"Truly magnificent!"
Ao Xuan exclaimed as he flew through the air.
Before the three of them stretched an endless range of volcanic mountains.
As the sun set in the west, their outlines became clearer against the crimson-gold sky. The continuous mountain ranges resembled dormant fire dragons, and each volcanic crater belched red fire-element spiritual energy. As the airwaves surged, even the air twisted slightly from the heat.
Ao Xuan, Yuan Hao, and Cang Lie slowly descended on a cyan-gold cloud. As soon as they approached the foot of the mountain, Cang Lie suddenly stopped. The golden metal spiritual energy around him tensed instantly, and the White Tiger pattern on his forehead glowed with faint silver light.
"What's wrong?"
Ao Xuan sensed his abnormality, and the water fortune spiritual light at his fingertips instinctively swirled around his body. The fire-element spiritual energy here was several times denser than at the spiritual spring, and the air was mixed with a faint trace of chaotic turbid energy—clearly more dangerous than the Western Wasteland.
Cang Lie clenched his fists, his voice strained. "The fire-element spiritual energy in this area is too intense... It restrains my golden metal origin."
He brushed his arm, where his robe had been scorched into fine charred marks by the airwaves. "The golden metal power in my body feels locked, even its circulation has become sluggish."
Yuan Hao leaned over, reaching out to touch a nearby rock. He quickly pulled his hand back with a wince. "Whoa! This rock is hot enough to fry spiritual eggs! Cang Lie, you're of the metal element, and fire restrains metal—no wonder you're suffering. How about I carry you? My earth spiritual energy can block some of the heat!"
The White Tiger curled his lips, waving Yuan Hao away.
Ao Xuan's dragon pupils pierced through the volcanic range ahead, fixing on the central volcano erupting with pale purple flames. "Cang Lie, look at that purple-flame volcano ahead. Although the flames at the crater are fierce, they glow with the sharpness of golden metal—clearly the result of fused fire-element spiritual energy and golden metal essence. It might resolve the constraints on your origin."
The three slowed their pace, approaching the purple-flame volcano gradually. Suddenly, a shrill screech echoed from the direction of the crater.
A crimson-gold figure darted out of the crater, its wingspan reaching three zhang. It was wrapped in scarlet flames, yet its scales glinted with a metallic cold light—it was an innate fire spirit beast, the "Scarlet Flame Golden Centipede!"
As soon as it appeared, it dove toward the three, spitting a golden fire pillar from its mouth. Wherever the fire pillar passed, rocks instantly melted into magma.
"Watch out!"
Yuan Hao darted in front of the other two, his earth-element spiritual energy surging. He raised his staff and smashed it down hard, sending gravel flying to form a massive stone wall.
The fire pillar collided with the stone wall with a sizzle. A faint red glow spread across the wall's surface as the earth-element spiritual energy was eroded by the fire-element power, creating cracks.
"Hey! This beast's flames are powerful too—mixed with golden metal!" Yuan Hao's face changed drastically. The stone wall exploded suddenly, transforming into countless gravel shards that shot toward the Scarlet Flame Golden Centipede. But the centipede twisted its body nimbly, its scales glowing golden. The shards bounced off without leaving even a white mark.
Seeing this, Yuan Hao flew into a rage.
His eyes reddened as he charged forward with his innate stone staff. "Let me test how thick your shell is!"
His earth-element spiritual energy surged, and several stone spikes jutted out of the ground, stabbing toward the centipede's abdomen. Meanwhile, he leaped high, raising the staff with both hands and smashing it down toward the centipede's head. But the centipede twisted nimbly, dodging Yuan Hao's attack. It raised its head, spitting golden fire threads that wrapped around the stone spikes, instantly melting them into magma that splashed back toward Yuan Hao.
"Yuan Hao! Retreat quickly!"
Ao Xuan raised his hand to summon the Water Spirit Pearl. A pale blue water curtain burst into existence, blocking all the magma.
The merit golden light on the water curtain collided with the fire threads, filling the air with steam. "This Scarlet Flame Golden Centipede's origin is a fusion of fire and metal elements. Ordinary attacks can't harm it. Cang Lie, try using your golden metal power to stir the metal essence in its body—you might find a weakness."
A look of realization flashed in Cang Lie's eyes. The silver spiritual energy around him tensed suddenly, converging on his claws instead.
He took a deep breath and charged toward the centipede. His claws sliced through the air, leaving two silver trails of claw wind that accurately struck the gaps between the centipede's scales.
"Sizzle!"
The claw wind tore a massive gash in the scales. The centipede let out a painful screech, lashing its tail with golden flames toward Cang Lie.
Cang Lie dodged sideways, but the flames grazed his shoulder. His robe burst into flames instantly, and a burn mark appeared on his skin.
"Cang Lie!" Yuan Hao was about to rush forward, but Ao Xuan stopped him.
"Don't worry—Cang Lie is fine." Ao Xuan's voice was calm, his dragon pupils fixed on Cang Lie. "Look at his golden metal claws. Although burned by the fire, they've become more condensed. This centipede's fire-element power can temper his golden metal origin."
Sure enough, despite his injury, Cang Lie's eyes blazed with fighting spirit.
He sensed that every time the fire-element spiritual energy eroded his golden metal, a subtle change occurred in his origin. The chaotic turbid energy remaining in his body was being burned away bit by bit by the fire-element power.
He no longer dodged the centipede's attacks, instead taking the initiative to get closer. He let the golden fire threads land on his body, while his claws always aimed for the gaps between the centipede's scales, tearing open wounds repeatedly.
The centipede was completely enraged. The scarlet flames around it surged suddenly, transforming into a massive fire ring that trapped Cang Lie in the center.
