Preparing for Battle!

With Xiao Yi Xian's current strength, it would be difficult for her to threaten a Fourth-Rank Magical Beast. Xiao Yan could barely contend with it, but there was nowhere to gain leverage in the magma, and he could easily fall into a disadvantage.

"What if we lure it here?" Xiao Yi Xian suddenly said.

"Lure it here?"

"Yes!" Xiao Yi Xian looked around and said, "This place is fairly spacious, but it is still inside a lava cave, so the space is limited. If we can lure it here, first, we can strip away its home-field advantage. Second, we can restrict its movements. Third, we can set traps in advance! That would greatly increase our chances of success."

"But how do we lure it over?"

"Burning Blood!"

"Burning Blood?"

"Yes. Your Burning Blood contains the essence blood of a Third Rank fire-element magical beast. That should be somewhat attractive to the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent." Xiao Yi Xian's eyes gleamed with confidence. She had always followed behind Xiao Yan, making it easy to forget that she was also a girl who had lived in the Magic Beast Mountains for two years.

Especially when it came to setting traps against magical beasts stronger than herself, Xiao Yi Xian was even more skilled than Xiao Yan!

"Alright! But just in case, I'll refine a few magic cores into the Burning Blood as well!" Xiao Yan added.

"Mm. I'll also prepare some medicinal sachets to stimulate its appetite."

At that moment, the two of them seemed to have returned to the days when they hunted powerful magical beasts together in the Magic Beast Mountains.

Inside the lava cave, lit only by a single torch, a black medicinal cauldron nearly two meters tall appeared out of thin air.

The cauldron was entirely black. Its enormous body seemed to suppress the surrounding space with an indescribable force, massive and heavy. As Xiao Yan sent a stream of Dou Qi into it, the flame totem on the Black Demon Cauldron seemed to come alive, rapidly gathering the abundant fire-element energy of heaven and earth within the underground lava cave. A faintly red shell of fire formed around the cauldron, while pale red flames arose within it.

These flames were not Volcanic Rock Flame. They had condensed naturally from the Black Demon Cauldron under the stimulation of Xiao Yan's Dou Qi, and Xiao Yan usually used them to preheat the cauldron and check the Black Demon Cauldron's condition.

As the temperature inside the Black Demon Cauldron gradually rose, the surrounding air became scorching hot.

Seeing that the time was right, Xiao Yan took a deep breath. His hands moved rapidly as he formed seals, and crimson flames wrapped around the prepared Burning Blood and magic cores before surging into the cauldron through its opening.

Once the Burning Blood and magic cores entered the cauldron, they swiftly separated into two portions.

The flames around the magic cores rapidly swelled, and the soaring heat quickly melted them into liquid. It looked as though the process would be complete as soon as the two were fused together.

However, even simple medicinal liquids could not be successfully fused merely by mixing them together. Therefore, Xiao Yan added seven or eight more medicinal ingredients in succession, including White Orchid Lingzhi and Mysterious Jade Ginseng, which possessed harmonizing properties.

Before long, those medicinal ingredients had either turned into medicinal liquids or medicinal powders.

For a time, it seemed as if several stars had appeared inside the cauldron, rolling and flashing with incomparable brilliance.

The Volcanic Rock Flame within the Black Demon Cauldron grew increasingly scorching, causing even the Green Lotus Core Flame ten miles away to tremble faintly.

The medicinal liquids inside the cauldron began to boil with crackling sounds. Xiao Yan's expression became increasingly focused, the seals in his hands shifting without pause. The Dou Qi throughout his body poured into the Black Demon Cauldron like it cost nothing, all of it transforming into Volcanic Rock Flame. The various medicinal liquids and powders within the cauldron were rapidly fused together by Xiao Yan at extremely precise moments and proportions.

Boom!!

Suddenly, the firelight flared brightly. The distant Green Lotus Core Flame trembled even more violently, as though it sensed a threat, and even the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent swimming nearby became somewhat restless.

The cauldron lid flew open, and a blood-red pill carrying a thick bloody stench shot out. It traced a graceful arc through the air, releasing a scent powerful enough to drive all magical beasts mad.

Xiao Yan beckoned with his hand, and the blood-red pill obediently landed in his palm.

He quickly placed the blood-red pill into a medicine bottle and tightly sealed it. Xiao Yan let out a breath of relief, not only because the refinement had succeeded, but also because although the blood-red pill possessed unimaginable allure for magical beasts, it was utterly nauseating to humans.

"The pill is ready?" Xiao Yi Xian's soft lips parted slightly as she gently wiped the sweat on Xiao Yan's forehead with a handkerchief. "You've worked hard. Rest well for a while. We still have to fight the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent later."

