The moment they charged into the fire path, the surrounding temperature instantly soared, rising dozens of times higher. The crimson stone walls glowed a molten red, while the bubbling lava below spluttered like a furious spring.
Each eruption sent blazing fragments of rock flying through the air. Contained within the lava's fury, these shards carried lethal force—carelessness would allow them to pierce through Dou Qi defenses, leaving even seasoned experts torn and bleeding.
Yet, what posed a nightmare for others was no more than a trivial obstacle to Yan Xiaoyu, Zhu Ling, and Qing Xiu. Cloaked in their unique flames, they shielded not only themselves but also those within their protection. Whether it was the boiling lava or the demonic blue fire pillars erupting from the walls, all attacks were reduced to harmless sparks before them.
All around, countless experts charged forward, their bodies wrapped tightly in majestic Dou Qi. They forced their way ahead, but their expressions grew heavy, every step purchased with exhaustion. Compared to the effortless stride of those three women, their plight seemed almost pitiful.
These blue flames were especially sinister, carrying the mysterious power to melt Dou Qi itself. Locked in stalemate with the barriers of their protectors, they devoured energy at an astonishing rate. Many were horrified to realize their Dou Qi reserves were draining far faster than expected—at such a pace, even an elite Dou Zong would struggle to endure for long.
As they fought against the searing heat and deadly fire, their gazes inevitably shifted toward the Moonlit Chaos Mansion's group, who advanced with almost casual ease. For a moment, disbelief and envy flickered across their eyes.
But they paid no heed. With but a thought, the purple-brown flame roared to life, withering into a streak of violent light that tore through the air. Their figures blurred, leaving the crowd behind as they surged deeper into the fiery path.
Within just a few minutes, they had already overtaken several experts who had entered earlier, yet the end of the fire path still remained out of sight.
Suddenly, their pace slowed. A flash of understanding flickered in their eyes, and without hesitation, they plunged straight into the searing crimson lava.
Before diving in, Qing Xiu curved her lips into a mischievous smile. With a graceful wave of her sleeve, several blazing characters and arrows condensed from flame, pointing downward—revealing that the true path lay beneath, not ahead.
Zhu Ling and Yan Xiaoyu exchanged glances, shaking their heads. They understood well—this was merely Qing Xiu's way of ensuring that Xiao Yan would owe her a favor. The moment he stepped out of this ruin, he would no longer be able to refuse her demand for a pill refinement challenge.
"Poor man…"
Both of them sighed inwardly, pitying Xiao Yan for drawing Qing Xiu's attention.
…
Several minutes later, Xiao Yan, who was pressing forward along the fire path with the elders of Falling Star Pavilion, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He turned sharply, but saw nothing. The unsettling sensation lingered, gnawing at his nerves.
Just as he was wondering why, his eyes caught the fiery characters Qing Xiu had left behind.
In that instant, clarity struck him. This fire path was nothing but a trap. The deeper one went, the more the sinister flames devoured Dou Qi. Sooner or later, anyone who continued forward would be drained dry.
A sheen of cold sweat slid down his face as his expression grew solemn. He finally understood the reason for the ominous shiver along his spine. His future exhaustion had already been glimpsed in that warning.
Without hesitation, Xiao Yan trusted Qing Xiu's words. He and his group leapt into the boiling lava below. She had no reason to leave behind a false message, not in a place where deception could easily backfire.
The instant his figure vanished beneath the molten surface, the blazing words scattered into faint embers before fading entirely, leaving no trace behind.
…
Yan Xiaoyu's group sank swiftly into the molten depths. Though the lava roiled with searing heat, it posed no obstacle. Under the protection of their unique flames, the group moved unhindered, descending deeper and deeper.
After about a minute, a faint muffled sound echoed from below. The ground beneath their feet suddenly gave way, and they dropped for a short distance before landing upon an icy cold surface.
The moment their feet touched solid ground, everyone's eyes lifted instinctively.
Yan Xiaoyu, Zhu Ling, and Qing Xiu wore faint smiles, but the rest of the group could not hide their astonishment.
Above them, the bright red lava now appeared like countless enormous pythons, coiling and twisting in distorted rings overhead. Within its fiery body, they could faintly glimpse silhouettes still traversing the blazing tunnel above. Clearly, this lava ceiling was the very fire path they had traveled earlier. If one truly persisted in following that endless route, who knew how long it would take to reach the end—or whether they would even endure until then.
