Han Jue gradually extracted valuable information from the two tribal chieftains, though their knowledge proved frustratingly limited. Even the names of the tunnel and the prefecture city were merely legends passed down through generations, no one from their tribes had ever actually reached the Wanqing Tunnel. The only concrete information they possessed was the entry requirements, ancient knowledge that dated back countless years.
Just to be safe, Han Jue decided to hunt several Domain Lord-level Flame Beasts on his way to the Wanqing Tunnel and harvest their blood. Better to have more currency than he needed than to fall short at a critical moment.
Dismissing the Mirage Sea illusion technique, Han Jue transformed into a shadow and departed, heading eastward toward the distant tunnel entrance. The two chieftains blinked in confusion, their memories of the interrogation completely erased, left only with vague impressions that something important had just happened.
"Kai Lei, hurry!"
"Yes, Father!"
A father and son raced desperately through a primeval forest, their Domain Lord-level strength allowing them to cover ground with incredible speed despite being forced to travel on foot.
The Land of Chaos enforced an absolute prohibition against flight, unless one possessed World Master-level strength, attempting to fly would be suicidal. This wasn't a law imposed by any authority, but a lesson learned through countless bloody examples.
The sky above the Land of Chaos teemed with flying Flame Beasts. Just as Han Jue had been attacked by that massive bird-like creature upon passing through the rainbow light barrier, anyone who dared take to the air would be swarmed by Domain Lord-level predators within moments.
Even powerful Domain Lords avoided flying over the Land of Chaos. Once airborne, they risked being overwhelmed by entire swarms of mindless beasts. The strongest warriors would be forced to flee in panic when faced with such numbers, making ground travel the only viable option for anyone below World Master level.
This was why Kaihua and his son, despite both being Domain Lord-level warriors, chose to run on the ground rather than risk the skies.
"After them!"
Behind them, a squad of soldiers clad in standard dark gray armor and wielding jet-black spears pursued relentlessly. Their formation remained disciplined despite the high-speed chase, marking them as experienced hunters.
"Damn it! They're so fast!" Kaihua's face dripped with sweat as he pushed himself to his absolute limit. His breathing came in ragged gasps, his energy reserves depleting rapidly.
His son Kai Lei ran ahead of him, moving even faster despite his youth, perhaps paving an escape route for his father through sheer determination and fear.
"Father!" Kai Lei glanced back repeatedly as he ran, his eyes filled with worry.
"Just run!" Kaihua gritted his teeth and quickened his pace, every muscle screaming in protest.
The pursuers showed no signs of tiring. The distance between them continued to shrink with each passing moment. Despite Kaihua and Kai Lei both being Domain Lords, their hunters possessed equal strength and far superior endurance, having trained specifically for prolonged pursuit.
"Master Kai, hand over the Void Emperor Token, and I'll consider sparing both your lives!" A woman's voice rang out from among the pursuers, sharp with authority and barely concealed greed.
"Hmph! In your dreams!" Kaihua snorted defiantly, though his face betrayed his desperation.
He'd abandoned his vast estate in Wanqing Prefecture City, watched hundreds of loyal subordinates die protecting his escape, and fled to this cursed Land of Chaos, all for the Void Emperor Token currently hidden in his world ring. Forcing him to surrender it now would be worse than death itself.
The woman behind him clearly expected his refusal.
"Capture them alive! Reward of 100,000 Fire Coins to whoever secures the token!" she ordered coldly, her voice carrying the weight of absolute authority.
"Yes, Commander!"
The soldiers visibly excited by this massive bounty, accelerated dramatically. They no longer bothered concealing their movements, launching themselves into the air to close the remaining distance rapidly.
While flying carried risks of Flame Beast attacks, those dangers applied primarily to individuals traveling alone. With ten Domain Lord-level soldiers gathered together in tight formation, ordinary flying Flame Beasts wouldn't dare approach such concentrated power. And even if more beasts began gathering, the soldiers would have already captured their targets by then, making the temporary risk acceptable.
"Father..." Kai Lei turned back, his expression filled with dread as he witnessed the airborne soldiers rapidly closing the gap.
Kaihua's face hardened with grim determination. He'd known this moment might come eventually. The odds had always been stacked against them.
