Chapter 1789: Earth Flame Demon

They hadn't noticed it while chatting, but with her reminder, everyone clearly felt that something was wrong. A tomb of this size, never exposed to sunlight, should feel as cold as winter even in the middle of summer. Yet, there was a distinct sensation of heat.

They also keenly noticed that the path ahead had turned crimson, rendering Qiu Honglei's lantern unnecessary. "The fire element ahead is exceptionally dense, almost violent," Zhao Hao remarked, his tone casual as he gazed forward. While others might face a life-or-death struggle in this perilous tomb, his strength made it seem like a mere sightseeing trip. Of course, that was assuming they didn't encounter the terrifying Ghost King...

Jing Teng frowned. As a vine, she had a natural aversion to fire. The group continued for a while, the heat intensifying until a heatwave rippled through the air, completely devoid of moisture. If they weren't all cultivation masters, the high temperature here would have been enough to roast them alive.

"Miss Jing, is this the only way?" Qiu Honglei couldn't help but ask. This hellish environment was far from a pleasant experience, and places with such extreme elemental concentrations often gave birth to terrifying monsters. A sense of dread had already begun to creep over her.

Jing Teng wiped sweat from her temples. "Yes," she confirmed.

Just then, as they rounded a bend, the path opened up, and they finally understood the source of the intense heat. Before them lay a vast pool of magma, bubbling and churning as if boiling. Splashes of magma landed on the bank, where the ground seemed unable to withstand the heat and caught fire. The surrounding area was already riddled with holes, indicating the magma pool was continuously expanding.

"There's a magma pool of this scale inside the tomb?" Zu An was startled. The pungent sulfur smell was almost unbearable; if they didn't have the cultivation to hold their breath for a while, the thick fumes would have poisoned them long ago.

A hint of confusion appeared in Jing Teng's eyes. "I don't know either. It seems to have been deliberately placed here to protect the Immortal Lord's remains."

Zu An looked around. The magma pool was like a volcano, spanning hundreds of feet across, completely blocking the path ahead. There was no way to go around it. The tomb already seemed immense from the outside, but its interior was even larger, effortlessly accommodating such a massive magma pool. To reach the other side, they would have to fly over the magma. However, the magma's temperature was incredibly high, and huge bubbles occasionally burst, sending lava skyward. The airborne temperature would surely be unbearable, and it was hard to guarantee safety over hundreds of feet. More importantly, what dangers lurked beneath the magma?

Just then, Zhao Hao declared, "Since I have the highest cultivation, I'll go scout ahead." With a light push from his toes, he ascended into the air. Above the magma, the scorching heat was enough to set clothes ablaze, but an invisible barrier seemed to surround Zhao Hao, completely shielding him from the intense thermal energy. Moreover, he seemed to possess precognition, always managing to evade the sudden eruptions of magma.

Qiu Honglei's expression was strange. She secretly sent a voice transmission: "Ah Zu, why is the Emperor suddenly so enthusiastic? It feels odd."

"When someone is overly solicitous for no reason, they usually have an ulterior motive," Zu An replied. "He wants to use these small gestures to show his 'sincerity,' but more importantly, it's for Jing Teng's benefit. After all, Jing Teng might know something about the immortal destiny he's interested in."

"Jing Teng is also a bit of a riddle, quite annoying. Do you think she really lost her memory or is she faking it?" Qiu Honglei asked curiously again.

"Whether she's faking it or not, I believe she holds no ill will towards us, so why force her hand?" Zu An responded.

"You're just being gentle because she's pretty," Qiu Honglei scoffed, though she wasn't truly angry. If Jing Teng hadn't saved them multiple times earlier, they would likely be long gone by now.

Just then, an abrupt change occurred. The entire magma pool suddenly boiled violently, as if enraged that someone had safely flown over it without a single drop of magma touching them. The magma pool began to spin rapidly, forming a colossal whirlpool. Then, a long whip of fire suddenly lashed out, coiling around one of Zhao Hao's legs before yanking him downwards forcefully.

Zu An and the others' faces changed drastically. There truly was a monster at the bottom of the pool. At that moment, Zhao Hao let out a cold snort and simply lifted his leg. Not only was he not pulled down, but he instead hauled the monster from the magma pool into view. The creature resembled a giant goat, but it was exceptionally hideous, much like the Damascus goats seen in online videos. It had a pair of winding, spiraling horns on its head, and its body was covered in magma, with flames serving as its clothing.

