Screams of agony immediately echoed through the air, and chaos erupted once more outside the grand hall…
The chaos lasted for a while. Amidst the endless screams, the greed in the eyes of those behind gradually subsided. Many even began retreating rapidly.
Some with weaker strength couldn't withstand such terrifying threats of death and frantically fled toward the outskirts of the Skeleton Mountain Range.
"Master, should we go in now?" Xiao Huiying asked, looking at the fire path. Its power was merely average; even if she stood there, it couldn't burn a single strand of her hair with her current strength.
"No rush. Let them go in first."
Xiao Jietian was in no hurry. He had a deep impression of these ancient ruins. In any case, the location of the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit was quite deep inside.
Approximately a few minutes later, the major forces saw that some powerful Dou Zongs had successfully entered. After confirming there were no other traps inside besides the fire path, they immediately used their own methods and began entering the fire path.
"Little friend Xiao Yan, do you want to act with us or…" Valley Master Tang Zhen saw that other forces had already entered and looked at Xiao Yan beside him.
"Valley Master Tang, please go in first." Xiao Yan shook his head. He had no intention of traveling with the Burning Flame Valley group.
He had too many enemies. Going with the Burning Flame Valley people would only bring harm to them. With fewer people, if they couldn't win, they could run at any time.
Seeing this, Valley Master Tang Zhen roughly understood Xiao Yan's thoughts. "Then be careful yourself."
Tang Huo'er, standing beside Valley Master Tang Zhen, was about to say something when she saw the Valley Master's Nine-Dragon Lightning Gang Flame envelop the Burning Flame Valley members. They quickly flew into the fire path.
After watching Valley Master Tang Zhen and the others leave, Xiao Yan turned to the two people beside him. "Then let's go too. The things left behind by a Dou Sheng are exciting to think about."
As Xiao Yan spoke, he couldn't help rubbing his hands together. Entering this time, he felt fearless in the face of any danger. His main source of confidence wasn't that he had broken through to Dou Zun, but because Venerable Skyfire was by his side.
As the saying went, having an elder at home was like having a treasure.
Venerable Skyfire had plenty of experience entering ancient ruins, and his rich knowledge made him far better at seeing through the illusions inside than a greenhorn like Xiao Yan.
Nalan Yanran and the other person couldn't help but smile wryly at Xiao Yan's miserly appearance.
A pure white flame, like snow, appeared on Xiao Yan's body. It was a combination of the sub-flames of the Green Lotus Core Flame, Fallen Heart Flame, Bone Chilling Flame, and Crimson Emperor Burning Heaven Holy Flame.
The flame enveloped himself, Nalan Yanran, and Venerable Skyfire. With a flash, they entered the fire path.
…
"Let's go in too."
With that, Xiao Jietian led Xiao Huiying and directly stepped into the fire path.
Originally, it would have been best for Zi Yan to personally collect the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit, but she was currently at a critical juncture of her inheritance and was not suitable to come out.
Moreover, Xiao Jietian had no intention of disturbing her. He already had a corresponding method for how to collect the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit.
The moment he entered the fire path, Xiao Jietian casually shattered the incoming flame power.
Xiao Huiying stood quietly beside him, carefully sensing everything around her.
"Master, this Dou Sheng is a bit too wicked, treating everyone who comes in like monkeys."
"This fire path is entirely constructed using spatial power, and it doesn't even have an end. Some individual places are even interconnected, while the real path is beneath the magma."
Xiao Huiying couldn't help but chuckle as she continued speaking to Xiao Jietian. "Most normal people would avoid magma, let alone think of jumping into it."
"Indeed. Let's go—we should head down too." Xiao Jietian took Xiao Huiying and plunged directly into the magma.
As Xiao Jietian and Xiao Huiying fell into the magma, many people passing by witnessed it. Some showed regret, some horror, and some thoughtful expressions.
Upon entering the magma, Xiao Jietian's figure quickly descended. At their speed, in less than ten seconds, they passed through the layer of magma and landed on the floor below.
Xiao Huiying looked up at the crimson magma above, which hung like a giant python in a circular, twisting shape. Faintly, she could still see occasional figures flashing across the fire path above.
"These people will run until their Dou Qi is exhausted, and they still might not reach the end," Xiao Huiying shook her head slightly.
"This is their choice. Opportunities often coexist with risks. To seek opportunities, one must pay a price during the search." Xiao Jietian rubbed Xiao Huiying's head. Although the Heavenly Thunder Dragon was known as a creator of natural disasters, Xiao Huiying had only experienced all the beauty in the world since birth.
So, she still had a bit of kindness in her heart, but not blind saintly compassion.
"Hmm, this is what Master once said—'Let go of the desire to help others, respect their destiny,' right? Besides, these people aren't our own, and they've already been blinded by greed. If we help them now, they might attack us the next moment."
Xiao Huiying nodded silently, then narrowed her eyes and said, "That's right. It's good that you know. Let's go. It seems no one has arrived before us."
Xiao Jietian also couldn't help but smile wryly. He had already delayed so much, yet no one had found the correct passage.
The two quickly headed deeper into the passage.
The passage was not long. Xiao Jietian and Xiao Huiying walked and observed, taking less than thirty seconds to reach the plaza at the end of the passage.
They looked toward the end of the plaza, where an extremely heavy stone door stood. In front of the stone door, ten figures stood straight as spears, unmoving for eternity. Their skin was a brilliant silver, their eyes hollow, and their faces expressionless—like ancient corpses.
"Are these puppets?" Xiao Huiying felt no life fluctuations from these bodies. "However, these ten peak Dou Zong puppets seem a bit unworthy of a Dou Sheng's ancient ruins, don't they? But why do these puppets feel a bit familiar?"
Hearing Xiao Huiying, Xiao Jietian agreed. Peak Dou Zong guards at the door did feel a bit cheap. Perhaps these puppets had degraded after countless years?
"These are similar to Earth Demon Puppets."
"Oh, so that's it. Do you want to subdue these puppets?"
Xiao Jietian shook his head. "These things are too weak. Although their growth potential is good, it's only so-so. It's better to leave them for those who come later to add some excitement."
These puppets would definitely fall into Xiao Yan's hands later. He also didn't like playing with puppets; he always felt it was strange, like carrying someone else's corpse around.