204: The deal with the Lizard King

Following the left passage indicated by the map, the temperature rose at an astonishing rate. At first, they could see dry rock walls, but gradually, dark red, slowly flowing scorching patterns began to appear on both sides and underfoot, as if the lava Bloodline beneath the earth's skin was pulsing.

At the end of the passage was a downward-sloping, nearly vertical smooth slope. The surface of the slope was covered with a dark lava crust that had cooled and solidified but still held intense heat. This was the 'Lava Slide' mentioned in the intelligence. The four of them each used their own methods: Qin Feng and Ji Ruxue, with their agile movements, tapped and descended lightly; Xia Ya placed her giant shield beneath her and slid down smoothly; Xiao Chun was protected by Qin Feng's True Qi and arrived safely.

At the end of the slide, the scene changed dramatically.

This was the true 'Fire Vein Corridor'. An immense underground space, vast beyond sight, where countless dark red lava rivers, thick as dragons, meandered and intertwined, converging and diverging to form a complex water network, dividing the earth into countless 'islands' and 'peninsulas' of varying sizes. The high-hanging dome was adorned with thousands of burning stalactites, while the ground was covered with jagged volcanic rocks and shimmering mineral crystals. A crimson glow emanated from the lava rivers, dyeing everything in a hue of eternal twilight. The surging fire-attribute energy had almost condensed into substance, flowing slowly in the air.

In the deepest part of this corridor, at the center of the widest area where lava churned like a lake, stood a giant nest entirely constructed of obsidian and blazing metal Ore. At the edge of the nest, countless Lava Lizards lay prostrate in dense numbers! The smallest were the size of calves, covered in dull lava carapaces (Martial Master level). More were individuals as large as small houses, with fierce auras (Grand Martial Master level). And on two towering rocks closest to the lava lake at the nest, two especially massive Lava Giant Lizards with crimson crystalline spikes on their backs and auras reaching Martial King level were coiled! They were like loyal guards, their cold gazes sweeping over their territory.

However, none of this compared to the existence lying at the center of the nest, upon the largest piece of dark red crystal Ore—

Its body length exceeded ten zhang. Even with most of its body coiled, its height was close to two stories. Its entire body was not covered in ordinary lava carapace, but a kind of dark golden, heavy scale armor with a nearly vitreous texture. Between the scales' crevices flowed a light like molten gold. Its head was dragon-like yet not quite a dragon, with a protruding snout covered in fierce bone spikes. Its pair of wheel-sized vertical pupils were entirely composed of burning white-gold flames. Merely by existing there, the pressure it emitted made the air of the entire corridor tremble and wail. This was the current overlord of this Secret Realm—the Lava Giant Lizard King, a Half-step Martial Emperor!

But at this moment, this overlord was clearly not in good condition. On the left side of its body, near its hind leg, a large area of its vitreous dark golden scale armor was unnaturally charred and sunken. At the edges, there were even several deep cracks, from which a dark red, magma-like viscous blood slowly seeped. Each of its heavy breaths carried a painful, low growl. In its white-gold flame pupils burned an unconcealable irritability and agony.

It was using its immensely thick tail, covered in hammer-like bone protrusions, to irritably slap the rocks beside it, sending sparks flying everywhere. Not far away, the shattered remains of several Martial Master-level Lava Lizards were scattered—unfortunate subordinates it had casually killed in its rage. The entire lizard horde was shrouded in an oppressive atmosphere of fear.

The four of them—Qin Feng and the others—hid behind a massive, scorching rock large enough to conceal their figures, holding their breath as they observed. The sight before them made Xia Ya gasp sharply. Ji Ruxue's eyes were also extremely grave. Xiao Chun's face turned pale. The little fox in her arms, which had just awakened and was still somewhat listless, felt the terrifying pressure and burrowed deeper into her embrace in fright.

"That's... the Lizard King?" Xia Ya whispered in an extremely low voice. "It's indeed badly injured, but... this is too terrifying."

Qin Feng nodded silently. A Half-step Martial Emperor, even severely wounded, had enough residual majesty to awe all directions. More troublesome was the massive horde.

Just as they were observing, the Lava Giant Lizard King seemed to grow increasingly frenzied due to its worsening injury. It suddenly raised its head and let out an ear-splitting roar toward the lava lake! The roar's shockwave rolled out, causing distant rock walls to crumble and stones to fall.

And within the aftershocks of this roar, its burning white-gold pupils abruptly turned toward the direction of the rock where Qin Feng's group was hiding!

"Hmph!"

A dull yet clear roar, like thunder with the texture of rolling magma, exploded directly in the minds of the four! This was not sound, but a mental shock and inquiry!

"Hu... mans...?"

The Lizard King's white-gold pupils locked onto the rock. Its terrifying pressure, like a substantial mountain, came crashing down!

"How... did you... get in here...?" The mental fluctuation was filled with fury and suspicion. "Did... that... dead lion above... send you... to deal with me?!"

It could speak! Or rather, it could communicate clearly using powerful Mental Energy! This was not surprising. A Yao Beast reaching the Half-step Martial Emperor level possessed intelligence no less than a human's.

