Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 112: Chapter 112: Escape from Death

After all, Ye Qingchen was in such a hurry to become an Inner Sect Disciple precisely because he wanted to go to Redflame Mountain and acquire the Fen Tian Earth Fire. What he was most concerned about was the situation on Redflame Mountain.

However, Wang Qiang and Hong Yan had only recently been promoted to Inner Sect Disciples and knew little about the mountain. It was only Hei Ze who, upon hearing Ye Qingchen suddenly mention Redflame Mountain, gave him a meaningful look. But as everyone was drinking to their hearts’ content, no one noticed Hei Ze’s reaction.

The group continued drinking until late into the night. Although Hong Yan and Ye Ying were at loggerheads the entire time, the overall atmosphere remained quite harmonious.

The next morning, without informing anyone, Ye Qingchen set off for Redflame Mountain by himself. Since Wang Qiang and Hong Yan knew very little about it, he had decided to explore the area on his own first before formulating a plan to retrieve the Fen Tian Earth Fire.

Redflame Mountain was located in the rear mountain area used by the Inner Sect Disciples, not far from Ye Qingchen’s residence. After half an hour’s journey, he arrived at its foot.

Looking up, he saw layers of forests. Many unknown plants, most of them a fiery red, covered every corner of Redflame Mountain. I suppose this is where the mountain gets its name.

Ye Qingchen surveyed his surroundings. Besides the occasional cries of birds and beasts, he couldn’t detect any other Qingyun Sect disciples, even with his Double Pupils activated. Only then did he nod in satisfaction and proceed up the mountain.

Although Redflame Mountain was situated within the Qingyun Sect’s territory, it was clearly undeveloped. Ferocious beasts would sometimes spring out, but their cultivation levels weren’t very high. Ye Qingchen’s objective was not to train, so he avoided these beasts whenever possible. Only when an encounter was unavoidable would he strike, ending the fight with lightning-fast attacks.

Redflame Mountain didn’t seem large, but upon entering, Ye Qingchen found it to be a different world altogether. It took him a full hour to reach the center of the mountain.

The fierce beasts he had casually hunted and the medicinal herbs he had collected along the way already made the trip worthwhile. Relying on experience, he felt that the Fen Tian Earth Fire must be at the very center of Redflame Mountain, so he had taken almost no detours.

As soon as he arrived at the mountain’s core, Ye Qingchen felt the ambient temperature rise rapidly. With his current strength, normal temperature changes had no effect on him, yet at this moment, he was sweating profusely.

His heart, however, was filled with immense excitement. The anomaly around him proved that the Fen Tian Earth Fire was definitely here. Only a heavenly treasure like the Fen Tian Earth Fire could cause such a phenomenon.

Reining in his excitement, Ye Qingchen slowed his pace and advanced carefully. At the same time, he activated his Dual Pupil Martial Soul; it was best to be cautious in this unknown environment.

After progressing for another mile or so, the sight before him left him utterly shocked.

At the summit of Redflame Mountain was a Heavenly Pond, a kilometer to a side. If it were just an ordinary pond, it would not have shocked him so much. But the Heavenly Pond before him was composed entirely of fiery red lava.

Redflame Mountain wasn’t a volcano, so why was there so much lava? Could the Fen Tian Earth Fire be in this Heavenly Pond?

Ye Qingchen searched the memories inherited from Elder Fen Tian and recognized the sight before him. It was the Heavenly Pond Sea of Fire that the elder had spoken of! And the Fen Tian Earth Fire was indeed within it.

The thought of the rare treasure he had coveted for so long lying right before his eyes made even someone with Ye Qingchen’s mental fortitude breathe heavily. His feet involuntarily drew him closer to the Heavenly Pond Sea of Fire.

The surrounding temperature climbed sharply, and the intense heat helped to clear his head. He stopped, intending to use his Double Pupils to observe the scene within the Heavenly Pond Sea of Fire.

But no sooner had he activated his Double Pupils than a change occurred. The once-calm surface of the lava began to churn as huge bubbles roiled and burst. Ye Qingchen instinctively sensed danger and began to retreat.

As he backed away, a dark shadow shot out from the Heavenly Pond Sea of Fire, lunging toward him. It was followed by one shadow after another, all emerging from the lava.

The first shadow was incredibly fast, appearing before Ye Qingchen in an instant. Only then did he see it clearly: a beast resembling a mouse, but over a meter tall. Its body was completely red, like a mobile flame, and it bared its teeth and claws at him.

”Fire Rock Beast!” Ye Qingchen exclaimed in alarm. The inheritance from Elder Fen Tian contained records of such a creature. The Fire Rock Beast was a third-tier Monster Beast born from magma, with strength comparable to a fourth-level martial master.

Before Ye Qingchen could react, the Fire Rock Beast’s attack was upon him. Unable to dodge in time, he could only throw up a hasty block.

As soon as he blocked the blow, he felt its overwhelming power—far more than he could currently handle. Worse, more Fire Rock Beasts were continuously leaping out from the Heavenly Pond Sea of Fire. If he were surrounded by so many of them, his chances of survival would be slim!

Ye Qingchen didn’t dare to linger in battle and hurriedly retreated. But the Fire Rock Beasts were also incredibly swift and pursued him relentlessly.

Seeing the growing number of beasts behind him, Ye Qingchen grew frantic. In a moment of carelessness, he was struck by the first Fire Rock Beast. He felt a warmth rise in his chest and coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Paying it no mind, Ye Qingchen wiped the blood from his lips and continued to flee. His speed was already less than that of the Fire Rock Beasts, and now that he was injured, it had slowed even further.

More Fire Rock Beasts caught up to him. Even though he used his Double Pupils to evade as best he could, the disparity in strength and numbers was too great, and he soon sustained severe injuries.

It’s over for me! Ye Qingchen thought in despair. In his current state, there was no way he could face so many third-tier Monster Beasts. He could only blame his own recklessness in approaching the Heavenly Pond Sea of Fire, a decision that had placed him in such peril.

His body was now covered in wounds. The excessive blood loss made him dizzy, and his vision blurred. But, drawing on his powerful willpower, he continued to flee for his life.

After he had run for another hundred meters or so, the Fire Rock Beasts surprisingly stopped their pursuit, returning one by one to the Heavenly Pond Sea of Fire.

Seeing the beasts retreat, Ye Qingchen felt a dazed sense of relief, as if he had just survived a catastrophe.

GASP!

Once the danger had passed, the severe pain from his wounds flared across his body. However, he knew this was no place to linger; after all, there were other fierce beasts around!

This trip was perilous, but the rewards were great. I found the Fen Tian Earth Fire’s location and got a lay of the land. It was worth it!