373: Chapter 373 Leading into the Volcano

Xiao Weiqing thought for a few seconds and said, "Tell me how to seize the nirvana stone."

Upon hearing this.

Everyone turned their gaze toward Yin Wenzheng.

Yin Wenzheng no longer hid anything and spoke:

"Whether it's the volcano path or the ice mountain path, the first trial is to challenge Nirvana Warriors."

"Behind the ice mountain path, Nirvana Warriors are currently known to be divided into three grades: Third-Class Nirvana Warriors, Second-Class Nirvana Warriors, and First-Class Nirvana Warriors. Defeating or killing them allows one to obtain nirvana stones."

"Defeating a Third-Class Nirvana Warrior yields a third-grade nirvana stone, and killing one has a chance of yielding a second-grade nirvana stone."

"Defeating a Second-Class Nirvana Warrior yields a second-grade nirvana stone, and killing one should have a chance of yielding a first-grade nirvana stone."

"And so on."

"Wait."

Lou Xiaoxing interrupted, "'Should have a chance'—what does that mean? Is that a grammatical error?"

Yin Wenzheng said irritably, "No, it's because in history, only one person has successfully killed a Second-Class Nirvana Warrior, but they didn't obtain a first-grade nirvana stone. I said 'should' because it's an inference based on the fact that killing a Third-Class Nirvana Warrior also provides a chance to get a second-grade nirvana stone."

Xiao Weiqing asked, "Who was that person?"

Yin Wenzheng replied, "It was the Second Generation Empress."

Xiao Weiqing nodded; he had thought Yin Wenzheng was going to mention Dongfang Hao again.

"Then did the Second Generation Empress you mentioned successfully defeat a First-Class Nirvana Warrior?"

"She succeeded. It's said the Second Generation Empress obtained a great treasure in the depths of the ice mountain, but this rumor hasn't been confirmed. Since then, no one else has been able to defeat a First-Class Nirvana Warrior and reach the deepest part of the ice mountain."

"However, there have always been rumors among the Empire's high-ranking officials that there is a great treasure inside the ice mountain. This time, we also hope to defeat a First-Class Nirvana Warrior and see what exactly is in the depths of the ice mountain."

Xiao Weiqing had a suspicion that the rumors Yin Wenzheng mentioned were likely true.

The Second Generation Empress had obtained a portion of Extreme Yin Divine Fire. Xiao Weiqing's basis for this guess was that Palace Master Palace Master Yun Shu had mentioned her Extreme Yin Divine Fire was inherited.

Another strong piece of evidence was that historical records stated the Vermilion Bird Empire's Second Generation Empress perished very early. Logically, given her overwhelming strength, she shouldn't have, and now it seemed it was also because of the Extreme Yin Divine Fire.

"Xiao Weiqing, what's your choice?"

"I'm going to the volcano side," Xiao Weiqing said directly.

"Are you sure? The information on the ice mountain side is clearer, and there are rumors of a great treasure." Lou Xiaoxing actually wanted to go to the ice mountain side to see for himself.

"You don't need to do the same as me; I have my own plans."

"I'll still go with you."

Lou Xiaoxing didn't choose the ice mountain side; he felt it was safer to be with Xiao Weiqing.

"By the way, how do you all choose?"

"I choose that side." Ruan Yisen pointed toward the path leading into the ice mountain.

Soon.

Everyone made their choices.

Xiao Weiqing and Lou Xiaoxing chose the volcano path. After some thought, Tian Zhenzhen also chose to go with Xiao Weiqing and Lou Xiaoxing.

Neither of them was surprised by Tian Zhenzhen's choice.

What surprised them was Yin Wenzheng; he actually chose to go inside the volcano as well.

"Yin Wenzheng, you're not going with them?"

Lou Xiaoxing asked curiously.

Yin Wenzheng said, "Because my father instructed me to follow Xiao Weiqing."

