Chapter 386: The Great Competition of the Three Clans

Gurgle! Gurgle!

The lava lake bubbled, its dark red magma casting a bright glow around, radiating an incredible amount of heat that spread outward in waves.

“So hot! So hot!”

After marveling at the lava lake and the central black island, Dongfang Dieyu immediately began fanning herself, unable to bear the heat, sweat streaming down her face: “This place is too hot…”

Given the temperature, it was fortunate that only Spirit Manipulators had come, allowing them to endure slightly. If ordinary people had come, they would have collapsed in no time.

“Calculating the distance… we must already be beneath Stone City…”

Wu Ming, however, had a slight sheen of cold sweat on his forehead: “These three great families actually built their foundation on a volcano? Do they just want to die faster?”

“This is the underground city, the last secret stronghold of the three great families of Stone City…”

Dongfang Ying spoke with a tone of solemnity: “This Lava Tyrant was once a King-tier Spirit Beast. Even though it was severely injured, it still possesses the strength of a peak War Duke. It would be nearly impossible for an ordinary War Duke to subdue it, likely only a King-tier Spirit Manipulator could…”

“Our ancestors, seeing this, placed multiple seals upon it and migrated here, making it the foundation upon which the three great families stand…”

As he spoke, he continued walking forward.

The underground cave was quite vast, and as Wu Ming and the others ventured deeper, they realized that the path they had previously taken was merely a small trail, still some distance away from the true lava lake. The Lava Tyrant’s body was also becoming increasingly massive.

“I see… so they’re using the power of the lava to replenish the Lava Tyrant, accelerating its division?”

As they drew closer, Wu Ming could see golden patterns running across the Tyrant’s black island-like body, and he couldn’t help but shake his head: “These seals are barely sufficient to contain a peak War Duke, but this creature is a Silver-Blooded one…”

The Gold-Blooded were beings capable of transcending great power gaps, challenging opponents far above their rank.

The Silver-Blooded, while below the Gold-Blooded, were still top-tier among their peers!

A Silver-Blooded peak War Duke was practically invincible, save for a Gold-Blooded opponent!

Moreover, this Lava Tyrant had originally been a King-tier beast that had regressed. Ordinary War Dukes, even at their peak, would likely be unable to subdue it.

The three families had yet to cultivate a King-tier Spirit Manipulator, which eventually led to this great calamity.

“Ha ha… Dongfang Ying!”

From the other side of the lava lake, another group of Spirit Manipulators emerged from a cave entrance, their leader clearly also a War Duke, bearing the emblem of the Dantai family.

“Dantai Zhong, you old bastard who just won’t die!”

Dongfang Ying coldly huffed, clearly not on good terms with the other party.

“Ha ha… Long heard that the Dongfang family has produced a genius, is this young friend Suoming?”

Dantai Zhong, however, was unfazed, his gaze only fixed on Wu Ming, scrutinizing him with piercing eyes, making Wu Ming inwardly quite annoyed: “Could it be that among those killed a few days ago, there was a relative of this old man? But since we both bear the surname Dantai, it’s normal that we might be distantly related!”

“This is our clan’s genius, Dongfang Suoming. Unfortunately, Suoming is already serving as a referee and is too busy to personally show Dantai’s younger generation his prowess!”

Dongfang Ying replied coldly.

At this mention, Dantai Zhong’s expression turned slightly sour.

Although their family had also cultivated many young prodigies, a Lieutenant-level before the age of twenty was still a bit too much to ask.

“Alright, alright… Why are you two still so petty?”

A cheerful voice rang out as a third group emerged from a nearby passage: “Our three great families have a long heritage, we should stand united, why quarrel? It only harms our camaraderie!”

The head of the Wuma family was a middle-aged man with a face as firm and unyielding as steel. His words were impartial and dignified, but Wu Ming inwardly scoffed.

If he recalled correctly, among those who had previously attacked him, there were Wuma family Spirit Manipulators.

He immediately labeled the man as a hypocrite, all smiles in front but scheming behind.

“The Dongfang and Dantai families are known for their strict traditions, and although my juniors are somewhat decent, how can they compare to young Suoming’s reputation?”

The head of the Wuma family smiled lightly: “I’m afraid this time we’ll have to settle for last place…”

“Enough idle talk, let’s begin!”

Dongfang Ying gazed at the Lava Tyrant at the center of the lake, a rare shadow of gloom crossing his brow: “Let’s finish this quickly, this place is not safe to linger…”

“Hehe… Elder Dongfang is still as impetuous as ever!”

The head of the Wuma family chuckled, then waved his hand.

Swish!

Behind him, a group of Spirit Manipulators stepped forward, pushing large wheelbarrows to the edge of the lava lake. They opened the big boxes, and with a clatter, countless precious ores were dumped into the lake.

“Hmm? Feng Liu Shuo Jin? Sea Jelly Tian Yin? Aluminum Copper Ore Mother?”

Wu Ming’s eyes gleamed: “All top-grade materials… and they’re just tossing them away like cabbages…”

“Hehe… Wuma, you’ve really gone all out, looks like you’re determined to win this time…”

Beside him, the head of the Dantai family laughed heartily and also waved his hand. Innumerable pink pearls, Blazing Red Steel… various rare materials were poured out as if money meant nothing.

“Awooooo!”

