Chapter 91

Hu Gao's cultivation this time was quite fruitful. Not only did he elevate his realm to its peak, but he also successfully facilitated the first transformation of the Bloodlight Snake, truly establishing a connection with it as his life-bound totem. It was indeed a pleasant surprise.

With a thought, he directly summoned the Bloodlight Snake, which, upon appearing, immediately emitted a chilling hiss and a bloody smell, making people's scalps tingle and hearts tremble with fear.

Hu Gao carefully felt for a while and, seeing no abnormalities, focused his mind and entered the Bloodlight Snake's body. He wanted to see if he could activate one of the Bloodlight Snake's skills.

As his mind entered the Bloodlight Snake's body, the snake's body suddenly emitted a blood-red light, which was glaring and alluring, and a faint sound spread from it.

Suddenly, a beam of blood-red light shot out of the Bloodlight Snake's mouth, transforming into a blood sword that shot into the cave wall. With a whoosh, the blood sword cut off a large piece of earth and stone, then dispersed into a blood-red halo.

"Hmm? This blood light..."

As the blood-red light appeared, Hu Gao's mind was affected and paused for a moment.

Noticing this, Hu Gao's eyes widened, and he was greatly shocked. He thought of a possibility and once again focused his mind on the Bloodlight Snake. However, this time no blood light was emitted because as soon as he tried to activate the Bloodlight Snake, his head suddenly ached sharply, as if pierced by a needle.

"Damn, activating the Bloodlight Snake's skill consumes too much mental energy; it can't be done a second time."

Understanding the situation, Hu Gao was not anxious. He sat cross-legged and took out a transparent, jade-like flower. The flower emitted a fresh, invigorating fragrance, making people feel refreshed and clear-minded.

The Clear Jade Flower, specifically used to restore the soul, was something Hu Gao only had ten of.

Putting it directly in his mouth, the Clear Jade Flower instantly turned into a stream that flowed down his throat and then rushed into his mind. Hu Gao felt his spirit become clear, his thoughts sharp, and the previous fatigue and pain completely gone, leaving him feeling very comfortable.

"Using one Clear Jade Flower to confirm whether the Bloodlight Snake can really affect a martial artist's soul is not too wasteful."

Thinking this, Hu Gao summoned the Bloodlight Snake again and used its skill. This time, he was mentally prepared and did not lose focus as before. However, from the slight trembling of his soul, he could fully confirm that the blood light could indeed affect a martial artist's soul.

"Ha ha! Indeed, the skill released by the Bloodlight Snake can affect a martial artist's soul, but I wonder how powerful it is."

Hu Gao laughed loudly, excited. With the Bloodlight Snake's skill, he had more combat options, and with the newly comprehended sword momentum, he could gain more advantages in battle.

At this moment, he sensed movement and knew that Xiao Wu had finished his cultivation and awakened. A smile appeared on his face.

"Wow, that was a really comfortable sleep."

Xiao Wu shot out from Hu Gao's wrist and landed on the ground. Although he did not emit a powerful aura, the pressure he exuded was more solid and terrifying. Seeing Hu Gao, Xiao Wu was also quite pleased. "Boss, you look happy. Did you make progress in your cultivation?"

"Ha ha, not really progress, but I activated a small skill of the Bloodlight Snake, which might be able to attack a martial artist's soul."

Hu Gao laughed and said, "Xiao Wu, why don't you try it and see how powerful it is?"

Xiao Wu clapped his paws. "Sure, go ahead."

"Alright, be careful..."

Without hesitation, Hu Gao did not even summon the Bloodlight Snake. A blood-red light sword directly shot out from his body, giving Xiao Wu no chance to react or dodge, and it immediately penetrated his body.

"Wow, that hurts!" Xiao Wu instantly let out a painful cry.

"Xiao Wu, are you okay?"

Hu Gao's expression changed, and he quickly ran over, taking out a Clear Jade Flower without hesitation and handing it to Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu did not hesitate, and a suction force came from his mouth, drawing the Clear Jade Flower in. His expression improved, "That attack was really uncomfortable."

Hu Gao carefully examined Xiao Wu again, confirming that he was truly fine, and then he sighed in relief. "How was the Bloodlight Snake's skill?"

"Very terrifying!" Xiao Wu said without hesitation. "Even a First Stage Body Fusion Realm martial artist would be affected!"

"Even a First Stage Body Fusion Realm martial artist?"

Hu Gao nodded, his eyes filled with even more joy.

With his current strength, if he did not use the Force Yuan Meteor, he could at most have the combat power of a mid-First Stage Body Fusion Realm martial artist. With the Bloodlight Snake's skill, he would find it much easier to kill a First Stage Body Fusion Realm martial artist.

"Xiao Wu, what level of cultivation have you reached?"

Hu Gao, regaining his composure, asked the question he was most concerned about.

Xiao Wu chuckled. "Peak First Stage. I believe it won't be long before I break through to a Second Stage Beast. But don't underestimate my combat power, Boss. If you were to fight me, you wouldn't be my match."

"Really?"

"Cough, cough... On the condition that you don't use the Bloodlight Snake's skill."

