Chapter 257: Contention

The Heart of the Molten Rock is a vast underground cavity deep within Blazing Flame Valley.

The vaulted ceiling reaches a height of a hundred zhang, countless scarlet stone stalactites hang down, and dripping magma falls like blood tears.

Below lies an boundless magma lake, scorching bubbles constantly burst, spreading suffocating heat waves and poisonous gas.

At this moment, this deadly place gathered dozens of cultivators. They were scattered on the black rocks protruding at the edge of the magma lake, wary of each other, the atmosphere tense and ready to explode.

The lowest cultivation among them is late Golden Core, while many are at peak Golden Core.

Everyone's gaze, whether open or hidden, is focused on the three cultivators standing in the center of the field.

The three stand in a triangular formation, their aura deep as the sea, their spiritual power subtly drawing on the momentum of heaven and earth, forming an invisible field that repels the other cultivators.

They are mighty experts of the False Infant realm who survived after failing to condense a Nascent Soul!

One is a blood-robed old man with a sinister visage, holding a blood-colored banner, his body wrapped in blood qi, faintly echoing the wails of resentful souls; he is the notorious Blood River True Person.

Another is a middle-aged man wearing splendid golden robes, his face like a jade crown, his demeanor arrogant, a dragon-pattern jade pendant hanging at his waist, his spiritual light piercing; he is a steward of the Golden Dragon Pavilion, Golden Origin True Person.

The last is a strange guest clad in coarse hemp clothing, wearing a bamboo hat, his face unseen, only revealing a pair of withered hands gripping what appears to be an ordinary green bamboo staff, yet no one dares to underestimate him; his nickname is Green Bamboo Old Man.

Wang Ping's arrival was like a stone tossed into a lake, causing only a few ripples.

A few cultivators near the entrance glanced at him, noticed he only had mid Golden Core cultivation, then disdainfully looked away, continuing to nervously watch the three False Infant experts in the center.

Those three didn't even lift their eyelids; in their eyes, everyone present, including each other, were merely opponents and stumbling blocks in the struggle for that opportunity.

Wang Ping was glad to be ignored; he quietly found a secluded rock to settle on, and his gaze turned toward the center of the magma lake.

There, scorching dark-red magma slowly flowed and swirled, forming a huge vortex; at its center, a stone about the size of a fist floated motionless.

The stone's entire body shows an extremely deep, almost demonic dark-red hue, like congealed blood or the crystallized essence of fire from the earth's core.

Its surface is not smooth, covered with natural patterns resembling Dao runes; strands of crimson spiritual light condensed to the extreme seep from the patterns, causing the surrounding magma to slightly yield, forming a small vacuum zone.

A mighty, pure fire-source power, carrying an ancient barbaric aura, can be clearly felt even at this distance.

"Crimson Blaze Stone… indeed not ordinary," Wang Ping's heart stirred; the energy and Dao resonance contained in this stone far surpass any he had previously harvested.

It looks like a manifestation of some aspect of the fire law! No wonder it drew the three False Infant cultivators to confront each other here.

The atmosphere in the field had solidified to the extreme.

Blood River Old Ancestor broke the silence first, his voice hoarse like metal grinding on metal: "This object contains a thread of the fire-source law; it would greatly benefit my cultivation of Blood River True Fire. Fellow Daoists, could you do me a favor?"

Golden Origin Child snorted: "Blood River old ghost, cut the nonsense! Heavenly treasures belong to the virtuous. This treasure suits my Golden Dragon Pavilion's cultivation method better; it rightfully should be mine!"

Green Bamboo Old Man said nothing, merely tapping the ground lightly with his green bamboo staff, sending forth an invisible ripple that showed his unyielding resolve not to retreat.

"If that's the case, let's see true skill!" Blood River Old Ancestor gave a feral grin and violently shook his blood banner!

"Myriad Souls Devour Heart!"

In an instant, dark winds howled; countless feral ghostly silhouettes surged from the blood banner, emitting piercing shrieks, sweeping toward Golden Origin Child and Green Bamboo Old Man like a flood.

This sound wave directly attacks the soul; some nearby late Golden Core cultivators turned pale, retreated, and circulated their energy to resist.

"Trivial trick!" Golden Origin Child coldly snorted; his waist-worn dragon-pattern jade pendant blazed with light, a clear dragon's roar rang out, and a golden flood dragon phantom coiled forth, its holy majestic aura dispersing most of the ghostly wails and howls.

At the same time he pointed, a tightly condensed golden finger-sword, like an emperor's blade, thrust straight toward Blood River Old Ancestor's face.

Green Bamboo Old Man was even more direct; his green bamboo staff, moving like a living thing, poked out—seemingly slow yet striking first—precisely striking the foreheads of several of the fiercest ghostly apparitions.

A flash of pure light on the staff, and those ghostly silhouettes vanished like green smoke.

The three False Infant cultivators moved, as if igniting a fuse.

