Lava Trial

On the third day after leaving the Ice Soul Sect, the sulfurous smell in the air grew stronger and stronger. In the distance, the Molten Mountain Range stretched across the horizon like a crimson dragon, with thick smoke erupting from its peaks from time to time.

"Up ahead is Fire Tribe territory." Yun Yi pointed to the red dot marked on the map. "The nearest outpost is at the entrance to Black Stone Gorge."

Ning Xiaochuan wiped the sweat from his forehead. In stark contrast to the Ice Soul Sect's bitter cold, this place was suffocatingly hot. The Sacred Spirit Dragon was restless as well, its scales having lost their usual luster as it occasionally exhaled a small puff of Dragon Breath to cool itself down.

"The Fire Tribe isn't very friendly toward outsiders." Su Linger adjusted the flow of her Profound Ice Power, forming a thin cooling layer over her body. "We need to be careful."

Black Stone Gorge lived up to its name. The cliffs on either side were black as ink, while a slow river of lava flowed along the valley floor. The outpost stood on a protruding rock, guarded by several bare-chested Fire Tribe warriors.

"Stop!" The lead warrior raised a burning spear. "Outsiders are forbidden from entering!"

Ning Xiaochuan stepped forward and took out the fiery red token King Yan Jin had given him. "We have come at the Fire King's request to discuss an urgent matter."

Upon seeing the token, the warrior immediately became respectful. "So you are honored guests. Please follow me. His Majesty the Fire King has been awaiting you for quite some time."

As they followed the warrior through the winding gorge, the temperature climbed ever higher. Ning Xiaochuan's clothes were already drenched through, and Su Linger had no choice but to increase her output of Profound Ice Power. Only the Sacred Spirit Dragon seemed to have adapted somewhat, its scales regaining their shine.

At the end of the gorge, the view suddenly opened up, revealing the Fire Tribe's capital, Flame Capital—a city built along the edge of a volcanic crater. Its buildings were constructed from black basalt, while lava channels flowed beneath the streets, providing light and heat for the entire city.

"Magnificent..." Yun Yi murmured. "It's even more breathtaking than the rumors said."

The warrior proudly puffed out his chest. "Flame Capital is one of the oldest cities on the Open Source Continent. It has never been conquered."

He led the three of them through the bustling streets straight toward the volcanic palace at the city's center. Passersby kept glancing their way, especially pointing at the Sacred Spirit Dragon. Ning Xiaochuan noticed that Fire Tribe members, men and women alike, went bare-armed and bare-chested. Their skin ranged in shades of red, while reddish-brown was the most common hair color.

The palace interior was far cooler than outside, clearly thanks to some special cooling design. King Yan Jin sat upon a throne beside a lava pool, his hair and beard both red, his gaze blazing. The instant he saw Ning Xiaochuan and the others, he rose to greet them.

"Son of Sacred Source!" His voice rumbled like churning magma. "I knew you would come."

Ning Xiaochuan bowed. "Your Majesty expected us?"

Yan Jin pointed toward the palace dome, where an enormous Bronze Mirror hung. It showed two moons—one silver-white, the other blood-red—while the phantom of a third had already become clearly visible.

"Three Moons Shining Together is approaching. The Fire Tribe's Ancient Tome prophesied that the Heart of Molten Lava would awaken then." Yan Jin explained, "I believe that is the Inverse Scales you seek."

Ning Xiaochuan's heart jolted. "Where is the Heart of Molten Lava?"

"At the bottom of the volcano." Yan Jin's expression turned grave. "But the path there has already been occupied by 'it.'"

"It?"

Rather than answering directly, Yan Jin brought them to the observation deck behind the palace. From there, they could overlook the crater. In the middle of the lava lake, a massive, shadowy figure was swimming.

"The Molten Giant Lizard, the Fire Tribe's guardian beast." Yan Jin's voice was low. "But it suddenly went berserk three days ago and killed more than a dozen warriors who tried to approach the bottom of the volcano."

Ning Xiaochuan activated Sacred Source Vision, piercing through the lava to see the creature clearly. It was more than thirty meters long, covered in crimson scales, with spikes along its back and six eyes arranged in a ring around its head.

"It's been contaminated." Ning Xiaochuan noticed a trace of Black Qi in the giant lizard's eyes. "The Void Master's power has already seeped into this place."

Su Linger saw it too. "Just like the residents of Qingyun City, its mind has been controlled."

"We can subdue it." Ning Xiaochuan turned to Yan Jin. "But we need the Fire Tribe's help."

Yan Jin pondered for a moment. "Fire Tribe warriors do not fear sacrifice, but ordinary attacks are ineffective against the giant lizard."

"We don't need to fight it head-on." Ning Xiaochuan explained. "We only need to create an opportunity for us to reach the bottom of the volcano."

The plan was quickly settled. The Fire Tribe would send elite warriors to create a disturbance at the crater and lure the giant lizard away, while Ning Xiaochuan and the other two would take the opportunity to slip into the lava lake and search for a route to the bottom.

"Take these." Yan Jin produced three crimson crystals. "Fire Amulets. They can temporarily withstand the heat of the lava."

Once everything was ready, they arrived at the edge of the crater. Yan Jin personally led twelve Fire Tribe warriors in launching a feint attack from the opposite side. Sure enough, the giant lizard was drawn over, roaring as it swam toward the source of the noise.

"Now!" Ning Xiaochuan activated the Fire Amulet and leaped into the lava lake!

