Chapter 24: On the Brink of Life and Death at the Volcano Crater

Inside the Molten Flame Volcano, the scorching air churned like in a furnace. The dark red crystal stones on the cave walls let out an ear-piercing hum under the intense fluctuations of spiritual flames. The cracks expanded rapidly, and lava gushed out from the gaps like blood, dripping onto the scalding ground and splashing out bursts of searing sparks. The hissing sound never stopped. The cave ceiling was low, and lava dripped down like rain, hitting beside Lin Jin, Su Yao, and Duan Hao, leaving charred marks. The air was thin and sweltering. Every breath was like swallowing molten iron, stinging the lungs. The volcano trembled more violently, cracks spread across the ground, and the rumbling sound was like thunderclaps, as if the entire mountain body would collapse at any moment and swallow everything up.

Lin Jin leaned against the cave wall. The wounds on his left shoulder and left rib were bloodstained. Blood mixed with sweat trickled down and evaporated into a pungent white mist when it came into contact with the lava. He tightly gripped his wooden staff. The purple flames of a First - Tier Flame Master circulated with great difficulty within his body, supporting his tottering body. His left arm was almost numb, and the intense pain was like needles piercing his bones. He gritted his teeth and said hoarsely, "They're here. Get ready for a counterattack!" His voice was low, filled with determination. Purple flames seeped out from his palm, ready to strike.

Su Yao stood beside him. Her big, agile eyes stared at the entrance of the cave. The dried tear stains and the bloodstains at the corners of her mouth made her pale face look shocking. The azure flames of her Fourth - Tier Initial Flame Realm diffused like a mist. She held her short sword tightly, her aura disordered. She said in a low voice, "Flame Soul Dogs... Lin Jin, we have to fight with all we have!" Her voice trembled, carrying a hint of despair. Her agile figure clung closely to him. Her azure flames for protection were almost exhausted, but there was an unyielding murderous intent in her eyes.

Duan Hao guarded at the entrance of the cave. His rugged body blocked the narrow crack. His broad - bladed sword pointed obliquely at the ground. The crimson flames of his First - Tier Flame Master Realm roared on the blade like a tiger. The whip wound on his shoulder was torn, and blood dripped onto the ground, making a hissing sound. He growled, "I'll chop those beasts to pieces. No matter how many of them come, I'll cut them down!" He pressed his thick palm against the handle of the knife. The crimson - flame blade glow soared. His heroic spirit was overwhelming, but he couldn't hide his heavy gasps. A trace of exhaustion flashed in his eyes.

Outside the cave, the roars of the Flame Soul Dogs rolled like thunder. Three huge dogs surrounded by crimson flames bared their teeth, their eyes like molten lava. They sniffed the blood and approached the crack. The middle - aged man held a flame spear, with the crimson flames wriggling. The bloodstains on his shoulder hadn't dried yet. He coldly shouted, "The smell of blood is here. They can't escape!" Behind him, the whip - wielding man lashed out his crimson - flame whip shadow, roaring like a dragon. Blood seeped from the wound on his arm, and his killing intent was even stronger. The huge ax - man carried his massive battle - ax. His flame armor was scorched black, and the bloodstains on his chest were obvious. His steps made the ground shake like a mountain. Seven black - robed Initiates at the Initial Flame Realm spread out with their blades drawn. The glint of the blades flickered in the firelight, and the killing intent filled the air. The Flame Soul Dogs growled and pounced towards the crack, spitting out crimson flames, and the heatwaves were overwhelming.

"Flame Soul Ancestor, what should we do?" Lin Jin asked urgently in a low voice, his voice hoarse and full of a strong sense of crisis.

The Flame Soul Ancestor said solemnly, "The earth veins of the volcano are in chaos and will erupt at any moment! Use the lava to counterattack and force them back. Otherwise, if the three Flame Soul Dogs charge in, you're doomed! If you don't get out within half an hour, the volcano will collapse, and you'll still lose your lives!" The ancestor's tone was urgent, with a biting sense of oppression.

Lin Jin's heart shook. He said in a low voice, "Draw the lava..." His eyes swept around the cave. The lava gushing out from the cracks on the ground was boiling like blood. He growled, "Let's fight with all we have!" His purple flames rushed towards the ground, devouring the spiritual flames of the lava. The ground suddenly trembled, and the lava spurted out like a pillar, rushing towards the outside of the cave.

"Charge in!" The middle - aged man roared angrily. He waved his flame spear, and a crimson - flame torrent rushed towards the crack. It collided with the lava pillar, and the rumbling sound was deafening. Heatwaves spread in all directions, and the rocks at the entrance of the cave cracked and collapsed. The Flame Soul Dogs roared and pounced in, spitting out crimson flames, making the cave walls charred black. Their huge claws tore apart the lava vines and rushed directly towards the three of them.

