The six fruits floated forward gently, radiating warmth and vibrant crimson light.
Three hovered in front of Shu Yu, while the other three stopped before Gao Tian.
Gao Tian extended his hand, eyes gleaming with a mix of awe and curiosity. He waved his fingers above the fruits, and with a flicker of spiritual energy, they vanished into his spiritual ring.
Shu Yu, however, remained still. She simply stood, her expression unreadable, making no move to collect the fruits before her.
Gao Tian turned his gaze toward Cai Xian, brows furrowing in confusion. "Ah, I'm a little confused. Why did you give these to us? You could've used them yourself to increase your cultivation."
Cai Xian shook her head lightly, the soft light of the hall reflecting in her golden eyes.
"I can't," she said plainly. "The dragon who died here long ago left behind a curse. No beast born within HeavenFlame Ridge can consume these fruits. If one of us were to forcefully eat it… our bodies would burst from within."
Gao Tian stiffened, startled by the revelation.
"Wait—if that's true, then there must be a Heavenly Flame Fruit Tree here somewhere, right?"
Cai Xian offered a wistful smile. "So, you figured it out. Yes… the tree exists. But every time I get close to it, my vitality is drained. I can only manage to harvest one fruit every two years."
Gao Tian's eyes widened in disbelief. "That can't be. A Heavenly Flame Tree doesn't drain vitality like that. Only demonic trees would leech life force."
He paused, eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
Something's off. Could there be another tree hidden nearby—one of a darker nature?
Shu Yu spoke up then, her voice calm and flat. "What you're saying… is it true?"
Gao Tian nodded slowly. "Yes. The fruit is definitely from the Heavenly Flame Tree, but there has to be something else—something nearby, concealed. Another tree that's feeding off the energy of whoever approaches. Cai Xian, I think you've been blaming the wrong tree."
Cai Xian's expression flickered with confusion, a rare shift in her otherwise serene demeanor.
"You think… another tree is hidden there? One that's been stealing my life force?"
Gao Tian folded his arms, his tone growing serious.
"It's the only explanation that makes sense. Heavenly Flame Trees don't harm cultivators or beasts—they empower them. But if your vitality is being consumed, something demonic is nearby… something parasitic. And it's been using your misunderstanding to stay hidden."
Cai Xian's golden eyes slowly widened, realization dawning like firelight across her face.
Shu Yu finally reached out and collected the three fruits still floating before her. She stored them silently without a word.
Gao Tian looked between the two women.
"I think it's time we investigate that tree. You've been harvesting from a danger zone all these years without even knowing it."
Cai Xian's voice echoed softly through the grand hall.
"Yes. I'll lead you there."
With a graceful turn, she walked back toward the throne that loomed above the others. Gao Tian and Shu Yu remained standing, watching her silently.
Gao Tian tilted his head, a flicker of confusion passing through his gaze.
Why is she going back to her throne?
As they watched, Cai Xian placed her palm on the surface of the throne and channeled her spiritual qi into a specific spot near the armrest. A soft hum resonated in the air.
Suddenly, with a deep mechanical groan, the throne split down the middle. The left half slid smoothly to the left, and the right to the right, revealing a hidden staircase that spiraled downward into darkness.
Gao Tian's eyes lit up in surprise. "So there was a hidden path all along."
Shu Yu made no comment. Without hesitation, she began moving toward the revealed entrance, stepping up to the platform where the throne had been. Her movements were light, steady, and utterly silent.
Gao Tian followed closely behind her, still slightly stunned by the sudden revelation.
In Shu Yu's arms, the small ruler dog twitched. Its tiny nose quivered, and its ears perked up. Though the aura was faint, the dog could feel it clearly—demonic energy, cold and ancient, lingering in the air like a whisper.
Gao Tian felt it too.
It was weak, distant, barely a thread in the atmosphere, but unmistakable. A chill crept across his spine.
Still, he said nothing.
Cai Xian descended the staircase first, her long sleeves brushing against the dark stone walls as she moved deeper into the hidden passage.
