The Earth Core Refined Lotus, Dou King Wings Formed! (2-in-1 Chapter)

Inside the Ancient Map Shop in Mo City.

Hai Bodong was wiping the counter, his mind clearly elsewhere.

His thoughts kept circling back to that mysterious and terrifying youth.

Suddenly, the shop door was shoved open with a bang.

Lin Chen strode in, bringing with him the scent of windblown sand and scorching heat.

"Found it."

Lin Chen was concise, his gaze as sharp as a blade.

"The Heavenly Flame is beneath the Red Flame Basin, three hundred miles east of the city."

Hai Bodong's hand froze mid-motion.

A flash of incredulous brilliance erupted in his cloudy, aged eyes.

"So fast?!"

"Are you certain?!"

How much time had even passed?

Not even a full day!

"My senses do not err."

Lin Chen's tone was resolute.

"Prepare yourself; we leave immediately."

"Now?"

"But my seal..."

Hai Bodong was a mix of shock, joy, and anxiety.

"It is of no consequence. You need only follow me."

Lin Chen spoke:

"As for the action, leave that to me."

Lin Chen glanced toward the side room:

He had already instructed the two of them to wait for him there before he left.

"Furthermore, let Xiao Yi Xian remain here to look after the shop; this place is relatively safe."

Xiao Yi Xian stepped out from the room.

Though her eyes held a trace of worry, she nodded obediently.

"Mm, be careful."

She knew that with her current abilities, following them would only be a burden.

Lin Chen looked again at Qing Lin, who was timidly peeking out from the doorframe.

He beckoned to her.

Qing Lin immediately trotted over, clutching his sleeve with a look of reliance.

"Hold on tight."

Lin Chen scooped her up.

Then, with his other hand, he gripped Hai Bodong's wrist like an iron vice.

Hai Bodong felt an irresistible force surge through him.

Before he could even react, he was being carried by Lin Chen as they shot into the sky!

"Ah!"

The intense sensation of weightlessness forced a cry from Hai Bodong.

The gale-force winds made it impossible for him to open his eyes.

He barely managed to circulate his Dou Qi to protect his body, his heart churning with monstrous waves of shock!

To think this youth could carry two people and still maintain such a terrifying flight speed!

That pair of dark red wings was certainly no ordinary object!

Guided by his senses, Lin Chen streaked across the boundless sea of sand like a bolt of lightning.

Soon, they arrived at the massive Red Flame Basin, which radiated waves of scorching heat.

In the center of the basin, the heat distorted the air.

The ground was searing hot.

"It should be right beneath this!"

Hai Bodong endured his discomfort and carefully observed the terrain.

He pointed to the side of a sand dune that showed clear signs of collapse.

"There! There used to be an entrance to an underground passage, but it seems to have been buried by shifting sands!"

Lin Chen descended, placing Qing Lin and Hai Bodong at a safe distance.

He walked to the collapsed point, his soul power permeating downward.

Sure enough, he felt a thick layer of rock and sand blocking the way.

Yet deep beneath it, the surging, scorching fire-attribute energy and the throbbing of the Karma Fire Red Lotus were incredibly clear!

"No need to look for an entrance."

Lin Chen's gaze sharpened, his mind shifting!

Hum! Hum!

The phantom images of the Yuantu and Abi twin swords suddenly manifested at his sides.

The intertwining aura of blood-evil and deathly stillness caused the surrounding temperature to drop by several degrees!

"Sever!"

He pressed his fingers together like a blade and pointed forward!

The twin swords let out an excited hum.

They transformed into red and grey beams that tore through the sky.

Entwined, they slammed fiercely into the collapsed ground!

"BOOM!!!"

A heaven-shaking, earth-shattering roar!

It felt as if the entire basin were trembling!

Sand and stone erupted into the sky, as if a sandstorm had been unleashed!

A massive pit, several meters in diameter and bottomless, was forcibly cleaved into the ground!

The edges of the pit were smooth as a mirror, faintly shimmering with the luster of molten glass!

A deep, dark passage, exuding the scorching scent of sulfur, lay exposed before them!

