That lake-centered volcano doesn't look very big.
But once everyone entered the volcano, they discovered that it was a completely different world inside.
The volcano is hollow inside, and it does not appear to be a natural formation, but rather a man-made underground plaza.
At the edge of the plaza, a lava river, like a moat, encircles the area. The sound of churning lava that people heard outside the volcano was the sound of this lava river flowing.
The sound was alright from outside the volcano, but once inside, combined with the scene before one's eyes, it was so magnificent that it inspired awe.
The ground inside the lava river is made of black volcanic rock, polished to a mirror shine.
As you walk on it, the shadows of everyone seem to sway beneath your feet.
Looking further into the center of the square, there is an exquisite red stone platform, with golden and red light flowing across it, flickering like a cluster of flames that have come to life.
And within those flames, a fireball floated silently.
What was inside the fireball was unclear to everyone.
Just as someone was about to probe out their divine sense, a scream suddenly rang out, startling everyone into turning their heads.
The screaming man was seen clutching his head, writhing and rolling on the ground, his head appearing to be burning red, with dark red blood flowing from his seven orifices.
Seeing this, Liu Yunqing knew at a glance that there was no way to save him, and silently looked away.
"How can such a treasure be casually explored?"
"His haste is entirely his own fault."
Some people were relieved, some sighed, and some looked reluctant to see it.
Only Liu Yunzhao looked at the corpse with pity and indifference, shaking his head.
"How dare you speak like Fairy Liu?"
Some rogue cultivators felt uncomfortable upon hearing this and voiced their dissatisfaction towards Liu Yunzhao.
Liu Yunzhao didn't answer, or even glance at him, but the people next to him chimed in.
"Is Fairy Yun Zhao wrong?"
"In such a treasure-hunting place, there are no guardian monsters or numerous checkpoints. Even a fool would know that the danger comes from the treasure itself."
"His stupidity and greed led to his own demise. Isn't that reaping what he sowed? Is there no way to criticize him?"
The man's words were harsh, but at least he cleared up the confusion for the uninformed cultivators, and the crowd quieted down after hearing them.
Even those who were indignant chose to endure it because of the other party's status as a disciple of a major sect.
Only Feng Piaopiao, standing to the side, couldn't help but burst out laughing, attracting everyone's attention.
"What... what is this fairy laughing at?"
The disciple in sect attire who had spoken earlier was about to get angry when he heard someone laughing, but when he saw Feng Piaopiao's current appearance, his tone softened considerably.
Feng Piaopiao raised an eyebrow, giggled again, and then gently covered her mouth with her hand, saying:
"Fortunately, we rogue cultivators are just foolish and greedy, otherwise we would be like this noble fellow Daoist, thinking with our butts, tsk tsk."
Upon hearing this, the rogue cultivators who had previously felt resentful burst into laughter.
"You are utterly unreasonable!"
The sect disciple's face turned bright red, but he couldn't bring himself to say anything unpleasant to Feng Piaopiao's beautiful appearance.
"Alright, everyone calm down! We still have a tough battle ahead!"
Just as the disciple was in an awkward position, Liu Yunzhao's words were like timely rain, silencing everyone.
She gently raised her delicate hand and pointed to the area below the fiery red stone platform, saying:
"That fellow Daoist must have died because his divine consciousness was burned away by the fire inside."
"The flames here are more intense than any we've encountered before; the jade token is probably useless."
The crowd in the square fell silent, but then the scene erupted into chaos as everyone discussed what to do.
"He merely extended his divine sense, and it was instantly burned away. How can anyone get close to him?"
"Exactly, if it weren't for possessing a priceless treasure, one would probably be burned to ashes the moment they touched it, right?"
"This is clearly a fire-attribute treasure. Perhaps a fellow cultivator with only a fire elemental root could be the one to initiate the battle."
"..."
The treasure was difficult to retrieve, but the enthusiasm for discussion among the crowd was even greater.
Until a voice, light and airy, slipped in.
"If it's a fire-attribute treasure, why should other spiritual roots risk their lives with it?"
Silence, then a cacophony greater than before the silence.
It seemed that a more heated discussion would make that previous statement disappear.
Liu Yunqing took in the whole scene.
The disciple who spoke earlier was right; they were greedy and foolish.
However, it wasn't just rogue cultivators; everyone was the same.
If Liu Yunqing hadn't possessed a unique spiritual root, giving her an advantage over others, she would have been one of them.
However, now, regardless of whether you are a member or not, you have to fight a match first.
"The fire beast is coming!"
The person standing in front shouted, and the flames clustered under the flame stone platform quickly transformed into demonic beasts, rushing towards the cultivator.
Those who didn't react in time were instantly engulfed in flames the moment the fire beast touched them, and the fire could not be extinguished.
Those who react quickly are not necessarily happy.
Because the magical artifacts they instinctively used to block were instantly melted into molten metal, dripping onto the ground.
Only then did everyone realize just how powerful the fire was.
Although the greater the difficulty in obtaining the treasure, the more precious the treasure is, this situation still completely extinguished the joy of not having a guardian beast.
Only Liu Yunqing remained discreetly huddled in a corner, her drooping eyelashes concealing the joy in her eyes.
In the center of that floating fireball was indeed a drop of golden-red Golden Crow essence blood.
The fiery stone platform was specifically designed to provide energy to the fireball, ensuring that it could retain the drop of essence blood within it.
The flames beneath those fiery stone platforms are likely the source of their energy.
Suddenly, a thought popped into Liu Yunqing's mind: the only purpose of this secret realm was to store that drop of essence blood.
All the flames in this secret realm, in the beginning, should have been the same as those under the Flame Stone Platform, powered by the energy from that drop of essence blood.
Over a long period of time, only the area beneath the stone platform remained after being absorbed, which is why the secret realm opened at this time.
So obtaining that drop of essence blood isn't as difficult as everyone thinks; you just need to wait for the flame to dissipate a bit more.
If it's just a matter of natural depletion, it could take years or even decades.
Clearly, if Liu Yunqing could think of these things, Liu Yunzhao, who knew even more secrets than Liu Yunqing, would have thought of them even earlier.
Therefore, she did not waste her magic treasures and spiritual power to fight against those fire beasts. Instead, she simply raised her protective armor and stayed far away from the fire beasts' attacks.
But aside from keeping a few disciples of the Myriad Wonders Sect by her side, she did not warn the others. Instead, she coldly watched as those cultivators paid the price of injury or death to extinguish the small flames.
Liu Yunqing is not a saint; she knows human nature well and will not advise everyone to leave.
Similarly, Liu Yunzhao will not be allowed to escape unscathed.
"Why is Fairy Liu of the Myriad Wonders Sect hiding in a corner and not making a move?"
"Could they be planning to reap the benefits without lifting a finger?"
Liu Yunqing changed her voice, infusing it with spiritual power, instantly drawing everyone's attention to Liu Yunzhao.
Faced with the dissatisfaction and condemnation of the crowd, Liu Yunzhao frowned quickly, but ultimately could not bring himself to say something like, "Your cultivation and aptitude are inferior to mine, so it is only right that you sacrifice yourselves to obtain my essence blood."
Satisfied to see Liu Yunzhao join the fray, Liu Yunqing and Feng Piaopiao exchanged a glance and subtly began to part ways.
"You're not afraid of the fire? Who are you, really?"
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