Chapter 166 - 165: Red Lotus Fruit

Under the cover of night.

Luo Tian activated the Invisibility ability of his Dark Night Cloak and stealthily approached the lake where the Red Lotus Cave Mansion was located.

Above the distant lake, the giant, lotus-shaped illusion of light, as red as sunset clouds, gradually dissipated.

In front of a patch of dark red coral rock.

A distorted, light-red vortex of wind exuded a kind of magical glow that made one’s heart race.

"Congratulations, Young Master Zheng, on finding the cave mansion of the ’Red Lotus Martial Venerable’!"

Dongmen Lin, the woman in pink, and the others offered their congratulations.

"Hahaha! My successful discovery of the cave’s entrance is also thanks to your efforts. There will be great rewards for you when we return."

Zheng Wei’s face was flushed with excitement as he laughed heartily.

The cave mansion of the Red Lotus Martial Venerable was an opportunity great enough to make even Earth Level and Celestial Level Martial Artists mad with envy.

WHOOSH!

Zheng Wei took the lead, his figure vanishing into the distorted, light-red vortex of wind.

Dongmen Lin, the woman in pink, and the others followed close behind.

At the same time, Luo Tian closed in to within a mile or two.

He saw several figures from the Qiu Yue Kingdom enter the distorted, light-red vortex and disappear.

A short while later, Luo Tian reached the vicinity of the entrance, but he didn’t act rashly.

He didn’t believe the group from the Qiu Yue Kingdom would enter the Red Lotus Cave Mansion without leaving any guards behind.

Even after closing to within one or two hundred meters, Luo Tian didn’t spot any enemies.

He continued to approach.

Luo Tian spread out his Spiritual Sense and discovered two hidden sentries in a corner of the nearby coral rocks.

The two sentries were both geniuses from the Qiu Yue Kingdom, positioned in a blind spot.

With his Spiritual Sense, Luo Tian was able to locate them with precision.

Even so, silently eliminating both of them would be difficult, even for the number one on the Human List.

These two sentries were no small fry; they had the strength to rank in the top five, or even top three, of the Human List.

Furthermore, they were positioned at opposite ends to cover each other; killing one would inevitably alert the other.

Fortunately, Luo Tian had the Dark Night Cloak, which allowed him to conceal his form in the darkness.

Silently, Luo Tian drew near one of the sentries. The man only became aware and vigilant when Luo Tian was just two or three meters away.

But at that distance, it was already too late.

CRACK!

Luo Tian took a step forward, and without using any True Qi, reached out and crushed the man’s throat.

The Invisibility ability of the Dark Night Cloak had its limitations.

Slightly larger movements, or channeling True Qi beyond a certain degree, would break the concealment.

However, Luo Tian was able to crush the man’s throat with his physical strength alone, all while maintaining the Invisibility effect.

The sentry remained in a seated, cross-legged posture even in death.

The other sentry, shrouded in the darkness of the night, didn’t notice anything amiss and was unaware that his companion was dead.

Repeating the same trick.

Luo Tian snuck up to the second sentry and killed him in a single, successful strike.

’The ability of this Dark Night Cloak is truly powerful.’

Luo Tian gloated inwardly.

Only those at the Earth Element Realm or higher, who possessed Spiritual Sense, could possibly detect his Invisibility.

After dealing with the two men, Luo Tian’s figure flickered and he shot into the distorted, light-red vortex of wind.

Instantly, Luo Tian’s concealed figure was revealed.

The vortex of wind contained light and a force field that would temporarily disable Invisibility.

Not long after Luo Tian entered the cave mansion...

SWOOSH!

A beautiful, icy maiden in snow-white robes drifted over and also entered the distorted, light-red vortex.

It was Xia Bingyue.

Neither Luo Tian nor Xia Bingyue noticed that within the bodies of the two dead sentries, a blood-colored bead in each of them had suddenly shattered.

...

After passing through the light-red vortex of wind.

An invisible suction pulled Luo Tian into a dim and gloomy cave mansion.

The structure of the cave was somewhat complex, like a maze converted from an underground cavern.

The surrounding walls were dark red, and the temperature was a bit high.

When Luo Tian stepped on the ground, he felt a slight searing heat.

What worked to Luo Tian’s advantage was that most areas within the cave mansion were dim and shrouded in shadows, allowing him to maintain his Invisibility.

Luo Tian extended his Spiritual Sense, probing deep into the labyrinthine, dark-red cave mansion.

For some reason, Luo Tian felt that something was off.

This Red Lotus Cave Mansion was located somewhere underground, and its layout wasn’t as grand or impressive as one would imagine for a Martial Venerable.