"Exposed!" Ji Ruxue hissed lowly, her purple moon dagger instantly in hand. Xia Ya instinctively raised her giant shield, blocking in front of everyone. Xiao Chun hurriedly prepared to stimulate her medicinal power.

But Qin Feng took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the palpitations in his heart, and signaled his companions to stay calm. He knew that any excessive reaction now could invite a devastating attack. He circulated his True Qi, striving to condense and transmit his own thoughts, attempting to make contact with that violent Mental Energy.

"Respected Lizard King!" Qin Feng's thoughts remained as steady and respectful as possible. "We were not sent by the Lion King! We are merely adventurers passing through, and we have a request of you!"

"Roar!" The response was a roar from the Lizard King, full of disdain and anger. Its injured left hind leg impatiently stomped the ground, shaking the nest. "De... ceitful! Humans... are all... deceitful!"

With its anger, the two Martial King-level Lava Giant Lizard guards immediately issued threatening growls and leaped down from the rocks! Dozens of Grand Martial Master-level elite lizards also turned their heads in unison, gathering blazing red light in their mouths. Over a thousand Martial Master-level lizards, as if receiving an order, began to stir, forming an encirclement!

"Prepare for battle!" Xia Ya roared. The phantom of the Black Tortoise faintly appeared behind her, and her giant shield emitted a steady yellow light. Ji Ruxue's figure was like smoke, ready to cut into the enemy group at any moment. Xiao Chun opened her yan luo umbrella, and emerald green medicinal mist spread out.

"Don't fight!" Qin Feng urgently transmitted his thoughts again, raising his voice slightly. "Lizard King! Please look! We bear no ill will. We are here to make a deal with you!"

"A deal?" The Lizard King's mental fluctuation was filled with sarcasm and extreme distrust. The flames in its white-gold pupils danced more violently. "What... deal... can you make... with me? Use your... corpses... as snacks... for my subjects?"

It clearly had no patience. The pain of its injury and long-term irritability made it only want to tear apart everything before it. It suddenly opened its giant maw, and a blinding white-gold light lit up deep in its throat—highly concentrated lava flames capable of vaporizing metal in an instant!

At this critical moment!

"Lizard King, wait! Please look at this!" Xiao Chun mustered the greatest courage of her life. Her clear voice, carrying the unique vitality rhythm of the Myriad Medicine Body, rang out. She once again presented the Medicine King Valley token and Senior Gray Shadow's fur, while simultaneously channeling the Myriad Medicine Body with all her might. A pure, gentle, infinitely vibrant emerald green radiance burst forth from her body, like a lamp of life suddenly lit in the darkness, forming a stark contrast with the surrounding violent and scorching fire elements!

That emerald vitality bore no aggression. Instead, like the gentlest stream, it flowed murmuringly. Wherever it passed, even the violent fire elements seemed to calm slightly. More importantly, this power of vitality unreservedly displayed the essential concepts of 'healing,' 'soothing,' and 'symbiosis'!

The Lava Giant Lizard King, about to spew destructive flames, suddenly paused! The tyrannical flames in its white-gold pupils rarely showed a moment of stagnation and doubt. It stared fixedly at the two items in Xiao Chun's hands, especially sensing that incredibly pure vitality power that seemed inexplicably attractive to its current state... It was an aura almost never felt in the depths of this Secret Realm filled with destruction and burning pain.

The two Martial King giant lizards and the lizard horde also hesitated, their attacking momentum slowing.

Seizing this fleeting opportunity, Qin Feng immediately transmitted his thoughts clearly and firmly:

"Respected Lizard King! We sense that you are severely injured and in great pain! My companion here possesses a special healing talent that may alleviate or even treat your injury!"

He pointed at Xiao Chun. Xiao Chun cooperatively increased the output of her vitality power again and carefully separated out a thread of the purest healing aura, letting it float slowly toward the Lizard King's direction. The aura was faint but incredibly pure, like a drop of sweet spring water in a desert.

The Lizard King's nostrils twitched, inhaling that thread of healing aura. In that instant, its massive body trembled slightly. A flash of indescribable complexity passed through its white-gold pupils—the pain truly seemed soothed by that thread of aura, if only by an insignificant amount. Though insignificant, that feeling of relief and hope, for it who had long been tormented by severe pain, was no less than heavenly music!

"You... all..." Its mental fluctuation was no longer entirely furious; it was mixed with a hint of shake and deep scrutiny. "How... do you... want to... deal?"

Qin Feng's heart leaped with joy, knowing the most crucial step had succeeded. He spoke solemnly, transmitting the final condition word by word:

"We can attempt to treat your injury. In exchange—we only need three jin of 'earth core flame marrow'."

As his words fell, deathly silence filled the Fire Vein Corridor, with only the gurgling of lava. All the Lava Lizards, including the two Martial Kings, looked at their king. The Lava Giant Lizard King's burning white-gold pupils gazed at Qin Feng, then at Xiao Chun, its eyes sweeping back and forth between the radiant vitality and Qin Feng's candid face.

After a long while, an even deeper, but slightly less tyrannical, mental fluctuation echoed:

"Treat... my injury? In exchange for... flame marrow?"

"Human... you'd better... not be lying."