"Unbelievable… I would have never thought the fire path itself was not the true entrance," Qing Lin muttered, her brows furrowing. She was genuinely shaken by the cunning design of the ancient remains' master.
Zhu Ling chuckled softly, her eyes reflecting both amusement and nostalgia. "It reminds me of the trials my teacher and our Martial Uncles once set for disciples. Among them was a test of doors—countless gates stretched endlessly, yet only one was real. The true entrance was always beneath one's feet, disguised as the very ground they stood upon."
Her tone carried admiration, as though remembering the countless ingenious methods Xiao Hua and the elders had devised to temper those who sought to enter their Moonlit Chaos Mansion.
"Tsk tsk, truly worthy of being called ancient remains. To think it could deceive everyone so thoroughly. If those people were to struggle all the way to the end of the fire path, only to find nothing but a solid rock wall… would they not be so furious that they coughed blood on the spot?"
Qing Xiu glanced at the bending fire path above, her voice carrying both amusement and a hint of schadenfreude.
Zhu Ling and Yan Xiaoyu could only shake their heads with helpless smiles, while Qing Lin and the others burst into quiet laughter at her words.
"Still, it's fortunate for us that we recognized something familiar…" Qing Lin exhaled softly, relief flickering in her eyes at the thought of avoiding a prolonged ordeal within that path.
"Perhaps the reason others managed to obtain treasures from this place in the past," she reasoned, "is that the seal had yet to be fully unlocked. The traps were not completely activated, allowing some lucky ones to slip through and bring word of what lies within."
Yan Xiaoyu nodded in agreement as her gaze swept across their surroundings. They now stood within a vast stone passage that stretched into the distance. At its end, one could faintly make out a wide square, and the indistinct silhouettes of human figures moving upon it.
"Let's go," Yan Xiaoyu said after a brief pause, her tone firm yet measured. "This should be the true entrance into the remains. But remember—our goal is the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit. Let them fight over the Tian-class Dou Skill first. Once we secure our objective, we will decide our next move."
Everyone inclined their heads in silent agreement.
Yan Xiaoyu waved her hand, and a purple-gold token appeared before her. This token was specially attuned to the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit, capable of sensing its aura and pointing out the closest path toward it.
After bringing it forth, Yan Xiaoyu and the others lightly tapped their toes against the ground. Their figures blurred into afterimages as they shot toward the distant square.
Not long after their departure, Xiao Yan's group finally descended from the fire path. A few breaths later, several other factions also discovered the true route and began appearing beneath the lava passage.
The stone path was not particularly long. With the speed of Yan Xiaoyu's group, they reached the square in just a few short minutes.
As they stepped onto its edge, their gazes immediately paused. Standing before a massive, heavy stone door were ten motionless figures. Their bodies were straight like spears, their skin gleaming with a metallic silver sheen. Their eyes were hollow, their faces devoid of expression—like lifeless corpses that had stood guard for countless years.
"A puppet, huh…" Zhu Ling murmured softly, recognition flashing in her eyes as she observed the ten motionless figures. "Moreover, they are Earth Demon Puppets…"
"It seems the true remains lie behind this stone door." Qing Xiu's gaze lingered on the massive stone gate as she spoke in a low tone.
"Yet, the stone door is tightly sealed. There's also a faint spatial fluctuation upon it. Clearly, brute force alone cannot open it. In that case, the key must lie within these ten puppets." Yan Xiaoyu nodded slightly, her brows knitting. Clearly, she had not expected such a hindrance.
"Do not worry. I can sense that not a single imprint has been left on these puppets. Subduing them will be no problem." Zhu Ling reassured Yan Xiaoyu before her figure shot forward.
When she closed within a hundred feet of the stone door, the ten statuesque figures suddenly let out low, grinding cracks as if their bones were awakening after countless years. In the next instant, ten pairs of hollow, icy eyes snapped open and locked onto her. Silver light surged across their bodies, and with a clang, ten bright silver spears manifested in their hands.
Zhu Ling's eyes turned cold. With a single thought, the vast Spiritual Strength lingering between her brows surged outward like a tidal wave. It split into thousands of fine strands, sweeping toward the silver-glowing puppets.
She was far too familiar with these constructs. Her Martial Uncle Xiao had once passed to her the method of puppet refinement, and she had even refined several herself. Naturally, she knew well their flaws and weaknesses.
If faced head-on, the only option was to shatter them to pieces. Yet Zhu Ling did not wish for destruction. What she sought was control—control akin to the bond she held with her own Demon Puppet.