At the very least, it lacked the majestic and imposing atmosphere of Profound Spirit Mountain.

Of course, Luo Tian couldn’t fathom the thoughts of a Martial Venerable. Ancient records were full of reclusive masters who lived in simple grass huts.

Just then, an intensely scorching aura surged from ahead, accompanied by the sounds of fighting.

Hmm?

Luo Tian quickened his pace and soon saw a huge Molten Rock Pool.

Inside the Molten Rock Pool, dark red molten rock churned and flowed.

Growing within the pool were several crimson lotus flowers, emitting a pure and surging Flame Fire Spiritual Qi.

’Two-star High Tier Spiritual Materials, Fire Lotus Flowers!’

Luo Tian was somewhat astonished.

Heaven and Earth Spiritual Materials of this level were beneficial even to those at the Spirit Sea Realm Seventh Layer or higher.

And yet, a vast patch of Fire Lotus Flowers was growing in this Molten Rock Pool. The sheer quantity was staggering enough to shock the outside world.

Furthermore, in the very center of the Fire Lotus Flowers grew several brilliant red Lotus Fruits, which emitted a unique Heaven and Earth Essence Qi that far surpassed the flowers themselves.

’These Lotus Fruits...’

Luo Tian’s eyes glinted; he could sense that these fruits were extraordinary.

"These beasts!"

The sounds of fighting came from the other side of the Molten Rock Pool.

Zheng Wei and his group were fending off an attack from a pack of Fire Salamanders.

FWOOSH! SPUTTER!

These Fire Salamanders were as large as crocodiles, their bodies covered in dark red scales. They could spit fire as they attacked.

"Young Master Zheng, we should retreat for now! There are too many Fire Salamanders," Dongmen Lin said cautiously.

SHIING! SZZ! SZZ!

Dongmen Lin flashed through the air, leaving behind several silver afterimages, and killed a Fire Salamander. But he was immediately faced with the pounce of three more and could only dodge wretchedly.

These Fire Salamanders were all Spirit Level Demon Beasts, with strength between the First and Third Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm.

Facing twenty to thirty Fire Salamanders at once.

The remaining four or five people from the Qiu Yue Kingdom were completely overwhelmed.

"Retreat!"

Zheng Wei and the others retreated several hundred meters from the Molten Rock Pool before the Fire Salamanders stopped their pursuit.

"What rotten luck!"

Zheng Wei’s expression was slightly grim.

They had only just arrived and managed to grab a few Fire Lotus Flowers before being chased off by these Fire Salamanders.

Zheng Wei’s target was the "Red Lotus Fruit" deep within the Molten Rock Pool.

The Red Lotus Fruit was a unique Heaven and Earth Spirit Fruit that contained Earth Vein Pure Fire Qi. It was a Three-star Level precious material, corresponding to the Earth Element Realm.

’Red Lotus Fruit!’

Luo Tian had also used the Celestial Book to deduce the origin and effects of the Lotus Fruit.

Besides providing a huge boost to those cultivating a Flame Sun Attribute Technique, the Red Lotus Fruit could also improve one’s constitution, possessing the wondrous effect of Washing Marrow.

In the Ancient Era, this fruit was quite popular among princesses and noble ladies.

This was because the Red Lotus Fruit also had a magical beautifying effect, making the skin more supple and smooth.

"We need to use our wits to deal with these beasts."

Zheng Wei’s eyes flickered as he quickly came up with a plan.

The value of the Red Lotus Fruit was so high that even someone of his status was willing to risk it all.

"This plan could work."

Dongmen Lin and the others nodded in agreement.

Soon, Dongmen Lin and the woman in pink approached the Molten Rock Pool separately.

Both had high attainments in Body Techniques, and they each drew a large number of Fire Salamanders away in different directions.

As a result, only a few Fire Salamanders were left in the Molten Rock Pool.

"Well done!"

Zheng Wei led the two remaining geniuses from the Qiu Yue Kingdom to the Molten Rock Pool from another direction.

SWISH!

One of the geniuses from the Qiu Yue Kingdom took out a long iron chain and flung it across.

"It’s hooked!"

The iron chain accurately hooked a Red Lotus Fruit, wrapping around its stem as well.

Zheng Wei was overjoyed and urged them to pull it over quickly.

Just then.

SPLASH! BOOM!

From the molten area around the Red Lotus Fruit, a massive Fire Salamander shot out, radiating a powerful, fiery might.

The giant Fire Salamander spat out a mouthful of dark red flames.

