Upon hearing Zhan Baisong’s speculation, Zhan Baifeng, Zhan Feihong, and the other three all wore grim expressions. Judging by the situation just now, wasn't that exactly what happened?

So many people had remained within the 'Heart of Flames' for nearly three months. The source of fire hadn't attacked the six of them before or even now, yet it had singled out Nie Kong, who had just broken through to the Sixth Order, and swallowed him whole. What was the reason for this?

Could it be that Nie Kong had absorbed too much Nether Force contained within the fire source, causing it displeasure?

Thinking of this possibility simultaneously, the group fell into a heavy silence.

They understood the terrifying power of this fire source all too well. Now that Nie Kong had been consumed by it, there was no possibility of rescuing him from within. If they forcefully approached the fire source, the result would only be utter annihilation.

"What should we do?"

Feeling the intensifying tremors beneath their feet, Zhan Feihong couldn't help but ask.

"Leave,"

Zhan Baisong stared intensely at the mass of flame and ground out through clenched teeth.

"But..."

Zhan Feihong appeared anxious, but before he could finish speaking, Zhan Baisong snorted heavily, "There are only a few minutes left before the 'Heart of Flames' sinks. When this stone submerges, the fire source will engulf this area. Do you want to follow in that little fellow Nie Kong's footsteps?"

"B-but..."

Zhan Feihong’s lips trembled several times, his face flushed crimson, his breathing ragged as if he were a wounded Nether Beast. But in the end, he couldn't voice the rest of his words. He just stomped his foot hard, let out a sigh of immense frustration, and looked at the fire source with utter despair in his eyes.

If he had known such a thing would happen, Zhan Feihong would never have proposed bringing Nie Kong to the 'Nether Sea Fire Source.' Even after arriving here, once Nie Kong had re-condensed his Fire Seed, no matter how much Zhan Feihong objected, he would have forcibly taken him away from this place.

But now, any regret was futile.

Zhan Baifeng sighed lightly, "Feihong, what's done is done; grieving is useless now. Nie Kong has been swallowed by the fire source; his fate is unknown. If he is dead, then everything ceases. But if he is still alive, perhaps only one person in our Zhan Clan will be able to rescue him."

"Ancestor!"

Zhan Feihong, Zhan Baige, Zhan Feixing, and Zhan Tianhe’s eyes lit up, calling out those three words almost in unison.

Zhan Baifeng nodded, "Indeed."

"Let's go,"

Zhan Baisong waved his hand, and a dense black radiance enveloped his body as he drifted out of the 'Heart of Flames.' Zhan Baifeng and Zhan Baige quickly followed. To contact Zhan Xinzi, their only recourse was to transmit the news from here via the 'Golden Armor Jade Tablet' back to the Zhan Clan, and then use Clan Leader Zhan Yunlan to establish contact with Zhan Xinzi. And to utilize the 'Golden Armor Jade Tablet,' they first had to leave the Nether Sea.

"Nie Kong, if you are alive, you must hold on!"

Zhan Feihong roared toward the fire source before leaving. As he turned, his eye sockets were slightly reddened.

Among the six escorts, if one were to speak of who favored the young man the most, it could only be him. Zhan Baifeng’s words just now had sparked a sliver of hope in his heart. Nie Kong had re-condensed his Fire Seed here and could absorb the Nether Force contained in the fire source. Although he was currently swallowed by it, he probably wouldn't die immediately. If he could hold on until the Ancestor arrived, there might be a chance for rescue.

"Boom!"

The group had only traveled a few hundred meters when a massive tremor sounded from behind. The 'Heart of Flames' had sunk into the seabed, and the fire source began to writhe and expand wildly, instantly doubling in size and engulfing the area where the 'Heart of Flames' had been.

A scorching sensation swept over them from behind. The group dared not linger and continued to speed forward.

Along the way, Zhan Feihong was noticeably distracted. While passing through the area of the fire hills, he nearly collided with the surging undercurrents twice. Fortunately, Zhan Baisong pulled him back quickly; otherwise, Zhan Feihong might have met the ancestors of the Zhan Clan before even having a chance to rescue Nie Kong.

Once past the undercurrents, everyone let out a silent sigh of relief and accelerated their flight outward.

Without Zhan Xinzi leading the way, the Nether Sea was no longer calm. Nether Beasts occasionally leaped out of the water to attack them. Fortunately, the vast majority were below the Eighth Order and were quickly dispatched by Zhan Baisong, Zhan Baifeng, and the others. The only Ninth Order Nether Beast present was instantly reduced to a cloud of black bloody mist, leaving no remains, under the combined assault of the three Ninth Order experts.

After a long time, the six finally escaped the Nether Sea without major incident and set foot on solid ground.

At this moment, dozens of tents were still pitched on the shore. Groups of people chatted or cultivated sporadically. These individuals had all followed the Zhan Clan members into the Nether Sea, only turning back when they reached the periphery of the fire source. Afterward, almost every sect left one or two people waiting on the shore, primarily to observe whether the young man escorted by Zhan Baisong and the others could successfully temper his Fire Seed.

They had waited for nearly three months. Now that Zhan Baisong and the others finally reappeared, everyone’s spirits lifted, and they focused their gazes.

"Only six people returned. Both Zhan Xinzi and that young man are gone."

"Could they both have died inside?"

