Volcano Cave

The lava lake was like a golden glass bead set into the very center of a dark-red disk of stone, splendid and dazzling.

Orange-red and golden lava flowed and churned slowly within the lake, occasionally bubbling up in enormous blisters.

Scorching heat waves spread outward in rolling surges from the lava lake. Blocked by the mountain walls, they then shot skyward.

Ning Zhuo and Ning Yong stood atop the mountain wall, their bodies swaying violently under the impact of the upward-rushing heat waves. Though Ning Zhuo had circulated his power to protect his nose and mouth, the heat still singed and curled the ends of his hair.

Ning Zhanji swept his gaze over the rather bedraggled newcomers and calmly ordered, "Give each of them a set of Dharma robes."

His subordinates immediately tossed spare Dharma robes to the two of them.

Ning Zhuo took his and examined it, finding that the full set covered him from head to toe, including a helmet, upper garments, trousers, an outer robe, outer armor, boots, and more.

The robes were covered in numerous talismans, primarily Frost Talismans.

Talisman Treasures. The answer flashed through Ning Zhuo's mind.

Talisman Treasures differed from Dharma artifacts. After being used too many times, they wore themselves away. They were consumable items.

The advantage of Talisman Treasures lay in their cost. Once talismans were inscribed onto certain basic materials, they became Talisman Treasures, and their practical value soared.

The Small Wooden Hammer Ning Zhuo had designed in the underground chamber was a Talisman Treasure. With it, Ning Zhuo could conveniently handle Soot Mud.

These Dharma robes were standard equipment for the Ning clan's cultivator squads. They must have been specially developed as war preparations for the Ning clan's bid for the Magma Immortal Palace.

Once Ning Zhuo and the others put on the full set of Dharma robes, they immediately felt the temperature return to normal, no longer scorching. Even the previously pungent smell of sulfur vanished completely.

Several descending platforms hung along the mountain wall. Each one was guarded by City Guard personnel, both for protection and to collect fees.

Ning Zhanji led the group to one of the platforms and formally set foot in the crater basin from the mountaintop.

Ning Yong stomped excitedly and looked around in every direction, brimming with curiosity.

Excitement and caution also surfaced on Ning Zhuo's face.

Ning Zhanji headed straight for the lava lake at the center.

The cultivator squad of more than fifty people moving together immediately drew the attention of others.

Ning Zhuo's group was not the only one inside the crater. Many teams and lone cultivators were scattered throughout the crater basin.

From time to time, cultivators also made their way down from the top of the mountain wall.

Some used the official descending platforms, but more simply set up their own ropes and climbed down from the mountaintop. Yet with heat waves constantly battering and blowing against them, the descent was generally arduous.

Cultivators who climbed down on their own saved the platform usage fee.

When the City Guards saw these Rogue Cultivators descending, they did not stop them. Their gazes were indifferent, as though they saw nothing at all.

Ning Zhuo gradually approached the lava lake.

Once he drew closer, he discovered that life existed within the lava lake.

Another enormous lava bubble burst, and a red brocade-furred rat rode the thermal current, soaring high into the white smoke overhead to hunt.

If the hunt succeeded, one could see such a red-furred brocade rat clamping a Smoke Cloud Sparrow in its jaws as it plummeted toward the ground.

Because the heat waves constantly rose, greatly weakening the force of its fall, the red-furred brocade rats could drift unsteadily down onto the rocky ground each time without suffering the slightest injury.

Some cultivators specifically waited for these red-furred brocade rats to land after feeding.

The moment they landed, the cultivators would act, using specially made tools to capture them.

Ning Zhuo's heart stirred.

"Fire Velvet Rats possess extremely strong resistance to fire and can swim through lava."

"They live by preying on birds."

"The most valuable thing about Fire Velvet Rats is their fur. Gather several hundred pelts, then refine them through sewing and other methods, and one can create a Velvet Fire-Repelling Robe with excellent results."

