Chapter 73: The Seven-Pointed Star Reappears

Looking at the seven-pointed star on the ground, several people broke out in a cold sweat; accompanied by violent ground tremors, the formation also began to slowly change.

The ground slowly cracked open, revealing some genuine things; then after a loud bang, some dark, root-like things began to grow at visible speed!

The formation emitted rays of light, finally a blinding white light that made several people unable to open their eyes, forcing them to cover their eyes; they all wondered about one thing: the formation before them was undoubtedly a Seven Star Formation, yet records of it are scarce, and those few records are vague, lacking substantive description, while the formation before them was indeed a perfect seven-pointed star.

Then, the surroundings regained brightness, and the light from the star map directly illuminated the area!

Everyone felt the surrounding temperature rising, sweat continuously drenched their clothes, and only after they sensed the white light fading did they slowly lower their arms—then the sight before them made them jump!

Beneath the cave entrance flowed slow-moving lava, which, like slow water, lapped the surrounding stone walls, each lap emitting a hiss—the sound of the lava scorching the stone; though only a small area, it was shocking to behold.

"This thing is quite troublesome," Chen Hao said worriedly; at the same time a foul smell drifted into the air, which Chen Hao sniffed with his nose. He took a deep breath, then pinched his nose, saying somewhat disdainfully, "Wait, we'll talk about this later, but what's the situation with this stench?"

Feng Yan followed the smell, then slowly turned his gaze to Yang Xin, whose body was covered only with baked-dry mud; the mud, under high heat, gradually hardened into clumps, which fell bit by bit to the ground, and some hardened clumps that fell into the cave entrance were instantly swallowed by the lava.

Seeing Yang Xin's state, Feng Yan apparently already knew the cause; he quickly glanced at Yang Xin, then fixed his gaze on Wang Tingwan, walked over to her and stopped, extending his right hand and calmly saying, "Take it out, that thing."

"What thing?" Chen Hao and Yang Xin wondered simultaneously; before they could react, Wang Tingwan directly handed the scepter to Feng Yan.

Feng Yan took the staff from Wang Tingwan's hand, raised it and continually praised, "This item's craftsmanship is really not bad; although not exquisite, it looks quite luxurious—this must be the power of money."

The golden scepter, even in dim light, still emitted the glow that displayed its nobility; though dim, it still proved its worth. Feng Yan gently stroked the golden scepter, then fell into thought; soon he stood up and directly threw the golden scepter downward.

The scepter, after leaving Feng Yan's hand, fell in a graceful arc, flashing a golden afterimage; the golden scepter fell into the lava, and the scepter was slowly swallowed by the red lava, slowly sinking into it.

The dark red lava slowly swallowed the golden scepter, disappearing within it; after the lava engulfed the golden scepter, a thin golden layer remained on its surface—hard to describe what it was, but it felt significant, flashing a faint golden light; after a while it also began to burn, finally leaving no trace.

"Is it gone then?" Chen Hao felt a pang, watching that large lump of gold being swallowed by the lava—who wouldn't feel heartbroken? Though it's just a game, seeing that large lump of gold burn away right before one's eyes would make anyone feel the same pain.

Yang Xin grabbed Feng Yan's collar and angrily said, "What do you mean? Are you jealous of me? Or is this revenge against her? Huh? Do you think you can beat me? Or are you just a scoundrel?"

Feng Yan ignored Yang Xin, merely pulling Yang Xin's hand from his clothes, then kicked him in the stomach; Yang Xin had no time to react and fell flat on his back. As he slowly got up, he saw Feng Yan draw the Black Sword from behind, stride straight toward him, point the sword at his head, and swing—yet in the end Feng Yan withdrew his hand and stopped.

All that was seen was Wang Tingwan spreading her arms to block Feng Yan's face, closing her eyes.

Feng Yan stared for a moment, then slowly came to his senses, the corners of his mouth slightly lifting as he said somewhat flippantly, "Yang Xin, you're still the same—always seeing others' flaws while thinking only yourself is perfect. Look, she isn't she quite fond of you?"

Yang Xin widened his eyes at Feng Yan, sheathed his sword, turned, and with Chen Hao walked a few steps away from him, then shouted loudly, "Come on, now shoot me dead with your crossbow!"

"You're crazy!" Chen Hao shouted, adding, "At this distance I can't possibly save you!"

Feng Yan slowly closed his eyes, opened his arms, and waited for the arrow to pierce his heart.

Yang Xin aimed at Feng Yan's chest, preparing a fatal blow; Wang Tingwan signaled Yang Xin not to do so, but seeing Feng Yan's state, she too was torn—perhaps this is the fate of old friends: mutual slaughter? Or to amicably keep the original relationship? Perhaps after this arrow there will be nothing left to ponder; they will ultimately bring an end, turning everything into making them familiar strangers—knowing each other yet growing apart.

Feng Yan opened his eyes, those eyes deep and sorrowful, he gazed at Wang Tingwan and said, "Sorry, perhaps I am being sentimental; I have long wanted an answer, but the answer already lies in my heart, yet I still beg you to speak it from your mouth—this time my luck is not bad, you and Yang Xin appear together in this game, so I will ask again: can you be with me?"

"I——" Wang Tingwan had just begun to speak when a swoosh sounded and an arrow shot straight toward Feng Yan!

Feng Yan smiled, watching the arrow fly straight toward him, and softly said, "It's over."

Chen Hao knew he couldn't stop it, yet he ran over anyway—maybe, just maybe—clinging to a sliver of hope, he still rushed forward.

"Clang!" a loud sound rang out; the arrow was knocked aside and then lodged into the stone wall.

"What's going on?" Yang Xin wondered, only to see a huge iron rod fly in, sweeping sideways and knocking off the arrowhead!

After the black iron rod knocked away the arrowhead, it unexpectedly enlarged and then plunged vertically into the red lava; Feng Yan widened his eyes, seeing the scene—the black iron rod was not melted!

The red lava bubbled and gurgled like boiling water, then emitted a loud boom! The lava seemed unable to tolerate the black iron rod, causing a violent explosion; the red lava exploded outward, while the black iron pipe was also flung by the intense heat into the cavern's midair, and as it was about to fall, the iron rod immediately began to enlarge and spin rapidly.

"Look, what is that?" Wang Tingwan shouted.

"Is that, the previous seven-pointed star?" Chen Hao glanced and then shouted.