Zu An finally understood why goats were associated with devils in his previous life; a creature like this truly resembled an evil demon.

"This goat is so ugly," Qiu Honglei exclaimed, a look of disgust on her face, unwilling to glance at it again.

"That's not a goat, it's an Earthflame Demon," Jing Teng said, clutching her head as if struggling to recall something.

"Earth?" Zu An was taken aback. "Does it also possess earth element power?"

"Precisely. Magma inherently belongs to both earth and fire," Jing Teng replied.

Zu An recalled how in many games from his previous life, earth-based ultimate attacks involved summoning meteorites, which often resembled fireballs. This monster wielded high-level earth and fire elemental powers, no wonder it was so strong. He could sense the terrifying aura emanating from the monster, far surpassing that of a Grandmaster. The Death Reaper they had encountered earlier seemed like a child compared to a giant when put against this creature. If he had faced such a being alone, it would indeed have been quite dangerous. But with Zhao Hao here, relying on a powerhouse felt truly liberating... A strange thought suddenly occurred to him: he used to rely on women, but now he could rely on men too?

The Earthflame Demon had intended to drag its prey into the magma, but instead, it was pulled out by its prey. For a moment, it was completely bewildered. However, bewilderment quickly turned into fury. It roared in anger, causing the entire space to tremble. The magma surged like a volcanic eruption, and a colossal, flame-encased fist lunged directly towards Zhao Hao in mid-air.

Zhao Hao's expression turned cold. "Do you think I'm a mere housecat because I haven't shown my might? Even a beast like you dares to bully me?" After so many years of invincibility, and having been so discomfited by the Ghost King just moments ago, he had been suppressing a formidable rage. At this moment, he could no longer hold back and unleashed it completely. He met the attack head-on, without dodging, and threw a direct punch. With a thunderous boom and a shower of sparks, the Earthflame Demon's massive body faltered, and the flames covering it instantly dimmed significantly.

Zhao Hao's eyes gleamed with killing intent. "Die!" His entire body radiated brilliant golden light, and a massive, indistinct golden phantasm appeared behind him. Together with his physical punch, he slammed into the Earthflame Demon's head.

*Thud!* A dull thud echoed, and the air in mid-air visibly warped. The Earthflame Demon staggered back several steps, then its entire body shattered into countless fragments, finally disintegrating into countless streams of magma that fell back into the pool below.

Zu An and the others' eyes widened in disbelief. Had that terrifying Earthflame Demon just been instantly killed? While they knew Zhao Hao was powerful, they hadn't expected him to be this strong. Earlier, witnessing his defeat by the Ghost King had inevitably led to a hint of underestimation. But in that instant, they truly realized who he was: the being who had been invincible in the world, suppressing powerful experts of both demon and human races for countless years. Zu An's expression grew even more solemn. This opponent's combat power seemed significantly stronger than the split soul in the Western Dog Hill secret realm, and even a bit more potent than in the battle at the Purple Mountain Altar.

Zhao Hao also felt a hint of regret. In his recent fit of anger, he had unleashed his full power, inadvertently raising Zu An's vigilance. However, he quickly dismissed it. What did it matter if Zu An knew? In the face of absolute power, all schemes were but a joke.

"Alright, the monster has been dealt with. You can come over now," Zhao Hao called out, waving to them from mid-air.

Just then, Jing Teng's expression suddenly changed. "No, it's still alive!" No sooner had she spoken than two long whips of fire shot out from below, instantly coiling around Zhao Hao's legs. Perhaps learning from the previous attempt, this time it used two fire chains, and the force pulling him down was exceptionally strong. Zhao Hao, having just assumed he had dealt with the creature, was caught off guard and forcibly dragged into the surging magma. He tried to struggle free, but the next second, countless waves of magma crashed over him like a tsunami, completely engulfing him.

The agitated magma then quieted down, returning to its initial state, as if nothing had happened. Seeing no sign of Zhao Hao resurfacing, Zu An and the others exchanged bewildered glances. They had just been stunned by Zhao Hao's power, only for him to be gone just like that?