"Ha ha, I wouldn't use that move against you."

At this moment, Xiao Wu clapped his paws and said, "Boss, I just sensed something. About five miles from here, in a cave, there seem to be many fire-attribute treasures. Want to check it out?"

"Let's go..."

The Flame Valley was filled with ravines and mountains, with occasional lava pools, all bathed in a red wind.

Hu Gao, with his black hair, rushed forward. The mountain wind that blew toward him would strangely change direction and avoid him just before it reached his body.

"Xiao Wu, let's find a place with dense fire poison and try to condense some fire poison bombs, shall we?"

"Sure, we have some time, let's make a few." Xiao Wu's voice echoed in Hu Gao's mind.

Hu Gao nodded, planning to condense some fire poison bombs before entering the Fire Beast Forest, giving him more options in battle. Moreover, with his current cultivation, the fire poison bombs he condensed would be more powerful, possibly even effective against Body Fusion Realm martial artists.

"Boss, it's the cave ahead. I can already sense several Black Fire Lotus flowers."

Hu Gao's figure flashed, and he directly entered the cave, where a wave of heat hit him.

The cave extended inward, its depth unknown, but it was not dark. The deeper they went, the brighter the dark red light became.

Relying on his perception and guided by Xiao Wu, Hu Gao gradually went deeper and soon found six Black Fire Lotus flowers. Besides the Black Fire Lotus flowers, there were other fire-attribute treasures.

"Xiao Wu, the fire here is much denser than at the entrance. Is there any danger ahead?" Hu Gao stopped and hesitated, asking.

"Um, the fire here is about four to five times denser than at the entrance. Boss, I feel that about a hundred meters ahead, there is a fire-attribute treasure that is dozens of times more concentrated than the Black Fire Lotus. Should we go and check it out?"

"Of course!" Hu Gao was excited about the prospect of finding treasure. "Is there a problem?"

Xiao Wu hesitated. "Boss, the dense fire-attribute is making my perception gradually blur. Near that treasure, there seems to be a powerful fire-attribute creature. I didn't notice it earlier because of the distance."

Hu Gao frowned. Could it be a fire-attribute beast? And one that can guard such a valuable treasure would definitely not be an ordinary beast. If not mistaken, it might be a Second Stage Beast.

"Xiao Wu, can we deal with a Second Stage Beast?"

"Of course!" The peak First Stage divine beast was full of confidence.

Hu Gao did not say much and walked forward step by step, his aura concealed, tightly gripping the Shadowless Sword and ready to throw out the Wind and Thunder Pearl at any moment.

Turning a small bend, the view suddenly opened up. Hu Gao was surprised to see that the scenery ahead was completely different.

This large, oval-shaped cave was filled with intense heat, and the air was thick with fire poison, dense like tadpoles in a puddle after the spring rain, making Hu Gao's skin crawl!

In the center of the cave, a small pool was filled with a dark red liquid, not lava, but the high temperature it emitted was no less than that of lava, making it the hottest point in the cave!

In the small pool, dozens of black lotus flowers floated, enveloped in a faint dark red flame. The one in the center, with its petals spread, had a palm-sized lotus pod growing.

"This is... a Black Fire Lotus Pod?"

Hu Gao's eyebrows raised, his expression filled with excitement. This Black Fire Lotus Pod must be inside the Black Fire Lotus, and it might not be an ordinary one.

One Black Fire Lotus seed was equivalent to one Black Fire Lotus. At a glance, there were at least thirty to forty Black Fire Lotus seeds.

"I must get this Black Fire Lotus Pod. And I can't let any of the Black Fire Lotus flowers nearby go."

Hu Gao licked his lips, this discovery made him very happy. The value of the treasures here was higher than what he currently had in his spatial ring.

However, facing the black tadpoles floating in the air, Hu Gao was in a dilemma. He felt like a hidden egg in a corner, and once he entered the cave, facing thousands of black tadpoles, it could be fatal.

There was also a beast lurking in the shadows! To survive in such an environment, it must be no ordinary creature.

"Boss, should we give up? This is too dangerous."

"Xiao Wu, can you sense the strength of that beast?" Hu Gao hesitated, unwilling to give up the Black Fire Lotus Pod, as the situation in the Fire Beast Forest would not be any easier.

Xiao Wu sensed again and confirmed, "Second Stage early, I'm sure. It's hiding in that pool, but I think this beast will be hard to deal with. Do you have a plan, Boss?"

"I have an idea, but I'm worried the beast is too powerful for us to handle." Hu Gao nodded. "Look, the fire poison in the air is dense, but it doesn't approach the ground within a meter. I guess it's because of the red pool. And from here to the pool, there is a path full of footprints, which I think is the path the beast uses to enter and exit."

Xiao Wu poked his head out and looked carefully. "You're right! Boss, you're amazing! If we can lure the beast away, I can pick the Black Fire Lotus Pod, but do you have a plan to escape?"

"I'd rather eliminate this beast. The fire here is dense, perfect for condensing fire poison pills without wasting time searching again." Hu Gao said, "For now, let's test the strength of this beast."