In less than half a day, Ye Xiu and the others had reached the Desert Mausoleum of the Ferocious Beast Sect. The area was nothing but endless desert, and the sect's stronghold stood like a fortress atop the dunes.

"Hall Master Ye, the Ferocious Beast Sect's fortress is incredibly sturdy. The ant soldiers can't penetrate the ground beneath it at all. It looks like we have no choice but to enter through the main gate," Ant Da admitted frankly. "For the next phase, we'll need the help of the Flying Insect Hall contingent."

"Don't forget that the Flying Charge Hall is also under my command," Ye Xiu said, gazing at the yellowish fortress. The entire structure had two levels, resembling a giant, inverted elliptical egg resting on the sand. Several leopard-like guards stood watch by the gate. "Go tell those mantises and the others to submerge themselves beneath the dunes and hide. Let's see if we can slip past the guards and infiltrate the fortress."

"The Land of Boiling Beast Flames isn't in the desert, but beneath the Ferocious Beast Sect's fortress?" Jun Bugu held the Heaven Key, his face etched with doubt. "Why do we have to enter that stronghold?"

"Who would be foolish enough to leave a vital location unguarded in the open?" Ye Xiu, having experienced countless adventures, knew the Land of Boiling Beast Flames was never just one place; it might even lead to another realm. "Just follow my lead."

"Hall Master Ye, what about us?" Ant Da worried for Ye Xiu's safety, anxiously asking, "Spider Maiden and Serpent Beauty are also on their way. Should we wait for them before making a move?"

Ye Xiu chuckled at the memory of the two beauties. "You all lie in ambush outside the fortress to provide backup for me! Besides, aren't you confident in my abilities?"

"That works too. Hall Master Ye's strength is evident to all," Ant Da replied before immediately turning and heading deep into the dunes.

Ye Xiu, with Jun Bugu in tow, darted beneath the sand, slowly closing in on the main gate. The gate itself was fashioned from incredibly thick earth. It was slightly ajar, but the four leopard-headed guards flanking it were exceptionally vigilant, moving in an alternating pattern while occasionally raising the massive blades they carried.

"Kill them, then walk right in!" Jun Bugu lacked subtlety. Without the presence of the other cruel and brutal figure, all that seemed to remain of him was a childlike simplicity.

Ye Xiu smacked him on the head and roared, "Remember, our mission is to locate the Land of Boiling Beast Flames, not to cause trouble for the Ferocious Beast Sect."

"Then what should we do?" Jun Bugu suddenly blurted out in alarm. That single sound immediately alerted one of the leopard-men.

"Did you hear something?" the guard asked his companion. In the whipping desert wind and sand, no one could be certain if the sound had truly existed.

"You're tired. Elder Beast ordered us to be extra vigilant, but honestly, what are we even guarding against?" the other guard grumbled, slumping down in dejection. "The chaos in Desolate Bone City means they won't find us anytime soon. It’s just that with the appearance of the Divine Beasts, even the Ferocious Beast Desert isn't peaceful anymore."

"Divine Beasts, right!" Ye Xiu’s mind raced. Since the Divine Beasts summoned by the Soul Soldier Talisman had already descended upon the world, perhaps there were some nearby in the desert as well. He grinned at Jun Bugu. "Go look around for any Divine Beasts in the vicinity and lure them over. That will draw the attention of these Ferocious Beasts, and we can slip into the fortress safely."

"This sounds fun!" Jun Bugu, full of mischievous energy, leaped out from their hiding spot in the pit. "Just wait for my good news."

Watching him go, Ye Xiu felt a pang of anxiety. What exactly happened to the once supremely powerful individual after encountering the Saintess of Ten Thousand Demons? Was the Jun Bugu endowed with mysterious power forcibly removed, or was there some other complication...

Sandstorms raged across the Ferocious Beast Desert, so fierce that not a single blade of grass could take root. Only these savage creatures could adapt to such harsh weather.

"Awooo!" Before long, a blue skeleton carrying a scythe appeared outside the Ferocious Beast Fortress. Its bones were twisted into unnatural configurations, and the great scythe in its hand swept across the sand.

"It's them! The Divine Beasts!" The four guards grew tense seeing the bizarre skeleton. They raised their weapons, ready to attack. "Don't worry, these things have no brains; they only know brute force. The four of us should be able to handle one easily."

"Hey, Ye Xiu!" Jun Bugu cheekily popped up beside him, pointing at the blue skeleton. "How was that? Was my service quick enough?"

"Heh, not bad. Find an opening and follow me closely!" Ye Xiu had already half-emerged from the dune. Seeing the four guards engage the skeletal Divine Beast, he immediately pulled Jun Bugu along and darted into the Ferocious Beast Fortress.

This fortress could indeed be called primitive. The first level consisted only of a circular room, with all the doorways situated along that perimeter. The only peculiar feature was a gaping hole in the center of the circle; looking down, one could only glimpse the faintest glimmer of flames.

"Whoosh!" At that moment, the sound of rhythmic marching drifted from a distance—the Ferocious Beast patrol team was heading to the main gate to reinforce the guards. "Hurry, hurry!"

"Hide!" Ye Xiu held his breath as he and Jun Bugu squeezed behind a tall clump of blazing fire. "Looking at the structure of this fortress, I think the entrance to the Land of Boiling Beast Flames must be down in that deep pit below. Let's find a chance to drop down and check it out!"

"Down there? Didn't you see the sparks below?" Jun Bugu couldn't believe Ye Xiu's words. "Just blindly jumping down based on a vague idea might be suicide."

Ye Xiu observed the upper level of the fortress carefully. While it was also decorated with thick earth, the craftsmanship was much finer. They couldn't go up, but the Land of Boiling Beast Flames was clearly beneath those sparks. "Don't worry. I'm not afraid of fire, and I assume you aren't either."

"I have huge problems! I really don't want to die like this," Jun Bugu protested, waving his hands, completely unwilling to descend. Unexpectedly, Ye Xiu grabbed him and forcibly dragged him toward the railing in the center. "Waaah!"

"Don't shout! Now is the moment!" Ye Xiu and Jun Bugu plunged into the deep hole one after the other. The black void was lined on both sides by fiery red mountain walls. The further they descended, the clearer the sparks became, growing into substantial flames. Just as they neared the bottom, an enormous blaze of an unusual color enveloped them both.

"Aaaah!" Jun Bugu plunged his twin blades into the cliff face, trying to escape the flames, but the fire roared skyward, and an intense heat immediately spread throughout his body. Seeing Ye Xiu charge into the sea of fire without looking back, he shrieked, "Ye Xiu, are you trying to die!"

"Don't you feel that this flame is the eye of this underground realm?" Ye Xiu's voice emerged from the rolling flames; he looked as if he were burning but calmly walked toward the nearby Jun Bugu. "I told you this flame is ineffective against me, and I believe it will have no effect on you either."