Chapter 67: Subterranean Lava Lake

Half a year passed quietly. Read novels daily with the Book-Chasing Artifact, ttkk. tw, read anytime.

Aikesi and Monika had fully adapted to life here—cultivating separately during the day, eating together at dusk, and sleeping in each other's arms at night.

On this day, Aikesi, as usual, comprehended the Profound Mystery of Fire Element at the volcano's crater. After half a year of arduous cultivation, aided by the Flame Demon Heart, his comprehension of the Profound Mystery of Fire Element had advanced from forty percent to fifty percent. This speed surprised even himself; following this trend, perhaps in less than ten years, he would touch the threshold of the Saint Domain Limit.

The first ray of morning sunlight pierced the smoke rising from the volcano's crater, casting mottled light and shadow on Aikesi's face. He sat cross-legged on a protruding black rock at the crater's edge, legs crossed, hands resting naturally on his knees with palms facing up, his entire body motionless like a statue.

The Flame Demon Heart beat slowly in his chest, releasing pure Fire Element energy with every beat, resonating with the Magic within his body. It was like an engine that never stopped, constantly providing him with material and inspiration to comprehend the Profound Mystery of Fire Element.

However, today, his attention was drawn by an abnormal energy fluctuation.

That fluctuation came from deep within the volcano beneath his feet, as if something were breathing. Aikesi closed his eyes and extended his spiritual power down along the volcanic rock layers. The deeper he went, the stronger the energy fluctuation became; at a certain depth, it even began to interfere with his spiritual power exploration.

"What is this?" Aikesi murmured, opening his eyes.

His pupils reflected the smoke rising from the crater, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. Could there truly be some treasure about to emerge from deep within this volcano?

He stood up, walked to the edge of the crater, and looked down. The inner walls of the crater were pitch-black volcanic rock, bottomless. The surfaces of those rocks were covered with pores and cracks; after millions of years of scorching by high temperatures, they had become as smooth as glass. Occasionally, white steam would rise from the cracks, carrying scorching heat and a pungent smell. After hesitating for a moment, he made the decision to go down and take a look.

He returned to the camp at the foot of the mountain and found Monika, who was cultivating.

Monika sat cross-legged on a flat giant stone, her hands forming a complex hand seal in front of her chest, surrounded by a faint layer of golden light. Half a year of life by the volcano had tanned her skin to a healthy wheat color, but her eyes remained as clear as ever.

"Monika, I plan to explore deep within the volcano," Aikesi said. "There is an abnormal energy fluctuation down there; it might be some treasure."

Monika retracted her Magic, stood up, and said, "I will go with you."

"There might be danger down there." Aikesi hesitated somewhat. He knew Monika's personality, but the uncertainty of this exploration was too great. That energy fluctuation could interfere with his spiritual power exploration, indicating that the source was by no means simple; it was likely guarded by a powerful demonic beast.

"I would be even more worried if you went alone," Monika insisted, her tone leaving no room for negotiation. "Moreover, I am now a Level 8 Fashishi; self-defense is no problem for me."

Aikesi thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. He took two heat-insulating cloaks from his space ring, draping one over each of them. He also cast a Fire-type protective shield on Monika; a crimson-gold light film wrapped Monika entirely, isolating her from the external scorching heat.

"Stay close to me," Aikesi said.

Monika held his hand and said, "Okay."

The two leaped into the volcano's crater.

Aikesi, holding Monika, floated down steadily.

After descending for about a quarter of an hour, the inner wall of the crater suddenly became wider, entering a huge underground space.

Aikesi cast a fireball; the crimson-gold light instantly illuminated the surrounding environment. The fireball hovered above their heads like a small sun, casting light into every corner.

This was an underground cave; the dome was immeasurably high, and the four walls were smooth black rocks, with a faint red light seeping up from below. Those rocks had been smelted by high temperatures until they were as smooth as mirrors, reflecting the fireball's light, making the entire space appear even deeper. The air was filled with a heavy smell of sulfur and a metallic scent.