"Mm, this is nothing. After all, I'm searching for a Heavenly Flame for myself." Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Yi Xian with some concern. "You're the one who'll have to suffer."

Xiao Yi Xian smiled faintly, unconcerned by what Xiao Yan had said. In her eyes, the two of them should have supported each other from the beginning. There was no need to speak of suffering.

The Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent was a Fourth-Rank Magical Beast, two entire major realms above Xiao Yi Xian. Even with the help of her Woeful Poison Body, it would be difficult for her to pose much of a threat. Moreover, Xiao Yi Xian's frail body would easily become the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent's first target. If Xiao Yan failed to stop it in time, she could very well lose her life.

Thus, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian agreed that Xiao Yi Xian would use her full strength to place deadly poison upon the pill serving as bait.

As long as the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent successfully swallowed it, even a Fourth-Rank Magical Beast would be severely injured by the full-force internal strike of Xiao Yi Xian's Woeful Poison Body, creating an opportunity for Xiao Yan.

After Xiao Yan stepped aside, dark green poison gas immediately surged from Xiao Yi Xian's body.

Xiao Yi Xian pressed her right hand against her left wrist and slashed down forcefully.

Pfft! Seven-colored blood carrying a strange, sweet fragrance spurted from the wound.

"Xiao Yi Xian, you—!" Xiao Yan cried out. Of course he knew what Xiao Yi Xian was doing, but they had never discussed doing this!

It felt as though a blade had stabbed straight into his heart, causing a piercing pain.

This seven-colored blood was Xiao Yi Xian's essence blood! Not only was it immensely poisonous, it could also serve as a vessel for the poison gas throughout Xiao Yi Xian's body, containing extremely powerful force.

But the price was enormous.

The loss of essence blood would not only leave Xiao Yi Xian weak, requiring months or even years to recover. More importantly, losing essence blood would accelerate the loss of control over her Woeful Poison Body!

Xiao Yan was confident that he could complete the Poison Pill Method before Xiao Yi Xian's Woeful Poison Body lost control, but if that time came earlier, it would be hard to say.

But it was clearly too late to stop her now. Xiao Yi Xian had obviously chosen this moment carefully.

When all the poison gas had surged into that drop of seven-colored blood, its original colors had already faded away, and its strange sweet fragrance had completely vanished. Only a drop of colorless, odorless liquid, as transparent as water, remained suspended in the air.

The loss of essence blood and Dou Qi had clearly drained too much of Xiao Yi Xian's strength. Her slender body swayed as though she were about to collapse, and Xiao Yan hurried over to catch her before she fell to the ground.

"You silly girl, why did you have to risk your life just to refine poison?" Xiao Yan reproached her. "Do you know that this hurts me to see?"

Xiao Yi Xian leaned closer into Xiao Yan's embrace. The loss of essence blood made her feel rather cold.

"Alright, I'm fine, aren't I? I've faced even more dangerous situations in the Magic Beast Mountains before. What's there to worry about? Besides, I've already thought of a way to recover." Xiao Yi Xian blinked her playful eyes at Xiao Yan and smiled.

"A way?"

"Mm. I heard that the Fire Lotus Seeds of the Green Lotus Core Flame contain a measure of the Heavenly Flame's power as well as immense vitality. With the wonders of the Fire Lotus Seeds, they can completely make up for my losses and suppress the poison buildup in my Woeful Poison Body. If you really calculate it, I'm actually profiting!"

Indeed, just as Xiao Yi Xian had said, the Fire Lotus Seeds of the Green Lotus Core Flame most likely possessed such effects. Xiao Yan relaxed slightly. "No matter what, you're not allowed to do this again."

"Alright, I know."

Xiao Yan took a deep breath. Everything that needed to be prepared was ready. Next came the time to face the enemy head-on.

He retreated a short distance along the path they had come from, found a suitable recessed spot, and placed Xiao Yi Xian down. "Stay here properly. I'll be back soon."

Knowing that Xiao Yi Xian was cold and weak right now, Xiao Yan took off his own clothes and covered her with them. Although both Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian had spare clothes in their Storage Rings, they certainly would not be as warm as clothes that had just been taken off.

"Mm, be careful. I'll wait for you to come back." Xiao Yi Xian took the initiative to kiss Xiao Yan on the cheek, offering him her blessing.

With the end of Xiao Yan's pill refinement, the Green Lotus Core Flame no longer trembled, and the crimson sea of magma gradually returned to calm.

However, the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent swimming around the Green Lotus Core Flame remained restless. Its two heads constantly looked around, their tongues flicking out with hissing sounds.

It had lived around the Green Lotus Core Flame for hundreds of years and had never encountered such a situation.

