After defeating the Flame Giant Beast, Su Yao and her companions successfully retrieved the first Spirit Orb. Though exhausted, they were filled with the joy of victory. The fading rays of the sunset bathed their dust- and sweat-streaked faces; for a moment, everything on Fire Mountain seemed gilded in a golden memory. Yet, they knew well that this was but a small step on a long journey, with far more difficult obstacles waiting ahead.
Su Yao carefully tucked the Spirit Orb into her clothing. The warmth it radiated seemed to resonate subtly with her own heartbeat. "Let us find a safe place to rest and recover our strength," Lin Yu suggested. The others nodded, dragging their heavy feet toward the foot of the mountain. Along the way, the mountain groaned with the sound of falling rocks—a result of the previous battle and the fluctuations caused by the Spirit Orb—as if bidding them farewell or warning of dangers yet to come.
When they finally cleared the perimeter of Fire Mountain, they found shelter in a hidden valley. Su Yao sat cross-legged, closing her eyes to focus, attempting to perceive the connection between the Spirit Orb, the crystal within her, and the mysterious power she possessed. Lin Yu and Leng Xuan took turns keeping guard, staying alert for any sign of the Blood Demon Temple or other factions coveting the orb. Nearby, Zhao Ya meticulously prepared food and water; though she did not practice cultivation, she understood the vital importance of logistics at suc…
Chapter 58