Chapter 715: The Heaven and Earth Cauldron
Several days later, Spirit Eye King and Sky Vulture King successfully led the armies of the Great Luo Heavenly Domain into the depths of the Fallen Battlefield.
Spirit Eye King led the assembled kings to report to Mandala.
"Domain Lord, the armies have collectively obtained more than 320,000 Fallen Source Pills. Among them, those who performed exceptionally are…"
Mandala nodded in acknowledgment and offered a few words of encouragement to the outstanding kings. She assured them that once they returned to the Great Luo Heavenly Domain, their contributions would be rewarded accordingly.
The praised kings were visibly delighted. In past Grand Hunts, Mandala had always been generous in rewarding exceptional performance.
With the contribution of the kings' Fallen Source Pills and those collected by Mandala and her group during their exploration of the battlefield, their total exceeded 400,000 pills. This amount was likely sufficient to unlock the Earth Sovereign's treasure unless unforeseen circumstances arose.
"Next, the kings and the Three Monarchs will accompany me into the Earth Sovereign's treasure. The armies will remain stationed here to provide support if needed," Mandala instructed.
The kings quickly bowed in response. They understood that large armies were more of a liability than an asset in the perilous depths of the treasure. What was required inside were precise and elite forces, not sheer numbers.
Mandala led the group to the blackened expanse at the center of the scorched ground an area she had previously exposed using a spiritual mountain.
With a delicate motion of her fingers, she crushed tens of thousands of Fallen Source Pills into a viscous, syrup like essence. The dense Fallen Spiritual Liquid emitted a weighty aura, each drop as heavy as a mountain.
Under Mandala's control, the Fallen Spiritual Liquid was directed toward the ancient runes engraved on the ground.
The protective seals of these runes were immensely powerful. Even with over 400,000 Fallen Source Pills, it was impossible to break the seals entirely. Mandala had strategically identified the weakest section of the seal.
As the Fallen Spiritual Liquid seeped into the runes, they began to dissolve, revealing a crack large enough for a person to pass through.
"Move out!" Mandala ordered, halting her actions once the fissure was fully formed.
The armies stationed outside watched the high ranking members of the Great Luo Heavenly Domain enter the crack with a mix of anxiety and hope.
The outcome of the battles within the Earth Sovereign's treasure would determine the fate of their domain. Would they continue to enjoy the shelter of the Great Luo Heavenly Domain, or would they become prey to other powers?
The answer lay in the hands of those who ventured inside.
As Xiao Ze stepped through the fissure, his surroundings shifted dramatically. The barren black expanse was replaced by an entirely new environment.
But what stunned Xiao Ze most was that the other high ranking members of the Great Luo Heavenly Domain had vanished.
"A mirage? Or have we been transported to different locations?"
After checking his connection to the spiritual essence within the Source Tree, Xiao Ze confirmed there was no interference. He relaxed slightly.
"It seems we've been separated… This feels like some kind of labyrinth. And this scent… medicinal?"
The air carried a faint but familiar aroma a mix of decay and medicinal herbs.
Xiao Ze clenched his fist and punched a nearby wall of the passageway.
With a deafening crack, the decayed metallic surface shattered, revealing a gaping hole. However, on the other side was an identical passage.
Hesitating momentarily, Xiao Ze was about to break through walls to navigate the maze when he noticed something peculiar.
The hole he created began to heal, the edges writhing as if alive.
The entire corridor shuddered violently, and fiery runes ignited along the walls, causing the temperature to skyrocket by thousands of degrees in an instant.
Though Xiao Ze's robust physique was unharmed, he grew cautious. The rising heat was far beyond the typical magma infused spiritual flames found in this battlefield.
Covering himself in a layer of Golden Flame, he resisted the oppressive heat, sensing its source.
"This heat… it must originate from a Heaven and Earth Flame, or perhaps even a Divine Flame."
Pressing his palm against the wall, Xiao Ze traced the heat's source with his perception.
"Other challengers without protective flames like mine won't survive such conditions if they damage the walls."
Shaking his head, he walked toward the source of the heat. As he advanced, the temperature in his previous location rapidly returned to normal.
"So, it can't actively track me? Seems like this maze isn't sentient it's programmed to attack anyone who disrupts it."
Cautiously, Xiao Ze refrained from further damage, aware that the maze could have deadlier countermeasures.
After walking for some time, he came upon a massive bronze door that spanned the width of the corridor.
The door, towering a hundred feet high, was engraved with faded runes that occasionally flickered with faint light.
Xiao Ze's eyes narrowed. He had sensed the door earlier with his soul perception and deliberately moved toward it.
"This door feels significant," he thought.
Running his hand over the brighter runes near the door's center, he felt no reaction.
Recalling the earlier heat and the medicinal aroma, a realization struck him.
"Could it be… I'm inside an enormous cauldron?"
Testing his theory, Xiao Ze took out a pill and a rare herb. Placing the pill on the runes yielded no response, but the herb caused the engravings to glow brilliantly.
The runes absorbed the herb and began refining it with invisible flames, reducing it to a single drop of pure essence.
The bronze door creaked open, drawing the refined essence inside. Xiao Ze quickly followed, seizing the opportunity.
With a deafening boom, the door slammed shut behind him. Xiao Ze ignored it, his attention fixed on the droplet of essence floating ahead.
Guided by the maze's runes, the essence traveled deeper into the labyrinth.
"Looks like I've found a shortcut. If I follow this essence, it should lead me to the heart of this cauldron like structure," Xiao Ze mused, amazed.
It dawned on him that the entire Earth Sovereign's treasure might be housed within this colossal medicinal cauldron.
The scale and craftsmanship of the structure gave the impression of a device designed to refine the very heavens and earth into elixirs.
(End of Chapter )
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