In Feng Zikang's mind, there was no amorous thought; he was merely calculating the girl's objective in the flash of an instant.

A subtle balance of tacit understanding already existed among the six of them. Although Moli'er was the newest addition, she represented his master, Ghost King Tu. Now, with Feng Zikang in tow, even if her stated purpose was merely to catch a ride to the peak of Longya Mountain, the others might not see it that way!

These six individuals already harbored their own secrets; even the slightest shift could destabilize the fragile trust between them, making the matter of opening the mansion even more difficult.

"My gratitude to Sister Juliet!" Feng Zikang adopted an expression of thanks. "I, Feng, am naturally an open-minded person and certainly won't be prudish about accepting aid, but your companions..."

Regardless of her underlying motive, if he stood aside, he would never learn the truth. Feng Zikang, emboldened by his courage and possessing hidden trump cards, readily agreed.

"Don't worry about them," Shalier dismissed the concern, lightly brushing back her hair. Though her frame was still small for her age, she carried herself with alluring grace; every gesture seemed imbued with immense charm.

The little fox, however, was deeply hostile towards her, watching with a predatory glare and chirping aggressively whenever she drew near.

Moli'er chuckled lightly and flicked the tip of the little fox's nose, provoking it into a frenzy of annoyed squeaks. Feng Zikang could only offer a wry smile and cradle it to soothe it.

"Then it is settled!"

Shalier straightened up, the glimpse of soft, pale flesh revealed earlier now concealed. She hummed a little tune and strode away with a flourish.

※

The following afternoon, the six who had conspired to open the secret mansion gathered in the village, preparing to depart before nightfall. Shalier, however, brought Feng Zikang along, positioning him slightly to the side.

"What is he doing here?" The one-eyed scholar glared, his tone sharp.

The Iron Masked Man nodded instead. "Nephew Juliet mentioned this matter to me. Since we share the same path of cultivation, we should naturally offer assistance where possible. However, the Lihuo True Qi is ferocious; you must be extremely careful yourself!"

Shalier explained to the group that Feng Zikang needed to utilize their passage through the Lihuo True Qi to slip through the canopy of the Fusang Tree and reach the summit of Longya Peak, thereby completing the good deed of collecting Fusang Wood. As they listened, their expressions grew somewhat peculiar, but unwilling to offend a disciple of the Military Strategists from Longhu Mountain, they remained silent, each nursing their own calculations.

This was Feng Zikang's first time facing Liu Yuansu, the sect master of the Taishan Sword Sect, in his Iron Masked Man guise. He maintained a respectful yet firm demeanor, bowing formally. "I am deeply grateful for the senior's consideration in this matter!"

His tone perfectly matched the bearing of a disciple from a major sect—courteous to others, yet never appearing servile. The Iron Masked Man nodded. "All cultivators under Heaven share one family; such formality is unnecessary."

Feng Zikang knew the man was hunting Wang Shang, yet he felt no anxiety that the man would uncover his identity as the culprit who infiltrated the Taishan Sword Sect and stole the Longya Ancient Mirror. Wang Shang's death, at least in Liu Yuansu's view, had occurred long before Feng Zikang’s intervention.

The so-called "Star Shuttle" that Feng Zikang took from Wang Shang was no treasure; it was merely a Thunderclap Pellet enhanced with an illusionary spell, something Feng Zikang had acquired from Mo Fenghuang in Mangcang Mountain for amusement. He had embedded the Star-Extinguishing Sword Qi within the pellet, set to automatically detonate upon a fierce confrontation in the coming days. Given Wang Shang’s cultivation, he surely couldn't escape; he would likely be utterly atomized, making it impossible for him to reveal anything.

Wang Shang’s death could hardly be called unjust, as he had indeed resorted to murder for profit, having slain Liu Yue, the sect master's beloved son.

