257: Lava River

Stepping into this world of flames, scorching Qi waves assailed them like a tangible force. The violent fire-attribute energy permeating the air almost caused the Dou Qi within one's body to spontaneously ignite. Had it not been for the formidable strength of the three, this environment alone would have been enough to deter anyone.

“The fire elements here are too volatile. Staying here for too long will also affect one’s Heart-Nature,” Xiao Yi Xian frowned slightly. She sensed that besides the high temperature, there was also a subtle, almost imperceptible dryness in the air, which could subtly stir up the anxiety and murderous desires deep within one’s heart.

Medusa’s body was enveloped in a swirling seven-colored light, isolating her from the scorching heat and dryness. Her serpentine pupils coldly scanned the surrounding flame creatures: “Just some low-tier fire spirits, easily defeated.”

Before her words even finished, a flock of crows, condensed from dark red flames, screeched “caw-caw” like they had discovered delicious fresh blood, swooping down towards the three in an overwhelming torrent. There were hundreds of them, each exuding an aura comparable to a Peak Dou King!

Li Ao’s eyes didn’t even flicker. He simply waved his sleeve casually.

An invisible Void Return Domain spread out from him, like a breeze sweeping across a wheat field. The fierce fire crows, the moment they rushed into the Domain, had their core flames and spirituality instantly erased, transforming into the most primitive fire-attribute energy and dissipating into the air, without even stirring a ripple.

“Let’s go, directly to the core palace,” Li Ao said calmly, as if he had merely brushed away a few flies. He locked onto the direction of the dark red palace complex in the distance and stepped forward.

Medusa and Xiao Yi Xian followed closely. Along the way, various flame creatures continuously burst forth from the magma and from behind burning rocks: fire pythons, fire wolves, and even giants made of lava. But these flame constructs, which would give even ordinary Dou Zun a headache, posed no threat whatsoever in front of Li Ao’s Void Return Domain, which seemed to possess a near-absolute suppression of rules. They often disintegrated before even getting close.

The three moved at an extremely fast pace, as if carving an invisible path through the sea of fire.

However, after traveling for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a massive obstacle appeared before them.

It was an incomparably wide river of lava! The river’s width exceeded a thousand zhang, and what flowed within was not ordinary magma, but a deep, dark golden substance, viscous like mercury, constantly bubbling with huge gas pockets. Each bursting bubble released terrifying heat waves capable of melting refined steel and pungent sulfurous fumes.

Even more unsettling was the powerful anti-air Domain permeating the sky above this dark golden lava river! The invisible pressure was like a mountain; anyone attempting to fly across would not only have their speed drastically reduced but would also be subjected to concentrated suppression and attacks from the entire river’s power.

And within the churning dark golden lava, huge and swift black shadows could vaguely be seen lurking, exuding a chillingly ferocious aura. Their strength was probably no weaker than a high-tier Dou Zong!

“Lava Fire River… It seems this is the first official checkpoint set up by the ruins,” Li Ao stopped by the river, his gaze sweeping across the dark golden surface. He could feel that the flame energy contained within this river water was far more pure and terrifying than the flame creatures outside, and it even contained a strange power that burned the Soul.

“There are things at the bottom of the river, quite a few, and very dangerous,” Xiao Yi Xian subtly warned, sensing the auras beneath the river’s surface. Her Chaos Poison Body was extremely sensitive to life and energy.

Medusa looked towards the opposite bank, estimating the distance, and said coldly: “The anti-air Domain is very strong. Forcibly flying across would consume immense energy and make us live targets for whatever is in the river. This river water… I can feel that even with my Seven-Colored Scale Armor, prolonged immersion would lead to corrosion.”

Clearly, the Fentian Valley did not welcome the weak. This Lava Fire River was the first trial to filter out those truly qualified to enter the core area.

Just as Li Ao was observing, a rush of wind and commotion came from behind him.

Led by the Red-haired Elder of the Burning Flame Valley, the Black Robed Man from the Hall of Souls, and three or four other Loose Cultivators with considerable abilities who had fortunately followed the fluctuations of the passage Li Ao had opened earlier to find the correct direction and overcome the outer flame creature blockade, also arrived at the riverbank.

When they saw the Lava Fire River stretching before them, and the unsettling auras within it, their expressions turned exceedingly grim.

“Dark golden lava… and an anti-air Domain and Lava Fire Crocodiles!” A lone Two-Star Dou Zun Loose Cultivator gasped, “This is trouble!”

The Red-haired Elder of the Burning Flame Valley’s face was somber. He attempted to send a stream of flame Dou Qi towards the opposite bank. As the Dou Qi flew to the center of the river, it was pressed down by the invisible anti-air Domain. Immediately, the river surface exploded, and a massive, ferocious giant crocodile covered in dark golden bone armor leaped out, swallowing the Dou Qi in one gulp. Its cold, vertical pupils cruelly swept over the people on the shore.

The aura of that giant crocodile had, astonishingly, reached the Peak of the Seventh Tier (equivalent to a human Nine-Star Dou Zong Peak)!

“It seems we can only cross the river by our own means,” the Black Robed Revered One from the Hall of Souls spoke hoarsely, his gaze from beneath his hood sweeping over Li Ao with a hint of imperceptible coldness, “I wonder, what brilliant insight does this friend, who entered first, have?”

He drew everyone’s attention to Li Ao.

Immediately, all eyes focused on Li Ao. They had all witnessed Li Ao’s method of breaking the barrier, so naturally, they hoped he would once again perform an astonishing feat.

Li Ao glanced at the Black Robed Revered One, not bothering to entertain his petty schemes. He redirected his gaze to the Lava Fire River, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes.

“The flow of this river, the pressure distribution of this anti-air Domain… it’s not without rules,” he whispered telepathically to Medusa and Xiao Yi Xian, “This itself, perhaps, is a ‘path’.”

While others were either anxious, observing, or secretly preparing powerful Dou Techniques to protect themselves while crossing the river, Li Ao slowly closed his eyes. His Emperor Realm Soul Power, like the most precise detector, deeply sensed the energy flow of the Lava Fire River and the pressure nodes of the anti-air Domain.

A moment later, he suddenly opened his eyes, a faint smile curving his lips.

“Follow me.”

He did not display any flashy Dou Techniques for protection; his Void Return Domain merely rippled slightly around him, silently neutralizing the extreme high temperature and sulfurous fumes that assaulted them. Then, to everyone’s astonishment, he took a step, not flying towards the opposite bank, but directly stepping onto the churning dark golden lava river surface!

“Is he crazy?!”

“Is he looking for death?!”

Exclamations rose from all sides. Even Medusa and Xiao Yi Xian felt a pang of tension in their hearts, but out of absolute trust in Li Ao, the two women did not hesitate in the slightest, following closely behind, also stepping onto the terrifying lava capable of incinerating a Dou Zun!