Lou Xiaoxing laughed. "The old man has foresight. You won't regret it."

"Then let's go. Constructing a Divine Body depends on this."

The four of them entered the path leading into the volcano.

*Click—*

The entrance to the path closed.

...

...

Inside the path.

Faint phosphorescence shimmered as the four walked along the straight path.

"It's a bit hot."

"Zhenzhen, are you hot? If you are, take off your combat suit. It's not good to get stifled," Lou Xiaoxing reminded her kindly.

Tian Zhenzhen said coldly, "I'm not hot. Also, don't call me Zhenzhen; we aren't close."

Although Tian Zhenzhen was nearly forty, as a practitioner who maintained herself well, she looked no different from someone in her twenties.

Crucially, she had a great figure and a decent face, making her quite a beauty.

After her Extraordinary Awakening, her Level 6 Extraordinary Talent made her Cultivation as easy as drinking water, and her status rose along with her strength.

But.

Sometimes strength alone isn't enough, especially in the Vermilion Bird Empire, where great Families control the top-tier Cultivation resources.

She had been stuck at the Seventh Realm Peak for several years.

This time, she had paid a considerable price to secure a spot. Now, her only goal was to begin the path of Constructing a Divine Body.

In her eyes, Lou Xiaoxing was indeed exceptionally talented, but she wouldn't think much of him until he reached the Eighth Realm.

Lou Xiaoxing shrugged.

Turning to Yin Wenzheng, he asked, "We've been walking for five minutes; aren't we there yet?"

Yin Wenzheng replied, "There should be about half the distance left."

"Better be. Being in this narrow path all the time makes me a bit nervous."

This was actually psychological and had nothing to do with strength.

Fortunately, though.

Yin Wenzheng wasn't wrong. Before long, they reached the end of the path and arrived at a hall.

Its style was similar to the previous hall.

It also had a domed ceiling and was full of a sense of technology.

The difference was.

In the center was a massive machine with a pentagonal base over ten meters in diameter and over a meter high. Each side was sealed by a glass door.

On top of the base, in the middle of the machine, was a transparent crystal cylinder that reached the domed ceiling, containing an unknown liquid.

Yin Wenzheng explained, "This machine is used to extract nirvana stones."

"Extracting nirvana stones?"

"Yes."

Yin Wenzheng pointed behind him and said, "Those four doors, from left to right, are for challenging Third-Class Nirvana Warriors, Second-Class Nirvana Warriors, and First-Class Nirvana Warriors respectively.

If you defeat a First-Class Nirvana Warrior, you can enter the door on the far right, but no one knows what's inside."

Next, Yin Wenzheng introduced the challenge rules.

Regardless of which grade of Nirvana Warrior you challenge, each challenge lasts for a total of ten minutes, with no limit on the number of attempts.

But.

Once a challenge begins, it cannot be terminated.

You must either defeat or kill the Nirvana Warrior, or survive for ten minutes against them; otherwise, there is only death.

"Are you saying that the Nirvana Warriors themselves are composed of matter containing nirvana stones?"

Yin Wenzheng nodded. "Exactly. Even if you can't defeat a Nirvana Warrior, if you seize their weapons, armor, or even limbs and bring them to this machine, you can extract nirvana stones."

Xiao Weiqing's eyes lit up as he asked, "How much weight in nirvana stones can be extracted from one Nirvana Warrior's body?"

"A Third-Class Nirvana Warrior's body can yield about eight hundred kilograms to a ton of nirvana stones. However, calculating by weight is meaningless because the density of nirvana stones is extremely high. We usually calculate by 'portions'."

"If you must calculate by weight, it's about one thousand two hundred kilograms."

Xiao Weiqing understood and asked again, "Roughly how many portions are needed for Constructing a Divine Body?"

"About three portions or so."

"What?!" Xiao Weiqing was shocked, finding it somewhat unbelievable.

"Just three portions of nirvana stones are enough for Constructing a Divine Body?"