In the pitch-black passageway, Xiao Yan held Qing Lin tightly in her arms as their bodies slid steadily downward along the slope.
Qing Lin held up a Moonlight Stone in her little hand, its soft, faint light spilling outward.
Rather than lighting the way for Xiao Yan, the Moonlight Stone was really there to let Qing Lin see where they were going-Xiao Yan's Soul Power was more than enough to sense the nearby "road conditions."
As Xiao Yan used her Soul Power to survey their surroundings, she also spoke with Apothecary in her mind.
With Qing Lin's special senses helping her as well, she kept advancing along the correct passageway.
As they ventured deeper, Xiao Yan suddenly noticed that the surrounding Fire-Attribute Energy had grown considerably denser.
"We've barely come this far, and the Fire-Attribute Energy is already so dense. If we keep going down... could there really be a Heavenly Flame down here?"
"Qing Lin, if you feel you can't hold on any longer, tell me, understand?" Lowering her head, Xiao Yan spoke solemnly to Qing Lin in her arms.
"Mm." Qing Lin nodded obediently.
Only after seeing that Qing Lin showed no signs of discomfort from the scorching Fire-Attribute Energy around them did Xiao Yan continue deeper.
The farther they went, the more solemn Xiao Yan's expression became. Yet beneath that solemnity lurked a trace of wild delight.
She could feel the circulation pathways of the Flame Mantra within her body automatically drawing her beast flame Dou Qi into rapid circulation.
"We're almost there..."
After they rounded another corner, a red glow appeared at the end of the passageway not far ahead.
Carrying Qing Lin, Xiao Yan swiftly crossed the short remaining stretch and reached the passageway's end.
A fiery-red world of magma unfolded before their eyes...