Chapter 254: Encounter

The air twisted and deformed under the high temperature, the distant rock wall seeming to sway as if in water.

The steaming hot air carried a pungent sulfur smell, each breath making the lungs feel a burning pain.

Shi Lie narrowed his eyes, the scorching scar that wound from his brow bone to his jaw looking especially ferocious under the blazing sun.

He stopped his steps, raised his right clenched fist, and the whole squad immediately fell silent, quickly seeking cover.

"There's movement." He lowered his voice, his sharp gaze sweeping over the ahead area of blackened strange rocks.

Hou San half-crouched behind a large rock, the needle of his ancient compass violently trembling. "The earth fire is unstable; three hundred steps ahead there's an undercurrent." He licked his chapped lips, "Let's detour, boss."

Just as the group was preparing to change route, Wang Ping, who had been silently walking at the rear, suddenly lifted his gaze. His eyes swept over the dangerous area and landed on an inconspicuous rock crevice to the front right. The stone there was dark red, blending with the surroundings; without close inspection, the anomaly could not be noticed.

He silently released a thread of spiritual power to shatter it.

"What is that?" His voice was flat.

Everyone followed his pointed direction and saw, deep in the crevice, faint traces of blue shadows swaying slightly in the hot wind.

Liu Qing's eyes flashed with delight, the cuff of her light-green Dao robe fluttering: "It's Fire Heart Orchid! And judging by the color, it's at least fifty years old."

Shi Lie approached cautiously, taking out a specially made jade spade from his storage bag.

He first carefully inspected the surrounding ground, confirming there were no fire scorpion nests, then cautiously probed into the crevice.

When he pulled out three intact Fire Heart Orchids, the ferocious scar on his face seemed to relax a little.

He carefully placed the herbs into a jade box, "Strange, this Fire Heart Orchid is so conspicuous—how did we miss it?"

The others exchanged glances, saying nothing more.

In fact, Wang Ping's divine sense had already spread like an invisible great net, every blade of grass and tree within a five-li radius, every wisp of spiritual qi fluctuation, within his perception.

His divine sense, tempered by the Refining Spirit Technique, had already surpassed ordinary Golden Core cultivators; even in the Dao Institute, he firmly believed he could match the other Golden Core disciples of the same purple-robe rank.

These low-grade herbs were of little use to him, but since he was temporarily traveling with this squad, it didn't hurt to casually help them increase their harvest.

The squad continued trekking through the scorching valley. Hou San's compass occasionally emitted a faint hum, guiding them along a relatively safe path.

Xiao Wu walked in the middle of the line, vigilantly observing the surroundings, his young face slick with sweat.

Wang Ping acted again, this time pointing to a patch of blackened dead wood.

Man Shan stepped forward with heavy strides, carefully using his giant sword to push aside the dead wood. Beneath, several clumps of reddish grass leaves grew, their veins seeming to flow with fire.

"Fire Wool Grass! This patch is really thriving." Xiao Wu excitedly crouched, taking out a specially made small knife to begin harvesting.

Along the way ahead, Wang Ping would occasionally point seemingly at random to a spot.

Sometimes it was a depression formed by solidified lava, sometimes a shadow on the cliff wall. Each indication brought a delightful discovery.

"There are also Earth Flame Mushrooms here; judging by the color, they're at least thirty years old."

Liu Qing spoke softly, a gentle green light glowing in her hand. Her wood technique ensured that harvesting would not damage the fungi's spirituality, preserving potency to the greatest extent.

Hou San scratched his head, staring at his constantly humming compass, unable to mutter: "Strange, today's luck is weird. The place Fellow Daoist Wang pointed out is actually more accurate than my ancestral spirit-seeking disk."

Man Shan silently stored the freshly harvested herbs into his specially made basket, his deep voice rumbling: "Could it be that Fellow Daoist Wang is a hidden master?"

Wang Ping shook his head: "Just good luck!"

At noon, the blazing sun shone straight into the valley floor, the temperature climbing to an unbearable degree.

They found a shadow beneath a cliff wall to rest temporarily. Shi Lie tallied the harvest, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"We've only been in the valley half a day, yet our haul already exceeds thirty percent of what we usually gain on the whole trip."

His scar twitched slightly with his smile, "At this rate, we'll make a killing on this trip."

Wang Ping sat quietly on a rock to the side, his gaze directed toward the canyon depths. There the sky showed an ominous dark red hue, the scorching fire spiritual power surging like tides—exactly his true objective for this expedition.

He appeared to be meditating with closed eyes, but in fact his divine sense was probing the deeper environment.

After a brief rest, the squad continued forward. The deeper they went, the harsher the environment became.

The stone shifted from pale red to deep crimson, its surface glazed like glass, emitting a crisp crack when stepped on.

