Through the investigations of Gu Zuo’s psychic power, he discovered that the Fire Ape was indeed completely dead. He appeared from behind the huge rock and jumped in front of the Fire Ape’s corpse.
Gongyi Tianheng put away his spear. His forehead was slick with faint rivulets of sweat.
This time around, Gu Zuo didn’t go to dissect the corpse. Rather, he asked with deep concern: “Big brother, are you okay?”
Tianheng put away the ferocity in his gaze, and his tone was gentle: “It’s nothing. With Ah Zuo’s help, it was half the effort for twice the result.”
After Gu Zuo sized Tianheng up and down a few times, he discovered that, besides his sleeves and robes being burned a bit by that heat, there wasn’t a single injury. He immediately set aside his worries: “Thank goodness nothing happened.”
Tianheng took out a medicinal pill and swallowed it. Then, he quickly sat down and breathed regularly to recover his true qi. Gu Zuo watched him adjust for some time before going over to handle the Fire Ape’s corpse.
This Fire Ape’s rank was considerably high, but Gu Zuo already had experience in dealing with a Spirit-Grade wild beast. Handling the corpse of a trifling grade ten wild beast was naturally a piece of cake.
Before a joss of incense could finish burning, Gu Zuo had already stored all the materials. Perfectly satisfied, he scampered over to look at the state of his big brother’s recovery.
Tianheng just happened to open his eyes. Then, he stood up.
Gu Zuo raised his head to look at him.
Tianheng smiled and said: “You and I should take another Fire Repelling Pill before going down to check things out.”
Gu Zuo followed Tianheng’s line of sight and looked over. The location “down below” was…the volcanic crater filled with boiling lava.
— In actuality, that Earthen Core Flame’s seat of existence could only possibly be under the lava, at the bottom of the volcanic crater. Otherwise, it would’ve been impossible for the Fire Ape soaking here to have such a huge improvement in a short period of time.
After taking the Fire Repelling Pill, Tianheng brought Gu Zuo to the volcanic crater.
Once they got closer to look, the two could only see the rolling waves of fire underneath. Countless flames were churning within, and when the lava popped and cracked apart, one could hear the sounds of rupturing and splattering. It seemed as if a fire dragon would leap out from within!
Gu Zuo took a deep breath, but he couldn’t help coughing a few times afterwards.
The flames were too intense!
Fortunately, because the Fire Ape was extremely strong and possessive, it was the only wild beast to enjoy the benefits of the volcanic crater. It didn’t allow other wild beasts to get a share of the action. Thus, if the two wanted to descend into the guts of Hidden Dragon Mountain, all they needed to overcome was just the fiery lava. They didn’t need to deal with other “external threats” while they were out adventuring.
Gongyi Tianheng pulled Gu Zuo’s arm, and stated: “Hold your breath.”
Gu Zuo instantly did as he was told.
The next moment, the two people were like a boulder. From up above, they fell straight down and immediately plunged into the lava!
Hot! Very hot!
Gu Zuo felt the hairs on his head igniting. Although the power of the Fire Repelling Pill was very strong, the endless heat tirelessly tried to burrow into his body to burn up his organs. He subconsciously released his psychic power to cover the surfaces of his and Tianheng’s bodies with a thin layer — This indeed have some usefulness. Although it couldn’t completely isolate the external heat, it could give them a few moments of relief.
At the same time, Gongyi Tianheng also released his own true qi, which similarly covered the surfaces of the two. Gu Zuo was pulled into his embrace a little tighter and the distance between the two people decreased. The area that the psychic power and true qi needed to cover was reduced, so the power they used up was also reduced.
Gu Zuo stretched his consciousness to the limits as Tianheng rapidly sank. At the same time, not only did he resist the external heat wholeheartedly, he also strained his perception as he attempted to seek the true position of that Earthen Core Flame!
Sure enough, the farther they descended, the purer the feeling of the flames. Among the assembled flowing flames, it even gave one an even more spirited feeling.
It went without saying that flames were a type of non-living matter, but Wondrous Fires possessed a spiritual nature. And at this moment, the magma’s flames unexpectedly gave one the illusion that it had become a true living creature.
