Weird Survival: I can devour thousands of talents

Chapter 190 189: Don’t order yet!!
【【【Don’t order yet!! 】】】

Ling Xiao stood at the entrance to the Flame Caverns, feeling the heat surge from the deep caverns. His heartbeat quickened with the low rumble emanating from the depths, the roar of the subterranean fire. A renowned adventurer on the continent of Aesera, his gaze was resolute, the longsword in his hand gleaming coldly in the firelight. Today, he would challenge this cursed land, seeking the legendary Heart of Fire to prove his worth.

The entrance to the Flaming Caverns was covered in vines and thorns, as if nature itself was attempting to contain this destructive force. Ling Xiao took a deep breath, swung his sword, severing the obstacles, and stepped into this unknown territory. His footsteps echoed on the blazing rock, each step feeling exceptionally heavy.

Ling Xiao lay before him, a winding, downward passage. Lava dripped from the walls, hissing, and the air was thick with the scent of sulfur. His leather armor burned scorching in the heat, but his will, like his sword, remained unyielding. He scanned the passage, searching for possible traps or hidden enemies.

At the end of the passage, an ancient stone door blocked the way. It was engraved with strange runes, which seemed to come alive in the firelight, flowing with mysterious power. Ling Xiao reached out and gently touched the runes. A warm current flowed down his arm and into his body, and he felt a strange resonance.

"These runes... what do they say?" Ling Xiao muttered to himself, a desire to explore welling up in his heart. He closed his eyes and concentrated on sensing the power of the runes. Gradually, he felt a warmth coursing through his body, resonating with the power of the runes.

Suddenly, the stone door uttered a low rumble and slowly opened. A stream of even hotter air surged out from behind the door, nearly blowing Ling Xiao over. He steadied himself, gripped his sword tightly, and stepped into the room behind the stone door.

In the center of the room, a vast pool of lava seethed, roiling and churning, emitting a dazzling light and scorching heat. In the center of the lava pool, a strange rock suspended, surrounded by circles of flames – the legendary Heart of Fire.

A flicker of surprise flashed across Ling Xiao's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by caution. He knew that such a treasure couldn't possibly be without a guardian. He looked around and, sure enough, spotted several pairs of eyes, glowing red, in the shadows of the room.

"Come out, my friends," Ling Xiao shouted, his voice echoing throughout the room. From the shadows, several giant flaming beasts slowly emerged, their skin flowing like lava, their eyes burning with rage.

Ling Xiao gripped his sword tightly, ready to fight. He knew it would be a difficult battle, but he felt no fear, only a desire for victory. The flaming beast roared and charged at him, its molten fist slamming into the ground, causing a violent tremor.

Ling Xiao dodged the attacks nimbly, his sword dancing like a dance in flames, each swing accompanied by a sound of breaking through the air. He engaged in a fierce battle with the flaming beast, each encounter filled with danger but also passion.

The battle lasted for a long time. With his outstanding fighting skills and unyielding will, Ling Xiao finally defeated the last fire beast. He stood by the lava pool, panting, but with a gleam of victory in his eyes.

He stretched out his hand, ready to take the Heart of Fire, but at this moment, a powerful force suddenly erupted from the lava pool, and a huge fire creature rose from the magma. Its body was made of pure flames, and its eyes burned with a rage that wanted to destroy everything.

Ling Xiao's face was solemn. He knew this was the real challenge. He took a deep breath, raised his sword, and prepared to face this life-or-death battle.

Ling Xiao stood at the edge of the lava pool, facing the fiery creature rising from the magma. He felt no fear in his heart, only a desire for the upcoming battle. This creature, known as the "Blazer", was the guardian of the Flame Vault, and its existence was to prevent any greedy adventurers from approaching the Heart of Flame.

The Balrog's body was composed of pure fire, every muscle ablaze, and every breath belched out blazing tongues of flame. Its eyes were like two burning suns, emitting a radiance so intense it was unbearable to gaze directly upon. Ling Xiao gripped his sword tightly, the tip pointed at the Balrog. His body trembled slightly from the intense heat, but his resolve remained as unwavering as a mountain.

