Chapter 94: Deep in the Cave, Amidst the Magma

Around the stone walls encircling the cave entrance lay scattered crimson stones, their patterns emitting a faint scarlet hue laced with subtle malevolence when traced. Hong Yun examined them briefly, a trace of restlessness stirring in his heart and igniting an impulse to act. Moreover, the markings flowed ceaselessly, as if alive, attempting to draw him into a hallucinatory realm. Though he remained untouched by the illusion, his expression stayed somewhat displeased in this state. Splash, splash— At that instant, a sensation arose on his body, a cascade of water sounds echoing within his core and swiftly restoring his mood to tranquility. He lifted his gaze once more, noting that the layer of tribulation qi he had initially mobilized had solidified further, transforming into shades of water blue. Was this the efficacy of the artifact he had acquired earlier? Hong Yun extended his finger to probe the barrier before him, now rendered tangible. Upon contact, it possessed a gelatinous texture; he seized it and squeezed, eliciting an elastic bounce. It held a certain allure. He cast a glance at the wall, observing that it exerted no influence upon him, and thus ceased further alterations. After the autonomous flow subsided, he withdrew his gaze. He could not afford to waste time on such inquiries, for one additional moment might engender one more minute of change, so it was best to locate what he sought as soon as possible. He contemplated this and proceeded without hesitation toward the depths of the cave. The cave sloped downward, its surrounding walls adorned with patterns identical to those at the entrance, flowing endlessly. When he surveyed the site upward, it evoked the maw of a deep abyss, ceaselessly devouring intruders. ... How long had he descended? Hong Yun regarded the successive stairs and the profound chasm ahead, his eyes narrowing slightly. One hour? Ten hours? Or ten days? He had continued his descent, and upon reflection, he noted that in this locale, numerous conceptions in his mind had subtly faded, encompassing time, cultivation realm, desires, apprehensions, and other sentiments. Until now, only the quest for the Dao and the boundless rage persisted in his heart. Although he harbored an intention to quiet his mind, the acquired portion had integrated into his body, resembling kidneys, proving less potent than the substance laden with tribulation qi in the depths below. Presently, he could merely endure partial disruption reluctantly, yet he could not completely dispel the feeling. At this juncture, his heart felt burdened, yearning to sit and rest briefly. Very well, first consider reaching the core before proceeding. Hong Yun sat cross-legged, staring at the steps beneath his feet in a daze. Indeed, the items he possessed had undergone minimal development and remained in an unclaimed state. Though their genuine power might not lag behind, in this condition, self-preservation sufficed for satisfaction. ... Just as he settled, the sound of flowing water grew markedly audible. As he carefully examined himself internally, his fingers began to twitch uncontrollably. Initially, Hong Yun presumed it was attempting to draw him into another illusion, but upon realizing it was no illusion, his consciousness sharpened abruptly. Under the observation of his tribulation vision, a slender filament of water appeared on the fingertip touching the ground. It emanated from his own being, extending in an anomalous direction. Seeing this, Hong Yun's eyes gleamed. Once the water flow sound ceased, he rose and followed the trace, advancing in that direction. Guided thus, each step forward intensified his heart fire, yet within his body there was always a basin of cool water. Any inclination for heart fire to advance was immediately quenched, realigning his mind to calm. Progressing along the line of tribulation qi on the steps to the water filament's end, a wave of heat enveloped him. Upon looking up, he paused briefly, for he had exited the original cave. Before him stretched a vast stone wall. Beneath it churned and bubbled magma, traversing slowly like a river. A lava river... Hong Yun fixed his gaze on the scorching magma below, sensing the confirmed fluctuation of tribulation qi, his eyes narrowing. To be candid, his present physique would struggle greatly against such heat. Yet here he was; retreat was unthinkable. He considered it and still unleashed the killing energy from his cloud wings, descending. Upon entering the Condensation of Killing Realm, a cultivator's killing energy could condense into righteous qi, and his slaughter righteous qi, equivalent to a demon king's, detonated upon impact with the scalding lava below, disrupting its flow. Following the magma's disturbance, Hong Yun noted no alteration, his expression firming as he rested a hand on his blade sheath. He unsheathed the blade with a sharp click, slashing forth. The killing energy in this stroke, though not dense, served as a catalyst; after breaching the magma and submerging, it restored tranquility. Had his assumption been incorrect? Hong Yun sheathed his blade and furrowed his brow. Observing the terrain, if accurate, the object lay within, so why evade his attraction? Gurgle gurgle... As he ruminated, the magma below stirred. Bubbles proliferated, surging upward and heating the adjacent stone walls. Hmm? Hong Yun, upon the wall, detected the activity. Concentrating downward, he thrust his head out, but a torrent of magma surged back; unprepared, he recoiled. ... "Brother, it's already been three days. Shall we open it and collect that young man's remains?" Luanqing Mountain shook the feather fan in his hand, viewing his elder brother meticulously wiping the long flute, offering a light laugh. "Likely the youth in the cave went astray and lost all his killing energy, perishing trapped within." The man polished the flute anew, disregarding his sibling, fixating on the cave mouth with a blend of hope and resignation. "I hope he prevails. After all, it has been a hundred years again."