28: Chapter 28 Gift of Will, Inheritance of the Flame

The "Heart-Burning Seal" on Lin Yan's back was already as scalding as a branding iron, pulsing frantically as if it would burst out of his body in the next moment to merge with the terrifying presence rapidly approaching. He did not need the panicked mental fluctuations transmitted by Chi Rong through the "Soul Contract" to understand that the strength of the arrivals was far beyond imagination. They were likely true high-level experts from the "Hall of Souls", perhaps... more than one! They had been drawn here by both the mark on his body and the abnormal fluctuations deep within the will of the earth vein!

Ahead lay the mysterious, ancient remains emitting cold soul power, and behind him, a terrifying enemy was tearing through the earth in pursuit. A true dead end!

"Lin Yan!" Xiao Yi Xian also felt the pressure of impending doom. Her face was deathly pale, but she did not retreat. Instead, she stepped forward to stand side-by-side with Lin Yan, grey-purple poison energy condensing at her fingertips. "We..."

Before she could finish her sentence, the massive, deathly pale spine in the center of the cavern suddenly underwent a transformation!

The profound natural patterns on the surface of the spine simultaneously lit up with a faint yet pure jade-white radiance! The light was not blinding, but it carried an ancient rhythm of washing away worldly impurities and returning to simplicity. At the same time, the mirror-smooth black ground beneath Lin Yan and Xiao Yi Xian manifested countless fine, pale-gold patterns that were of the same origin as the array by the pool but even more magnificent. The entire cavern's energy field was instantly activated!

That vast, gentle, yet supreme "will of the earth vein" descended clearly once again. But this time, its fluctuations lacked the previous scrutiny and curiosity, replaced instead by a deep weariness, a hint of determination, and... a gravity akin to entrusting a heavy responsibility.

The fluctuations of the will transmitted directly into the depths of Lin Yan and Xiao Yi Xian's souls. There were no words, yet it conveyed a clear intent:

"Outsiders... bearing the fate of the Heavenly Flame and the Calamity... the earth vein is about to fall silent, the seal is about to break... the evil souls are coming..."

"Take the 'ancient soul scale' and the 'purifying erosion fire seed'... flee this place... do not let them fall into the hands of the evil souls..."

"This is my... final gift..."

As the intent was transmitted, the faint, flickering pale light in the depression of the massive spine's midsection suddenly brightened! It slowly floated up from the bone crevices, revealing its true form—it was not a flame, but a strange crystal the size of a pigeon egg, crystalline and pale like white crystal, yet seemingly sealing a small, constantly shifting, weak flame inside! This was exactly the "purifying erosion fire seed" mentioned by the "will of the earth vein"!

The moment the fire seed appeared, the "Seed Flame of Void Devouring Flame" within Lin Yan erupted with unprecedented longing and palpitations! Xiao Yi Xian also felt her newly stabilized poison energy source develop an extremely complex feeling toward this fire seed—a mixture of instinctive repulsion (due to the purification and soul power characteristics it contained) and an indescribable attraction (as if it also sealed a trace of strange energy related to the essence of "poison" that had been purified and transformed).

At the same time, those pitch-black scales with dark gold patterns (the "ancient soul scale") scattered on the ground seemed to be summoned, collectively emitting a low hum. Several relatively intact scales with clear patterns automatically flew up, hovering before Lin Yan and Xiao Yi Xian.

"Quick!" Lin Yan did not hesitate in the slightest. The determination of the "will of the earth vein" and the increasingly close roar of destruction above signaled that time was running out! He reached out and grasped the pale, crystal-like "purifying erosion fire seed" into his palm. The fire seed felt icy cold to the touch, but the small flame inside radiated a faint warmth, and a pure, ancient energy carrying fluctuations of purification and strange soul power vaguely seeped out. The "Seed Flame of Void Devouring Flame" immediately sent a strong urge to devour it, but Lin Yan forcibly suppressed it; now was not the time.

Xiao Yi Xian also immediately collected the few "ancient soul scale"s hovering before her. The scales felt heavy and cold, and when the patterns on them came into contact with her poison energy, they once again emitted a faint grey-purple halo; it seemed there really was some kind of resonance.

Just the moment they finished collecting the items, the roar from the rock layers above reached its peak!

"Crack——!!!"

With a deafening sound of shattering, a terrifying crack several dozen zhang long was forcibly torn into the hard rock of the cavern dome, which contained the power of the earth vein! A violent torrent of energy, interwoven with crimson, dark gold, and pale white, poured down from the crack like a collapsing celestial river! The scorching high temperature instantly caused the air in the cavern to twist and burn, the cold soul power eroded all signs of life, and there was an even sharper force that tore through space, grinding everything in its path into powder!

Through that crack, one could vaguely see in the darkness above several incomparably huge, hideous giant claws, burning with different colored flames and wrapped in soul power chains, crazily tearing at the rock layers. Three huge eyes, emitting terrifying pressure and resembling small suns, were coldly looking through the crack, locking onto the remains below, and... Lin Yan and Xiao Yi Xian beside the remains!

Merely the gaze of those eyes was enough to freeze one's soul and cause one's Dou Qi to stagnate! The strength of the arrivals definitely surpassed the Dou Wang level; they were at least Dou Huangs, or perhaps even higher!

"Earth Vein... Seal!" Just at this critical moment, the "will of the earth vein" let out its final, silent cry!

