With a decision in his heart, the hesitation in Xiao Yan’s eyes slowly faded away. Lowering his head to gaze at the endless sea of magma, a solemn look flashed across his face. He had no clue how deep this underground magma pool was. To penetrate it, one would need extraordinary power, for the scorching temperature and the immense pressure of the magma were not something an ordinary strong cultivator could withstand. It was speculated that at least Battle Sect level strength would be necessary to delve into such a magma pool. If a normal Battle Emperor, especially one lacking formidable Dou Qi, were to descend, their fate would be uncertain. Of course, Xiao Yan was an exception. This place was the birthplace of the Fallen Heart Flame, and as its current master, he could navigate through here with significantly more ease than others.
After standing and contemplating for some time above the sea of magma, Xiao Yan flicked his hand, and once again, the Heavy Black Ruler materialized in his hand. Then, with a flick of his sleeve, the ruler transformed into a dark shadow and shot forth, striking the cliff face ahead with a powerful force, burying itself several feet deep. On the surface of the ruler, Xiao Yan had imprinted a trace of soul mark, which would serve as his beacon. At the bottom of the magma, visibility would be extremely poor; the depth unknown and the magma thick. Furthermore, the area was vast beyond measure. Without a guide, venturing into such a place could make it extremely difficult to return. With his beacon, even if unexpected events arose, Xiao Yan could quickly and accurately find a safe path back to the surface.
Having made these preparations, Xiao Yan felt slightly more assured. Exhaling a breath, the verdant flames from within his body slowly emerged, enveloping him entirely. From a distance, he appeared like a glowing green fire, soaring and burning fiercely.
*Plop!*
As the flames fully encased him, Xiao Yan wasted no more time, leaping in and plunging into the sticky and vast ocean of magma. A series of bubbles popped around him, only to quickly burst open, and the seemingly infinite world of the magma once more returned to a deathly silence. Only the black Heavy Black Ruler high up on the cliff face, faintly radiating a soft glow, seemed to act as a guiding light.
The moment he dove into the magma, the intense heat and crushing pressure assailed him from all sides, as if trying to crush his body. Yet, as the surge of robust Dou Qi flowed from within his body, these external forces quickly dissipated.
Hesitating for a brief moment, Xiao Yan carefully scanned his surroundings. Finding no immediate dangers, he exhaled a sigh of relief before focusing his energy, causing a slender invisible flame to rise gently from his fingertips. The appearance of this flame instantly intensified, becoming more radiant and fervent. Shifting ever so slightly, it pointed towards the depth of the magma and began darting downwards without Xiao Yan’s control!
The sudden turn of events startled him. With a determined glint in his eye, Xiao Yan set after the mysterious flame, following it deeper and faster. Clearly, there must be something from deep within the magma calling out to the Fallen Heart Flame. But then, why did he, Xiao Yan, feel no such connection when he first obtained the flame back then?
Full of doubt but also determination, Xiao Yan’s form became one with the verdant flames, like a fish diving deep into the sea, threading through the thick magma. Before him, that thread of enigmatic flame led the way…
Little was known about this subterranean sea of magma beneath the Inner Academy, except perhaps that it was where the Fallen Heart Flame originated. For what else lay hidden within, even Elder Su Qian knew very little. Back then, after the Heartfall Flame had been sealed within, no one dared enter its resting chamber, save for Xiao Yan who later conquered it. Even Elder Su Qian himself, upon observing the seemingly boundless magma, had turned and departed, wary of the sheer danger posed by this environment despite his own prodigious strength.
No one, thus, possessed any significant knowledge about this subterranean world, leaving it all to be discovered by Xiao Yan himself.
Amidst the never-ending red haze of the magma, a rapidly descending emerald figure stood out vividly. Within the heart of the green flame, Xiao Yan’s face was taut, full of gravity, almost twenty minutes of his descent now past. Yet, that blob of the Fallen Heart Flame kept on plowing further down, showing no sign of ceasing. It heightened his tension, keeping his focus at peak.
As he descended even deeper, the surrounding pressure worsened, pushing even the resilience aided by the Purifying Lotus Flame to its limits. Without it, five-star Battle Emperor strength would have faltered long ago. However, while this extended his endurance, the rate of depletion was unsustainable. Despite having potent fiery energies in the magma, sustaining large-scale consumption remained daunting. Running out of power here, lost and stranded with limited chance to return, was his greatest concern.
A complex thought crossed his mind, and seeing the persistent Heart Flame ahead, Xiao Yan sighed lightly. This adventure, impromptu though it may be, was perilous. Just one wrong step…would lead to a dire end indeed.
Lifting his gaze once more into the expanse of red, a wave of slight panic crept into his heart. The fear stemming not from facing the end of his power but the profound sense of ignorance towards what mysteries awaited in this endless void. Sudden changes often herald doom in such treacherous depths, even for a wielder of the Fallen Hearts.
While pondering his dilemma, the swiftly advancing Fallen Heart Flame abruptly slowed down. Perking up, he grew increasingly cautious, his keen eyes vigilantly surveying around. The surroundings remained a crimson void, suggesting they’ve not quite reached this abyss’s bottom since below them, still churned that dreaded red sludge, dark with hints of foreboding secrets.
Circling his view, Xiao Yan found the surroundings unassuming, perplexing him. Why call it out from here – what secret lurked? Right as doubts swelled, the floating Heart Flame paused and emitted gentle, illuminating sparks toward nearby magma.
This magical display sparked Xiao Yan’s wonder, triggering both curiosity and readiness. If any sudden menace emerged, escape was priority one. Those who conjure such phenomena surely weren’t to be trifled.
Under his tense scrutiny, the Heart Flames spotlighted a portion of molten rock, unveiling an ethereal orb shimmering through the mire. As it took solid shape, Xiao Yan’s stare locked on, unobstructed by transparency revealing…
Shock coursed through Xiao Yan, mouth agape, incredulity washing over. Inside wasn’t anything foreign, but the remains of skeletal remains, bones faintly luminescent. Not those captured his awe, but an enigmatic flame, transparent yet present, familiar as none other than…
Another Heartflame!
Disorientation hit Xiao Yan. How? Another in the same space. Confusion mounting, questions swarming – whose were these mysterious remains?! His brain reeling with bewilderment, a hair-rising heat approached…
In this desolate inferno, another entity was present… Fear prickled his scalp, raw apprehension clenching his spirit.
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