Chapter 10: The Volcanic Cavern

The lava lake resembled a golden crystal bead, set perfectly at the center of a dark red stone disk, dazzling and splendid. Orange-red and golden lava flowed and churned slowly within the lake, occasionally sending up enormous bubbles. Scorching waves of heat radiated from the lava lake, spreading outward in waves, only to be blocked by the mountain walls and then surge upward toward the sky.

Ning Zhuo and Ning Yong stood atop the mountain wall, their figures shaken violently by the rising heat waves. Despite Ning Zhuo channeling his magical power to shield his mouth and nose, the hot gusts still curled his hair. Ning Zhanji cast a glance at the somewhat disheveled newcomers, and quietly ordered, “Give each of them a set of magical robes.”

His subordinates promptly tossed the spare robes to the two of them. Ning Zhuo examined his and found the entire set included helmet, tunic, trousers, outer robe, armor, boots, and more. The garments were inscribed with numerous talismanic symbols, predominantly frost talismans.

“Talisman treasure,” Ning Zhuo thought immediately. Unlike magical implements, talisman treasures were consumed with each use, making them expendable. Their advantage lay in cost: by engraving talismans onto basic materials, one could create a talisman treasure and greatly enhance its value. The small wooden hammer Ning Zhuo had designed in the basement was just such a talisman treasure—it made cleaning oily soot much easier.

These magical robes were standard equipment for the Ning family cultivator corps, evidently developed specifically for their campaign to claim the Lava Immortal Palace. As Ning Zhuo and his companions donned the full set, the temperature around them returned to normal, the searing heat vanished, and even the pungent sulfur scent disappeared completely.

Several lowering platforms hung from the mountain wall, each guarded by city garrison soldiers, both to protect and to collect fees. Ning Zhanji led the group to one platform and officially stepped from the mountaintop into the crater basin.

Ning Yong stamped his feet in excitement, peering curiously everywhere. Ning Zhuo’s face, too, showed both excitement and caution. Ning Zhanji’s gaze was fixed on the central lava lake.

The group of over fifty cultivators moving together immediately attracted attention. They were not the only ones in the volcano; numerous teams and solitary cultivators were scattered throughout the basin. Occasionally, more cultivators descended from the mountain wall above. Some used the official lowering platforms, but more rigged their own ropes and climbed down. The constant heat waves made the descent arduous for all.

Those who climbed down independently saved the platform fees. The city garrison watched these lone cultivators descend without interference, their expressions indifferent, as if deliberately ignoring them.

Ning Zhuo gradually approached the lava lake.

As he drew nearer, he noticed signs of life within the lava lake. Another massive bubble burst, and a scarlet-furred mouse used the rising heat currents to soar into the white smoke above, hunting in midair. If successful, one could see the red-furred mouse carrying a cloud sparrow in its jaws, dropping down toward the ground.

The ongoing heat waves softened the force of the fall, allowing the red-furred mouse to drift gently to the rocky floor without harm. Some cultivators waited specifically for these mice to land after their hunt, then used special tools to capture them.

In Ning Zhuo’s mind, a bead of thought glimmered.

“Fire velvet mouse, with exceptional resistance to fire, able to swim in lava. It preys on birds. Its fur is the most valuable part; collecting hundreds and refining them through sewing and other techniques produces a fire-resistant velvet robe of excellent quality.”

At that moment, Ning Zhanji halted in front of one of many cave entrances—no different from the others nearby, yet he was certain. He called out quietly, “This is the place, prepare to enter.”

The other cultivators responded sharply. One stepped forward, formed a hand seal, and pushed out a cloud of frosty white mist. The mist poured into the cave, covering the entrance with a layer of frost. The chill poured downward, provoking a rumbling reaction from the cave.

The rumbling intensified, and in the next moment, a surge of mud spouted from the cave. The mud shot high into the air, burning with flames, blooming like fireworks.

Ning Zhuo recognized the burning mud as oily soot. Once the mud finished erupting, Ning Zhanji was the first to leap into the cave, followed by the rest in quick succession. Ning Shen, Ning Yong, and other newcomers were led in by veteran members, one-on-one.

As Ning Zhuo jumped into the cave, he shivered, chilled by the surrounding cold. Sliding down, the temperature in the tunnel quickly rose. In the latter half, it grew extremely hot, and Ning Zhuo, as he slid, keenly observed the changing tunnel walls.

At first, the tunnel walls were covered in frost. By the latter half, the frost had melted away completely. When he finally landed, feet planted firmly, Ning Zhuo looked up to find himself in a subterranean world suffused with fire and stone.

The rocky ground beneath his feet was subtly soft, the surrounding stone walls translucent orange-yellow, radiating intense heat. Nearby, Ning Yong reached out curiously to touch the wall, only to see a third of the runes on his glove dissolve instantly, causing him to snatch back his hand in alarm.

Fortunately, a Ning family cultivator stepped forward, withdrawing a jade bottle and releasing ethereal water vapor. The mist coalesced into blue-white ribbons, floating in midair and winding around the group, shielding them from the omnipresent heat.

With the newcomers placed at the center of the group, Ning Zhanji led the Ning family cultivators onward. After the initial novelty faded, the scenery of the Scarlet Flame Demon Caverns became monotonous.

Ning Yong kept muttering, longing for the appearance of some powerful beast. Ning Shen’s vigilance relaxed noticeably. Ning Zhuo, meanwhile, marveled at the astonishing concentration of spiritual energy—the highest he had ever encountered.

“No wonder so many powerful cultivators live in isolation, dwelling in places rarely touched by humanity,” he thought. “Unfortunately, my magical power is aligned with frost, while the spiritual energy here is overwhelmingly fiery and laced with fire poison—unsuitable for me.”

The underground passages alternated between wide and narrow, and clearly sloped downward. There was more than one tunnel; Ning Zhuo often encountered forks, but the Ning family cultivators always chose the correct path without hesitation, evidently familiar with the route.

“Fire crystal grass, rooted in stone, leaves as transparent as gems, constantly absorbing geothermal energy and flames, able to emit light. Flame shadow flower, absorbs lava and toxins, its grass purple-black, leaves thin as a cicada’s wing, the body motionless but its shadow flickers like fire. Strong ginseng, draws strength from the earth, transforms after one hundred thirty years, slender roots possessing innate earth-burrowing abilities.”

Along the way, Ning Zhuo saw several types of spiritual plants. The Ning family cultivators would assign part of their group to harvest them as they passed.

Ning Zhanji gave Ning Zhuo a barely noticeable glance, then beckoned to all the newcomers, testing them with a question: “Do you know why we harvest all these spiritual plants?”