"As his master, I naturally need to give him more care. This white rhinoceros pendant, though valuable, will be of little use to me as I pursue the pyrocrystalline path. I recall that Brother Man has a jade ice orb as well. Why not temporarily lend it to my young disciple? I'm sure my esteemed friend wouldn't want any unforeseen mishaps to befall the disciple before he reaches the inner hall!" Master Jiayin did not grow angry but instead smiled gently, his eyes twinkling. "Hmph! Until the Virtual Sky Cauldron is extracted, I won't let him die easily. This jade ice orb was obtained by me when I first killed a cold carp. Young man, here you go—take it as a favor." With that, Brother Man reached into his robes and produced a round, translucent orb, about the size of a thumb, which he tossed to Han Li. Han Li was delighted, and thanked him warmly. Though he knew both of these treasures were given to him primarily due to the blood-jade spider, the assurance that he would remain safe while crossing the molten path was truly a welcome blessing. Though the cold ice bead and the white rhinoceros pendant both shone with a silvery glow, as soon as Han Li held the bead, a piercing cold radiated through his skin, making him shiver and promptly store it in his storage bag. This was quite different from the gentle, cool sensation of the rhinoceros pendant, suggesting the bead surpassed the pendant in quality. The scholarly elder, observing this, chuckled softly, then stepped swiftly into the pyrocrystalline path, prompting other cultivators to follow suit, each entering through the channels they had already chosen. In mere moments, the number of cultivators at the entrance had dwindled by half. "Han Li, you go ahead into the valley. We'll meet again at the transmission array at the valley's end in a few days," said the Supreme Master of Extreme Cold, gazing at Han Li with a warm, composed expression. Han Li naturally had no objections, and after a simple nod, he proceeded toward the passage marked with the stone tablet reading "Magma Road." Yet, before stepping through, he calmly surveyed the surroundings once more. And still, a sense of unease lingered within him. The Xuan Gu Elder Demon had yet to make an appearance. Could it be that he suddenly changed his mind and slipped away on his own? Han Li couldn't help but think of the worst. After all, human nature was unpredictable—perhaps Xuan Gu, upon seeing the overwhelming power of Ji Yin, had decided to alter his course. However, should such a thing truly happen, Han Li would certainly not hesitate to reveal the Elder Demon's true secrets at a critical moment, using them as leverage to ensure his own survival. A flash of fierce determination passed through his eyes. Maybe this move had stirred someone. As Han Li grew increasingly frustrated, a calm voice from Xuan Gu suddenly resonated in his ears. "Stop looking around. I'm already hidden nearby, though I haven't yet appeared. Go on, take care of yourself. After you pass the Ice-Fire Path, I'll contact you." With that, Xuan Gu's voice faded away. Though Han Li was filled with surprise, he finally felt at ease and stepped confidently into the corridor. A warm breeze flowed in from the corridor, immediately making Han Li feel as if he were standing beside a furnace, being roasted. Han Li furrowed his brows and focused his gaze ahead. The corridor was only about two zhang high, not particularly lofty, yet the vivid, glaring red light emanating from the front was striking and somewhat alarming. Han Li licked his slightly dry lips, his eyes flashing with a cold intensity, and then began walking step by step. With each step, he sensed the temperature of the surrounding air rising slightly. After walking twenty or thirty steps, Han Li could no longer advance further—the intense heat, combined with intermittent gusts of warm air, made his facial skin ache subtly. After a moment's hesitation, Han Li first activated a protective shield of water-based energy. A shimmering blue glow enveloped him, significantly reducing the intense heat. Then, he lightly tapped his storage pouch with one hand, and a beam of green light shot out, landing in his hands. It was precisely the "Fire-Repelling Divine Robe." Without hesitation, Han Li donned it inside his robe. Instantly, a cool sensation radiated from the robe, invigorating him as he continued forward. After just a dozen steps, the path suddenly brightened, and a crimson-hued light wall blocked his way. This time, after glancing at the wall several times, Han Li simply plunged straight through it, sensing footsteps approaching behind him—indicating other cultivators had also entered. He had no interest in meeting any of them. Amid the dazzling red light, he felt dizzy and unsteady, only for the previously vanished high temperature to surge back with the force of a triumphant beast, threatening his water-based protective shield, which flickered and soon began to waver. Startled by the sudden shock, Han Li quickly summoned a surge of spiritual energy from his body to stabilize the shield, then steadied himself to take in his surroundings. The mountain stones are crimson, the soil a vibrant orange-red, the vegetation glowing with a warm red hue, and the sky deep red and hazy—everything radiates a fiery tone. Standing within the protective dome, clad in his fire-resistant robe,韩立 still clearly senses the sensation as if the very air around him is burning. He takes a deep breath, his expression growing increasingly somber. Should