Hai Bodong felt his scalp tingle and drew a sharp breath!

What kind of destructive power was this?!

Forcibly carving out an underground passage?

This was simply unheard of!

"Let's go!"

Lin Chen retracted the twin swords.

He scooped up Qing Lin with one arm and grabbed Hai Bodong with the other.

Without a moment's hesitation, he leaped into the bottomless pit!

During the descent, his Blood Origin Dou Qi automatically formed a protective barrier around him.

It shielded them from the scorching heat and the falling debris.

The passage wound downward, and the temperature grew increasingly intense.

The surrounding rock walls gradually turned a dark red.

They could even see a faint, crimson glow emanating from below!

After descending for an unknown depth, the space ahead suddenly opened up!

A vast, gargantuan underground space appeared before their eyes!

In the center of the space lay a boundless, scorching lake of magma!

The viscous magma flowed and churned slowly like blood.

Massive bubbles constantly rose to the surface and burst.

It radiated a terrifying heat and a pungent smell of sulfur!

The entire space was illuminated in a deep, crimson hue.

The air distorted, and the heat waves were searing!

"It really is here! The Underground Magma World!"

Hai Bodong shouted, both excited and nervous.

"The Heavenly Flame must be somewhere within this magma!"

Just then!

The massive commotion above had alerted the magical beasts within the magma lake:

"ROAR!!!"

The surface of the magma lake below exploded violently!

A colossal creature burst through the molten rock, raising its hideous heads!

It was a giant python composed entirely of fiery red rock and flowing magma!

It possessed two massive heads, and four scarlet snake eyes locked firmly onto the uninvited guests in the air.

It radiated a violent, malevolent aura!

Its energy fluctuations had reached the peak of the Dou Ling realm!

"Double-Headed Fire Spirit Snake! The magical beast guarding the Heavenly Flame!"

Hai Bodong's expression shifted as he exclaimed.

"Be careful! Its strength is immense within this magma..."

Before his voice had even faded, Lin Chen had already moved!

He pushed Qing Lin and Hai Bodong toward a protruding rock platform behind them.

His figure shot toward the Double-Headed Fire Spirit Snake like a falling star!

Both heads of the Fire Spirit Snake opened their giant maws simultaneously.

A scorching pillar of magma and a cloud of toxic smoke capable of melting steel.

They roared toward Lin Chen like two angry dragons!

Lin Chen's eyes were cold; he did not dodge or evade!

He clenched his right fist, and dark red Blood Origin Dou Qi condensed frantically.

His entire fist seemed to transform into a blood-colored sun!

Behind him, the faint phantom of a churning sea of blood flickered and vanished!

"Break!"

He threw out a simple, direct punch!

There was no technique, only overwhelming power!

"BOOM!!!"

The force of his fist collided violently with the magma pillar and the toxic smoke!

Attacks that could easily incinerate a Dou Grandmaster.

Before this punch, imbued with the tyrannical power of the Blood Scripture, they were shattered as easily as paper!

The sky-filling magma and toxic smoke were sent recoiling backward!

The momentum of the punch remained, like a blood-colored meteor.

It slammed heavily into one of the Double-Headed Fire Spirit Snake's heads!

"CRACK, BANG!!"

A teeth-gritting sound of bone shattering erupted!

The incredibly hard fire-rock skull was actually smashed into pieces by Lin Chen's single punch!

Magma-like blood and fragments splattered everywhere!

"HISSS-AOO!!"

The remaining head of the Fire Spirit Snake let out a shrill, agonizing wail.

Its massive body twisted frantically, whipping the magma lake into towering waves!

Its eyes were filled with terror as it tried to dive back into the magma to escape!

But would Lin Chen give it the chance?

His figure moved like lightning, catching up in an instant.

He stomped another foot heavily onto its remaining head!

"BANG!!"

The immense force drove the snake's head into the magma before it bounced back up.

The skull shattered, and the light in the snake's eyes dimmed rapidly.

Only endless pain and dying whimpers remained.

The massive body on the surface of the magma had only enough strength left to twitch.

The entire process was as fast as lightning, a total rout!

