This was the first time Xiao Hei had made a sound without using mental fluctuations, and it truly surprised him.

"Dan... Danger..." A mental fluctuation rippled out as Xiao Hei backed away.

Su Chen could clearly perceive the fear in the mental fluctuation Xiao Hei sent.

’Danger?’

Su Chen’s gaze flickered as he looked into the distance, which was shrouded in a grayish-white mist. He still couldn’t see anything.

’It spent all its time under that Centipede Dragon’s body without ever mentioning danger. Could it be... we’re here?’

Su Chen guessed inwardly but simply waved his hand and continued darting forward.

Xiao Hei hesitated for a moment. Although it was trembling, it still scrambled along the ground and followed him.

Before long, Su Chen came to a halt.

Ahead, the thick, hazy mist had thinned slightly, and the silhouette of an extremely vast shadow pierced through the haze, gradually becoming visible.

It was a colossal mountain of immeasurable height. Its body seemed to thrust straight into the dim sky, its surface a somber, dark brown.

It was also covered with countless brighter, scorching patterns that snaked and coiled, stretching from the foot of the mountain to a height beyond sight, deep within the mist.

"That must be the Land of Spirit Fire."

Su Chen murmured, almost certain.

As he walked forward, the number of Netherworld Creatures in the vicinity had clearly increased. They were lying prone beneath the winding, crimson lava-like flows, lapping at them as if drinking water.

Xiao Hei couldn’t help but draw closer and begin licking as well.

"This stuff..." Su Chen crouched down and examined the crimson patterns on the ground. They weren’t lava; they had no heat at all.

The outer perimeter was still populated by Low-tier Netherworld Creatures with little intelligence, acting only on instinct. The deeper one went, the higher the Tier of the Netherworld Creatures. At the foot of the mountain, the creatures were already at the Tier Six level, and they stared at them with a faint warning.

"That thing..." Su Chen looked up, his non-existent throat bobbing.

At the mountain’s peak, there was a faint, massive shadow. He couldn’t see it clearly, but even from such a great distance, he could feel an immense pressure emanating from it, far surpassing that of the Centipede Dragon.

’It couldn’t be a Tier Nine Netherworld Creature, could it?’

His heart trembled, and he cursed under his breath.

’This is trouble. The Centipede Dragon was already hard enough to deal with. There’s no way I can fool this Tier Nine creature.’

Su Chen’s brows furrowed tightly. After some thought, he decided against brazenly heading up in his guise as a Deceitful God Priest. He carefully avoided the surrounding Netherworld Creatures and gradually moved away.

’No wonder someone of Fan Zhao’s status is still waiting. To get the Spiritual Fire, they’ll have to drive away that Tier Nine Netherworld Creature first.’

...

Meanwhile, in the core area controlled by the Sect.

The faint golden dragon shadow that perpetually hung in the sky descended as a streak of light, transforming into a middle-aged man with a square-jawed face.

"Haha, Senior Brother Qin, it’s been a while."

A loud laugh came from the Reception Hall, and a young man who looked to be only seventeen or eighteen years old walked out.

"Junior Brother Yunting, what brings you to my neck of the woods?" Qin Yuezheng asked with a faint smile.

"What, I can’t come visit my senior brother unless I have business?" Lan Yunting retorted.

Qin Yuezheng chuckled. "Of course not. It’s just that this Nether Realm is the same year-round—utterly monotonous. A big shot like you wouldn’t just drop by for no reason."

Before he could finish, Qin Yuezheng’s gaze went past Lan Yunting’s shoulder to the figures following behind him.

Fan Zhao! Realization dawned on him. ’So that’s it. Master Fan must have asked. No wonder they could get a big shot like you to come.’

"When a junior is in trouble, how can a senior not help?" Lan Yunting said with a light chuckle.

Qin Yuezheng sighed helplessly. "Alas, there’s nothing I can do. I have to watch over this Nether Realm and can’t act rashly. The Land of Spirit Fire has too many Netherworld Creatures, and it’s quite far from here."

"The duration of the Flame Fire is not nearly enough for me to handle everything and then protect Master Fan while he undergoes the Melting Holy Profession."

"I understand, I understand."

Lan Yunting said quickly, "That’s why I’ve come to share your burden, Senior Brother."

As the two exchanged pleasantries, Fan Zhao remained expressionless. Behind him, Qin Tianlin and Meng Shiyu emerged, followed by one other person.

It was Lan Hao. He was also among them, surveying his surroundings.

"Been a while since you last came, hasn’t it?" Meng Shiyu stood beside him, his eyes flickering slightly as he initiated the conversation.

"It has been some time," Lan Hao nodded. He didn’t come to the Nether Realm often; his last visit was five or six years ago.

He had come once out of novelty but had lost interest after that.

"Oh, right, Senior Brother, you’ll still need to assign someone to take us to the Land of Spirit Fire. This Nether Realm is too complicated, and I have the worst sense of direction," Lan Yunting said, feigning helplessness.

