The azure fluorescence on the ore rock had grown much denser, weaving into a net that spread from beneath the six companions' feet to the end of the passage. Its pulses almost matched the dragon's roar, beat after beat, as though something had dragged the earth's pulse out of its deepest depths.
The soles of Li Xiang's shoes began to burn.
It was no illusion.
The heat stored in the ore rock came from deep within the dragon vein. From the moment the Azure Dragon Soul awakened, dragon vein essence had surged up through the branches, warming the rock strata wherever it passed.
The [Earth Vein Affinity] beneath his feet used that heat as a measuring stick.
The hotter it grew, the closer they were.
On the three-dimensional map, that roaming will of the laws was approaching them along the eastern branch of the dragon vein.
The distance was shrinking.
Three hundred zhang.
Two hundred and fifty zhang.
Two hundred zhang.
It was no longer wandering south one moment and east the next.
Along this stretch, the Azure Dragon Soul's course had become clear. It traveled straight upward along a main vein, taking only one slight turn without changing its overall direction.
It was converging on somewhere.
Li Xiang's heartbeat steadied.
We came the right way.
"The ore rock is heating up."
Tang Hua'an walked behind him to one side, dragging his spear. Its butt scraped a trail of sparks across the ground as he glanced down at his feet.
"Too hot to be normal."
"The dragon vein essence is rising." Li Xiang did not look back. He spoke unhurriedly, each word landing firmly.
"The Azure Dragon Soul is just ahead."
Tang Hua'an lifted his spear tip half an inch off the ground, tightening his five fingers around the shaft.