Thus, Feng Zikang had divined the Iron Masked Man's true identity, while the Iron Masked Man knew nothing of him, viewing him merely as a fledgling cultivator undertaking a mission. Since there was no inherent conflict, he was happy to play the benefactor. When Juliet mentioned it, the Iron Masked Man immediately agreed.

Moreover, the presence of an outsider so closely allied with Juliet would surely cause the other members considerable inner torment—precisely what suited his own intentions.

Since no one voiced an objection, taking Feng Zikang along was settled. However, the attitude of Kong Chan and the others towards him was strangely mixed: they neither wished to offend him nor wanted the burden, showing a clear sense of disdain.

"Stick close, kid, or you might lose your life without even knowing it!" Hu Sha sneered, unclear whether it was mockery or a warning.

Madam Two Faces drifted closer, her smile warm, yet the face behind her was filled with contempt and scorn.

In the path of cultivation, an unestablished foundation felt like an insurmountable chasm, marked by strict hierarchies. How could these deviant cultivators regard him, merely an Yinqi stage disciple?

The only reason they hadn't summarily eliminated him was due to the reputation of the Military Strategists from Longhu Mountain backing him.

"Let's go!"

The Iron Masked Man checked the sky; the sun was sinking, painting the horizon in deep crimson twilight—an eerie hue, like spilled blood. In about half an hour, darkness would fall, and as the Lihuo True Qi weakened, deeper penetration would become feasible.

He spread his hands, and a wisp of bloody energy diffused into the air, gradually expanding to envelop the group. The others understood. Venerable Kong Chan patted his bald head, revealing the Dharma Wheel behind his ear, which shone with white light and red flames, harmonizing with the bloody energy. Hu Sha snorted, clapping his hands, causing a white blade infused with golden light to flicker in the air. The one-eyed scholar, Cui Ke, touched his right eye, shooting out a cold beam. Madam Two Faces let out a dry laugh, exhaling white mist from her front face and black mist from her back face, the two mingling.

Shalier, unconcerned by their display of prowess, took a wooden hairpin from her temple and gently drew it across the air. An icy wind roared, and a river of chilling, obscure water materialized, encircling the group.

"Excellent!" the Iron Masked Man praised. "Your niece's Wan Gui Gui Yuan True Art has reached such a level—no less than the Old Ghost in his prime! Today's opening of the mansion has gained an extra measure of certainty!"

The six displayed their unique powers, forming a robust defensive perimeter. Rong Xiang'er pulled Feng Zikang into the circle. The others, deeming his ability too low, didn't require him to deploy any protective spells, a reprieve Feng Zikang gladly accepted.

"We have traversed the Lihuo True Qi five times now, forwards and back; everyone understands the risks involved, so I won't elaborate. However, Little Brother from the Military Strategists, you must be vigilant not to leave this defensive circle. Once we reach the location, I will assist you in passing through the canopy. Until then, absolutely no rash movements!"

Feng Zikang agreed. The six then unleashed their powers, ascending into the air. Feng Zikang dared not lag, transforming the Devouring Heaven Ancient Sword into a beam of light beneath his feet, following closely.

The initial ascent was effortless, but upon reaching the nine-hundred-zhang altitude level with the Fusang Tree, he felt as though his body was being roasted. The Lihuo essence Qi permeated every pore, threatening to bake him alive. Even within the protective circle, the pain was agonizing.

Feng Zikang acknowledged the danger and did not dare to overestimate himself. He gently pinched the Adamantine Relic, activating the Adamantine Indestructible Body divine ability. A hundred-foot circle of golden light enveloped the group, managing to slightly resist the severe heat.

"Benefactor, you even understand my Buddhist divine arts?" Venerable Kong Chan finally opened his eyes to regard Feng Zikang, though a flicker of greed appeared in his gaze.