Indeed, it was an illusion.
Gu Zuo tried to use this mindset as he let out his psychic power. He aimed and fired at a clump of intense flames that took the shape of the Fire Ape. In the blink of an eye, that blazing clump was scattered. Basically, it couldn’t act freely, nevermind attack like an independent creature could!
A subtle feeling streaked across Gu Zuo’s mind, but this type of feeling flashed by and vanished. It didn’t give him too much time to ponder — At this moment, what he needed to do was to quickly find the Earthen Core Flame!
Two people plunged deeper and deeper.
Gradually, the surrounding magma grew hotter and penetrated a number of layers of protection. Threads as thin as silk permeated and got through. Gu Zuo felt that his own skin was burning hot, but his big brother’s skin was still chilly — No, maybe it was only chilly relative to him.
Sweat rolled down along Gu Zuo’s body, and because of his clothes’ insulation and the stickiness on his body, he faintly panted as he warmed up. Unfortunately, he still needed to control his psychic power to protect them both. Otherwise, the magma would wreak havoc. It wouldn’t be feverishly hot. Rather, they’d be promptly burned to death!
Unwittingly, Gu Zuo snuggled even closer to Gongyi Tianheng.
Gu Zuo’s fingers unconsciously passed through Tianheng’s brocade robes and stuck to his skin. His own feverish cheeks also got closer and directly rubbed against Tianheng’s bare neck. His legs constantly rubbed back and forth as they tightly wrapped around Tianheng’s leg. He desperately wished that his own clothes didn’t exist so that he wasn’t in such a miserable state&#k2026;
Hot! Hot! Hot! So hot—
Gu Zuo’s consciousness gradually blurred.
He only knew that he needed to keep going down, down, down. Needed to find the Earthen Core Flame. Needed to protect himself. Protect big brother.
But any thoughts of his that were more distinct no longer existed.
It wasn’t known how much time had passed. Gu Zuo only knew that he was sticking to something that made him feel a little bit cooler. He wasn’t the least bit willing to part from it. His only remaining thought was “down”. Everything else had completely dissipated…
Suddenly, Gu Zuo’s body weighed down, and the soles of his feet stepped on something sturdy. However, his brain was still muddleheaded. Until a bit of pain spread across his forehead and a slightly low and magnetic voice continuously echoed in his ears:
“Ah Zuo. Ah Zuo, wake up!”
“Open your eyes…”
“We’ve…to…”
“Ah Zuo?”
“C’mon…be good…”
“It’s not hot anymore…”
The voice became more and more clear, and Gu Zuo dimly came back to himself: “…Big brother?”
His tone was still a little vague, but his consciousness was already very clear. He remembered following his big brother down as they were immersed in the magma. They were looking for the Earthen Core Flame. He only didn’t remember afterwards when it got hotter and hotter. In that case, what had happened now? Or, had they already arrived?
Gu Zuo released his psychic power and swept the surroundings.
In the blink of an eye, the vicinity’s situation was taken into his mind. He also “saw” that this place was really a stone cavern. Or to say, it was a mountain crevice.
There were red stones everywhere. However, beyond his expectations, they weren’t as scalding as those stones coated with lava. On the contrary, there was only a type of warmth like the feeling of spring. The qi energy of this kind of flame was pure and gentle. Like it was harmless and could be picked up at will.
Gu Zuo was just about to go searching for the source of those flame’s qi energies, which was the location of the Earthen Core Flame, but his head was softly tapped on by someone. He was puzzled: “Big brother?”
Gongyi Tianheng’s voice was very helpless: “Ah Zuo, can you come down?”
Gu Zuo blinked his eyes and lowered his head.
At this time, he discovered that he was hanging from his dear big brother’s body.
With his legs wrapping around the waist and his arms hugging the neck, it was simply the posture of a koala. If it was only this, then it was no matter. But Gu Zuo had absolutely never expected that there was something even more terrible!
The tactile sensations that were as gentle as jade beneath his hand…
Gu Zuo silently pulled out his hand.
