198: Deeper into the blazing flames, the white flames begin to appear.

The bustle of Lava Town was left far behind. Li Ao and Medusa followed the vague directions provided by the old mercenary, heading deeper toward the so-called "Jinyan Valley."

The further they ventured from human habitation, the harsher the environment became. Cracks in the earth spread like a spiderweb, and deep within some fissures, a dark red light faintly shone, emitting suffocating heat waves.

The sulfurous smell pervading the air was so thick it was almost tangible; an ordinary person inhaling a single breath would likely scorch their lungs.

The sky was perpetually a fiery red hue, as if the entire world were being roasted on a furnace.

Occasionally, they encountered strange creatures, such as the slow-moving "Lava Tortoises" composed entirely of molten rock, or "Fire Lizards" that rapidly scurried across the scorching stones, feeding on sulfur crystals.

Most of these creatures were docile, or they avoided the dangerous aura emitted by Li Ao and Medusa, refraining from attack.

After traveling for about a day, a massive, cracked canyon appeared before them.

The canyon walls were steep and dark red, resembling cooled lava. Rolling heat waves steamed within the valley, distorting the view and obscuring the depths.

However, a surge of Fire attribute energy, purer and more violent than what they encountered outside, was gushing forth from this canyon.

"This must be it, Jinyan Valley." Li Ao stood at the entrance, his Soul Power attempting to probe the interior, but he felt an invisible resistance. The dense fire energy had formed a natural barrier, greatly interfering with his Soul perception.

Medusa nodded slightly, a multicolored light flickering in her purple eyes. Relying on her Bloodline talent, her perception of energy was more direct: "The level of fire energy inside the valley is very high, and... it carries a faint, intermittent pressure, which seems to originate from the same source as the white flame the old mercenary described."

The two exchanged a look, both raising their guard. An existence that could make even Medusa feel pressure was certainly not ordinary.

They did not rashly fly directly into the valley but chose instead to carefully climb down along the steep rock face.

The rock wall was scalding hot to the touch; without Qi protection, they would have been instantly burned.

The temperature inside the valley was terrifyingly high, and the scene below gradually became clear—it was not a solid valley floor, but a dark red lake of magma, slowly flowing and constantly bubbling!

The lake was vast, occupying almost the entire valley floor, with only a few scattered, massive black reefs protruding above the magma.

Scorching bubbles burst, releasing toxic gases and tiny particles of magma. The air was filled with the contradictory aura of destruction and rebirth.

"The earth core fire lotus thrives in extreme heat, often growing in the core region of pure earth fire magma, or on reefs where energy is exceptionally concentrated." Li Ao recalled the medicinal knowledge Yao Chen had taught him, his gaze sharply sweeping across the perilous magma lake.

His sight quickly locked onto a massive black reef slightly to the left of the lake's center.

The reef was pitch-black, seemingly capable of absorbing all light, but on its summit grew a strange plant about a foot high.

The entire plant was translucent, fiery red, as if carved from red crystal, its branches and leaves shaped like leaping flames.

At the top of the plant, rested a budding fire lotus, its petals tightly closed, displaying a deep dark red color. Its surface flowed with a magma-like sheen, emitting pure and majestic Fire attribute energy.

It was indeed the "earth core fire lotus"! Furthermore, judging by its appearance and energy fluctuations, it was already close to maturity!

"We found it," Li Ao whispered.

However, both knew that the real danger came from the existence guarding this spiritual object.

According to the old mercenary's description, and the subtle pressure they currently sensed, the so-called "White Fire Snake" must be lurking somewhere in this magma lake.

Li Ao and Medusa concealed their auras, hiding behind a large boulder near the lake, waiting patiently. They needed to confirm the guardian Demonic Beast's location and habits.

Time passed slowly. The magma lake continued to flow and bubble, and aside from the high temperature and toxic gas, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

But Li Ao's patience was excellent. Like the most seasoned hunter, even though his Soul Power was interfered with, it still stretched out like spider silk, meticulously sensing every subtle energy fluctuation on the lake's surface.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed!

Just beneath the black reef where the earth core fire lotus grew, the seemingly calm dark red magma produced an extremely faint ripple, distinctly different from the surrounding areas! At the center of that ripple, a chilling pale color faintly emerged!

"It's coming," Li Ao transmitted to Medusa.

Almost at the same moment his voice fell—

"Splash!"

The magma violently erupted! A brilliant white figure shot out from the lava like lightning, scattering red-hot liquid everywhere!

It was not a strange snake, but a creature about ten meters long with a slender body!

Its entire body was covered in fine, crystalline white scales, as if carved from the purest white jade, yet it was burning with a cold, pale flame that lacked any discernible heat!

