"Do you remember those translucent stones?" the Fatty piped up.

Ma Xiong retorted with annoyance, "Of course we remember! We just saw them."

The Fatty nodded. "Do you know what those translucent stones actually are?"

Lu Zong couldn't hold back either. "Can you just say what you mean all at once? Stop deliberately dragging this out. Our lives are on the line right now, yet you’re still so wordy. Time is life, man."

The Fatty pulled a wry face sheepishly, then chuckled. "Sorry, old habit. Actually, I noticed those translucent stones a while ago. They're a very thin layer of white mica stone. You only find this kind of mica in volcanic areas. That means there must be a volcano around here somewhere, or they wouldn't have acquired so much white mica. Take a look at the stones around you—is there anything unusual about them?"

The other two hurriedly glanced at the stones embedded in the walls and noticed that large amounts of something metallic-looking and white filled the crevices between them. They asked curiously, "What are these white things?"

The Fatty smiled and said, "These stones are actually magnesite, the most crucial factor in volcanic formation. Magnesite is stone filled with abundant magnesium metal in its cracks. Magnesium has a very low ignition point; it will burn violently if it comes into contact with anything over three hundred degrees. All we need to do now is ignite the magnesite outside. I'm sure the entire cavern outside will catch fire, and then we can easily claim our delicious Corpse Worm meat."

"Brilliant idea!" Lu Zong and Ma Xiong exclaimed simultaneously. So, the three quickly prepared, pulling a lighter stick from their pockets. Lu Zong shouted toward the wall, "Damn it, today I’m going all out against you!" and lit the stick, preparing to toss it into the outer cavern.

"Just as you're about to throw it!" Lu Zong suddenly stepped forward, attempting to stop the Fatty, and simultaneously explained, "Wait, don't throw it yet! If the cavern outside catches fire, it will inevitably spread through these stones to where we are. Then we'll be roasting ourselves! I have no desire to become barbecue."

As soon as Lu Zong finished speaking, the Fatty grew agitated. "Why didn't you say so earlier? I already threw it! Damn it."

The three stared toward where the lighter stick had landed, faces etched with frustration. At that moment, the magnesite encountered the initial spark and began to burn fiercely. The transmission speed was so rapid it seemed to happen in the blink of an eye. Instantly, the entire section of the magnesite cavern, blocked only by the stones, erupted in flames. The heat emanating from inside was so intense they could barely breathe. They could only retreat backward, step by step.

The sounds of the Corpse Worms being incinerated were incessant, a delightful sound for the men. They were actually laughing and cursing as they slowly backed away, completely failing to notice that the raging inferno had already crossed over the pile of stones and was advancing toward them.

The source of the fire was now only five or six meters away, moments from touching them. Only then did they snap out of their amusement and frantically accelerate their retreat.

Finally, they managed to put about ten meters of distance between themselves and the blaze, allowing for a moment of relief.

Suddenly, Lu Zong’s arm brushed against something ice-cold, and his heart instantly plummeted. The three whirled around and cursed in unison: "Damn it, we're trapped."

What could they do? The three felt like ants on a hot griddle. Watching the fire source creep closer, their bodies felt hot with dread. They could only stare blankly as the flames approached, their minds gone blank.

Suddenly, Lu Zong shouted to the others, "Quick, dig out the stones from the rock face and throw them in front of us! Block the path as much as possible!" With that, he took the lead, hacking at the surrounding rock wall.

The other two exchanged a glance. Although they had no idea what Lu Zong was planning, they had no better options. They could only follow his lead, digging stones from the wall and piling them in the middle of the passage, quickly sealing the opening.

"What are you doing?" they both wondered aloud. "We've blocked the entrance, which might temporarily keep the fire out, but eventually, it will burn through. Then the danger will be far greater! Has Lu Zong gone mad?"

As if sensing their thoughts, Lu Zong tried to reassure them. "Trust me, just keep working. Block the entrance as fast as you can before the fire reaches us, and I’ll have a clever plan ready then."

The two could only bury their heads and work harder. Since the man had guaranteed success, what more could they say?

After a long while, the fire intensified, yet the three kept digging and piling stones to block the opening. Finally, the stones they had piled at the entrance ignited, their heat so intense it threatened to suffocate them.

Lu Zong stopped digging and turned to his companions. "All right, mission accomplished. Everyone quickly take off a shirt, soak it, and plug your noses to protect yourselves from the toxic fumes released by the burning magnesium." He then led the way, stripping off his outer shirt, urinating on it, and covering his nose regardless of the filth.

The other two looked at Lu Zong, not daring to hesitate, and quickly followed suit, moistening their clothing to cover their noses.

Lu Zong led the two into the hollow they had just dug out, taking temporary shelter inside. Fortunately, the stone’s thermal conductivity wasn't excellent, and they immediately felt a slight cooling. Lu Zong explained, "Magnesium burns fast. It should be mostly done outside in under five minutes, and then we can leave. Don't worry, the fire won't reach here. The stones inside are ordinary rock; they won't cause any major issues or catch fire."

They frantically checked the surrounding stones and, indeed, found no traces of magnesium. They took deep breaths, and the heavy weight on their hearts finally lifted, if only temporarily.

A few minutes later, the flames outside had indeed died down. However, the air was thick with smoke and haze. They didn't dare remove the cloth covering their noses and emerged while still using the soiled fabric as a mask. Aside from the crackling sound of unburnt magnesium, there was silence; it seemed the Corpse Worms had been thoroughly incinerated, otherwise, it wouldn't be this quiet.

They only fully emerged once the smoke began to dissipate. The entire cavern was pitch black, blackened by soot and fire damage. The floor was covered in the charred remains of the Corpse Worms, utterly unrecognizable, layered nearly two centimeters thick. Stepping on them produced a crunchy sound, eerily suggesting they were still gnawing on human bones—a truly chilling sensation.