The fire spiritual power in the air turned violent; even with everyone raising spiritual power shields, they felt uncomfortable—except for fire cultivators.

Shi Lie and the others' sweat evaporated as soon as it appeared, leaving white salt stains on their faces. Xiao Wu, the weakest in cultivation, was already straining, his breathing growing heavy.

Only Wang Ping kept his steps calm and composed. The Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe shimmered, isolating the scorching heat from outside.

He could even feel the crimson divine light within him faintly leaping, autonomously absorbing the surrounding pure fire spiritual power.

These conditions, unbearable for others, were an ideal training ground for him.

"Up ahead… we're almost at the boundary." Hou San panted, his compass buzzing ever more urgently, "The fire spiritual power here is too violent; my compass is about to fail."

This is already the limit that early Golden Core cultivators can endure.

The scorching heat made the air slightly warp; distant cliffs occasionally saw lava trickle down, pooling on the ground into crimson streams.

Yet the rewards were equally astonishing.

Rounding a bend, the view suddenly opened up. A vast plateau formed from solidified lava lay before them, large patches of Purple Vein Earth Flame Mushrooms spreading like umbrellas, thick and dense,

almost hiding the ground. The few at the very center actually bore dazzling golden patterns on their caps!

"Golden Vein Earth Flame Mushroom!" Liu Qing covered her mouth in astonishment, her voice trembling with excitement, "One stalk is worth five hundred spirit crystals! I've only seen one once in the medicine shop of Flaming Sun City, where it was displayed as the shop's treasure."

Even the usually steady Man Shan showed shock, his thick fingers lightly brushing the golden-veined mushroom caps, "This patch… is enough for decades of our cultivation needs."

Shi Lie suppressed his excitement, cautiously surveying the surroundings: "First check the environment, ensure safety before harvesting."

Everyone immediately scattered, carefully inspecting the plateau's perimeter. Hou San's compass spun rapidly, while Xiao Wu climbed to a high point to keep watch.

Wang Ping's divine sense had already swept the whole area, confirming no danger, but he did not reveal it, letting the members act as they wished.

After confirming safety, everyone immediately got busy, carefully harvesting these precious medicinal materials. Liu Qing focused on casting her wood technique, ensuring each Earth Flame Mushroom could be taken intact. Xiao Wu excitedly ran back and forth, helping to sort and store the harvested herbs.

Shi Lie harvested while barely containing his smile: "With these, we'll all be able to exchange for decent magical tools when we return. Hou San, your broken compass can finally be replaced."

Hou San hehehed, his sharp eyes narrowing to a slit: "Not just magical tools—I think we could afford to rent a decent cultivation chamber in Flaming Sun City. I heard a new cultivation hall opened in the east district, its earth fire extremely pure."

Wang Ping stood at the edge of the plateau, his gaze thoughtfully directed toward the deeper valley.

There the sky showed an ominous dark red hue, faint tremors that made the heart palpitate coming from that direction. His target—the Flaming Stone—most likely lay that way.

These earth flame mushrooms are precious, but compared to the blazing flame stones that can be exchanged for merit, they are still far too inferior.

Just then, he suddenly raised his eyes and looked toward a jagged rocky area to the side. His powerful divine sense detected five swift auras rapidly approaching, one of them exceptionally domineering—clearly a late Golden Core cultivator.

"Someone's coming." He spoke up to warn them; his voice remained calm, yet it made everyone halt their actions.

Everyone immediately became alert, drawing together into a defensive formation. Shi Lie swiftly put away the freshly gathered golden-pattern earth flame mushrooms, his Splitting Flame Blade already in hand.

Man Shan stepped forward, his massive body blocking the front, his giant sword already drawn.

Several streaks of escape light descended, revealing five figures. The leader had a sinister visage, deep-set eyes, and held a pallid bone fan, exuding the domineering spiritual pressure of a late Golden Core cultivator.

The four behind him were all mid Golden Core cultivators, their eyes fierce, their Dharma robes still stained with dark red blood—evidently no pushovers.

"Heavenly Dove Squad..." Shi Lie's face sank as he said in a low voice, "Trouble's come."

Jiu Lie's gaze swept over the herbs held by the Fire Crow Squad, lingering a moment on those golden-pattern earth flame mushrooms, his eyes flashing with undisguised greed.

"Shi Lie, not bad luck," he said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, gently swaying his bone fan, which stirred up waves of yin wind utterly at odds with the scorching surroundings.

Wherever that yin wind passed, even the fire spiritual power in the air congealed.

"Fellow Daoist Jiu," Shi Lie said, clasping his hands, his voice restrained, "What advice do you have?"

