Parting Ways

As dawn approached, the grayish-yellow dust haze thinned somewhat.

The rock walls were scorching hot from the Geothermal, so dry they crumbled to the touch. The mine was quiet, save for the occasional low growl of the Many-Treasure Mouse and the deep rumble coming from the direction of the distant volcano. The sound wasn't loud, but it was constant, like something slowly turning over deep underground. The air was filled with the smell of sulfur and burnt rock dust, making your throat feel dry when you breathed it in.

Lu Heng did not sleep.

He remained in a meditative state all night, his mental energy constantly spreading around the mine. The fungal membrane in the cracks remained intact, neither broken nor pushed open from the inside. The Crimson Flame Lizard swarm showed no signs of breaking through. Occasionally, a few hissing sounds came from the direction of the volcano, but they never approached.

He doesn't need sleep; he's constantly sensing his surroundings all night.

As dawn broke, Su Meng stirred, waking from a light sleep. She sat against the rock wall for a while, rubbed her eyes, and found Lu Heng already standing at the edge of the mine, inspecting the Star Blade. The blade gleamed coldly in the gray-white sunlight, appearing heavier than yesterday.

She pushed herself up and walked over. Before she could speak, Lu Heng said something first:

"We need to separate."

Su Meng was taken aback.

"Boss, what did you say?" She frowned, her tone tinged with disbelief. "I was hoping to curry favor with you."

Lu Heng looked at her, his tone flat. "The place I'm going to next is quite dangerous. You can't rely on anyone there. If we encounter danger, I might use you as cannon fodder beforehand."

Su Meng's expression stiffened for a moment.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but Lu Heng didn't give her the chance.

"There are plenty of mineral resources here, it's suitable for you to stay." Lu Heng glanced at the remaining Crimson Rock in the mine, "Those lizards are probably Bronze Tier, as long as they don't go too deep, they should be fine. Think it over yourself."

Su Meng fell silent.

She glanced at the Many-Treasure Mouse crouching on the pile of rubble. The Many-Treasure Mouse's scanning probe was still spinning, and the indicator light on its body showed that it had mined a considerable amount of ore last night. She then looked at the dark red Crimson Rock at the edge of the mine pit; their quality was indeed quite good, enough to keep her busy for a while.

But leaving Lu Heng meant she would have to face the mine alone.

Su Meng's expression was complicated. She bit her lip, her fingers unconsciously clenching the hem of her clothes. She knew Lu Heng was telling the truth—if she followed him to where he was going, she would only be a hindrance. She might be able to handle the Bronze Tier Crimson-Eyed Lizard, but if they encountered something more dangerous, she wouldn't even be able to protect herself.

Staying here ensures at least enough ore for food, and the Crimson-Eyed Lizard population is also under control thanks to Lu Heng, so there shouldn't be any major problems in the short term.

Finally, she sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly.

"Boss, I think I'll stay here." She looked up at Lu Heng, "There's enough ore here for me to eat."

Lu Heng nodded, neither surprised nor trying to dissuade her.

"Alright, let's part ways then." He sheathed his Star Blade. "Be careful."

After saying that, he turned around and continued deeper into the volcano.

Su Meng stood there, watching his figure recede into the distance. The passage between the rock walls was narrow, and his figure was gradually obscured by the grayish-yellow dust, leaving only a blurry outline. She suddenly felt a little empty inside, as if she had become so used to having someone shielding her, and suddenly having to face this unfamiliar mine alone made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.

She took a deep breath and called out from afar:

"Hey buddy, watch out for danger!"

The sound echoed between the dry rock walls, carrying far and wide.

Lu Heng didn't turn around; he simply raised his hand, waved it, and continued walking forward.

The passage narrowed, and the color of the rock walls gradually changed from grayish-white to dark red. The gravel on the ground was warm to the touch, and the smell of sulfur in the air grew stronger, making his throat dry when he breathed. Lu Heng didn't know how long he had been walking or how far he was from the mine; he only felt the temperature rising inexplicably.

He even wondered if they had gotten too close to the crater.

But the surrounding terrain didn't resemble a volcano. The rock walls were flat, and there were no traces of lava flow on the ground. Instead, it looked as if something was continuously radiating high temperatures in front of him. He raised his hand and touched the surface of the rock wall; it was so hot that his fingertips ached. The air was slightly distorted, and the distant scenery looked somewhat deformed.

Lu Heng frowned.

He didn't think much of it for the time being, assuming that the world was on the verge of destruction and that abnormal environments were normal. The Green Demon, the Frost Forest, the alien races he'd encountered before—weren't they all beyond reason? High temperatures were something he could tolerate.

He continued walking forward.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, the rock face suddenly broke apart ahead.

A building came into view.

Lu Heng paused for a moment.

It is magnificent, constructed entirely of fiery red minerals or rocks, with a surface that gleams with a dark red sheen, similar to cooled lava. The building has a tall silhouette, thick walls, and wide doorways, resembling both a Fortress and a temple. There are patterns on the walls that do not appear to be naturally formed, but rather man-made carvings, though they have been blurred by the high temperatures and the passage of time.

The surrounding ground temperature was significantly higher, and even the air seemed slightly distorted.

Patrol personnel were walking around the perimeter of the building.

The men, clad in dark red armor and carrying weapons, patrolled back and forth along the building's exterior. They were taller than the Green Demon and moved with greater precision, resembling more of an organized guard than a disorganized mob.

Lu Heng stood at a distance and observed for a while.

He made no attempt to conceal himself or take a detour. With his Star Blade hanging at his side, he walked directly toward the building.

The patrol officers quickly spotted him.

Several men stopped and stared at him, their hands on their weapons as if trying to identify him. They didn't attack immediately, nor did they shout; they simply watched him approach in silence.

Lu Heng did not stop.

He stepped into the building area, the ground beneath his feet so hot he could feel it even through his boots. The patrolmen made way for him, but remained vigilant, their eyes following him the entire time.

It's hotter inside the building than outside.

There seemed to be a heat source flowing inside the walls, and a dark red light shone through the cracks in the stone, illuminating the entire space in a dim red glow. Ahead was a wide passage, at the end of which was a huge door. The door had no handle or keyhole, and its surface was engraved with intricate patterns, like some kind of seal.

Lu Heng walked to the door and stopped.

He didn't know what was behind the door, but his intuition told him that his target was there.

He raised his hand and placed it on the door.

The door did not respond.

Lu Heng frowned and extended his mental energy to try and sense what was behind the door. But as soon as his mental energy touched the door, it was bounced back by a high temperature, as if the door itself was rejecting the external senses.

The patrolmen behind him remained silent and made no move.

Lu Heng withdrew his hand and glanced at the door.

Looks like we'll have to find a different way to get in.