218: Salamander's Fury, Ice Silkworm's Trap

In the central hall of Beyond Heaven, ripples spread across the water mirror. Jun Xiaoyao lightly tapped the armrest of his black iron chair, his gaze shifting between the scenes of Burning Mountain in the Western Regions and Cold Ice Valley in the far north.

In the left water mirror, Qu Feiyan's Crimson Chain Squad had already ventured deep into the belly of Burning Mountain. The heatwaves in the air were almost enough to melt a person, and the red uniforms of the team members were soaked with sweat. Only the fire-repelling beads around their necks emitted a faint coolness, barely resisting the scorching hot air.

"Captain, the crater is just ahead." The burly bearded man pointed to the deep pit ahead, where lava churned. The rocks on the edge of the pit were scorched crimson. "Look at those black rocks, aren't there dragon blood grass growing on them?"

Qu Feiyan narrowed her eyes, activating her Fiery Eye ability. Sure enough, she saw several dark red medicinal herbs growing on some black basalt rocks, their leaf edges streaked with blood. It was indeed dragon blood grass.

However, next to the herbs, a three-zhang-long Fire Lizard was napping on the rocks. Its scales gleamed with a metallic luster in the firelight, and the occasional tongue it flicked out carried sparks. It clearly possessed the aura of an Early Celestial Being Realm.

"This beast's scales are indeed tough." Qu Feiyan pulled a Profound Ice Thorn from her 懷, weighing it in her hand. "I'll use Blazing Fire Palm to lure it away later. You all take the opportunity to pick the dragon blood grass. Remember, the roots must not be broken, and you must use a silver spade to dig it out."

The burly bearded man was a little worried: "Captain, a Heavenly Human Realm Fire Lizard, can your Blazing Fire Palm hold it off?"

"Even if I can't, I have to." Qu Feiyan raised an eyebrow, tucking the fire starter into her waist. "Don't forget, Lord Yang Zhi will arrive shortly. I just need to hold out until he gets here."

With that, she took a deep breath, gathered scorching palm winds in her hands, and slammed them against the rock next to the Fire Lizard.

"Boom!" The rock shattered, and sparks splattered all over the Fire Lizard. Startled awake, the Fire Lizard let out a deafening roar, its crimson eyes locking onto Qu Feiyan. It swung its long tail, sweeping lava towards her.

Qu Feiyan's figure flickered, dodging the lava attack. At the same time, she pushed out with both palms. Her Blazing Fire Palm collided with the Fire Lizard's flames, producing sizzling sounds. She used the force to retreat, deliberately luring the Fire Lizard away from the dragon blood grass: "Big oaf, come chase me!"

In the right water mirror, Miao Ruolan's Ice Soul Squad had run into trouble. They had found the ice marrow flower in the eye of Cold Ice Valley—a blue, ice-crystal-like flower growing in the center of the ice eye, emitting an extremely cold aura, from which the hexagonal patterns on the ice layer were formed. However, surrounding the ice eye, dozens of ice silkworms were spitting silvery-white silk, encasing the ice eye in a cocoon. Each ice silkworm was as thick as an arm, and the leading one was even a zhang long, spitting silk as fast as lightning, clearly a Middle Stage Heavenly Human Realm leader.

"There's something wrong with this silk." A team member wearing a leather hat tried to chop open the silk with an ice axe, but found that as soon as the ice axe touched the silk, it froze, and his arm began to go numb. "My Internal Energy... it seems to be frozen!"

Miao Ruolan's eyes narrowed. An Ice Cold Needle shot out of her hand, aiming for the leading ice silkworm. But as soon as the silver needle approached the silk, it was enveloped by an invisible cold aura, instantly freezing into an ice bead and falling to the ground. "This is the ice silkworms' 'cold silk cocoon,' it can freeze Internal Energy. Ordinary weapons can't break through it at all." She took a warm jade talisman from her embrace and pressed it onto a team member, "First stabilize your Internal Energy, don't let the cold invade your body."

The ice silkworm leader seemed to be enraged, letting out a sharp hiss. Dozens of smaller ice silkworms simultaneously spat silk, and the silvery-white silk, like a large net, covered the Ice Soul Squad.

Jun Xiaoyao, watching these two scenes in front of the water mirror, said to Zhao Gao: "Tell Yang Zhi to speed up; Qu Feiyan is about to collapse over at Burning Mountain. Also, notify Marshal of the Unruly to send a portion of the prepared blazing fire oil to Cold Ice Valley via teleportation array. Miao Ruolan needs it to break the ice silkworms' cold silk."

"Yes, Young Lord." Zhao Gao bowed in response, then handed over a secret report. "The Net has discovered traces of the Western Regions' 'Holy Fire Cult' on the outskirts of Burning Mountain. They also seem to be looking for dragon blood grass. Their leader is a Late Stage Great Grandmaster old monster, rumored to be skilled in 'Heaven Burning Palm,' even harder to deal with than the Fire Lizard."

Jun Xiaoyao's eyebrows slightly raised: "Holy Fire Cult? Last year, they snatched our Beyond Heaven's sulfur mine in the Western Regions; that debt hasn't been settled. Have the Shadow Group set up an ambush on the outskirts of Burning Mountain. If the Holy Fire Cult dares to interfere, give them a lesson."

At this moment, in the left water mirror, Qu Feiyan was gradually weakening. The Fire Lizard's flames grew fiercer and fiercer. Although her Blazing Fire Palm could resist, her Internal Energy consumption was enormous, and cold sweat had appeared on her forehead. Just as the Fire Lizard's giant claw was about to strike her, a green figure suddenly burst out from the side. A ghost-head saber, carrying a heavy and powerful saber momentum, fiercely chopped down on the Fire Lizard's scales!

