"Do you like drinking? You absolutely shouldn't miss the Molten Spring Brew of Earth Fire City. As a man, you should drink the strongest liquor and date the most passionate girlfriends..."

Throughout the journey, the old man never stopped talking, constantly finding topics to chat about with Lu Yu. Lu Yu found it hard to handle the old man's enthusiasm, but finally, the two of them arrived at the Boulder Array on the road leading to the Earth Fire Demon Cave.

Upon reaching the Boulder Array, the old man finally stopped talking, and with a serious expression, said, "Be careful after you enter. Stay alert to your surroundings, as many Martial Cultivators with bad intentions hide within the complicated terrain of the Boulder Array to rob passing Martial Cultivators."

"These robbers usually target those coming out of the Earth Fire Demon Cave, but that doesn't mean they won't attack those entering, so be cautious."

"But don't worry too much; most robbers aren't very strong. Powerful Martial Cultivators wouldn't bother being robbers here." The old man comforted Lu Yu, fearing he might be nervous.

Lu Yu looked at the massive interlocking stones in front of him and responded to the old man's advice, "Alright, I understand. Besides, you should head back, old man. You don't need to guide me any further."

Grateful for the old man guiding him, Lu Yu gave him a Spirit Stone to show his gratitude. The old man accepted it without refusing and said, "I promised to take you to the Earth Fire Demon Cave, and since I've now taken your payment, I can't quit halfway."

"Besides, in the Boulder Array, even with a map, you can get lost. The situation inside is very complex, and it's difficult to find the right path, even with a map..."

Watching Lu Yu fly up, the old man fell silent, then smiled and said, "I didn't expect you to be so capable. Alright then. Since you can fly, you won't get lost. Good luck."

"Goodbye."

After saying farewell to the old man, Lu Yu flew towards the Boulder Array, ascending higher than the towering stones of twenty to thirty meters. Lu Yu saw a massive cave entrance spewing flames at the end of the Boulder Array.

Flying over the Boulder Array, Lu Yu noticed several Martial Cultivators hiding at the base of the boulders below. They were the robbers mentioned by the old man, ambushing passersby to steal their belongings.

In the Boulder Array, there were many traces left by humans. Many tents were set up beneath the stones, and these robbers generally lived within the Boulder Array, avoiding showing up in Earth Fire City to prevent a chase from the city's authorities.

Their usual food and supplies were purchased from Earth Fire City by subordinates who stayed out of sight. If they got lucky and made a big haul, they'd leave Earth Fire City to go to other cities, transforming into traders and becoming law-abiding citizens.

Below the Boulder Array, a seemingly unnoticed Qi Cultivation Martial Cultivator watched Lu Yu fly overhead and used a Communication Talisman to send a message to He Hao, "Lu Yu has arrived."

In the third layer of the Earth Fire Demon Cave, hidden inside a specific cave, He Hao received the message and told those around him, "Lu Yu has arrived. Prepare for battle."

Among the crowd was a familiar figure to Lu Yu — He Yichao. This time, it was the He family setting a trap to use Lu Yu's desire for the Purple Flame Demon Fire.

With his father's support, He Yichao could mobilize more resources, even bringing along the He family's only Array Master capable of setting up large arrays.

"Master Long, the array is alright, isn't it?" He Yichao asked concernedly.

Master Long stroked his beard and replied seriously, "There is definitely no problem. Within the Ten Directions Absolute Spirit Array, any Secret Technique is useless, ensuring he won't escape."

The Ten Directions Absolute Spirit Array is designed against Secret Techniques, which require specific seals. Within the array, most Secret Techniques can't be sealed successfully, making them unusable.

The entrance to the Earth Fire Demon Cave is an immense, bottomless pit, with the surrounding and bottom dimly glowing with red flames. One can descend into the Earth Fire Demon Cave via the surrounding circular staircase.

Looking at the entrance to the Earth Fire Demon Cave, Lu Yu took out the Shadow Cloak from his backpack and put it on. In such an underground cavern, where shadows are everywhere, the Shadow Cloak's effects are significantly enhanced.

After glancing at other Martial Cultivators who flew directly into the Earth Fire Demon Cave, Lu Yu followed suit and flew in.

Those with some strength in the Qi Condensation realm would choose to fly into the Earth Fire Demon Cave. Otherwise, walking down the circular staircase on the side would waste too much time.

Once below, the true Earth Fire Demon Cave begins, and there's no need to waste time walking. Diving into the cave doesn't require flying; all it takes is slowing down just before landing, not consuming much Spiritual Power.

