206: The Earth's Core Furnace: A Prelude to Weapon Forging

After leaving Fire Crow Ridge, Li Ao and Medusa did not flee far, but instead stealthily proceeded deeper into the Hundred Thousand Volcanoes.

The most dangerous place is often the safest place.

The Yan Clan had just left, the Hall of Souls had suffered a hidden loss and temporarily concealed themselves, and the peripheral minor forces dared not easily venture deep; thus, the depths of the volcano had become a relative "vacuum" zone.

Their goal was to find an ideal forging location capable of withstanding extreme high temperatures, possessing stable energy, and being undisturbed.

Two days later, on the mountainside of an active volcano that continuously erupted black smoke and scorching volcanic ash, Li Ao discovered a cave entrance half-hidden by solidified lava.

Faint, muffled rumbling and scorching airflow emanated from within the entrance, clearly leading into the mountain's interior.

The two cautiously entered.

After passing through a narrow, winding passage covered in sharp volcanic glass, their view suddenly opened up.

This was a massive natural lava cave, seemingly the core of the entire volcano.

In the center of the cave was a massive lava lake over a hundred zhang in diameter.

The viscous, dark red magma slowly churned and surged like blood, occasionally forming huge bubbles that swelled and burst, releasing terrifying heat.

The four walls of the cave were not rock, but some kind of dark red crystal shimmering with metallic luster.

They were capable of reflecting and concentrating the heat radiating from the magma, raising the temperature here to an unbelievable degree, to the point where even the air exhibited distorted ripples due to the heat.

Even more strangely, a black platform several zhang wide abruptly stood in the center of the lava lake.

The platform's surface was smooth as a mirror, seemingly composed of some extremely heat-resistant unknown metal, remaining utterly unshaken despite the magma washing over it from below.

"What a natural furnace!" Li Ao's eyes shone with pleasant surprise.

The heat of the magma here was sufficient to melt most known metals, and that black platform was an excellent forging stage!

The surrounding metallic crystal walls could not only gather heat but also form an energy barrier, interfering with external detection.

"Although the fire energy here is violent, the core is unusually stable.

This is indeed a good place." Medusa also nodded slightly.

She could feel that the fire energy cycle here was self-contained and not easily disturbed by the outside world.

"This is the spot." Li Ao decided immediately.

He first set up several layers of concealment and defensive barriers at the cave entrance, and then used his Soul Power to meticulously inspect the entire cave, confirming there were no hidden dangers or observers.

Afterward, he had Medusa find a relatively stable crystal wall platform near the entrance to begin the preliminary refinement of the block of solar essence gold.

Medusa sat cross-legged, placing the solar essence gold in front of her.

She formed hand seals, and seven-colored light surged from her body, wrapping the solar essence gold layer by layer like a cocoon.

The supremely Yang and rigid energy collided and harmonized with her Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python Bloodline, emitting a subtle hum.

This was a painstaking process that could not be rushed.

Meanwhile, Li Ao flew down and landed on the black platform in the center of the lava lake.

Standing on the platform, feeling the terrifying high temperature emanating from below and the fire attribute energy around him that had almost solidified, Li Ao's heart surged.

He took a deep breath, suppressed his excitement, and his gaze became intensely focused and solemn.

Re-forging the "silent ruin" was no small matter.

This was not only the tempering of the Materials, but also a sublimation and branding of his own Way of Blade Silence.

He needed to perfectly achieve Fusion between his own Saber Intent, the Origin Power of the nirvana star core, and these rare treasures of heaven and earth, only then could he forge a true natal divine weapon intrinsically linked to his life and spirit.

He did not start immediately, but first sat cross-legged to adjust his own state.

Within his Qi Sea, the nirvana star core slowly rotated, emitting pure Nirvana Power that flowed throughout his body, smoothing away the fatigue from days of travel and the hidden injuries from previous battles one by one.

His Soul Power spread out like mercury, carefully sensing every inch of the platform, gradually synchronizing with the energy pulsations of the lava lake beneath his feet.

At the same time, he took out all the Materials required for the re-forging and displayed them before him.

Core Primary Materials: dragon emperors reverse scale (gifted by Zi Yan, containing Dragon Emperor Qi and Blood and spatial talent, serving as the blade's dragon bone), nine nether cold iron (obtained from Madam Jin, supremely Yin and cold, carrying Nirvana), solar essence gold (newly acquired from the Yan Clan, supremely Yang and rigid, balancing Yin and Yang).

Auxiliary Spiritual Materials: void crystal stone (obtained from auction, granting spatial attributes), a wisp of Earth Mother Qi (obtained from a peripheral trade point of the Stone Clan, increasing weight and toughness), Ice Spirit Spring Eye Stone (a small piece, a thank-you gift from the Ice Spirit Clan, containing vitality, leaving a sliver of creation amidst destruction).

As well as various rare supplementary Materials used to assist Fusion and stabilize the energy structure.

Any one of these Materials, if leaked to the outside world, would be enough to cause a storm of blood.

Now, gathered here, they emitted vast energy fluctuations that were completely different, even mutually conflicting.

If not for this special black platform, they would likely have already triggered an energy storm.

Li Ao's gaze swept over the Materials, and in his mind, he had already outlined the final form of the "silent ruin"—it should not be a flashy ornament, but a pure weapon of slaughter: simple, sharp, and restrained.

The blade needed to perfectly bear Nirvana Power, the edge needed to tear space and sever Karma, and its core needed to balance Yin and Yang, containing a trace of indestructibility within ultimate destruction.

Preparations were complete, and his state had been adjusted to the Peak.

Li Ao slowly opened his eyes.

His gaze was calm, like an ancient well, yet in the deepest part, a flame named "Creation" burned.

He stood tall, positioning himself in the center of the platform, his gaze fixed on the churning lava lake below.

"Fire of the Earth Core, heed my command!"

He let out a low shout, forming an arcane seal with his hands.

The nirvana star core within his body suddenly burst forth with light!

A stream of pure Nirvana Power mixed with his powerful Soul Power plunged into the lava lake below like an invisible giant hand!

He was not triggering a magma eruption, but rather using his supreme will to forcibly restrain and refine the purest, most violent wisp of earth core fire marrow from the magma!

"Rumble!"

The entire lava lake boiled violently.

A massive, almost pure white pillar of flame, like a tamed Dragon, shot up from the center of the lake and was precisely guided by Li Ao to hover above the black platform!

The temperature of this earth core fire marrow was ten, even a hundred times higher than ordinary magma!

It was enough to instantly vaporize common refined iron!

This was the flame capable of smelting the top-tier divine Materials before him!

The forging officially began!

Li Ao's gaze was sharp as a blade.

The first item he levitated was the indestructible section of nine nether cold iron, which emitted cold Evil Qi!

"Melt!"

With a thought, the pure white earth core fire marrow, as if possessing sentience, enveloped the nine nether cold iron!

A lengthy forging journey, one that allowed no room for error, quietly began within this isolated Earth Core Furnace.