Behind her, Gao Tian and Shu Yu followed without a word, the sound of their footsteps swallowed by the ancient stone. The path ahead curved downward, disappearing into a place that had remained untouched for centuries.
And the further they walked, the stronger the demonic aura became.
As they descended the last steps of the hidden staircase, the air shifted—growing thicker, warmer, almost suffocating. Faint flickers of heat shimmered around them, distorting the stone walls. When they finally stepped onto level ground, the passage opened into a vast underground cavern.
The scene that greeted them was both awe-inspiring and unsettling.
At the very center of the cavern stood a magnificent tree, no taller than a few meters, but radiant with divine presence. Its bark shimmered with golden-red hues, as though it were forged from molten metal. Each leaf glowed like an ember, swaying gently despite the stillness in the air. It was the legendary Heavenly Flame Tree—undeniable in its divine origin.
The tree stood alone on a small stone island, surrounded entirely by a sea of bubbling lava. The heat radiating from the magma made the air quiver, but the tree remained untouched, rooted firm and proud in its sacred ground.
In front of them, a narrow, jagged path of dark rock stretched across the lava pool, leading from the cavern's edge to the tree itself. It looked natural, yet too conveniently placed to be coincidence.
Cai Xian came to a halt just before the edge of the path, her gaze focused on the glowing tree in the distance. Shu Yu stood beside her, expression unreadable as ever, arms cradling the small Ruler Dog.
But only Gao Tian and the beast in Shu Yu's arms felt the truth hidden beneath the beauty.
That cold, unnatural aura—demonic in nature—lingered subtly beneath the heat. It pulsed from somewhere deep beneath the stone, like a sleeping heart still beating in the dark.
Gao Tian narrowed his eyes, scanning the cavern carefully.
It's faint, but it's real… There's something down there.
The Ruler Dog shivered lightly in Shu Yu's arms, ears alert, his instincts flaring. He didn't whimper or speak, but his fur stiffened, and his tiny claws clutched gently at her robes.
And still, Cai Xian remained unaware. She turned slightly and gestured toward the rocky path.
"This is it," she said. "The place you wanted to see."
Gao Tian said nothing, but his hand slowly clenched at his side. The Heavenly Flame Tree stood in full splendor—but beneath its roots, something darker.
Ruler Dog let out a sharp bark, his tiny body suddenly tense in Shu Yu's arms. His eyes were locked onto the radiant Heavenly Flame Tree, and he growled low, his fur bristling.
Shu Yu glanced down at him, her tone calm yet curious.
"What happened? Why are you barking?"
But the little beast continued, louder now—barking insistently toward the tree. His gaze never wavered.
Cai Xian turned toward them, brows furrowed.
"Is he sensing something?"
Gao Tian's expression hardened. He took a slow step forward, his eyes narrowing on the tree.
"Yes. He can sense it… the demonic aura. It's faint, but it's there."
Shu Yu turned her head toward Gao Tian without a word, but Cai Xian froze in place, her expression stiff with confusion and disbelief.
"Demonic aura?" she asked. "But we've never sensed anything. I've lived here for over a hundred years…"
Gao Tian nodded, his voice quiet but certain.
"It's subtle—carefully hidden beneath the surface. But it's there. I can sense a beast lying dormant… and from its aura, I'd guess it's Rank Four, mid or even high-tier."
Shu Yu said nothing, but her grip on Ruler Dog tightened slightly, and her gaze turned sharp.
Cai Xian's face paled, her composure shaken.
"That's not possible. I'm a Rank Four Mid-Tier myself. There's no way a stronger beast could be this close without me knowing!"
Gao Tian looked at her calmly, his tone still casual—but heavy with implication.
"You said every time you approached the tree, your vitality was drained, right? What if it wasn't the tree doing that?"
Cai Xian's eyes widened, realization dawning slowly in her mind.
Gao Tian continued, his gaze fixed on the radiant tree.
"He's been consuming your energy—silently, over decades. Feeding off your presence while you mistook the Heavenly Flame Tree as the cause. And now, after all this time… his cultivation may have surpassed yours."