At this sight, Dongfang Ying let out a cold snort. Behind him, Dongfang Kuang and Dongfang Zhan stepped forward. With a roar, a pack of war wolves surged out, each carrying chunks of Nether Cold Iron, Supreme Green Jade, and other rare minerals in their jaws—all of which were casually flung into the lake as well.

Gurgle! Gurgle!

Thousands of precious ores, each glowing with their own unique radiance, fell into the lava lake, creating a few bubbles before being quickly swallowed up.

This scene left the younger generation utterly stunned, unconsciously swallowing hard.

“An investment of nearly ten million spirit coins…”

Wu Ming’s eyes flickered as he roughly estimated the amount invested: “This is to replenish the Lava Tyrant, preparing it for division, right?”

Obviously, this investment was certain to yield massive returns.

Elemental Realm Elite-tier Spirits were worth at least tens of thousands of spirit coins, while Outstanding-tier ones started at hundreds of thousands. Compared to that, this investment was nothing.

Gurgle! Gurgle!

The magma boiled, and tiny ripples flowed toward the central hill.

A stream-like glow swept across the Lava Tyrant’s surface, and then countless gray-white ores began to appear, sparkling with star-like glimmers, numbering at least a thousand.

These were the earliest forms of Earth Element Sprites.

“Begin!”

Dongfang Ying nodded and gave the order: “Our clan has ten competitors and one referee. Go to the volcanic island and collect the Spirits! Suoming, keep an eye on things and don’t let us get the short end of the stick!”

“I understand!”

Wu Ming was silent for a moment, then nodded and stepped to the edge of the lava lake.

Here, three small boats, seemingly carved from black stone, were already ready to depart. Even immersed in lava, they showed no signs of deformation or burning.

“This is the great competition among the three clans?”

Wu Ming boarded the boat, watching the central stone island draw closer, and couldn’t help but think sarcastically: “Each clan sends ten competitors to fight over the Spirit embryos on the Lava Tyrant, and each also sends a referee? Isn’t this just asking for trouble?”

“A… A Ming!”

Dongfang Dieyu edged slightly closer: “I… I’m a bit scared!”

Although she hadn’t known at first, now that she saw that this black island-like place was actually the famous Silver-Blooded Lava Tyrant, who wouldn’t know its reputation?

Thinking about having to fight over it on such a fearsome creature, even Dongfang Ba’s fingers were slightly trembling.

Plop!

The three black stone boats, forming a triangle, docked at the “island’s” edge.

“Go ahead! Good luck to you all!”

According to the rules, referees could only stay on the boats and were not allowed to interfere in the island’s competition unless there was a valid reason. Wu Ming stood at the bow, smiling at Dongfang Dieyu: “Don’t force yourself. If you run into trouble, come back immediately!”

“I understand…”

Dongfang Dieyu took a deep breath and stepped onto the black island, which seemed to be made up of several football fields.

“Wow… Earth Element Sprites, so many!”

As soon as they landed, a young member of the Dongfang family couldn’t help but exclaim.

“Idiot! What’s so special about Earth Element Sprites? Look… those are Elite-tier Rock Golem cubs that are still developing. Catching one is worth tens of thousands of spirit coins!”

“You’re the idiot!”

Dongfang Ba smacked the other’s head hard: “What’s so great about Elite-tier? The most important are the Outstanding-tier Gemstone Golems! Capturing one is like capturing dozens of Elite-tier and hundreds of common ones!!”

“My grandfather has already promised that whoever can hand over more than two Gemstone Golems will definitely be granted one once they reach the Soldier level!”

At this reward, the faces of the other youths immediately flushed red, and they quickly sprang into action.

Although the island formed by the Lava Tyrant was quite large, fierce conflicts quickly arose among the youths of the three great families as they vied for the Elite and Outstanding-tier Spirits.

“Gemstone Golem!”

Dongfang Dieyu’s eyes lit up as she saw a gemstone sprite beginning to form: “Frost Wolf, go!”

“Dream on!”

Beside her, a young member of the Dantai family immediately roared, releasing a Clear Wind Bird from his body, clearly a Soldier-tier Spirit.

“Soldier-tier Spirit Manipulator?”

Dongfang Dieyu immediately retreated, then quickly called out: “Dongfang Ba, hurry over here!”

Although she possessed an Outstanding-tier Frost Wolf, the gap in power classes was insurmountable, so she immediately cried for help.

“Daring to steal our Dongfang family’s treasure!”

Dongfang Ba was furious, roaring, he sent forth his Soldier-tier Ghost Wolf.

“Let those two families clash, we need to collect the Spirits!”

At the edge of the island, the Wuma family’s youths quickly sprang into action under their leader’s command. The leader even laughed heartily, summoning an Outstanding-tier Darkwinged Pegasus, clearly also reaching the Soldier-tier!

“Tsk tsk… No wonder it’s said that the chaotic era is about to begin, with so many Soldier-tier Spirit Manipulator prodigies emerging one after another…”

Wu Ming and the other two Lieutenant-tier Spirit Manipulators watched from the sidelines, unable to intervene unless in an emergency. Seeing the emergence of prodigies from the Dantai and Wuma families, they couldn’t help but exclaim.

As the chaotic era approached, rare geniuses, previously scarce, were now sprouting up like cabbages without a care in the world!