Earth Core Flame Evolution, Six-star Great Dou Master!

Boom!

When the Earth Core Flame had just landed on the Green Lotus Platform, the entire platform suddenly began to tremble violently. Countless pale-green fire serpents gushed out from between the lotus petals and coiled toward the Earth Core Flame like living creatures.

Scorching waves of fire swept outward, and the surrounding magma immediately began to boil and churn, sending waves of heat rolling through the cavern.

However, the fire serpents formed from the Earth Core Flame did not retreat. Instead, they excitedly opened their enormous mouths. The green flames seemed to have been summoned, surging into the serpents' mouths one after another. Every strand of flame they swallowed caused the aura around their bodies to surge.

"Young man, this is..."

Hai Bodong wore a look of astonishment.

"The Earth Core Flame and the Green Lotus Core Flame both belong to Earth Fire. Those pale-green flames should be the ordinary Earth Fire contained within the Green Lotus Platform. The Earth Core Flame is devouring them..."

Lu Yu's expression eased slightly. Relying on his connection with the Earth Core Flame, he could sense its power constantly strengthening, like a flood gathering momentum. Vaguely, it seemed capable of advancing even further!

He was far too familiar with this feeling. When the Earth Core Flame had previously evolved after devouring the Earth Core Jade Marrow, it had felt exactly like this. Now, that subtle feeling of an imminent breakthrough surged into his heart once more.

The Earth Core Flame was going to evolve again!

Rumble!

As the Earth Core Flame continued devouring the Earth Fire within the Green Lotus Platform, the entire Magma Lake began to churn violently. The fire serpent's body gradually swelled, and its scarlet scales were completely covered by interwoven green and red flames.

"Roar—"

Suddenly, a deafening dragon's roar reverberated through the cavern. The fire serpent's body abruptly twisted and transformed. Under the astonished gazes of Lu Yu and Hai Bodong, fierce dragon horns gradually grew from its head, while sharp dragon claws emerged from its slender serpentine body. In the blink of an eye, it had transformed into a mighty Fire Flood Dragon!

Immediately afterward, it threw back its head and roared. Its entire body began to contract and condense, and the imposing Fire Flood Dragon gradually transformed into a green-and-red Fire Lotus. The flames dancing atop its petals were sometimes blood-red and sometimes jade-green, the two colors blending together perfectly.

The Fire Lotus slowly revolved, and every turn drew the surrounding magma into a vortex. Suddenly, it transformed into a streak of light and shot into Lu Yu's body.

Boom!

Violent fire-attributed energy surged through his meridians. Lu Yu grunted, and green-and-red flames burst from every pore across his body. Hai Bodong hurriedly retreated several steps, only to see the young man enveloped in scorching flames as his aura continued rising!

Late-stage Four-star Great Dou Master!

Peak Four-star Great Dou Master!

Five-star Great Dou Master!

In the end, as the flames gradually withdrew, Lu Yu's aura stabilized at the realm of a Six-star Great Dou Master. He slowly opened his eyes, and deep within his pupils, the phantom image of a green-and-red Fire Lotus flickered faintly.

"Young man, are you all right?" Hai Bodong asked anxiously.

Lu Yu smiled faintly, and a cluster of strange green-and-red flames rose from his palm. The flames were extraordinarily nimble, sometimes transforming into a leaping dragon and sometimes condensing into a blooming Fire Lotus. The heat they radiated was several times stronger than before.

"Not only am I fine..." He sensed the surging Dou Qi within his body, excitement flashing in his eyes. "I've actually benefited from this disaster. The Earth Core Flame has successfully evolved."

"It just returned energy to me, allowing me to break through directly to the Six-star Great Dou Master realm."

He turned to look at the Green Lotus Platform, only to see that the originally crystal-clear platform had now become transparent crystal, its surface covered in cobweb-like cracks. With a crisp sound, the entire platform shattered, transforming into crystal dust that filled the sky.

"What a pity..."

Lu Yu sighed softly, then suddenly narrowed his eyes. With a casual sweep of his sleeve, five glowing lotus seeds fell into his palm.

"What are those?" Hai Bodong asked curiously, leaning closer.

"Earth Fire Lotus Seeds. Only one forms every hundred years."

Lu Yu toyed with the lotus seeds in his hand and said regretfully, "There should have been more originally. I imagine the explosion just now destroyed them..."

He looked around and confirmed that nothing had been left behind. Then he nodded toward Hai Bodong. "Old Hai, this place has no value left. Let's go up."

Hai Bodong nodded. The two of them quickly ascended through the passage they had used to come down, soon rushing out.

After they emerged, Hai Bodong waved his hand and withdrew the Ice-element Dou Qi. The Ice Crystals in the passage immediately turned into vapor and dispersed. He then pressed down with his palm, and the entire passage promptly collapsed, buried beneath the sand.

"Old Hai, you're certainly cautious."

A trace of approval flashed through Lu Yu's eyes.

"Hmph. How could I not be cautious in a treasure land capable of giving birth to Heavenly Flames?"

Hai Bodong snorted lightly, his gaze still warily sweeping over the surroundings. Only after confirming that no one was nearby did he relax slightly.

"We gained quite a lot this time." Lu Yu sensed the surging power within his body. The cultivation of a Six-star Great Dou Master filled him with confidence. "Next, we should return to Stone Desert City."

Hai Bodong stroked his beard and said, "I remember you saying that you have people there?"

"Exactly." Lu Yu nodded with a smile, a glint flashing in his eyes. "It's just in time to see how their cultivation is going."

With that, the two of them spread out their figures and sped away through the scorching desert.

Purple Cloud Wings unfolded behind Lu Yu, while a pair of dazzling Ice Crystal Wings spread behind Hai Bodong. Every flap of their wings left a trail of frost in the searing air.

The blazing sun hung high overhead, and the two figures drew purple and blue streaks of light across the golden sea of sand.

Half a day later, the outline of a towering stone city gradually came into view. The mottled city walls gleamed with an ancient bronze luster beneath the sunlight. The three vigorous characters, "Stone Desert City," remained eye-catching despite years of erosion by wind and sand.

Lu Yu abruptly stopped a hundred zhang from the city gate. As his robes fluttered, all the flames around him withdrew. Looking at the flow of people entering and leaving the gate, he said with a smile, "Let's go, Old Hai."

Hai Bodong nodded and followed him.

Not long afterward,

Barren Iron Mercenary Group.

The instant the two of them stepped into the Barren Iron Mercenary Group's headquarters, the guards at the entrance suddenly widened their eyes and shouted excitedly, "Guest Elder Lu is back!"

The shout was like a stone tossed into a calm lake, instantly sending the entire mercenary group into an uproar. However, when Lu Yu stepped into the Inner Academy, the sight before him made his pupils contract sharply—

Xiao Yi Xian leaned weakly against a corridor pillar, her pale face and left shoulder wrapped in bloodstained bandages. Qing Lin's eyes were red as she changed Xiao Yi Xian's dressing.

When the little girl saw Lu Yu enter, tears immediately streamed down her face. "Young Master... it's all Qing Lin's fault..."

"What happened?" Lu Yu's voice instantly turned cold.

Xiao Ding hurried forward and said gravely, "Three days ago, people from the Mo Family tried to forcibly take Qing Lin away. It was all thanks to Miss Xiao Yi Xian risking her life to protect her..."

Xiao Yi Xian forced a smile. "It's nothing. They didn't get off lightly either..." Before she could finish, she began coughing violently, and traces of blood seeped between her fingers.

Green-and-red flames suddenly surged in Lu Yu's eyes, and the temperature around his body rose sharply. Seeing this, Hai Bodong hurriedly set up an Ice Wall to prevent the heat waves from injuring anyone else.

"What an Mo Family..."

Lu Yu's voice was like the icy depths of Jiu You, and every word carried bone-piercing killing intent. He gently grasped Xiao Yi Xian's slender wrist, and the rich energy of the Great Pagoda Art Yang Scroll flowed into her body like spring rain.

"Where are they?"

He asked the question in an exceedingly soft voice, yet everyone present shuddered involuntarily. Cold sweat beaded on Xiao Ding's forehead as he gritted his teeth and said, "Those three old dogs from the Mo Family... Two were seriously wounded, while one suffered light injuries and fled back. Before leaving..."

He clenched his fists, his voice trembling. "The leader said... he said he would gouge out Qing Lin's eyes and soak them in wine. He also said he would refine Miss Xiao Yi Xian into a medicine slave..."

"Crack—"

The Bluestone Slab beneath Lu Yu's feet instantly turned to dust.

"You're courting death!"