Ruins Passage
"Laugh!"
The dark purple flames, like living beings, enveloped Lin Ming and the core members of the Five Elements Sect with agility and domineering force, transforming into a majestic Purple Flame that fiercely burst forth from the crowd that was still hesitating or struggling to hold on at the entrance of the passage.
Wherever it passed, the scorching heat and the occasional splashes of blue flames were silently annihilated by the New Purple Extreme Annihilation Flame, leaving only a distorted trace in the air, causing a burst of panic and screams. Lin Ming and the others had already rushed straight into the depths of the exceptionally hot and dangerous Fire Passage.
The moment they rushed into the Fire Passage, the severity of the surrounding environment instantly increased several levels.
The temperature was dozens of times higher than outside, as if we were in a giant furnace. The originally white skeletal rock walls around us were now scorched red, and some places even looked like semi-molten glass.
Beneath their feet, the scorching, viscous magma, like a restless red Giant Python, would occasionally bubble and then suddenly erupt streams of molten lava upwards.
Even more terrifying is that these magmas contain countless red-hot, incredibly hard fragments of rock, which, like cannonballs, possess immense destructive power.
If a powerful Dou Qi's protective aura is not strong enough, and these pebbles pierce through it, they will likely be torn apart and their intestines ripped out in an instant, before perishing in the Sea of Fire.
However, this desperate situation, which would have made even Dou Zong expert flustered and terrified, was as easy as walking on flat ground for Lin Ming and his group, who were perfectly protected by the New Purple Extreme Annihilation Flame. There was no difficulty or threat whatsoever.
The dark purple flames seemed to be the king of all flames. Whether it was the crimson magma gushing below or the eerie blue fire pillars suddenly shooting out from the walls of the passage, when they approached the protective shield formed by the New Purple Extreme Annihilation Flame, the violent fire attribute energy contained within would be instantly disintegrated and devoured, transformed into strands of pure energy, which would slightly replenish Lin Ming's consumption.
The absolute restraining effect of the Heavenly Flames on the flame environment was fully demonstrated at this moment.
At this moment, they were not alone in the long and winding Fire Passage. Many powerful individuals from various forces, confident in their strength, were also striving forward.
The various powerful Dou Qi auras enveloped them completely, leaving no gaps.
They were indeed much stronger than the cannon fodder, able to barely withstand the impact of flames and lava as they advanced, but they were clearly not as relaxed and comfortable as Lin Ming and his group.
That Eerie Blue Flame seemed to contain a peculiar power of Law, possessing the strange ability to melt and erode Dou Qi.
In the stalemate with the Dou Qi aura shield, the rate at which Dou Qi was consumed far exceeded many people's expectations, like a flood bursting its banks.
Given this terrifying level of energy consumption, even a High-Rank Dou Zong expert of Five Stars or Six Stars would likely not have enough Dou Qi to reach the end of the Fire Passage.
Many people already showed signs of strain and anxiety, and had to frequently swallow pills to replenish their rapidly depleting Dou Qi.
As these people gritted their teeth and charged forward against the flames and lava, they also caught a glimpse of the Five Elements Sect group, who seemed to be strolling leisurely through the Sea of Fire.
When they saw the seemingly thin yet impenetrable Dark Purple Flame shield surrounding Lin Ming and the others, and the relaxed expressions on their faces inside the shield, their eyes were filled with undisguised astonishment, envy, and even a hint of jealousy.
Lin Ming completely ignored these mixed gazes.
At this moment, Lin Ming's mind stirred slightly, and the dark purple New Purple Extreme Annihilation Flame around him roared even more fiercely, as if it had added a propulsion device to the flame shield, carrying everyone into a swift dark purple stream of light, rushing towards the seemingly endless depths of the Fire Passage.
With the help of the Heavenly Flames's absolute control over and disregard for the flame environment, Lin Ming and his group advanced at a rapid pace, far surpassing those forces that relied on their Dou Qi.
In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, they overtook several of the earlier arrivals, leaving behind those struggling through the flames.
However, even after traveling at such a high speed for quite some time, what lay ahead was still a world of flames interwoven with crimson and eerie blue, winding and twisting, with no end in Fire Passage.
"As expected of a relic left by Dou Sheng Expert, this Fire Passage is so long. It seems some people are about to suffer a great misfortune..." Upon seeing this scene, Elder Di Kong, who was following behind Lin Ming, couldn't help but chuckle, his tone carrying a hint of schadenfreude.
The rest of the Five Elements Sect members, such as Qing Lin and Xiong Zhan, nodded in agreement.
They all clearly sensed that the surrounding blue flames were extremely strange, and their effect on dissolving Dou Qi was astonishing.
Those who try to force their way in simply by relying on their superior Dou Qi are definitely in for a bad time.
Such a long, seemingly endless passage would be impossibly difficult for anyone to traverse, except perhaps Dou Zun expert or someone with special abilities, relying solely on their Fire Passage Dou Qi reserves.
As they anticipated, the very first test upon entering— the Fire Passage —would likely eliminate over 70% of the intruders! This Dou Sheng Ruins was indeed not so easy to enter.
"Hey, aren't those annoying guys from the Profound Nether Sect up ahead?"
Just then, Zi Yan, who had the best eyesight, glanced at the scorching, distorted air ahead of the passage, and suddenly stretched out her small hand, pointing to a certain spot ahead and saying...
Upon hearing this, everyone raised an eyebrow and looked up intently.
