Just as Ye Qingchen had imagined.

Although Xuanhu Mountain had a harsh environment, because of the abundant Spiritual Qi, we encountered quite a few obstructive beasts along the way. The people from Daluo Sect seemed to want to test Ye Qingchen’s abilities, so they intentionally let some beasts go.

But throughout the journey, it was Lu Yanwu alone who handled things, and Ye Qingchen had no intention of intervening at all. He didn’t seem like someone exploring Xuanhu Mountain, but rather like a young master here for a leisurely stroll!

This scene fell into the eyes of the others, making everyone disdainful.

Especially Kong Jing, who was utterly incredulous, looking at Ye Qingchen with a gaze that screamed "shameless." As a grown man, he actually didn’t make a move in such a situation, relying on a woman to fight his battles!

However, Ye Qingchen was completely unfazed.

His entire attention was focused on the largest volcano ahead. As the distance closed, he could increasingly feel the essence of fire within the volcano.

"It seems we’re almost there!"

In the world of his spiritual sense.

Within that volcano, a dazzling firelight was flickering, clearly the essence of fire he was seeking.

"But, the beast... seems a bit odd!"

Ye Qingchen frowned slightly.

Besides the essence of fire, there was another aura in his spiritual sense; it was the beast within the volcano. But the beast’s aura and the demonic energy enveloping the crater didn’t quite match...

"Could it be that another beast is lurking in the crater?"

Ye Qingchen speculated silently.

By the third day, after a long trek, they finally reached their destination.

"Phew!"

Before them was a massive ring-shaped crater, resembling a giant lake from afar. Endless magma surged, almost level with the crater, and occasionally, flame-like dragons would churn and emerge, only to slowly submerge again.

The scorching heat waves rolled over, one after another. If Ye Qingchen hadn’t imparted some True Qi, Sea of Zhou, who was only a Half-Step Celestial Venerable, couldn’t have climbed this volcano.

"Finally here, we must drive that creature out this time!"

Kong Jing and the others were full of excitement.

This volcano was far larger and more majestic than they had imagined. After exchanging glances, they completely ignored Ye Qingchen and others’ intentions and each took out a heap of dry grass-like things from their Space Rings.

"What are they doing?"

Lu Yanwu saw Kong Jing and others take out the dry grass, then pile it in front of the volcano, and immediately ignited smoke toward the volcano, looking at Ye Qingchen puzzled.

"That’s Dry Dike Grass. Its smoke can stimulate beasts when burned. They’re trying to force out the beast in the volcano!" Ye Qingchen remarked casually, hands behind his back.

"There’s actually a beast inside?"

Sea of Zhou listened, feeling incredulous.

Even a regular Celestial Venerable would end up as bones if they entered this volcano. Who would’ve thought there’s a beast lurking here?

Ye Qingchen merely smiled, not denying.

The world is vast; cultivators like them are just frogs in a well. Just like when he was on the Barbaric Continent, how could he have comprehended the vastness of Kunlun Realm?

From afar, Kong Jing heard this, glancing at him in surprise. She didn’t expect this embroidered pillow to understand the intricacies inside.

"Senior Sister Kong, Dry Dike Grass isn’t a secret; a little inquiry would reveal it. It’s not surprising that the kid knew!" A cultivator at the Celestial Venerable Eighth Layer spoke up.

Reminded, Kong Jing returned to her senses, nodded, "Ignore them. We’ll do our thing. If they dare cause trouble, we’ll chase them off immediately!"

Just as she said that...

The previously calm volcano suddenly started boiling, massive bubbles emerging continuously from within the magma. Then, amidst a roaring splash, a colossal shadow darted out like lightning.

It was a giant flood dragon!

Its body was covered with scales as fiery red as flames, each scale as large as a door panel. Although half its body was submerged in magma, it was still hundreds of zhang long. Its triangular, horned head bore crimson eyes that stared straight at Kong Jing and her group.

"It’s out!"

Upon seeing the flood dragon, Kong Jing was thrilled rather than scared, and quickly shouted, "Get it out!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

As her words fell.

