Xiao Yan's heart surged with waves of astonishment, yet his expression remained utterly unchanged. He gently rubbed the Tosheda Ancient Emperor's jade between his palms in his sleeve, then took a deep breath. The jade, which had remained completely still until now, suddenly exhibited subtle signs of activity—clearly due to the nature of this volcanic region. More precisely, it was the depths of the volcanic world itself that caused this. With eight out of ten confidence, Xiao Yan believed that deep within the seemingly endless expanse of molten rock, there must be something intimately connected to the Tosheda Ancient Emperor's jade. Recalling Xun'er's words—that this jade had been left behind by a powerful Battle Emperor—Xiao Yan felt a warm surge of emotion rise within him. A Battle Emperor, a master at the pinnacle of strength in this world—what kind of power did such a being command? Xiao Yan had never personally witnessed it, yet he could vaguely imagine the terrifying might that stirred the very heavens and earth with mere gestures. An item left behind by a Divinity Realm master could stir up storms and bloodshed across this continent of Qi. Naturally, such an item would possess the very credentials to spark this upheaval. Simply put, if Xiao Yan were to obtain any relics left by Divinity Realm masters, he might well possess the true foundation to rival the Huey Palace. For Xiao Yan, this prospect held immense appeal. Moving like a fish gliding through molten rock, Xiao Yan glanced back at his heels. Though the crimson lava obscured his view, he could still faintly perceive that deep, unsettling blackness at the very core of the lava world—perhaps there, amidst that darkness, lay traces of information concerning the ancient Emperor Tuo She. The heat in his eyes persisted for a moment, and as Xiao Yan gradually regained his composure from the shock, he slowly exhaled, the warmth in his gaze gradually fading. He did not turn toward the depths of the molten rock, even though he knew that the area there would trigger a response from the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's jade. He also fully understood the perilous nature of that place. At present, he indeed needed strength to rescue his father and Yao Lao, but only if he preserved his own life. Of course, in the past, Xiao Yan had done many things that required great courage, yet each had been guided by certain boundaries. This time, however, if he immediately turned and plunged into the mysterious depths of the molten rock, he had not the slightest confidence that he could escape. If his life were lost, no matter how strong his power, it would be utterly useless. Moreover, the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's jade served as the key to unlocking the treasures left behind by the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor. If the things existing at the depths of the molten rock were indeed among those left by the Emperor, then what could he possibly do? Xiao Yan clearly knew that the key he held was only a fragment of the complete key. With a broken piece in hand, even if he truly found the treasure left by the ancient emperors, he would likely be able to only gaze at the precious relics in admiration. With his current strength, he couldn't even pass the flame lizard people—let alone the formidable beings that even the Heavenly Fire Venerable had feared? Perhaps, after paying countless costs, he would end up with nothing but a tragic, empty victory—costs that Xiao Yan could simply not afford. As a flurry of thoughts raced through his mind, Xiao Yan gradually calmed down. He clenched his teeth and deliberately turned his head, subtly placing the ancient jade into his storage scroll. Currently, he still bore the soul of the Heavenly Fire Sovereign—unlike the old medicine master, he could not allow any of the treasures, such as the Tosheda Emperor’s Jade, which would draw the envy of a Supreme Sovereign, to be known by others. Thus, the events unfolding here had to remain strictly within his own knowledge. Perhaps, once he achieved true strength, he could return to this molten world openly and investigate further. But not now. That secret had to be kept solely by him, for he knew well that if it were revealed, the Cangnan Academy would never find peace again. Suppressing the excitement within, Xiao Yan sharply shook his sleeve, and a surge of ki erupted forth, his movement speed suddenly accelerating. With Tianhuo Master helping to mask the flow of magma, he could speed up without being detected by the flame lizard people. Thanks to Tianhuo Master's assistance, Xiao Yan's