Inside the fire ring, countless golden fire blades shot toward Cang Lie, threatening to devour him. But Cang Lie suddenly closed his eyes, and the White Tiger pattern on his forehead glowed with dazzling silver light. He actually gave up defense entirely, allowing the fire-element spiritual energy to pour into his body!
"Has he gone crazy?!" Yuan Hao's eyes reddened as he prepared to rush in to save him.
"Wait a little longer!"
Ao Xuan pressed his hand on Yuan Hao's shoulder, the water fortune spiritual light at his fingertips trembling slightly, ready to rescue Cang Lie at any moment.
Inside the fire ring, Cang Lie's body was wrapped in scarlet flames, his skin turning crimson, but he gritted his teeth and persisted.
The golden metal power in his body collided violently with the fire-element spiritual energy. Each collision brought heart-wrenching pain, but he could clearly feel the impurities in his golden metal origin dissipating rapidly. The previously somewhat impure silver spiritual energy gradually became pure, even glowing with a faint golden hue.
"Roar!!!"
A tiger's roar shook the firmament, scattering the five-colored clouds in the sky.
Cang Lie abruptly flung open his eyes, and the golden metal spiritual energy on his claws surged, now tinged with a hint of crimson-gold fire. He leaped high, slamming his claws down fiercely upon the centipede's head with all his might.
This strike contained the tempered golden metal power fused with the supreme yang energy of fire—its sharpness was several times stronger than before!
"Squelch!"
The centipede's head was torn apart instantly. Golden blood sprayed out, and its massive body crashed heavily to the ground, twitching a few times before falling still.
Cang Lie landed on the ground, the scarlet flames around him fading to reveal a body glowing with golden light. His original silver golden metal origin had actually evolved into "Nanming Golden Metal" under the fire-element tempering!
"This... What is this?"
Yuan Hao leaned over, curiously poking Cang Lie's arm, only to be bounced back by the golden light. "Whoa! Your spiritual energy now has fire in it? It feels warm, but not burning!"
Cang Lie moved his wrist, the golden light on his claws flickering. He could clearly feel that his golden metal power was not only sharper now but also carried supreme yang energy that restrained yin evil. The hidden danger of demonic energy erosion from before had been completely eliminated.
He looked at Ao Xuan, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you for your guidance, fellow Daoist. If you hadn't pointed it out, I would never have known that golden metal could be tempered by fire."
Ao Xuan shook his head with a smile, his gaze turning to the purple-flame volcano's crater. "The true opportunity must be up there. That centipede occupied this place, guarding a treasure that can help you stabilize your Nanming Golden Metal."
The three flew upward along the crater. The closer they got to the top, the denser the fire-element spiritual energy became, but Cang Lie no longer felt uncomfortable—instead, he sensed a faint resonance from the Nanming Golden Metal in his body.
When they reached the crater, the scene before them stunned all three—in the magma pool at the center of the crater, a fist-sized crystal floated. The crystal was entirely crimson-gold, with fine fire and metal patterns flowing across its surface—it was the Heaven-Burning Golden Crystal!
"What dense gold and fire energy!" Yuan Hao's eyes lit up, but he didn't dare approach the magma pool. "If I had this crystal, I could refine my stone staff into a divine artifact!"
Cang Lie took a deep breath and slowly walked toward the magma pool.
The Nanming Golden Metal circulated in his body, forming a golden light shield that blocked the magma's heat waves. He stretched out his hand, channeling his energy to draw the Heaven-Burning Golden Crystal into his palm. The crystal felt warm to the touch, and the fire and metal patterns flowed from his palm into his body.
In an instant, the golden light around Cang Lie surged. Crimson-gold spiritual energy shot into the sky, intertwining with the purple flames at the crater. He could feel that his Nanming Golden Metal was becoming more condensed under the nourishment of the Heaven-Burning Golden Crystal. The patterns on his claws became clearer, and he could even channel the surrounding fire-element spiritual energy to form small golden fire rings.
"It worked!" A look of joy flashed in Ao Xuan's eyes. This Heaven-Burning Golden Crystal not only stabilized Cang Lie's origin but also added fire-element characteristics to his golden metal power. In future battles against Luo Hu's demonic energy, he would have an extra layer of restraint.
Yuan Hao also clapped his hands and cheered. "Great! Now this tiger is much stronger than before! Next time we meet that centipede, he can tear it apart with one claw!"
Cang Lie retracted the golden light, bowing to Ao Xuan and Yuan Hao. "I owe this opportunity entirely to the two of you. If you ever need my help in the future, I will not hesitate!"
The three stood at the crater, looking toward the deeper volcanic ranges in the distance—where the fire-element spiritual energy was even denser, and faint fluctuations of the Vermilion Bird's fire spirit could be felt. Ao Xuan waved his hand, and the cyan-gold cloud condensed again. "We've obtained the Heaven-Burning Golden Crystal. Let's continue deeper. Fellow Daoist Vermilion Bird's trace should be ahead."
Cang Lie nodded, the Nanming Golden Metal around him glowing with gentle golden light, no longer fearing the fire-element spiritual energy. Yuan Hao slung his stone staff over his shoulder, bouncing onto the cloud, muttering about finding a fire spirit treasure next time to refine his staff properly.
Ao Xuan walked last, a hint of anticipation flashing in his dragon pupils—the Azure Dragon of the Four Symbols was already in place, the White Tiger had obtained his opportunity, and the Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise would soon be found. The true Four Symbols Covenant would soon be realized.
"Huh?"
A green talisman in Ao Xuan's arms suddenly began to glow and flicker.
Ao Xuan's heart skipped a beat. This was the message talisman he'd left with Qinghe—could something have happened to the East China Sea?
He pulled out the talisman in a hurry.
Only two words were inscribed on it:
"Return quickly!"