the temperature remain this high for just a few hours, even without relying on any magical artifacts, he would easily make it through. However, as the Purple Spirit Lady mentioned, on this second trial—the Ice-Fire Path—no cultivator can achieve flight; they must advance steadily on foot. Consequently, those who need to travel farther would have to walk continuously for several days and nights without rest, only then reaching the end of the valley. This is not merely a matter of individual cultivation level—it also depends heavily on the effectiveness of their cold-resistance and fire-protection artifacts. Moreover, while the harsh conditions along the way posed a significant challenge, the true obstacle preventing the cultivators from passing smoothly was the naturally born spirit beasts of ice and flame gathering within the gorges. Each time cultivators attempted to cross this threshold, half of them would fall victim to these spirit beasts. In addition, along the journey, cultivators were often ambushed and attacked by those with ulterior motives, whose primary goal was to seize their precious supplies—especially those items used for warmth and fire protection. This scenario invariably unfolded during every journey through the ice and flame path. The closer one approached the end of the gorge's transmission array, the greater the likelihood of encountering other cultivators. By seizing their supplies, those in need could significantly enhance their own chances of survival. It was certain that many cultivators nearing the brink would not hesitate to strike. Han Li stood motionless at his post, neither immediately acting nor moving, instead observing the surroundings carefully and analyzing the information at hand, deep in thought. After a full cup of tea's worth of time, Han Li's expression shifted slightly. He withdrew the white rhinoceros pendant from his sleeve, fastened it at his waist, and then drew in the blue protective aura. The radiant white light of the jade pendant now enveloped Han Li on all sides. Magic could never be wasted. Sitting and resting here was purely self-destructive. After glancing upward and barely making out the faint red sun, identifying the direction, Han Li immediately set off. Ahead, beyond piles of scattered stones and tall, straight, strange trees standing half as high as a person, there was no clear path—only a slow, wobbly progress. After walking just a short distance through the scorching air, Han Li was suddenly blocked by a thicket of wild grasses glowing with an eerie red hue. He stared at these odd plants, his brows furrowing. Suddenly, a blue water sphere shot from his hand and struck the grass. But as soon as the blue light touched the plants, it emitted a sharp "sizzle" and instantly transformed into a stream of white vapor. Han Li's expression slightly changed. He glanced toward both sides of the meadow, only to find that the entire scene was filled with these strange, unusual grasses—there was no other path available. After a moment's hesitation, he clenched his teeth and cautiously stepped forward, walking a few paces. As soon as his feet touched the grass, Han Li realized just how terrible the molten road truly was. These were no ordinary grasses—they were sharp, blazing-hot blades of red-hot steel, each one so keen that the intense flame energy clinging to them caused him considerable discomfort. Though protected by his white rhinoceros companion and his fire-resistant robe, he still felt sharp, persistent pains from his thighs downward, making every step feel difficult. After advancing only a few paces, he had to open his water-based protective shield once more, fully enveloping himself. Although this quickly drained his inner energy, it allowed Han Li to dash swiftly through the grassy thicket like a whirlwind. He was forced to deploy the Luo Yan Steps. A blue-glowing spectral figure flashed here and there against the glaring red light, and then gradually faded into a small black dot, receding into the distance. ...Bu Xu was a cultivator of mid-Jiedan stage, with a soil-fire spiritual root. Having achieved his current level in less than three centuries of cultivation, he had earned a reputation that placed him among the most respected figures in the region, often regarded as a towering presence. Even many of his neighbors believed him to be one of the most promising candidates in the Luan Xing Sea in the past century and a half to ascend to the Yuan Ying stage. Bu Xu deeply cherished the admiration, envy, and praise he received from others. Yet, he was well aware of his own circumstances. Had it not been for the fortunate discovery, during one of his journeys outside, of a "Fen Yuan Pill" from the ancient era inside the belly of a fourth-tier beast, which spared him over a century of grueling cultivation, he would still be stagnating at the Foundation stage. It was precisely this rare pill that first introduced him to the sweet taste of ancient medicinal herbs. Thus, he had long been eyeing this visit to the "Xitian Hall." He had already, while others were distracted, secured a high-priced fire dragon larva at a premium. He intended to risk entering the inner hall and use this creature to retrieve the legendary treasure—the Xitian Cauldron, famed for causing upheaval across the star seas. With the precious artifacts within the Xitian Cauldron and the famed "Complement-the-Heaven Pill" said to be housed within, he was certain his breakthrough to the Yuan Ying stage would be within reach.