< Chapter 10: Volcanic Caverns >
The lake of magma resembled a golden glaze bead, splendidly set in the center of a dark red rocky plateau, dazzling in its splendor. Oranges and golden hues of magma slowly flowed and churned within the lake, occasionally emitting giant bubbles.
Intense waves of heat emanated from the center of the magma lake, spreading outwards in waves. These were then met by the mountain walls, causing the air waves to shoot upwards.
Ning Zhuo and Ning Yong stood atop the mountain wall, their figures violently shaken by the upward surging air waves. Despite Ning Zhuo having conjured his magic power to protect his mouth and nose, the heat still managed to singe the tips of his hair.
Ning Zhanji glanced over the somewhat disheveled newcomers and commanded indifferently, "Give each of them a set of magic robes." His subordinate immediately tossed spare robes to the two.
Ning Zhuo examined his set and found that it included a helmet, top, trousers, outer robe, armor, and boots. The clothing was adorned with a plethora of talismans, primarily frost talismans.
"Talisman treasures," Ning Zhuo thought to himself.
Talisman treasures differed from magical instruments in that they would wear out with repeated use. They were consumable items. The advantage of talisman treasures lay in their cost-effectiveness. Basic materials inscribed with talismans could transform into talisman treasures, greatly increasing their utility value.
Previously, in the basement, Ning Zhuo had designed a small wooden hammer as a talisman treasure, which proved very convenient for handling soot mud.
These magic robes were standard issue for the Ning family's cultivator brigade, likely specially developed by the Ning family in their campaign to conquer the Lava Immortal Palace.
Ning Zhuo and his companions donned a complete set of robes and immediately felt the temperature return to normal, no longer scorching. The previously pungent sulfur smell had also completely disappeared.
At the mountain wall, several descending platforms were hanging. Each one was guarded by city defense troops, partly for protection and partly for collecting fees.
Ning Zhanji led the group, choosing a descending platform, and they officially stepped onto the concave ground at the mountain's mouth.
Ning Yong excitedly stamped his feet and looked around, very curious.
Excitement and caution appeared on Ning Zhuo's face.
Ning Zhanji's target was directly aimed at the central magma lake.
The team of over fifty cultivators moved together, immediately drawing the attention of others.
Inside the volcanic crater, it was not just Ning Zhuo's group; many teams or solitary cultivators were scattered across this crater basin.
From time to time, cultivators walked down from the top of the mountain wall.
Some people used the official descending platforms, but many more set up their own ropes, climbing down from the top of the mountain wall. However, because the heat waves continuously buffeted and blew, the process of descent was generally very strenuous.
The solitary cultivators who climbed down themselves saved a fee for using the descending platform.
The city defense troops, seeing these scattered cultivators go down, did not stop them, their gaze indifferent, primarily adopting an attitude of turning a blind eye.
Ning Zhuo gradually approached the magma lake.
As he got closer, he discovered there was life activity in the magma lake.
Once again, a giant bubble of magma burst, and a red silken-fur mouse used the thermal updraft to soar up, hunting into the high white smoke.
If the hunt was successful, one could see a Red Silken-fur Mouse holding a Smoke Cloud Sparrow, smashing it towards the ground. Due to the continuous production of heat waves, the force of the fall was greatly diminished, allowing the Red Silken-fur Mouse to land on the rocky ground each time without harm.
Some cultivators specifically waited for these Red Silken-fur Mice to land after their hunt. Once on the ground, they would make their move, using specially crafted tools to capture them.
In Ning Zhuo's sea of consciousness, a thought bead flickered with brilliance. "Fire Cotton Mouse, it has strong resistance to fire attributes and can swim in magma." "It sustains itself by preying on small birds." "The most valuable part of the Fire Cotton Mouse is its fur. Collecting hundreds of these, and through sewing and other methods, one can craft a Fire-Resistant Mouse Fur Robe, which is highly effective."
At this moment, Ning Zhanji, who was leading, stopped. In front of him was one of the many cave entrances, indistinguishable from the others around it. Yet, he was certain, and he declared in a low voice, "This is the place, prepare to enter."
The cultivators listened intently to the command. Then, one of the cultivators formed a hand seal, and with a push of his palms, a burst of frosty white mist was expelled. The mist entered the cave, immediately covering the entrance with a layer of frost. The cold air continued to pour down, provoking a reaction from the cave, which began to rumble increasingly louder. The next moment, large amounts of mud erupted from the cave, shooting high into the sky, igniting into flames like fireworks.
Ning Zhuo recognized that the burning mud was indeed Soot Mud. After the eruption had ceased, Ning Zhanji was the first to leap into the cave, with the rest of the cultivators following in a single file.
Ning Chen, Ning Yong, and other newcomers like Ning Zhuo were led one-on-one by more experienced members as they jumped into the cave entrance. Initially, Ning Zhuo shivered from the chill surrounding him as he descended into the cave, but the temperature quickly rose as they slid deeper.
By the latter half of the descent, the air had become very hot. While sliding, Ning Zhuo keenly observed the changes in the walls of the tunnel. At first, the walls were covered with frost, but by the latter half, the frost had completely melted away.
When he finally landed and stood firm on solid ground, Ning Zhuo looked up to find himself in a subterranean world filled with flames and rocks. The rocky ground beneath his feet felt slightly soft, and the surrounding rock walls were semi-transparent orange-yellow, constantly radiating intense heat.
Beside him, Ning Yong curiously reached out to touch the rock wall. In the next instant, a third of the runes on his glove melted away, causing him to quickly withdraw his hand.
Fortunately, a Ning family cultivator acted promptly, taking out a jade bottle and releasing a misty water vapor. The water vapor condensed into blue and white ribbons, floating mid-air, circling around everyone, helping them resist the pervasive heat.
After positioning Ning Zhuo and the other newcomers in the middle of the group, Ning Zhanji continued leading the Ning family cultivators forward.
After the initial novelty wore off, the scenery in the Red Flame Demon Molten Cave became monotonous. Ning Yong kept mumbling, longing for the appearance of a formidable demonic beast. The cautious expression on Ning Chen's face gradually relaxed. Ning Zhuo, however, was secretly amazed by the density of the spiritual energy here, which was the highest he had ever encountered.
"No wonder many powerful cultivators choose to live alone in remote and dangerous places," he thought. "Unfortunately, my magic power is of the frost type, and the spiritual energy here heavily leans towards fire, mixed with a lot of fire poison, which isn't suitable for me."
The underground passage sometimes widened and sometimes narrowed, clearly sloping downward. There were also multiple paths, and Ning Zhuo frequently encountered forks in the road. However, the Ning family cultivators were clearly familiar with the route, always choosing one passage without any hesitation.
"Fire Crystal Grass, rooted in the rocks, its leaves transparent like glistening gems, constantly absorbing geothermal heat and flames, capable of emitting light."
"Flame Shadow Flower, drawing from magma and venomous evil, its grass is purple-black, and its leaves thin as cicada wings, the plant itself remains still, but its shadow sways like flames."
"Vigorous Ginseng, drawing from the earth's strength, undergoes a transformation every one hundred and thirty years. Its roots are thin and long, possessing a natural ability to tunnel through earth."
Along the way, Ning Zhuo saw several types of spiritual plants. As the Ning family cultivators passed by, some would also take the time to harvest these plants.
Ning Zhanji gave Ning Zhuo a barely noticeable glance, then beckoned to all the newcomers, including him, and challenged them, saying, "Do you know why we need to pick these spiritual plants?"