Volcano Front and Scorching Wind Warning
By the time they left Wuyinze, the sun had already sunk into the western mountains, its afterglow tinting the sky a warm orange. The four of them followed the mountain path toward the Burning Heart Cave. The stones beneath their feet gradually turned from blue-gray to charred black, and the air was thick with the faint scent of sulfur—the scent of volcanic activity, which grew stronger as they advanced.
Meng Meng clutched the anti-gu patterned cloth, her fingertips touching the unrepaired silver thread on the edge of the cloth. She frowned slightly, "This cloth was worn out too much in Wuyinze. If it encounters a fire leech, I'm afraid it won't be able to withstand its melting spiritual power." She took out the remaining sap of the ivy vine from her backpack, poured it into her palm and rubbed it, trying to add another layer of protection to the cloth. However, as soon as the sap touched the cloth, it was evaporated by the heat wave in the air, leaving only a faint green mark.
Lin Xi's copper bell had grown warm at some point. Pressing it to her ear, she could faintly hear a subtle buzzing sound—a warning of danger. "The scorching wind ahead is getting stronger," she pointed at the wind-distorted air ahead. "Look, even the light is swaying. I'm afraid if we go any further, breathing will feel scorching."
As he finished speaking, a sudden gust of wind swept in from the valley, carrying scorching sand and gravel that hit people's faces painfully. Zhao Yu immediately held his backpack in front of him to protect Meng Meng behind him. "This wind is wrong! It feels like it's blowing down from the crater of a volcano, mixed with sparks!" He pulled out the coarse cloth he had prepared from his backpack and distributed it to the three of them. "Cover your mouths and noses first, don't breathe in the scorching ash."
Su Xiao held the Red Sun Gu box in her palm. The temperature of the box was a few degrees higher than usual, and the Red Sun Gu inside seemed to be stirring. She looked up at the outline of a volcano hidden behind the clouds in the distance. The mountain was dark red, its summit shrouded in thick black smoke. Occasionally, a red light flashed through the smoke, like the eyes of a giant beast. "Fire leeches survive by molten spiritual energy. The closer to the crater, the stronger their power," she said in a deep voice. "We need to find a place to rest and wait until nightfall. The temperature is lower at night, and the fire leeches will be less active."
Following the wind, the four of them found a sheltered cave. The entrance was obscured by vines, barely shielding them from the scorching wind. Zhao Yu built a small fire, the flames illuminating the scratches on the cave wall—marks left by previous generations, though the marks were blurred and their details unclear. Meng Meng sat by the fire, repeatedly wiping the Gu-repelling fabric, attempting to nourish the silver thread with spiritual energy. Lin Xi held a copper bell, gently rubbing it with his fingertips, trying to calm its restlessness. Zhao Yu leaned against the cave wall, checking the blade of his machete, occasionally glancing toward the cave entrance, alert to any movement outside.
Su Xiao opened the Red Sun Gu box, and the Red Sun Gu transformed into a small fireball that landed in her palm, its red glow fainter than during the day. She whispered something to the insect, and the fireball brushed against her fingertips, as if in response. "The Red Sun Gu can restrain fire leeches, but its flames require my spiritual energy to sustain them." She looked at the three of them. "Once we reach the Burning Heart Cave, I'll be responsible for diverting most of the fire leeches. Zhao Yu, you'll clear the way for me. Lin Xi will use the copper bell to disrupt their movements. Meng Meng, you protect everyone and keep the fire leeches away—their molten spiritual energy can penetrate ordinary clothing. Once it entangles the skin, it will directly burn the meridians."
As the night deepened, the scorching wind outside the cave gradually weakened, but the red glow from the volcano grew more pronounced. The four packed their backpacks and continued their journey by moonlight. The ground grew hotter as they approached the volcano, and the soles of their shoes scorched the earth, giving off a faint odor of burning. When they reached the foot of the volcano, a massive crack appeared before their eyes. From within, scalding steam rose, and a faint sizzling sound could be heard—like the wriggling of fire leeches.
Meng Meng's anti-gu patterned cloth suddenly emitted a blue light, and the silver threads on the cloth were stretched straight: "They are coming!" As soon as she finished speaking, several dark red insects suddenly jumped out of the cracks. Each one was as thick as an arm, and the surface of the body was covered with mucus. Where the mucus dripped, the scorched earth was instantly corroded into small pits - it was the fire leeches!
A fire leech leaped toward Zhao Yu, and he immediately swung his sword at it. As soon as the blade touched the leech's body, it was burned by the molten spiritual energy on its surface, making a sizzling sound. The blade even glowed red. "Such a strong molten spiritual energy!" Zhao Yu stumbled back. "This sword can't hurt them at all!"
Su Xiao immediately unleashed the Red Sun Gu, and the small fireball instantly exploded, charging towards the swarm of fire leeches. The flames landed on the leeches, making a sizzling sound. The leeches thrashed about, but they weren't burned to death like the Mist Frogs—the mucus on their bodies temporarily resisted the flames, though their movements were slowed. "Sure enough, ordinary flames can't hurt them!" Su Xiao's heart tightened. "Lin Xi, use the copper bell!"
Lin Xi immediately rang the bell, sending a rapid, humming sound wave towards the swarm of fire leeches. Their movements noticeably slowed, and their bodies began to tremble slightly. Zhao Yu seized the opportunity to swing his knife at the leech's head—its weak spot. Though the blade burned red from the heat, it finally severed a leech. From the severance, dark red fluid oozed out, falling to the ground and instantly burning a small hole in the scorched earth.
"Hurry into the crack! The core of the formation should be deep inside!" Su Xiao shouted. The Red Sun Gu cleared the way ahead, its flames forming a wall of fire, temporarily blocking the following fire leeches. The four of them ran along the crack. The inner wall of the crack was scorching hot, and from time to time, magma seeped out from the cracks, dripping onto the ground with a sizzling sound.
After running for about half an incense stick of time, they suddenly came upon a wide cavern. In the center of the cavern stood a stone platform, embedded in a dark red crystal—the third key point of the Demon Suppression Formation! But before the four could rejoice, several enormous fire leeches suddenly burst forth from the lava surrounding the cavern. Each one was as thick as a bucket, their mucus glowing red, making them even more menacing than the fire leeches they had encountered previously.
"It's the Fire Leech King!" Su Xiao's pupils shrank, and the flames of the Red Sun Gu instantly surged. "Be careful! Their spiritual melting power is ten times stronger than that of ordinary fire leeches!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the largest Fire Leech King suddenly pounced on Su Xiao, spewing scalding molten lava from its mouth, carrying a strong smell of sulfur, straight into her face. A fierce battle even more dangerous than the one at Wuyinze officially began in the cave deep in the volcano.
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