145: Fiery Prison Yangyuan Cave

After half a day's journey, the soaring wing boat stopped at the foot of a volcano erupting with thick smoke.

This mountain was named 'Burning Heaven Volcano', and the resource point Su Ling was to guard, 'Blazing Prison Yangyuan Grotto', was hidden in a natural grotto halfway up the mountain.

Just as he approached Burning Heaven Volcano, a scorching breath rushed at him, and the air was filled with a strong smell of sulfur, making his nasal passages sting.

Looking up, the air was mixed with wisps of dark red 'Heart-Burning Fire Fiend' in addition to the sulfur smell.

This kind of fire fiend was exceptionally overbearing; if a Cultivator inhaled too much, it would at best cause chaotic mana, and at worst lead to self-immolation, even burning the Meridians.

Hanging the identity token on the bow of the Flying Boat, he passed through the mountain protection Formation and flew straight toward the grotto.

Initially, Su Ling didn't pay much attention to this kind of token, but after killing Cultivators, he hadn't found a single intact token.

All of them turned into powder the moment their owners died.

Only then did Su Ling realize why there were few precedents in the National War of using tokens to trick open defensive Formations.

After the guarding Cultivators verified his identity, Su Ling walked into the grotto, and after a short while, he saw a boiling pool of lava.

Crimson-gold lava rolled on the surface of the pool, and the sparks splashed when bubbles burst could burn small holes in the rocks.

The core resource of this place, 'Yangyuan Crystals', mostly grew in the rock crevices by the lava pool.

The fire-attribute energy of this crystal was three times purer than ordinary fire crystals.

It could not only serve as the core energy source for setting up the 'Heaven Burning Evil Slaying Formation' but also be used to Cultivate fire-attribute Cultivation Techniques, significantly accelerating progress, making it extremely valuable.

Occasionally, 'Fire Marrow Pearls' would also be produced deep within the lava pool.

These pearls contained pure fire essence, which Cultivators could use to temper their Golden Core and expand their mana capacity; they were extremely rare treasures.

But high rewards often came with high risks.

A large number of 'Crimson Flame Demonic Apes' inhabited the lava pool; these Yao Beasts were not only skilled in using lava Spells but could also travel freely through the boiling lava, so ordinary attacks couldn't harm them at all.

The strongest among them had reached the Middle Stage of the fourth rank, and its innate Spell 'Blazing Prison Domain' was even more troublesome.

Once deployed, it could draw in the surrounding Heart-Burning Fire Fiend to form a high-temperature Domain, suppressing the Cultivator's mana circulation and making it difficult for opponents to even cast Spells.

It was said that when this resource point was first conquered, hundreds of Cultivators from the Bitao Faction had perished.

It wasn't until a direct disciple of the Bitao Sect who had been promoted to Nascent Soul took action that it was suppressed.

Because Yangyuan Crystals and Fire Marrow Pearls were highly attractive to Yangquan Sect Cultivators who cultivated yang-attribute Cultivation Techniques...

The two major factions, Bitao and Yangquan, had been fighting intermittently for several years to compete for this resource point.

Although the Bitao Faction eventually succeeded in occupying this place, they didn't dare to let their guard down.

Not only were there three Nascent Soul Cultivators stationed here year-round, but a large-scale defensive Formation covering the entire volcano was also set up.

Firstly, it was to continuously suppress that fourth-rank demonic ape deep in the lava to prevent it from rushing out of the pool and causing trouble.

Secondly, it was to prevent the Yangquan Faction from launching a sudden surprise attack to snatch the resource point.

Standing by the lava pool, Su Ling felt the rampaging fire fiend in the air and the scorching temperature of the lava, and a hint of understanding flashed in his eyes.

The geographical location of this resource point was at the edge of the Bitao Faction's territory, further away from the Yangquan Faction.

The Seven Sects seemed to have intentionally arranged it this way to intensify the conflict between the Yangquan and Bitao Factions.

In the area bordering the Wuyun Sect, there was a resource point named Cold Abyss Profound Ice Spring.