Jiu Lie snorted coldly, pointing his bone fan at the gathered herbs: "This platform, our Heavenly Dove Squad has taken a liking to it. Leave the stuff behind; you people can scram."

Man Shan glared furiously, Hou San's face turned ashen. Liu Qing instinctively stepped back half a step, her hand already resting on the medicine pouch at her waist.

Xiao Wu nervously gripped the magic artifact at his waist, fine beads of sweat appearing on his youthful face.

Wang Ping's expression was blank, his aura fully restrained, making him look like a frightened early Golden Core rogue cultivator.

"Captain Jiu, we should discuss who came first," Shi Lie gritted out, the scar on his face flushing slightly with anger, "We discovered this platform first."

Jiu Lie seemed to have heard a huge joke, bursting into laughter that echoed through the valley: "Shi Lie, are you addled from being baked by the earth fire?"

He stepped forward, releasing late Golden Core spiritual pressure like an invisible mountain crashing down on the Fire Crow Squad.

Under this pressure, Shi Lie and the others felt their spiritual power sluggish, even breathing becoming somewhat difficult.

"Here, fists are the law!" Jiu Lie snarled, a pallid light beginning to coalesce on his bone fan.

The scar on Shi Lie's face twitched as he clenched and unclenched his fist, finally drawing a deep breath: "We're leaving!" He gestured for the team members to set down the herbs they had just gathered.

"Hold on." Jiu Lie's gaze suddenly fell on Liu Qing, giving a lecherous smile: "This female cultivator, stay and help us gather herbs."

"I've heard wood-element cultivators are best at tending spiritual herbs; perfect for our Heavenly Dove Squad to get a share of the benefit."

"You're going too far!" Shi Lie could no longer bear it; his Splitting Flame Blade sprang from its sheath, the crimson blade instantly engulfed in roaring flames, a scorching heat wave spreading outward, even the gravel on the ground beginning to melt.

Man Shan slammed his giant sword into the ground, sending shards flying; his massive body completely shielded Liu Qing in front. Hou San and Xiao Wu each unleashed their magic artifacts, spiritual light flashing as they prepared to fight to the death.

Wang Ping stood at the rear, his eyes slightly cold. He had no wish to stir up trouble, but the other side's conduct had already touched his bottom line.

"Oh? You want to fight?" Jiu Lie gave a contemptuous smile, lightly waving his bone fan to send forth a wailing pallid yin wind.

Within the wind faintly sounded ghostly wails and wolf howls—actually a vicious soul‑damaging art: Soul‑Extinguishing Wind.

Shi Lie swung his blade to meet it head‑on; the crimson fire blade clashed violently with the pallid yin wind. In a tremendous boom, red‑white light exploded, a strong shockwave spreading out and hurling all the ground's rubble aloft.

Shi Lie was flung backward, slamming heavily into the rock wall, his tiger's mouth splitting, blood streaming down the hilt. One blow decided the victor.

"Captain!" Liu Qing cried out, green light flashing from her hand as gentle wood‑element spiritual power enveloped Shi Lie's wound, beginning to mend his damaged meridians.

Jiu Lie laughed triumphantly: "With just this bit of skill, you dare to make a living in the Blazing Flame Valley?" His four teammates behind him silently spread out, forming an encirclement, each face showing ferocity.

"I'll say it one last time," Jiu Lie said, toying with his bone fan, voice icy, "Leave the stuff and the woman; the rest of you, scram! Otherwise today I'll disband your Fire Crow Squad."

Shi Lie wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, struggled to his feet, eyes resolute: "The Fire Crow Squad has no cowards who abandon their comrades!"

He let out a furious roar, his Splitting Flame Blade transforming into a crimson arc as he slashed again. Man Shan charged forward like a bull, his giant sword sweeping horizontally with the force to split mountains and shatter stone.

Hou San and Xiao Wu attacked from left and right, their magic artifacts gleaming in perfect coordination.

Wang Ping remained still, yet his divine sense had locked onto every corner of the battlefield. He was weighing whether to reveal his strength here.

The battle instantly erupted, the clashing of spiritual power unceasing. Shi Lie faced Jiu Lie and was completely at a disadvantage.

Each time his Splitting Flame Blade struck the bone fan, his whole body shuddered violently, blood continuously spilling from his mouth. That bone fan was obviously a spiritual treasure; each swing bore a bone‑eroding yin chill, specifically countering his fire cultivation method.

Man Shan alone fought two mid Golden Core cultivators, relying on his formidable physique to blunt the attacks, yet his body already bore several deep wounds down to the bone.

Hou San and Xiao Wu teamed up against the foe, but were stretched thin, danger looming everywhere. Liu Qing had to tend the wounded while defending herself, her pretty face growing ever paler, her spiritual power drained to the extreme.

