Chapter 2716 - 2715: Fire Lotus Stolen

Inside the volcano, yellow magma flows everywhere, and the heat is a level higher than outside.

Fortunately, Ling Feng and his two companions each have their protective measures, so they proceed with composure.

The situation inside the volcano is relatively stable, with no stones falling from above and no signs of life, creating an eerie silence.

Ling Feng examines the surrounding conditions, hoping to discover some clues, but the scenery inside the volcano is almost identical to some caves, with nothing noteworthy.

"So, where is the Fire Dragon?" Ling Feng asked.

Yan Yun, walking ahead, responded calmly, "Don’t rush, you’ll know once you get to the front, the inside of the volcano isn’t big, just a bit more and we’ll reach the location of the Fire Lotus."

Upon hearing this, Ling Feng stopped speaking. Soon, the three of them, along with an elf, reached a place where magma flowed everywhere; however, unlike the entrance, the magma here is golden, like liquid gold streaming by.

Even Song Ruozhao, who was well-traveled and experienced in the Nine Provinces World, was quite astonished to see the golden magma, as such mystical scenes aren’t something most people would witness in a lifetime.

"This is the Heart of Vesuvius Volcano. Due to part of the core power of the Lava World drifting to this place, the magma here is golden,"

"And the Fire Lotus is at the heart of this magma, in the deepest part of these streams." Yan Yun pointed at the flowing golden magma below, stating with a calmness that bordered on laziness.

Ling Feng stepped to the edge of the cliff, observing the bubbles occasionally rising in the boiling magma, involuntarily swallowing back his nervousness, feeling the heat intense enough to evaporate a person instantly.

"You mean to say the Fire Lotus is in the deepest part of this magma?" Ling Feng asked in astonishment.

"Precisely, to obtain the Fire Lotus, you’ll need to penetrate the deepest magma, enduring heat that can melt even the hardest of stones, and possibly encountering magma creatures that may obstruct you. If you’re unprepared, you might not survive." Yan Yun said with a hint of a smile.

Ling Feng turned back to look at Song Ruozhao, "Brother Song, what are the chances you can retrieve the Fire Lotus from magma of this intensity?"

Song Ruozhao also stepped to the edge to assess the magma, and after pondering for a long time, replied slowly, "During my travels through the Nine Provinces, I encountered similar volcanoes and ventured inside, but the heat was much lower than this,"

"Back then, I slew many creatures within the magma and obtained some Devil Beast crystals. My physical body wasn’t fully trained, so I dared not venture deeper,"

"But I was exceptionally lucky, finding a cultivation technique behind a volcanic rockface named ’Magma Refining Technique,’ which stated that despite the high temperature, with sufficient willpower, one could use magma to temper their body,"

"Allowing muscles, skin, and even the deepest bones to withstand the heat of magma. I spent almost a year practicing inside that volcano until I achieved minor success; at that time, I could navigate the magma’s surface without harm, not even feeling the heat,"

"But I did not pursue deeper cultivation of that technique, so my progress remained limited,"

"My physical body and skeleton were refined and tempered by the Qi of the Great Dao back then, achieving Vajra Indestructibility, so I believe retrieving the Fire Lotus from within isn’t a problem,"

"Ling Feng, if you’re determined to acquire the Fire Lotus, I can assist. I promised to fulfill three conditions for you, and if you ask for the Fire Lotus, I’ll get it without hesitation."

Ling Feng pondered Song Ruozhao’s words, realizing he indeed has the strength to retrieve the Fire Lotus, but it would expend one of the conditions.

Ling Feng knows the caliber of Song Ruozhao as a future prodigy capable of transcending the confines of the world, with limitless potential.

Although Ling Feng said Song Ruozhao needn’t fulfill three conditions, he values them highly, understanding their significance and not wanting to waste them on something insignificant.

Unless Ling Feng truly finds the Fire Lotus significantly important for himself.

As Ling Feng was deep in thought, Yan Yun suddenly burst into laughter, "No need to hesitate, it’s all in vain; the Fire Lotus is long gone."

"What?" Ling Feng turned his head in astonishment, looking at Yan Yun with a bitter smile, questioning, "We’ve discussed and deliberated about getting it all this time, and now you tell me the Fire Lotus is gone? Are you kidding me?"

Ling Feng really felt like giving Yan Yun a few sword slashes or at least cursing, but with Ling Yao and Song Ruozhao around, he had to restrain himself.

He could only ask futile questions, "When did it disappear? How did it disappear?"

Yan Yun responded with a bitter smile, "Not too long ago, a man with black scars on his face came on a black flame I had never seen before from the horizon, battled the Fire Dragon guarding the Fire Lotus, and severely injured it,"

"Then, taking advantage of the black flame’s protection, delved into the Heart of the Volcano and stole the Fire Lotus we’ve guarded for millennia,"

"You were just wondering why you didn’t see the Fire Dragon; it was burned by the black flame and is now in a deep sleep, healing in this golden magma. Who knows when it will recover..."

The three were greatly shocked—it was the Black Flame again!

And the man with the black scarred face, it definitely had to be Huo Chou, with all the characteristics matching, and being a member of the Huo Clan, who else would know about the Fire Lotus within the depths of Vesuvius Volcano?

Wait, something doesn’t add up! Ling Feng suddenly realized a discrepancy—they only met Huo Chou today, and according to Huo Yue’s prior description, Huo Chou was previously confined in the Magma Prison, so how could he have recently arrived here to seize the Fire Lotus?

Moreover, even having battled the Fire Dragon, with the volcano not too distant from the Huo Clan settlement, how could they not have noticed Huo Chou’s battle here, or that he had escaped from the prison?

Ling Feng scrutinized Yan Yun with a suspicious look but felt the elf was unlikely to lie and had no reason to deceive them.

Ling Feng expanded his Divine Sense, attempting to explore beneath the magma to verify whether the Fire Lotus was truly gone and if the Fire Dragon was indeed below healing.

The Divine Sense swept through the depths of the magma, and Ling Feng found no trace of the Fire Lotus, instead witnessing a fiery red phantom dragon’s silhouette reflected in the golden magma.

He couldn’t see the Fire Dragon’s true form, so this phantom must be the Fire Dragon healing. It was astounding how powerful Huo Chou’s attack was, gravely injuring the Fire Dragon.

Ling Feng exhaled deeply, his mind in utter disarray, with so many events intertwining, causing slight irritation.

Yan Yun also bore a worried expression, about to say something when a robust voice echoed from outside:

"Yan Yun, where are you? It’s Huo Tian, let me in!"