The lava splashing in the sky gradually lessened.
Just as everyone thought it was over.
The volcano roared again, and a larger pillar of lava spewed into the sky.
Visibly, this lava pillar carried countless fiery red boulders.
The smallest were already over ten meters in diameter.
Everyone fell into panic once more.
Even the girl in red, who had been holding on stubbornly until now.
Upon seeing this eruption of lava, her eyes betrayed a look of despair.
"You all run! I'm sorry, I delayed your escape!" Tears welled up in the girl in red's eyes.
Although many had died during the first wave of lava inflow, those who had fled far away were now safe.
Even if this lava pillar carrying boulders descended, those people would not be in great danger.
She had erected a shield, and many, thinking it was safe, had crowded in.
Now, it was likely too late to run.
However... leaving now might offer a glimmer of hope.
If they didn't go, they would surely perish.
As soon as she spoke, everyone under the shield had varied expressions.
Their gazes towards her held helplessness, resentment, and dejection.
The girl met their gazes, and her eyes darkened.
"Damn it... you ungrateful bastards! We didn't ask you to come in. Watch this! I'll kick you to death."
Xiao Hei also noticed the shift in the surrounding aura and immediately grew agitated.
He unleashed a kick.
*Boom...*
With a dull thud, the unfortunate soul closest to him had his chest bones collapse, spewing blood, and was sent flying out of the protective barrier.
A sheet of lava rained down from above, striking the person instantly and melting him into gas.
"You dare kill people..."
...
Seeing the boy in black act so decisively, everyone glared at him in anger.
However, more people immediately got up and left, rushing out of the protective barrier and fleeing into the distance.
At this moment, the fire element in the entire space erupted.
The ground was covered in lava, and the hot air rose as it was heated, creating chaotic currents. Flying high in the sky was no longer possible.
Chu Tian, activating his Swift Flight form, was also forced to land.
He discovered that flying in the sky amidst the chaotic currents was not as fast as running on the ground.
Just as he landed not far away, he saw someone flying backward and being struck by lava.
Chu Tian was startled and immediately knew something had gone wrong ahead.
He quickened his pace and rushed over.
As soon as he entered the protective shield's range, he heard Miao Zuo shout.
"Don't leave! Give me back my talismans! Wei Jin, Xiao Hei, Xiao Hong, let's all go together! If we get the talismans, we can escape this disaster!"
Miao Zuo gritted his teeth and shot an offensive talisman directly at someone dressed in purple robes.
Wei Jin drew the long saber Chu Tian had left him.
With a leap, like a giant eagle swooping down, he attacked that person.
He knew that reclaiming Miao Zuo's spatial bag might be their last hope of survival.
Miao Zuo thought the same; death was inevitable, so fighting for a chance was worth it.
Xiao Hei, not understanding, seeing Wei Jin attack, also threw a lightning ball.
This scene surprised Chu Tian, as Xiao Hei could now cast skills instantaneously.
It seemed it had also obtained its own fortuitous encounter.
That person had just entered the shield to dodge a sheet of lava falling from above.
He hadn't intended to stay here long, and now that everyone was preparing to flee.
He naturally turned to leave.
But he failed to notice Miao Zuo's presence.
Until now, Miao Zuo unleashed the only offensive talisman he had.
It exploded in front of him, blocking his path.
Following Wei Jin and the boy in black who also attacked him.
Naturally, he was furious.
Miao Zuo's talisman exploded, and the spatial ripples caused him to step back, his clothes getting several holes.
However, it did not cause him any real harm.
Conversely, Wei Jin's saber strike, delivered with all his might, showed he knew time was of the essence.
"Seeking death..."
The person roared in rage.
He clenched his fists, and a massive fist print appeared out of nowhere.
It struck directly towards Wei Jin.
*Boom...*
However, Xiao Hei, holding the thunderous sphere, struck from behind, hitting the man directly in the chest.
Countless fine currents exploded on his body, but they did not cause significant damage.
Wei Jin cut through the fist print with his saber, his momentum exhausted, and he landed on the ground.
The man, using the explosive impact of the lightning ball, was sent flying backward violently.
He did not linger to fight and actually managed to escape.
"Trying to run? Not so easy! Yin Lightning, appear!"
Xiao Hei roared, and a larger lightning ball appeared out of thin air in front of his chest.
However, he did not throw it.
Instead, the retreating figure reversed direction and shot back towards the lightning ball in Xiao Hei's hand with even greater speed.
"Heh heh... Yin and Yang dual lightning, they do indeed attract each other..."
Xiao Hei grinned, revealing his small, sharp canine teeth.
This scene even drew a slight sideways glance from the girl in red.
She had found this lightning control technique in a cave on the sixth level.
Of course... Xiao Hei had been trotting along behind her.
She had entered not long before, and because she was late, she headed straight for the entrance.
Xiao Hei, by chance, entered the secret realm and landed directly in front of her.
The two Kirins met, and she still remembered Xiao Hei's expression.
His eyes were so wide they looked like they would fall out, and drool was running from his mouth.
It made her feel annoyed.
She ignored him and bypassed him to continue her journey.
Who would have thought this fellow would stick to her like gum?
He couldn't be driven away by beating, nor could he be driven away by scolding.
In desperation, she could only treat him as if he were invisible.
She ascended to the sixth level, thinking she could shake off Xiao Hei on the Ascension Stairway.
Unexpectedly, despite his seemingly mediocre strength, he could pass the trials with ease.
The Sacred Spirit Realm secret realm, although it had nine levels, the Ascension Stairways only had eight. The first four were basically obstacle settings.
Exiting midway would not cause any life-threatening damage.
However, from the fifth level onwards, they were trials, and only by passing them would one receive rewards, making one reborn and powerful.
Those who failed to pass would die on the Ascension Stairways.
The first level, pressure, to temper bones and muscles.
The second level, divine might, to temper soul and spirit.
The third level, vacuum, to temper internal breath.
The fourth level, ice blades, to temper willpower.
The fifth level, sea of fire, to forge flesh and blood. Upon passing, a rain of light would descend, re-forging one's flesh and blood, making their vitality incredibly powerful.
However, this level was a breeze for her and Xiao Hei.
As a Fire Kirin, she was completely immune to the fires of all realms.
Although Xiao Hei couldn't achieve immunity, he had extremely high resistance to all four elemental attributes.
They easily passed the fifth Ascension Stairway and entered the sixth level, directly discovering a cave dwelling where he obtained the lightning element inheritance.
Since she was of the fire element, she let Xiao Hei enter.
Along the way, despite their brief interaction, her perception of Xiao Hei had changed considerably.