"Pfft!" Shi Lie was blasted away again, his breastbone visibly caved in, his injuries extremely grave; the flame on his Splitting Flame Blade dimmed somewhat.

A flash of killing intent crossed Jiu Lie's eyes: "Since you seek death, I'll grant it!" He waved his bone fan, which turned into three ferocious white‑bone phantoms, uttering shrill cries as they shot straight for Shi Lie's skull—this strike was astonishingly fast, imbued with a will to kill.

At that critical moment, the ever‑silent Wang Ping finally moved.

Without any spectacular display or violent burst of spiritual power, he simply raised his right hand, forefinger extended like a sword, and lightly tapped forward.

Where his fingertip pointed, space seemed to faintly congeal. The three vicious white‑bone phantoms, as if striking an invisible wall, abruptly halted just an inch from Shi Lie's forehead, then quietly dissipated into wisps of green smoke that vanished.

Jiu Lie's face abruptly changed: "Who?!"

All gazes instantly focused on the long‑overlooked green‑robed cultivator. The Fire Crow Squad members stared agape, unable to believe what they saw.

Wang Ping slowly lifted his head, his calm gaze meeting Jiu Lie's.

"Leave the herbs and scram."

His voice remained plain, yet carried an undeniable authority that rang clear in the silent valley.

Jiu Lie stared for a moment, then burst into angry laughter: "A mere early Golden Core, and you dare to act presumptuously before me?"

He fully activated his bone fan, condensing the yin wind into a gigantic skull whose hollow eye sockets burned with green ghostfire, emitting a piercing shriek as it lunged at Wang Ping! This was his famed soul‑extinguishing howl, a vicious art that damages the soul—so toxic that even late Golden Core cultivators dare not meet it head‑on.

Shi Lie, gritting through the pain, shouted urgently: "Fellow Daoist Wang, be careful!"

Wang Ping neither dodged nor evaded, letting the skull pass straight through his body.

Then, amid everyone's horrified gazes, the skull dissipated like green smoke, leaving no trace.

Wang Ping didn't twitch a muscle, his expression unchanged, not even a corner of his robe fluttering. The Soul‑Extinguishing Howl, whose power could severely wound a Golden Core cultivator's soul, had absolutely no effect on him!

"Impossible!" Jiu Lie gasped, his face filled with disbelief. He had no idea how many strong foes his Soul‑Extinguishing Howl had slain; he had never failed before.

Wang Ping shook his head slightly, a hint of killing intent in his eyes; he had always been decisive in slaughter, and having decided to act, the lives of these few were already sealed.

You've been given a chance.

He raised his hand again; the azure radiance sword on his back flew out, instantly splitting into two, then three, then five, and five sword lights slashed at the five people.

Jiu Lie's dying soul surged wildly; he frantically drove the bone fan to protect his body. The pallid spirit light had just formed when it shattered like glass! On the spirit treasure bone fan that had accompanied him for years, a clear crack suddenly appeared.

Pfft—

Jiu Lie spat out a mouthful of blood, flew back several zhang, and crashed heavily to the ground. The bone fan's spirit light dimmed; it was obviously severely damaged.

The other four couldn't even block a single strike from Wang Ping and were directly annihilated by the sword light.

The field fell dead silent.

The members of the Fire Crow Squad stared dumbfounded, looking at the perpetually silent green-robed cultivator.

Wang Ping's gaze turned to Jiu Lie; the sword light flared again, this time the five sword lights merged into one and slashed toward him.

Spare…

Jiu Lie uttered a single word before being slain; the whole process was clean and swift, decisive and ruthless.

Shi Lei rose to his feet with Liu Qing's support; his gaze toward Wang Ping was filled with shock, gratitude, and a hint of indescribable awe.

He opened his mouth, but realized he didn't know how to address this fellow cultivator who hid his abilities.

"Wang…Wang Dao…" his voice dry, "Many thanks for saving my life!"

Man Shan clasped his fists tightly; the usually silent man's eyes were also full of respect. Hou San rubbed his hands, his face full of lingering fear and relief: "Wang…Wang Senior, you truly are…a true person who hides his brilliance!"

Xiao Wu stared at Wang Ping, his eyes wide round, filled with admiration; he wanted to say something but didn't know where to start.

Wang Ping waved his hand lightly, his tone still calm: "Just a small effort. We shouldn't linger here; let's pack up quickly."

His gaze swept over the chaotic battlefield and the scattered precious medicinal herbs, finally settling on the deeper, hotter direction of the canyon.

His goal lay still deeper. To others, these precious golden-pattern earth flame mushrooms were priceless, but to him they were merely a trivial interlude on the journey.

The true bounty lay still deeper in the valley where the inextinguishable flames burned; there, the pale gold blazing flame stone awaited his arrival.