Scorching heat instantly engulfed his body. Even with the Fire Amulet's protection, his skin still burned painfully. Su Linger and the Sacred Spirit Dragon followed close behind as the three of them dove through the viscous lava like fish.

Visibility beneath the lava was nearly zero, and Ning Xiaochuan could only rely on Sacred Source Power to sense the direction. The Sacred Spirit Dragon led the way ahead. Little One seemed remarkably well suited to the lava, its scales flickering with an eerie red light.

After descending roughly a hundred meters, they found a narrow passage ahead leading deeper into the volcano. The three squeezed inside. As they descended further, the Fire Amulets' glow began to flicker—they were running out of time!

At last, the passage opened into a vast underground cavern. At its center lay a small lava pool, and resting quietly at the bottom was a blood-red crystal. Its shape was identical to the Primal Ice Core from the Ice Soul Sect, though its color was completely different.

"The Heart of Molten Lava..." Ning Xiaochuan swam toward the crystal as the Dragon Soul Jade began to resonate.

Just as he was about to touch the crystal, the entire cavern suddenly shook violently! The rock wall above cracked apart, and the giant lizard's head thrust through. Its six eyes fixed tightly upon the three of them!

"It found us!" Su Linger immediately drew the Ice Crystal Longsword, but in the lava environment, its blade began melting rapidly.

The giant lizard opened its bloody maw and unleashed a torrent of blazing breath! Ning Xiaochuan hastily erected the Sacred Source Shield, but the breath was terrifyingly powerful, and cracks instantly appeared across the shield.

"The Fire Amulets are about to fail!" Yun Yi warned anxiously.

The Sacred Spirit Dragon suddenly let out a long cry, its body swelling dramatically as its West Wings spread before the two of them. To their astonishment, its scales had turned completely crimson, blending into the surrounding lava!

"Little One evolved?" Su Linger stared in disbelief.

But Ning Xiaochuan understood. "The resonance between the Inverse Scales! It absorbed the Heart of Molten Lava's energy properties!"

The Sacred Spirit Dragon tangled with the giant lizard and actually held its own. Lava no longer harmed it; instead, it became a source of aid. Enraged by this sudden resistance, the giant lizard attacked even more frantically.

"Now!" Ning Xiaochuan grabbed Su Linger and rushed toward the Heart of Molten Lava.

The crystal was within reach, but even the Fire Amulet could not completely neutralize the heat on its surface. The instant Ning Xiaochuan's hand touched it, his flesh sizzled from the burn!

"Primal Covenant!" Su Linger immediately clasped his hand, pouring in an endless stream of Profound Ice Power.

The two forces melded together and finally counteracted the poisonous heat. The Heart of Molten Lava began to tremble, its rocky outer shell peeling away layer by layer to reveal the core—a fiery crimson scale, similar in shape to the Heart of Ice Seal but thicker and more solid.

"Flame Scale..." Ning Xiaochuan painfully pulled it free. The scale immediately flew toward the Dragon Soul Jade and embedded itself in the reserved slot.

The three Inverse Scales converged within the jade, bursting with an unprecedented radiance! Sensing the energy fluctuation, the giant lizard let out a pained hiss as its body began to collapse—the Black Qi controlling it was being purified!

"Move!" Ning Xiaochuan put away the Dragon Soul Jade. "The cavern is collapsing!"

The three people and one dragon desperately swam back through the passage. Behind them, the giant lizard had regained its senses and was using its massive body to support the rock wall, buying them time.

The instant they burst out of the lava lake, the Fire Amulets failed completely. Ning Xiaochuan felt an intense pain across his back before Fire Tribe warriors sent by Yan Jin pulled him onto safe ground.

"Did you succeed?" Yan Jin asked eagerly.

Ning Xiaochuan nodded and showed him the new crimson markings on the Dragon Soul Jade. "Thanks to your help."

Yan Jin burst into laughter. "The Fire Tribe owes the Sacred Origin Tribe a favor. The giant lizard has regained its senses, and the lava crisis has been resolved!"

That night, the Fire Tribe held a grand celebration banquet. Ning Xiaochuan and the others were treated as honored guests, with wine and delicacies flowing without end. The Sacred Spirit Dragon became the center of attention, freely switching between crimson Dragon Breath and icy blue Dragon Breath, drawing wave after wave of cheers from the Fire Tribe warriors.

After the banquet ended, Ning Xiaochuan went alone to a high place in the palace and gazed at the night sky beneath Three Moons Shining Together. Su Linger quietly appeared beside him, holding two cups of specially brewed Fire Tribe fruit wine.

"What are you thinking about?" She handed him one cup.

Ning Xiaochuan took a small sip. It was sweet with a spicy kick. "We've found three Inverse Scales, but the hardest part still lies ahead."

Su Linger leaned against his shoulder. "We'll face it together."

The Sacred Spirit Dragon flew over as well, affectionately rubbing its face against theirs. Ning Xiaochuan gently stroked Little One's scales and suddenly noticed two small bumps on its forehead—as though horns were about to grow.

"Looks like Little One is growing too." He smiled.

The Dragon Soul Jade against his chest grew faintly warm as the energies of the three Inverse Scales blended in harmony. Ning Xiaochuan could feel that with every Inverse Scale they collected, the bond between him, Su Linger, and the Sacred Spirit Dragon grew closer.

"Where are we going next?" Su Linger asked.

Ning Xiaochuan closed his eyes and sensed the Dragon Soul Jade's guidance. "East... Sky City."