In the deepest level of the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower, the scene was almost completely different from the upper levels. The searing heat rose in the vast space, making even vision somewhat blurred and surreal. A gentle breath drawn into the body felt as though it were a flame. Fiery red light seeped in from somewhere unknown, illuminating the entire space. In the central area, there was an extremely spacious deep pit. This pit’s entrance was wider than any of the previous levels, and instead of being a bottomless black, it was filled with a faint dark red, like congealed blood.
Outside the pit, a visible energy barrier formed a cylindrical shape, sealing it off. The surface of the barrier was covered with mystical patterns, akin to wavy grooves left by a snake. Moreover, this energy barrier was extremely violent, with waves of powerful energy constantly emanating, and even a low, dull sound of air explosions could be heard faintly.
Not far from the energy barrier, Su Qian sat cross-legged, his eyes half-closed, using his immense Dou Qi to envelop the entire lowest level of the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower. Any subtle fluctuation could not escape his senses.
In the quiet bottom, a sudden, soft sound of liquid flowing was heard, resembling the rolling of lake water. This slight sound instantly made Su Qian’s serious expression change dramatically. His eyes snapped open, and two sharp glances shot toward the central deep pit where the sound originated.
Su Qian stood up in a flash, his figure moving swiftly until he was at the edge of the deep pit. His gaze, sharp as lightning, shot into the depths of the pit. However, after a while, the sound of the liquid flow that had appeared suddenly seemed to have vanished entirely.
Frowning slightly, Su Qian hesitated for a moment before slowly placing his hands on the extremely violent energy barrier. The ferocious energy, capable of easily injuring any Dou Wang, became docile under Su Qian’s touch, like a pet recognizing its master. As he slowly pulled his hands apart, the circular energy barrier also opened, creating a passage large enough for a person to pass through.
With a flash, Su Qian entered the energy barrier, standing firmly at the edge of the deep pit. Instantly, a scorching heat rushed towards him. Even with Su Qian’s strength, he dared not ignore such high temperatures. With a wave of his sleeve, a powerful Dou Qi enveloped his body, blocking out the intense heat.
After completing these defenses, Su Qian’s gaze finally turned to the deep pit. His pupils gradually covered with a faint luminescence, and under this glow, the bottomless deep pit finally revealed a glimpse of something else. It was a sea of lava, but the color of this lava, compared to ordinary lava, was much darker, as if countless drops of blood were mixed within, giving it a strange and eerie hue.
Looking at the distant corner of the lava world, the seriousness on Su Qian’s face grew. Although he knew the true form of the Fallen Heart Flame was hidden within, the extremely harsh environment made even someone of his strength hesitate to venture in. Moreover, there was a lurking, intelligent Fallen Heart Flame, waiting and watching.
Using his enhanced vision, Su Qian could vaguely see a corner of the lava world. The dark red filled his vision, and looking at it for too long, even with his strength, he felt a surge of restlessness. He knew this was the work of the Fallen Heart Flame, a flame that appeared from one’s heart, and was most peculiar.
“Why is there no movement?” The lava world remained as calm as ever, with no signs of disturbance. Yet, just a moment ago, Su Qian had clearly sensed a massive energy flow. In this lifeless underground, who else could possess such a shocking amount of energy besides the Fallen Heart Flame?
His brows furrowed tightly, and with Su Qian’s strength, he knew it was not an illusion. But now…
“Thump!” Suddenly, a faint sound quietly came from the lava world, passing through the long deep pit and reaching Su Qian’s ears. This faint sound, like the beating of a heart, made the listener’s heart jump involuntarily.
His pupils shrank to needle-like size in that instant, and Su Qian was certain something was about to happen in the lava world below. The strange sound from before must have been something unusual!
Though he knew something was happening, Su Qian still did not dare to enter. If something happened to him, and the Fallen Heart Flame suddenly burst, the Inner Academy would be in dire straits.
“Thump!” While Su Qian was pondering, another deeper, louder sound quietly emerged, as if something was about to break free.
Slowly clenching his fists, Su Qian’s expression alternated between dark and light, appearing somewhat gloomy in the reflection of the dark red light.
“Thump!” Another heartbeat-like sound, stronger than before.
“Thump!” Five minutes later, another sound, followed by another three minutes later, and the frequency of the beats increased. Finally, to Su Qian’s shock, the sounds synchronized perfectly with his own heartbeat!
“What is happening…?” he muttered, his face suddenly changing. Staring at the lava world, he saw a fierce and surging energy slowly rising from the depths. As the energy surged, the calmness of the lava world was shattered. A fierce wind arose, causing the lava to surge and form towering waves of fire, which then crashed down, creating a deafening roar like an earthquake!
“This energy…” Feeling the familiar, surging energy, Su Qian’s face turned pale. After years of interaction, he knew this energy belonged to the Fallen Heart Flame.
“What is it doing? Why has its energy suddenly become several times more powerful?” Su Qian muttered, shocked.
“Such a huge increase in energy… what about the seals… their effectiveness…” Suddenly remembering something crucial, Su Qian’s heart chilled. Just as he decided to gather people to reinforce the seals, a loud rumble came from the bottom of the deep pit. Glancing down, he drew a sharp breath.
In the endless lava world, the dark red lava began to churn violently, and an extremely fierce energy spread through it. As the lava boiled, it seemed as if something was about to break free. Moments later, the churning lava suddenly calmed, but Su Qian’s gaze did not relax. He clearly felt the fierce energy getting closer to the surface.
“Splash!” A sudden wave of lava surged, and a nearly transparent, huge fire python, with a head as large as ten feet and a body covered in invisible flames, broke through the lava, bringing with it a massive, space-shaking energy. It appeared in Su Qian’s serious gaze.
“Squeak!” The gigantic, endless fire python, freed from its prison, raised its enormous head and emitted a piercing sound wave, capable of exploding the body of an ordinary Dou Ling. As the sound wave spread, the lava world was like a bomb going off, with low roars, splashing lava, and rampant flames.
After a frenzied release, the enormous fire python, sensing the gaze from above, suddenly raised its head, fixing its triangular, invisible-flame-filled eyes on Su Qian at the edge of the deep pit!
As the transparent fire energy locked onto him, Su Qian felt a chill, as if his entire body had been scanned from inside out. The snake’s eyes locked onto Su Qian, and in an instant, it recognized its old foe. A terrifying energy wave erupted from its massive body, so fierce and powerful that even Su Qian felt a chill.
“Squeak!” Another fierce, sharp sound wave surged, and the fire python slapped the lava, propelling its twenty to thirty-foot-long body like an invisible lightning bolt, carrying searing heat and fierce energy, charging up the deep pit!
“Damn, this beast is about to break the seal!” The fire python’s actions changed Su Qian’s expression. Tapping the edge, he quickly retreated outside the energy barrier, and with a swift motion, the energy around the deep pit’s entrance surged, forming a multicolored energy barrier, sealing it tightly.
As he moved his hand, a thunderous shout echoed from Su Qian’s mouth, resounding throughout the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower and the entire Inner Academy.
“All elders, immediately head to the tower! All students, evacuate within a hundred meters of the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower!”
Hearing the thunderous shout, the entire Inner Academy fell silent.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage