Returning Fire

"Finally out," Xiao Ming said with a smile, wiping the fine sweat from his forehead.

Although he didn't encounter any special situations during his descent into the magma, the prolonged immersion in the magma still consumed a significant amount of his energy.

"Finally, I can see the world beyond the lava again. I've missed it so much..."

Leaving the monotonous Depths of the Lava, Venerable Tian Huo was somewhat excited. He floated out of his Na Ring and wandered around a few times before speaking with great emotion.

"Xiao Ming, your trip has been exceptionally smooth. When I ventured Depths of the Lava years ago, I encountered quite a few dangerous situations."

"Oh?" Although he knew what was going on, Xiao Ming still pretended to be puzzled.

"Depths of the Lava lives a race of Lizardmen. These Lizardmen are extremely strange; not only are there many powerful individuals, but their numbers are almost endless. Even I, Dou Zun in my prime, perished there because I encountered Dou Zun- level Lizardmen," Yao Tian Huo said slowly.

"Besides an inexhaustible swarm of Lizardmen, I even suspect that something far more terrifying exists in the deepest recesses of the Lava World."

Seeing Yao Tian Huo's solemn expression, Xiao Ming couldn't help but shake his head. The deepest part of the magma was indeed terrifying. It was the location of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's Cave, and also where Zi Yan's unfortunate father, Zhu Kun, was.

To be honest, Zhu Kun was really unlucky. He had come Ying Huanhuan with his daughter to seek an opportunity with Become Emperor, but unexpectedly, Tou She Ancient God, being the sixth son, insisted on keeping him there as a gatekeeper. →

Zi Yan was even more unlucky. As the young Clan Leader of the dignified Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan, she was forced to stay outside and scavenge for "garbage" to eat. She probably hadn't even developed any intelligence at that time.

Thousands of years have passed, and only now has he broken through to the Dou Emperor.

Seeing Xiao Ming Yao Tian Huo Tianhuo assumed he was stunned by his words and reassured him with a smile, "Don't worry, those Lizardmen can't leave the lava. If they leave, their bodies will turn to ashes. Besides, they only live Depths of the Lava, so as long as they don't enter the Lava World again, it won't affect us."

Xiao Ming nodded and smiled, then clenched his fist against the mountain wall. A beam of cold light shot out and finally transformed into a sword, landing in his hand.

"I've been here long enough; it's time for me to leave."

"Xiao Ming, my soul is extremely weak right now and cannot remain here for long. I entrust the task of repairing my soul to you. Please remember, my soul can only sustain itself for a short time, so you must hurry." Venerable Tian Huo turned his gaze to Xiao Ming and said solemnly.

"Please rest assured, Old Mister Yao. After we leave, I will begin preparing the items to restore your soul. If all goes well, they should be ready in three to five days."

Han Feng, this Money-Sending Boy, had brought Xiao Ming many medicinal prescriptions, including several for repairing the soul. Therefore, Yao Tian Huo's soul problem was very simple for Xiao Ming.

Venerable Tian Huo nodded in satisfaction and said slowly, "That's good. If you have any questions while practicing the 'Five Rounds of Fire Departure Method,' you can ask me. Since you've helped me, I naturally won't be stingy with my help."

"In that case, thank you in advance."

Venerable Tian Huo waved his hand. Perhaps due to the long period of time he had been there, his soul had become somewhat ethereal. Seeing this, he sighed, and with a movement, he transformed into a ray of light and entered the Snow White Storage Ring.

Seeing Venerable Tian Huo disappear back into his Na Ring, Xiao Ming glanced up at the deep hole leading to the Heavenly Flame Refining Pagoda, then charged straight up.

Peng!

A whooshing sound came from the air, startling the elder who was guarding the Fire Well.

The two were startled and breathed a sigh of relief when they saw it was Xiao Ming. However, when they realized that Xiao Ming did not have Dou Qi Wings on his back, they couldn't help but gasp.

"So it's Elder Cao and Elder Chen. You two have worked hard." As soon as he stepped out of the cave, Xiao Ming recognized the two elders guarding the entrance and called out their names.

"You've successfully broken through?" The two elders already had a guess in their hearts, and when they saw Xiao Ming slowly nod, they couldn't help but gasp.

Even if they had some expectations, when Xiao Ming actually broke through to the Dou Zong and stood alive in front of them, those expectations were as good as nothing. They were still amazed, after all, Xiao Ming was really too young, only a teenager.

After the two finished their shock, Xiao Ming asked, " In the Underground Lava World, there is no concept of time. We don't know how much time has passed."

"It's been almost a year," an elder replied.

"Almost a year?" Xiao Ming raised an eyebrow in surprise. The time was less than he had imagined. After all, he had actually spent more than a year in the Simulator, and this time he had made a special effort to consolidate his skills. He didn't expect that it would take less time than in the simulation.

However, this is not a big problem.

For Xiao Ming, this was actually a good thing.

However, he has been here for almost a year, and these elders have also been here for almost a year, which has been a bit difficult for them.

Xiao Ming expressed his gratitude to the two elders.

The two elders said there was no need to be so polite. Xiao Ming had refined pills for them before, and besides, they weren't just waiting around; they were also cultivating.

After their conversation, Xiao Ming inquired about Great Elder Su Qian's location.

"Great Elder, he's been very busy with academy affairs these past few days; he should be in his study handling them."

Upon learning the location of the Great Elder, Xiao Ming immediately took his leave.

Soon, Xiao Ming indeed found Great Elder Su Qian in the study.

"Xiao Ming, you've emerged from seclusion?" In the brightly lit study, Su Qian saw Xiao Ming, her hands immediately stopped moving, and a look of joy appeared on her face.

His gaze swept over Xiao Ming, sensing the deep, ocean-like Aura emanating from the latter, and he couldn't help but smile, "Your breakthrough is progressing smoothly, isn't it?"

"That's all thanks to the Fallen Heart Flame of the Inner Academy; otherwise, I don't know how long it would have taken me to break through," Xiao Ming said with a smile as he sat down opposite Su Qian.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, the Fire Gathering Pot appeared in his hand.

"Great Elder, this is the Fallen Heart Flame that was exchanged."

"Oh?" Seeing this, Su Qian took the Fire Gathering Pot and glanced at it. A moment later, when he felt the Heart Flame suddenly rising in his body, a smile appeared on his face. With his current strength, ordinary Heart Flame could not mobilize the Heart Flame in his body. Only a true Heavenly Flames could do it. Obviously, what Xiao Ming gave him was Young Heavenly Flame.

"You took a wild and untamed Mature Heavenly Flame and returned a docile Young Heavenly Flame to the Inner Academy. Now, we're completely even. But you shouldn't have been injured when you extracted the Heavenly Flame Origin, right?"

"Well..." Xiao Ming scratched his head, too lazy to hide it anymore, and said directly, "This Heavenly Flames is actually a new Heavenly Flames that I found Depths of the Lava at the bottom of the tower."