Chapter 336 Volcanic Rock Flame
"Mm."
Princess Qinghe gave a slight nod, then flew side by side with Fang Mu toward the magma.
The others did not immediately attempt to subdue any spirit flames. Instead, they wanted to see how the two would enter the magma.
Just as they were about to approach, the lamp in Fang Mu's hand emitted a beam of light, enveloping them both.
Wherever the light shone, the magma receded, and the spirit flames within it scattered in terror as though encountering their natural predator.
What a treasure!
The cultivators watching could not help but think this in their hearts. Yet none dared harbor greedy thoughts.
Across the Xuantian Continent, any sect with real power knew that Half-Saint Chu had given each of his direct disciples a sword jade, each containing the sword energy of a strike from Half-Saint Chu himself.
What sort of existence was Half-Saint Chu? He was the foremost beneath Saint Realm.
Although he did not walk the cultivation world, his name was already deeply etched into the hearts of all.
Even Princess Qinghe cast a curious glance at Fang Mu beside her.
Meanwhile, Fang Mu was communicating with Rocket Turtle through divine sense: Senior brother, truly worthy of being ranked on the Eternal Flame List—these spirit flames treat you as their natural enemy.
Rocket Turtle replied: Stop flattering me, boy. Hurry and take out your high-grade spirit flame and have it devour the lower ones. If you meet one it cannot handle, I will act.
Hearing this, Fang Mu immediately released his own spirit flame. After years of nurturing, it had advanced from low-grade to high-grade. Subduing mere mid-grade flames was no difficulty.
He took out his fire storage pouch from his storage ring and summoned the flame.
Not only had it advanced in grade, but its intelligence far surpassed ordinary flames, already attuned to Fang Mu's will.
At his command, the flame rushed into the cavern, pouncing on the newly awakened wild spirit flames.
It was like a wolf entering a flock of sheep—except this wolf had a tiger standing behind it.
The magma's flames had no choice but to flee in every direction. Even high-grade flames scattered, unwilling to resist.
One supreme-grade spirit flame was unfortunate. It tried to fight back but was bitten by Rocket Turtle.
Princess Qinghe froze for a moment when she suddenly saw a turtle-shaped eternal flame appear within the oil lamp.
"Junior Brother Mu, this is…?"
Fang Mu smiled. "This is my senior brother, Rocket Turtle, an eternal flame of my master. Knowing there was an eternal flame here, I invited him along. If you want that supreme flame, senior sister, my senior brother will help."
Princess Qinghe blinked, then looked curiously at Rocket Turtle. "Senior brother, may I?"
"Only one."
Rocket Turtle already knew Fang Mu's feelings toward the young woman and naturally wanted to support his junior.
"Thank you, senior brother."
Princess Qinghe fixed her gaze on a supreme-grade spirit flame.
"That one."
Rocket Turtle gave a slight nod, then opened its mouth. A tremendous fiery wind sucked the flame inside, where it began communicating with it.
"Little one, do you want to die?"
Supreme-grade spirit flame: "Senior, spare me! As long as you let me live, I will do whatever you command!"
Rocket Turtle's mouth curved into a smile at the childlike voice.
"Those are your words. Do not regret them."
Supreme-grade spirit flame: "I will never regret it!"
Rocket Turtle: "Then recognize that woman as your master."
"Yes."
Though the flame did not understand the principle of bowing to power, it had no choice.
With Rocket Turtle's guidance, the supreme flame slowly flew toward Princess Qinghe, circling around her like a child clinging to its mother.
So easy?
Princess Qinghe looked at the supreme-grade spirit flame circling ceaselessly by her side, feeling as though she were dreaming.
She had heard her elders describe the process of subduing eternal flames before, and it had never been this effortless.
Moments later, she and the supreme flame had already formed a contract.
Rocket Turtle continued sweeping forward, and in less than a day Fang Mu's spirit flame began to dim.
Seeing this, Fang Mu instantly understood that his flame was about to awaken.
Without hesitation, he fed it a fire crystal stone, then stored it back into the fire pouch.
The surrounding, weakened spirit flames, witnessing this scene, all fled toward the edges of the magma.
Outside, Elder Fang and the others had long been waiting. When they saw high-grade and supreme flames rushing out, they struck immediately, ignoring the mid-grade flames entirely.
After all, they had already feasted well; naturally, they would leave some scraps for those outside.
At the volcano's rim, forces of all sizes had gathered. None dared to recklessly enter, fearing to offend the great figures within.
"They're out! The spirit flames are out!"
The moment a flame appeared, countless eyes turned toward it. Some impatient cultivators rushed forward to snatch it.
Only the Lingdan Sect's cultivators stood calmly watching. Before the others had even ascended, they had already collected three flames.
For them, this trip to Lihuo Gate was already a complete success. Now, they merely waited to see if they could pick up leftovers.
Of course, if some fools provoked them, they would not hesitate to show their strength.
…
Within the magma.
Fang Mu and the others advanced unimpeded, soon passing through the first layer and reaching the second.
Even with Rocket Turtle's aura protecting them, Fang Mu and Princess Qinghe still felt the heat here was far greater than above.
Unlike the first layer, filled with flame spirits and spirit flames everywhere, this level showed no trace of any eternal flame.
The only sound was the flowing magma itself.
After traveling for some time, Fang Mu noticed the temperature was gradually decreasing.
"This magma… something is absorbing the fire essence within it."
Rocket Turtle murmured, "I sense two different auras. One of them makes me uneasy."
A flicker of shock flashed in Fang Mu's eyes. He whispered, "Senior brother, you are at the level of a Path Union cultivator."
Rocket Turtle replied, "Whatever lies below, we must proceed with utmost caution."
"Agreed."
Fang Mu released his divine sense, while Fang Linglong unsheathed her sword, her expression vigilant.
Several hours later, the group finally broke through that layer of magma.
Before their eyes floated a mass of dark-red flame suspended in the air, constantly absorbing the fire essence from the molten sea.
"This is the Volcanic Rock Flame."
Fang Mu spoke instinctively. As an alchemist, he had studied eternal flames extensively. One glance was enough for him to recognize it.
Rocket Turtle gazed at the spiritual power flowing around the flame, sensing something amiss. Soon, it discovered the crucial detail…
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