Chapter 410: 炎髓脉

Deep within the Black Flame Mountain Range, a colossal, majestic mountain stood tall. Its peak was concave, forming a sunken volcanic crater from which incredibly high temperatures rose, making the air throughout the area exceptionally scorching.

Within several hundred miles of this immense mountain, all trees had been reduced to ash, leaving the landscape stark and barren.

This volcanic crater was precisely the entrance to the Flame Marrow Vein.

Whoosh! Whoosh! At this moment, countless streaks of light descended from the sky, landing around the crater. Their formidable appearance indicated the immense scale of the gathering. As these figures materialized, their gazes occasionally met, revealing flashes of ferocity. After all, once inside the Flame Marrow Vein, everyone from other factions would become a competitor.

A streak of Genesis Qi descended from the sky, landing closest to the crater. As the Genesis Qi dispersed, it revealed Li Qingchan, Zhou Yuan, Zhao Zhu, and their group, led by Elder Wu.

Soon after the Cangxuan Sect appeared, members from the Sacred Palace, Hundred Flowers Immortal Palace, and Beihai Dragon-Taming Hall also emerged, standing not far from the crater.

Zhou Yuan's gaze swept towards the Hundred Flowers Immortal Palace. He saw Zuoqiu Qingyu standing gracefully among them. She also noticed Zhou Yuan's gaze and gave him a mischievous wink. Clearly, Zuoqiu Qingyu would also be entering the Flame Marrow Vein.

Zhou Yuan returned a faint smile, then glanced towards the Sacred Palace. Their leader was also an elder, behind whom stood Wang Li and Cao Jinzhu. Beside them was Yang Xuan, clad in white. As Zhou Yuan looked over, he found Yang Xuan also watching them. Their gazes met, and Yang Xuan offered a slight smile, yet his eyes remained devoid of any emotion. It was a silent, predatory cruelty, much like a tiger or wolf in the jungle before it pounces on its prey.

"Everyone, shall the competition for the Flame Marrow Vein begin now?" the Sacred Palace elder asked with a smile, looking at Elder Wu and the elders from the other two major sects.

Elder Wu and the others nodded expressionlessly.

Seeing this, the Sacred Palace elder's gaze swept across the numerous restless factions present. Then, he raised his hand and let it fall lightly. "Everyone, how many resources you can obtain from the Flame Marrow Vein will depend on your individual capabilities."

"Let's begin."

The moment his voice fell, the atmosphere in the area instantly erupted. Countless figures shot forth, swarming towards the massive volcanic crater and then rushing down with a roar. The sound of rushing wind reverberated continuously through the air.

"Let's go," Li Qingchan said, her beautiful eyes sweeping over the group, then pausing on Zhou Yuan. "Once inside the Flame Marrow Vein, proceed to your allocated areas according to the map."

Everyone nodded. The next moment, everyone unleashed their Genesis Qi and shot skyward. Their figures appeared above the crater. Intense heat emanated from it, but it was completely blocked by the Genesis Qi surrounding them.

"Go!"

Ten figures roared downwards, plunging into the bottomless volcanic crater.

The crater plunged deep underground, its interior a fiery red. Li Qingchan, Zhou Yuan, and the others descended for several minutes before their view suddenly widened. What appeared before them was a boundless expanse of crimson earth, with occasional eruptions of lava from the ground, making the place extremely hot. It was clearly an independent underground world.

Countless streaks of light descended through the crater, then immediately scattered in all directions. Soon after, violent Genesis Qi fluctuations began to erupt from every side. Clearly, the conflict had begun.

Li Qingchan identified their direction and led the group directly towards the central area of the Flame Marrow Vein. The group flew rapidly. After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, they noticed the ground beneath them becoming increasingly crimson. In the distance, massive ore veins even emerged from the earth, with crimson flame marrow flowing out of them.

Zhou Yuan's speed gradually slowed. Further ahead was the core zone, and his allocated area was no longer along the same path as Li Qingchan's group.

"Zhou Yuan, be careful," Li Qingchan warned, glancing at him. Zhao Zhu, Qin Hai, and the others, however, had a hint of mockery in their eyes. This guy had insisted on joining this Heaven-level mission, and now he was getting what he deserved.

Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded to Li Qingchan, then, without another word, he turned and sped off in a different direction. Watching his disappearing figure, Li Qingchan gently bit her red lip. However, she knew this was not the time for distraction. Upon entering the core zone, they would face the other three major sects, and the competition would undoubtedly be fierce. So, with a wave of her delicate hand, she led the group towards the core zone.

Across the hot, crimson earth, Zhou Yuan sped along. He held a map, searching for his allocated area. At this point, forces from other factions had also begun to arrive here, approaching him cautiously whenever their paths converged. When these people saw Zhou Yuan, they were momentarily stunned. They clearly recognized the Cangxuan Sect disciple who had gained much renown in Blackflame City a few days prior. However, they were puzzled: hadn't the Cangxuan Sect disciples all gone to compete in the core zone? Why was he here instead?

Zhou Yuan paid no mind to their puzzled glances. After searching for about half an incense stick's worth of time, he finally found his allocated area. Below, crimson ore veins rose from the earth, forming what looked like small hills, but inside, they were entirely composed of fiery red flame stones. Although the resources in this area couldn't compare to those within the core zone, it was considered a rich mining area outside of it.

Zhou Yuan descended from the sky, landing on a high ground. He then took out a banner. As he infused it with Genesis Qi, the banner instantly expanded against the wind, growing to several tens of feet tall. Zhou Yuan firmly thrust the banner into the ground. As Genesis Qi surged, a pillar of light shot up from the top of the flag, then spread out in a circular pattern. It covered a full hundred miles.

This was a symbol, indicating that the hundred-mile radius area now had an owner. If others saw this symbol and still insisted on trespassing, it signaled an intent to fight. In that case, a fierce battle would naturally be inevitable.

Zhou Yuan stood beside the banner, his expression calm as he gazed at the sky. Although he had received some unfair treatment, he didn't complain. Since this was the task assigned to him for now, he would do his best here.

Still, there was a lingering sense of displeasure. To be underestimated like this. His hand gripped the banner, his fingers rhythmically tapping the flagpole. Zhou Yuan's eyes lowered slightly, a cold light flickering within them.

From now on, this hundred-mile radius was his territory. If anyone dared to trespass... then they should prepare to face the suppressed fury he had carried all this way.