Chapter 55

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Chapter 55: A Secret Plan

After stepping into the crack, Yi Qianmo’s face was bathed in an eerie red glow. Strangely, this glow did not spill out of the crack, as if something invisible blocked it at the entrance.

Feeling the warmth emanating from the red light, Yi Qianmo was certain there was Anomalous Fire inside. Ordinary flames couldn’t produce such a peculiar hue.

The sound of footsteps broke his thoughts. He turned and saw Yu Xiu, his bald head gleaming faintly in the red light.

Yi Qianmo frowned in irritation. “You little monk, aren’t you afraid of dying?”

“I am afraid,” Yu Xiu replied softly, lowering his head. “But since you dare to come in, senior, I will follow. Fear won’t stop me.”

Yi Qianmo sighed. “Right now, my spiritual power is less than one-tenth, and I’m already injured. I can’t even protect myself. How can I take care of you?”

“You don’t need to take care of me,” Yu Xiu said earnestly. “Focus on your own goals. I won’t be a burden.”

“Let’s hope so,” Yi Qianmo muttered. Despite himself, he found it hard to see Yu Xiu as a mere pawn.

Suddenly, a sharp voice called out behind them.

“Yi Qianmo, stop right there!”

It was Liu Qingfeng. His tone was laced with authority. “Why are you acting on your own?”

Yi Qianmo smirked. “Do I need to report my every move to you?”

Liu Qingfeng’s brows furrowed. “I am the leader of Tianyuan Academy’s contingent here. You’re under my command. When you act, you listen to me.”

Outside the crack, Liu Qingfeng wouldn’t have dared speak to Yi Qianmo this way. Yi Qianmo’s strength rivaled his own, and he was under the Grand Princess’s protection. But here, with Yi Qianmo injured and his spiritual power drained, the balance had shifted.

“Heh.” Yi Qianmo chuckled coldly. “Shout any louder, and the Fire Demon might come out to swallow you whole. If you want to die, go ahead, but don’t drag the rest of us with you!”

His words sent a ripple of unease through the group. The narrow crack only allowed three people to walk side by side, and Yi Qianmo’s warning made the oppressive atmosphere even heavier. Liu Qingfeng and the Xuanyuan Sect disciples glared at him, their resentment clear.

But self-preservation held them back from starting a fight. Yi Qianmo turned away and pressed deeper into the crack.

As they advanced, the temperature climbed steadily. Yi Qianmo activated a spiritual barrier around himself, barely managing to endure the oppressive heat.

“Why is there no soil here?” Yi Qianmo murmured.

The walls of the crack were dark and rough, yet strangely cold to the touch. He placed a hand against the surface and frowned.

“How is that possible?”

The chill of the rock walls defied the searing heat all around them. Even with his vast experience, Yi Qianmo couldn’t identify the material.

The group followed him silently, too wary to touch the mysterious walls themselves. After about a mile, the heat became unbearable. Even spiritual barriers faltered under the intensity.

One by one, some people hesitated, stepping out of the crack’s confines. Eventually, the crack widened into a massive chamber filled with a blinding red light.

The source of the light was a bubbling pool of lava far below. The “gurgling” sounds of molten rock sent shivers through the group.

Yu Xiu stepped back instinctively, his face pale. Even cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage would struggle to survive such a hellish environment.

Yi Qianmo surveyed the area, noticing narrow paths along the walls that led to another passage across the chamber. But the paths were treacherous; one misstep would mean falling into the deadly lava.

Amid the oppressive heat, Yi Qianmo spotted a cloaked figure moving cautiously along the wall. Across from the figure was another passageway.

“You’re quite bold,” Yi Qianmo said with a sly smile, his voice carrying through the chamber.

The figure, Zhou Lanting, turned slightly. “If you don’t want to die, stay away from me,” he replied hoarsely.

Ignoring the warning, Yi Qianmo began navigating the narrow path. The rock beneath his feet was icy cold, a stark contrast to the searing air. Yu Xiu hesitated but eventually followed.

Meanwhile, the others caught up, freezing in horror at the scene before them. They trembled as they watched Yi Qianmo and Yu Xiu inch along the perilous rock wall.

“You little beast! There’s no escape now!”

A voice rang out from the passage. It was the leader of the Xuanyuan Sect disciples.

“If you dare kill one of ours, both of you will die!”

Yi Qianmo’s expression hardened. With no room to maneuver, an attack now would mean certain death.

“Do you want to wake the Fire Demon in the lava?” Yi Qianmo asked coldly.

The Xuanyuan Sect disciple sneered. “If the Fire Demon awakens, you’ll die first. We’ll escape.”

Liu Qingfeng chimed in from the passage. “Yi Qianmo, don’t overestimate yourself. If they attack, you’ll fall into the lava, and I won’t lift a finger to help you.”

He smirked. “Tianyuan Academy isn’t the Yan Kingdom’s royal family. Why should we risk offending the Xuanyuan Sect for you?”

Liu Qingfeng turned to the Xuanyuan Sect disciples. “Brother Hu, kill him. The princess won’t make things difficult for your sect over a dead man.”

Encouraged, Hu drew his sword, infusing it with spiritual power before hurling it toward Yi Qianmo.

With no room to dodge, Yi Qianmo shifted slightly. The blade missed his heart but caused him to lose his footing.

His body slipped, and with a splash, he plunged into the lava below.

The group watched in stunned silence as Yi Qianmo disappeared into the molten depths. Though it seemed accidental, a lingering doubt crept into their minds—had he jumped willingly?