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Human Sacrifice
In the Medicinal Valley of the Qinling Mountains, the landscape was magnificent, with clouds swirling in the sky.
I stood above the boundary of the valley, looking down at everything that was happening below.
Ma Yuan, after reprimanding those present, took out a piece of something that looked like gold leaf from his bosom and tossed it onto the boiling lava. The gold leaf spread out, extending toward the center of the volcano.
Soon, the gold leaf began to glow red from the heat.
Without hesitation, Ma Yuan jumped onto it, lightly tapping his toes as he dashed toward the center of the volcano.
However, there was still a considerable distance to the center of Fire Separation Mountain. Cultivators were not immortals; they could not fly without support. It was impossible to cover such a distance of several dozen meters by mere will alone.
At that moment, Wang Xing called out "Senior Brother," tossing an iron plate in sequence toward Ma Yuan. Ma Yuan used the iron plates to bounce, landing on the volcanic soil in the center after a few jumps.
The Dragon's Essence Flower was within reach. Ma Yuan's face lit up with excitement as he reached for the roots of the Dragon's Essence Flower when a strange voice rang out: "Stop!"
Ma Yuan looked displeased at the person who had appeared on the shore. This person wore a white robe and a matching white hat. His face was extremely pale, and his eyes curved upward, giving him a somewhat frightening appearance.
"That's Water Master Liangyu, ranked second in the Outer Sect. What is he doing here?" someone murmured.
"Liang Yu is the only one in our sect who does not participate in Outer Sect herb-gathering missions. He discovered a clam spirit in a Cold Pool on Azure Cloud Mountain and retrieved a priceless pearl for the sect. In return, he was granted a high-quality Foundation Pill for cultivation. However, whether he failed or for some other reason, he has never entered the Inner Sect," another person explained.
Ma Yuan recognized Water Master Liangyu and said to him, "Who do you think you are to meddle in my affairs?"
Liang Yu smirked, a sinister smile appearing on his frail face as he replied, "It's not that I want to meddle; it's that this Dragon's Essence Flower is suspicious. You might endanger everyone."
Ma Yuan frowned skeptically. The temperature at the center of the volcano was scorching hot; if it weren't for the concentration of Spirit Energy around the Dragon's Essence Flower, no one could withstand that heat in the center of the volcano. He furrowed his brow and said, "Spit it out if you have something to say."
Liang Yu chuckled softly and said, "The Dragon's Essence Flower grows within volcanoes; this is well-known. There are rumors that its growth conditions involve dragon bones from a true dragon that have absorbed the essence of sun and moon over time. Once it blooms, it remains unblemished for a thousand years and attracts beasts for protection. Everyone heard that roar from a giant beast not long ago; do you really think you can just pluck it without fearing that it will summon beasts to kill us all?"
Ma Yuan did not respond, but Wang Xing interjected, "Even if there are beasts guarding it, so what? With so many of us here—thousands of Azure Cloud Disciples—do you think we are just sitting around doing nothing? You should step aside quickly and not hinder my senior brother from gathering herbs."
"I've said all I can; it's up to you now," Liang Yu replied.
"What we do is none of your business," Wang Xing retorted.
In the center of the volcano, Ma Yuan was beginning to feel the heat unbearable. After listening to Liang Yu's words, he glanced down at the Dragon's Essence Flower at his feet and sensed something strange. The soft, lava-like soil beneath him revealed a faint red glow emanating from it.
Ma Yuan bent down and pushed aside the scorching lava soil, only to discover a circle of red patterns around the root of the Dragon's Essence Flower. The patterns extended in all directions. Gathering energy in his palm, Ma Yuan suddenly struck the ground beneath him. The lava soil scattered, and dust flew up, revealing an incredibly eerie bloody totem beneath his feet.
The totem sprawled across the stone platform, resembling a coiling dragon.
"What? There is a man-made formation here!" Ma Yuan exclaimed in shock, unsure of what to do. The formation's core was precisely where the Dragon's Essence Flower grew; if he were to pull it out, the formation would likely activate.
Drawing an Iron Sword from behind him, Ma Yuan cautiously approached the surroundings. He used his sword to lift something vaguely visible on the shore—a red-hot iron chain that was as thick as his wrist. The onlookers gasped in fear, puzzled as to why such a thick iron chain would be found in the middle of a volcano.
Ma Yuan continued to use his sword to probe around the stone platform in the center of the volcano, discovering that it was surrounded by iron chains that lay across the lava pool, seemingly connecting to the shores.
"Is there something locked below? Brother, I think we should forget it; our lives are more important," Wang Xing said worriedly.
Ma Yuan replied, "Prepare the iron plate; I need to collect the herbs."
At this moment, Ma Yuan felt parched and drenched in sweat. If he stayed any longer in the center of the volcano, he might suffocate.
Wang Xing nodded. The gold foil on the volcanic magma had completely melted away; now they could only rely on the iron plate to bounce back to shore.
Ma Yuan bent down and grasped the root of the Dragon's Essence Flower. With a swift motion, he used his Iron Sword to sever it. Holding onto the Dragon's Essence Flower, he leaped into the air just as Wang Xing hurled the iron plate. Ma Yuan landed perfectly on it and soared back toward shore. The spectators watched in awe and fear, admiring how Ma Yuan had already reached Foundation Establishment Realm at such a young age.
The Foundation Establishment Realm was different from both Entry-Level Realm and Purple Qi Eastward Boundary; it marked a watershed moment. Those in the first two foundational realms could not store Dao Qi; once their Dao Qi was depleted, they would be left vulnerable. Their recovery speed for both Dao Qi and physical stamina was extremely slow. In contrast, those in Foundation Establishment Realm could open their Qi Sea and store Dao Qi, allowing for continuous replenishment.
Just as Ma Yuan left the stone platform in the center of the volcano, it immediately shattered and was swallowed by lava. The iron chains floated above the molten surface as a column of Dao Fire erupted from the lava pool. As Ma Yuan made his way back, Wang Xing's thrown iron plate was suddenly overturned by a burst of flames.
"Oh no!" Ma Yuan exclaimed in alarm; if he fell now, he would be burned to ashes.
Onshore, Wang Xing was equally flustered; the erupting flames clouded his judgment. In desperation, Ma Yuan hurled his sword into the lava and lightly tapped his feet again to leap up. However, a splash of molten liquid hit his arm, burning through his Daoist robe.
Seizing an opportunity, Wang Xing threw out another iron plate just as Ma Yuan was about to fall into the lava. At that moment, Ma Yuan stepped onto the iron plate and bounced upward again. Just as he seemed close to reaching shore, Wang Xing’s iron plate suddenly slipped from his hand and landed in Liang Yu’s grasp.
"You dare!" Wang Xing shouted angrily and prepared to strike Liang Yu down.
But Liang Yu merely chuckled lightly and said, "Don't rush; I'll help you throw it."
With that, Liang Yu infused Dao Qi into the iron plate and sent it slicing toward Ma Yuan above the volcano’s mouth from all directions. In mid-air, Ma Yuan dodged and twisted but was suddenly struck by an iron plate on his back and fell into the lava below.
"Senior Brother!" Wang Xing shouted, watching helplessly as Ma Yuan fell into the magma pool spewing fire. However, at the moment he plunged into the molten rock, Ma Yuan clutched a yellow Talisman in his hand. Calmly, he slapped the Talisman toward the magma pool, and with a loud thud, a visible layer of clear energy enveloped him.
Ma Yuan's body became incredibly light as he landed on the surface of the magma, running toward the shore as if it were solid ground. By the time he reached the bank, his shoes were already burning. He took them off and stood on the shore, looking at Liang Yu and said, "I knew you had bad intentions. Very good, you dare to provoke me."
Liang Yu snorted and replied, "You’re just a kid who has barely matured. You took some elixirs to force your way into the Inner Sect and now think you're above everyone just because of Elder Hong's influence? You think I'm afraid of you!" Liang Yu was about to make a move when suddenly his Dao Qi began to coalesce but then abruptly stopped as he stepped back.
The ground shook violently beneath them, accompanied by the sound of collapsing mountains.
"Not good, the volcano is about to erupt!" someone exclaimed, running down the mountain.
Above the volcano, molten lava churned and ash erupted into the air, falling all around. The mountains cracked open, and lava spilled out as everyone fled downwards amidst a deafening roar from a giant beast.
A massive tail swung out from the volcano's mouth, accompanied by the clanking of chains; within this volcano was a colossal beast that was trying to break free!
"What was that just now?!" The crowd was terrified, nearly stumbling in their panic.
At that moment, I also arrived at the foot of the volcano. I had intended to seize an opportunity to grab the Dragon's Essence Flower, but suddenly a massive unknown creature emerged from the volcano, startling me as well.
Seeing everyone scatter in fear, I had no choice but to turn and escape first. This gigantic creature was beyond human capability to confront, especially something that had been imprisoned in a volcano for who knows how many years.
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