At that moment, Ning Zhanji, who was leading the way, stopped.

Before him was one of many cave entrances. Compared to the other caves nearby, it appeared no different.

Yet he was certain. He shouted in a low voice, "This is the one. Prepare to enter."

The cultivators obeyed solemnly.

First, one cultivator formed a hand seal, then thrust both palms forward and released a cloud of frost-white snowy mist.

The snowy mist poured into the cave, and a layer of frost immediately covered the edge of the entrance.

The cold energy flooded downward, provoking a reaction from within the cave and producing a rumbling sound.

The sound grew louder and louder. The next moment, massive amounts of mud erupted from the cave.

The mud shot high into the air, each clump burning with flames like fireworks blossoming.

Ning Zhuo saw clearly that the burning mud was Soot Mud.

Once the mud had finished erupting, Ning Zhanji was the first to leap into the cave.

The other cultivators followed close behind, filing in like fish.

Ning Chen, Ning Yong, Ning Zhuo, and the other newcomers were each led one-on-one by veteran members as they jumped into the entrance.

The moment Ning Zhuo jumped into the cave, he shivered from the surrounding chill.

As he slid downward, the temperature within the passage quickly rose again.

By the latter half, the temperature had become extremely high. While sliding, Ning Zhuo sharply observed the changes in the passage walls beside him.

At first, frost covered every side of the passage. By the latter half, that frost had already melted away completely.

When he finally landed with both feet on solid ground, Ning Zhuo looked up and discovered that he had entered an underground world filled with flames and rocks.

The rocky ground beneath his feet was faintly soft, while the surrounding rock walls were translucent orange-yellow, constantly brimming with surging heat.

Beside him, Ning Yong curiously reached out and tried to touch the rock wall.

In the next instant, one-third of the talismans on his glove melted away, frightening him into snatching back his hand.

Fortunately, a Ning clan cultivator stepped forward afterward, took out a jade bottle, and released ethereal water mist.

The water mist condensed into blue-white ribbons that floated in midair and curled around the group, helping them resist the omnipresent heat.

After arranging for Ning Zhuo and the other newcomers to walk in the middle of the formation, Ning Zhanji led the Ning clan cultivators onward.

After the initial novelty faded, the scenery of the Crimson Flame Demon Lava Cave became monotonous.

Ning Yong kept muttering about when a demon beast would finally show up.

The wariness on Ning Chen's face gradually eased considerably.

Ning Zhuo, meanwhile, secretly marveled at the spiritual energy here. Its density was absolutely the greatest he had ever seen in his life.

"No wonder so many powerful cultivators lived apart from the herd, dwelling alone in perilous places seldom touched by human feet."

"Unfortunately, my current power is Frost Power, while the spiritual energy here is heavily inclined toward fire and mixed with great quantities of fire toxin. It is unsuitable for me."

The underground passages were sometimes broad and sometimes narrow, but their course clearly led downward.

There was more than one passage as well. Ning Zhuo often encountered forks in the road. Yet the Ning clan cultivators were clearly familiar with the route, choosing one path every time without the slightest hesitation.

"Fire Crystal Grass takes root in rock. Its leaves are transparent as glittering gemstones, constantly absorbing geothermal heat and flames, and it can emit firelight."

"Flame Shadow Flowers absorb lava and Baleful Intent. The grass is purplish-black, its leaves as thin as cicada wings. Its body remains motionless, yet its shadow sways like flame."

"Vigorous Ginseng absorbs earth energy and undergoes a qualitative change after one hundred and thirty years. Its ginseng roots are long and fine, possessing a natural ability to burrow through earth."

Along the way, Ning Zhuo saw several kinds of spiritual plants.

As the Ning clan cultivators passed by, they would also divide off some manpower to harvest them.

Ning Zhanji cast Ning Zhuo an almost imperceptible glance, then beckoned to Ning Zhuo and all the other newcomers before testing them. "Do you know why we have to pick all these spiritual plants?"