Deep within the Tagor Desert.
Following the map, Xiao Yan found the location Hai Bodong had marked.
Sure enough, two Snake-People Dou Wangs stood guard at a concealed cave entrance, their expressions wary.
Fearing that delay might bring complications, Xiao Yan called on Yao Lao to possess him and knocked both Snake-People Dou Wangs unconscious with ghostlike speed.
Only then did he cautiously advance into the cave, one step at a time.
Upon entering, Xiao Yan discovered that it was actually a seemingly bottomless underground shaft.
He followed the shaft toward the earth's core for an unknown distance before finally reaching its end.
There lay an enormous underground lake of magma.
Yao Lao's voice rang out in delighted surprise. "Such dense fire energy! It really does seem possible that there's a Heavenly Flame here!"
Looking at the magma lake, Xiao Yan asked, "Teacher, could the Heavenly Flame be at the bottom of this lake?"
Yao Lao smiled. "Most likely. Heavenly Flames are flames among flames. Without underground magma like this, one could never be nurtured."
Xiao Yan nodded.
"Then let's head down. Teacher, keep watch for an attack from Queen Medusa."
Yao Lao laughed heartily.
"With all my experience out in the world, do you really need to remind me of such a trivial matter?"
As he spoke, bone spirit cold flame erupted in full force, covering Xiao Yan's entire body.
Xiao Yan leaped in and swam toward the bottom of the magma lake.
After swimming for an unknown length of time, Xiao Yan's expression suddenly shifted. "Teacher, something's wrong. Be careful."
Yao Lao's expression sharpened.
Although he was still only a remnant soul, after recuperating for so long, his soul strength had already recovered to the Dou Zong level.
*Even my Dou Zong-level Soul Perception hasn't detected anything unusual