Given Feng Zikang's current foundation, it should be impossible for him to cultivate a side-door divine art up to the twentieth level. The highest probability was that he possessed a relic-like treasure. Although such items were merely of marginal use to those who did not cultivate the Buddhist path, they were immensely valuable to heretical monks like Venerable Kong Chan, naturally sparking greed.

Feng Zikang smiled faintly. "I possess an Adamantine Relic, gifted to me by Senior Zen Master Wule of Baima Temple."

"Oh." Venerable Kong Chan had heard of the reputation of Zen Master Wule, the abbot of Baima Temple and a Nindan expert. He dared not provoke such a figure, but his longing intensified. He shamelessly pressed on, "Since little Daoist Friend possesses this treasure, yet is not of the Buddhist sect, its utility for you is limited. This Adamantine Relic would be quite useful to this old monk. I happen to possess some fine items; if you don't scorn them, how about an exchange?"

"When this matter is concluded, I shall naturally abide by the Master's wishes!"

Whether Venerable Kong Chan would survive this endeavor was another matter entirely, so Feng Zikang readily made a promise without a second thought.

"Do not be careless! We are about to enter the densest region of the Lihuo True Qi. This Qi has condensed for a long time, and some have already formed Taiyang True Fire; contact means instant death. Be diligent!"

Seeing Venerable Kong Chan about to speak further, the Iron Masked Man sharply reprimanded him. This was hardly the place for bartering. Even with his cultivation, caution was paramount; if that monk caused trouble and let in a wisp of Taiyang True Fire, even if it didn't kill them all, they would certainly be severely injured.

Venerable Kong Chan shivered inwardly, chastising himself for his wavering focus: why was he letting a mere Adamantine Relic cause such a lapse in composure? He immediately focused on careful protection.

With the twentieth level of the Adamantine Indestructible Body divine art shielding him, and the group's defensive formations blocking the Lihuo True Qi, the impact of the intense heat was greatly diminished, provided there was no direct contact. Feng Zikang calmed himself and observed his surroundings.

Everything around him was fiery red, with no other color—this was the world of Lihuo True Qi. Occasionally, one or two deeper red spots appeared, likely the Taiyang True Fire condensed from the Lihuo True Qi that the Iron Masked Man had mentioned, capable of incinerating everything in existence with boundless power. They moved cautiously, weaving and curving to avoid the resting places of this Taiyang True Fire.

Li represents fire and the sun; it is one of the eight trigrams. The Lihuo True Qi is the origin of fire. In the cycle of the Five Elements, wood generates fire; hence, the Lihuo True Qi originates from the Fusang Tree, condensing and gathering to produce various forms of fire.

"A pity we don't cultivate fire manipulation arts. Otherwise, capturing one or two wisps of Taiyang True Fire to take back would be quite powerful," Juliet remarked, the most relaxed among the six. She seemed to adopt an attitude of being content with success or accepting failure gracefully, holding no great expectations for this expedition to open the mansion, treating it more like a detached observation. At this moment, she still had the leisure to jest.

In fire manipulation arts, being able to command Taiyang True Fire would indeed be formidable, but what kind of divine art and cultivation level would be required to achieve that?

It would require at least a high-grade Profound-level fire manipulation art to wield even one or two wisps of Taiyang True Fire, demanding a cultivation base of at least the Yuanying stage. Juliet, merely a young woman in the Zhuji stage, spoke with boundless audacity.

If she possessed the Yuanying stage cultivation, she wouldn't need to travel thousands of miles to the Fusang Tree; she could ascend tens of thousands of feet into the sky where the Lihuo layer held ample Taiyang True Fire for collection. Those below the Yuanying stage, not having attained an apparent immortal body, absolutely could not withstand it.

As they ventured deeper, the original fiery red world gradually began to turn white. These white flames swirled and danced, even more scorching. Feng Zikang gradually felt a growing heat on his body again.

His heart tightened; he knew that breaking out of the Lihuo True Qi would require real effort. Otherwise, outside the defensive circle woven by the combined powers of the six, even if he didn't die, he was guaranteed to suffer severe burns.

