After entering the Scarlet Flame Mountain Range, the three soon felt an environment starkly different from the outside world.
The vast expanses of pure white snow had completely receded, replaced everywhere the eye could see by rugged, imposing mountains of crimson rock.
The texture of the cliff faces was scalding hot, faintly shimmering with dark red light, while surging waves of heat continuously rose from fissures between rock strata, banishing every trace of chill from the mountains.
Map in hand, Fang Shouyi checked their bearings as he walked.
“Three li further ahead is a gathering area for demon beasts on the outer perimeter of the mountain range. Most are Rank 2 demon beasts; Rank 3 ferocious beasts rarely appear there.”
“Got it.”
Shen Wanwan gave an offhand reply, holding a crimson spear in her grasp. The shaft was straight and imposing, and the spearhead gleamed with sharp, biting cold.
Gu Yanqing swept a glance over her, inwardly understanding.
A spear favored broad sweeps and fierce, direct force—a style that truly complemented her proud, fiery nature.
In contrast, Fang Shouyi beside her carried no offensive artifacts at all, bearing only a pitch-black round shield hovering close to his body.
Judging by the faint spiritual light circulating across it, it was clearly a defensive artifact specialized in stalwart protection.
“Junior Brother Fang doesn’t specialize in offense?” Gu Yanqing asked casually.
“Indeed,” Fang Shouyi nodded solemnly. “My duty is simply to safeguard the third miss’s safety.”
Hearing this, Shen Wanwan sneered softly. “You make it sound like I’d die without you.”
Fang Shouyi replied earnestly, “That is indeed what the Sect Master instructed me to do.”
Rendered speechless for a moment, Shen Wanwan silently tightened her grip on her spear.
Seeing this, Gu Yanqing unobtrusively took half a step aside, distancing himself from their bickering.
After advancing for a short while, Fang Shouyi’s expression turned wary.
“There’s a demon beast.”
Shen Wanwan immediately perked up.
“Where?”
“Behind the rock strata to the right.”
Before his voice had even faded, two crimson afterimages darted out abruptly.
A red-patterned demon wolf two zhang in length lunged fiercely from behind the rocks, its fiery mane shimmering brilliantly in the sweltering air as a ferocious aura surged toward them.
Gu Yanqing identified its cultivation realm at a glance.
Late Rank 2, comparable to a late Foundation Establishment cultivator.
“Leave it to me.”
Advancing instead of retreating, Shen Wanwan made her spear vibrate as she charged straight forward to meet it.
The demon wolf opened its maw and roared, its sharp fangs lunging straight for her shoulder.
Shen Wanwan sidestepped, thrusting her spear along with the momentum, piercing cleanly through the flesh of the demon wolf’s front leg.
Agony drove the demon wolf into a frenzy; its thick tail lashed across with tremendous force.
Fang Shouyi raised his shield in an instant to meet it.
Boom!
The colossal force smashed heavily against the shield’s surface, a dull thud echoing through the mountains.
Fang Shouyi’s feet plowed two deep grooves into the rocky ground, yet his stance remained as steady as a boulder, yielding not a single inch.
“Miss, left!”
“Understood!”
Shen Wanwan let out a low shout. Her spear swept across abruptly, the biting wind from her spearhead slitting the demon wolf’s throat with pinpoint accuracy.
Blood spurted out, and the massive wolf carcass crashed to the ground with a thud.
The entire encounter had barely lasted a moment.
Shen Wanwan planted her spear firmly and flicked away the bloodstains from its tip.
“Rank 2 demon beast.”
She crouched down to examine the demon wolf’s corpse.
“No demon core.”
Fang Shouyi explained in a timely manner, “Rank 2 demon beasts do not necessarily condense demon cores; only a small portion with special bloodlines or cultivation approaching Rank 3 possess them.”
“So nagging. I know.”
Shen Wanwan looked up, only to find Gu Yanqing crouching nearby, holding a short blade as he carefully pried dark red crystals from the rock face.
Puzzlement immediately crossed her face.
“What are you doing?”
“Looking for something.”
Gu Yanqing picked up the crystal and probed it with spiritual energy to verify. Confirming it wasn’t what he needed, he tossed it into his storage bag.
“That’s a Fire Rock Crystal Fragment.”
Fang Shouyi’s gaze flickered as he realized immediately.
“Is Senior Brother Gu searching for Scarlet Flame Crystal Marrow?”
“Indeed.”
“That material only forms in the depths of rock strata where fire spiritual energy is exceedingly abundant. Ahead at Scarlet Rock Slope, the rock strata hold the richest fire essence. If you search there, Senior Brother, you will certainly find something.”
“Thank you.”
“Just doing what I can.”
Shen Wanwan watched the two converse so familiarly from the side, her tone impatient.