His dear big brother’s clothing was disheveled and pulled open to expose his chest. Gu Zuo’s face was still tightly stuck to it. His shoes were kicked off, and his feet trailed behind his big brother’s clothes and pressed into the small of his back. This was practically, practically—
Gu Zuo felt that “Shame” was written on the left side of his face and “Less” was written on the right side. Or maybe, his forehead had a big stamp of “Embarrassed” on it? All that his mind spiraled around was “I was wrong”!
…How should he apologize to big brother?
Gu Zuo promptly moved, jumping down from his body. His hands and legs hurriedly withdrew to their original places, and he was prepared to make a sincere gesture of apology — But the next moment, his facial expression scrunched up a little.
“Big brother, I’m sorr — Tss!”
The bottoms of his feet were burned!
Tianheng facepalmed.
Then, he reached out a hand to lift Gu Zuo’s collar, pulling him up. Tianheng set him down on his own insteps. After that, he sighed: “…Ah Zuo, although this place isn’t extremely hot, the ground is burning hot from the Earthen Core Flame’s existence. Stepping on the floor with your bare feet is certainly inappropriate.”
Gu Zuo nodded dejectedly: “Oh. Thanks, big brother…”
Tianheng shook his head. A hand cradled Gu Zuo so that he wouldn’t fall down. The other hand started to straighten up the clothes that were previously torn open.
Gu Zuo watched and thought how excessive his previous self was. At this time, he remembered that when he continuously fell through the seemingly endless and extremely hot magma, he touched something cool and refreshing. It should’ve been his dear big brother! Gongyi Tianheng was undoubtedly an elegant young master whose clothing and hair never had a single stitch or strand out of place. Just now, Gu Zuo had made a mess of Tianheng so that it looked like someone had bullied him. It was really outrageous.
As a result, he pursed his lips, and said in a low voice: “Big brother, I’m sorry. I was dazed just then.”
Tianheng moved swiftly and had already tidied himself up. At this moment, he saw Gu Zuo so dispirited, and spoke softly to placate him: “It’s just a trivial matter. Ah Zuo doesn’t have to mind it.”
Gu Zuo unknowingly recalled the previous tactile sensations on his fingers, and his train of thought stalled. Immediately following which, he threw out that bizarre feeling, and answered in a low voice: “Thanks, big brother.”
Tianheng laughed and said: “Good. Actually, I’m doing fine now. Ah Zuo, it’s only that your shoes have somehow been lost. Quick, take out a pair from your storage space to replace them.” Speaking up to here, he raised an eyebrow again and smiled, “There’s no harm if Ah Zuo doesn’t want to switch them out. Walking around while carrying Ah Zuo like this is also somewhat interesting.”
Gu Zuo: “…”
No, it wasn’t the least bit interesting! He was so embarrassed that he wanted to burrow into a crack in the earth, okay?!
But he also knew that his dear big brother did this to divert his attention, so that he wouldn’t confound himself over this matter. Hence, he calmed himself down and quickly took out shoes to put on. After that, he hopped directly onto the ground.
Now that his feet were no longer getting burned, he could run away from his big brother’s teasing!
After this brief interlude passed, Gu Zuo collected his thoughts and started taking things seriously.
Since this mountain crevice was the end point, then it was probably where the Earthen Core Flame was located. Of course, the Earthen Core Flame wasn’t an especially brutal flame. One could figure this out from the state of affairs here.
Then, Gu Zuo turned his head and prepared to search.
And after he turned his head, he unexpectedly discovered…that just ten or so meters ahead of him was a bundle of peacefully burning flames connected to a fiery-red object.
Gu Zuo was taken aback: “The, the Earthen Core Flame?”
Could it be that he didn’t need to dig a meter into the ground or behead another wild beast guarding the flame? He didn’t need to experience some difficulties and overcome some obstructions to find it? Wasn’t this too easy? Was this a scam?
But there was no use overthinking it. One could make some inferences after making an attempt.
Therefore, Gu Zuo cautiously approached that flame.
Upon seeing this, Tianheng also kept pace and went with him: “Ah Zuo, don’t casually touch it. Carefully observe it to avoid any accidents.”
In the front, Gu Zuo nodded: “I know, big brother.”
They quickly arrived before the Earthen Core Flame. The two then carefully examined it.
