The footprints continued through the forest.
Gu Chen crouched beside them.
Several sets.
At least five people.
And unlike ordinary travelers, their movements were organized.
"They're heading toward the fire vein too," Gu Qing whispered.
Gu Chen nodded.
The footprints were fresh.
Whoever had left them couldn't be far ahead.
"Should we avoid them?" Gu Qing asked.
Gu Chen stood.
"For now, we'll follow."
Gu Qing glanced at him.
"Follow?"
"We don't know whether they're hostile."
Gu Chen's hand rested on his sword.
"But we also don't know why they're heading in the same direction."
The two continued forward.
They deliberately slowed their pace.
Neither wanted to accidentally walk into another group's territory.
After traveling for nearly half an hour, the surrounding environment gradually changed.
The trees became fewer.
The ground became warmer.
Thin cracks appeared between the rocks.
A faint crimson glow occasionally emerged from beneath the earth.
Gu Chen's eyes narrowed.
"The fire vein is nearby."
Before Gu Qing could respond—
voices came from ahead.
The two immediately stopped.
Gu Chen raised his hand.
Silence.
They moved behind a large stone.
Through the gaps between the rocks, they saw five cultivators.
Three young men.
One young woman.
And an older-looking youth standing at the front.
Their robes carried a symbol Gu Chen didn't recognize.
A black mountain beneath a golden flame.
"They aren't from our territory," Gu Qing whispered.
Gu Chen nodded.
The Falling Flame Mountains were open to multiple powers.
Seeing outsiders wasn't unusual.
But that didn't mean encounters were safe.
One of the young men suddenly kicked a stone aside.
"Still nothing."
The older youth frowned.
"The information was accurate. The Blazing Earth Root should grow near this fire vein."
Gu Chen's eyes immediately sharpened.
Blazing Earth Root.
The exact resource he needed.
Gu Qing slowly looked toward him.
Gu Chen remained silent.
So that was why they were here.
The group continued searching.
Gu Chen carefully observed them.
He could sense their cultivation.
Most were around Rank 1 Level 4 or Level 5.
But the older youth was different.
His aura was considerably stronger.
Gu Chen couldn't determine his exact level.
That alone made him cautious.
"Rank 2?" Gu Qing mouthed.
Gu Chen gave a small nod.
Possibly.
If that was true, a direct conflict would be extremely dangerous.
Even with his newly strengthened body, Gu Chen didn't believe he could fight a true Rank 2 cultivator.
The difference between Rank 1 and Rank 2 wasn't simply physical strength.
A Rank 2 cultivator had entered an entirely different stage.
His stronger physique could narrow certain gaps.
It couldn't erase a major realm difference.
Gu Chen had no intention of testing that rule.
Not yet.
Suddenly—
Rumble!
The ground trembled.
Everyone froze.
A deep sound echoed beneath the earth.
The five strangers immediately became alert.
The older youth raised his hand.
"Back."
His companions quickly retreated.
Another tremor followed.
Rumble!
A large crack spread across the ground.
Heat erupted from beneath.
Gu Chen grabbed Gu Qing's shoulder.
"Move!"
The two jumped backward.
BOOM!
A pillar of crimson flame shot into the sky.
The surrounding rocks melted.
Gu Chen's expression changed.
"Fire vein eruption?"
"No," Gu Qing whispered.
His eyes were fixed on the crack.
"Something's coming."
The ground exploded.
A massive figure emerged from beneath the earth.
It resembled a wolf.
But its body was covered in black scales.
Crimson flames burned between the gaps.
The creature's eyes glowed like molten fire.
The moment it appeared—
a powerful pressure swept across the area.
One of the strangers stumbled backward.
"What kind of beast is that?"
The older youth's expression changed.
"Flame-Earth Wolf!"
Gu Chen's eyes narrowed.
He had heard of this beast.
A magical beast capable of moving beneath the earth and absorbing fire energy.
It was naturally compatible with fire veins.
But what concerned him wasn't its affinity.
It was its strength.
The pressure coming from its body was far stronger than the Red Flame Beast he had fought before.
Rank 2.
Gu Chen's fingers tightened around his sword.
This was his first time facing a genuine Rank 2 magical beast.
The Flame-Earth Wolf growled.
Its gaze swept across the cultivators.
Then—
it attacked.
Boom!
The beast disappeared beneath the ground.
The older youth immediately shouted.
"Spread out!"
Everyone jumped away.
A moment later, the earth beneath one of the strangers exploded.
ROAR!
The Flame-Earth Wolf emerged with its jaws open.
The young man barely raised his weapon.
Bang!
He was thrown several meters away.
The others immediately attacked.
Sword energy.
Saber energy.
Several attacks struck the beast.
But the scales covering its body were incredibly tough.
Gu Chen watched from behind the rocks.
His expression remained serious.
The strangers were being forced backward.
Even the suspected Rank 2 youth wasn't able to suppress the beast.
Gu Qing looked toward Gu Chen.
"We should leave."
Gu Chen didn't immediately answer.
His eyes were fixed on the battlefield.
Then—
he noticed something.
During the battle, the Flame-Earth Wolf had emerged from the exact location where the underground fire vein was strongest.
Near the edge of the crack—
a small crimson plant was visible.
Three thick roots extended from the ground.
Gu Chen's heartbeat accelerated.
Blazing Earth Root.
He had finally found it.
But it was directly beside a Rank 2 magical beast.
Gu Qing followed his gaze.
His expression immediately changed.
"You can't be thinking about it."
Gu Chen remained silent.
The beast roared again.
The five strangers were forced backward.
For a moment—
the Blazing Earth Root was completely unguarded.
Gu Chen's eyes narrowed.
He understood the risk.
But opportunities in the cultivation world rarely came without danger.
His hand tightened around the Scarlet Ember Sword.
Then he looked toward Gu Qing.
"Stay here."
Gu Qing immediately grabbed his arm.
"Gu Chen—"
"I won't fight it."
Gu Chen's crimson-golden eyes remained calm.
"I only need one moment."
The Flame Phantom Step circulated.
A faint crimson glow appeared beneath his feet.
Gu Qing's expression changed.
"You're crazy."
Perhaps.
But Gu Chen had already made his decision.
His body lowered.
His eyes locked onto the Blazing Earth Root.
The next moment—
BOOM!
Gu Chen disappeared.
A crimson shadow flashed through the forest.
And for the first time—
he was about to use Flame Phantom Step in a battle where a single mistake could cost him everything.