บท 359: Chapter 358: Entering the Remains

"Then go ahead, but be careful," Xiao Ming said.

Zi Yan nodded slightly and took a few steps forward. She took a deep breath, and her expression gradually grew solemn.

"There will be some commotion later. Pay attention to your surroundings."

After speaking, Zi Yan let out a soft shout. Countless streams of endless purple radiance emanated from her petite body. Under the illumination of this radiant purple light, the once clear and transparent void underwent subtle changes, causing ripples and undulations.

A partially visible celestial canopy appeared, resembling a colossal gate slowly materializing from the void, presenting itself before Xiao Ming and the others.

Although it appeared incredibly illusory and fragile, as if a touch would shatter it, a profound and vast aura swept over it, almost overwhelming. Even Xiao Yi Xian, who had the highest level of cultivation, could sense a faint feeling of oppression.

Zi Yan, however, couldn't fully open this illusory gate. At least, not yet. After all, it was created by a Dou Saint who possessed the ability to create small worlds, far beyond what she was currently capable of.

Her task was merely to open a passage within the space, allowing Xiao Ming and the others to pass through. If it were only Zi Yan herself, there would be no need for such trouble; she could probably walk straight in.

But now, for the sake of Xiao Ming and the others, she had to exert some effort.

With a grave expression on her delicate face, Zi Yan made a gesture with her fingers, creating a subtle crack in the space before her eyes. It seemed as if a storm of spatial energy was raging within.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, the space violently twisted, emitting a rushing sound like flowing water. As this sound spread, faint ripples appeared on the celestial canopy.

Xiao Ming squinted his eyes, observing the increasingly distorted celestial canopy. Amidst the peculiar rushing sound, he sensed an extremely terrifying energy fluctuation. This kind of fluctuation was incredibly frenzied, like a volcano suppressed beneath the Earth's crust, giving a sensation of an imminent wild eruption.

"Open!" Zi Yan exclaimed softly, and her body suddenly radiated a brilliant purple light.

Whoosh...

Another strange rushing sound filled the air. The center of the celestial canopy abruptly solidified, followed by a crisp sound, and a distorted spatial passage appeared.

"Xiao Ming, hurry and go in!"

Without hesitation, Xiao Ming turned to the others and instructed, "Qing Lin, Medusa, do not separate from Xian'er." Immediately after, he dashed forward, transforming into a blurry figure, rushing into the fissure.

Following closely behind, Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, and Medusa resolutely plunged into the fissure where the space storms were raging, with Venerable Tian Huo bringing up the rear.

As the last Venerable Tian Huo stepped into the passage, Zi Yan also swiftly entered the spatial fissure.

Soon after, with Zi Yan's support gone, the spatial passage began to gradually shrink until it disappeared completely. However, the vast celestial gate-like void did not vanish.

A boundless aura spread out, originating from the Beast Bone Mountain Range as its core, radiating in all directions.

The first ones to sense this aura were, of course, the various ranks of magical beasts that had gathered near the Beast Bone Mountain Range due to the peculiar energy within.

They quickly arrived at the gate but soon realized they couldn't enter. Many of the magical beasts returned to their nearby medium-sized and large tribes near the Beast Bone Mountain Range, preparing to report this matter to their respective tribes.

...

Meanwhile, as soon as they entered the spatial passage, Xiao Yi Xian stepped forward next to Xiao Ming and effortlessly dispersed the incoming spatial storms. Her power over space manipulation was formidable, allowing them to navigate through the turbulent passage with ease.

Shortly after, a towering and mountain-like structure came into view.

It was a grand palace, nearly three thousand meters high, resembling a colossal mountain peak. In comparison to this enormous palace, all the palaces Xiao Ming had seen in his life seemed incredibly insignificant. Looking up at this imposing structure standing between heaven and earth, a sense of insignificance washed over him.

The entire palace was crimson, appearing like flames soaring into the sky. In this space, it stood out exceptionally, almost blinding to the eyes.

Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, and Medusa were momentarily stunned by the grand scale of this crimson palace. It was truly the work of a powerful Dou Saint, displaying magnificence and grandeur beyond imagination.

However, despite their astonishment, the group did not halt their progress.

They continued their journey and soon arrived near the palace, with Zi Yan catching up to them.

After a moment, they descended into a peculiar, pitch-black passage.

"Young Master, be careful!" Qing Lin, who had remained behind Xiao Yi Xian, exclaimed.

Suddenly, the dark passage turned crimson, and scorching hot red molten lava gushed forth from the cracks in the sturdy floor. At the same time, alluring blue flames erupted from the spacious walls of the passage. Xiao Ming, at the forefront, took the brunt of the attack.

"Hmph!" Xiao Ming let out a cold snort as the White Glazed Heart Flame surged out from within him.

In an instant, it enveloped the weaker Qing Lin and Medusa before extending to the others.

Shielded by the White Glazed Heart Flame, the sudden onslaught of magma and blue flames did not harm them in the slightest.

Seeing Xiao Ming unharmed, Xiao Yi Xian, who was about to take action earlier, breathed a sigh of relief and examined the passage more closely.

It was a long and pitch-black corridor constructed entirely of dark stones, with a river of magma flowing alongside.

"This Dou Saint's Remains is indeed not easily accessible. Ordinary people who come here would likely turn into ashes in an instant. And this passage is so long that many people wouldn't be able to endure till the end!" she said.

"Why bother with all that? We have Xiao Ming. Let's hurry!" Zi Yan eagerly moved towards the depths of the passage, but Xiao Ming reached out and stopped her.

He lowered his head and looked at the seething lava beside them.

"This passage is just a facade. The real path lies beneath this lava."

"Xiao Ming, are you sure?" Zi Yan blinked in surprise, and the others also expressed their doubts, their eyes filled with confusion. The lava didn't appear to be fake.

"I am certain. Let's go." Xiao Ming enveloped the group in his protection, and they swiftly flew out from the floor, positioning themselves above the lava. Then, they leaped downward.

As they submerged in the lava, Xiao Ming and the others descended swiftly. Although the magma was scorching, it posed no hindrance to them as they were protected by the Heavenly Flame.

After about a minute of descending, they heard a faint muffled sound. Suddenly, their footing gave way, and they slid down a certain distance until their feet landed on a cold floor.

Their gazes swept around as they stood on the floor. They were in a large stone corridor that stretched into the distance.

"Tsk tsk, the owner of the remains is indeed cunning. Who in their right mind would think of jumping into the lava..." Venerable Tian Huo chuckled.

"But he probably didn't expect that Xiao Ming would see through his intentions at a glance. Hahaha."

Xiao Ming remained silent, changing the subject instead.

"Let's go. Ahead should be the true entrance to the remains. There are many valuable treasures inside, such as Qi Methods, Dou Techniques, and rare medicinal materials."

Zi Yan's enthusiasm soared upon hearing about rare medicinal materials. She never grew tired of searching for such treasures.

"Then let's hurry!"