Beast at Bay, Medusa Watches the Show

Deep within the cavern, magma churned as if boiling.

Medusa was the first to land on the shore of the magma, and her brows immediately furrowed.

This place was much cooler than the rumors outside claimed. The fire-element energy in the air looked quite dense, but upon closer inspection, it felt as though someone had already harvested it once, leaving it extremely thin.

Someone had definitely gotten here before them!

Just as she sensed something was wrong, a string of footsteps clattered in behind her.

After landing, Han Feng swept his gaze around, and his brows also tightened.

With a flip of his palm, he forced the Heart-Sea Flame out by half an inch. That wisp of deep-blue flame danced and flickered in his hand.

Before long, Han Feng's expression changed as well.

"The Heavenly Flame isn't here!"

The moment he spoke, the entire cavern began to shake violently, numbing everyone's feet.

Golden patterns bubbled up across the crimson magma surface, densely packed and spreading at incredible speed. They climbed the surrounding rock walls, and within moments, they sealed off the space above everyone's heads, forming a glowing dome!

The Eight Desolations Burning Flame Formation had been activated!

With a thunderous boom, a muffled blast exploded through the cavern.

Scorching heat continuously poured from the cracks in the rocks. The temperature throughout the cavern surged, becoming several times hotter than before.

Medusa and Yun Yun did not dare delay. They immediately spread their battle qi to shield their bodies.

The others also swiftly prepared their defenses.

"Who is plotting behind our backs?!"

Han Feng roared and immediately spread out his soul power, trying to find the person controlling the formation!

By now, everyone had realized that they had fallen into a trap set by someone else!

Yet the instant Han Feng's soul power touched the edge of the formation, it was violently rebounded by an even fiercer, more savage, and more tyrannical force.

His head buzzed at once, golden stars flashing before his eyes as he staggered in dizziness.

This power was far stronger than a Battle Emperor's. They were not even on the same level!

Han Feng instantly understood. This was no unexpected boon from heaven—it was a trap aimed specifically at him!

At that moment, a beam of golden light above the magma lake slowly condensed into the shape of a person.

Meng Chen did not reveal his true body. He merely used the formation to transmit his voice, his tone icy. "Once you step into this formation, you are all prey of the Divine Court."

"The Divine Court?"

Han Feng frowned more deeply, repeatedly turning those two words over in his mind and wondering where they had come from.

Medusa's lips curved faintly, making it impossible to tell whether she was simply enjoying the spectacle or had plans of her own.

"Quit pretending to be mysterious and trying to scare us!"

Han Feng sneered and activated the Heart-Sea Flame once more.

The deep-blue flame shot upward, condensing into a ferocious fire beast that roared as it charged toward the formation overhead. "Break for me!"

The Heart-Sea Flame slammed fiercely into the golden formation patterns, erupting with a boom like muffled thunder!

The entire cavern shook violently. The magma was thrown into waves of fire several yards high, splashing everywhere.

But the formation patterns did not budge in the slightest. Not even a hairline crack appeared!

Meng Chen's voice came again, calm and even. "The Eight Desolations Burning Flame Formation is connected to the underground fire veins. The harder you drive your Heavenly Flame, the more fire energy the formation absorbs, and the stronger it becomes!"

Han Feng's brows drew together. His pupils suddenly shrank, and he hurriedly withdrew the Heart-Sea Flame, forcefully suppressing it.

So this formation was using his Heavenly Flame as fuel, turning around and devouring him instead!

"Let me try!"

Fan Ling could no longer hold back. The blood mist around him abruptly expanded, condensing into a massive blood-red python that lunged at the dome!

But the instant the blood python touched the formation patterns, it began to sizzle. Its crimson color was swallowed by the golden flames as easily as snow falling into fire!

His blood battle qi was nothing but a paper tiger before this formation, shattering at the first touch!

"If this keeps up, all of us will be finished here today!"

Han Feng's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. His teeth ground audibly as his gaze crossed the vast expanse of scorching magma and fixed firmly on the dark passage leading deeper underground.

"Go deeper! Since this formation is rooted in the fire veins, we'll strike directly at their source and destroy its lair!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he was the first to charge into the passage.

The Gold and Silver Elders hurried after him. Fan Ling hesitated for a moment before following as well.

At the entrance to the cavern, Medusa turned to glance at Yun Yun.

Yun Yun was looking at her too.

The two were silent for a moment. Medusa curled her lips. "Your fake lofty attitude looks less annoying here. Want to work together?"

Yun Yun was slightly startled and shook her head. "I came for the Heavenly Flame."

"What a coincidence." Medusa stepped toward the passage, her long hair whipping in the hot wind. "I have my eye on it too. But first, let's drag out that brat pulling the strings behind the scenes. After that, we can each rely on our own abilities to seize the Heavenly Flame. What do you say?"

Yun Yun watched her back and pondered for a moment. She said nothing, but she still stepped forward to follow her.

One after the other, the two quickly disappeared into the darkness of the passage.

At the end of the passage lay a lava hall at the deepest point underground, where the formation had been set.

Meng Chen stood on a stone platform high above, looking down at the churning crimson magma below.

At the center of the magma, four wood-element magic cores formed the base of a formation and slowly revolved. The Earthfire Green Lotus swayed gently, continuously releasing strange energy.

Hai Bodong stood guard beside him, his icy battle qi completely unleashed.

"They're here." Meng Chen's gaze sharpened as he suddenly sensed something.

Han Feng was the first to burst from the passage. The Heart-Sea Flame flared across his body, heating the surrounding air until it turned white and shimmered.

He looked up and immediately spotted Meng Chen standing above.

"It's you?!"

Han Feng was somewhat surprised, but his crafty smile quickly returned. "A brat at the Battle Master level dares set up such an elaborate scheme to plot against me?!"

Meng Chen stood above him. "A Battle Master truly isn't much, but I never intended to fight you personally."

Before his words had even faded, Hai Bodong had already leaped down from the stone platform. His icy battle qi exploded into a mass of ice blades that slashed straight toward Han Feng's head!

"This old man will test the famed Medicine Emperor of the Black-Corner Region and see what you're really made of!"

Han Feng's expression darkened. The Heart-Sea Flame surged upward and collided fiercely with the mass of ice blades in midair.

The instant ice and fire met, a huge cloud of white steam exploded in the air. Before long, the entire lava hall was tightly wrapped in white mist, making everything impossible to see.

Immediately afterward, the Gold and Silver Elders and Fan Ling rushed out of the passage together.

The moment they found their footing, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's massive body pounced from beside the rock wall. It opened its mouth and spat out a huge blast of violet flames, directly sealing off the path before the three of them.

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King then let out another roar, shaking loose stones from the cave walls in a clattering rain!

Just as the scene descended into utter chaos, Medusa and Yun Yun arrived at the entrance to the hall one after the other.

Medusa passed through the chaotic battle and immediately fixed her gaze on the handsome, otherworldly young man in violet robes atop the platform.

She narrowed her beautiful purple eyes slightly, as though staring at prey, and asked him word by word, "Did you arrange this whole trap?"

Meng Chen lowered his head and met the gaze of the Snake-People Tribe's queen. The corners of his lips lifted faintly as he smiled.

The golden patterns of the Eight Desolations Burning Flame Formation lit up section by section beneath his feet, and a layer of pale golden light enveloped his entire body.