**: Volcanic Cave**

The magma lake resembled a golden, amber-like bead, embedded right in the center of a dark red stone slab, dazzling and magnificent.

Orange-red and golden magma flowed and churned slowly within the lake, occasionally bubbling up with huge bubbles.

Blistering heat waves radiated outwards from the magma lake in waves. Blocked by the mountain walls, the waves of hot air surged skywards.

Ning Zhuo and Ning Yong stood atop the mountain ridge, their bodies swaying violently under the impact of the updraft. Even though Ning Zhuo had already stirred his magic power to protect his mouth and nose, the intense heat still managed to singe the tips of his hair.

War-Machine Ning glanced at the somewhat disheveled newcomers and ordered calmly, "Give each of them a set of magic robes."

His subordinates immediately tossed spare sets of magic robes to the two.

Ning Zhuo caught his and saw that the full set, from head to toe, included a helmet, upper garment, trousers, outer robe, outer armor, boots, and more.

The robes were inscribed with numerous talismanic symbols, primarily frost-based talismans.

"Talisman Treasures," Ning Zhuo thought, recognizing them instantly.

Unlike regular magical instruments, Talisman Treasures would degrade and become useless after repeated use. They were consumables.

Their advantage lay in cost-effectiveness. By inscribing talismans onto some basic materials, they could become Talisman Treasures, their usable value skyrocketing.

The small wooden hammer Ning Zhuo had designed earlier in the basement was a Talisman Treasure. It had allowed him to conveniently process the Grease-Soot Mud.

These magic robes were standard equipment for the Ning Clan cultivator corps, likely specially developed by the Ning family as part of their preparations for seeking the Molten Immortal Palace.

Once Ning Zhuo and the others donned the full sets of magic robes, they immediately felt the temperature return to normal, no longer scorching hot. The previously pungent smell of sulfur also completely vanished.

Several hanging descent platforms were attached to the mountain wall. Each platform was guarded by members of the City Guard Army, partly for protection, but also to collect fees.

War-Machine Ning led the group to one of the platforms, officially stepping from the mountaintop into the crater depression.

Ning Yong stomped his feet excitedly, looking around with great curiosity.

A mix of excitement and caution also surfaced on Ning Zhuo's face.

War-Machine Ning headed straight for the magma lake at the center.

The movement of the fifty-plus cultivator team immediately attracted the attention of others.

The volcanic crater wasn't occupied only by Ning Zhuo's group. Many other teams, or solitary cultivators, were scattered across the crater floor.

From time to time, more cultivators descended from the rim above.

Some used the official descent platforms, but many more simply tied a rope and climbed down the cliff face. However, due to the constant buffeting by the updrafts, the descent was generally strenuous for these cultivators.

Those who climbed down alone saved themselves the platform usage fee.

The City Guard soldiers watched these independent cultivators descend without interference, their gazes indifferent, adopting a stance of sheer disregard.

As Ning Zhuo gradually approached the magma lake, he noticed signs of life within it.

Another large magma bubble burst. A red, silky-furred mouse rode the thermal currents, soaring upwards into the high-altitude plumes of white smoke to hunt.

If successful, one could see this red-furred mouse clutching a Smoke-Sparrow in its mouth, plunging back down towards the ground.

The constantly rising heat waves greatly dissipated the force of the fall, allowing the red-furred mouse to drift down unsteadily each time onto the rocky ground, completely unharmed.

Some cultivators specifically waited for these red-furred mice to land after their hunts.

The moment they touched down, the cultivators would strike, using specially made tools to capture them.

Ning Zhuo's heart stirred.

"Ember-Rush Mice. They possess extremely strong fire resistance and can even swim in magma."

"They prey on birds."

"The most valuable part of an Ember-Rush Mouse is its fur. Gathering several hundred pelts and refining them through sewing and other methods can create an excellent Ember-Rush Fire-Retardant Robe."

At that moment, War-Machine Ning, leading the way, came to a halt.

Before him was one of the many cave entrances, seemingly no different from the others nearby.

But he was certain. He declared in a low voice, "This is the one. Prepare to enter."

The cultivators listened solemnly.

First, one cultivator formed hand seals, then pushed both palms forward, releasing a puff of frosty white mist.

The mist poured into the cave entrance, immediately coating the edges with a layer of frost.

The cold air rushed downward, provoking a reaction from the cave, which produced a rumbling sound.

The noise grew louder, and the next moment, a large amount of mud spewed out from the cave.

These mud clods shot high into the air, each burning with flame, like blooming fireworks.

Ning Zhuo saw clearly that this burning mud was precisely the Grease-Soot Mud.

After the mud eruption finished, War-Machine Ning was the first to jump into the cave.

The other cultivators followed closely behind, entering in single file.

Newcomers like Ning Chen, Ning Yong, and Ning Zhuo were each paired with an experienced member who guided them as they jumped into the entrance.

Just after jumping into the cave, Ning Zhuo even shivered, chilled by the surrounding cold air.

As he slid down, the temperature in the passage rapidly rose.

By the latter half of the slide, the temperature had become very high. While sliding, Ning Zhuo keenly observed the changes in the tunnel walls around him.

Initially, the passage walls were covered in frost. By the later stages, this frost had completely melted away.

When he finally landed, his feet firmly on solid ground, Ning Zhuo looked up and found himself in an underground world filled with fire and rock.

The rocky ground beneath his feet felt somewhat soft. The surrounding walls were a translucent orange-yellow, constantly exuding surging heat.

Ning Yong, curious, reached out to try and touch the wall.

In the next instant, the talismanic symbols on his glove dissolved by a third, startling him into yanking his hand back.

Fortunately, a Ning Clan cultivator promptly acted, taking out a jade vial that released a misty, ethereal water vapor.

The vapor condensed into pale blue-white ribbons floating in the air, encircling the group and helping them resist the pervasive heat.

After arranging for the newcomers to walk in the middle of the group, War-Machine Ning led the Ning Clan cultivators forward.

After the initial novelty wore off, the scenery within the Blazing Flame Demon Cavern became monotonous.

Ning Yong kept muttering about hoping a demon beast would show up soon.

The wary expression on Ning Chen's face gradually relaxed considerably.

Ning Zhuo, however, marveled inwardly at the spiritual energy here; its density was undoubtedly the highest he had ever encountered.

"No wonder many powerful cultivators live in seclusion, dwelling alone in dangerous, remote places rarely visited by people."

"Pity my current magic power is frost-attribute, while the spiritual energy here is heavily biased towards fire, mixed with a lot of fire toxin. It's not suitable for me."

The underground passageway varied, sometimes wide, sometimes narrow, clearly trending downward.

There wasn't just one path; Ning Zhuo often encountered forks. But the Ning Clan cultivators seemed familiar with the route, each time choosing one of the paths without the slightest hesitation.

"Fire-Crystal Grass, rooted in rock, its leaves transparent like sparkling gems, constantly absorbing geothermal heat and flame, capable of emitting light."

"Flame-Shadow Flower, drawing from magma and toxic energies, the plant appears purplish-black, its leaves thin as cicada wings. While the plant itself remains still, its shadow sways like flame."

"Vigor-Ginseng, drawing power from the earth, undergoes a qualitative change after one hundred and thirty years. Its roots are slender and long, possessing a natural ability for earth遁 (earth escape/teleportation)."

Along the way, Ning Zhuo saw several types of spiritual plants.

When passing by them, the Ning Clan cultivators would also assign some members to harvest these plants.

War-Machine Ning glanced almost imperceptibly at Ning Zhuo, then beckoned to him and all the other newcomers, testing them: "Do you know why we are picking all these spiritual plants?"

(End of )