Chapter 237 - 208: Lava Secret Mansion, Purple Sun Jade Heart Lotus

Chapter 237: Chapter 208: Lava Secret Mansion, Purple Sun Jade Heart Lotus

Lu Zhao had intended to return to Broken River Castle as soon as possible, process the spoils of his trip, and begin planning his next move against the other Tier Two Demon Beasts.

However, a thought rippled through his Sea of Consciousness like a stone cast into a calm lake.

’The nests of high-tier demon beasts often contain rare wonders...’ Lu Zhao muttered to himself, recalling records from the many ancient texts he had read in his youth.

Although the Red-Feathered Black-Footed Bird was only Tier Two Lower-Grade, a far cry from "High-Tier," it already possessed a sliver of Spiritual Wisdom, setting it apart from common beasts. Its nest might very well contain Spiritual Materials and other treasures it had painstakingly collected or that had been naturally nurtured.

’An opportunity has presented itself. How can I let it slip by?’ Lu Zhao’s gaze sharpened, and his decision was made in an instant. ’Improving my strength is the only true way to face any challenge. Any opportunity to deepen my foundation is worth exploring.’

He hesitated no longer. His Divine Sense spread out like a tidal wave as his figure blurred into a gray shadow, darting among the rugged black volcanic rocks. His sharp gaze scanned every crevice and cave that might conceal the nest.

A day passed in meticulous searching. He had found some things, but they were not what Lu Zhao was hoping for.

A few pieces of Tier One High-Grade Fire Melting Crystal and Red Fire Spirit Iron—while decent Tier One Spiritual Materials—were a negligible bonus given his current resources. And the Red-Feathered Black-Footed Bird’s actual nest was still nowhere to be found.

’Could it be...’ Lu Zhao stopped at the edge of a fissure of churning lava, his gaze fixed on the viscous, golden-red flow below. He closed his eyes and focused his mind, records concerning the bird flashing rapidly through his Sea of Consciousness.

’Someone once saw it emerge after bathing in lava... Could its nest be hidden beneath this fiery sea?’ A bold theory surfaced in his mind.

For an ordinary Tier One Demon Beast, or even a common Tier Two Demon Beast, venturing deep into lava was tantamount to suicide. But the Red-Feathered Black-Footed Bird was a natural Fire Attribute creature; it wasn’t afraid of high temperatures. ’It’s entirely possible it built its nest deep within the lava!’

’Only one way to find out!’ A sharp glint flashed in Lu Zhao’s eyes as he cast aside his hesitation. With a mere thought, his Storage Bag flashed, and a dozen crimson puppets—Red Fire Spirit Birds with feathers that looked like coalesced flames—appeared before him.

The Flowing Fire Spirit Patterns covering the puppets granted them incredible fire resistance, making them perfect for this kind of extreme environment. Better still, they also possessed scouting and alarm functions, as well as considerable Fire Element Attack Power.

’Go!’ Lu Zhao split his Divine Sense into a dozen threads, precisely branding each one onto a Red Fire Spirit Bird’s Puppet Core. As the command was given, the Red Fire Spirit Birds let out a silent hum, flapped their wings, and transformed into more than ten streaks of crimson light, plunging headfirst into the scorching lava below without hesitation!

The Red Fire Spirit Bird puppets were worthy of their name. Upon entering the lava, the Spirit Patterns on their bodies glowed faintly, forming a thin but tough protective shield that insulated them from the heat, which was intense enough to melt gold and stone.

Under the control of Lu Zhao’s Divine Sense, they moved like agile fish, weaving through the viscous lava and transmitting their perceptions back to him in real time.

Deep within the lava, the pressure was immense, the light was dim, and even his Divine Sense was severely disrupted. Lu Zhao sat cross-legged at the edge of the fissure, his mind completely focused as he perceived the scorching, silent world through the puppets’ "eyes." Time crawled by, the wait both tedious and long.

One day, two days...

On the evening of the third day, as the setting sun dyed the clouds on the horizon blood-red, one of the Red Fire Spirit Birds Lu Zhao was controlling broke through an unusually viscous region of lava, and the area ahead suddenly opened up!

The puppet’s view was no longer filled with churning, golden-red lava, but a spherical space dozens of feet across, held open by an invisible Force Field! There was no lava within, only Fire Attribute Spiritual Qi so dense it was almost tangible, forming a faint red mist. In the center of the space, a flash of peculiar color flickered for an instant.

However, at the very instant the Red Fire Spirit Bird tried to investigate that flicker of color...

SNAP!

In Lu Zhao’s Sea of Consciousness, the Divine Sense Thread connected to that Red Fire Spirit Bird snapped without warning! A powerful backlash shot through him, causing him to let out a muffled grunt as his face turned pale.

’It broke?’ Lu Zhao’s eyes flew open. Instead of shock or anger, they shone with an irrepressible, joyous light! ’It wasn’t destroyed! The Divine Sense connection was just severed by some kind of force! That space is protected by an Array!’

What truly stunned him, however, was that in the final moment before the Divine Sense Thread snapped, he had caught a fleeting glimpse through the Red Fire Spirit Bird’s "eyes" of the incredibly complex Natural Array Patterns flowing across the space’s inner walls!

The essence of those Runes was strikingly similar to the Natural Array Patterns he had seen years ago on the back of a Bone-Eroding Orchid leaf in Cyan Rattan Stream!

’A Natural Array! There really is treasure here!’ Lu Zhao shot to his feet, his heart pounding with excitement. ’A place protected by a Natural Array often nurtures extraordinary Heaven and Earth Spirit Objects! This couldn’t have been set up by the Red-Feathered Black-Footed Bird; it must have formed here on its own, only to be discovered and claimed by that Demon Bird!’

’Opportunity is knocking. How can I let this pass?’

Lu Zhao took a deep breath. Without a shred of hesitation, he slapped his Storage Bag, and a small turtle shell shield flew out. It was his Tier Two Middle-Grade Defensive Spiritual Artifact—the Black Jade Profound Light Shield!

HUMMM!

Lu Zhao surged his Magical Power into the shield. Its surface erupted with black light, and a layer of profound, dark light instantly enveloped him, exuding a defensive aura as steadfast as a mountain.

This was the shield’s innate Defense Magic—the Black Water Profound Turtle Shield!

Without the slightest hesitation, with the protection of the Magical Artifact and the Black Water Profound Turtle Shield, Lu Zhao leaped into the air and plunged like a meteor straight into the roiling lava below!

THUMP!

The heavy sound of his impact was drowned out by the lava’s roar. A terrifying heat instantly enveloped him. The surface of the Black Water Profound Turtle Shield rippled violently, letting out a sizzling sound, but ultimately, it held firm.