TSSS~

The iron chain instantly melted into liquid and fell into the molten rock.

"Not good! It’s a Fire Lizard King, with strength comparable to the Fifth or Sixth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm."

Zheng Wei’s expression changed drastically.

FWOOM!

The Fire Lizard King lunged forward at astonishing speed, sending a terrifyingly scorching heatwave of magma toward them.

Without a second thought, Zheng Wei and the other two turned to flee.

The Fire Lizard King’s strength was on par with an Elder of the Holy Mansion, far surpassing the level of the current generation’s Human List geniuses.

SPLASH!

The Fire Lizard King whipped up a wave of crimson flames, striking one of the Qiu Yue Kingdom geniuses from a distance.

"AHHH—"

The genius from the Qiu Yue Kingdom screamed as his entire body was instantly incinerated.

In the blink of an eye, only a pile of charred remains was left.

HISS!

The geniuses from the Qiu Yue Kingdom who were present, and even the distant Luo Tian, couldn’t help but gasp in shock.

’This Fire Lizard King probably has the bloodline of an Ancient Exotic Beast. Its true combat power is comparable to a Two-star High Tier Demon Beast, equivalent to a Holy Mansion Elder.’

Luo Tian marveled.

SPLASH!

Another wave of crimson flames surged forward, heading straight for Zheng Wei.

"Activate!"

At the critical moment, Zheng Wei crushed a Cyan Jade Talisman.

BUZZ!

A shimmering cyan barrier of light enveloped Zheng Wei’s body.

PFFT~

The wave of crimson flames, hot enough to melt gold and iron, was blocked by the cyan barrier, though the barrier dimmed slightly.

Thanks to this life-saving trump card, Zheng Wei and the only three remaining members from the Qiu Yue Kingdom escaped the Molten Rock Pool area.

’To think Zheng Wei has such a powerful trump card, able to block an attack on the level of a Holy Mansion Elder.’

A sharp glint flashed through Luo Tian’s eyes.

’It seems I can’t be careless when dealing with this person.’

The Fire Lizard King seemed to be bound by some rule, as it didn’t continue its pursuit.

Zheng Wei and the others breathed a long sigh of relief.

At this point, only three people from the Qiu Yue Kingdom were left: Dongmen Lin, the woman in pink, and a gaunt man holding a Bone Bow.

This gaunt man was none other than Bone Arrow Li Cui, who had crossed paths and clashed with Luo Tian before.

"Young Master Zheng, the two sentries outside are both dead."

A blood-red Token appeared in Dongmen Lin’s hand. On it, two specks of blood that had been flickering had now dimmed and vanished.

"Mm."

Zheng Wei’s expression was indifferent; he wasn’t surprised by this news.

’Whether the two sentries outside lived or died, they served their purpose of revealing an enemy’s presence.’

"Young Master Zheng, it’s reacting."

The gaunt man let out a low cry. He opened his palm to reveal a plump green bug, which held a piece of white fabric in its mouth.

"Excellent! The prey has taken the bait!"

Zheng Wei’s eyes glinted with excitement. He took out a piece of snow-white, light gauze, held it to his nose, and took an infatuated, intoxicating sniff.

"Hehe! Young Master Zheng! Should we make our move now?"

The woman in pink giggled bewitchingly.

"Not yet. Our chances will be better once we’re deeper inside the cave mansion."

Zheng Wei said in a low voice.

This expedition to the Red Lotus Cave Mansion was, in fact, also a trapping operation.

The group reorganized themselves slightly and headed deeper into the Red Lotus Cave Mansion.

After walking for about two or three hundred meters, an ancient Artifact Refining Room came into view. Inside, some Divine Weapons and Tools were visible.

"The Red Lotus Martial Venerable’s Artifact Refining Room?"

the gaunt man said, stunned.

"Haha! I’ve consulted ancient texts before. The Red Lotus Martial Venerable was not only a hegemon of the Ancient Times but also an outstanding Artifact Refining Master."

Zheng Wei grinned broadly.

"No wonder the Red Lotus Martial Venerable’s cave mansion is located near underground molten rock. It would have made it easier to use the earth’s core fire for Artifact Refining."

Dongmen Lin said with sudden realization.

Their expressions full of excitement, the group stepped into the Martial Venerable’s Artifact Refining Room.

On the other side of the Molten Rock Pool, Luo Tian’s figure flickered into view. He glanced at the Red Lotus Fruit and the Fire Lizard King in the pool.

He couldn’t afford to provoke the Fire Lizard King either.

But as for the Red Lotus Fruit, Luo Tian was still somewhat confident he could obtain it.