Chapter 475: Wu Xiang Yan Gu, the Primordial Cold

Lin Xuan took a deep breath and immediately felt a scorching current of air surge into his lungs; the Primordial Cold within his body surged automatically, neutralizing this heat. He stepped off the Flying Boat and carefully sensed the surrounding environment: "This heat is not ordinary temperature, but heat carrying some kind of special energy."

Xiao Yuan took out the Jade Slip given by Helian Zigui and confirmed the information inside once more: "According to the records, Wu Xiang Yan Gu was formed by a falling celestial fire during the ancient era. That fire was a fragment of the chaotic energy from the beginning of the universe; after falling, it formed this extreme fire-element realm, which is one of the few places in heaven and earth where pure fire elements gather."

The group proceeded along a mountain path that could barely be called a road; the further they went into the valley, the higher the temperature became. Ordinary team members had already begun to show signs of discomfort, their faces flushed and their breathing rapid.

"We cannot continue like this," Lin Xuan stopped in his tracks and turned to the group, "The environment ahead is even harsher; I will try to see if I can help everyone withstand the high temperature."

He stood still for a moment, guiding the Primordial Cold within his body to flow out slowly, forming a transparent protective barrier that enveloped the entire team. Curiously, this barrier was not merely cold air, but a special force field capable of absorbing thermal energy without making people feel cold.

"How amazing!" a team member exclaimed, "The temperature has become much more comfortable immediately!"

Lin Xuan smiled slightly: "This is my first time trying this method as well. The Primordial Cold seems to be able to change its form and function according to my will. However, this barrier cannot last too long, so we had better pick up the pace."

The team continued forward, and the landscape of the valley gradually revealed itself before their eyes: the crimson earth was almost devoid of vegetation, with only the occasional strangely shaped fiery-red plant swaying in the heat waves; the ground was split in many places by huge fissures, with scorching magma flowing slowly within them; the sky was dyed a dark red by smoke and heat, as if it were forever stuck in the twilight hour.

"According to the intelligence, the Hun Dun Flame is hidden in the most scorching magma pool at the bottom of the valley, guarded by a group of ancient fire spirits." Xu Feng checked the map in his hand, "We need to cross the lava zone ahead and climb over a few small hills to reach the valley floor."

Strangely, as the team drew closer to the heart of the valley, the Primordial Cold within Lin Xuan became increasingly active, surging automatically without the need for guidance.

"The Primordial Cold is responding to the Hun Dun Flame," Lin Xuan explained to Xiao Yuan, "There is some kind of connection between the two fragments of the Heaven and Earth Origin, and they are attracting each other."

Xiao Yuan was thoughtful: "In that case, the Hun Dun Flame might also have sensed the presence of the Primordial Cold. This might be a good thing, but it could also attract the attention of those guardians."

Her worries were soon verified. Just as the team passed through a narrow valley, several streaks of blue firelight suddenly swooped down from the mountain walls on both sides, blocking their path. They were a group of strange creatures with bodies like wolves, their entire forms burning with blue flames; their gazes were sharp, and they emitted low growls from their mouths.

"Flame Tail Beast!" Xu Feng warned in a low voice, "Extremely dangerous fire-element creatures that can travel freely through magma and do not fear ordinary cold-air attacks."

Lin Xuan immediately strengthened the protective barrier of the Primordial Cold while observing the movement patterns of these Flame Tail Beasts. They seemed to be testing them, constantly moving around the team.

"They are observing me," Lin Xuan said to Xu Feng in a low voice, "To be precise, they are observing the Primordial Cold. I feel that they are both fearful and curious about this energy."

The leader of the Flame Tail Beasts suddenly stepped forward and emitted a series of strange sounds at Lin Xuan, as if it were some kind of communication. Lin Xuan hesitated for a moment, then tried to release a trace of the Primordial Cold's aura to show it.

Unexpectedly, that Flame Tail Beast stepped back a few paces, then lowered its head, assuming a posture similar to submission. The other Flame Tail Beasts followed suit, then cleared a path.

"They... have acknowledged your power," Xiao Yuan said in surprise, "Perhaps they view the Primordial Cold as some kind of supreme existence."

Lin Xuan nodded: "Let's go; while they are clearing the way, we will continue forward."

The team carefully passed through the group of Flame Tail Beasts and continued toward the valley floor. The environment became increasingly harsh; the ground began to show signs of large-scale melting, and the air was filled with a pungent smell of sulfur and other toxic gases. Even with the protection of the Primordial Cold, the team members began to feel uncomfortable.

Just as the group was forced to stop and rest, Lin Xuan keenly discovered an anomaly: "Over there, look at that crack in the mountain wall; there is cold wind blowing out."

Indeed, there was a narrow fissure on the nearby mountain wall, and the wind blowing out from it actually carried a hint of coolness, forming a sharp contrast with the surrounding scorching heat. Lin Xuan led the team over to investigate and found that inside the fissure was a deep, secluded cave.

"Let's go in and take a look," Lin Xuan decided, "There must be a reason for this abnormal phenomenon."

The interior space of the cave was much larger than imagined, and the cave walls flickered with a faint blue light, providing some illumination to the dark space. Even more eye-catching were the ancient Runes carved all over the cave walls, winding and spiraling from the entrance all the way into the depths.

"These Runes..." Xu Feng observed carefully, "are Ancient Fire Spirit Script, recording information about the Hun Dun Flame."

He took out a special lens and began to decipher those Runes. As the reading deepened, Xu Feng's expression became increasingly surprised: "This... this does not fully match the intelligence we obtained. According to these records, the true location of the Hun Dun Flame is not in the magma pool, but within a special space known as the 'Void Fire Illusion Realm'!"

"Void Fire Illusion Realm?" Lin Xuan asked curiously.

Xu Feng continued to decipher: "The Void Fire Illusion Realm is an independent space created by the Hun Dun Flame itself, which ordinary people cannot enter. And the entrance is hidden in a volcanic crater at the bottom of the valley."

Xiao Yuan suddenly understood something: "So the magma pool is just a facade; the true Hun Dun Flame is in another dimensional space."

"To be precise, it is a cross-space of half-matter and half-energy," Xu Feng corrected, "This kind of space does not belong entirely to the material world, nor is it entirely in an energy form, but is a special existence between the two."

Lin Xuan carefully inspected other areas within the cave and found that not only was the temperature comfortable here, but the air was fresh, making it an ideal resting spot: "It is getting late; we will rest here for the night and head straight for the volcanic crater tomorrow."

The group agreed to this proposal and began to arrange for night watch and rest. When the night was deep and quiet, Lin Xuan sat alone at the cave entrance, looking at the flickering firelight on the valley floor in the distance, and fell into deep thought.

Just then, he suddenly felt a strange consciousness touch his divine sense; it was warm and full of vitality, forming a sharp contrast with the cold tranquility of the Primordial Cold, yet it was inexplicably harmonious. This consciousness had no specific language, but Lin Xuan could feel the emotions it conveyed: anticipation, welcome... and a kind of indescribable sense of closeness.