strictlysupreme Chapter 9 Inheritance
Chapter 9 Inheritance
Zhao Chen went deep underground, countless feet below the surface, and the surrounding cold and deathly silence were gradually replaced by a violent heat wave.
The dark, rocky valley ahead was no longer in sight; instead, a vast and boundless underground world of magma came into view.
Crimson magma churned all around, like a boiling sea of blood. Every now and then, bursts of fire would erupt from the bursting bubbles. The air was thick with the smell of sulfur and intense heat. The rocks were baked red-hot by the heat, and even the space itself seemed to distort under the intense heat of the magma.
The aura became clearer and clearer. It was not the oppressive force of a living being, but a fiery rhythm originating from the very source of heaven and earth.
It was as if an inexhaustible flame was being nurtured deep within the sea of magma and blood, far more powerful than any of the behemoths he had encountered before.
Even from thousands of feet away, a scorching heat, like burning the sky and boiling the sea, rushed towards him. Zhao Chen felt as if the feathers on his body were about to be ignited, but he did not hesitate to increase his speed.
He quickly spotted his target.
Deep within the churning magma, a place not where vegetation grows, lies a wondrous plant.
Although it does not grow in soil, it is rooted in the torrent of magma. Its rhizomes are like thick, red fire dragons, drawing nutrients from the flowing magma. Its trunk is as upright as a pillar of molten gold and iron, and at the top, nine huge, fiery red petals are unfolding. The edges of each petal seem to have magma flowing around them, like a flower of flame blooming in the magma.
This is a fire-attribute natural treasure that was born in a torrent of magma. It is full of spirituality and was slowly condensed from the source of the underground magma. It is radiating the purest fire-attribute energy.
And right around this precious flower, a giant guardian beast was coiled up.
This was a colossal creature, over fifty zhang long, lying prone on a solidified rock platform, looking from a distance like a small, burning mountain.
Its entire body was covered in jet-black scales, from which flowed a dark red, magma-like light. Its head resembled that of a lizard, with three sharp, curved horns at the top, their tips burning with inextinguishable flames. With each breath, two streams of flame spewed from its nostrils, causing the surrounding magma, thousands of feet high, to surge and churn.
"A precious flower growing in magma, and a guardian beast."
Zhao Chen remained hidden in the distance, secretly investigating. The pressure emanating from the giant beast was incredibly powerful; even the slightest touch felt like being scorched by flames, making it far more terrifying than any creature Zhao Chen had encountered before.
But Zhao Chen did not choose to back down. A treasure born from magma, coupled with a powerful guardian beast, would likely result in an unprecedented transformation after being devoured.
Over the next few days, Zhao Chen secretly observed and figured out the giant beast's activity patterns. Zhao Chen discovered that although the giant beast guarded the precious flower for many years, it spent most of its time in slumber, relying on the energy emitted from the magma and the precious flower to cultivate and become stronger. It would wake up about every two hours, scan the area around the magma, and after about ten breaths, it would lower its head and fall back into slumber.
Zhao Chen did not choose to charge head-on. Instead, he waited until the giant beast was asleep, then suddenly transformed into a streak of light, rushing towards the direction of the magma torrent and swallowing the fiery flower whole!
The moment he succeeded, Zhao Chen didn't hesitate. He flapped his wings and soared into the sky, turning around and flying towards the outer edge of the lava.
Almost at the very moment Zhao Chen swallowed the strange flower—
The behemoth suddenly opened its eyes, its fiery pupils shooting out a torrent of fury, and its earth-shattering roar resounded throughout the entire magma world!
It was completely awakened.
"roar--!"
The giant beast roared to its feet and spewed out a blazing flame, the scorching fire pillar rushing straight at Zhao Chen!
Zhao Chen, however, was prepared. He twisted his body suddenly and flapped his wings, narrowly avoiding the deadly fire attack.
Enraged, the giant beast swung its massive claws out, but Zhao Chen had already taken to the air. The beast's claws could only futilely swipe through the air, failing to even touch a single feather of Zhao Chen's.