The Fire Demon roared with a deafening roar, shaking the entire cavern. It swung its flaming arms and attacked Ling Xiao. Ling Xiao quickly retreated, avoiding the direct blow, but the intense heat still scorched a patch of his leather armor. He felt a flicker of pain, but this didn't deter him; instead, it fueled his fighting spirit.

Ling Xiao began to move nimbly through the caverns, his steps light and swift, each leap dodging the Balrog's heavy blows. His sword danced like a dance within the flames, each swing carrying a piercing sound. His eyes were focused and calm, searching for the Balrog's weakness.

The Fire Demon's attacks grew increasingly fierce, illuminating the entire catacombs with its flames. Ling Xiao felt the pressure, yet within him burned an unyielding fire. He knew this battle wasn't just for the Heart of Fire, but also to prove his own strength and courage.

While dodging, Ling Xiao noticed the Fire Demon's attack pattern. Every time the Fire Demon swung its arms, its chest would be briefly exposed. A glint flashed in Ling Xiao's eyes; he had found the Fire Demon's weakness.

Ling Xiao began to consciously guide the Flame Demon's attacks, his movements becoming increasingly bolder, each dodge bringing him closer to the Flame Demon's chest. The Flame Demon, enraged by Ling Xiao's provocation, became more violent in its attacks, but this also meant exposing its chest more frequently.

Finally, after a perfect dodge, Ling Xiao found his opportunity. He leaped up, his sword pointed directly at the Fire Demon's chest. The Fire Demon sensed the danger and tried to block Ling Xiao's attack with his arms, but it was too late. Ling Xiao's sword pierced through the Fire Demon's flames and pierced its chest.

The Fire Demon roared in agony, shaking the entire cavern. Its flames began to become unstable, and finally, with a resounding explosion, they exploded, disintegrating into countless fireballs that flew everywhere. Ling Xiao was sent flying by the force of the explosion, falling heavily to the ground.

He felt a sharp pain, but his heart was filled with joy. He had defeated the Balrog, proving his strength. He struggled to stand up and walked towards the Heart of Fire.

The Heart of Flame radiated a gentle glow, its power purer and more powerful than any other flame. Ling Xiao reached out and touched the Heart of Flame. A powerful force surged into him, and he felt his body and soul being transformed by it.

A flicker of surprise flashed in Ling Xiao's eyes. He felt a new connection, a mysterious bond between him and the flames. His body began to emanate a faint flame, his strength and speed greatly enhanced. Ling Xiao stood at the exit of the Fiery Caverns, his body enveloped by the newly acquired power of the flames, emitting a faint red glow. A determined glint shone in his eyes, and the longsword in his hand seemed to sense the change in its master, trembling slightly, as if responding to Ling Xiao's power.

Ling Xiao slowly emerged from the caverns, each step feeling especially heavy. He felt a mixture of excitement at his newfound power and uncertainty about the future. The exit of the Flame Caverns lay in a desolate valley, surrounded by towering peaks. Only a narrow path led to the outside world. The air in the valley was dry and hot, as if even the wind refused to linger.

Ling Xiao looked up at the sky. The sun was high overhead, scorching the earth mercilessly. He took a deep breath, adjusted his backpack, and prepared to return. However, at that moment, his keen hearing picked up an unusual sound—the sound of metal clashing.

He immediately became alert, hiding behind a rock and observing the source of the sound. Soon, several figures appeared in his sight. They were wearing uniform black armor, holding sharp weapons, and their steps were in step, clearly a well-trained team.

A sense of alarm rose in Ling Xiao's heart. He recognized their attire—they were members of the Black Rock Mercenary Group, a notorious organization on the continent of Aesera, known for plunder and murder. Why were they here? Were they also searching for the Heart of Fire?

A flicker of unease flashed through Ling Xiao's heart. He knew he had just fought a tough battle and his strength hadn't fully recovered. But facing these uninvited guests, he knew he couldn't retreat. He gripped his sword tightly, ready to fight.