"Defend!" Lin Jin growled. He activated his Flame Step, and the purple - flame vortex rushed towards one of the Flame Soul Dogs. The purple flames devoured part of the crimson flames, but he was hit by the dog's paw and sent flying three zhang away. He hit the cave wall, and the wound on his left rib burst open. Blood gushed out and stained the ground red. He gritted his teeth and stood up. He swept his wooden staff, and five Youyan Stings condensed. He shot the five purple - flame needles towards the dog's head. The Flame Soul Dog let out a howl, and blood splashed from its head, but it didn't fall. The crimson flames on it burned even more fiercely.

Su Yao's agile figure leaped up. She activated the Azure Luan Light Flame Art. The azure - flame whirlwind rolled towards the second Flame Soul Dog, and her sword qi was like a net, entangling its body. She slashed her short sword continuously, and three arcs of azure - flame sword qi stabbed into the dog's abdomen. The Flame Soul Dog roared and spat out crimson flames. Su Yao was shaken back, hit the cave wall, spat out a mouthful of blood. Her big eyes were full of unwillingness, and she growled, "You beast!"

Duan Hao roared. He swung his broad - bladed sword, and the Blazing Flame Earth - Splitting Slash slashed towards the third Flame Soul Dog. The blade glow with crimson flames roared and cut a bloody gash on the dog's body. He endured a blow from the dog's paw hard. The flesh on his shoulder was torn, and he was shaken back five steps, vomiting blood continuously. He growled, "I'll kill you!" The blade glow rose again and slashed the dog's head. The Flame Soul Dog howled and fell to the ground, bleeding profusely.

The middle - aged man took the opportunity to charge in. His flame spear stabbed directly at Lin Jin. The crimson - flame spear glow was like a rainbow, and the heatwaves were overwhelming. Lin Jin dodged with his Flame Step at the last moment. The spear tip grazed his left arm, and the flesh was torn. He growled and launched a counter - attack with his purple - flame vortex. The middle - aged man was shaken back one step and sneered continuously, "Die!" He stabbed with his flame spear again, and a roaring fire - tiger of crimson flames burst out.

"Watch out!" Su Yao shouted. Her agile figure rushed in front of Lin Jin. The azure flames exploded and blocked the fire - tiger. She was sent flying and hit the cave wall. Lava dripped from the cave ceiling and burned her shoulder. The smell of burned flesh was pungent. She gritted her teeth and groaned. Her big eyes were filled with tears.

The whip - wielding man lashed his whip shadow like a dragon towards Duan Hao, with the crimson flames coiling around it. Duan Hao's blade glow resisted hard, but he was hit in the chest by the whip shadow, and his flesh was blurred. He roared angrily and slashed the whip shadow apart. The whip - wielding man roared and stepped back. The huge ax - man swung his ax down. The crimson flames pressed down like a mountain towards the entrance of the cave. Large areas of the cave walls cracked, and the lava spurted out more intensively.

"The volcano is about to explode!" Lin Jin gritted his teeth. The purple flames rushed towards the ground, devouring more spiritual flames of the lava. The ground shook violently, and the lava pillar shot up into the sky. The black smoke erupting from the volcano crater was as thick as ink, and debris rained down. The heatwaves inside the cave were overwhelming, and the three of them were almost suffocated.

"Retreat!" The middle - aged man growled. His crimson - flame torrent blocked the lava, but he was shaken back ten zhang. One of the Flame Soul Dogs was swallowed by the lava and howled to death. The whip - wielding man and the huge ax - man roared angrily. The seven black - robed people rushed in, but three of them were burned to death by the lava, and their shrill screams were ear - piercing.

"Run while in chaos!" Lin Jin growled. He protected himself with purple flames and pulled Su Yao towards the depths of the cave. Duan Hao carried his sword and guarded the rear. The crimson - flame blade glow split the lava, covering their tracks. The three of them rushed towards a crack in the depths of the volcano. The crack was narrow, only wide enough for one person. The lava spurted out and covered their auras.

Outside the cave, the middle - aged man coldly shouted, "The volcano is erupting. They can't have run far. Chase!" Two Flame Soul Dogs roared, and the three auras of Flame Masters closely followed. The lava spurted out like blood, the volcano trembled even more violently, gravel rained down like a shower, and the killing intent filled the air.

Lin Jin and the other two got into the crack. The heatwaves made their skin turn charred red. The cave walls trembled, and the lava was approaching. Lin Jin gritted his teeth and said in a low voice, "Run deeper. Stay alive!" Blood was flowing continuously from his left arm. Su Yao supported him, and her big eyes were glistening with tears. "Hold on. We can't die!"

Duan Hao carried his sword and guarded the rear. He swept his crimson - flame blade glow around and growled, "I'll fight you to the end!" The figures of the three disappeared into the crack. The lava spurted out like a tide, and the rumbling sound of the volcano crater was deafening. They were on the verge of life and death.