The giant beast was clumsy and couldn't fly, so it could only roar and crash wildly on the lava and the ground, watching helplessly as Zhao Chen flew higher and higher.
Zhao Chen's heart suddenly tightened. The energy of this treasure had begun to stir wildly as soon as it entered his stomach, but he needed time to digest it, so he absolutely could not get entangled in a fight here.
Zhao Chen dared not linger for even a moment. With a flap of his wings, he sped towards the outer edge of the lava with all his might, leaving only the enraged giant beast below, frantically smashing rocks and spewing flames.
He ran all the way until he found a secluded and hidden cave, where Zhao Chen plunged inside.
As soon as he landed, his mind relaxed slightly, and he felt a violent tremor throughout his body. The original power of the Flaming Flower exploded within him, violently washing over his limbs and bones.
Zhao Chen endured the excruciating pain, letting his body disintegrate and reshape itself amidst the raging flame energy.
As time passed, Zhao Chen's feathers transformed from a scorching black-gold color to a fiery crimson color, and his body continued to expand, his muscles and bones roared, and true fire flowed in his blood.
This evolution lasted for a full day and night. Zhao Chen remained hidden in the cave, not daring to let out the slightest breath.
When he opened his eyes again, a faint glow of fire surrounded him.
Its body length increased to over eight zhang, its wingspan exceeded twenty zhang, its feathers were like molten gold, and the tips of its claws and beak gleamed with dark red true fire. Its aura was scorching and domineering. At the same time, an ancient and profound information surged from its bloodline into its soul—
This is a bloodline inheritance cultivation technique called "Crimson Flame Technique," which can be cultivated all the way to the Golden Core stage. It includes a complete set of methods for controlling fire, tempering the body, breathing exercises, and attacking. It is precisely the foundational path he urgently needs right now.
Its bloodline also evolved into the Crimson Flame Crow, and the Crimson Flame Technique automatically circulated in its meridians, making its power completely stable.
Spreading his wings and flying out of the cave, Zhao Chen returned once again to the depths of the magma core.
The guardian beast was still raging around, searching for the thief. Upon seeing Zhao Chen, it charged forward with bloodshot eyes, unleashing a towering pillar of fire that hurtled towards Zhao Chen.
But Zhao Chen at this moment is no longer the same as before.
Without dodging or avoiding, he flapped his wings, his protective true fire surging forth, and he broke straight through the fire curtain, like a streak of crimson-gold lightning, rushing to the back of the giant beast and precisely grabbing its vulnerable, scaleless neck.
The behemoth began to struggle, roll, and roar frantically, spewing flames and sweeping its massive tail, but it couldn't even touch a single feather of Zhao Chen.
After his evolution, Zhao Chen's speed, strength, and fire resistance completely overwhelmed the giant beast. With the added blessing of the Crimson Flame Technique, his attacks became as sharp as knives, and his bird beak, imbued with true fire, repeatedly pecked into flesh and blood.
Before long, the giant beast's breath was exhausted, and it crashed into the lava, falling completely silent.
For the next five days and five nights, Zhao Chen stayed there, peacefully devouring the giant beast's body and completely digesting it.
As the Crimson Flame Technique circulated continuously within his body, the true essence of flames began to grow increasingly abundant, and Zhao Chen had fully adapted to the Crimson Flame Crow bloodline, making his future bright.
After devouring the giant beast's corpse, Zhao Chen immediately felt a surge of immense power erupt from his body, his meridians becoming wider and stronger – Qi Refining Level 1, broken!
After his realm gradually stabilized, Zhao Chen spread his wings and took to the air. The heat waves of the magma world transformed into a rain of fire as he flapped his wings. He glanced down at the surging sea of magma below, then looked at the various caves on the surrounding cliffs. From one of the caves, a faint yet vibrant aura was emanating, indicating the presence of new prey.
With his crimson-gold flame wings unfurled, Zhao Chen's body erupted in a burst of fire, transforming into a sharp streak of flame that charged headlong into the deep cave without hesitation.