Chapter 1055: Fire Flame

"It's a truly indescribable spectacle," Yun Che deeply exclaimed, gazing forward. His white robes, and even his pupils, were dyed a deep crimson.

Huo Poyun glanced at Yun Che, surprised. "Brother Yun, don't you feel uncomfortable?"

"I'm fine."

Even Flame God disciples new to the Divine Way would find it difficult to endure this place for long. Yet, Yun Che appeared more than "fine"—his complexion was normal, his breathing steady, and he wasn't even circulating protective profound energy.

But remembering how Yun Che had once completely blocked his Nine Suns Heavenly Wrath with ice, he felt relieved. "Such a divine marvel could only be forged by the power of an ancient True God. It's hard to imagine how mighty the power of a True God must be."

"My master and the others have always firmly believed that there are remnants of an ancient True God at the bottom of the God Burying Inferno, and if found, they could very likely elevate our Flame God Realm to the next level. But..." Huo Poyun shook his head. "How could a mortal wield the relics of a True God? In truth, my master and the others have long known that the bottom of the Inferno is ultimately an unreachable hope, unless the God Burying Inferno were to one day extinguish itself. But in that case..."

Huo Poyun did not finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.

Yun Che fell silent for a moment, thinking of the Ice Phoenix at the bottom of the Netherfrost Heavenly Lake.

That was actually the remnants of an ancient Ice Phoenix's true body!

If that news were to spread, it would cause a tremendous stir throughout the entire God Realm.

This God Burying Inferno was tens of thousands of times larger than the Netherfrost Heavenly Lake, and the power it contained naturally far surpassed it. What might be hidden at its bottom?

Could there be a grand opportunity that would make his profound strength skyrocket!

Yun Che slowly clenched his fists. He *must* find an opportunity to delve deep into the God Burying Inferno! With his body's immunity to all fires, reaching the bottom would be effortless.

However, first, he couldn't attract too much attention from the Flame God Realm. Second, as Huo Poyun had just mentioned, this location should be near the nest of the Ancient Horned Dragon. Given the Ancient Horned Dragon's immense power and its aura merging with the God Burying Inferno, its spiritual perception range within the Inferno would undoubtedly be incredibly vast. If he were to descend rashly and be detected, even a thousand lives wouldn't be enough.

Therefore, the best time would be when the Ancient Horned Dragon surfaces from the Inferno, and his master engages it in battle!

At that time, everyone in the Flame God Realm would be focused on hunting the horned dragon, and no one would pay attention to his whereabouts. He wouldn't risk encountering the Ancient Horned Dragon by stealthily entering the Inferno.

"Brother Yun, what are you thinking about?" Huo Poyun casually asked, seeing Yun Che in contemplation.

Yun Che also replied quite casually, "I was thinking, this Ancient Horned Dragon is rather pitiable. It's never done anything bad, has never even left the God Burying Inferno, yet it's constantly being fought and hunted. When you think about it, we're practically villains."

"Hahahaha," Huo Poyun laughed. "That's true. However, by the laws of the Profound Way, its very existence is a crime, and strength *is* the law."

"Well said," Yun Che nodded. "By the way, how big is that Ancient Horned Dragon? Could it be tens of thousands of feet or even miles long?"

"No, no, no," Huo Poyun immediately shook his head. "It might surprise you, Brother Yun, but according to my master, although that Ancient Horned Dragon has a lifespan of at least several hundred thousand years, its body length, including its tail, is only about thirty feet."

"Thirty feet?" Yun Che was indeed greatly surprised. "Only thirty feet?"

While one cannot solely judge strength by size, it seemed utterly unscientific that a terrifying horned dragon, born within a million-mile God Burying Inferno, with a lifespan of at least several hundred thousand years, and possessing the power of a Divine Master, would only be thirty feet long.

If it had been said to be tens of thousands of miles long, appearing to blot out the sky and earth in darkness, Yun Che wouldn't have been so surprised.

"Well, although it's small in size, its power is truly terrifying. Even someone as strong as my master couldn't possibly fight it, let alone get close. Only your master could possibly contend with it."

