His lips curled up into an excited smile as he felt his blood pumping faster, he decided to test his own Thunder Intent against the beast.
“Heavenly Thunder Spear Art: Tyrant’s Judgment!”
He raised his Tyrant’s Wrath high above his head, the spear glowing with blinding lightning as the air crackled with energy.
With a thunderous roar, he brought the spear down, releasing a massive bolt of lightning that struck the Beast directly.
The Infernal Flame Beast let out one final roar before its form disintegrated, leaving behind a shimmering, ruby-like core surrounded by flickering flames.
Shen Yuan picked up the core, its heat radiating through his hand. “An Extreme Origin Core Realm Beast Core. This will be useful.”
Wan Ling and Han Qingyu approached, their expressions a mix of awe and relief.
“Senior Brother, your strength is really incredible,” Wan Ling said, her admiration evident on her face.
Han Qingyu nodded, though her tone was more reserved. “Even Extreme Origin Core Realm beasts are nothing in front of you.”
Shen Yuan chuckled while placing the core in his storage ring. “Let’s keep moving. This cavern might have more treasures deeper inside.”
Han Qingyu and Wan Ling nodded their heads before following him deeper inside.
Shen Yuan continued observing the surroundings, his sharp gaze catching faint glimmers in the scorched rocks.
The air around them grew increasingly oppressive as they ventured deeper inside the cavern, the heat and Fire Qi intensifying with each step.
“Over here,” Han Qingyu’s voice echoed in the cavern as she crouched down, her spear gently tapping against a jagged section of rock.
Embedded within it was a cluster of Molten Volcano Crystals, their ruby-red glow pulsing with immense heat.
“These crystals are precious,” Han Qingyu said, her silver eyes shining as she examined them. “They’re excellent for forging weapons or even direct absorption for increasing the cultivation base of fire-attributed cultivators.”
Shen Yuan nodded with a smile. “That’s a good find. Collect them carefully; too much force might destabilize their Fire Qi and ruin them.”
Han Qingyu precisely channeled her Wind Qi through her spear, slicing the rock away without disturbing the crystals.
She stored them in her ring after extracting them, a satisfied smile formed on her face.
Not far ahead of the two of them, Wan Ling knelt by a glowing pool of lava, her Radiant Qi protecting her from the searing heat of the cavern.
In the center of the pool, a lotus with fiery red petals floated serenely, its stem glowing like molten gold.
“Senior Brother, is this… a Blazing Fire Lotus?” Wan Ling asked excitedly, her eyes sparkling.
Shen Yuan’s gaze sharpened as he approached the pool. “Indeed. This is a rare lotus that grows only in extreme environments like this. It can even refine Extreme Origin Core Realm fire-element cultivators’ meridians or be used as a main ingredient in high-tier pills.”
Wan Ling carefully extended her sword, using her Radiant Qi to delicately sever the lotus from its stem without disturbing the surrounding lava.
“Let me take a look,” Shen Yuan said while looking at the stem and lotus.
Wan Ling tilted her head in confusion before giving him the lotus, “Here, Senior Brother.”
Shen Yuan smiled and plucked out a few lotus seeds before throwing them around the area where the lotus was growing.
“We should leave seeds for such a natural treasure of heaven and earth to grow back again. You need to look out for the next generation of disciples as well.” He patiently explained to her.
She repeatedly nodded her head in agreement while storing the lotus in a jade box that Shen Yuan had provided.
Experience tales with empire
“And you’re doing well, Ling’er,” Shen Yuan then praised her, his calm tone bringing a bright smile to Wan Ling’s face.
As they moved deeper into the cavern while collecting various treasures, Shen Yuan’s senses tingled, and he raised his hand for the group to halt. “Be careful. There’s something unusual up ahead.”
The group stepped into a wider chamber, where the ground glowed faintly with veins of magma and intense Fire Qi filled the air.
At the center of the chamber sat a small altar, atop which rested a radiant, fist-sized Fire Essence Orb.
The orb pulsated with golden flames, exuding a domineering pressure.
“A Fire Essence Orb!” Han Qingyu exclaimed, her eyes widening. “This is far more valuable than I expected.”
Shen Yuan’s eyes lit up as this was the very thing he had come looking for, but he paused as he sensed some movements ahead, “Stay sharp, it’s not unguarded.”
As if waiting for him, the surrounding walls trembled, and molten rocks fell away to reveal Flame Golems—massive constructs of molten stone and fire.
Their fiery cores pulsed in their chest as they turned their glowing eyes toward the group.
“Five Flame Golems, two at the Extreme Origin Core Realm and three at the Peak Origin Core Creation Realm,” Shen Yuan observed calmly, his grip tightening on Tyrant’s Wrath. “I’ll handle the three on the right. Qingyu, Ling’er—take the others and aim for their cores.”
“Understood!” Han Qingyu replied with confidence, yet Wan Ling seemed to hesitate as the Golems were well outside of her realm.
Shen Yuan turned around and saw her hesitation, he smiled gently, “I know it’s hard for you, but just trust me and go ahead and fight them.”
Wan Ling nodded her head heavily, fully trusting Shen Yuan’s words.
Han Qingyu looked at Wan Ling worriedly, despite not liking her, she didn’t want something unfortunate to happen to her.
Shen Yuan’s calm gaze swept over the three Flame Golems approaching him, their molten forms radiating a suffocating heat.
Sparks of thunder crackled around Tyrant’s Wrath as he strode towards them with confidence.
The first Flame Golem let out a low rumble, molten rocks falling from its body as it charged toward him.
Shen Yuan sidestepped effortlessly, using his Void Steps he appeared instantly behind the beast. With a flick of his wrist, Tyrant’s Wrath hummed as it released deathly thunder.
“Heavenly Thunder Spear Art: Thunderpierce!”
A blinding streak of lightning erupted from the spear as Shen Yuan thrust it into the golem’s back. The molten creature howled in agony as the concentrated Thunder Qi shattered its fiery core, reducing it to crumbling rubble.
“Now only the big ones remain,” He said looking at the dark golems menacingly staring at him. His grip tightened on his spear, taking a step towards the beasts.
Meanwhile, Wan Ling struggled against her opponent.
The Flame Golem loomed over her like a towering giant. Each of its heavy steps caused the ground to tremble, and the fiery heat from its core threatened to overwhelm her.
Sweat dripped down her brow as she gripped her sword tightly, her Radiant Qi flaring as much as her current cultivation allowed.
“Radiant Lotus Slash!” Wan Ling cried, slashing her glowing sword across the creature’s leg.
The energy seared the molten rock, leaving a faint mark, but it wasn’t nearly enough.
The golem swung its massive arm, flames erupting in its wake. Wan Ling leaped back just in time, but the heat singed the hem of her robe.
Her breathing was labored, her Qi reserves starting to deplete. “So…hot…is it…the fire…intent?” She said aloud with rough breaths.