The volcano’s crater was just ahead, and Hei Suo didn’t dare let his mind wander anymore. He became cautious and alert.
Before the crater, two enormous molten lizards were sprawled out.
The lizards glanced at Hei Suo, then lay back down, likely recognising him as one of their own.
“Gulp~~”
Hei Suo swallowed hard, fear gripping him.
These two massive molten lizards stood four to five metres tall and nearly ten metres long. Not only were they huge, but their strength was close to the ninth level of the Mortal Realm.
By the classification of ferocious beasts, they were top-tier ninth-level beasts!
The beast that had caused Master Baiyun so much trouble in Tianfeng City was merely a low-tier first-level beast.
A casual swipe of these two beasts’ claws could easily kill Hei Suo.
In terms of pure combat power, these top-tier ninth-level beasts were comparable to early Heavenly Human Realm experts.
They just lacked the intelligence and versatility of such experts.
Seeing the two giant lizards make way, Hei Suo breathed a sigh of relief and stepped into the crater.
Even an active volcano doesn’t erupt constantly.
But to aid his cultivation, the Demonic Flame Heavenly Venerable could make this volcano continuously spew magma. The entire peak, except for the path up, was completely enveloped in magma, making it impossible to enter or exit freely.
Above the crater, a palace floated.
Suspended by metal chains made of unknown materials, the palace was surrounded by scalding magma, and even its walls maintained temperatures of tens of thousands of degrees.
Yet in this environment, the Demonic Flame Heavenly Venerable sat comfortably, holding a book.
When not enraged, he appeared refined and scholarly, like a middle-aged man in his forties.
In reality, he was a few years older than Master Baiyun, now over a hundred years old.
Heavenly Human Realm martial artists lived a hundred years longer than Mortal Realm ones, with a lifespan of about three hundred years.
In other words, the Demonic Flame Heavenly Venerable was still considered young.
Hei Suo stood there trembling. Though he was the Demonic Flame Heavenly Venerable’s disciple, he never dared to act presumptuous in his presence.
Especially after being gravely injured by Ling Xiao, his master was already deeply disappointed in him. Any further mistakes might provoke his master’s wrathful destruction.
“Master, what are your orders for summoning your disciple?”
Hei Suo asked respectfully.
“Tell me about Ling Xiao’s current situation, and the others too. Though Baiyun is a failure, I absolutely won’t allow any of his disciples to grow smoothly in the Yuehua Sect.”
It’s said that reaching a certain level of cultivation changes one’s mindset, making one less concerned with petty matters.
But this didn’t apply to the Demonic Flame Heavenly Venerable.
He was always cautious, ruthlessly eliminating even the slightest threat in its infancy, leaving no chance for revenge.
“Your disciple is guilty, unable to handle a few outer sect disciples. Please punish me, Master.”
Hei Suo hurriedly knelt, trembling, not daring to look up at his master.
“Answer the question.”
The Demonic Flame Heavenly Venerable said coldly.
Hei Suo swallowed and cautiously replied, “Of Baiyun’s disciples who joined the Yuehua Sect, there are three. Leng Mei’s whereabouts are unknown; she seemed to vanish a few days after joining, and no one bothered to look for her.”
“Dai Yuling became Lan Yu’er’s disciple. Her martial soul was destroyed by Jin Ming and others, but miraculously, it returned, stronger than before.”
“As for Ling Xiao, ever since Master intervened in the outer sect and took Wang Feng, he’s become the top outer sect disciple. The Medicine Hall Master, Formation Hall Master, Desperate Tower Master, Inner Sect Yuehua Tower Master, and Lan Yu’er all favour him. Especially Medicine Hall Master Yang Danlin and Vice Hall Master Lan Yu’er—they’d likely protect him with their lives.”
Though he knew this would displease his master, Hei Suo had to speak.
He didn’t dare lie; the consequences of lying would be far worse.
“So, even I can’t touch this Ling Xiao?” The Demonic Flame Heavenly Venerable’s face darkened.
After a moment, he said viciously, “This Ling Xiao must die! His pill-refining talent alone demands it!”
Hei Suo understood why his master said this.
An exceptional pill refiner, even if their own cultivation was mediocre, could rally numerous experts to their side once established.
At that point, Ling Xiao would be harder to deal with than a Heavenly Human Realm expert.
Yang Danlin was a prime example.
The Demonic Flame Heavenly Venerable could easily kill Yang Danlin in a one-on-one fight, but he didn’t dare act. Yang Danlin was always surrounded by Heavenly Human Realm experts offering free protection, only asking for help with pill refining in return.
“Your disciple understands. Please instruct me, Master, on how to deal with this boy.”
Hei Suo couldn’t think of any way to handle Ling Xiao and now pinned his hopes on his master’s ingenuity.
“You’ll handle this matter; it’s not convenient for me to act directly.”
At this, the Demonic Flame Heavenly Venerable suddenly gave a cold smile. “When I emerge from my next seclusion, the Desperate Tower Master, Inner Sect Yuehua Tower Master, and Formation Hall Master will be nothing to me. You must understand, in this world, strength speaks.”
“Your disciple understands.”
Hei Suo nodded, grasping his master’s intent: he would decide after emerging from seclusion.
“While I’m in seclusion, lay the groundwork secretly. Continue recruiting inner sect disciples, but be cautious not to alert the sect’s higher-ups, or even I won’t be able to protect you,” the Demonic Flame Heavenly Venerable said. “Also, don’t forget the annual ‘Moon Advent Festival Tower Climbing Ceremony.’ Though your aptitude isn’t as good as your junior brother Ming Tian’s, your immortal-grade treasure body is still stronger than most sect disciples. Seize this opportunity, and you could leap to greatness.”
Hei Suo’s face lit up with joy, and he quickly bowed. “Your disciple obeys!”
It’s said that during a fixed period each year, the Yuehua Sect experiences no daylight, with the moon hanging constantly above the Yuehua Treasure Tower, appearing very close.
This period lasts about seven days and is called the Moon Advent Festival.
During this time, climbing the Yuehua Treasure Tower offers various opportunities, known as the Moon Advent Festival Tower Climbing Ceremony.
The ceremony is open to all Yuehua Sect disciples, but outer sect disciples rarely manage to enter the tower.
Most can’t even pass the first stage, let alone seek their own opportunities.
“Alright, go. Remember my instructions.”
“I won’t forget, Master.”
Hei Suo bowed and retreated from the crater.