As Huo Poyun spoke, a crimson-gold communication jade on his right shoulder suddenly flashed with rapid golden light. He quickly reached out and pressed his hand over the jade. His face immediately changed, and a shocked cry escaped his lips: "What!?"

Yun Che quickly turned his head. "Brother Poyun, what happened?"

"It's...it's Senior Brother Huo Ye. He...he seems to be dying."

Huo Ye?

Yun Che suddenly remembered that before Huo Rulie hastily left, he had called out "Ye'er." Could it be...?

"No! I must return at once. If Senior Brother Huo Ye truly...truly meets with misfortune, Master will go mad. And with such a major event at hand, perhaps only I can calm Master down."

Before his words finished, Huo Poyun swiftly turned and flew away at top speed.

"Wait, I'll go with you."

In his frantic haste, Huo Poyun had no time to say anything. He simply grabbed Yun Che with one hand and flew back at nearly ten times the speed they had arrived.

Huo Ye was Huo Rulie's first son. Later, Huo Rulie had suffered a severe backlash from the Golden Crow Flame due to his eagerness for quick results in cultivation, rendering him infertile. This made Huo Ye his only son.

Before Huo Ye could have descendants, he was unintentionally gravely injured by Mu Xuanyin. Possessing the Golden Crow bloodline and cultivating the Golden Crow Burning World Record, he was extremely vulnerable to ice. The injury left his entire body's functions completely crippled. To have survived until today was a miracle, and it showed how desperately Huo Rulie did not want him to die.

After all, he was Huo Rulie's only descendant. If he died, it would mean the complete end of his lineage.

Having sustained him for so many years, spending countless life-extending pills, Huo Ye had finally reached his limit. His condition had rapidly deteriorated recently. Worried, Huo Rulie had kept him by his side even when coming to the God Burying Inferno area.

"Get out! All of you, get out! Get out!!"

"Ye'er! Ye'er!!"

A furious, uncontrolled voice, filled with endless pain and sorrow, rumbled like distant thunder. Huo Poyun's body tensed, and he accelerated again. Soon, a hastily constructed temporary dwelling came into view, surrounded by several layers of profound formations. The profound practitioners who had come here for the horned dragon certainly wouldn't need a house; its sole purpose was for Huo Rulie's son, Huo Ye.

Around the house, a dozen or so figures had gathered. From their attire, they were all members of the Golden Crow Sect.

Huo Poyun swiftly descended. Upon seeing him, the people below showed faint relief. An elder urgently said, "Poyun, quick! Go and calm your master down!"

Huo Poyun had no time to reply and rushed directly into the house. Yun Che hesitated slightly, then followed closely. The Golden Crow Sect members, taken by surprise, didn't even have time to reach out and stop him.

Entering the room, profound lights of various colors and a dense aura rushed towards them. Yun Che immediately saw a person lying weakly, whose face was as pale as paper, appearing aged and withered. His eyes were open but unmoving, without even a discernible pupil. He had almost no vital signs. Anyone seeing him would immediately conclude he was dead.

Beneath him lay a thick layer of profound crystals. These crystals, of various colors, all emitted extremely high-grade auras, clearly used to sustain his life.

Huo Rulie knelt there, his head deeply bowed, his whole body trembling. He was gasping like an ox, his aura utterly chaotic, and his face was streaming with hot tears.

Huo Ye's condition greatly shocked Huo Poyun. Although this day was bound to come eventually, to happen at this particular moment...

"Who let you in?! Get out! Get out!" Huo Rulie roared, his voice completely hoarse, laced with deep pain and despair.

"Master, it's me!" Huo Poyun quickly stepped forward, trying to help him up. "Senior Brother Huo Ye is so strong; he'll be fine. Master, please calm down, he'll be fine."

He didn't know how to comfort Huo Rulie at this moment and could only stammer out weak words.

Huo Poyun's voice slightly eased the trembling in Huo Rulie's body. He didn't roar again and didn't lift his deeply bowed head. Instead, he let out sorrowful sobs. "He's beyond saving... My Ye'er is beyond saving... I, Huo Rulie, am about to lose my son..."

Sorrow originating from his soul permeated every wisp of aura in the room. At this moment, Huo Rulie was no longer the awe-inspiring Golden Crow Sect Master, but a father plunged into endless grief and despair.

