Green Lotus Core Flame

"The Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake generally grows in extremely hot places. It survives by devouring lava and has enormous potential for evolution. It begins as merely a First Grade Magical Beast, but if it encounters sufficient opportunities, it may evolve into a Sixth Grade Magical Beast capable of rivaling a Dou Emperor." Old Yao's explanatory voice rang out in Xiao Yan's mind.

"Isn't lava just rock melted by high temperatures? Doesn't that mean this snake grew up eating dirt?" Xiao Yan asked, deeply puzzled.

"...That's a difficult question to explain. All I can say is, those who understand will understand. Those who don't, I can't really say much to."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan could only suppress his doubts and take out another Ancestral Return Pill, tossing it to the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake that had emerged.

Though the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake did not understand why this human was acting like such a fool, that did not stop it from catching the Ancestral Return Pill and swallowing it in one gulp.

"Tasty, right? Take me to the Heavenly Flame, and I'll give you this Magical Core. Then bring me back here, and I'll give you ten more pills like that."

The killing intent in the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake's eyes quietly faded by more than half, but it still did not move.

Xiao Yan was in no rush. He simply held the Magical Core and waited quietly for the Fire Spirit Snake's response.

After several dozen breaths, the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake let out a hiss at Xiao Yan, then plunged headfirst into the lava. It raised its enormous head and looked up at Xiao Yan, who stood motionless above, mockery and provocation flashing through its pupils.

Xiao Yan remained calm. He put away the Magical Core, called out "Teacher" in his heart, and jumped in after it.

However, Old Yao gave no response, allowing Xiao Yan to plunge straight into the lava.

"...Teacher, I need your help. I have to show that I possess the strength to suppress this snake."

"I originally wanted you to take advantage of this environment and properly cultivate the Molten Earth Splitting Body, but what you said does make some sense."

Pale white flames surged forth, covering the Purple Crystal layer and making Xiao Yan's aura even more terrifying.

The Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake stared at Xiao Yan for a while. In the end, it did not attack the human who had gained another layer of protection. Instead, it obediently chose to cooperate and dived into the lava.

Undercurrents churned through the Lava World, where fiery-red lava stretched in every direction. From time to time, an extremely violent lava current would erupt from some unknown direction.

Each of those currents was enough to seriously injure a Da Dou Shi. Even a Dou Ling would not have an easy time if struck by one.

Fortunately, the Fire Spirit Snake had lived here for a long time and was extremely familiar with the environment. It could always find the most suitable route to avoid those currents.

As they continued descending toward the bottom of the lava, even with the protection of the Bone Spirit Cold Flame and the Purple Crystal layer, Xiao Yan could feel the temperature outside nearly doubling again and again.

Even under Old Yao's protection, Xiao Yan felt somewhat uneasy. At the same time, he secretly resolved to keep growing stronger—strong enough to soak in lava like it was a bath.

After an unknown amount of time, the originally fiery-red lava around them began to take on a greenish hue, and the temperature surged once more.

After traveling onward for some time, the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake finally stopped. Not far ahead, green light blazed brightly, and a lotus-shaped object entered Xiao Yan's sight.

"Green Lotus Core Flame." Even Old Yao could not help speaking aloud upon seeing the Heavenly Flame with his own eyes.

The Green Lotus Core Flame ranked nineteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. It was born deep within the earth, tempered, fused, compressed, and shaped through countless refinements by the earth's fire.

It gained spirit in ten years, took form in a hundred, and became a lotus in a thousand. At full maturity, it was greenish in color, with a cluster of green flame growing within its lotus heart. It was called the Green Lotus Flame, also known as the Green Lotus Core Flame.

The power of this flame was unfathomable. Near volcanic regions, it could even cause volcanoes to erupt and draw upon the might of nature.

"Hiss..." A sharp sound came from the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake's enormous mouth, carrying both fear and urgency.

Xiao Yan did not hesitate. He took out the Fifth Grade Magical Core and directly tossed it to the snake.

After "appeasing" the Magical Beast, Xiao Yan spread his Purple Crystal Wings and shot toward the area shrouded in green light.

The moment he entered the green radiance, the pressure on Xiao Yan greatly decreased, and he let out a breath of relief.

Xiao Yan greedily stared at the incomparably beautiful Green Lotus before him. He licked his lips and asked, "Teacher, what do we do next?"

"This Green Lotus is a wondrous treasure of heaven and earth. Ordinary iron will melt upon touching it. To cut it apart, you must use an item of pure jade."

After saying that, Old Yao emerged and took more than a dozen high-quality Rouge Jade Bottles from Xiao Yan's Storage Ring. Pale white flames appeared in his palm, melting the small jade bottles into a mass of light-green liquid before solidifying it into a slender Jade Ruler.

After removing all impurities, Old Yao handed the Jade Ruler to Xiao Yan. "Use this Jade Ruler to cut the part where the lotus connects to its stem."

Xiao Yan took the Jade Ruler and stepped forward eagerly. With a light slash across the connection, the entire Green Lotus immediately separated from its stem and fell into Xiao Yan's hands.

"Let's go. Although the Lotus Platform restricts the Green Lotus Core Flame's movement, its terrifying temperature will not change. If you put it into a Storage Ring, everything inside will be burned to ashes."

"Then can I use an empty Storage Ring to hold it?"

"...Do as you please."

Thus, under the protection of the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, Xiao Yan emptied a Storage Ring and used it specifically to store the Green Lotus Core Flame.

After putting away the Green Lotus, Xiao Yan flapped his Purple Crystal Wings again and shot out of the green light. He waved at the Fire Spirit Snake, signaling that it was time to leave.

After returning by the original route, Old Yao withdrew the Bone Spirit Cold Flame. Xiao Yan did not waste any time, taking out ten Ancestral Return Pills and tossing them to the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake.

"Do you want to come with me? I'll give you pills to eat every day."

"Hiss!"

The answer Xiao Yan received was a pillar of lava, which the Purple Crystal layer blocked.

The Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake turned around and plunged both heads into the lava, vanishing without a trace.

"Heh." Xiao Yan shook his head, not taking it too seriously.

After leaving the passage, Xiao Yan discovered that some mercenaries in the distance were already cautiously making their way in this direction.

That was only natural. The Desert Iron Mercenary Group had made such a huge commotion that anyone could have noticed.

Previously, no one had reacted because the Desert Iron Mercenary Group's two Da Dou Shi had been keeping watch there. Now that the Desert Iron Mercenary Group had left, they naturally wanted to find out what treasure here had been worth such a major operation.

Xiao Yan withdrew his gaze, flapped his Purple Crystal Wings, and soared into the sky, leaving the place far behind.

The Green Lotus Core Flame could summon magma. Beneath this place lay magma, so refining the Green Lotus Core Flame here was practically courting death—deliberately making things harder for himself.

Xiao Yan flew for most of the day before finally reaching a desolate Gobi wilderness.

After landing, Xiao Yan found a spot that suited his eye and sat cross-legged to recover his Dou Qi, preparing to refine the Green Lotus Core Flame.

After cultivating for over two hours, Xiao Yan exhaled a breath of turbid air. His Dou Qi had finally fully recovered.

"Have you made up your mind? You've already evolved the Flame Mantra to Xuan Tier Advanced. With your cultivation speed and financial resources, breaking through to Dou Wang is only a matter of a few years. By then, your chances of successfully refining a Heavenly Flame will be even higher."

With the moment at hand, even Old Yao grew nervous.