“Are you two done chatting? Let’s get moving!”
Hearing her call, the two promptly resumed their trek.
After walking for roughly another half a shichen, the surrounding temperature steadily climbed, and any lingering chill vanished entirely.
A massive canyon stretched across their path ahead.
At the bottom of the canyon lay a crimson lake.
The lake water was not actual water.
It was molten magma.
Scalding bubbles continuously burst from its depths.
Fang Shouyi abruptly halted in his tracks, his expression turning thoroughly grave for the first time.
“Something’s not right.”
Shen Wanwan sensed something amiss as well.
“What is it?”
“There’s something over there.”
Just as the words left his mouth—
Boom!
The entire surface of the magma lake abruptly exploded!
A crimson giant python over ten zhang long erupted from the magma into the sky, coiling midair!
Its scales resembled red-hot iron armor.
A pair of vertical pupils glared fixedly at the trio.
A terrifying demonic aura engulfed the entire canyon in an instant.
Shen Wanwan’s heart sank.
“A Rank 3 demon beast.”
“Likely early Rank 3.”
Fang Shouyi raised his black shield, bracing for battle.
Gu Yanqing slowly drew his sword.
It was finally here.
The Scarlet Flame Python took the initiative to strike.
Its massive tail swept across toward them.
Fang Shouyi stepped forward.
The black shield expanded abruptly.
Boom!
The serpent tail slammed violently into the shield.
Fang Shouyi was knocked back over ten zhang.
His feet plowed two deep furrows into the ground.
Yet he still held his ground tenaciously.
“Miss!”
Shen Wanwan needed no reminder.
She had already charged out.
Her spear transformed into a streak of crimson light.
Thrusting straight toward the Scarlet Flame Python’s eye.
The Scarlet Flame Python tilted its head to dodge, the spearhead grazing its scales.
“Clang!”
Sparks scattered in all directions.
Shen Wanwan’s arms went numb from the shock.
Incredibly tough.
In the next moment, the Scarlet Flame Python opened its maw and spewed a vast torrent of crimson flames.
Shen Wanwan’s expression changed.
She tried to retreat, but it was already too late.
A sword light suddenly slashed in from the flank.
Boom!
The flames were severed cleanly in two.
Gu Yanqing stood beside her.
“Don’t take it head-on.”
“None of your business,” Shen Wanwan retorted stubbornly.
Gu Yanqing didn’t reply, turning to charge toward the other flank.
He had not unleashed his full strength, choosing instead to observe the Scarlet Flame Python’s attack patterns.
Though stubborn with her words, Shen Wanwan immediately grasped his intention.
She began harassing the Scarlet Flame Python relentlessly.
Fang Shouyi was responsible for defense, Gu Yanqing sought openings, and for the first time, the three formed a true coordination.
Held in check by their coordinated harassment, the Scarlet Flame Python grew increasingly irritable.
Finally, it opened its gaping maw, preparing to spew flames once more.
Gu Yanqing’s gaze narrowed.
“Now!”
Shen Wanwan spun violently and hurled her spear, its tip driving straight toward the Scarlet Flame Python’s open maw.
The Scarlet Flame Python snapped its jaws shut, clamping down on the spear.
Grasping the spear with both hands, Shen Wanwan’s face flushed red.
“Fang Shouyi!”
“On it!”
The black shield slammed heavily into the Scarlet Flame Python’s lower jaw.
The blow forced its head upward in a violent jerk.
In that exact instant, Gu Yanqing was already atop its head.
Sword light fell, the blade plunging straight between the crevices of its scales.
The Scarlet Flame Python let out a deafening hiss.
Its massive body thrashed wildly.
After a moment, all movement ceased completely.
The canyon returned to quiet.
Shen Wanwan stood in place, panting for breath.
Fang Shouyi stowed his black shield.
Gu Yanqing walked over to the Scarlet Flame Python’s corpse.
Slitting open the beast’s skull, a crimson demon core slowly rolled out.
Shen Wanwan looked at the demon core, her eyes lighting up.
“Rank 3.”
Fang Shouyi let out a sigh of relief as well.
“Miss, the mission is complete.”
Shen Wanwan reached out and took the demon core, though she didn’t put it away immediately.
She looked down at it for a moment, then suddenly raised her head toward Gu Yanqing.
“Earlier...”
“Thank you.”
Gu Yanqing paused slightly at her words, then gave a faint shake of his head.
“It was nothing.”
With that, he turned and walked toward the crimson rock face on the other side.
There, a wisp of faint golden-red light peeked through from deep within the rock strata.
A genuine glint of brightness flickered in Gu Yanqing’s eyes.
Finally found it.
Scarlet Flame Crystal Marrow.
Rate on N.U.