"But of course." Qin Yuezheng nodded and summoned a plump, round man. It was Steward Feng. "You will take them to the Land of Spirit Fire."

"Yes, sir."

Steward Feng nodded in acknowledgment, though he was complaining bitterly inside. ’This is not a good assignment.’

Lan Yunting’s status was not low, so Qin Yuezheng personally escorted them out of the core area. Along the way, they saw many Sect members returning, who cast subtle, scrutinizing glances at them.

"Junior Master Qing Cang will be back soon."

Lan Yunting spoke up suddenly as they walked.

"From the Profound Celestial Sect?" Qin Yuezheng’s eyes narrowed.

"Correct. I heard he’s bringing back the Profound Celestial Instrument," Lan Yunting nodded.

"The Ancient King has truly gone to great lengths," Qin Yuezheng couldn’t help but remark.

Behind them, the expressions on the faces of Fan Zhao, Qin Tianlin, and the others soured. They had only recently learned the news about Qing Cang going to the Profound Celestial Sect.

The Profound Celestial Sect’s Profound Celestial Instrument was a rare artifact that could directly enhance one’s Talent. The fact that Qing Cang went for it as soon as he returned to the Sect made it self-evident who it was for.

"And it’s not just the Profound Celestial Instrument. Tang Xiuqi of the Profound Celestial Sect will be coming as well," Lan Yunting said.

"The Star Seed?"

Qin Yuezheng was stunned. This was indeed news to him. "Why would the Profound Celestial Sect allow their Star Seed to come along?"

Lan Yunting replied, "I suspect they want to make use of our Creation Copper Heart."

Only then did Qin Yuezheng understand. "No wonder."

Lan Yunting continued, "I’ve heard that it’s not just people from the Profound Celestial Sect. A few people from the Royal Court are tagging along as well, apparently also for the Profound Celestial Instrument. It seems the Royal Court was supposed to borrow it first, but the Ancient King intercepted the deal."

Qin Yuezheng couldn’t help but frown. "The Royal Court needs the Profound Celestial Instrument too? Who for?"

"Who knows," Lan Yunting said, shaking his head.

By the time they finished speaking, the group had already walked out of the core area. Qin Yuezheng watched them leave.

...

’How am I supposed to deal with this Tier Nine Netherworld Creature?’

Su Chen stared from afar at the massive, faintly visible mountain. He had been hesitating here for a long time. That giant beast was something he was completely incapable of handling.

’I can’t just report to the Sect and say I need to undergo the Melting Holy Profession, can I?’

Even if he stated his request, it would be useless. Fan Zhao had already called dibs, and there was a matter of first come, first served.

"Delicious... scared... delicious... scared..."

Suddenly, Xiao Hei began to hop up and down on the spot.

"What?" Su Chen snapped back to his senses and looked at the spazzing Xiao Hei. It was staring into the distance, both excited and terrified. Many of the surrounding Netherworld Creatures were reacting similarly.

’Delicious?’

A thought stirred in Su Chen’s mind. He quickly took Xiao Hei and hid among the surrounding Netherworld Creatures. There were far too many creatures more bizarre-looking than him, so he was extremely inconspicuous.

In just a moment, figures flew out of the mist, wreathed in blue light waves. They were incredibly fast, kicking up a fierce gust of wind.

It was... Hiding below, Su Chen’s heart skipped a beat.

He saw a large group of familiar faces: Fan Zhao, Qin Tianlin, Meng Shiyu, and even Lan Hao were among them.

’Could it be...’

His heart fluttered as a guess formed in his mind.

He didn’t recognize the person in the lead, but the aura emanating from him was terrifying. The surrounding Netherworld Creatures grew restless, and as the group drew closer, they scattered and fled.

Su Chen was swept along with them, running a short distance away.

The group didn’t fly directly toward the giant mountain but stopped some distance away.

"This is the place."

Steward Feng whispered. Lan Yunting tilted his head back, looking at the giant mountain before them.

"A Tier Nine Netherworld Creature..." Lan Yunting had already sensed the faint, almost imperceptible aura, and his brow furrowed slightly.

Fan Zhao’s heart tightened, and he couldn’t help but say, "Junior Master Lan..."

Before he could finish, Lan Yunting interrupted him. "Don’t worry."

"It’ll be a bit troublesome to deal with, but not impossible. Which Land of Spirit Fire isn’t occupied by a Tier Nine Netherworld Creature?"

He wasn’t surprised. He just said, "Still, it’s best to save our energy if we can. This kind of Netherworld Creature’s intelligence is no less than our own. You all wait here. I’ll go take a look."

Lan Yunting’s eyes glinted, and he transformed into a streak of light, soaring into the sky.

"Don’t be afraid. These Netherworld Creatures have no intelligence. They act on instinct and won’t dare to approach us."

Meng Shiyu spoke to comfort the slightly uneasy Lan Hao.