"How is that possible? While the fire source is extremely dangerous for other Ninth Order Black Spirit Masters, it is impossible for it to cause Zhan Xinzi’s demise."

"With Zhan Xinzi there, the young man shouldn't die either. Since neither of them has appeared, could entering the depths of the fire source have had another objective?"

"Unlikely, unlikely. All six of them look terribly upset; they clearly encountered a massive upheaval."

The crowd muttered in low tones, filled with suspicion.

Zhan Baisong and the others had long noticed the presence of these Black Spirit Masters but paid them no mind. As soon as they landed, Zhan Baisong sat down cross-legged and took out the shimmering 'Golden Armor Jade Tablet.' With just a thought, the Nether Force in the surrounding void converged, swirling around it.

Calming his mind, Zhan Baisong closed his eyes, his spiritual sense plunging into the 'Golden Armor Jade Tablet.' Less than half a minute later, Zhan Baisong opened his eyes and let out a soft breath.

The next phase was waiting.

Zhan Baige and the others remained relatively calm, but Zhan Feihong could not stand still. Like an ant on a hot pan, he paced incessantly around Zhan Baisong, occasionally glancing down at the Golden Armor Jade Tablet in Zhan Baisong's palm, then fiercely punching his own palm.

"Buzz,"

About fifteen minutes later, the Golden Armor Jade Tablet emitted a hum.

"Quickly see what the Clan Leader replied!"

Zhan Feihong could no longer restrain himself. He jumped in front of Zhan Baisong, urging him anxiously, wishing he could snatch the 'Golden Armor Jade Tablet' and see for himself. Zhan Baifeng and the others instinctively leaned forward as well, their faces etched with concern.

A streak of black light shot out from his brow, sinking into the 'Golden Armor Jade Tablet.' Several seconds later, Zhan Baisong looked up in astonishment, filled with confusion. "The Clan Leader sent multiple messages to the Ancestor, but none could be delivered... What is the meaning of this?"

This reply from Zhan Yunlan was unexpected, and Zhan Feihong and the others exchanged glances, momentarily speechless. Generally, as long as the spiritual thought imprints of both parties were etched into the 'Golden Armor Jade Tablet,' communication could be established regardless of the distance.

Now, the Clan Leader couldn't even send a message—it was truly bizarre.

"Could it be that the Ancestor has already left the Nether Sea and entered the Ghost Domain?"

Zhan Baifeng murmured. Hearing this, the hearts of the others leaped. Perhaps it was true. Throughout the entire Nether Land, the Ghost Domain was like an independent space. If the Ancestor had entered it, all connection with the Nether Land would be severed, causing the messages to fail.

Zhan Feihong slumped, "Does this mean no one can go in to save Nie Kong?"

The response to Zhan Feihong was several sighs.

...

"Boom!"

The shattering of the 'War God Star Seal' not only failed to affect the passage but actually made the suction surging from within even stronger. Nie Kong felt even more astonished, followed immediately by a violent spatial tremor as Zhan Baisong and the others attacked simultaneously from outside.

Instantly, the attacks descended. Unfortunately, just as they were about to touch the passage hidden in the void, the opposing fire source actually bent over, instantly neutralizing the attacks from the six of Zhan Baisong’s group. The suction became exceedingly powerful.

Nie Kong had no time left to react; his body was sucked into the passage. In the moment of entry, Nie Kong noticed the cocoon formed from condensed scorching energy swallowing him.

"Swish!"

Nie Kong's body rapidly traversed the passage, the scenery constantly shifting before his eyes.

The eighty-meter distance flashed past in an instant. Upon emerging from the passage, the suction abruptly vanished, and an intensely dense crimson glow blossomed before his eyes. The fire-red light stung Nie Kong’s eyes until they ached. But what surprised Nie Kong was that he couldn't feel any heat at all.

"Is this truly the center of the fire source?"

Nie Kong narrowed his eyes into fine slits, rapidly surveying his surroundings.

On all four sides, there was nothing but fiery red; no other color existed. When he was still on the 'Heart of Flames,' Nie Kong knew that the humanoid passage he condensed extended straight forward into the fire source's interior. He hadn't expected the inside and outside of this fire source to be two extremes of ice and fire.

"That suction must originate from the fire source. For two thousand years, it never attacked the Black Spirit Masters who entered the Heart of Flames, yet today it specifically drew me in. This must have been intentional. This action is governed by consciousness; has the fire source gained sentience?"

Such a thought suddenly flashed through Nie Kong's mind.

At the moment he was sucked away, Nie Kong believed he was surely doomed. After all, from that suction force, one could gauge how powerful its owner was. If it had attacked, Nie Kong would have had no room to retaliate; in that case, despite his unwillingness, he would have been helpless.

But now it seemed the situation was not what he had initially assumed. If this fire source possessed sentience, this place would no longer be a desperate trap.

Nie Kong's mind instantly calmed. While rapidly turning his thoughts, he meticulously sensed the movements around him. With Zhan Baisong and the others absent now, Nie Kong had no reservations. A tremor ran through his brow, and the mental projection of the 'Purple Luo Phantom Spirit Incense' manifested.

"Whoosh, whoosh..."

Branches and leaves spread out like vines in all directions, and in an instant, the area around Nie Kong was filled with purple. At this moment, Nie Kong’s sensory capabilities almost reached their peak. Soon, a strange sensation arose from the depths of his heart: this fire source had not become sentient...

...