Chapter 59: Slaying Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent
After an unknown amount of time passed, the two finally arrived at an underground magma pool. Observing the roiling magma, Li Xiao couldn't help but feel that if an ordinary person were here, they would have already been consumed by the lava.
Lian Xue frowned slightly, "Master, there are creatures beneath the magma."
Hearing this, Li Xiao fixed his gaze on the boiling magma before them. He knew exactly what kind of magical beast lived here.
Suddenly, the magma began to boil more violently. Massive columns of lava, as thick as barrels, shot into the air, causing the previously calm magma to become tumultuous.
The scalding lava columns were like ferocious fire dragons, drawing arcs of death in the air before crashing down toward the passage.
Lian Xue looked at the incoming lava with disdain. She extended a finger and lightly tapped, instantly freezing the raging lava columns into ice, which shattered upon hitting the ground.
A piercing screech echoed through the underground world. From the boiling magma emerged the head of a serpent-like magical beast.
This beast, over tens of meters long, had scales resembling those of a qilin. Most astonishingly, it had two enormous heads!
This was the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent, typically found in extremely hot environments, and living by eating magma. This species of magical beast had a great potential to evolve further. When born, it was merely a rank one magical beast, but with enough luck, it might be able to evolve into a rank six magical beast comparable to a Dou Emperor!
The Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent remained cautious, observing the two humans warily while poking out its pair of fork tongues from its mouths.
Lian Xue said, "Master, shall I take care of it?"
Li Xiao nodded. The beast was of little use to him and could become a significant hindrance in acquiring the Heavenly Flame.
Lian Xue lightly stepped into the void, her formidable aura suppressing all the volatile magma energy. Even the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent stared at her with a horrified gaze.
As a fourth-tier magical beast with intelligence, it understood that her strength vastly surpassed its own. However, as the overlord of this area, the serpent was unwilling to lose face before humans. If it couldn't handle the woman, it could try to kill the man. With this in mind, the serpent flashed a cunning look.
The surrounding flames began to churn, and a dozen or so flame-formed clones of the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent emerged from the magma.
Lian Xue remained unfazed. "Is that all you've got? If so, I have no interest in prolonging this battle."
The Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent, rather than retreating, charged forward. But the direction of its attack was somewhere Lian Xue hadn't expected, catching her off guard. The serpent spewed a mouthful of scorching magma toward Li Xiao while propelling itself at him with its powerful tail.
Clearly, its target was Li Xiao. Killing him might salvage some of its dignity.
Lian Xue swiftly evaded the clone's attack and summoned her weapon, a clear and cold voice ringing out, "Cunning beast, you court death!!"
"Slash!"
With a somersault, Lian Xue landed gracefully in midair, her wrist flicking as she swung her sword down at the serpent's neck.
The Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent widened its eyes, letting out near-maddened roars, but its body was visibly frozen in ice. It had no chance to attack, nor even to escape.
With a swift, clean stroke, the sword glinted through the air, not a single drop of blood staining its blade before it returned to its scabbard.
Time seemed to stand still.
The cold wind rustled as magma splashed around.
The serpent's massive head thudded to the ground.
Purple-black blood gushed like a fountain.
The Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent's body sank into the magma, disappearing gradually. Two red fire-attribute fourth-tier magical beast cores emerged, landing in Li Xiao's hand.
Li Xiao chuckled softly, "The Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent had two magic cores. Let's keep them."
Lian Xue asked, "What's our next move?"
"We go down, of course," Li Xiao replied, squatting to examine the area. "Lian Xue, how long can you sustain it?"
"Master, with my current strength, protecting you for a period isn't a problem," Lian Xue responded softly. Though she didn't possess a Heavenly Flame, her power was more than enough to safeguard Li Xiao.
Lian Xue waved her right hand, an icy Dou Qi enveloping Li Xiao's body.
They dove into the magma like dragons into the sea. The temperature here was several times hotter than outside, and it only grew more intense the deeper they went.
Even a Dou Emperor would be reduced to ashes without special means.
As they continued descending, the surrounding magma rock became sparse. When they touched the hotter magma, it started to dissolve, and soon, no rocks were visible.
The temperature here was enough to decompose everything, and the fiery red magma was now tinged with a hint of green, indicating why the stones had vanished.
The dark currents carried immense energy; even a Dou Emperor would be injured if struck.
The slain Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent continued its silent descent into the bottomless magma.
Lian Xue sniffed the unique scent of the magma, then turned to her master, "Master, I sense the aura ahead—it should be the Green Lotus Core Flame you mentioned."
Lian Xue stomped heavily in the magma, shattering the nearby violent energies.
At that moment, a green glow enveloped the area. Within the green light, a lotus flower stood gracefully.
Li Xiao remained calm and collected. Finally, they had found it.
Following the original plotline, the Green Lotus Core Flame had yet to be discovered and had already developed a sentience.
Li Xiao and Lian Xue landed steadily on the lotus. Looking at the fire seed and the Heavenly Flame before him, a smile spread across Li Xiao's face.
With a flick of her finger, Lian Xue enveloped the Green Lotus Core Flame with a peculiar energy, preventing it from escaping.
It takes ten years to form a spirit, a hundred years to take shape, and a thousand years to become a lotus. The Green Lotus Core Flame had long since developed intelligence. Sensing danger, it would release all its energy to destroy any creature threatening it.
However, at this moment, the Green Lotus Core Flame also felt the threat emanating from the two individuals. However, resistance was futile; the Dou Qi of a Dou Venerate left it powerless to fight back.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone