Green Lotus Core Flame Secured

He rose to his feet and gestured to Su You.

Understanding, Su You stepped forward. With a raise of his hand, a solid cyan whirlwind condensed and blasted fiercely into the sand beneath their feet!

Fine wind blades spun at an extremely high frequency, slicing through the sand and rock to swiftly carve out a sloping passage. Sand and stone sprayed everywhere as the passage extended downward at a visible speed.

Su Zhao led the way, Su You followed close behind to open the passage, and Little Doctor brought up the rear.

The passage sloped downward for over a hundred zhang. The temperature around them grew higher and higher, and the air became increasingly scorching, making even breathing feel hot.

The sand and stone on the walls had turned into dark-red rock layers, warm to the touch.

At last, the end of the passage suddenly opened up.

The three stepped into a vast underground cavern.

The cavern walls were made of rough, dark-red rock, faintly gleaming from the relentless heat. At the edge of the cavern lay a boundless lava lake that stretched beyond sight!

Orange-red lava slowly surged and flowed, bubbling with searing heat and letting out low gurgles.

Scorching waves of heat rushed toward them, baking the entire cavern like a steamer.

Little Doctor could not help raising a fair hand and waving it before her face, trying to disperse the burning heat. "It's so hot here... I never expected such a huge lava lake beneath this desert."

Su Zhao looked around, his gaze sweeping across the marks left on the cavern walls by years of lava erosion. The corners of his lips slowly lifted.

"That's right. This is the place."

The Green Lotus Core Flame was at the bottom of this lava lake.

"Xian'er, step back a little."

Su Zhao turned his head and spoke to Little Doctor.

Little Doctor nodded obediently and retreated several steps, standing beside a protruding rock at the edge of the cavern as she watched Su Zhao's every move.

Su Zhao withdrew his gaze and flicked his hand. A streak of Dou Qi shot fiercely toward the roiling surface of the lava lake.

Splash!

The scorching lava was blasted into sprays, and huge orange-red waves rolled to either side. The lava churned endlessly, but after a moment, the lake surface gradually settled once more.

"What's going on?"

Su Zhao frowned, his gaze sweeping back and forth across the lava lake several times.

"Is the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Snake not home today?"

He had originally thought that if the fourth-tier magical beast, the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Snake, was guarding the lake, he could deal with it while he was at it. Yet he had not even seen its shadow.

Still, that was fine. It saved him the trouble.

"Su You, come with me."

Su Zhao no longer hesitated and gave the order directly.

"Yes, Young Master."

Su You stepped forward in response.

Su Zhao activated the Origin Flame within his body, and a layer of crimson fire instantly covered him from head to toe. Su You came to his side and used his powerful Dou Qi to form a sturdy cyan barrier around them both.

"Xian'er, wait here for a moment. We'll be back soon."

Su Zhao called back to Little Doctor. Then, without hesitation, the two leaped into the churning lava lake!

Orange-red lava surged past them on all sides. Everywhere they looked was a scorching crimson expanse, with almost no visibility at all.

Su Zhao closed his eyes slightly and released his soul perception to its fullest, extending it through the lava like invisible tendrils. Su You guarded him at his side, using Dou Qi to block the lava's heat and pressure. Moving at tremendous speed, he carried Su Zhao effortlessly through the lava.

Su Zhao kept his eyes tightly shut, focusing entirely on sensing what lay ahead.

The Fire Spirit Physique possessed an almost instinctive affinity and sensitivity toward flames. The stronger the flame, the stronger its pull on him.

Within this lava lake, that sensation was like a beacon in the deep sea, clearly guiding him in a direction.

He abruptly opened his eyes and pointed toward the front left. "This way!"

Su You understood at once. He turned sharply and sped toward that direction with Su Zhao.

The deeper they went, the hotter the lava became. Its color gradually shifted from orange-red to brilliant white, then from brilliant white to an unusual shade of green. It was not a cool green, but one that was as warm and lustrous as jade while still radiating scorching heat.

After traveling for a while, Su Zhao's perception suddenly paused. Ahead, a dense green glow shone out from the depths of the lava.

His heart skipped a beat. He signaled Su You to speed up, and soon, a massive green lotus platform came into view.

The green lotus was rooted in the lava, its entire body a vivid, verdant green. Its petals layered upon one another, while its lotus platform was enormous enough for a person to sit cross-legged upon.

At the very center of the platform, a green flame burned quietly. It looked as though it had been cast from colored glass, yet it emitted a terrifying heat that made one's heart tremble.

It was the Green Lotus Core Flame!

Su Zhao's heartbeat quickened for an instant.

The Green Lotus Core Flame, ranked nineteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking—he had finally seen it with his own eyes. He took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart, then took out a jade knife he had prepared long ago from his storage ring and handed it to Su You.

"Su You, go forward and cut off the lotus platform directly with the jade knife. Remember, do not disturb the Green Lotus Core Flame itself. Keep the blade against the base of the platform and cut through it, severing the connection between the entire platform and its roots. As long as the flame seed does not directly sense an attack, it should not erupt."

Su You accepted the jade knife and nodded.

With a flash, he appeared before the lotus. He pressed the jade knife's edge against the section where the very bottom of the lotus platform connected to its roots, then sharply twisted his wrist.

Slice.

A nearly inaudible cutting sound rang out. The jade knife swept across the base of the lotus platform, and the connection was severed at once.

The entire green lotus was cut away intact, yet remarkably, it did not provoke any reaction from the Green Lotus Core Flame.

The green flame continued to burn quietly at the center of the lotus platform, as though nothing had happened.

Su You supported the heavy base of the lotus platform with one hand. With a flash, he returned to Su Zhao's side.

Su Zhao leaned closer and carefully examined the green flame within the platform. The flame seed remained quiet, without the slightest sign of unrest.

Just as expected. So long as they did not directly disturb the flame itself or touch the flame seed, cutting it away together with the lotus platform would not cause the Heavenly Flame to erupt on its own.

Medusa Queen had reached out and grabbed the flame's core directly back then, which was why she had suffered the flame seed's backlash.

A satisfied smile appeared on Su Zhao's face. With a wave of his hand, he stored the entire lotus platform and the Green Lotus Core Flame within his storage ring.

"Good. Let's get out of here quickly. We shouldn't stay long."

Su You nodded and led Su Zhao rapidly upward.

The two hurried back along the path they had taken. Before long, light suddenly appeared ahead. They burst through the surface of the lava lake and returned to the underground cavern.

Little Doctor, who had been waiting anxiously by the shore, hurried over when she saw them fly out of the lake. Her face was full of concern. "How was it? Did you find the Heavenly Flame?"

Su Zhao grinned and patted his storage ring. "It's secured. We shouldn't stay here long. Let's leave first."

Little Doctor's heart filled with joy. She had never expected them to obtain another Heavenly Flame so smoothly.

She nodded heavily, and the three swiftly left the cavern through the passage they had entered from.