"I never expected that woman from the Dulan family to pursue us this relentlessly," Kaihua said, his voice carrying the weight of finality. "Kai Lei, you're faster than me. Take the Void Emperor Token and run. Find a way back to the Land of Order and seek out Dongzhao Prefecture City, find Lord Liu there. He'll know what to do with this. I'll buy you as much time as I can."
Before Kai Lei could protest, Kaihua shoved his son forcefully from behind while simultaneously coming to a complete stop, his body already shifting into a defensive stance.
"Father!" Kai Lei's face contorted with disbelief and horror, but his body continued sprinting forward uncontrollably, propelled by his father's final push and his own momentum.
"I'm counting on you, son," Kaihua said with a sad smile, watching his son disappear into the forest ahead.
"Go after the one in front! Don't let him escape!" The woman's expression changed instantly as she recognized Kaihua's sacrifice play, immediately redirecting her forces.
The ten soldiers adjusted their formation with practiced efficiency, bypassing Kaihua entirely to pursue Kai Lei. Kaihua attempted to intercept them, launching desperate attacks, but was immediately struck down by coordinated counterattacks. Even with Domain Lord strength, one warrior couldn't effectively block ten Domain Lords working in perfect synchronization.
The soldiers left him bleeding on the ground as they continued their pursuit. Kaihua struggled to rise, watching helplessly as his son's distant figure grew smaller, only to find the commander herself standing before him, blocking his path.
"Hand it over," the woman said calmly, her voice carrying absolute certainty of victory.
"Du Lanque, what are you talking about?" Kaihua struggled to stand, but Du Lanque casually slapped him back to the ground, her casual brutality demonstrating the vast gulf in their current capabilities.
"Using your son as bait? How ruthless." Du Lanque chuckled softly, raking her sharp nails across Kaihua's face almost playfully. "Truly worthy of the notoriously cruel Kai family of Wanqing Prefecture. I'm afraid your son doesn't know that his beloved father has deceived him so thoroughly."
She leaned closer, her breath hot against his bloodied face. "After all, the Liu family of Dongzhao Prefecture has been dead for over a decade."
Kaihua's body stopped trembling. The desperate facade melted away, replaced by cold calculation as his eyes fixed on Du Lanque with sudden intensity.
"Yes, so what?" Kaihua sneered, energy suddenly flooding back into his battered body. "Do you really think you're a threat to me if you stay here alone? Those ten Wanqing Guards have already left. What can you possibly do to stop me now? Perhaps I'll even get to sample the women of the Dulan family before this is over."
"Bang!"
Kaihua and Du Lanque exploded into motion simultaneously, their fists meeting with devastating force. The shockwave from their collision shattered nearby trees and sent cracks spider-webbing through the ground. After exchanging that single blow, both warriors separated, reassessing their opponent with new respect.
Du Lanque's expression shifted dramatically. This Kaihua actually possessed the power of a fourth-level Domain Lord, whereas before he'd been deliberately suppressing his strength to appear as merely a first-level Domain Lord! The deception ran deeper than she'd anticipated.
"A parasitic plant?" Kaihua's face grew equally grim as he stared not at Du Lanque herself, but at the massive plant life form that had emerged behind her.
It was a vine-like organism covered in crimson thorns, each one coated with blood-red mucus that seemed to pulse with malevolent life. These thorns could easily penetrate Domain Lord-level defenses, and the secretion coating them appeared highly toxic. The plant itself radiated power equivalent to a third-level Domain Lord.
Kaihua glanced at his own arm where Du Lanque had scratched him earlier. The flesh had already turned a sickly green, the poison spreading rapidly through his system despite his Domain Lord constitution.
"Haven't you always been curious about how my father became the City Lord of Wanqing?" Du Lanque smiled brightly, her expression carrying dark satisfaction. "This Blood Orchid Vine is the answer to that mystery."
"Blood Orchid Vine..." Kaihua's eyes widened with sudden understanding. "Your Dulan family, are you actually connected to the main city Dulan family?"
"That's correct," Du Lanque confirmed with obvious pride, her smile widening.
The Blood Orchid Vine, a parasitic plant life form at the third-level Domain Lord stage, combined with Du Lanque herself at third-level Domain Lord, created a formidable combination that clearly surpassed Kaihua's capabilities even at his true strength.