"Clang!" Sparks flew, but only a white mark was left on the scales. Yang Zhi's voice came: "Captain Qu, I'm here!"

Qu Feiyan breathed a sigh of relief, taking the opportunity to retreat: "Lord Yang, this beast's scales are too hard, Profound Ice Thorns might be able to penetrate its defense!"

Yang Zhi nodded, raising his left hand. Three Profound Ice Thorns shot out, accurately targeting the gaps in the Fire Lizard's scales. The Profound Ice Thorns emitted white smoke upon contact with the heat and indeed pierced in a few points. The Fire Lizard cried out in pain, roaring and turning to attack Yang Zhi. Qu Feiyan took the opportunity to shout to her team members: "Quickly pick the dragon blood grass!"

The team members immediately took out their silver spades and carefully dug up the dragon blood grass. As the burly bearded man just dug up the first plant, he heard the sound of horse hooves behind him—the Holy Fire Cult's forces had arrived. The old monster leading them wore a red robe, and the gem at the top of his scepter glowed red. He was none other than the Late Stage Great Grandmaster leader of the Holy Fire Cult.

"Little brats from Beyond Heaven, how dare you snatch something from the Holy Fire Cult!" The old monster pointed his scepter, and a scorching flame shot towards the burly bearded man. "Leave the dragon blood grass, and we'll spare your lives!"

At this moment, the Shadow Group members ambushing on the periphery suddenly burst out. Five black figures, like ghosts, pounced on the Holy Fire Cult Cultists. The leader of the Shadow Group's palm wind was fierce, aiming directly at the old monster: "Cult Leader, you'd best mind your own business!"

In the right water mirror, Marshal of the Unruly's blazing fire oil had arrived via the teleportation array. Miao Ruolan looked at the oil drum, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes: "Pour the blazing fire oil onto the ice silkworms' silk and ignite it with a fire starter!"

The team members immediately complied, splashing the blazing fire oil onto the cold silk cocoon. Miao Ruolan flicked out the fire starter, and the flames, upon touching the oil, instantly ignited into a raging inferno, crackling loudly even in the extremely Cold Ice Valley. The cold silk, encountering the intense fire, emitted sizzling melting sounds, and soon a gap appeared.

"Now!" Miao Ruolan commanded, holding her ice axe. She was the first to rush through the gap. Her ice axe, carrying a cold aura, precisely dug towards the ice marrow flower in the center of the ice eye. The ice silkworm leader hissed and lunged, but was forced back by the team members using the remaining blazing fire oil. It could only watch helplessly as Miao Ruolan uprooted the ice marrow flower and placed it into a specially made jade box.

"Retreat!" Miao Ruolan ordered. The Ice Soul Squad quickly withdrew from Cold Ice Valley, the angry hissing of the ice silkworms echoing behind them. But with the cold silk cocoon broken, they couldn't possibly catch up to the pace of Treading Snow Without a Trace.

In the left water mirror, Yang Zhi and Qu Feiyan had jointly dealt with the Fire Lizard. Yang Zhi's ghost-head saber, combined with the Profound Ice Thorns, finally broke through the Fire Lizard's scales. Qu Feiyan seized the opportunity to strike a palm onto its wound. The scorching palm wind invaded its body, and the Fire Lizard let out a wail, falling to the ground motionless. Meanwhile, the Shadow Group had also repelled the Holy Fire Cult. The old monster was severely wounded by the Shadow Group leader's palm and fled in disarray with his remaining forces.

"The dragon blood grass is ours!" The burly bearded man shouted excitedly, holding up the jade box containing the herbs.

Qu Feiyan took the jade box, and after confirming its contents, cupped her hands to Yang Zhi: "Thank you, Lord Yang, for arriving in time."

Yang Zhi waved his hand: "It's my duty. This place is not suitable for prolonged stay. The Holy Fire Cult might go fetch reinforcements, so let's quickly return via the teleportation array."

Jun Xiaoyao, watching the two teams successfully obtain their objectives in front of the water mirror, lightly tapped his fingertips on the armrest. With the dragon blood grass and ice marrow flower finally gathered, the recipe for the realm-breaking pill was complete. He said to Zhao Gao: "Have both teams deliver the medicinal ingredients directly to the Pill Refining Room, notify Great Doctor Ping, and prepare to start Alchemy. Also, credit Qu Feiyan and Miao Ruolan with a meritorious deed each, and reward them with a spirit condensing pill."

"Yes, Young Lord." Zhao Gao bowed in response, a hint of joy in his eyes. "With the realm-breaking pill, Beyond Heaven will gain several more Great Grandmasters, and then The Net's strength will increase significantly."

Jun Xiaoyao nodded slightly, gazing out the window. The heatwaves of Burning Mountain and the bitter cold of Cold Ice Valley ultimately could not stop Beyond Heaven's advance.

With the arrival of the dragon blood grass and ice marrow flower, Beyond Heaven's strength was about to undergo a new leap, and the winds and clouds on this continent would become even more unpredictable due to Beyond Heaven's rise.

At this moment, a fluctuation came from the direction of the Pill Refining Room, as Great Doctor Ping had begun preparing the necessary equipment for Alchemy.

Jun Xiaoyao knew that it wouldn't be long before the realm-breaking pill was refined, and Beyond Heaven's path of expansion would become even smoother as a result.

As the Young Lord behind the scenes, he only needed to await the good news, waiting to reap this new batch of resources belonging to Beyond Heaven.