Invincible Soul Emperor

Yan Lao let out a cold snort, a trace of anger flickering on his face: "You humans used a ’lure the tiger away from the mountain’ trick to deceive me from my post, only to realize something was amiss upon leaving. I wanted to chase after the person polluting the Energy Core but only managed to grab a piece of his sleeve."

Upon hearing this, Ye Qingchen’s expression turned grave: "Could it be that Xue Wei has also come to the Secret Realm?"

Xue Zhao understood the urgency of the situation. It wasn’t about Xue Wei being there or not; if anything happened to the volcano’s Energy Core, the consequences would be unimaginable.

The entire Secret Realm could potentially be damaged because of this, and they might not even be able to escape!

They must find a way to repair it quickly.

Xue Zhao’s expression became exceedingly serious, her eyes revealing a determined light. She stepped forward, looking directly at Yan Lao, her voice filled with earnestness: "Yan Lao, how can the Energy Core be repaired? As a member of the Xue Family, I have a strong obligation to repair it."

Yan Lao glanced at Xue Zhao, seeing her sincere expression, his anger seemed to slightly dissipate.

He sighed, his tone still serious: "To repair the Energy Core, you must find one hundred Fire Crystal Stones. These stones contain pure and powerful Fire Element, capable of neutralizing the pollution in the Energy Core. But finding these Fire Crystal Stones is incredibly difficult."

Xue Zhao listened attentively, her expression growing more serious, as if every word was etched into her heart.

She nodded: "Please explain in detail, just how difficult is it to find the Fire Crystal Stones, and where do we need to go to find them?"

Yan Lao’s face darkened, his gaze deep, as if recalling something. He said slowly: "Fire Crystal Stones are extremely rare, and can only be found in Lava Lakes at the deepest part of the volcano, which is beneath the Energy Core. These lakes are surrounded by lava all year round, with temperatures high enough to instantly vaporize ordinary people into ash."

He continued: "Moreover, the formation of Fire Crystal Stones requires extremely harsh conditions, taking hundreds or even thousands of years to condense a single stone. Therefore, finding one hundred Fire Crystal Stones is an extraordinarily difficult task. Additionally, ferocious fiery creatures reside in these Lava Lakes, considering these areas as their territory and are highly aggressive. You will not only have to endure high temperatures but also face these powerful fiery creatures."

Upon hearing this, Xue Zhao furrowed her brows tightly, looking towards Ye Qingchen, who nodded at her.

Xue Zhao then turned back to Yan Lao: "Yan Lao, it really doesn’t sound easy, but we’ll handle this task. How do we reach the deepest part of the volcano?"

Yan Lao looked deeply at her, as if assessing the capability of the two.

Finally, he nodded, his tone slightly more softened: "Alright, I’ll give you a map marking several Lava Lakes where Fire Crystal Stones might exist. Be cautious; you must deal with the harsh environment and fierce creatures while staying alert to changes around you. Remember, once you find the Fire Crystal Stones, return immediately, do not linger."

Xue Zhao accepted the map, carefully storing it, then earnestly said: "Thank you, Yan Lao, for your guidance. We will return soon."

Following the map’s directions, Ye Qingchen and Xue Zhao traversed numerous winding paths, finally reaching the deepest part beneath the volcano.

The area was illuminated by the scorching lava, overwhelmingly bright and searing. The air was filled with a blistering sensation, making breathing difficult.

Upon entering this region, the sight before them caused both to tremble inwardly.

Everything around seemed to be ablaze; lava surged from the depths of the earth, forming fiery waterfalls that roared thunderously.

The glow of the lava cast twisted shadows on the rock walls, rendering the entire space exceptionally eerie and terrifying.

The ground was dotted with lakes formed by lava, within which the magma bubbled and boiled, periodically ejecting columns of flames bearing endless heat. The ground surrounding the lakes was burnt deep crimson by the lava, as if each step was a venture into flames.

The air was heavy with the intense scent of sulfur, mingled with scorching currents, suffocating. The temperature was so high that sweat poured down their bodies like rain, clothes instantly drenched.

The two exerted all their Energy to protect themselves, yet despite this, every step brought forth the heat from beneath, forcing them to move cautiously.

At the edges of these Lava Lakes, grim-shaped fiery creatures could be seen, their bodies ablaze with fierce flames, eyes glinting with a vicious light. These creatures varied in form, some resembling giant fiery scorpions, others like fire-breathing lizards. They lingered at the edges of Lava Lakes as if defending their territory.

Proceeding with utmost care, Ye Qingchen and Xue Zhao’s eyes were full of vigilance and tension. Xue Zhao slightly frowned and whispered: "This environment is far harsher than we imagined; we need to be even more cautious."

Ye Qingchen nodded, his gaze serious: "It seems the things down here haven’t been polluted by Demonic Qi; otherwise, they wouldn’t remain idle in battle."

They continued onward, footsteps light and cautious, striving to avoid the patrolling fiery creatures. Each step was taken with care, fearing to stir any unnecessary trouble.

The surroundings grew increasingly terrifying; the flickering flames cast shadows across their faces, highlighting their tense yet resolute expressions.

Not far ahead lay a larger Lava Lake, its center boiling tumultuously, emitting a low roar. At the lake’s edge, several faintly glowing stones could be seen—the Fire Crystal Stones they sought.

Ye Qingchen and Xue Zhao cautiously approached the edge of the Lava Lake, when suddenly, from its depths, came a deafening roar.

This roar was deep and thick, as if the earth itself was trembling along with it.

The sound echoed around the Lava Lake, exploding like thunder in their ears, piercing the eardrums and instilling fear.

Amidst this roar was a blend of anger and threat, like an infernal demon venting endless fury.

The sound waves surged across the surface of the Lava Lake, raising waves of blazing heat, causing the magma within to boil more violently, as if controlled by some invisible force.

The vibration from the roar caused the surrounding rock walls to tremble slightly, ground cracks expanding, heat waves rushing forth. The air was filled with a suffocating pressure, making even breathing difficult.

Instantly alert, Ye Qingchen and Xue Zhao’s expressions turned solemn. They exchanged a glance, seeing the same tension in each other’s eyes.