206: Earth fire eruption

At the same time, on the northwestern edge of the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range, lay an ancient volcanic region known as the “Lava Abyss.”

The Earth Fire here never extinguished, lava surged beneath the surface, and the air was filled with the smell of sulfur and heat. Ordinary creatures were nonexistent, yet it was a breeding ground for fire-attributed Yao Beasts and special Heaven And Earth Treasures.

Gao De, leading his small 'Honor Guard,' had just swept past a scorched mountain ridge and was about to accelerate through this barren land.

Suddenly, a dull roar came from the ground beneath their feet, like the awakening bellow of a gigantic beast.

Immediately afterward, the ground for hundreds of miles violently trembled. Countless cracks spread through the rocks, crimson light shone through the fissures, and scorching heat waves shot up into the sky!

“Earth Fire Eruption!” Gao De's eyes narrowed, and his body suddenly ascended.

The Mysterious Crocodile Guards, Shadow Guards, and other Yao Beasts following him also swiftly gathered in a well-trained manner. Under Iron Profound's command, their Demonic Qi merged, forming a simple protective barrier to resist the soaring hot air currents and splashing rock debris and lava.

Several miles ahead, a gigantic, previously relatively calm volcanic crater suddenly swelled and cracked open!

Boom—!!!

A pillar of magma, crimson with a dark gold luster, erupted into the sky with destructive force, reaching the clouds and illuminating half the sky in a fiery red!

Scalding volcanic ash and scorching rocks scattered like rain, hitting the ground and igniting roaring Earth Fires.

Even more astonishingly, accompanying this unprecedented violent eruption, several streaks of light, varying in color and radiating powerful treasure light, were ejected from the core of the erupting magma and scattered in different directions around the outer perimeter of the eruption zone!

One streak was enveloped in Purple Qi, faintly entwined with a phantom Dragon shape; one was crimson like blood, emitting astonishingly Sharp Metal Qi; and another was deep blue like ice, causing the surrounding hot air to condense into ice crystals upon its appearance!

“Heaven And Earth Treasure! And high-grade, Heavy Treasures at that!” Gao De's heart leaped.

Such a violent volcanic eruption is often accompanied by the venting of Earth Vein Essence, occasionally bringing out rare minerals or even Innate Treasure Materials that have been tempered by the Earth Fire deep within the earth's core for countless years.

Judging by the momentum and Spiritual Pressure of these streaks of light, they were definitely not ordinary items!

Opportunity often comes with risk.

The Earth Fire Eruption had not stopped; the outer areas still had flowing lava, pervasive toxic smoke, and flying stones like rain. Furthermore, many native fire-attributed Yao Beasts, attracted or startled by the Earth Fire phenomenon, were stirring, including powerful presences at the Third Rank and even faintly reaching the Fourth Rank!

“Lord?” Iron Profound requested via Divine Thought. The Mysterious Crocodile Guards looked toward the direction of the treasure light, their eyes showing desire, but mostly vigilance.

The Green Feather Thunder Sparrow circled in the air, emitting sharp cries, reporting that several powerful Yao Beast Auras were rapidly approaching from further away.

The Shadow Scale Water Snakes had quietly infiltrated the shadows to scout the situation at the nearest treasure light landing spot.

The Treasure-Seeking Jade Carp was even more excited, wagging its tail inside a temporary water sphere, pointing toward the Purple Qi Dragon Shadow treasure light, conveying a strong signal of desire.

Gao De's gaze swept over the areas of treasure light, his Divine Sense quickly analyzing.

The Purple Qi Dragon Shadow item was likely related to the Dragon Clan or high-level Thunder-Fire Attributes, which would greatly benefit his Cultivation of the Purple Heaven Dragon Transformation Art or the refinement of his Lifebound Treasure.

The crimson sharp Metal item looked incomparably sharp and should be a top-tier Material for refining Flying Swords or offensive Sharp Weapons.

As for the deep blue ice crystal item, its attribute was extremely cold. Though it countered the Earth Fire, it coexisted within the eruption, making it a Rare Treasure. It could potentially be used to refine special Defensive Gear, aid Cultivation, or even restrain certain fire-based Divine Abilities.

“To refuse a gift from Heaven is to incur blame!” Gao De made a swift decision. “Iron Profound, lead the Mysterious Crocodile Guards to form the 'Profound Water Covering Earth Formation,' advancing steadily toward the Purple Qi treasure light direction, resisting the flowing fire and Low-Rank Yao Beasts, and clearing the way for the Jade Carp!”

“Green Feather Thunder Sparrow, monitor from high altitude, warning of powerful Yao Beast approaches, especially those Fourth-Rank Auras!”

“Shadow Guards, disperse! Scout the specific situations of the other two streaks of treasure light and the surrounding dangers, reporting back immediately!”

“Iron Profound obeys the command!”

“Caw!”

“Hiss!”

All the Demon Soldiers responded in unison and immediately began operating efficiently.

Gao De himself transformed into Purple Lightning and spearheaded the charge toward the spot where the Purple Qi treasure light had fallen.

That place was already a sea of fire, with lava spreading like streams, and the air filled with scorching and violent Fire Spiritual Qi.

Where the Purple Qi treasure light landed, a deep pit had been smashed out. At the bottom of the pit, faintly visible, was a strange metallic Ore about the size of a millstone, glowing purple all over, with liquid thunder and flames seemingly flowing inside—the [Purple Dragon Thunder Fire Jade Marrow]!