In a single exchange, the Double-Headed Fire Spirit Snake, at the peak of the Dou Ling realm and holding the advantage of terrain, was left critically wounded and dying!

Hai Bodong, on the rock platform, had completely turned to stone.

His mouth hung wide open, his jaw nearly hitting the ground.

He knew Lin Chen was strong, but he had never imagined he was strong to this extent!

This is simply a monster!

Lin Chen held the tail of the dying Double-Headed Fire Spirit Snake.

He dragged its massive body onto the rocky platform and threw it in front of Qing Lin.

Qing Lin looked at the terrifying beast before her, her small face turning pale with fright.

She subconsciously took a step back.

"Don't be afraid, it can't hurt you now."

Lin Chen's voice softened:

He had intentionally beaten the Double-Headed Fire Spirit Snake into this state to make it easier for Qing Lin to form a contract.

After all, she was still young, and the contract might be difficult:

"Qing Lin, look into its eyes."

Qing Lin timidly raised her head.

She looked into the snake's only remaining scarlet pupil, which was filled with pain and fear.

Just then, a sudden change occurred!

Deep within Qing Lin's emerald-green eyes, three tiny, subtle dots quietly emerged.

Then, they began to rotate slowly!

A strange power, intangible and formless yet seemingly capable of communicating with the soul, emanated from her eyes and enveloped the Double-Headed Fire Spirit Snake!

The massive body of the Fire Spirit Snake stiffened abruptly.

A trace of struggle flashed through its scarlet pupil.

But it was quickly subdued by that strange ocular power, becoming docile and even... carrying a hint of reverence and dependence?

Its remaining head lowered slightly, emitting a faint "hissing" sound.

It seemed to be expressing its submission.

The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils possessed absolute suppression over serpentine magical beasts!

Especially when the opponent was in a weakened state!

"It succeeded!"

Hai Bodong was shocked once again.

This little girl actually possessed such a talent?!

Lin Chen nodded with satisfaction.

"Very good. Qing Lin, try commanding it in your heart."

Qing Lin closed her eyes to sense it.

She then opened her eyes, her small face filled with wonder and excitement.

"It... it says it is willing to listen to me..."

"From now on, it will be your guardian."

Lin Chen ruffled her hair.

With this Fire Spirit Snake by her side, Qing Lin's safety would have an extra layer of protection.

He did not have the Fire Spirit Snake lead the way.

Instead, he cast his gaze once more toward the churning magma lake.

Within his dantian, the throbbing of the Karma Fire Red Lotus had reached its absolute peak.

It pointed clearly to a specific spot deep within the magma!

"Wait here."

Lin Chen gave the order.

A layer of pure, scorching Red Lotus Karma Fire, carrying an aura capable of incinerating all things, suddenly rose around his body!

The Red Lotus Karma Fire enveloped him completely without causing him any harm.

Instead, it completely isolated him from the terrifying heat of the surroundings!

Like a god of fire, he took a step forward.

He plunged directly into the churning magma!

The viscous, scorching magma felt like warm water to him.

The power of the Karma Fire Red Lotus protected him perfectly.

Furthermore, it was frantically absorbing the surging fire-attribute energy in the surroundings.

He dove downward rapidly, like a fish in water.

Following his senses, he headed straight for the target.

Soon, deep within the magma, he discovered a massive cyan lotus platform!

The lotus platform emitted a lustrous cyan glow, repelling the surrounding magma.

It formed an invisible protective barrier.

At the center of the lotus platform, where the Heavenly Flame should have been nurtured, it was now completely empty!

As expected... it has already been taken...

Lin Chen's gaze sharpened, though he was not overly surprised.

It seemed the information from Queen Medusa was true.

However, his goal was not merely the Heavenly Flame itself!

The Earth Fire-Nurturing Lotus Platform that had birthed the Green Lotus Core Flame, as well as the Earth Fire Lotus Seeds that might remain within the lotus pod, were also supreme treasures containing incomparably pure and vast flame essence!

For the Karma Fire Red Lotus, which required flame essence to repair itself, these were equally potent tonics!