The limited intelligence in the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent's mind told it that something extraordinary had definitely happened.

Suddenly, a strange and enticing fragrance drifted over from somewhere, calming the restlessness in its heart and leaving behind only intense longing and hunger.

Could some rare treasure have appeared?

The Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent suddenly recalled the scene from hundreds of years ago when it had first discovered the Green Lotus Core Flame.

Naturally, its tiny serpent brain would not have thoughts such as Could I be the chosen one? But it still possessed the most basic instinct to follow familiar patterns, perhaps even more strongly than humans did!

At the thought of that possibility, both snake heads grew excited. Their four nostrils sniffed lightly. It was to the southwest!

Its enormous body churned up waves across the sea of magma as it rapidly swam southwest.

After only a few miles, the magma gradually became shallower, and rocky land began to emerge.

Without hesitation, it crawled onto the land, leaving the sea of magma it had depended on for hundreds of years, and plunged headfirst into a cave leading toward Xiao Yan's location.

Perhaps this was Xiao Yi Xian's true purpose in using essence blood to refine poison—ensuring that she could lure out the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent!

It crawled continuously through the deep passageway, its hard scales scraping against the cave walls with hissing sounds and grinding rock after rock into fragments.

After advancing another four or five miles, the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent arrived in a relatively spacious lava cave.

At the center of the cave, a blood-red pill lay on the ground, releasing an alluring fragrance.

The Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent's eyes lit up. It hissed excitedly and swallowed the pill together with the soil beneath it.

Although it was somewhat disappointed that there was only such a tiny pill, the enormous energy contained within still left the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent deeply satisfied.

But just as the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent prepared to return to the Green Lotus Core Flame, with its two heads having just entered the passageway, a thin figure rushed out from a corner.

Flame Emperor Armor!

Crimson flames carrying blazing heat rapidly erupted from Xiao Yan's body, forming a suit of armor around him that flowed with magma-like fire.

The fire energy within several hundred meters surged toward Xiao Yan like a violent gale under the enhancement of the Flame Emperor Armor, forming serpents of flame in the air and illuminating the entire lava cave!

The immense power quickly reached Xiao Yan's limit. With a furious roar, Xiao Yan gathered all the energy and poured it into a broad black ruler, forming a gigantic and brilliant flaming ruler. Under the extreme heat, the surrounding rock walls even showed signs of melting once more.

Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler!

The massive, dazzling flaming ruler, carrying the unique searing heat of Volcanic Rock Flame, crashed heavily into the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent's body. Even its tough scales, which had endured the heat of magma year-round, could not withstand the might of a Heavenly Flame combined with an Earth Tier Dou Technique.

The enormous flaming ruler tore through the crimson scales, ripped apart the flesh beneath them, and cleaved deeply into the serpent's bones. Its entire body was nearly split in half by that strike!

Roar!!

Agonizing pain assaulted the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent's mind. The part of its body still outside the passageway writhed and thrashed violently, while pillars of fire shot from the ground and swept wildly in every direction, as though they would collapse the entire lava cave. Xiao Yan had no choice but to retreat and evade, and as he pulled back his ruler, he tore away quite a few ghastly white serpent bones.

Flying rocks and deafening booms echoed through the lava cave. One of the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent's heads forcefully broke free from the confines of the passageway and lifted itself back inside, followed by the other. Fragile stone walls could not restrain such a creature for long.

One snake head looked at the bone-deep wound in its body, while the other stared fixedly at the human who had suddenly appeared.

Damn it, where did this little skinny monkey come from? Looking closely... hm, he isn't strong. He's much weaker than me. Then how does he dare attack me? Eat him!

Confusion, vigilance, rage! Countless emotions flashed through the relatively developed mind of the Fourth-Rank Magical Beast before finally condensing into furious pillars of fire that erupted from both snake heads and shot toward Xiao Yan.

The crimson Flame Emperor Armor could not only enhance the power of Dou Techniques, but also strengthen Xiao Yan's physical abilities.

Xiao Yan fiercely stomped on the ground. Violent fire energy surged beneath his feet, forming a small explosion that produced an effect similar to Explosive Step. It allowed Xiao Yan to narrowly evade the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent's attack like a bolt of lightning and appear on the ceiling of the lava cave.

He kicked off again and dove downward at high speed. Volcanic Rock Flame gathered once more upon the Black-Weight Ruler as he viciously cleaved it into the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent's head.

The massive impact and intense heat tore open the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent's scales again, leaving a deep crack in its skull!

Roar!!

A pained hiss rang out. Joy flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes as he prepared to press his advantage and split the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent's head apart, but its other head immediately spewed out a pillar of fire, engulfing both Xiao Yan and the head beneath his feet.