As if responding to Zhu Ling's intent and the pressure of her aura, the ten puppets suddenly released a low, guttural roar from their throats. Their hollow eyes flickered with a sharp silver light as their stiff bodies began to move in unison. In perfect order, their heavy footsteps struck the ground, forming a strange and intricate formation.
Silver light surged violently, weaving into serpentine streams of energy that coiled outward from each puppet. In the blink of an eye, the energies intertwined and connected, forming a circular ring that pulsed with a strange, oppressive rhythm.
The instant the ring stabilized, the leading Earth Demon Puppet let out another roar. Before Zhu Ling's stunned gaze, the silver glow within its body abruptly dimmed. A faint golden radiance shimmered from within, gradually spreading until it completely replaced the silver light.
"It has actually evolved…" Zhu Ling's pupils shrank sharply, shock flashing in her eyes. She knew better than anyone how difficult it was to advance an Earth Demon Puppet into a Sky Demon Puppet. Yet, before her very eyes, such an impossible transformation had occurred within mere moments.
"This is… a formation that enhances their strength?" Qing Xiu's expression turned grave, her voice carrying disbelief. The oppressive aura rolling from the puppets had surged to a level capable of rivaling even a Two-Star Dou Zun.
A dangerous smile slowly curled on Zhu Ling's lips. The value of these puppets in her eyes had skyrocketed. She already possessed one Sky Demon Puppet, forged only after forcing Lan Haoran to temper it with his thunder, despite his endless complaints. But if she could claim these ten puppets and unravel the mystery of their formation…
Then forging several more Sky Demon Puppets would no longer be a distant dream. Worse yet, with this formation, their strength could soar to even greater heights.
"Brother Lan Haoran…" Zhu Ling's eyes glimmered with a strange, cold light, her voice a whisper dripping with amusement. "It seems your future will be… very busy."
At that same moment, in the secluded back mountain of Thunder Heaven Hall, Lan Haoran's figure suddenly shuddered. His heart lurched with a formless dread as he instinctively scanned his surroundings. Yet, he found nothing amiss.
With a puzzled frown, he scratched his head before closing his eyes once more, convincing himself it was but an illusion. However, he would one day realize… he should have take a mission and left Moonlit Chaos Mansion for a long time before Zhu Ling return from the ancient ruin.
...
It did not take long for Zhu Ling to fully subdue the puppets. With a simple wave of her hand, the ten constructs let out a faint swoosh before vanishing into her Storage Ring.
Lacking a spiritual imprint, the process of subjugating them was swift—completed within only a few short breaths.
"Congratulations, Sister Zhu Ling. With Brother Haoran around, you'll soon have more bodyguards than anyone else!" Qing Xiu teased with a mischievous smile, her tone playful.
She knew her martial cousin all too well. Once Zhu Ling set her sights on these puppets, she would not stop refining them until her demands were met—and Brother Haoran's lightning would certainly be wrung out without mercy.
Yan Xiaoyu and Qing Lin's lips twitched violently. Both silently lit candles in their hearts for Lan Haoran's fate, knowing his days ahead would be anything but peaceful.
Creak—!
Just as their amusement lingered, the tightly shut stone gate groaned open, its ancient mechanism releasing a low, grinding echo. Slowly, the heavy slab shifted aside, revealing a pitch-dark passage beyond.
A desolate and ancient aura wafted out, carrying with it the weight of countless years. The playful atmosphere instantly vanished. Though they hailed from Moonlit Chaos Mansion, none among them dared feel true safety within such an ancient ruin.
The massive door finally swung fully open, and the creaking came to an end. At Zhu Ling's command, one puppet stepped forward, probing for traps. Only after confirming the way was clear did the group advance without hesitation.
In a breath's time, they had already crossed the threshold. Yet the moment they did, their pace unconsciously slowed.
Their eyes widened in shock as the scene before them unfolded—utterly beyond their expectations.
What greeted them beyond the gate was an incomparably vast hall. Standing within it, one could not help but feel insignificant, like a mere ant within the boundless expanse. Their gazes swept around, only to discover numerous deep corridors branching from the hall, each stretching toward an unknown distance.
The group's eyes shifted toward Yan Xiaoyu. With a wave of her hand, she took out a purple-gold token. The token shone faintly before releasing ripples of light that spread throughout the hall, then shot decisively toward the passage on the left. Without hesitation, the group quickly followed.
