Passing through the transparent barrier, Liu Xi didn't immediately leave. Instead, he stopped three meters above it and turned back to glance into the depths of the dark-red magma below — a black abyss that seemed to swallow even the light.
A trace of longing flickered in his eyes. He lightly pressed his lips together and muttered, 'The Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's mansion lies beneath this magma… the chance to ascend to the Dou Di Realm is right there…'
"Little friend, don't be greedy," Yao Tianhuo's solemn, ancient voice echoed within Liu Xi's mind. "There's great terror deep below. Even when I was a Dou Zun, I was forced to retreat from that place. Countless Fire Lizards dwell down there — and I suspect that at the deepest layer of this magma world lies a terrifying guardian. This is your only chance to leave alive."
Hearing that, the yearning in Liu Xi's eyes gradually faded, replaced by his usual calm. He transmitted back, "Don't worry, Elder Yao. I know my limits. What's down there isn't something I can touch right now."
Yao Tianhuo's tone softened slightly. "Good that you understand. Even among the Fire Lizard clans, there exist peak Dou Zun-level beings. We should leave before they—"
"Elder Yao," Liu Xi interrupted, his eyes narrowing slightly, "these Fire Lizards you mentioned… are they the kind with crimson scales all over their bodies, half a zhang-long red tails, and round, ugly heads covered in scales?"
"That's right. You've seen them before?"
"Not before…" Liu Xi smirked faintly. "But I'm seeing them now."
Before the words even faded, a dozen streams of blazing energy shot toward him from all directions, cutting off every route of escape. The oppressive magma dampened his spiritual perception, allowing the Fire Lizards to sneak dangerously close before he could react.
"Heart Flame Armor!"
At once, the invisible flames surrounding his body condensed into a thin, translucent armor. Though it looked fragile, it was impenetrable — the moment those fiery blasts struck, they vanished without a trace.
Before him appeared a dozen humanoid Fire Lizards, their beady eyes filled with bloodlust and cruelty. Their mouths gaped wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth as they hissed.
"Chi-chi!"
Liu Xi's brows lifted slightly. "Tch. Even uglier than I imagined."
Yao Tianhuo's voice followed, calm but firm. "There aren't many of them. Shall I lend a hand? Better we finish this quickly and leave before stronger ones come."
"Just what I was thinking," Liu Xi replied with amusement.
He wanted to test the power of the Fallen Heart Flame anyway. With the Heart Flame Armor intact, there was no need for fear.
In the next instant—
"Puff!"
His figure flashed forward like a serpent. In a blink, he appeared before the nearest Fire Lizard. His fingers closed into a blade-hand and pierced straight through the creature's chest. The thick crimson scales tore apart like paper.
As the creature's eyes widened in disbelief, Liu Xi twisted his wrist and withdrew his hand, a crimson core clutched between his fingers. One glance — then he casually tossed it into his Storage Ring.
"Chi-chi-chi!"
The others roared furiously, their mouths opening to spit blazing fireballs toward him.
Liu Xi's figure blurred — each step flickering like ghostly afterimages — avoiding most of the flames, while the rest were harmlessly absorbed by his armor. In the next moment, he was before another Fire Lizard.
"Bang!"
Its ugly, round head exploded like a watermelon. Liu Xi's hand slid down and plunged once again into its chest, pulling free another crimson bead.
He laughed quietly, eyes gleaming with battle excitement. "Now this… this feels good."
Each flash of movement claimed another life. The supposedly Dou Wang-level Fire Lizards were as fragile as infants before him — slaughtered one after another, their fire cores claimed.
Claws and fangs scraped uselessly against his Heart Flame Armor, striking sparks but leaving not a mark. Every counterattack from him ended with an explosion of gore.
Moments later, only silence remained — and the last Fire Lizard collapsed into ash as he tore its core free.
But before he could even breathe out, his body tensed. From the southwest, an even greater tide of scorching auras surged toward him.
"Little friend, we must go," Yao Tianhuo's voice turned grave. "These Fire Lizards are strange — powerful and endless in number. Were it not for their inability to leave the magma, they would have ravaged the continent long ago. We can't waste time here."
As he spoke, the white Storage Ring on Liu Xi's finger shimmered faintly, releasing waves of Spatial Power, ready to whisk them away.
Though part of him wanted to keep harvesting the Fire Cores, Liu Xi understood this wasn't the time to be reckless. The Heart Flame Armor dissolved back into wisps of invisible flame.
"Understood, Elder Yao."
With a flicker, his figure shot upward, following the Fallen Heart Flame's familiar energy signature to find his way out.
Behind him, the pursuing auras — several even at the Dou Huang and Dou Zong level — grew weaker and finally began to fade. Only then did he allow himself a slight sigh of relief.
Moments later, a splash echoed through the magma lake as Liu Xi burst out of the molten surface. He barely had time to take a breath when a familiar, cold voice sounded above him—
"Elders, form the Thousand-Layer Seal!"
"Yes!"
Liu Xi froze, then quickly realized the seal's target… was him.
"Great Elder, don't seal it — it's me!" he shouted, hurriedly.
Su Qian blinked in surprise, staring at the figure wreathed in invisible flame. "Liu Xi? But… what's with the fire around you?"
Seeing that Su Qian had calmed, Liu Xi slowly dispersed the flames, revealing his face and grinned casually.
"Fallen Heart Flame and Han Feng ended up destroying each other," he said lightly. "I was just lucky enough to pick up the pieces. Oh, right…"
He lifted his hand, revealing a faint, translucent flame flickering above his palm. Its aura was weak — childlike.
"This is all that's left of the Fallen Heart Flame," Liu Xi explained with a humble smile. "Its spirit and energy are gone. Even with constant nurturing, it'll take at least a hundred years to regain its original strength. Still, it can summon Heart Flames — enough to maintain the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower."
Su Qian's furrowed brows relaxed. The explanation seemed unbelievable — but the weak, newborn flame before him told its own story.
"Spirit gone…" he murmured, eyes brightening with realization. "Then that means it's no longer hostile toward the Inner Academy?"
Liu Xi nodded.
Overjoyed, Su Qian personally descended through the formation barrier, cautiously approaching. His trembling hands cupped the small flame, sensing its gentle aura.
Moments later, laughter burst from him, echoing through the magma chamber.
"Hahaha! Excellent! Truly excellent!"
When he finally calmed down, he looked at Liu Xi, his eyes full of pride and gratitude.
"You have nothing to blame yourself for," Su Qian said earnestly. "If not for you holding off Han Feng and the Fallen Heart Flame, the academy would have suffered unimaginable losses. You're still new among the Elders, so you don't know how much we've sacrificed to keep that flame sealed. This outcome… is a blessing in disguise. Perhaps the Inner Academy now has its own guardian flame once more."
Liu Xi chuckled softly. "Then I can rest easy."
Hearing that, Su Qian raised his head and shouted toward the barrier above:
"What are you all still waiting for? Drop the formation — our hero has returned!"
(End of Chapter)
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