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What exactly happened last night? Tell me about it. Xiao Chen sent a voice projection. As he looked at the shattered bits of bone dragons on the ground, he felt somewhat suspicious.
w.a.n.g Yuzhu looked around and whispered, “Last night, a group of bone dragons went crazy and charged towards Yi Ling’s tent. There was much less pressure on us half-step Martial Emperors.”
Xiao Chen’s thoughts churned. They were charging towards Yi Ling’s tent. In that case, it might not be because of my Azure Dragon Martial Spirit.
Could it be something on Yi Ling? Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to attract such great hatred. Or perhaps as the Dragon Slayer, he naturally attracts the hatred of the Dragon Race.
However, Xiao Chen was more concerned about another thing. He looked at the distant Yi Ling, who was discussing something and asked, “Did he make a move?”
“Nope. That group of Martial Emperors values him, so they protected him the whole time.”
Xiao Chen’s eyes flickered with light as he entered deep thought. Then, he said, “In the latter part of the journey, stick closer to me. If this operation is really as you said, we are probably just sacrificial pieces. They probably do not intend for us to return alive.”
“You have the confidence to escape Martial Emperors?” w.a.n.g Yuzhu asked in disbelief.
Xiao Chen did not dwell on the topic, saying, “Just follow me. You will know when the time comes. I never do things rashly. Let’s stop here; Yi Ling and the others are coming over.”
Yi Ling and the red-haired Martial Emperor walked over. Then, they gathered the half-step Martial Emperors and gave out some instructions.
“The desolate plains of fire are rife with fire-attributed Dragon Race ferocious beasts. The group of you will work together and scout the way in front. Do not operate independently. We will follow behind and keep an eye out for you, ensuring your safety.”
Old Hong originally still wanted to say something to get Xiao Chen to be at the very front. However, when he thought about the sharpness of this fellow’s eyes, he swallowed back the words he intended to say.
I’ll let you be c.o.c.ky for a while. When we reach our destination, I’ll destroy you first.
After entering this Distant Sea Dragon Grave, these half-step Martial Emperors no longer had the right to decide anything. They could only obey the instructions of the Martial Emperors.
Working together, the seven walked in a group and started to scout the desolate plains of fire. Their efforts would give the Martial Emperors buffer time to react.
However, there were benefits to serving as scouts. As the seven walked in front, they occasionally discovered some divine-material-level ores on the desolate plains of fire. Outside of this place, they were all precious items.
Even if the red-haired Martial Emperor and the others were envious, they would be too embarra.s.sed to ask the scouting group for them.
Among the scouting group, Xiao Chen gained the most. That was inevitable since he had memorized the locations of the precious ores along the way that he had discovered using the Heavenly Eye.
After every battle ended, he would be able to find some good things in corners that no one else paid note to.
“Peak Grade Scorching Flame Crystal. Ye Chen, you managed to find another one.”
After another battle ended, Xiao Chen found a burning Scorching Flame Crystal in a pool of lava. Such crystals were very useful to cultivators who practiced fire-attributed Cultivation Techniques. Even Martial Emperors could use them.
It was not just the half-step Martial Emperors whose eyes went green with envy. Even the red-haired Martial Emperor had a strange look in his eyes.
This masked youth is really extraordinarily lucky, the few Martial Emperors thought to themselves.
After the other Martial Emperors took a look, they stopped paying attention. After all, they had a prior agreement with him. Anything that Xiao Chen found belonged to him.
Only Old Hong’s eyes lit up with greed. He tore his eyes away only after a long time. However, the seed of greed was already planted in his heart.
Xiao Chen smiled faintly and did not pay too much attention. All these were just appetizers. They were not lightning-attributed energy gems, so no matter how high their value was, they could not truly interest him.
What Xiao Chen really cared about was that thing he suspected to be a Heptagold Origin. That was what interested him the most.
Although the Thunder Emperor’s inheritance also had a Heptagold Origin, it was only one piece, not even fifty kilograms. In Xiao Chen’s opinion, it was not even sufficient for the Lunar Shadow Saber to advance to Divine Weapon. Once it became a Divine Weapon, it needed to have the qualifications to break into the Divine Weapon Ranking.
Xiao Chen’s target was to gather at least five hundred kilograms of Heptagold Origin as well as nine Martial-Emperor-level lightning-attributed Demonic Cores.
He looked around. The pool of lava with the “Heptagold Origin” lay about ten kilometers ahead. He would soon find out whether he was right or not.
After resting, the few half-step Martial Emperors regrouped and started scouting ahead once more.
Soon, the group of people reached the flaming pool of lava. Xiao Chen started to feel somewhat anxious since everything went surprisingly smoothly. There was no ferocious beast there. No ferocious beast meant no battle.
Without a battle, he would not have a chance to take advantage of the chaos to fish up that “Heptagold Origin.”
If he suddenly went forward and fished up a Heptagold Origin, everyone would be able to figure out that something was fishy.
What should I do?
Xiao Chen felt very anxious, unable to think of an idea. If they just walked on, he would miss out on this opportunity for nothing.
“Wait a moment!”
Just as the group was about to walk past the pool of lava, Xiao Chen suddenly called out for the group to stop.
“What’s wrong? Ye Chen, did you discover a Dragon Race ferocious beast?” Yi Ling asked, feeling suspicious. The Martial Emperors could not understand it, either.
Since there was no chance, Xiao Chen could only try to create one himself. He absolutely could not miss out on that Heptagold Origin.
