Chapter 716: Three Earth Sovereigns
Boom!
When Xiao Ze followed the drop of refined medicinal essence through yet another bronze gate, his surroundings changed dramatically.
Gone was the monotonous maze of corridors. Before him stretched a vast ocean of molten lava, its fiery surface seeming to pulse with life.
As the essence reached the lava, it was instantly engulfed by a surging wave of magma, vanishing without a trace.
The molten sea, seemingly alive, reacted violently to the essence. Towering waves of lava rose, crashing toward Xiao Ze as if intent on refining him along with the essence.
Xiao Ze's expression remained calm. With a flick of his finger, a surge of immense spiritual power condensed into a tidal wave of its own, meeting the incoming lava head on.
Boom!
The two waves collided, sending shockwaves through the air. Though Xiao Ze couldn't yet crystalize his spiritual energy like an Earth Sovereign, he had no trouble manipulating vast amounts of spiritual power to counter the attack.
However, as the molten sea simmered down, Xiao Ze's brows furrowed. Within the lava, a more formidable power seemed to be brewing.
Just as he prepared for another strike, spatial fluctuations rippled behind him, heralding the appearance of another bronze gate.
A petite figure stepped through, her black dress accentuating her regal bearing Mandala.
She, too, carried a drop of refined medicinal essence, a method Xiao Ze had shared with her via the dragon shaped communication token.
Aware of the myriad dangers hidden within the Earth Sovereign's treasure, Xiao Ze had deemed it wise to inform Mandala of this shortcut. Even with his newfound strength, he wasn't confident in facing the potential threats of this treasure alone.
This wasn't an ordinary Earth Sovereign's inheritance. Like the Fourth Palace Lord of the Ancient Heavenly Palace, the original owner might have left behind traps as potent as a spiritual puppet at the Earth Sovereign level.
Mandala's golden eyes softened slightly upon seeing Xiao Ze. Her usually tense expression eased as she approached him.
The sea of lava roared once more. From its depths, a colossal dragon formed entirely of magma rose into the air, its molten jaws poised to obliterate everything in its path.
Mandala raised her hand casually, and the dragon shattered into a rain of glowing droplets, returning to the fiery sea below.
Turning to Xiao Ze, she said, "It's fortunate you shared this method with me. Otherwise, breaking through that maze would've been more troublesome and cost me some effort."
"I stumbled upon it by chance," Xiao Ze replied modestly, his eyes betraying a trace of awe at the sheer power of an Earth Sovereign.
"If this treasure is indeed a massive cauldron, then this must be its core, where all its medicinal essences are refined," Mandala speculated, her golden eyes scanning the lava sea.
Xiao Ze nodded in agreement. "It's likely so. This was originally a unique cauldron designed to assist alchemists in refining pills. Now, with countless years of accumulated energy, it stands unused, its medicinal potential untapped. The owner of this treasure must have been an alchemist at the Earth Sovereign level."
Mandala's gaze turned toward the center of the molten sea. "This lava isn't natural. I suspect it's fused with the Sovereign Sea of the fallen Earth Sovereign."
"The spiritual energy here is overwhelming," Xiao Ze added thoughtfully. "If this lava has absorbed the energy of a Sovereign Sea, it explains the density of the energy here. The Sovereign Liquid we're seeking must be at the heart of this sea."
Mandala's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Let's go. The Sovereign Liquid awaits."
Leaving the others behind in the maze, Mandala and Xiao Ze ventured deeper into the sea of lava, where the danger intensified.
As they flew, the sea lashed out with increasingly ferocious attacks. Lava constructs of varying shapes and sizes erupted, seeking to incinerate and assimilate them.
Yet Mandala, an Earth Sovereign, dismissed every attack with a wave of her hand. The lava, though infused with Sovereign level energy, was far from a match for her.
After traversing tens of thousands of miles, they finally came to a halt before a towering, crimson volcano.
Xiao Ze studied the scene with a curious expression. Typically, volcanoes held lava within their craters, but here, the volcano was submerged within the sea of lava itself.
"This place feels ominous," Mandala said, her expression serious. From within the volcano emanated a force so overwhelming that even she hesitated.
Before they could act, Mandala suddenly turned her head toward two directions. Her brows knitted together. "It seems we're not alone. We have company."
Xiao Ze, too, felt it a pair of powerful presences rapidly approaching. His sharp spiritual senses discerned the distinct energy fluctuations of two Earth Sovereigns.
"Ha! As expected of the Great Luo Domain's ruler! To think you broke through the maze ahead of us. Truly impressive!"
A booming voice echoed across the sea, like thunder shaking the heavens. The lava churned violently in response.
Xiao Ze looked up to see a middle aged man in a five colored robe stepping out of a spatial distortion.
From another direction, a blood red tide surged forth, heralding the arrival of an elderly figure clad in a crimson robe.
"The Blood Spirit Gate Master and the Sky Abyss Pavilion Lord," Mandala murmured, her golden eyes narrowing. The weight of facing two Earth Sovereigns was evident in her expression.
The Blood Spirit Gate Master glanced between Mandala and the Sky Abyss Pavilion Lord. His sharp gaze hinted at a realization: Mandala had managed to gain an advantage in this treasure.
"Interesting," he said with a sly smile. "How is it that you, Domain Lord, managed to get here so quickly? Could it be that you know something we don't?"
The tension in the air thickened. In the heart of the Earth Sovereign's treasure, three Earth Sovereigns now stood poised for a fateful confrontation.
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