The outcome of this battle was already determined.
High above the battlefield, hidden within the layers of rainbow light that provided illumination to the Seven Flames Palace, Han Jue observed the entire scene unfolding below with analytical interest.
The Seven Flames Palace possessed no sun or moon, all light came from the alternating rainbow barriers overhead. The shifting patterns of these barriers created a cycle that resembled day and night, though the timing bore no relation to standard planetary rotations.
Han Jue hadn't expected to witness such an entertaining drama on his way to the Wanqing Tunnel. The betrayal, the pursuit, the desperate father making the ultimate sacrifice, it was almost theatrical in its tragedy.
"Void Emperor Token? What's that?" Han Jue muttered to himself, his curiosity thoroughly piqued.
Still, he didn't understand the significance of this token or why so many people seemed willing to kill for it. But that was fine, when you encountered something you didn't understand, the solution was simple: go down there and take it for examination.
Below, Du Lanque and Kaihua fought ferociously, their battle tearing through the forest like a natural disaster. Kaihua somehow managed to fight both the Blood Orchid Vine and Du Lanque simultaneously while maintaining a balanced situation, an impressive display that made Han Jue marvel at his combat prowess.
This Kaihua is quite capable, Han Jue acknowledged silently. Unfortunately, he's also the type of man who'd sacrifice his own son to save himself. That's unacceptable.
Without further hesitation, Han Jue acted.
He descended from the sky like a falling meteor, appearing between the two combatants so suddenly that neither registered his presence until he'd already struck. Two simple, economical punches lashed out with devastating precision.
"Bang!""Bang!"
Both warriors flew backward from the impact, their bodies tumbling through the air before crashing hard against the ground. They simultaneously turned their gazes toward Han Jue standing calmly in the center of their former battleground, shock and confusion written across their bloodied faces.
"Who are you?" Du Lanque demanded sharply, her voice carrying both authority and wariness as she struggled to her feet.
Kaihua, recognizing immediate danger, attempted to flee rather than answer questions. But before he could take three steps, an invisible force grabbed him and yanked him back, depositing him directly before Han Jue.
Not giving Kaihua any opportunity to speak or counterattack, Han Jue struck with the Cloud Sea Hunting Dragon in a single fluid motion. The blade moved so fast it seemed to teleport rather than cut, shattering Kaihua's body completely. His Domain core, the crystallized essence of his cultivation, was exposed momentarily before Han Jue's follow-up strike pulverized it into dust.
With Han Jue's current strength, achieving this level of instant execution wasn't difficult at all. His tenfold genetic level, sixfold physical amplitude (representing a 600-fold increase in base force), complete mastery of spatial laws, and refined swordsmanship combined synergistically, the power he could unleash was tens of thousands of times greater than an average ninth-level Universe-level cultivator. Even peak Domain Lords might not match him in direct combat.
Furthermore, the indigenous humans of the Seven Flames Palace knew no secret techniques and possessed minimal understanding of the fundamental laws, making them far easier opponents than equally ranked cultivators from the broader universe.
Defeating them was almost trivial.
After examining Kaihua's spatial ring with a pulse of consciousness, Han Jue quickly located a silver token engraved with intricate patterns. Written on it in Seven Flames Palace script was a single character, "Xu."
"Who are you?" Du Lanque asked cautiously, her earlier confidence completely evaporated. Witnessing Han Jue's instantaneous execution of Kaihua, a warrior she'd been struggling against, had restored her sanity with brutal efficiency.
"What's the purpose of this item?" Han Jue asked casually, tossing the Void Emperor Token in his hand as though it were a mere curiosity rather than something people died for.
Du Lanque hesitated, calculating the risks of both honesty and deception. Han Jue's next words made the decision for her.
"You'd better not lie to me," he said slowly, his pale blue Six Eyes fixing on her with intensity that seemed to pierce through flesh and bone. "Or you already know the consequences."
"This is the Void Emperor Token," Du Lanque explained rapidly, choosing her words with desperate care. "It can unlock the treasure vault of the Void Emperor. He was a powerful World Master who was once personally rewarded by a Holy Spirit. Within the vault lies an Origin Flame Seed, at least, that's what many believe. Some suspect that after his death, the Origin Flame wasn't reclaimed by the Holy Spirit but remained within the vault. At the very least, there must be a Holy Flame Spark inside."