No one knows who first shouted, "Grab it!"

The previously stalemate situation was instantly broken!

Dozens of Golden Core cultivators, like sharks smelling blood, had various escape lights blaze as they madly rushed toward the dark-red stone at the magma lake's center!

The light of spells and treasures instantly illuminated this underground space.

Melee erupted!

A cultivator controlling three green flying forks had just used them to crush an opponent's defensive artifact when a side-attacking ice-blue chain wrapped around him, instantly freezing him into an ice sculpture that fell into the magma.

A body cultivator roared, his fist wind fierce, blasting away anyone blocking his path, only to be ensnared by a giant spider net that appeared out of nowhere; the more he struggled, the tighter it bound him, and soon several flying swords pierced through him.

Shrieks, collisions of treasures, and roars of spells rang without cease. The magma lake's surface was churned by various forces, raising towering waves of fire.

Wang Ping did not rush into the most chaotic melee at first; five-colored spiritual light flickered faintly around him as he wandered the edges, appearing to dodge attacks while actually keeping his gaze locked on that dark-red stone.

"Get out of the way!" a broad-faced, peak Golden Core cultivator sneered, seeing Wang Ping blocking the path, he brandished a door-sized Ghost Head Blade, wielding a grim ghostly wail, and swung it down! Before the blade arrived, its chilling blade aura already made the skin sting.

Wang Ping's eyes turned cold; behind him, a crimson divine light suddenly blazed forth, not dazzling but carrying the domineering intent to burn the eight wastes. He pointed like a pen, tracing a mysterious trajectory in the air.

"Golden Yang Burn Heaven!"

Hiss!

A golden fireball the size of a grindstone appeared out of thin air, not illusory but a condensed form of the nascent True Sun Fire!

At the fireball's center, a phantom of a three-legged golden crow let out a long cry, emitting terrifying heat; the surrounding air was instantly sucked dry, and space itself slightly warped.

The Ghost Head Blade struck the golden fireball—like a hot knife cutting butter—the blade instantly turned crimson, its spiritual light fading and vanishing at visible speed! In the blink of an eye, a decent-quality third-grade spiritual treasure was actually melted straight into molten iron!

"My treasure!" the broad-faced cultivator's mind and spirit linked, he spat a mouthful of blood, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

Wang Ping showed no hesitation; the golden fireball's momentum undiminished, he slammed it straight into his opponent.

The broad-faced cultivator, terrified out of his wits, hastily threw up a small bronze shield—

but Golden Yang Burn Heaven was so overbearing that the shield only held for a breath before exploding! The cultivator was flung by the blast's aftermath, his whole body charred, falling into the magma, alive or dead unknown.

This scene was seen by several nearby cultivators, who instantly sucked in a breath of cold air.

"What kind of fire is this? So overbearing!"

"Who is this person? A mid Golden Core cultivator having such strength?"

"That fire… could it be True Sun Fire?!" an experienced elder exclaimed in shock, his gaze toward Wang Ping filled with astonishment.

True Sun Fire is a famed ancient flame; it is said that when cultivated to the extreme it can manifest a real sun, burning mountains and boiling seas is trivial!

Most such power resides in the hands of high-level cultivators, yet now it reappears in the hands of a mid Golden Core cultivator!

This instantly drew more attention to Wang Ping, including from the three False Infant cultivators fiercely clashing.

Jin Yuanzi's eyes flashed as he looked at Wang Ping, a hint of greed flickering: "Sun True Fire? Kid, hand over the fire and I'll spare your life!"

Xuehe Laozu also gave a sinister grin: "Interesting, it seems you kid have plenty of secrets."

Wang Ping coldly snorted, showing no fear; even without mentioning his many trump cards, just relying on his own combat power, even if he couldn't win, he could still escape.

Seeing everyone reveal greed, Wang Ping no longer held back; yellow divine light shot up from behind him, and the Heaven-Overturning Seal, bearing the heavy Dao rhythm that suppresses the four extremes and eight wildernesses, smashed toward a Golden Core peak cultivator trying to sneak attack him from the side.

That cultivator produced an Eight Trigrams Treasure Mirror; its light flickered, forming layered light curtains. But the Heaven-Overturning Seal is the pinnacle of power—one force can overcome ten!

Boom—

The Eight Trigrams Treasure Mirror let out a mournful cry; its surface instantly cracked, and the light curtain shattered like paper.

That cultivator was swept by the aftermath of the Heaven-Overturning Seal, as if struck by an ancient divine mountain; his breastbone shattered completely, blood spurted wildly as he flew backward, losing all combat ability directly.

"What kind of seal is this?! Who exactly are you?" Jin Yuanzi exclaimed again in shock; the seal's power was equally astonishing. A mere mid‑Golden Core kid carrying two powerful treasures is simply unbelievable!

Could he be the heir of some great power?

Just as Wang Ping repeatedly unleashed divine abilities, drawing much fire, the struggle in the field reached white‑hot intensity.