"Refine!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Lin Chen sat cross-legged directly upon the lotus platform!

He channeled the phantom of the Karma Fire Red Lotus within his dantian with all his might!

"Hum!"

Even more surging crimson flames erupted from his body.

In an instant, they enveloped the entire cyan lotus platform!

The power of the Karma Fire Red Lotus was incomparably tyrannical.

It began to frantically scorch, refine, and devour the vast energy contained within the lotus platform itself, as well as the several Earth Fire Lotus Seeds hidden deep within the lotus pod!

The incomparably pure flame essence, as if originating from the very core of the earth, poured into Lin Chen's body like a rushing river.

It was then greedily absorbed by the Karma Fire Red Lotus!

The lotus platform slowly melted and shrank amidst the karma fire.

The lotus seeds were transformed into the purest essence of fire!

The phantom of the Karma Fire Red Lotus became solid and clear at a speed visible to the naked eye!

The scars on its petals seemed to be slowly repairing.

Its color became even more vivid and dripping, and the flame will it emitted grew increasingly terrifying!

As the host, Lin Chen also received tremendous feedback!

While that massive energy repaired the Karma Fire Red Lotus, a portion of it flowed back into his own body.

It scoured his meridians and filled his dantian sea of qi!

The barrier of the nine-star Dou Ling peak, under the impact of this vast energy, melted instantly like snow under the sun!

"BOOM!!!"

A powerful aura erupted violently from within Lin Chen!

It forced the surrounding magma to retreat!

Dou King!

One-star!

The breakthrough was as natural as water flowing into a channel!

But it was not over yet!

The feedback energy remained massive!

His cultivation continued to climb, finally stabilizing at the peak of one-star Dou King!

Lin Chen snapped his eyes open.

Deep within his pupils, two crimson lotus flames seemed to be burning!

He rose to his full height, feeling the terrifying power roaring and surging within his body, far exceeding what he had possessed before!

With a single thought!

"Hum!"

A pair of energy wings, condensed entirely from dark red Dou Qi refined to the extreme, suddenly unfurled from his back!

These wings were different from the previous Purple Cloud Wings.

They were larger, more solid, and incredibly lifelike!

With a wingspan approaching three meters, every single feather appeared as if carved from dark red crystal.

The edges were sharp as blades, and as they fluttered slightly, they no longer produced the sound of wind and thunder.

Instead, they emitted a heart-palpitating roar like a sea of blood, accompanied by the humming vibration of space itself!

They radiated an incomparably powerful, domineering, and bloody pressure!

This was the hallmark exclusive to a Dou King powerhouse—the manifestation of Dou Qi into wings!

Moreover, because he cultivated the supreme technique, the Blood Scripture, the power, speed, and oppressive force of these Dou Qi wings far exceeded those of an ordinary Dou King!

"Success!"

A satisfied arc curled at the corners of Lin Chen's mouth.

He flapped his wings!

BOOM!

His entire body, like a blood-colored meteor, instantly tore through the layers of magma obstruction.

He left behind a long vacuum trail.

With a speed more than ten times faster than when he had descended, he shot straight into the sky!

The surface of the magma lake exploded violently!

A figure enveloped in dark red Dou Qi wings broke through the waves and soared into the air!

He hovered in mid-air, his powerful Dou King aura released without reservation.

Mixed with the lingering might of the Karma Fire Red Lotus that had yet to fully dissipate, it pressed down on the entire underground space, making it tremble as if the pressure were physical!

The surface of the magma lake below was forced into a massive depression by this momentum!

On the rock platform, Hai Bodong felt that terrifying pressure, like a primordial beast awakening.

He stared at those blood-colored wings that seemed capable of blotting out the sky.

And at Lin Chen's young face, which was filled with supreme majesty.

He stood frozen in place, as if struck by a binding spell.

His aged face was filled with shock and horror beyond measure!

"Dou... Dou King?!"

"How long has he even been down there?!"

"And this aura... how could it be so terrifying?! It's even more terrifying than a Dou Emperor?!"

He felt his worldview being repeatedly crushed and reshaped today!

This youth...

Just what kind of sacred being was he?