Fire Vein

"Junior brother, look. This Daoist robe was woven from Fire Silkworm silk. It repels water and wards off fire. Wearing it will make things easier for you inside the Fire Vein."

He pointed at the jade bottle and continued:

"These Fire-Resisting Pills are exactly the same as the one I gave you. Take both together when the time comes, and the fire inside the Fire Vein won't burn you."

So that was it. Dragonflame Daoist had not given him that Fire-Resisting Pill on a whim.

As a longtime resident of the Blowing Fire Daoist Arena, he naturally knew all the arrangements following Jiang Yan's acceptance as a disciple inside out. He had been preparing for him in advance.

Touched, Jiang Yan continued asking:

"Senior brother, these Fire-Resisting Pills... since their name speaks of enduring fire, does that mean it will be very painful inside the Fire Vein?"

"Exactly. The Fire Vein contains all kinds of fire-aspect spirit materials and spirit beasts, but what it has most of all is fire that never goes out, all year round."

Dragonflame Daoist cautioned Jiang Yan:

"With your cultivation at the ninth-rank lower realm, even an optimistic estimate would put you at three hours inside. That would already be impressive.

"You mustn't push yourself. In past years, quite a few disciples came out burned, their skin peeling and their bones rotting. Some were even disciples of the Five Lords.

"Cultivation in the ninth rank is a race against time. How could you waste it recovering from injuries?"

Having said this, perhaps afraid Jiang Yan would shrink back, Long Yan continued.

"Of course, you mustn't be afraid of your own shadow either. When it comes to enduring fire, our lineage's Fire-Resisting Pills are the best.

"With two in hand, you can explore without worry. This is a rare opportunity, and you absolutely mustn't miss it. I found my red glaze soul inside the Fire Vein."

Seeing Dragonflame Daoist point at the crimson Glaze Dragon on his robe, Jiang Yan nodded solemnly.

He naturally felt not the slightest fear. When practicing the Ingestion Method back then, he had swallowed fire into his belly and endured it.

Now that it would burn from the outside in, what was there he could not endure?

Jiang Yan rose, went upstairs, and changed into the Daoist robe. This fiery-red robe was no different from those worn by Senior Brother Long Yan, Senior Sister Ying Leng, and the others.

His simply lacked a Glaze Dragon soul. Once dressed, Jiang Yan cast a spell to reflect his appearance.

The youth reflected directly before him had his hair tied in a topknot and wore a flame-colored Daoist robe embroidered with golden-thread cloud patterns.

A small flame was also embroidered in the center of his chest, marking Jiang Yan's current identity as a member of the Fire-Breathing Lineage.

A jade-colored thumb ring gleamed softly on his left hand, and a Three-Legged Golden Toad lay on his shoulder.

Perhaps it was because he had spent a New Year at the Prefecture Academy and grown another year older.

His frame had now filled out, and a little fine stubble had appeared on his chin.

Jiang Yan examined himself carefully from head to toe. Ever since coming to the Prefecture Academy, pressure had kept driving him forward. When had he ever had a moment to stop?

This was his first time looking himself over with a calm mind.

Not bad!

Satisfied, Jiang Yan nodded to himself and strode downstairs.

As though reflected from the flame-colored robe he wore, a confident, high-spirited bearing suddenly suffused him.

Dragonflame Daoist also looked Jiang Yan up and down and nodded in satisfaction.

The flame-colored Daoist robe suits Twelfth Junior Brother so well. He truly has an affinity with our Fire-Breathing Lineage!

Without summoning Red Glaze, Long Yan wrapped Jiang Yan and Jinbao in Law Power and flew toward the Central Main Volcano, where Blowing Fire Daoist lived.

No one received them, nor did anyone stop them.

Only when they passed Blowing Fire High Person's stone hall halfway up the mountain did something like a ripple sweep over their bodies.

After sensing the flame emblem on Jiang Yan's chest, the ripple silently receded.

They reached the summit without obstruction. Blowing Fire High Person's volcano covered an immense area.

The crater alone measured several li across.