That bundle of flames was very beautiful. It presented a type of warm orange-vermilion color, just like a wall lamp that Gu Zuo had once seen in the modern era. Although the color and luster was strong, it wasn’t harsh on the eyes. After getting closer, he could also sense the scorching heat of this bundle of flames. While it seemed to beckon one to touch it, it was also warning others to stay away.
Gu Zuo’s heart suddenly palpated because of this slight bundle of flames.
After that, his line of sight was drawn below to that fiery-red object. It looked like a block of crystal? Its shape was similar to a lake, but the color was incomparably pure. Just what was this thing?
As Tianheng got closer, he suddenly said: “Fire-Spirit Jade.”
Gu Zuo turned his head, and swiftly said to himself: “Ah, right. Common materials are incapable of containing the Earthen Core Flame, but Fire-Spirit Jade is different. It grows in places where ley lines are rich in firepower. Once it’s generated and harvested, it can sustain a Wondrous Fire. I don’t know whether this block of Fire-Spirit Jade was generated because of the Earthen Core Flame’s existence or it had grown alongside the Earthen Core Flame. In short, it had let the Earthen Core Flame settle on top of it. Moreover, the Fire-Spirit Jade conducts the ley line’s firepower, continuously nourishing the Earthen Core Flame…”
Tianheng listened to Gu Zuo’s narration, and his vision softened slightly.
“I got it! If the Earthen Core Flame isn’t enraged, the flames flow steadily and are relatively gentle. Its overflowing firepower baked the stone walls and extended upwards through the seams of the rocky crevice above. As time passed, it melted the rock and all manner of substances within the mountain into a strange magma. Of course, because the entire Hidden Dragon Mountain was structurally sound, it had formed a peak equilibrium. All the magma was sequestered within the body of the mountain. Without the effects of an external force, it would take many years for the magma to break through the mountain’s bindings. However, a bolt of lightning fell from the sky and broke this equilibrium. After the mountain was damaged, the lava overflowed and the ley line’s firepower leaked out. The lava, which had been assimilating the power of the Earthen Core Flame for many years, thus formed this peculiar land of adventure now…”
At this moment, Gu Zuo spoke frankly and with assurance. His gaze flashed with considerable confidence: “If we hadn’t arrived, this Earthen Core Flame probably wouldn’t have received too much nourishment later on. In the future, maybe it would’ve deteriorated. Or maybe it would’ve rushed out of the belly of this mountain and be subdued by another pharmacist or someone else. Perhaps it would’ve flown into a rage and wreaked havoc everywhere. However, it’s different now that we’ve arrived.
He continued: “To take advantage of its good temperament, I have to subdue it without delay. When that time comes, I’ll be able to help out even more. And when my rank is higher, I won’t have to be afraid of refining even better medicinal pills!”
Gongyi Tianheng saw his brilliant smile and gave a smile of his own: “This is Ah Zuo’s chance.”
Gu Zuo was genuinely very happy.
Tianheng said: “Ah Zuo, since it’s like this, why don’t you go use the <<Heavenly Fire-Submission Seal?>>”
Gu Zuo nodded vigorously: “Yes!”
To avoid a long night spawning many dreams, Gu Zuo arrived before that bundle of flames without the slightest hesitation. Both his hands immediately made hand seals. In front of his chest, there were countless changes to the abstruse positions, and many mysterious trajectories appeared.
Tianheng gave it a quick look. Although he didn’t intend on studying it, he could also see to the supreme truth within it. He could faintly incite the nerves in his brain to let him remember, and after mulling it over, this would produce a clear understanding in the coming days.
Off to the side, Gu Zuo worked extremely quickly. In a short period of time, those trajectories formed an intangible, large net. It extended its densely-packed claws and teeth and went to enshroud those flames.
Beyond all expectations, that bundle of flames was very docile. Although it initially sputtered with a couple of sparks, it only took a few seconds to promptly herd it over to Gu Zuo.
Gu Zuo captured it. At first, he wanted to immediately use his cultivation method and fire subduing seal to absorb and store this Wondrous Fire into his body, but he detected something different the moment he latched onto it.