The corridor was immensely broad, their figures darting forward like small birds soaring through a vast canyon. After a series of twists and turns, and nearly fifteen minutes of flight, the token finally slowed and came to a halt.
All eyes immediately turned forward.
An ancient stone gate stood silently at the end of the path, its surface covered in thick moss, bearing silent testimony to the countless years it had endured.
"This fragrance…" Qing Xiu's delicate nose twitched as a faint medicinal aroma seeped through the cracks. Her eyes brightened. "Such rich medicinal essence! If I'm not mistaken, this should be the storage place for herbs. Since the master of these ruins was once a Dou Sheng, the preservation methods here would allow the ingredients to last forever."
At her words, excitement surged in Qing Lin and the others. Even though Moonlit Chaos Mansion was already abundant in resources, who would ever refuse an even greater wealth of treasures?
After confirming that no traps were laid upon the stone door, Zhu Ling stepped forward. With a casual push of her palms, the ancient gate groaned as it slowly shifted open. Her strength was formidable—bolstered by her Qi Method and the pure dragon blood she had refined, her body carried the might of an Ancient Void Dragon.
Rumble!
Amidst a deep, grinding noise, the moss-covered stone door slowly shifted open. In that instant, waves of rich medicinal fragrance—sealed away for countless years—poured forth like a tide, bracing the minds of all present.
A flicker of intrigue flashed in Zhu Ling's eyes as she drew in that fragrance. She pressed her palms more firmly, and with a final push, the ancient gate swung fully open.
A dazzling brilliance burst forth the moment the gap widened completely. The sudden glare forced Zhu Ling's group to narrow their eyes, their figures instinctively retreating a few steps. Dou Qi surged within their bodies, circulating rapidly as they braced themselves for any unexpected danger.
Gradually, the blinding radiance faded. When their eyes adjusted and opened once more, sharp intakes of breath echoed through the corridor. Awe colored their faces.
Beyond the door was not a stone chamber as one might expect, but an ancient forest—lush and vast—entirely composed of rare and precious medicinal plants!
"Though it cannot compare to our Spiritual Medicinal Field, it is still astonishing to see such an abundance of extremely rare herbs in one place…" Zhu Ling murmured, her expression frozen in shock.
As a disciple of Wei Jie, she had the privilege to enter the Spiritual Medicinal Field, as did Qing Xiu, Yan Xiaoyu, and the other direct disciples. Though called a 'field,' that sacred ground was in truth a boundless forest, one capable of nurturing countless spirit plants. Even more remarkable, it could spontaneously give birth to natural treasures unrelated to its original foundation.
Thus, while this ancient medicinal forest was inferior in comparison, its sheer existence still held undeniable allure.
Yan Xiaoyu gave a firm nod before turning, her gaze sweeping across the gathered disciples of Moonlit Chaos Mansion. Standing tall, she issued her command like a valiant goddess of war.
"Everyone above Five-Star Dou Zong will follow me to secure the objective. The rest of you will form groups and search for treasures that catch your eye. If your strength is lacking, do not hesitate to cooperate."
Her eyes narrowed, sharp as a blade, and her tone dropped to a chilling low, filled with killing intent that pressed against their hearts.
"However, remember this—do not resort to vile tricks that would tarnish the name of Moonlit Chaos Mansion. Anyone who dares… will be executed on the spot."
"Understood!"
The disciples cupped their fists, voices ringing in unison.
With a wave of her hand, those below Five-Star Dou Zong shot into the forest, scattering like arrows as they began harvesting natural treasures.
"Hehe, Sister Xiaoyu truly resembles a general on the battlefield. No wonder so many men wish to win her favor, only to find themselves subdued by this war goddess," Qing Xiu whispered, her gaze lingering on Yan Xiaoyu's heroic figure radiating such majesty that even arrogant men would be forced to bow their heads.
"If you ask me, she was born for this," Zhu Ling added with a faint smile. "Among us, none can match her talent for leadership and command."
"Yet she always insists she has no desire for the Mansion Master's seat…" Qing Xiu sighed softly.
The two exchanged glances, then shook their heads with helpless smiles.
Unaware of their quiet discussion, Yan Xiaoyu simply nodded after confirming the others had departed. Her gaze fell upon the remaining companions.
"Let's go. The Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit takes priority."
Qing Xiu and Zhu Ling responded with steady nods. Gathering their focus, the small group followed the purple-gold token as it shot toward the depths of the ancient forest.
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