She spoke at maximum speed with perfect clarity, her sincerity radiating from every word as she fought to convince Han Jue of her truthfulness.
"Origin Flame Seed?" Han Jue's interest intensified considerably.
"Well, that's just speculation, hearsay passed down through generations," Du Lanque added quickly, not wanting to oversell the claim. "It's uncertain whether the Origin Flame actually remains. It's far more likely that the Holy Spirit recovered it, leaving at most a Holy Flame Spark behind."
The Seven Flames Palace natives referred to Immortals as "Holy Spirits", a cultural quirk that distinguished them from the broader universe's terminology. Otherwise, their cultivation system terminology remained largely consistent with universal standards.
"Sir, if you wish to investigate the vault, I can personally guide you there," Du Lanque continued, sensing Han Jue's interest and hoping to leverage it for survival. "And if you prefer not to pursue this matter, my Dulan family would be willing to purchase the Void Emperor Token from you at a generous price."
Han Jue remained silent for several moments, processing the information and considering his options. Du Lanque felt cold sweat forming on her back as the silence stretched uncomfortably.
Finally, Han Jue nodded with decision. "Then you'll lead the way."
Origin Flame Seed? Holy Flame Spark?
It seemed luck was on his side today.
The information provided by the Virtual Universe Company's mission briefing hadn't included detailed descriptions of these specific items, only related terminology and general categories. But Han Jue could make educated comparisons.
If he had to estimate, the Holy Flame Spark was probably dozens of times more valuable than a Blood Luo Crystal, a treasure typically reserved for World Master-level cultivators to obtain within the Seven Flames Palace.
The Origin Flame Seed, as its name suggested, represented something even more advanced than the Holy Flame Spark, likely a treasure of extraordinary significance.
While its exact purpose remained unknown to him, it almost certainly related to the hidden opportunity within this training mission that Venerable Nine Swords had hinted at.
"Sir, please wait just a moment," Du Lanque said, producing a strangely shaped communication stone and speaking into it briefly. It was clearly some form of distance communication device unique to the Seven Flames Palace's civilization.
After finishing her message, she turned back to Han Jue with an apologetic expression. "Sir, we'll need to first reach Wanqing Prefecture City, then proceed from there to Luowu Gorge where the Void Emperor Treasury is actually located. Many people are pursuing the vault, some even at World Master level are tempted by the potential Holy Flame Spark. Therefore, the journey may be quite dangerous."
She carefully observed Han Jue's expression as she spoke, trying to gauge his reaction to this warning.
Based on his casual display of overwhelming power, Du Lanque suspected Han Jue was at least a high-level Domain Lord, possibly even a favored descendant of some great family from another prefecture city, sent to train in the harsh Land of Chaos to temper his abilities.
"No problem," Han Jue said dismissively, his tone carrying complete confidence.
If obtaining the Holy Flame Spark were easy, the Seven Flames Palace wouldn't warrant designation as a dangerous-level training mission. This was worth 100,000 points for Blood Warriors, a reward tier reserved for genuinely life-threatening assignments.
Han Jue calculated that his Star-Eating Grass was nearly finished with its evolutionary transformation to World Master level. A Thousand-Vine configuration World Master-level Star-Eating Grass would prove formidable enough to challenge even high-ranking World Masters, providing substantial additional security.
"Sir, this way!" Du Lanque said respectfully, her demeanor having completely transformed from hostile pursuer to obedient guide.
Seeing Han Jue's casual confidence, she became even more certain that powerful backing must support him. Her respectful attitude intensified accordingly, better to curry favor with someone who might remember her service favorably than risk offending him through carelessness.
Led by Du Lanque, the two quickly arrived at the Wanqing Tunnel entrance.
A massive sinkhole hundreds of kilometers in diameter stretched before them, its depths shrouded in perpetual shadow despite the rainbow light overhead. Standing at the edge, Han Jue could feel powerful suction force emanating from below, strong enough that any Universe-level being who approached too closely would be pulled in and killed by the sheer gravitational pressure.
No wonder the tribal humans dared not come near this place.