Standing at the edge, the two looked down. Boiling magma churned constantly, bubbles occasionally rising and bursting violently, stirring up still greater surges.

A layer of reddish-gold flames covered the magma. At a glance, the entire crater looked like a vast fire pit.

Dragonflame Daoist raised his hand, drew a stone over, and tossed it into the crater.

The moment the stone fell into the magma, it actually caught fire, turning to ash in the blink of an eye.

Jiang Yan frowned at the magma below. With fire this fierce, he feared he would meet the same fate as that stone if he jumped in.

"Junior brother, down you go."

Beside him, Dragonflame Daoist suddenly spoke, pointing at the fire pit below.

"Hm? Senior brother, the Fire Vein is inside this crater?"

"Exactly. Hold those two pills in your hand. Storage Law Artifacts can't be used inside the Fire Vein."

Jiang Yan did as instructed. All smiles, Dragonflame Daoist pointed at the fire pit and urged him on.

"Why aren't you hurrying, junior brother? Don't be afraid, don't be afraid."

Jiang Yan looked at the fire pit before him. It certainly made sense for the Fire Vein to have a volcano as its entrance.

Gritting his teeth, Jiang Yan leaped down.

Behind him, Dragonflame Daoist was still smiling, as though he saw his former self.

"Junior brother, remember to take the pills once you're inside!"

There was little sensation of weightlessness. Instead, rolling waves of heat kept Jiang Yan from opening his eyes, and every inch of his skin burned fiercely.

Hearing Dragonflame Daoist's reminder behind him, Jiang Yan had yet to reply when he plunged into the magma in the fire pit.

With Law Power protecting his entire body, Jiang Yan did not sink into the magma as he had expected. He merely felt as though he had passed through something.

His surroundings abruptly changed. The crater became a stretch of rugged, convoluted hills.

Everywhere he could see, raging flames burned, blanketing heaven and earth.

So this is the Fire Vein?

Jiang Yan understood now. Clearly, the true Fire Vein Entrance might have been set just above the layer of magma. He had no idea whose twisted sense of humor was responsible.

Still, his current situation was not necessarily much better.

Under the flames' constant assault, the Law Power surrounding Jiang Yan was being consumed at an extremely rapid rate.

Sensing how quickly it was draining, Jiang Yan frowned.

Even though his Law Power far exceeded that of an ordinary ninth-rank lower realm cultivator, he could not keep his whole body protected for long.

Even if he held Spirit Stones and absorbed them as he walked, he estimated he could last two hours at most.

After some thought, he withdrew the Law Power from his left hand and let the flames burn it.

A fierce, searing pain struck. He could endure it, but searching everywhere for spirit materials like this was out of the question.

Fortunately, after Jiang Yan tipped his head back and swallowed a Fire-Resisting Pill, the pain lessened considerably.

As for the other Fire-Resisting Pill, he left it untaken for now.

The golden copper skin and darksteel tiegu developed through the Guiding Method were far stronger than an ordinary Daoist's bronze skin and iron bones. One pill was enough.

These Fire-Resisting Pills were precious, a specialty unique to their Fire-Breathing Lineage. He would save one if he could.

Jiang Yan tried putting the remaining pill into Jinbao's belly. To his surprise, it worked.

So although the Fire Vein prevents the use of artificially refined Storage Law Artifacts, it can't prohibit innate divine abilities like Jinbao's?

Jinbao's physique was even stronger. Though the flames burning its body hurt as well, they only made it squirm a few times.

Still, Jiang Yan put it into his sleeve. Sheltered by the Fire Silkworm Daoist robe, it would be more comfortable than being burned directly.

After putting Jinbao away, he wrapped himself tightly in the Daoist robe from head to toe as well.

He circulated his Law Power, protecting only vulnerable areas such as his eyes and groin.

Once he had finished, Jiang Yan raised his head and surveyed his surroundings. Naturally, the fiercer the flames burned within the Fire Vein, the more spirit materials and treasures there would be.

Choosing the direction where the flames burned most fiercely, Jiang Yan broke into a swift run.