In the following half month, Lin Yuan returned to Shimo City with Qing Lin and bought a charming courtyard in the city, where they lived together for half a month.
During this time, Lin Yuan and Qing Lin's relationship grew closer, developing rapidly. Under Lin Yuan's care, Qing Lin began to regain some of her youthful vivacity.
However, there was one thing that Qing Lin was particularly insistent on: she wanted to take care of Lin Yuan's daily life. Lin Yuan understood that Qing Lin was looking for an anchor point to demonstrate her value, which would give her a sense of security. This girl, who had grown up in a world of disdain, had a deeply wounded heart and needed a considerable amount of time to heal.
For Qing Lin, these days felt like she was in a happy dream. Her master was a Dou Wang (Fighting King) and a high-level alchemist, someone she had never imagined she could be close to. Unlike others, her master treated her exceptionally well; his gaze was not filled with the disdain and contempt she was used to, nor the frightening heat of passion, but rather a gentle warmth that enchanted her.
Thus, she wanted to do more for her master to repay him and wished to stay by his side. While diligently taking care of his daily needs, she also practiced hard and even broke through to the fifth level of Dou Qi (Fighting Energy) yesterday.
During this time, Lin Yuan successfully located the underground cave where the异火 (strange fire) was hidden, relying on maps and his soul perception. He prepared some medicinal pills and supplies that might be needed later, and made some preparations for Qing Lin to unlock the Bi She San Hua Tong (Green Snake Three Flower Eyes).
Three days later.
In a quaint courtyard on the outskirts of the city, a gentle-looking young man in a green shirt was conversing with a delicate girl in a green dress.
"Let's go, Qing Er, it's time to leave. Have you packed everything?" Lin Yuan asked the girl before him.
"Everything is ready, Master," the girl in the green dress replied playfully, casting a deep glance at the courtyard where she had spent her happiest moments. She then walked to Lin Yuan's side and gently adjusted his robe with her delicate hands.
"Then let's go!" With that, Lin Yuan wrapped his arm around Qing Lin's waist, lifting her into his embrace, and spread his fire wings, flying towards the southeast direction of Shimo City.
In Lin Yuan's arms, Qing Lin stared blankly at the boy who was flying with her for a moment, lightly inhaling the faint scent of medicine on him. A satisfied smile appeared on her exquisite face, and in her emerald green pupils, three tiny green dots flickered in and out of view.
At this moment, Lin Yuan, who was focused on flying, also had a slight smile at the corner of his mouth.
Soon, the two arrived at a sunken area in the desert southeast of Shimo City.
After landing, Lin Yuan waved his sleeve at a patch of yellow sand, and a whirlwind of Dou Qi (Fighting Energy) swept up the sand, revealing a dark cave entrance. Steam was rising from the entrance, which Lin Yuan had found and opened in the past few days.
After confirming with his soul perception, Lin Yuan flew in with Qing Lin, then waved his sleeve again, using Dou Qi to cover the entrance with sand, making it blend back into the ordinary desert.
After summoning a flame to illuminate the surroundings, Lin Yuan led Qing Lin down the passage slowly.
After descending for a minute or two, they reached the bottom of the passage. Once on the ground, Lin Yuan set Qing Lin down and walked forward with her for a while, revealing a dozen dark passages before them.
"Qing Er, can you sense if any of these passages are emitting unusual energy?" Lin Yuan asked Qing Lin. He then closed his eyes, releasing his soul perception to sense the energy flow in the area, searching for the passage that emitted the strongest fire energy.
"I understand, Master," Qing Lin replied, slowly closing her eyes to sense the energy in the passages.
After a while, Lin Yuan opened his eyes. "I found it."
Qing Lin also opened her eyes and shook her head at Lin Yuan. "Master, I didn't sense anything strange."
Hearing this, Lin Yuan felt relieved. It seemed that Queen Medusa had not found this place yet, which was good; there was no need to worry about encountering any hidden dangers.
Then, Lin Yuan took Qing Lin towards the left passage that he sensed was emitting the strongest fire energy.
As they went deeper, the surrounding fire energy became increasingly intense. Eventually, at the end of the passage, a fiery underground world came into view. In the vast cavern, red magma flowed, creating a seemingly endless magma world.
The intense heat from the concentrated fire energy was something even low-level Dou Shi (Fighting Masters) would find hard to withstand. However, Qing Lin showed no signs of discomfort; the fourth-grade magic core bracelet on her wrist emitted a cool aura, and it seemed that a somewhat cold energy was continuously being released from her body to protect her.
"This should be the place. Such abundant and massive fire energy is indeed enough to nurture异火," Lin Yuan thought to himself, feeling a sense of awe at the fiery world before him.
At that moment, Qing Lin's soft voice reached Lin Yuan's ears, "Master, be careful; it seems something is approaching us from below."
Lin Yuan patted Qing Lin's shoulder and said calmly, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. You don't need to be afraid with me here."
Lin Yuan had already sensed a presence approaching from beneath the magma. He had emitted the aura of a great Dou Shi after entering the cave to attract this creature.
After placing Qing Lin at a safe distance, Lin Yuan walked to the edge of the magma, continuing to emit the aura of a great Dou Shi. Although Qing Lin was nervous, her trust in her master gradually calmed her down.
After a few minutes, Lin Yuan sensed a subtle presence emerging from the magma, hiding its form within it.
"Come on," he said, casually throwing a burst of Dou Qi into the magma. Instantly, a massive figure erupted from the magma, lunging towards Lin Yuan. It was a snake-like magical beast, about four to five meters long, its body a fiery red like a fire jade. Surprisingly, this beast had two heads; it was a two-headed fire spirit snake that lived by consuming magma. Its four enormous diamond-shaped eyes were filled with a violent killing intent, eager to swallow the weak creature before it.
"Here it comes! My guide!" Lin Yuan felt no anger, only joy, as he saw the two-headed fire spirit snake charging at him.
"Dragon Capture Hand!" Lin Yuan waved his hand, and a powerful Dou Qi transformed into a whirlwind, pulling the two-headed fire spirit snake out of the magma and into the air. Then, Lin Yuan's figure flashed, appearing beside the two-headed fire spirit snake. He kicked out with a force that belied his size, sending the two-headed fire spirit snake flying like a cannonball into the distant stone wall.
Before the two-headed fire spirit snake could regain its senses, Lin Yuan was already in front of it, delivering a punch to one of its heads. The immense force caused the two-headed fire spirit snake to see stars, and it instantly fell unconscious.
Looking at the unconscious two-headed fire spirit snake, Lin Yuan clapped his hands. "Done! The guide has been found; it's time to proceed to the next step."
Lin Yuan waved to the stunned Qing Lin in the distance. "Qing Er, come here; it's safe now."
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(End of Chapter)