Chapter 2

Outside the Luo residence, the team was ready to set off.

Luo Zhenyang patted his son's shoulder, "Don't feel burdened, just do your best."

"Take care, Father!"

Luo Guan took a large step into the carriage, fearing his father would see him lose composure in public.

"Depart!"

As the team gradually moved away, Luo Guan lifted the corner of the carriage curtain and could still see his father's gaze fixed on him.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

A violent coughing fit bent Luo Zhenyang over.

Luo Guan's knuckles turned white, his face resolute!

For ordinary people, removing the Heavenly Bone means losing all cultivation and losing ten years of life. But his father's body was already severely weakened, and this removal would certainly be fatal.

If he successfully condenses the bone, there might still be a chance.

Otherwise... he would die in the Heavenly Fire Abyss, joining his father in the afterlife.

This was a life-or-death gamble for both father and son!

...

The ground split, and lava flowed, red light piercing the sky, distorting the burning air.

This was the Heavenly Fire Abyss!

A mysterious place within the Qingyang Kingdom, rumored to be a segment of an underground fire vein that periodically breaks through the earth.

Those who enter the Heavenly Fire Abyss can use the power of the flames to boil their blood, making it a natural treasure ground for condensing bones!

Over the years, it has been controlled by the imperial court, and a large sum of money is required to enter.

The Luo family went to negotiate, and soon the five elders shouted, "Luo family disciples, prepare to enter the Heavenly Fire Abyss!"

The carriage door opened, and Luo Guan, who had not shown his face for five days, appeared before everyone. He was wearing a black robe and had lost weight, but his eyes were bright like flames burning.

After bowing to the five elders, Luo Guan shouldered his water bag and took large steps toward the Heavenly Fire Abyss. The rolling heat made the young man's figure slightly blurry.

At this moment, everyone could feel his determination to fight to the death!

The face of the fifth elder softened, "Watch Luo Guan after he enters. If it's not possible... bring him back."

"Yes!"

The ground of the Heavenly Fire Abyss had some protrusions, like small paths winding downward. Luo Guan stepped into them without hesitation, the heat scorching his hair instantly.

At this time, many people were entering the Heavenly Fire Abyss like Luo Guan.

The initial section was still close to the surface, with a moderate temperature. Overcoming fear, one could proceed, but after a short while, the heat doubled, causing unbearable pain and making it difficult to open one's eyes.

Those with weak wills would become timid here.

"Ouch! It's so hot, this place is not for humans!" A young man in fine clothes cursed, looking down and turning pale, "If I fall, I'll still have a chance to condense my bones. I don't need to take this risk!"

Finding an excuse, the young man in fine clothes felt a bit relieved, but at that moment, a tall figure walked by.

It was a black-robed youth carrying a water bag, his brows furrowed, clearly enduring the burning pain, but his steps were steady, with no hesitation.

The youth's unwavering determination, like a sharp arrow, pierced the heart of the young man in fine clothes. By the time he came to his senses, the figure had already moved far away.

"Phew! He must be a waste, over eighteen and still hasn't condensed his bones, risking his life in the Heavenly Fire Abyss!" The young man in fine clothes sneered, "I still have two more chances to condense my bones, how can he compare!"

But his face still showed some resentment as he turned and left.

The first batch was eliminated, and the rest continued.

Luo Guan stopped to sense his surroundings. The high temperature stimulated his blood and qi, making them very active, but the place where the Heavenly Bone should condense remained still.

Not enough, then continue!

Luo Guan drank some water, shouldered his water bag, and took large steps downward.

Behind him, there were cheers.

"I feel it!"

"Condensing the Heavenly Bone, it will happen today!"

The youth paused for a moment but did not look back.

The Heavenly Fire Abyss was very deep, but no one knew exactly how deep.

No cultivators were allowed to enter, and no one among the many young people who came to condense their bones had ever reached the bottom.

Luo Guan estimated that he was now at the midpoint of the Heavenly Fire Abyss.

Here, he was almost at his limit!

His clothes were tattered, barely covering his body, and his shoes had long since burned and fallen off. He walked barefoot, each step peeling off a layer of flesh.

It was like being flayed alive!