Xiao Chen maintained his calm and nodded. “That pool of lava in front seems to be somewhat strange. However, I’m not very sure about it.”
A ferocious glint flashed in Old Hong’s eyes. Then, he immediately followed up with “In that case, go over and take a look. We will follow you from behind.”
Xiao Chen rejoiced in his heart. I was just waiting for you to say that. However, he still put an unhappy expression in his eyes.
“I’ll do it. I also feel that this pool of lava is somewhat strange.”
Just as Xiao Chen was about to go forward, the red-haired Martial Emperor noticed the unhappy look in Xiao Chen’s eyes, so he said something, appearing to want to resolve the conflict between the two.
This development somewhat stunned Xiao Chen. Unexpectedly, at the critical moment, such a surprise happened.
Xiao Chen’s pretense had gone overboard. How was he supposed to respond to this? Could it be that he had to watch the red-haired Martial Emperor obtain the Heptagold Origin?
Xiao Chen’s expression stiffened somewhat, but he quickly recovered. However, it did not escape the red-haired Martial Emperor’s eyes.
The red-haired Martial Emperor walked over to Xiao Chen’s side and smiled. “Your eyes are pretty good. I am now really curious; who are you really under that mask? However, there is no need for you to make a move this time. I’ll do it myself. There is no need to thank me. There is still a long way to go. I do not want to see you and Old Hong always in conflict.”
Xiao Chen felt somewhat speechless and depressed. There were several moments of extreme danger when we scouted ahead earlier, but you did not make a move. Of all times, you choose this moment to play the good guy. Aside from the Heptagold Origin, how could there be any danger in this pool of lava?
Even though Xiao Chen thought all that in his heart, he could only smile abashedly on the surface and say, “In that case, many thanks, Senior.”
Old Hong appeared somewhat embarra.s.sed as well. Unexpectedly, the red-haired Martial Emperor chose to step forward at this moment.
The red-haired Martial Emperor advanced step by step and soon arrived before that pool of lava. He showed a calm expression as he looked at the flaming lava forming that vast pool.
The lava bubbled endlessly. Every time a bubble burst, it shot debris into the air and gave off horrifying hissing noises.
Xiao Chen’s heart seemed to leap into his throat. Originally, he was planning to use the Life Bestowal Spell to create a distraction. After that, he would fish out the Heptagold Origin. Unexpectedly, the red-haired Martial Emperor suddenly charged over.
“It really hid very deeply. If not for us standing so close, you might really have succeeded in hiding from us. Come out!”
The red-haired Martial Emperor roared and lashed out with the Emperor’s Might of a Second Heaven Martial Emperor, causing small cracks to appear in the air.
This aggression startled Xiao Chen. He quickly activated his dominance of kings.h.i.+p to resist this aura. This was the first time he saw the red-haired Martial Emperor make a move. Unexpectedly, this Martial Emperor’s aura was so strong.
Could there really be some danger in this pool of lava?
Just as Xiao Chen felt confused, an overwhelming shock wave surged out from the pool, sending nearly all the lava soaring towards the sky. A bottomless black hole appeared on the plains.
Before Xiao Chen could be shocked, he saw a fiery-red dragon flame billowing towards the red-haired Martial Emperor. Everywhere it pa.s.sed, it burned the air to nothing, leaving pitch-black s.p.a.ce. The temperature must have been very high.
There were even faint spatial fluctuations, causing this area to tremble.
This dragon flame was extraordinary.
An expression of fear flashed across Xiao Chen’s face. If he had really gone over, he probably would be dead already. What monster was hiding in this pool of lava?
The half-step Martial Emperors quickly backed away in a fl.u.s.ter. This was not a battle they could interfere in. Old Hong and the others showed serious expressions as they all circulated their Primordial Energy, preparing to make a move to help at any time.
As Xiao Chen retreated, he suddenly remembered that he had to find that suspected Heptagold Origin ore.
He swept his eyes across and surveyed the lava catapulted into the air by the shock wave. Then, he squinted. Indeed, he saw a strange golden rock that was already tumbling in the air together with the lava.
Upon closer examination, it looked like the Heptagold Origin that he saw once before.
Fortunately, everyone else’s attention was focused on that deep pit in the ground and the mysterious monster. No one paid attention to the sky.
However, before Xiao Chen could show any expression of joy, the golden Heptagold Origin disappeared into the lava. Then he lost track of it when it crashed back to the ground.
Xiao Chen felt anxious, looking around everywhere. However, he could not find it.
“Bang!”
Before Xiao Chen had much time to think, a gigantic head appeared with a snake crown on top. This was actually a Flame Dragon Snake.
The Flame Dragon Snake was one of the most dangerous creatures of this desolate plain of fire. It was as strong as a First Heaven Martial Emperor. Furthermore, it held the geographical advantage here, which strengthened it further.
“Whoos.h.!.+” The Flame Dragon Snake shot up and surprisingly bypa.s.sed the red-haired Martial Emperor to charge towards Yi Ling.
The four Martial Emperors beside Yi Ling did not panic. They orderly went forward and s.h.i.+elded Yi Ling. Working together, they forced back the Flame Dragon Snake.
“Beast, die!”
The red-haired Martial Emperor took the opportunity to make a move. As he threw a palm strike, two layers of fiery rings appeared behind him, painting the sky entirely red for five kilometers around.
Then, the five Martial Emperors surrounded the Flame Dragon Snake and beat it down like a dog, not giving the ferocious beast a chance to turn things around.