Chapter 463: Step by Step Difficulties

"My disciple's cultivation is still shallow. As his master, it's only natural for me to look after him more. This White Rhino Pendant, while valuable, won't be of much use to me since I'm taking the Profound Crystal Path. However, I recall Brother Man also has a Frigid Ice Orb. How about lending it to my disciple for a while as well? Surely, fellow Daoist wouldn't want my disciple to suffer any mishap before entering the inner hall!" Grandmaster Jiyin said with a smile, his eyes twinkling, instead of getting angry.

"Hmph! Before we retrieve the Heavenvoid Cauldron, I certainly won't let him die easily. This Frigid Ice Orb was obtained by me years ago after killing a Frost Carp. Consider it a gift for you, young man." After saying this, Barbarian Hu took out a smooth, white, thumb-sized orb from his person and tossed it to Han Li.

Han Li was delighted. After taking the item, he thanked them several times. He knew these two had given him such treasures entirely because of the Blood Jade Spider, but receiving them meant he could pass through the Lava Path unharmed. He couldn't have wished for anything more.

Both the Frigid Ice Orb and Barbarian Hu's White Rhino Pendant emitted a white glow. However, the moment Han Li held the orb, a bone-chilling cold permeated his skin, making him shiver. He quickly stored it in his storage pouch. This sensation was entirely different from the gentle coolness of the White Rhino Pendant; it seemed the orb was superior to the jade pendant.

Seeing this, the old scholar in the Confucian robe chuckled, then vanished and was the first to enter the Profound Crystal Path. Observing him, the other cultivators also entered the canyon through their chosen passages.

In just a moment, most of the cultivators who had been standing before the passages were gone.

"Han Li, you go into the valley first. We'll meet at the teleportation array at the end of the canyon in a few days," Grandmaster Jiyin said to Han Li, a pleasant expression on his face.

Han Li naturally had no objection. After acknowledging, he walked toward the passage marked with the "Lava Path" stone tablet.

Before entering, however, Han Li still scanned his surroundings, his expression unchanged.

He felt a sense of unease. Old Devil Xuangu had not shown himself yet. Had he suddenly changed his mind and slipped away alone?

Han Li couldn't help but think of the worst possibilities. After all, human intentions were unpredictable; it was hard to guarantee that Xuangu wouldn't change his mind upon seeing Grandmaster Jiyin's formidable power.

However, if that truly happened, Han Li would not hesitate to expose the old devil's secrets. He would use that information as a bargaining chip to save his life when the time was right, Han Li thought, a fierce glint in his eyes.

Perhaps this action stimulated someone. Just as Han Li was feeling resentful, Xuangu's calm voice suddenly sounded in his ear.

"Stop looking around. I'm hidden nearby; I just haven't revealed myself. Take care of yourself! I'll contact you after you've passed the Ice-Fire Path." After he finished speaking, Xuangu's voice vanished again.

Han Li felt a mix of surprise and relief, and finally put his mind at ease, striding into the passage.

Waves of hot wind blew through the passage, immediately making Han Li, who had just stepped in, feel as if he were standing by a scorching furnace.

Han Li frowned, focusing his gaze ahead. The passage was only about two zhang tall, not particularly high, but the dazzling red light faintly emanating from ahead was quite startling.

Han Li licked his somewhat dry lips. With a grim flash in his eyes, he immediately began to walk, step by step. With each step, the temperature of the surrounding air seemed to rise a degree.

After walking twenty or thirty steps, Han Li could no longer advance. The extreme surrounding heat, combined with occasional gusts of hot wind, made the skin on his face throb with a faint pain.

Han Li hesitated for a moment, then activated a "water-attribute" protective shield around himself. A shimmering blue light enveloped Han Li, and the scorching heat immediately diminished significantly.

Then, with a single hand, he slapped his storage pouch, and a streak of green light flew out, landing in his hand. It was the "Fire-Repelling Robe." Han Li put on the robe under his clothes without hesitation. Immediately, a wave of coolness emanated from the robe, invigorating Han Li. He continued to move forward.

After a dozen more steps, his eyes suddenly brightened. A wall of red light blocked his path. This time, after only glancing at the light wall a few times, Han Li plunged straight into it. He had heard footsteps behind him, indicating that other cultivators had also entered. He had no interest in meeting any of them.

After a moment of dizziness within the dazzling red light, the previously dissipated high temperature surged back with the ferocity of an attacking beast, causing the blue light of his water-attribute shield to flicker several times. It immediately began to waver precariously.

Still disoriented from the dizziness, Han Li was startled. He quickly channeled a surge of spiritual energy to stabilize the shield again. He then calmed himself and looked around.