"That is—" Monika's eyes widened.

As they continued to descend, the scene below gradually became clear—it was a massive lava lake! Crimson-gold magma churned and boiled within it, sparks splashing upward like stars as bubbles burst. The lava lake spanned at least several hundred mu, stretching endlessly as far as the eye could see, as if the entire underground realm was dominated by this sea of fire. The heat wave struck their faces; even with heat-insulating cloaks and protective shields, Monika still felt a moment of suffocation, and the sweat beading on her forehead evaporated instantly.

Aikesi hovered steadily several meters above the Lava Lake, his gaze sweeping the surroundings. That abnormal energy fluctuation grew stronger and stronger; the source was right in the center of the Lava Lake, and every pulse seemed to be striking his spiritual power barrier.

"Look over there!" Monika pointed to the center of the Lava Lake, her voice carrying barely concealed excitement.

Aikesi looked in the direction she pointed, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

In the center of the Lava Lake, a black rock protruded above the magma surface. That rock was about three meters square, its surface flat and smooth, as if polished by human hands. On the rock, there actually grew a small tree! The tree was entirely crimson, its twisted branches like coiled fire snakes. Its leaves fluttered like flames, and every leaf emitted a faint light.

And right in the center of the tree's crown, a fist-sized red fruit hung quietly, emitting a soft and alluring red light.

"Zhu Guo." Aikesi took a deep breath.

He had seen descriptions of this heavenly material and earthly treasure in the ancient books at the Ernst Institute—Zhu Guo, a supreme treasure of the Fire Element, growing in places of extreme magma heat, blooming once every thousand years, bearing fruit once every thousand years, and ripening once every thousand years. Consuming it could greatly increase one's cultivation, and it was especially effective for Fire-type Mages.

"A good thing." Aikesi said, and was about to fly toward the center of the Lava Lake.

Just then, the Lava Lake suddenly churned violently.

The magma parted on either side as a colossal creature slowly rose from the lakebed, sending waves of molten rock soaring into the air. It was a lava beast, its entire body formed of dark red rock, standing over ten meters tall, with magma flowing continuously across its surface. With each step, scorching liquid dripped from it, sparking as it hit the lake's surface. Its head was a massive black rock, shaped in a ferocious and terrifying manner; its two eyes glowed like burning coals, emitting an orange-yellow light that stood out starkly in the darkness.

This was a Saint Domain Peak demonic beast! Judging by the aura emanating from it, it was even more powerful than any opponent Aikesi had encountered before.

"Humans!" the Lava Beast opened its mouth, emitting a muffled voice. "This is not a place you should come to."

Its voice echoed throughout the entire underground cave, shaking loose pebbles from the rock walls, which fell rustling down. Those two charcoal-like eyes stared tightly at Aikesi and Monika, their gaze filled with vigilance and hostility.

Aikesi protected Monika behind him, looking calmly at the giant beast before him. His right hand raised slightly, ready to summon the Fire Spirit Bead at any moment. Behind him, Monika also secretly condensed Light-type Magic, with golden light flowing between her fingers.

"We do not wish to be your enemies," Aikesi said, his tone peaceful but firm. "That Zhu Guo, I need one."

"Zhu Guo?" the Lava Beast let out a low roar, and the entire Lava Lake churned with its roar. "I have guarded here for over three thousand years, just waiting for it to ripen. You say you want it, so you take it?"

Aikesi's eyebrows furrowed slightly. Over three thousand years? According to the ancient records, the Zhu Guo ripens once every three thousand years; it seems this Zhu Guo has reached the time for picking. And this Lava Beast before him was obviously the guardian of this magma area, waiting all along for the moment the Zhu Guo ripened.

"I can exchange with you." Aikesi took several Saint Domain demonic beast cores from his space ring; those cores emitted lights of various colors, arranged in a row in the air. "These should be enough to compensate for your loss."