“This isn’t right. This isn’t the Earthen Core Flame—”
His voice hadn’t yet fallen when that bare Fire-Spirit Jade split open with a hole. Immediately following that, a wisp of flames gushed out from inside. Just like a tiny fireball, it flew towards another direction!
That flame wanted to run away!
Gongyi Tianheng reacted extremely fast. His discovered something was amiss the instant that Gu Zuo opened his mouth. His figure flashed by and was already blocking that flame’s destination! His palms flipped over and qi energy flourished, rushing over with the momentum of a wave. Although the flame was very mighty, it was hindered by this qi energy for a short time. And with this time, Gu Zuo turned around and aimed the fire subduing seal’s strongest capturing hand seal at that flame!
Gu Zuo didn’t have enough time to consider what was going on. He just subconsciously felt the he couldn’t let that bundle of flames escape. This made his hand speed faintly increase by as much as twenty to thirty percent. The fire subduing seal was used over and over again to envelop those flames!
This time around, it wasn’t one giant, intangible net. Rather, there were four, five nets. Then seven and eight nets. One layer after another covered the flames in all directions, leaving not a single gap!
The flames dashed left and right between those formless, giant nets. It frantically struggled, but in the wake of the nets’ contractions, the strength of its struggles were continuously reduced. It was gradually being subdued…
A long time passed. The struggling of those flames thoroughly disappeared. It was just as meek as that previous bundle of flames. It gently arrived in front of Gu Zuo, and quietly floated.
Gongyi Tianheng walked over and looked at this wisp of flames with Gu Zuo.
Gu Zuo couldn’t help exclaiming in admiration: “Big brother, I first thought that the previous bundle of flames was already extremely beautiful, but now that I’m looking at this wisp, I realize how vast the discrepancies are… Placing the fake and real ones together, I feel such a difference.”
Tianheng nodded his head: “This is the true Earthen Core Flame.”
The orange-vermilion color was the same. The purity was also the same. However, the true Earthen Core Flame’s firelight was even brighter and the color and luster were more vibrant. It gave one an even cozier feeling. It was jumping spiritedly. Obviously, it was something without life, but it seemed similar to a naughty, young child who would look over with a mischievous gaze.
As it turned out, that bundle of flames that appeared to be the Earthen Core Flame was merely the remnant flames that the true Earthen Core Flame released. Its blossoming was the residual light of the Earthen Core Flame. As a result, it looked truly beautiful, but in fact, it wasn’t the genuine Earthen Core Flame.
After it was captured by Gu Zuo, he discovered that it was like an ordinary flame. Once it didn’t have any support, it showed signs of dissipation. The true Earthen Core Flame had substance. Even though adding firewood wasn’t needed, it could still burn independently. It was a type of intrinsic energy, which existed only in the form of a flame. When utilizing it, it wouldn’t be consumed; one only needed to replenish its true qi. If it wasn’t replenished, then one wouldn’t be able to control it. And if a strand of flame was split off and given to another person, only then would it be considered a depletion.
Gu Zuo beheld the Earthen Core Flame, and felt a type of beauty that would cause one to hold their breath.
Following which, he slowly exhaled. He used the fire subduing seal once more and supplemented it with his own cultivation method. He pressed his palm down on that ball of raging flames and absorbed it into his own body.
The flames slowly flowed through his medicinal bead. It instantly divided into countless threads, which swam to all directions! After each individual thread passed through a formed bone pearl, it temporarily came to a halt and quietly entrenched itself. Currently, Gu Zuo had seventy-six bone pearls. Each bone pearl contained a thread of orange-vermilion flames. It seemed that all of those bone pearls were dyed a dark-red color.
Warm heat wandered throughout his body, and what accompanied this were extremely fine pin-pricks of pain — But he could endure. After the final thread of flame was contained, Gu Zuo opened his eyes and retracted his hand. He felt that the Earthen Core Flame was already under his full control. Merely, before he could generate a qi ocean, he would have to use up even more true qi to make use of the flames.
Tianheng looked at him: “Ah Zuo, did you succeed?”
Gu Zuo’s eyes curled in happiness: “En, I did it!”
T/N: Thanks for the corrections, Charysa.
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