Its head was triangular, its eyes were two clusters of leaping white flames, and the tongue it flicked out was also composed of pale fire!

It had no feet below its body and moved like a snake, but two small protrusions were visible on its head, like unformed horns.

It coiled upon the black reef where the earth core fire lotus grew, pale flames wrapping around its body, freezing the surrounding hot air into fine ice crystals (which were not true ice, but a spatial distortion phenomenon caused by the extreme cold fire), creating an eerie contrast with the scorching magma below.

"This is... the associated Fire Spirit of the 'Bone Chilling Flame'? No, the form is wrong, and its aura is much more brutal..." A trace of surprise flashed in Li Ao's eyes.

He recognized the characteristics of this white flame; it was extremely similar to the "Bone Chilling Flame," ranked eleventh on the strange fire ranking list, cold enough to scorch the Soul. However, its form was closer to a sentient Fire-type Demonic Beast, or rather, some unknown, special lifeform nurtured by extreme cold fire!

The White Fire Snake did not immediately discover the hidden Li Ao and Medusa. It simply coiled lazily beside the fire lotus, its pale flame tongue occasionally licking the lotus bud. With every lick, the fire lotus's glow seemed to intensify; it was actually using its own flame to nourish the spiritual object!

"It is waiting for the fire lotus to fully mature." A realization flashed in Medusa's purple eyes. "This fire lotus is likely a great tonic for it as well."

Li Ao nodded. The situation was clear: to obtain the earth core fire lotus, they had to deal with the White Fire Snake first.

Judging by the pressure it emitted, its strength had definitely reached the level of a Seventh-Tier Demonic Beast, equivalent to a human Dou Zong. Combined with the strange Bone Chilling Flame, even an ordinary low-star Dou Zong would likely be courting death.

"I will handle it; you find a chance to take the lotus," Li Ao told Medusa. His Nirvana Power restrained this type of flame to a certain extent, making him the most suitable person to lead the attack.

Medusa had no objection, only cautioning: "Be careful of its flame; it can freeze the Soul."

Li Ao took a deep breath, no longer concealing his aura, and stepped out from behind the massive boulder!

The instant his aura was revealed, the White Fire Snake suddenly raised its head, its pupils, formed by two clusters of white flame, instantly locking onto Li Ao. A killing intent—icy, bone-chilling, yet carrying an extreme scorching sensation—swept toward him like a tide!

"Hiss—!"

It let out a sharp hiss, and the magma lake beneath it seemed to boil! It clearly regarded Li Ao as an intruder attempting to steal its treasure!

Without the slightest hesitation, the White Fire Snake launched itself, crossing dozens of meters like a white bolt of lightning, opening its massive mouth, composed entirely of pale flame, and lunging to bite Li Ao!

Wherever it passed, the air froze, only to be instantly vaporized by the high temperature, forming a zone of twisted death!

Facing this lightning-fast attack, Li Ao's eyes remained calm. The "silent ruin" was already in his hand.

On the blade, gray-gold Qi flowed, lighting up simultaneously with a faint dark red radiance.

"Stream Severance!"

He chose not to clash head-on, instead slightly shifting his body. The black saber in his hand traced a strange arc, precisely striking the point of weakest energy along the Fire Snake's biting trajectory!

"Hiss!"

The gray-gold blade light collided with the pale cold fire, emitting a grating sound of erosion.

The cold fire, powerful enough to freeze the Soul, instantly met its match upon contact with the Nirvana blade light, being forcefully sliced apart and annihilated in part!

However, the Fire Snake's power was extremely formidable; the residual impact still forced Li Ao back half a step, and a bone-chilling coldness spread through the arm holding the saber.

"What a strange flame!" Li Ao's heart tightened. This Bone Chilling Flame was not only extremely low in temperature but could also directly attack the Soul. If his Soul Power hadn't far surpassed others at the same level, and if he didn't have Nirvana Power protecting him, his Soul would likely have been damaged by that brief contact.

Failing its strike, the White Fire Snake grew even more enraged. The pale flames around its body flared, and the temperature of the entire magma lake seemed to drop significantly, yet the dangerous aura it emitted sharply escalated!

It coiled its body, raising its head high. The white flame rapidly condensed and compressed in its mouth, finally forming a pale fireball, only the size of a fist, yet radiating destructive fluctuations!

The space around the fireball was faintly collapsing!

Li Ao's pupils contracted. He could feel that the power contained within this fireball far surpassed its previous casual strike!

"I can't let it fully condense!"

His thoughts raced, and his figure shot out, initiating the attack!

Inside Jinyan Valley, a fierce battle between a human and the strange Fire Spirit, centered around the earth core fire lotus, officially began.

However, whether the commotion of this battle and the unique aura of the Bone Chilling Flame would attract other unwelcome guests remained unknown.