The Lava Beast glanced at those cores; the charcoal fire in its eyes flickered once, then returned to coldness. It slowly shook its head, and every shake caused a wave of magma to ripple: "Not enough. Although these cores are precious, compared to the Zhu Guo, they are insignificant."

The charcoal fire in the Lava Beast's eyes burned even more fiercely: "There is no room for negotiation. The Zhu Guo is mine; I have waited over three thousand years and will not let anyone take it. Leave now, and I can pretend nothing happened. Otherwise—"

It did not finish, but the meaning of the threat was already unmistakably clear.

Aikesi sighed. He did not originally want to fight, but the Zhu Guo was right before his eyes, and Monika needed such an opportunity.

He turned to look at Monika and found worry on her face; her lips moved slightly, as if she wanted to say something.

Monika shook her head gently, signaling him not to take the risk. She tightened her grip on his hand; her palm was slightly damp.

"Wait for me," Aikesi said softly, his voice gentle yet firm. He gently squeezed Monika's hand, then let go, turning to face the Lava Beast.

"Then forgive me for being rude."

The moment the words left his lips, the Fire Spirit Bead emerged from his chest, hovering in mid-air, radiating dazzling crimson-gold light.

For the first time, fear appeared in the lava beast's eyes. Its body instinctively stepped back half a pace, causing a surge of magma. Those coal-like eyes locked fixedly onto the Fire Spirit Bead, its pupils contracting sharply.

For the first time, fear appeared in the Lava Beast's eyes: "This is—"

Before it could finish speaking, Aikesi had already acted.

The Fire Spirit Bead spun, and a crimson-gold fire pillar erupted from the spirit bead, rushing straight at the Lava Beast. The crimson-gold light illuminated the entire cave as if it were day; even the surface of the Lava Lake was evaporated by this high temperature into a layer of white mist.

The Lava Beast roared, crossing its arms to block in front of itself; the magma on its body instantly solidified into a thick layer of rock armor. It knew the power of this strike, so it used all its strength to defend. However, in the face of the Fire God's power, these defenses were useless. The crimson-gold flames easily pierced through the rock armor; those defenses, which seemed invincible to the Lava Beast, were as fragile as paper in the face of God Level flames.

The flames struck the Lava Beast's body, producing a deafening explosion.

The Lava Beast let out a piercing scream, its massive body trembling violently in the flames. Its body began to melt; the dark red rocks turned liquid, flowing like wax, dripping into the Lava Lake below, stirring up a large spray of sparks. That magma hitting the lake surface made a hissing sound, sending up white steam.

"No! Impossible! I am Sanctuary Peak, how could I————" Its voice grew weaker and weaker, filled with unwillingness and despair.

Aikesi watched all this with a blank expression. The Fire Spirit Bead rotated slowly above his head, continuously releasing crimson-gold flames.

The lava beast's body shattered completely, turning into a pile of rubble that fell into the Lava Lake, stirring up a final splash. Those fragments sank and floated in the magma, quickly melted by the high temperature, and vanished entirely. The underground cave returned to silence, with only the sound of churning magma echoing, occasionally punctuated by the crisp crack of bursting bubbles.

"Ah!"

Aikesi retracted the Fire Spirit Bead, and the crimson-gold flames surrounding him slowly dissipated, receding like a tide. He turned to look at Monika, finding her face pale and her lips trembling slightly; she was clearly frightened by the battle just now. Her hands gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, her knuckles even turning white.

"It's over." Aikesi flew to her side and took her hand. Her hand was somewhat cold. Aikesi gently rubbed the back of her hand, transmitting warmth. "Let's go, to pick the Crimson Fruit."

The two flew toward the center of the Lava Lake.

Aikesi carefully plucked the Crimson Fruit and held it in his palms. The fruit was warm, its surface smooth as jade, with faint flame patterns flowing across it. Those patterns seemed alive, slowly drifting across the fruit's surface. A rich fruit fragrance wafted to his nose, instantly refreshing his spirit.

"Monika, eat it." Aikesi handed the Crimson Fruit to her.

Monika paused for a moment: "For me? Didn't you say the Crimson Fruit is most effective for Fire-type Mages? Wouldn't it be better for you to eat it yourself? You are currently in the Saint Domain; if you eat the Crimson Fruit, you might advance even further."

Aikesi shook his head: "I am currently in the Saint Domain; eating one Crimson Fruit would mean little. From the Saint Domain to God Level, what is needed is comprehension of the elemental laws, not merely the accumulation of energy. The Crimson Fruit offers me limited help. You are different; you are only Level 8. After taking the Crimson Fruit, you will at least break through to Level 8 Peak, and might even touch the threshold of Level 9. For you, this is a qualitative leap."

"But————" Monika wanted to say more, but seeing Aikesi's determined gaze, she swallowed her words before they could leave her lips.

"No 'buts'." Aikesi interrupted her, his voice gentle but uncompromising. "You are my wife. Only if your strength increases will we be safer together."

Monika looked at Aikesi's determined gaze, and a warmth surged in her heart. Her eyes reddened slightly, and her throat felt tight. She took the Crimson Fruit and took a gentle bite.

The Crimson Fruit melted instantly upon entering her mouth, transforming into a stream of warm energy that flowed into her abdomen. That energy rapidly spread through her limbs and bones, like a ball of fire burning within her body, warm and full of power. Monika closed her eyes, sat cross-legged on the black rock, and began to refine the medicinal power of the Crimson Fruit.

Aikesi stood guard nearby, vigilantly observing the surroundings. His spiritual power spread in all directions, covering the entire underground cave. The Lava Lake still churned, but there was no trace of any other life. The aftermath of the battle just now had dissipated, and the cave returned to tranquility.

Time passed, second by second.

Monika opened her eyes, a flash of golden light passing through them before vanishing.

"Level 8 Peak." She said softly, her tone full of surprise. "Just one step away from breaking through to Level 9. I feel the Magic within my body is at least three times denser than before, and my perception of the elements has become even more acute."

Aikesi nodded in satisfaction: "Good. Once your body has fully adapted to the medicinal power of the Crimson Fruit, breaking through to Level 9 will be a natural progression. The medicinal power of the Crimson Fruit has not been fully digested; a portion is stored in your body and will be released slowly in the coming days. During this time, you must cultivate diligently to fully transform the medicinal power into your own cultivation."

Monika stood up, threw herself into Aikesi's arms, and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist: "Thank you, Aikesi."

Aikesi embraced her waist, resting his chin on the top of her head, feeling her body heat and heartbeat: "You are my wife. If you become stronger, I am happy too. In the future, when we encounter danger, you will be able to help me share the burden."

Monika raised her head, looking into his eyes, her gaze serious and determined: "In the future, I will protect you too."

Aikesi paused for a moment, then smiled, his expression warm and doting: "Good, I will wait for that day. By then, I will hide behind you and let you deal with those powerful enemies."

Monika laughed at his words, gently punching his chest: "You are making fun of me."

"No, I am serious." Aikesi sobered his smile and looked at her earnestly. "I believe that one day, you will become a Mage stronger than me."

The two embraced in the center of the Lava Lake, surrounded by churning magma and waves of heat filling the sky.

"Let's go, it's time to return." Aikesi released Monika, took her hand, and said, "We gained a lot this time. Go back and solidify your cultivation properly."

Monika nodded and took his hand.

The two soared into the air, flying up along the volcano's crater.

When they returned to the camp, it was already evening. Monika sat cross-legged on a massive rock, continuing to refine the residual medicinal power of the Crimson Fruit.

Aikesi sat beside her, closing his eyes to comprehend the Profound Mystery of Fire Element, guarding Monika while not wasting any time for cultivation.

"Soon."

Aikesi thought silently in his heart, "Give me ten more years, and I will definitely touch the threshold of God Level."