Sure enough, about a hundred feet ahead, a large mass of chilling, Profound Nether Sect- specific Dou Qi aura was flickering and moving forward amidst the flames, with the figures of Chen Tiannan and several other elders vaguely visible within it. The Five Elements Sect members had a "deep impression" of that aura.
"Snort!"
Almost the instant the Five Elements Sect members turned their gazes in that direction, Chen Tiannan, who was enveloped in Protective Dou Qi, seemed to keenly sense the aura behind him that he both hated and feared to the core.
At that moment, a cold snort, filled with boundless anger and frustration, came through the flames.
Immediately, Chen Tiannan waved his sleeve, and the Yin Cold Dou Qi enveloping the remaining experts of the Profound Nether Sect suddenly shone brightly. His speed instantly increased dramatically, and as if fleeing for his life, he transformed into a blurry flash of light. In a few blinks, he disappeared around the bend of the winding Fire Passage ahead, quickly escaping Lin Ming and the others' sight.
"This idiot, is he running so fast because he's afraid we'll attack him?"
Seeing this, Xiong Zhan grinned, his large, round eyes filled with disdain and contempt, "What a spineless coward!"
Upon hearing this, the members of the Five Elements Sect exchanged smiles, and the atmosphere became relaxed.
With their current lineup, including the unfathomable Sect Master Lin Ming, the greatly enhanced Qing Lin, and his Peerless Fierce Beast, they have no reason to fear a mere Profound Nether Sect.
If a real fight were to break out, within this Fire Passage, it would be the Profound Nether Sect itself that should be worried about whether it could escape unscathed.
"This Ghost Fire Passage is fucking long! It's so winding and endless! How long will it take to get there?!"
After the laughter subsided, Xiong Zhan looked at the monotonous, crimson rock walls that constantly spewed deathly flames, and the seemingly endless passage. His rugged face showed obvious impatience, and he cursed in a muffled voice.
Hearing Xiong Zhan's complaint, the rest of the Five Elements Sect members, including Elder Di Kong, couldn't help but show a deep sense of impatience on their faces.
Although they were protected by Heavenly Flames and were not in danger, the mental fatigue inevitably accumulated after traveling for a long time in this oppressive, scorching, and monotonous environment.
However, just as everyone nodded in agreement, preparing to continue this seemingly long journey through the Fire Passage, Sect Master Lin Ming, who had been standing with his hands behind his back and his eyes closed, sensing something ever since entering the Fire Passage, suddenly opened his eyes. A hint of understanding and a smile flashed in his eyes.
However, he didn't say much at this moment, but simply waved his sleeve lightly.
The next moment, the Dark Purple Flame shield that enveloped everyone suddenly changed direction. Instead of moving forward along the Fire Passage, it pulled the Five Elements Sect members protected within it, like fish entering water, making a soft "plop" sound, and actively and without hesitation plunged into the churning, boiling, and terrifyingly hot crimson magma next to them!
"Sect Master?!"
This sudden move completely caught everyone off guard, causing everyone in the Five Elements Sect, including Zi Yan and Qing Lin, to jump in surprise and exclaim in shock.
Anyone who witnessed this act of voluntarily jumping into lava would be incredulous at first.
That wasn't ordinary flame; it was scorching magma gushing from the depths of the earth! Even with the protection of the Heavenly Flames, such a direct infiltration was far too risky and inconceivable! However, out of their almost blind and absolute trust and respect for Lin Ming, despite their shock, no one dared to resist or question him.
In an instant, everyone suppressed their instinctive fear, held their minds firmly, and followed the Purple Flame shield, sinking together into that terrifying, crimson, viscous magma capable of melting metal.
As they plunged into the magma, their vision was immediately filled with endless crimson, and their senses were somewhat impaired. But Lin Ming, controlling the New Purple Extreme Annihilation Flame, was like a highly skilled helmsman, steering the "Boat of Flames" and leading everyone down rapidly.
Surprisingly, this seemingly raging magma became unusually "docile" upon contact with the New Purple Extreme Annihilation Flame. The terrifyingly high temperature, enough to Burn Mountains Boil Seas, was perfectly isolated by the Heavenly Flames, and the viscous resistance was also greatly reduced by the characteristics of the Heavenly Flames. Therefore, this descent process was not hindered much, and was actually smoother than traveling through the Fire Passage.
This peculiar stealth continued for about forty breaths...
"Whoosh!"
Everyone heard a faint thud, and suddenly their feet lost their footing, as if they had passed through an invisible barrier, and their bodies involuntarily slid down a short distance.
Immediately afterwards, a solid and cold sensation came from my feet, and I was standing on some kind of hard floor again!
The sudden feeling of solid ground brought everyone back to their senses, and they quickly looked up.
The sight before them instantly filled everyone's faces with utter shock!
They were currently inside the giant stone passage. Dozens of feet above their heads, the crimson magma, like Giant Python, hung there in a huge and complex ring shape, twisting and turning, slowly flowing and emitting a faint light that dimly illuminated this Underground Space.
Through the translucent layer of magma, they could even vaguely see, occasionally, indistinct figures, each shielded by various colored Dou Qi auras, slowly and laboriously moving forward, groping their way through the Fire Passage...
Clearly, the winding, seemingly endless Lava River overhead was the Fire Passage they had previously traversed! Everyone, including those from powerful factions, was circling within that intricate, deliberately long, and meticulously designed ring of Fire Passage!