Luo Guan panted heavily, each breath feeling like a fire in his chest. With great difficulty, he took steps, his skin and flesh sticking to the scorching rocks, tearing with a "sizzle" sound. Fresh blood flowed out, and the new flesh immediately stuck to the rocks, making another "sizzle" sound.

Luo Guan clenched his teeth tightly.

But this was just the pain of one step.

The youth wanted to change his fate, and there were many more steps ahead. He didn't know if he could make it to the end... but he continued forward.

"Why! Why!"

It was a youth with a face full of blisters, his red eyes streaming with blood.

"I've given everything to enter the Heavenly Fire Abyss, risking my life to get here, but where is my hope?" He shouted angrily, "What am I lacking compared to them? Why can't I cultivate?"

Tears streamed down his face, filled with despair.

A tall, muscular youth sighed deeply.

"Having come this far, I've already given half my life. Fighting with my life, but getting nothing in return."

"Perhaps, it is our fate, we are all mere mortals!"

He sat down, staring blankly at the lava below. Once his resolve was gone, he could no longer move forward.

Those who came here were all determined, but the harsh reality left them in despair.

"I'm not going any further. I have parents, I can't throw my life away here!"

Another person gave up.

"I still want to go... but it hurts so much!"

A girl cried, her youthful beauty distorted by the lava's heat.

Luo Guan continued forward.

He passed the collapsed youth and walked past the muscular youth, who looked at him with a mix of admiration and pity.

"Going further will kill you..."

Luo Guan was unmoved, moving forward silently until he surpassed everyone, leaving them behind.

Gradually, all eyes focused on him, filled with complex emotions.

"Luo Guan!"

A voice called from above, "Don't go any further, come back!"

Luo Guan finally stopped, looking at his cousin, who had been cold to him earlier but now looked anxious.

"He's giving up..."

Seeing this, everyone felt a void in their hearts, but also a sense of relief.

But then, everyone's eyes widened!

Luo Guan waved, took off his water bag, and drank a few mouthfuls. Then he lifted his hand and poured the remaining water over his head.

He threw the water bag into the lava and turned, continuing forward!

The silent shock hit everyone, leaving them speechless.

The muscular youth tried to stand up, struggling a few times before collapsing, muttering, "I'm not as good as him..."

"Luo Guan!"

Luo Yong looked up, tears streaming down his face.

He decided that from then on, anyone who spoke ill of the third branch, he would be the first to disagree.

Luo Guan, he was a man!

There was no one ahead, and the next part of the journey, Luo Guan had to walk alone. But he no longer felt loneliness or fear, only a burning resolve to continue.

His surface flesh was charred, and with each step, it would crack, blood gushing out and evaporating before it could fall. But as the blood evaporated, a cold, black mist began to rise, gradually forming a layer of fog around Luo Guan.

In fact, it was because of this black mist that Luo Guan could persist until now.

Sizzle—

The blood evaporated, and the black mist grew thicker!

At the bottom of the Heavenly Fire Abyss, in a vast lake of lava, a palm-sized black turtle sat cross-legged, yawning.

It looked as if it was enjoying a hot spring.

The black turtle suddenly opened its eyes, showing disgust, "Strange, why is there the smell of those stinky bugs here?" It sensed something and its gaze fell on the struggling Luo Guan, a golden light flashing in its eyes.

"A mere youth from the mortal world, to be worth the effort of those stinky bugs, if not for touching my aura, they wouldn't have revealed themselves. They must have a hidden agenda."

"This is truly a narrow encounter!"

The black turtle watched for a while, then showed appreciation.

"Lucky you, boy."

"Lord Gui will help you, and vent some anger at the same time!"

It stood up, stepping on the lava without sinking, and pointed a claw at Luo Guan.

Buzz—

Unnoticed, certain rules of the vast world of Qingyang were forcibly extracted and transformed into a seal.

It landed on the lone youth deep in the Heavenly Fire Abyss, suppressing the black mist around him!

The black turtle fell with a "plop," drank a few mouthfuls of lava, and struggled to surface.

"Phew, phew, phew... damn, this small task exhausted me. Old bastard, wait for me, Lord Gui will eventually split from you."

It looked up, "Whether you live or die is up to your fate!"