Behind Kong Jing, seven or eight disciples from Daluo Sect raised their hands, releasing chains that slithered out like Spiritual Snakes, with afterimages and sounds of breaking wind, quickly wrapping around the flood dragon’s neck in Lu Yanwu and Sea of Zhou’s astonished gazes.

"Pull!"

Kong Jing shouted sternly.

Boom!

The chains seethed with runes, radiating brightly. The Flame Flood Dragon, just forced out by the scent of Dry Dike Grass, hadn’t reacted yet before being bound by the chains. Under the collective effort of people from Daluo Sect, it was forcibly dragged out!

"Thud!"

A deep crash sounded.

As the Flame Flood Dragon fell to the ground, it smashed the surface into a fracture, stones flying. While others restrained the flood dragon’s movements, Kong Jing immediately led people in for the kill.

For a while, the sounds of fighting and roars were incessant.

"Looks like they came prepared; they’ve probably been here several times, otherwise how could they work so seamlessly?" Lu Yanwu complained with resentment, unable to hold back, "Liu Yuanzhong is too dishonest, giving a map that others already knew about?"

Ye Qingchen smiled faintly, "Heavenly and Earthly Treasures go to those with destiny. Just because we should acquire them, doesn’t mean others can’t? Moreover, they might not be able to take what lies within the volcano!"

Lu Yanwu and Sea of Zhou listened, confused about the reasoning.

But seeing Ye Qingchen stare at the crater silently, they could only suppress their doubts.

As they spoke, the battle over there was already heating up. Though the Flame Flood Dragon was strong, it was calculated from the start.

Enveloped by over a hundred chains, which suppressed its demonic energy, it could only exert seventy percent of its power. Thus, it could only be pressed under Kong Jing and the others the entire time.

"Squeak!"

Just then.

A screeching cry echoed, and the Flame Flood Dragon, unable to hold on any longer, screamed miserably, crashing down instantly, completely silent, as blood gushed and soaked the ground.

"Finally dead!"

Seeing the Flame Flood Dragon slain, Kong Jing and the others couldn’t help but break into smiles.

"Damn it, after coming three times, we finally killed this guy!" A cultivator at the Celestial Venerable Eighth Layer remarked, laughing and tauntingly glancing at Ye Qingchen and his group, "Those people are still there, neither leaving nor taking action!"

"Heh, if not for guarding against them, we would’ve killed this Flame Flood Dragon long ago. How did it drag on until now? Turns out they’re just spineless!" Another disciple from Daluo Sect sneered.

Kong Jing also looked contemptuously.

If the opponents had dared to snatch earlier, she might have looked up to them. But to her, their inaction meant they feared her larger group.

"Ignore them; with this Flame Flood Dragon gone, nobody can stop us!" Kong Jing took out a piece of Jade Marrow and tossed it to the previous cultivator at the Celestial Venerable Eighth Layer, "Lanyu, go down! Retrieve the essence of fire!"

"Alright!"

Lanyu clutched the Jade Marrow, formed a hand seal, and the marrow exploded into crimson light, transforming into countless runes that encased him, forming a shield.

With the shield for protection, Lanyu leaped directly toward the volcano.

"Oh no!"

Seeing this, Lu Yanwu urgently exclaimed, "Mr. Ye, they’re taking the essence of fire. We must act quickly, otherwise won’t this trip be wasted?"

"Indeed, Mr. Ye, if we don’t act now, when will we?" Sea of Zhou was also anxious.

And on the other side, Kong Jing and other disciples from Daluo Sect, their smiles widened, as though the essence of fire was within reach. Just then, a heaven-shocking demonic energy exploded from the calm volcano below.

This demonic energy was even more intense than before. Almost without warning, Lanyu, who had entered the volcano, spat blood and was flung backwards, eyes filled with terror.

He couldn’t help but scream:

"Run away!"

Swoosh!

Before everyone could react, a massive shadow surged from the volcano, carrying endless magma flames, sweeping out fiercely!