you choose."

The Red-Feather Vermilion Bird was trembling with rage; this was not a discussion, this was clearly a notification!

It looked at Princess Huo Linger, hoping the Princess could stop this madman.

Who knew that Princess Huo Linger only hesitated for a moment before nodding firmly:

"Lord Spirit, let him go.

I trust my husband; he will not harm the Fire Kingdom.

Moreover... if there is really danger down there, with his strength, he might truly be able to help us resolve the hidden danger."

"A girl grows up and turns to outsiders! Truly, a girl turns to outsiders!"

The Red-Feather Vermilion Bird was heartbroken, covering its face with its short wings, and in the end, it could only sigh dejectedly:

"Fine, fine! If you want to go, then go!

But I must follow! If you dare to damage the Saint Emperor Palace, even if I have to risk this old life, I will... I will peck you to death!"

"Deal."

Wang Teng grinned, revealing a mouthful of stark white teeth.

"However, the environment below seems a bit harsh, and this human skin is too fragile to withstand the scouring of that Chaos Qi."

"You all, step back a bit."

Wang Teng released Princess Huo Linger, took a step forward, and stood at the edge of the volcanic crater.

"Boom—!!!"

A terrifying aura that had been suppressed for a long time was finally no longer concealed, rushing out from his body like a volcanic eruption.

Rolling black mist instantly engulfed the crimson firelight, and it seemed as if only pure black remained between heaven and earth.

In that endless darkness, a series of tooth-aching bone-popping sounds rang out.

"Aooo-roar—"

Accompanied by a roar that pierced metal and split stone, a behemoth tore through the black mist, revealing its true form!

It was a black beast with a slender build and extremely smooth lines.

Its entire body was covered in black-gold scales engraved with dark golden divine patterns, flickering with a cold, chilling light under the reflection of the magma.

The grey dragon horns on its head seemed capable of piercing the firmament, and the vertical eye on its brow was tightly closed, yet it emitted a heart-palpitating wave of destruction.

The most shocking thing was the nine giant tails stretched out behind it, each one looking like a living black dragon.

Swimming in the void, spitting out black nether fire.

The Nine-Nether Ao, descended once again!

Too strong! Too beautiful!

This was simply a work of art of slaughter and destruction!

"Get on."

Wang Teng's massive wolf head lowered slightly, his voice like a great bell, shaking the magma into rolling waves.

He extended a massive front claw, placing it flat in front of Princess Huo Linger.

"The road below is not easy to walk, I will carry you."

Looking at the ferocious yet inexplicably comforting behemoth before her, Princess Huo Linger felt no fear, only overflowing love and pride.

She lifted her skirt, jumped lightly onto the scale-covered giant claw, and then followed along Wang Teng's arm.

She ran all the way to that familiar "exclusive seat" — the broad back of his neck.

"Yun Xi, you come too." Princess Huo Linger waved her hand.

Yun Xi gritted her teeth and followed up.

"And you, little red bird."

Wang Teng's giant claw did not retract, but instead flicked its finger.

A gentle gust of wind directly flicked the still-dazed Red-Feather Vermilion Bird onto the top of his head — that is, between the two dragon horns.

"You are responsible for guiding the way, don't lead me into a ditch."

"Bastard! Who is a little red bird! I am the Spirit!"

The Red-Feather Vermilion Bird was hopping mad, but under the terrifying pressure of the Nine-Nether Ao.

It could only obediently hold onto Wang Teng's dragon horns, acting as a navigator.

Wang Teng turned his massive head, his three eyes locked firmly onto the rolling magma sea below.

"Sit tight."

"Roar!"

The Nine-Nether Ao let out a low roar, its four limbs suddenly exerting force.

"Boom!"

The massive body was like a black meteorite, carrying an indomitable momentum.

It smashed directly through the prohibition of the volcanic crater and plunged headlong into that bottomless world of magma!

"Splash—"

Magma splashed everywhere, kicking up waves of fire hundreds of feet high.

In that scorching red ocean, a black lightning bolt dove rapidly.

The high-temperature magma surrounding it, capable of melting refined iron, was automatically pushed aside by the protective layer of Nine Nether Hell Mist when it came within three zhang of Wang Teng's body.

Princess Huo Linger sat on Wang Teng's back, feeling only the surrounding flowing light and color, yet unable to feel the slightest heat.

She stroked the hard, cold scales beneath her, watching the unknown dark abyss ahead, her heart filled with anticipation.

As the diving depth increased, the surrounding crimson gradually faded, replaced by a grey, deathly silent and chaotic — Chaos Qi.

"We're here..."

A glint flashed in Wang Teng's massive wolf eyes.

He could feel that in the depths of the chaos, that legendary Third Killing Array.

And that chaotic corpse that had been sleeping for eons were sending out a "delicious" summons to him.