Huo Poyun knelt beside Huo Rulie and said softly, "Master's kindness to Poyun is as vast as a mountain, like that of a birth father. Even if you lose Senior Brother Huo Ye... as long as Master doesn't cast me aside, Poyun is willing to stay by your side for life."

"Good boy... Yun'er..." Huo Rulie murmured softly. For Huo Rulie, who lived with the constant possibility of losing his son, Huo Poyun had become his greatest emotional support over the years.

Yun Che released his profound energy, quickly scanning Huo Ye's body, his brow furrowing deeply. Huo Ye's condition was truly tragic; his meridians, profound veins, blood vessels, and internal organs were all in utter disarray. Not only were they destroyed beyond repair, but they had also completely congealed together, a truly miserable sight. To Yun Che, it felt like a piece of deadwood that had dried out long ago but was still unnaturally clinging to life.

What was strongest within his body, however, were the auras of dozens of different spiritual medicines. It was these medicines, along with various high-grade profound crystals, that desperately clung to Huo Ye's last breath of life.

But even living in such a state was worse than death; it would be better for him to be released sooner.

Yet Huo Ye had persisted until now. Probably, what sustained him was not the will to live, but fear that Huo Rulie would break down because of his death.

Though his body was completely crippled, Huo Ye was an incredibly strong-willed and admirable person, truly worthy of being the Young Master of the Golden Crow.

"Sect Master Huo, Brother Poyun, please go out first. I have a way to save him," Yun Che said.

Huo Rulie suddenly looked up. Immersed in immense pain, he had only just noticed Yun Che's presence. Seeing Yun Che's Ice Phoenix snow robes, his eyes instantly blazed with fury, and he roared, "Who let you in?! Get out! Get out!!"

Yun Che's expression remained unchanged. "I'll say it again: I have a way to save him. If you don't want him to die, then get out!"

"Nonsense!" Huo Rulie slowly stood up, profound energy surging chaotically through his body. "My Ye'er became like this because of your Ice Phoenix Divine Sect! You, you actually dare to..."

"Master!" Huo Poyun quickly stepped in front of Huo Rulie, urgently saying, "Brother Yun is saying he wants to save Senior Brother Huo Ye."

"Save? How can he save him? How?!" Huo Rulie cried out in sorrow. "Ye'er was beyond saving a thousand years ago! How much did I pay over the years just to prolong his life until today? Now...now there's absolutely no way. And he, just he..."

"What about me? Since I dared to say what I just did, don't you think I intend to save him, rather than harm him?" Yun Che pointed at Huo Ye, who looked like a corpse, and said gravely, "In his current state, how could I possibly harm him further?"

That harsh remark made Huo Rulie freeze.

"He's only got one last breath left; he could die completely at any moment. If you truly don't want him to die, in this situation, even if your sworn enemy or a passing beggar claimed they could save him, you'd have no choice but to believe them. You must believe them, without any reason to refuse or doubt! Of course, if you don't want him to live at all, then consider everything I've said unsaid!"

Having spoken, Yun Che turned and started to leave.

"Brother Yun!" Huo Poyun shouted, quickly stepping forward to block Yun Che's path, then urgently said to Huo Rulie, "Master! Brother Yun is not one to speak idly. Since he dared to say such a thing, he must have considerable confidence. Brother Yun is right; Senior Brother Huo Ye is already like this—there can be no worse outcome. No matter how small the hope, there's no reason to refuse it."

Huo Rulie took several deep, ragged breaths, his body still trembling uncontrollably. "Alright, alright, young Yun, you're right... Alright. Whether what you say is true or false, even if you can prolong Ye'er's life for a few more days, or even a few more hours, I, Huo Rulie..."

"Time is short, no more talk. Get out quickly! No one is allowed to enter until I come out! And no one is to probe with their spiritual sense!" Yun Che said in a commanding tone, standing before Huo Ye.

"Master, let's go out first. I trust Brother Yun," Huo Poyun said.

Huo Rulie took a deep breath, clenched his jaw, pulled Huo Poyun, turned, and left, then tightly sealed the door.