This item was born deep within the earth veins, tempered and fused by the True Earth Core Fire for hundreds of millions of years. It contained extremely pure Thunder-Fire Origin, and even carried a trace of Innate Creation Qi, making it a Supreme Treasure for the Dragon Clan, especially those Dragons Cultivating Thunder-Fire Attribute Cultivation Techniques!

But at this moment, surrounding the deep pit, three gigantic pythons—[Molten Rock Flood Dragons]—covered in crimson scales and bearing a unicorn horn on their heads, were circling the treasure light, confronting each other while warily watching the rapidly approaching Gao De, emitting threatening hisses.

They were clearly attracted by the Heavy Treasure brought out by the eruption.

“You beasts, how dare you covet this Lord's possession?” Gao De snorted coldly, unleashing the might of his Fourth-Rank Flood Dragon status without reservation. Purple Lightning coiled around the Dragon Horn on his forehead, and faint Dragon Roars echoed around him.

The three Molten Rock Flood Dragons felt the absolute suppression stemming from their Bloodline and level of life, and their Aura immediately weakened, fear showing in their eyes.

However, having been tempered by the Earth Fire for years, they were violent in nature. With the treasure right before them, they refused to retreat easily. Instead, they coiled up, hissing and spitting out scorching Lava Fire Streams, attempting to obstruct him.

“Incorrigible!” Gao De joined his fingers like a sword and slashed through the Void Realm.

*Sizzle!*

An incredibly condensed purple-gold Thunder-Flame Sword Ray shot out, swift as lightning, carrying the Aura of judgment and destruction.

Where the Sword Ray passed, the Lava Fire Streams were easily cleaved and annihilated.

The three Rock Flood Dragons desperately tried to dodge, but the Sword Ray was too fast and contained a Dragon Might that made their Bloodline tremble.

The sword light flashed and vanished.

The three Rock Flood Dragons froze mid-action, their massive heads slowly sliding off. The cut surfaces were charred black, with no blood flowing out, their life force instantly incinerated by the power of thunder and flame!

Killing three Peak Third Rank Yao Beasts with a wave of his hand, Gao De remained expressionless. He raised his hand and grabbed, and an invisible force lifted the [Purple Dragon Thunder Fire Jade Marrow] from the bottom of the pit and sealed it into a Storage Magic Treasure.

It felt slightly heavy in his hand. The Jade Marrow was warm and smooth to the touch, yet contained violent power within. Enveloped in Purple Qi, it caused the Purple Heaven Dragon Transformation Art within his body to automatically accelerate its circulation, sending waves of desire.

“What a treasure!” Joy filled Gao De's heart.

At this time, the Shadow Guards sent back information: the crimson treasure light was a piece of [earth core fire pattern gold mother], fist-sized but weighing over Ten Thousand Catties, incomparably sharp. It had already attracted two Early Stage Fourth-Rank [Earth Fire Poison Scorpions] who were fiercely fighting over it; the deep blue treasure light was a profound ice jade lotus, growing in a strange Cold Spring Eye near the eruption vent. Brought out by the Earth Fire, a natural Cold Fiend formed around it upon landing, guarding it. No powerful Yao Beasts were seen approaching yet, but the Cold Fiend was extremely heavy and difficult to collect easily.

“Iron Profound, Mysterious Crocodile Guards change direction. Target the crimson treasure light area. Form a formation and advance slowly, pinning down any potential Yao Beasts, and wait for this Lord to deal with those two scorpions!”

“Green Feather Thunder Sparrow, focus on monitoring the Earth Fire Poison Scorpion battlefield and any potential hidden threats nearby!”

Gao De quickly adjusted his deployment, moving again, and charging toward the direction of the crimson treasure light.

A moment later, beside a lava lake, two Gigantic Scorpions, the size of houses, with dark red carapaces and tail hooks flashing with faint blue Poisonous Glow, were locked in a fierce battle. Scattered around them were the corpses of Low-Rank Fire Beasts that had been caught in the crossfire.

And on a raised black rock in the center of their battlefield, a piece of metal, crimson as blood, naturally patterned with Flame Markings on its surface, fist-sized but radiating a sharpness capable of tearing the Void Realm, lay quietly.

It was precisely the [earth core fire pattern gold mother]!

Gao De wasted no words and immediately struck.

“Thunder Prison, suppress!”

He clapped his hands together, and countless Purple Lightning bolts spontaneously generated, weaving into a massive Thunder and Lightning Cage, instantly enveloping the two fiercely fighting Earth Fire Poison Scorpions!

The scorpions were greatly alarmed. Dark red fire light rose from their bodies, and the faint blue Poisonous Glow from their tail hooks intensified greatly as they frantically attacked the Thunder Prison.

But Gao De's thunder contained Heavenly Might and Dragon Power; how could they easily break through it?

“Slash!”

Gao De pointed his sword-fingers again, and two even more condensed Thunder-Flame Sword Rays accurately shot into the Thunder Prison, aiming directly for the scorpions' relatively vulnerable joints and the connections of their Compound Eyes.

*Puff! Puff!*

The Sword Rays entered their bodies, and the Power of Thunder and Fire erupted.

The two Early Stage Fourth-Rank Earth Fire Poison Scorpions let out sharp screeches. After struggling for a moment, they crashed down inside the Thunder Prison, their carapaces charred black and shattered, their life force extinguished.

Waving his hand to dissipate the Thunder Prison, Gao De collected the earth core fire pattern gold mother.

Upon receiving the item, waves of sharpness emanated from it, as if intending to cleave his palm—it was truly extraordinary.

Finally, there was the profound ice jade lotus.