Crimson rocks, reddish-yellow earth, plants glowing with red light, a deep red and hazy sky – everything was the color of fire. Even standing within his shield and wearing the Fire-Repelling Robe, Han Li could still clearly sense the sensation of the air practically burning.

Han Li took a deep breath, his expression turning grim. If it were just a matter of staying for three to five hours in such high temperatures, he could likely pass through easily even without using any treasures.

However, according to Fairy Ziling, all cultivators on this second trial, the Ice-Fire Path, were unable to fly and could only advance slowly, step by step, relying on their own feet. This meant that those teleported further away would have to walk for several days and nights without rest to reach the end of the canyon. This was not something that could be achieved solely by a cultivator's cultivation level. It also depended on the effectiveness of their cold-resisting and fire-repelling treasures.

Moreover, the harsh environment was not the only problem facing the cultivators on this path. The greatest obstacle to their safe passage was the naturally occurring ice and fire elemental spirits gathered within the canyon. Every time cultivators attempted this trial, a significant portion of them died at the hands of these elemental spirits.

Furthermore, being ambushed and robbed of treasures by ill-intentioned individuals mid-journey was also a common occurrence on the Ice-Fire Path. After all, the closer one got to the teleportation array at the end of the canyon, the more likely they were to encounter other cultivators. By seizing others' cold-resisting and fire-repelling treasures, one could greatly increase their own chances of survival. Therefore, some cultivators who were nearing their limit would undoubtedly strike without hesitation.

Han Li stood still, not moving immediately. Instead, he squinted his eyes, surveying his surroundings while analyzing the information he knew, deep in thought.

After a full "tea-burning" duration (about 15 minutes), Han Li's expression shifted. He took out the White Rhino Pendant from his robes, hung it on his waist, and then withdrew his blue shield. The white light of the jade pendant replaced the blue light, enveloping Han Li. Spiritual power couldn't be wasted. Meditating and resting here would be an act of suicide.

He raised his head, looked at the sky, and after barely distinguishing the hazy red sun and determining his direction, Han Li set off without hesitation. Ahead, there was no clear path, only piles of scattered rocks and strange, half-human-tall, upright trees. He could only stumble forward slowly.

After walking only a short distance through the scorching air, Han Li's path was blocked by a patch of wild grass emitting an eerie red glow. He looked at the peculiar vegetation, and his brows furrowed involuntarily.

Suddenly, a blue water ball shot out from his hand, striking the grassy ground. The moment the blue light touched the vegetation, it evaporated into a white mist with a "hiss." Han Li's expression subtly changed. He glanced to both sides of the grassy area, but all he could see was more of this strange wild grass. There was no other path to take.

Han Li hesitated, then gritted his teeth and cautiously stepped onto the grass, taking a few steps. The moment his feet entered the patch of wild grass, Han Li finally understood the horror of the Lava Path. This was no ordinary wild grass; it was clearly made of scorching, fiery-red blades, not only incredibly sharp but also infused with a powerful flame energy that caused him considerable discomfort.

Although the protection from the White Rhino Pendant and the Fire-Repelling Robe prevented any serious harm, the intermittent stinging pain from his thighs downwards made it difficult for Han Li to walk. Han Li had only walked a few zhang before he had to reactivate his water-attribute shield, completely enveloping his body.

Although this rapidly consumed his spiritual power, it allowed Han Li to dash through the grass as if flying. He reluctantly performed his Misty Cloud Steps. A shimmering blue phantom flickered from east to west amidst the dazzling red light, then transformed into a small black dot and gradually vanished into the distance.

Bu Xu was a cultivator with earth and fire spiritual roots. With less than three hundred years of cultivation, he had achieved his current level, allowing him to dominate several sea regions and earn a renowned reputation in the area. Many people in the vicinity even considered him one of the most promising cultivators in the Starfall Sea over the past century to advance to the Nascent Soul stage.

Bu Xu greatly enjoyed the awe, envy, and praise from others. However, Bu Xu was very clear about his own circumstances. Had he not, during a journey years ago, coincidentally discovered an ancient "Prime Division Pill" inside the belly of a level-four demonic beast, saving him over a hundred years of arduous cultivation, he would likely still be stuck at the Foundation Establishment stage now.

It was precisely this spiritual pill that allowed him to taste the benefits of ancient spirit medicines. Consequently, he had long set his sights on this trip to the "Heavenvoid Hall." He had also secretly purchased a Fire Dragon Worm at a high price beforehand, while others weren't paying attention. He planned to risk entering the inner hall and use this worm to retrieve the Heavenvoid Cauldron, a top-tier secret treasure renowned throughout the Starfall Sea. With the numerous treasures inside the Heavenvoid Cauldron and the legendary Heaven-Mending Pill, he believed his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage would be almost within reach.

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