Lu Yu's figure entered the Earth Fire Demon Cave, vanishing into the shadows.

"According to the information obtained from Southern Heaven Hall, the Purple Flame Demon Fire is located in a corner on the third layer of the Earth Fire Demon Cave. The third layer has mostly demon beasts at the Demonic Power realm, and numerous beasts at the Demon Spirit realm, making it quite dangerous, so be careful."

Descending to the bottom of the pit, Lu Yu didn't linger and hurried towards the entrance to the second layer of the Earth Fire Demon Cave. The entrance was marked on the map, right in front of the Boulder Array.

The first layer of the Earth Fire Demon Cave resembles a gigantic conical flask, with the entrance serving as the flask's mouth. The space below is vast, with flames occasionally flaring from the ground and ceiling.

Even though the first layer is hundreds of meters underground, it's not dark.

The map provided by a disciple from Divine Weapon Pavilion who completed a mission was very detailed, allowing Lu Yu to easily find the second layer's entrance.

"Zhou Tong has to pass through here to enter the second layer. If we wait here, we'll be able to catch Zhou Tong," said a group of people hiding near the entrance to the second layer, their chatter reaching Lu Yu's ears.

With his enhanced soul, Lu Yu's five senses also became more acute, allowing him to sense many subtle disturbances. Despite their hushed voices, Lu Yu still heard them.

Realizing these people wanted to ambush someone named Zhou Tong, Lu Yu wasn't someone who acted chivalrously or meddled in others' affairs. Besides, he didn't know the nature of their relationship. Who knew if Zhou Tong was good or bad.

However, their conversation sparked additional thoughts in Lu Yu's mind. Since these people predicted Zhou Tong would definitely pass through here, could it be that his venture outside was also within someone else's expectations?

Or was it that someone deliberately lured him out?

Regardless of whether someone intentionally lured him out, it's better to be cautious.

If someone were deliberately luring him out, the most likely places for an ambush would be the second layer's entrance, the third layer's entrance, and the location of the Purple Flame Demon Fire.

Lu Yu stopped not far from the second layer's entrance, cautiously scanning the surroundings with his perception. After scanning three times, Lu Yu clearly grasped everything around him.

The positions of the hidden eight individuals, the three monsters buried in the ground hiding very deeply, and a young man not far from the entrance with injuries.

Finding nothing capable of threatening him, Lu Yu flew toward the entrance.

If someone was intentionally luring him out, he figured the most probable ambush spot would be the location of the Purple Flame Demon Fire. After all, the second and third layer entrances were easy locations for others to accidentally interrupt the plan.

If Lu Yu had to choose an ambush spot himself, he would also choose his final destination, as he couldn't avoid his destination no matter what.

Just as Lu Yu was about to pass through the second layer entrance, the young man hiding nearby suddenly emerged and sprinted toward the weakest point of the eight-person encirclement.

It seemed this young man was Zhou Tong, who had long noticed the eight people hiding around.

"Stop him!" The ambushers shouted as they discovered Zhou Tong rushing at them.

Spirit Power erupted from several of them, controlling their Divine Soldiers to smash toward Zhou Tong. Spirit Power surged from Zhou Tong as well, making the Divine Soldier in his hand shine brighter, smashing into the Divine Soldiers and Martial Cultivators directly blocking his path.

Boom! Zhou Tong, exerting all his strength, broke through one's blockade, but the other seven Divine Soldiers struck his back. His Spirit Armor blocked most of the damage, yet Zhou Tong still spat a mouthful of blood, seriously injured.

Without daring to stop, Zhou Tong used the attack on his back to propel himself into the passageway.

Seeing Zhou Tong about to escape into the second layer, a figure flew from the second layer's entrance. A powerful attack sent Zhou Tong flying back to the first layer.

Spirit Power surged from the passage, reaching Lu Yu and revealing his figure from its concealed state.

"Hahaha! Zhou Tong, you didn't expect this, huh? There are actually nine people ambushing you..." Mid-laugh, he noticed Lu Yu suddenly appearing mid-air, stopping abruptly and shouted harshly, "Who are you?"

An Eighth-Rank Qi Harmony Martial Cultivator flew up from the second layer, glanced at Lu Yu, and casually launched an attack toward him. They couldn't let news of their ambush on Zhou Tong spread out.

Though Lu Yu was flying in the air, his aura wasn't strong within their perception.

Not everyone who flies is a Qi Sea Realm Martial Cultivator.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.