In that cave hidden deep underground, a strange ice spring had been nurtured.

It produced two kinds of spiritual items: Cold Soul Stones and Profound Ice Spiritual Liquid.

For Bitao Sect Cultivators, who had the most water and ice-attribute Cultivation Techniques, its effect was similar to that of Yangyuan Stones and Fire Marrow Pearls for Yangquan Sect Cultivators.

That resource point was near the Wuyun Sect's territory and was occupied by them from the start, and the fighting there was also exceptionally fierce.

He heard that Liu Muyao, who was ranked first in the Bitao Faction, had been there for the past two years.

Spiritual items collected at the resource point must be handed over to the Sect and exchanged for points.

Things like Medicinal Pills and Magic Treasures not produced in the Nether Prison Plane could be purchased with Spirit Stones.

However, Cultivators who captured resource points, assisted in guarding them, or collected spiritual items could buy these items...

...at discounts ranging from 10% to 50%.

The specific discount was determined based on different contributions.

For example, the Cultivators responsible for collecting could only get a 10% discount.

While the Nascent Soul Cultivators responsible for guarding could get a 50% discount.

In short, within the Nether Prison Plane, there were many ways to increase points.

But there were also many ways to consume points.

Therefore, despite many people being promoted to Nascent Soul in ten years, the accumulated points were not that staggering.

The reason was that a lot of points were consumed midway to enhance their strength.

After all, the National War would last for fifty years.

In the end, who could occupy the top ten of the comprehensive rankings and obtain extremely rare Spiritual Artifacts?

Everything remained unknown.

Many Formation nodes were set up inside the cave, and one of them was the task assignment point for this place.

Just as Su Ling walked to the crystal platform where the node was located, he saw a fiery red figure condensing on the platform.

The newcomer had a resolute face, and his robes were embroidered with the wave patterns of the Bitao Sect, while his body was surrounded by dense fire-attribute spiritual Qi.

He was one of the three Nascent Soul Cultivators guarding this place, Zhao Lie, a rare fire-attribute Cultivator of the Bitao Sect.

"Senior Brother Zhao!"

The three Peak Core Formation Cultivators responsible for assigning tasks hurriedly stood up and bowed.

"One thousand miles to the northwest, abnormal fluctuations have appeared..."

Zhao Lie's voice carried the characteristic heartiness of a fire-attribute Cultivator, and as his gaze swept over Su Ling, it held a hint of scrutiny, "Arrange a team to go and check it out."

"Yes, Senior Brother Zhao!"

The person on the left quickly responded, taking out a Magical Artifact used for recording names and flipping through it rapidly.

Zhao Lie shifted his gaze to Su Ling, "The Cultivation Technique you practice is thunder-attribute?"

"Han Yu greets Senior Brother Zhao."

Su Ling was startled, then cupped his hands and replied, "I do indeed practice a thunder-attribute Cultivation Technique."

"Han Yu..."

Zhao Lie was first taken aback, feeling the name was somewhat familiar, then said in surprise, "You are Han Yu?"

"Uh, I am indeed Han Yu."

Su Ling smiled sheepishly.

Every time he said this fake name, he always felt a little bit of mischievous sense of fun in his heart.

"Haha, the famous Azure Thunder Demonic Cultivator!"

Zhao Lie laughed heartily and slapped Su Ling on the shoulder, "I didn't expect that after being silent for half a year, you kid would actually show up here."

The three Core Formation deacons also looked delighted; clearly, they had all heard of the name Azure Thunder Demonic Cultivator.

The arrival of a powerful Cultivator comparable to the Nascent Soul Stage invisibly added more security to the resource point.

How could they not welcome him!

"This..."

Feeling the heavy palm on his shoulder, Su Ling was somewhat speechless.

"Come, come, come, there are a few thunder-attribute Formation nodes that have issues, you kid can just help out."

Zhao Lie pulled Su Ling toward the depths of the cave without allowing any argument.

"Senior Brother Zhao, don't be in such a hurry, I'll go with you right now."

Su Ling awkwardly broke free from the grip before following Zhao Lie.