Chapter 3332: Gullet Of The Lava God
Chapter 3332: Gullet Of The Lava God
The group watched as steam vents hissed violently. Even the air felt thick and heavy from the constant volcanic ash.
But dangerous did not mean empty.
They soon spotted creatures lurking within the molten glow.
A red salamander the size of a small house swam through a lake of magma, its body composed of semi-liquid fire. A group of blazing foxes chased each other up a slope of cracked stone, leaving burning pawprints behind. And further up, a massive Lava Mane Lion sat on a platform of obsidian, its mane erupting like bursts of sparks.
But what caught Lin Mu’s eye most were the Flame Elementals.
Not beasts. Not animals.
Pure beings of fire, dancing like living torches across the landscape.
Most were small Minor elementals shaped like flickering teardrops of fire with tiny eyes. They floated above the lava like drifting embers. Occasionally one would rise into the air and scatter into smaller sparks before reforming again.
There were larger ones too. Lesser elemental spirits shaped like vague beastly figures with molten bodies and long trailing tails of flame. They had no faces, but their movements had a strange elegance.
Lin Mu observed them carefully.
These were very different from the Frost Elemental he had once fought and its core that he absorbed. These ones were calmer, less hostile, and more deeply connected to the Flame leylines flowing beneath the volcano.
"Beautiful," Meng Bai muttered, awestruck. "Terrifying, but beautiful."
Daoist Chu nodded. "Their form is stable. This means the Flame Leyline we are looking for is nearby. It is very pure. These elementals are shaped by it."
Lin Mu’s expression turned serious. "Then we are close."
Elyon, who had been quietly watching the rhythm of the volcano, finally pointed toward a deep ravine that cut through the black rock like a glowing wound.
"There," he said. "If the Rune Dwarves truly sought a perfect Flame Energy leyline, then they would be inside that ravine. The old mine entrance should be hidden there after the collapse."
The group looked toward the ravine, where flames rose like serpents and the air shimmered from intense heat.
Their next destination loomed before them.
A forbidden mine lost to history.
A Flame Leyline that overturned mountains.
And possibly, the Rune Dwarves they had been seeking all along.
The adventure continued.
The group stood at the edge of the volcanic ravine, gazing into a landscape that looked almost unreal. The ravine cleaved through the base of the towering volcano like the open jaw of some ancient beast.
It stretched deep into the mountain’s side, swallowing smoke, heat, and light until only a hellish glow remained.
Hundreds of lava falls poured down the jagged rock walls. Some were thin streams that dripped lazily, others were colossal fiery curtains of molten stone that thundered like a demonic waterfall.
Gouts of toxic smoke hissed from vents, and lava bubbles burst with shockwaves that made the ground tremble beneath their feet. Even the air wavered violently, thick with soot, choking fumes, and rising waves of heat that could melt steel.
Elyon exhaled slowly. "This is more intense than I imagined."
Daoist Chu nodded while pulling out a bundle of prepared talismans. "This volcano is practically alive. Its Flame Qi is beyond dense. Be cautious."
Meng Bai was already sticking three talismans onto his arms and one onto his forehead. "I do not trust this place. I am not staying near that lava unprotected."
Cattaleya grinned and stretched her arms behind her back. "Relax. If the lava touches you, you will melt quickly. You would not suffer."
Meng Bai stared at her with wide eyes. "That does not help!"
Lin Mu laughed quietly. "He is right. That does not help at all."
Meng Bai groaned and stuck on a fourth talisman for good measure.
Elyon finished applying his own talismans, each one shimmering with faint water elemental energy to protect him from the oppressive heat. Daoist Chu placed several layered protective formations around himself while forming small revolving water Qi shields.
Meanwhile, Little Shrubby sat beside Lin Mu grooming his fiery tail, perfectly comfortable in the volcanic heat. Cattaleya stood tall, rolling her shoulders casually.
"This place is colder than the magma pits back in the ruined Volcanic world I visited a couple thousand years ago," she commented.
Lin Mu nodded. "It is more familiar than it is dangerous. Once we are inside, the heat will steady out. The toxin density is what will cause problems."
Elyon grimaced. "Thank you for mentioning that."
Lin Mu did not bother hiding his smirk.
Once preparations were finished, they finally stepped into the ravine.
Instantly, the world changed.
Heat surged from every direction. The air shimmered with waves so intense that Meng Bai felt his talismans vibrate like overworked gears. Lava falls thundered around them, splashing liquid fire into deep pools that bubbled like cauldrons of molten gold.
Immortal sense was nearly useless here. The sheer concentration of Fire Qi burned through it, dissolving any attempt at long range perception. Even Daoist Chu, normally capable of sensing miles ahead, could barely push his sense ten meters before it was seared away.
"We might as well be blind," Daoist Chu muttered.
"No," Lin Mu said. "We have Little Shrubby."
The beast perked his ears, proud and eager. With a deep breath, he activated his Absolute Flame Command. A shimmering ripple spread from his body, creating a heat field that shifted the flames around him.
To those watching, it appeared as if the flames bowed.
Little Shrubby tilted his head and sniffed the air. "The Flame Qi is dense. Very dense. But some of the lava falls have cavities behind them. Their Flame Qi concentration is lower than the space they occupy. That means air pockets or tunnels." Lin Mu translated his words.
Elyon’s eyes widened. "You can tell that just by sensing the fire energy."
Little Shrubby flicked his tail proudly. "It is easy."
Lin Mu chuckled. "He was born for this."
They made their way deeper into the ravine.