Feng Zikang secretly marveled at the extreme temperature deep within the Lihuo True Qi!

Fortunately, after moving forward a bit further, the Lihuo True Qi gradually reverted to a fiery red hue.

"So, it's not necessarily hotter the closer we get to the Fusang Tree..."

The Fusang Tree was the source of the Lihuo True Qi; its branches and leaves continuously emitted this energy, which accumulated and thickened in the air, making it more potent. Consequently, the area near the canopy, constantly replenished by newly emerging Qi, was somewhat cooler than the central parts.

Through the endless firelight, shapes flickered indistinctly; the silhouette of the Fusang Tree could now be seen.

"We've arrived! It's right here!"

The Iron Masked Man halted and produced a compass from his sleeve, adjusting its position before nodding.

"The calculations are correct. Tonight, there are three known portals to the secret mansion: one at ten thousand zhang altitude, one deep within the mountain belly—both inaccessible—and the remaining one should be here!"

"Oh." Feng Zikang felt admiration. He hadn't expected Liu Yuansu, after years of studying the mansion, to be able to calculate the location of the inter-dimensional connection. Unfortunately, he remained ignorant of the mysteries within Longya Mountain's belly, meaning his exhaustive calculations would ultimately benefit Feng Zikang.

"Little Daoist Friend, this location is not far from the Fusang Tree canopy. With the speed of your sword light, you only need to endure for three breaths to pass through the canopy and reach the summit of Longya Mountain. You should go now!"

Having reached his destination successfully, the Iron Masked Man wished to avoid further complications. With the boy's Yinqi cultivation, surviving three breaths in the Lihuo True Qi gave him perhaps a twenty percent chance of survival, but that was no longer his concern.

After all, if he burned to death in the Lihuo True Qi, even if the Military Strategists of Longhu Mountain investigated, the trail would not lead back to him.

"Three breaths?" Juliet's expression shifted suddenly, taking on a picture of pitiable vulnerability. "Didn't the place where the secret mansion usually appears require us to be closer? How can Brother Feng manage to endure for those three breaths?"

The Iron Masked Man snorted. "Didn't your master tell you that the location of the secret mansion shifts constantly? This delay of merely three breaths is considered close! The furthest time, it appeared in the most condensed area of Lihuo True Qi, leaving us all suffering and wounded. This little Daoist Friend is a disciple from a prestigious sect; who knows if he has his own methods?"

"Ah," Juliet’s eyes filled with tears as she turned to Feng Zikang. "Little Brother, you absolutely cannot charge in recklessly! Enduring three breaths in the Lihuo True Qi—how could an Yinqi cultivator like you manage that? Even we would suffer serious injury in three breaths without combining our efforts. You must not go!"

"If that’s true... why don't you enter the secret mansion with us first? Once the matter inside is concluded, we can figure out a way later?"

Shalier's tone suddenly changed again, proposing an utterly unbelievable request.

She was, startlingly, inviting him into the secret mansion!

Feng Zikang was inwardly alarmed, still uncertain of her objective, but the others immediately began to clamor.

"Absolutely not! Why should this brat enter?"

"He'll just be a burden if he goes in; why bother bringing him?"

The Iron Masked Man, however, frowned in deep thought, remaining silent.

"Little Brother, please listen to me just this once, alright? This Lihuo True Qi is too dangerous. You followed this path because of my words. If you die, won't I carry the guilt for a lifetime? Can you really bear to let me feel guilty forever?"

Juliet pleaded pitifully, her voice exceptionally charming, enough to make anyone's bones go weak.

Before Feng Zikang could answer, the Iron Masked Man spoke in a deep voice, "What has happened today is fate. If the little Daoist Friend wishes, it is no trouble for him to enter the secret mansion with us. After our business is done, sending you to the summit will only be a small matter!"

He actually agreed with Juliet’s proposal!