Novel Full Chapter 365: Orange Flame (2)
Chapter 365: Orange Flame (2)
As he thought about it, his eyes suddenly moved toward the sky again.
Instantly.
There it was again. The same orange flame.
Much farther away this time, so distant that Kyrian estimated it to be nearly two kilometers away, hidden among the currents of smoke above the Intermediate Area.
But still watching him.
Kyrian’s eyes narrowed immediately.
The flame no longer hid itself completely. It remained motionless and silent, floating in the sky like a distant observer. Its light glowed faintly between the ash clouds, easy to ignore, easy to lose sight of if one was not actively searching for it.
But Kyrian could see it perfectly.
His eyes pierced through the volcanic ashes as though they did not exist.
Once again, he felt that strange sensation.
It was analyzing him. Trying to understand what he was.
Kyrian did not like that.
He did not like the feeling of being watched without understanding who the observer was. He did not like not knowing whether that thing was a threat or merely... curious.
But the flame was too far away.
Even with the absurd perception of his eyes, Kyrian understood that he would not be able to attack it from that distance. His current Qi was also far from ideal, only partially recovered.
Besides...
The flame did not seem hostile.
At least not at that moment. It was merely observing.
After staring at it for several seconds, Kyrian finally looked away again.
’If it wants to watch me, then watch.’
’It’s not like I can stop it.’
’And it’s not like I’m going to change my plans because of one curious flame.’
He continued walking.
...
A short while later, he finally reached the cave.
The interior was small, perhaps five meters deep and three meters wide, but deep enough to partially isolate him from the volcanic heat. Steam rose through cracks in the ceiling, coming from underground hot springs or perhaps small rivers of lava flowing through the layers below.
Even so, it was far more tolerable than remaining exposed outside.
Kyrian raised his hand.
A thick wall of ice instantly formed at the entrance of the cave, sealing it completely.
The outside heat immediately diminished. The interior became silent. Colder.
Kyrian let out a small, exhausted sigh.
The sound echoed softly through the rocky walls, amplified by the silence.
He walked toward the back of the cave and leaned against the stone wall, allowing his weight to fall against the rock. The surface was rough and uneven, but Kyrian did not care.
His body finally seemed to understand that it was safe.
The adrenaline from the battle, which had kept him moving even after collapsing unconscious, had completely disappeared.
Now, only exhaustion remained.
An exhaustion so deep it felt as though it had seeped into his bones.
Kyrian slowly closed his eyes. Darkness greeted him.
And without realizing it, Kyrian completely fell asleep.
...
Meanwhile...
At the core of the Inner Area of the Great Volcano.
In the highest region of the gigantic volcanic mountain, where the heat was so intense that rocks melted and water vaporized on contact, there existed a different place.
At the heart of the active volcano itself, beneath layer after layer of magma and molten stone, there was a chamber.
And inside that chamber, the lava moved strangely.
It was not the random and chaotic flow of ordinary magma. It was organized. Controlled. As if it obeyed a higher will.
Gigantic ripples spread across the magma’s surface, as though something colossal were breathing beneath it. Each wave caused the entire chamber to tremble, and the surrounding heat pulsed in sync.
Then, slowly, the lava began to rise.
A figure emerged from the gigantic incandescent pool.
It was a being made purely of fire.
Its body possessed a humanoid shape, two arms, two legs, and a head, but it was not flesh. Not bone. Not blood.
It was living lava.
Parts of its body were made of liquid magma, constantly dripping and reforming. Others resembled solidified fire condensed into physical form, so dense that it glowed like incandescent metal.
Flames danced continuously over its reddish body without ever extinguishing.
Around the creature, the heat was so absurd that even space itself appeared distorted.
Even cultivators of the Spiritual Awakening Realm would die quickly in that environment. Their bodies would be carbonized, their meridians burned away, and their cores melted.
But the creature remained there naturally.
Like a fish in water.
Like a king within his domain.
It slowly opened its eyes, eyes made of fire that resembled miniature suns.
Then it spoke.
"That idiotic animal..."
Its voice echoed through the interior of the volcano like muffled thunder, reverberating against the molten stone walls.
"Even possessing dragon blood, it still managed to be killed by a weak human."
The being snorted. Small explosions of fire escaped its mouth, creating shockwaves that made the surrounding lava ripple.
"But well... I couldn’t expect much from a stupid beast. Intelligence was never the strong point of creatures like that."
It crossed its arms while staring at the lava beneath its feet, reflecting on what it had witnessed.
"It was only supposed to be one of the tests Ming Hai left behind for his heir. An obstacle to be overcome by whoever possessed enough talent to continue."
The creature paused.
"But instead, it ran away from the volcano to hunt those useless humans in the Intermediate Area."
An irritated sigh escaped from its flaming lips.
"I’ll have to prepare another test."
The being remained silent for a few moments. The lava bubbled. The heat pulsed. The entire chamber seemed to hold its breath.
Then the creature spoke again.
"But truly... finding someone suitable is difficult."
Its voice now carried a weight that had not been there before. Exhaustion. Frustration accumulated over centuries.
"Old Ming Hai, the person you seek may simply not exist in this place."
The creature’s expression became cold. The fire within its eyes dimmed slightly.
"All the humans who have climbed the Great Volcano so far are far too ordinary."
"Useless."
"None possess enough talent to inherit your legacy."
The being slowly closed one of its flaming eyes.
"Except for that boy."
Its vision seemed to expand, piercing through the entire volcano, through layers of stone, rivers of magma, and dark caverns. Rising past the mountains, the smoke currents, and the volcanic ashes covering the sky.
High above the Intermediate Area, the small orange flame was still silently observing the cave where Kyrian slept. It vibrated softly, transmitting information to its master below.
The creature slowly nodded.
"His talent... is even greater than yours, Ming Hai."
"Greater than anyone who has climbed this mountain in all the years I have existed here."
"But what a pity."
The creature narrowed its eyes slowly.
"He walks an incompatible path."
Its voice carried something close to regret, an ancient sadness.
"His path belongs to ice."
"And your inheritance, Ming Hai... belongs to fire."
The being remained silent for several seconds while observing the cave from afar through the flame it had sent.
Kyrian slept deeply, completely unaware that something was watching him.
"Even so..."
The creature sighed.
"He is interesting."
The flames within its eyes burned brighter once more.
The being slowly dissolved back into the lava, its body of fire breaking apart into embers that merged with the magma once again.
"It seems I’ll spend a few more centuries protecting that inheritance..."
The echo of its voice was the last sound to fill the chamber before silence and heat reclaimed it once more.