Boom!
The volcano erupted. Vast quantities of magma surged from the crater, shooting straight into the sky before cascading down the mountainside. The sheer scale of the event was frightening.
The magma contained not only Yang Source but also plenty of minerals—opportunities laced with peril. Even a Mystic General shielding themselves with mystic power would be injured if struck, and multiple hits could prove fatal.
For those at the foot of the mountain, every mineral chunk in that magma was essentially a bomb.
Still, it wasn’t an insurmountable danger. Mystic Generals had plenty of ways to fend off falling debris. The real threat to Yan Zhen lay in the Lava Beasts that emerged alongside the magma.
These weren’t true Mystic Beasts but spirit creatures born from the Yang Source, dwelling deep in the volcano’s magma pools. Fierce as they were, they were treasures in their own right.
If the plot script was accurate, this eruption would bring out three Lava Beasts: two Tier 4 and one Tier 5, all landing midway up the slope.
Tier 4 Lava Beasts had strength roughly equivalent to a Five-Star Mystic General—nothing to fear for the people here, though hardly valuable prizes. A Tier 5 Lava Beast, however, was another story.
With power matching a Five-Star Mystic King, no one present—save a few cheaters—could take it in a straight fight. That’s why the Top Ten Societies would band together to hunt it down and claim the spoils for themselves.
Yan Zhen wanted the Fire Spirit Crystal inside that Tier 5 Lava Beast. Charging in head-on was impossible. He needed to… ambush it!
The eruption raged for nearly half an hour, building from minor tremors to a roaring climax before subsiding completely.
Rivers of magma flowed down the mountain, filling the various pools until their surfaces visibly lapped at the edges of the stone platforms. The air reeked of sulfur.
“Luck’s on our side. First time in, and we get a volcano eruption,” Yan Zhen said, rising from the stone platform. “These blasts bring out loads of Fire Crystal Ore. I’m heading up to grab some. You all keep cultivating—I’ll be right back.”
“Hold on, Yan Zhen Zhen!” Long Ying leaped three feet into the air, landing beside him and grabbing his wrist with her small hand. “I want to go too! It’s so boring staying here!”
That was exactly what Yan Zhen had been waiting for. In the script, he teamed up with Long Ying.
“You can come, but no wandering off. If you get lost, I’m not coming after you.”
Long Ying puffed out her cheeks in arrogant pride. “I won’t get lost. Don’t treat me like a kid.”
Yan Zhen ruffled her hair. “If you’re not a little kid, what are you? A big one?”
Long Ying huffed. Soon you’ll see this great figure of mine. Then you’ll be drooling~
“I’ll come with you too, Yan Zhen,” Huangfu Wenqing said, standing up as well. “I’m not comfortable leaving just you two alone.”
Zi Xunyi said nothing but rose to her feet too, her intention clear.
Yan Zhen waved his hands hastily. “It’s just picking up some Fire Crystal Ore—no real danger. Don’t worry. Keep cultivating. A day in this secret realm costs a hundred points; no need to waste time following me.”
Zi Xunyi sat back down first, speaking calmly. “If trouble hits, send up a signal with your Extreme Flame.”
Huangfu Wenqing glanced at her rival. Seeing her so readily stay behind, she had no choice but to go along with Yan Zhen’s plan. “Be careful, then. Use a Messaging Talisman if anything comes up.”
Yan Zhen flashed an OK sign, then scooped up the Loli Dragon Girl and leaped away. He pulled their two Academy Cards from the slot and headed up the mountain.
His mental perception spread out, covering several hundred zhang. Within that range, blazing hotspots marked the Fire Crystal Ore.
Yan Zhen was tempted to use that “Special Trump Card: Eighty Million Gold-Plated White Dragon.” Unleashing its ultimate technique would let him sweep up every treasure in the secret realm effortlessly—including the students’ storage rings and even their Treasure Clothes. But it’d cause absolute chaos, and if anyone traced it back to him, he was done for.
Nah. Save it for enemies—like that Black Horn Empire later. Suck ’em dry till they’re beggars. Hmph!
Lost in thought, Yan Zhen spotted some Fire Crystal Ore ahead. His Mental Tentacles reached out, coiling around the glowing red crystal and pulling it back into his palm.
Long Ying blinked. “Yan Zhen Zhen, is this the kind of rock you want? I’ll help you pick some!”
Yan Zhen gave her a strange look. In the script, he thought collecting alone was too slow, so he ordered her to help in exchange for Fasting Pills. Now she was volunteering?
He skipped the bargaining and switched to rewards. “Don’t stray too far. Pick one piece of Fire Crystal Ore, and I’ll give you a Fasting Pill.”
“Yay~”
Long Ying happily dashed off to collect some.
Sure enough, she’d get lost—wandering right into the volcano crater.
Yan Zhen pondered briefly, then headed in the opposite direction. Half an hour later, he’d gathered nearly ten pieces of Fire Crystal Ore. That’s when he ran into some familiar faces—”White Fang” members.
White Fang had three Mystic Generals in the Yang Pole Secret Realm, all body refining. Spotting Yan Zhen, their eyes turned hostile.
Sure, Yan Zhen was strong. None of them could beat him one-on-one. But this wasn’t the Duel Platform. They had numbers—three against one.
“You’re dead today, Yan Zhen! Get him!”
Led by Bai Ao, the White Fang trio wasted no words. They drew their weapons, mystic power flaring as they charged.
Yan Zhen didn’t care. This rival clash was supposed to be a key plot point, but these losers had already been beaten before. They weren’t even worth the face-slap.
He drew his Gold Silver Fire Sword Embryo and met all three. In a single clash, he shattered their weapons. Ten exchanges later, he sent them all flying, sprawling wretchedly on the ground.
Now a Five-Star Mystic Master, he was far stronger than during his duel with Bai Ao. Plus, the psychological trauma he’d inflicted left them crumbling the moment they lost their gear.
Yan Zhen unceremoniously claimed the Fire Crystal Ore they’d gathered, bringing his total to twenty.
But that was small fry. The real prize was the three Lava Beasts—especially the Tier 5 Magma Ape.
Yan Zhen was about to press onward when his mental sense picked up a familiar petite figure racing toward him. Moments later, she dropped down right in front of him.
Long Ying was back!? The one who was supposed to get lost!?
Isn’t she a total airhead with directions? How’d she find her way back?
Yan Zhen couldn’t make sense of it.
If Long Ying didn’t get lost, how would Black Horn dare chase him down?
If Black Horn didn’t chase him, how could he be “forced” to jump into the volcano crater for a new opportunity?
Emmm…
Long Ying hadn’t overthought any of it. Clutching a pile of glowing red Fire Crystal Ore, she beamed happily. “Yan Zhen Zhen, look! I got a bunch!”
Yan Zhen’s mouth twitched. He stowed the Loli Dragon Girl’s haul in his storage ring, then handed her a fresh bottle of Fasting Pills.
“Good work, Long Ying. Let’s head higher. I sense a powerful aura up there—might be a Lava Beast.”