The members of the Black Rock Mercenary Group soon discovered Ling Xiao's whereabouts and quickly surrounded him. The leader was a burly warrior with a hideous scar on his face and a cruel gleam in his eyes.

"Put down your weapons, hand over the Heart of Fire, and perhaps I can give you a quick death." The leading warrior sneered, his voice hoarse and threatening.

Ling Xiao looked at him coldly, saying nothing. He knew these people wouldn't let him go just because he surrendered. He took a deep breath, and the fire power in his body began to surge, gradually enveloping him in flames.

"Since you refuse to cooperate, don't blame me for being rude." The leading soldier waved his hand, and his men immediately attacked Ling Xiao.

Battle erupted instantly, Ling Xiao brandishing his longsword, engaging the members of the Black Rock Mercenary Group in a fierce clash. His swordplay was sharp and precise, each swing carrying the power of fire, burning the enemy's weapons and armor red hot. He felt no fear, only a thirst for battle and a determination for victory.

Although the members of the Black Rock Mercenary Group were well-trained, they were powerless in the face of Ling Xiao's flame power. Every attack of Ling Xiao was filled with destructive power, and the flames danced on the tip of his sword, neutralizing the enemy's offensive one by one.

The battle lasted for a long time, and Ling Xiao gradually gained the upper hand with his newfound strength and superior fighting skills. His eyes were firm and calm, and every swing of his sword was full of power and determination.

Finally, after a fierce attack, Ling Xiao successfully defeated the last enemy. He stood on the battlefield, panting, but his eyes gleamed with victory. He knew he had proven his strength once again, but he didn't feel too happy. He knew that this was just a small episode in his adventure, and more challenges awaited him.

Ling Xiao stood in a dense forest, clutching the ancient treasure map. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling his figure and casting a shadow of mystery. His heart was filled with curiosity about the unknown and a thirst for adventure. The treasure map pointed to a forgotten ruin, said to hold the secret to amplifying his flame power.

Ling Xiao carefully searched the treasure map. The markings and symbols on the map were ancient and complex, but his eyes gleamed with determination. He knew his journey was full of unknowns and dangers, but he had no fear in his heart, only a desire for the power of fire and a love of adventure.

He began to follow the route on the map, passing through dense forests and crossing turbulent streams, taking every step with extreme caution. The creatures in the forest were wary of him as an outsider, but the fire power emanating from Ling Xiao made them afraid to approach easily.

As they went deeper into the forest, the surroundings became increasingly desolate. The trees became sparse, and the ground was covered with gravel and dead branches. Ling Xiao's footsteps made a crisp sound on the gravel, and his mood became tense as the environment changed.

Finally, he arrived at an open area. There stood an ancient stone gate, covered in strange runes that bore a striking resemblance to the runes in the Flame Grotto. Ling Xiao's heartbeat quickened. He knew this was the forgotten ruins the treasure map had pointed to.

He reached out and touched the runes on the stone door. A familiar warmth flowed from his fingertips into his body, resonating with the fire power within him. The stone door slowly opened, revealing a staircase leading underground.

Ling Xiao took a deep breath, lit a torch, and slowly walked down the stone steps. The walls on either side of the steps were carved with ancient murals depicting scenes of fire and war. The images were so vivid that they seemed ready to leap out of the walls at any moment.

As he went deeper underground, the temperature of the air gradually rose, and Ling Xiao's flame power became more active here. He could feel the power of the fire element here, which made his confidence stronger.

At the end of the stone steps was a vast underground hall. In the center of the hall stood a huge fire pit, a blazing fire burning in it, illuminating the entire hall. Around the fire pit stood a number of ancient stone statues, each in a different pose, but all facing the fire pit, as if performing some ancient ritual.

Ling Xiao's gaze was drawn to something within the pool of fire. It was a strange crystal, suspended in the center of the pool, emitting a dazzling light. Circles of flames surrounded the crystal, seemingly protecting it from anyone approaching.

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(End of this chapter)