That dark red stone changed hands several times amid the chaotic energy impacts.

First it was snatched by a cultivator skilled in evasion; the next second it was swept away by Xuehe Laozu's Blood Banner, then Jin Yuanzi's Gold Dragon Illusion lunged at the prize, while Qingzhu Sou's bamboo staff lay poised like a venomous snake.

In a violent clash of divine abilities, Xuehe Laozu and Jin Yuanzi collided head‑on, unleashing an energy storm. The dark red stone wrapped in the Blood Banner was flung violently by that force, and its trajectory—dead on target—landed exactly where Wang Ping stood!

Wang Ping was using the Heaven-Overturning Seal to repel two attackers when he suddenly felt a scorching stream of light tear through the air toward him.

He instinctively reached out and grabbed it; a scorching, mighty energy instantly filled his hand.

He lowered his head to look—and there it was, the dark red stone that had driven everyone mad!

At that moment, time seemed to stand still.

All the fighters in the melee paused, their eyes locking in unison on Wang Ping…and the stone in his hand.

Greed, killing intent, jealousy, coldness…the various gazes were like substance, almost piercing Wang Ping through.

Even the three False Infant experts who had been locked in combat paused, their icy gazes fixed on Wang Ping.

The air fell dead silent, save for the gurgling of rolling lava.

Wang Ping himself froze for a moment, never expecting this hot potato to land in his hand this way.

But he quickly regained his composure, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold arc.

Having obtained it, how could there be any reason to hand it over?

"Kid, hand over the treasure!" Xuehe Laozu's voice was icy, carrying an unquestionable command.

"Abolish your cultivation, offer up your abilities and treasure, and you may keep a whole corpse." Jin Yuanzi spoke indifferently, as if passing judgment.

Qingzhu Sou didn't speak, but his qi had already locked onto Wang Ping.

Dozens of Golden Core cultivators also slowly closed in, sealing off every escape route.

Wang Ping scanned the surrounding faces filled with killing intent, feeling the immense pressure from the three False Infant experts; he not only felt no fear, but a sense of superiority rose within him.

"Want it?" He weighed the dark red stone in his hand, his voice calm yet clear as it reached everyone's ears: "Then…come and take it by strength."

Before his words even faded, the Five Elements Divine Light technique within him spun at an unprecedented speed, especially the red divine light part, which nearly boiled!

His whole body instantly transformed into a strand of extremely condensed, dazzling crimson‑gold firelight!

This firelight was no ordinary evasion light; it seemed to truly become light itself, vanishing in an instant.

Spark Flame Light! Its first appearance in the Spirit Realm!

Whoosh—

Like a teleport, the crimson‑gold firelight ignored the several Golden Core cultivators blocking the front, shooting straight through them; in its wake it left a scorching vacuum trail, those cultivators not even having time to react as their protective spiritual light spontaneously ignited, shocking them into repeated retreats.

In just an instant, the firelight had crossed a thousand‑foot distance, rushing toward an exit passage of the Lava Heart!

Fast! So fast it surpassed everyone's reaction!

"Where to go!"

"Stay!"

The three False Infant experts were both shocked and furious; they never expected Wang Ping to possess such a terrifying evasion technique!

Xuehe Laozu unfurled his Blood Banner, turning it into a piercing blood‑red light of astonishing speed, giving chase.

Jin Yuanzi's feet summoned a solid Gold‑colored Flood Dragon Illusion; the dragon's roar shook the heavens as he rode golden light, his speed undiminished, carrying a majestic, grand pursuit.

Qingzhu Sou was strangest of all; with a tap of his Green Bamboo Staff in the void, his form flickered forward like a ghost, each flash spanning dozens of feet—seemingly slow, yet he clung tightly to Wang Ping's heels.

Three powerful False Infant auras, like clinging parasites, locked onto that crimson‑gold firelight ahead, instantly bursting out of the Lava Heart and vanishing into the labyrinthine underground passages.

The dozens of remaining Golden Core cultivators exchanged glances, most of them giving up the chase.

Such speed, such might—beyond their reach. They could only watch helplessly as the treasure was taken away and the three False Infant experts pursued in pursuit.

The underground passages were labyrinthine, the scorching heat unbearable.

Wang Ping pushed Spark Flame Light to the extreme, his form nearly merging with the light; his speed was such that even divine sense struggled to catch it. He could clearly feel three auras behind him, like primordial ferocious beasts, rapidly closing in.

The False Infant realm, having touched the threshold of Nascent Soul, far surpasses Golden Core cultivators in the use of heavenly‑earthly spiritual power and the burst of personal speed.

A desperate chase deep beneath the Blazing Flame Valley thus began.

Wang Ping's eyes were sharp as blades; he pushed his speed to the limit, lunging left and right through the complex passages. He knew that if any one of them caught him, facing the three False Infant's encirclement would be a dead‑end with no chance of survival.

He had to shake them off!