journey was remarkably smooth. After just over fifteen minutes, he gradually moved away from the area inhabited by the flame lizard people. The temperature and pressure within the magma had also significantly decreased, clearly indicating that he was drawing closer to the magma surface. A deep breath of relief passed through Xiao Yan as he gazed upward at the increasingly bright magma, then lowered his eyes again to the world of magma behind him, murmuring softly, "I'll be back..." ... Puff! The molten sea lay silent, calm and windless, with only occasional bursts of bubbles creating subtle ripples. The entire world of magma remained as still and lifeless as ever. Suddenly, a sharp sound like water breaking erupted—then a figure, entirely enveloped in green flames, surged forth from the molten surface and hovered in midair, breathing deeply with a lively, exhilarated smile of relief. "Finally, I've escaped that damned place..." Wiping a bead of cold sweat from his forehead, Xiao Yan couldn't help but smile. This deep-earth expedition had been quite perilous, but fortunately, he had gained rewards that matched its dangers perfectly. Not only had he completely resolved the lingering concerns about the Inner Courtyard's Heavenly Burn Qi Tower, but he had also obtained a fire-controlling technique that reached the pinnacle—comparable to a Heaven-Class Combat Skill. Most importantly, he had once again secured the soul of a Dou-Shen-level powerhouse. As long as Xiao Yan successfully restored that soul, a true Dou-Shen-tier powerhouse would join him as a reliable combat partner. Though the partnership would last only for one year, it would be more than sufficient for him. Glancing down at the snow-white Naji ring on his finger, Xiao Yan's lips curled into a smile. The sight suddenly brought back memories of his very first encounter with Yao Lao in Wutan City. Now, reflecting on it, a quiet warmth stirred within him. Gently tracing the flame mark on his forehead, Xiao Yan's fists tightened involuntarily. In a soft, murmured tone, he said to himself, "Hun Palace—wait. It's time to settle everything now!" "Finally, I get to see the world beyond the molten lava once again—how nostalgic it feels..." A ethereal figure in a white robe drifted out of the relic, the Heavenly Fire Patriarch gazing at the surrounding rock walls, sighing. Not long from now, Xiao Yan will be setting off to the Central Region, where he'll need strength—whether inherent or acquired through external means—to establish himself among the many powerful individuals. If he can swiftly restore the soul of Tianhuo Master, he'll have a capable assistant at his side, which will be beneficial in every way. Therefore, he will certainly not cut corners on this matter. The Tianhuo Master waved his hand. Perhaps due to the spatial power he had just exerted, his soul now seemed even more ethereal. Seeing this, he smiled sadly, exhaled softly, and then moved his body, dissolving into light and shadow, entering the snow-white storage amulet. Upon seeing the Tianhuo Master once again vanish into the amulet, Xiao Yan spread his hands, looked up at the deep cavern that had arrived at the Tianfen Qi Tower, hesitated slightly, but ultimately decided to stay put. With his current progress, he was rapidly approaching the six-star Qi Emperor rank. Based on his estimation, with the remarkable effects of those "fire orbs," he would reach the six-star Qi Emperor level within no more than one month. Though this molten world brims with peril, it truly proves to be an ideal realm for cultivation for Xiao Yan. As the time for his journey to the Central Plains draws nearer, he must make every moment count in strengthening his own prowess. For he knows that, with his current strength, he would be but a modest figure among the myriad talents in the bustling Central Plains. To even secure a top ten finish at the grand gathering of the continent's finest alchemists—where such brilliance is abundant—is no easy feat, and all of this demands several times the effort and dedication he has already committed. With his resolve firmly set, Xiao Yan hesitated not at all. With a simple motion, he flashed into the cave carved within the mountain's wall. This time, he had gathered over a hundred "Fire Pearls," sufficient to support his cultivation for the foreseeable future, and with them, he is confident he can reach the rank of Six-Star Battle Emperor—no small achievement. As he entered the cave, Xiao Yan settled into a meditative posture, his face serious. This time, he would strive to break through the Six-Star Battle Emperor rank as swiftly as possible.