Han Jue understood now why those tribes had never actually visited the tunnel despite knowing its location. The environmental hazards alone made it inaccessible to anyone below Domain Lord level, and in the savage Land of Chaos teeming with Flame Beasts, Domain Lords were extraordinarily rare among tribal populations.
Following the tunnel's descending path, they traveled downward through the massive shaft. The journey covered at least ten thousand kilometers of vertical distance, spiraling deeper and deeper into the Seven Flames Palace's internal structure.
Finally, the bottom surface of the sinkhole became visible ahead, though "surface" was perhaps the wrong term. A layer of shimmering rainbow light blocked the way, making it impossible to see what lay beyond its translucent barrier.
Numerous well-equipped soldiers patrolled the area above the rainbow barrier, their discipline and coordination marking them as professional military forces rather than mere guards. The weakest among them stood at seventh-level Universe rank, and they were led by a Domain Lord commander whose presence radiated authority.
"Commander Que!" A patrolling soldier spotted Du Lanque and immediately approached, saluting with practiced precision.
Du Lanque nodded briefly in acknowledgment but didn't slow her descent, continuing downward with Han Jue following close behind.
Passing through the rainbow light barrier felt like penetrating a curtain of pure energy. For a moment, the world seemed to distort, and then they emerged into something completely different.
A vast city sprawled before them, its architecture blending various cultural influences into a cohesive whole that spoke of centuries of development. Towering buildings constructed from unknown materials gleamed in the ambient light, and bustling crowds of indigenous humans went about their daily business in what appeared to be a thriving civilization.
"Sir, opening the Void Emperor Treasury requires the simultaneous presence of three Void Emperor Tokens," Du Lanque explained, her tone becoming more relaxed now that they'd reached her home territory. "Would you like to rest in Wanqing Prefecture City while I arrange to acquire the other tokens?"
Swish!
Before she finished speaking, the Cloud Sea Hunting Dragon's blade materialized at her throat with such speed that Du Lanque didn't even see the movement. One moment Han Jue stood several meters away; the next, his weapon pressed against her jugular with lethal intent.
"Why didn't you mention this crucial detail earlier?" Han Jue demanded coldly, his voice carrying genuine menace. "You should understand that if I wanted to kill you, calling for help would be completely useless."
Du Lanque's face paled as cold sweat broke out across her skin. She'd catastrophically underestimated Han Jue's strength. Before she could even register his movement, death's presence loomed against her throat!
"Sir," Du Lanque said carefully, her voice trembling despite her efforts to maintain composure. "I know who possesses the other two Void Emperor Tokens. I can mobilize the full power of the Dulan family to help you acquire them! And it will take considerable time to travel from here to Luowu Gorge anyway, so there's no rush."
She spoke desperately, hoping to convince Han Jue of her continued usefulness.
Han Jue snorted coldly, his eyes radiating murderous intent that made Du Lanque's blood run cold. Perhaps he should have learned soul enslavement techniques before coming here, this woman clearly possessed duplicitous intentions that made simple interrogation unreliable.
"You'd better not attempt any more tricks," Han Jue said icily, though he withdrew the blade from her throat. "And don't try to leverage any supposed World Master protector in your city. I know there isn't one."
"Thank you for sparing my life, sir!" Du Lanque gasped with relief, her body visibly sagging as tension drained from her muscles.
Han Jue followed Du Lanque into Wanqing Prefecture City proper, his enhanced senses and Six Eyes ability scanning the surroundings constantly. Thanks to his detection capabilities, he'd already confirmed that no one in the city posed a genuine threat to him. The strongest individual present registered as merely a ninth-level Domain Lord, powerful by local standards, but manageable for someone of his capabilities.
Since he was here anyway, Han Jue decided he might as well gather intelligence about the Holy Flames' specific properties and applications, and perhaps uncover more information about the great opportunity hidden within this training mission that Venerable Nine Swords had cryptically referenced.
His analytical mind filed away details as they walked through the city streets, noting architectural patterns, social hierarchies visible in how people dressed and interacted, and the general technological level of Seven Flames Palace civilization.
With measured steps, Han Jue followed Du Lanque toward the center of Wanqing Prefecture City, where the true power structures of this society would reveal themselves.