The entire underground cavern erupted with unprecedented light! The jade-white patterns on the deathly pale spine, the pale-gold array patterns underfoot, and even the surrounding rock walls all lit up simultaneously! A vast, boundless, and mountain-heavy earth-yellow energy surged in from all directions. It was no longer a gentle nourishment, but filled with a resolute will of suppression and protection!

The earth-yellow energy transformed into an incredibly solid screen of light, rushing upward to forcibly hold back the pouring three-colored energy torrent! At the same time, the space around the remains began to twist and fold violently, forming layers of spatial barriers in an attempt to isolate those terrifying giant claws and their gaze.

"Roar——!!!" An angry and surprised roar came from above the crack, clearly not having expected the "will of the earth vein", which had been silent for ten thousand years, to still possess such power. The three-colored energy torrent became even more violent, the tearing force of the giant claws increased sharply, and the spatial barriers emitted sounds of shattering under the unbearable load.

The fluctuations of the "will of the earth vein" quickly became weak and scattered. It was burning its final origin to buy Lin Yan and Xiao Yi Xian the last bit of time!

"Go!" Lin Yan's eyes were split with rage; he knew the "will of the earth vein" could not hold on for long. He grabbed Xiao Yi Xian and turned to rush toward the "Path of Returning to Silence" tunnel they had come from! The Dou Qi and Heavenly Flame energy within his body erupted without reservation, pushing his "Explosive Step" to its extreme speed.

The tunnel behind them began to shake violently, and the rock walls cracked; clearly, the aftermath of the battle above had already permeated down.

"Chi Rong!" Lin Yan shouted sternly through the "Soul Contract".

"Master! The tunnel is about to collapse! I will meet you at the exit!" Chi Rong transmitted a panicked but firm response.

The two ran for their lives through the collapsing tunnel, with the loud sounds of falling rocks and energy impacts constantly coming from behind. Xiao Yi Xian's face was pale, but she gritted her teeth and followed closely behind Lin Yan, with poison energy concentrated at her feet to make her movements lighter.

Just as they were about to rush out of the tunnel and return to the "Secret Grotto" where the "fire marrow crystal" was located, the final fluctuation of the "will of the earth vein" behind them transmitted a faint, lingering echo that seemed like relief and also like a sigh:

"...fire seed... scales... key... beware... Hun Clan..."

The fluctuations dissipated completely.

Immediately after, "Boom——!!!"

A sound far more terrifying than all the previous commotions combined came from the direction of the remains cavern! Accompanying it were the furious roars of the unknown terrifying enemies, as well as the mournful cry of some massive entity completely shattering and annihilating!

The seal of the earth vein was broken!

Violent turbulent energy swept through the tunnel from behind like a tsunami!

"Jump!" Lin Yan pulled Xiao Yi Xian and, the moment they rushed into the "Secret Grotto", threw themselves toward the side of the pool! Chi Rong, who had already been waiting there and had recovered slightly from its injuries, also erupted with all its strength, using its massive body and residual lava energy to try its best to block and deflect the incoming turbulent energy.

"Splash!" "Splash!"

Lin Yan and Xiao Yi Xian fell into the strange pool water, which was interwoven with pale blue and crimson. The pool water did not cause discomfort; instead, it quickly enveloped them, forming a soft protective film of energy.

"Master! Grab me!" Chi Rong gave a low roar, using its tail to coil around a fixed rock by the side of the pool, while extending a front claw.

Lin Yan grabbed Chi Rong's front claw, while his other hand held Xiao Yi Xian tightly. Chi Rong roared, erupting with all its strength, its three pairs of dim lava wings flapping desperately on its back, carrying the two as it rushed out of the pool water and crashed toward a dome above the "Secret Grotto" that had previously been struck by the power of the "will of the earth vein" and had vaguely cracked!

"Boom!"

The dome rock layer, which was already unstable due to the energy impact, was smashed open by Chi Rong, revealing intricate rock crevices and underground water veins above.

Chi Rong did not care about anything else; relying on its familiarity with the underground environment and its instinct for survival, it frantically shuttled through, fleeing for its life in a direction far away from the remains cavern and the terrifying enemies!

They did not know how long they traveled through the dark and complex underground water veins and rock crevices. It was not until the terrifying pressure and energy fluctuations that made their hearts palpitate could no longer be felt from behind that Chi Rong finally collapsed from exhaustion, falling into a relatively calm and wide underground river.

Lin Yan and Xiao Yi Xian slid off its back and fell into the icy river water. Both were exhausted, gasping for breath. They both had multiple abrasions, their clothes were tattered, and they were in a sorry state, but at least... they had escaped.

The relief of surviving a disaster and the complex emotions regarding the dissipation of the "will of the earth vein" intertwined in their hearts.

Lin Yan opened his palm; the pale, crystal-like "purifying erosion fire seed" lay quietly in his palm, emitting a faint light. The few heavy "ancient soul scale"s were also intact.

"...key... beware... Hun Clan..." The final words of the "will of the earth vein" echoed in his ears.

He raised his head, looking toward the unknown darkness ahead, where the underground river flowed. Chi Rong's wild crashing had long since deviated from their original direction and path. Now, where were they?

The water of the underground river was icy and biting, carrying them toward the unknown distance. Behind them, the aftermath of the terrifying confrontation that had occurred in the deep earth vein might still be echoing. And at the end of the darkness ahead, there vaguely came the scent of moist water vapor, different from the smell of magma and sulfur, and... the long, slow breathing sound of some massive creature?