CHAPTER 135: CHAPTER 135 — THE ILLUSION OF FIRE AND THE PATHS OF FATE

Silence.

Only the faint crackling of molten rivers echoed across the vast, underground cavern Shaurya had entered earlier. The corpses of the lava-rock serpents lay scattered across the stone floor — charred husks, broken scales, and cooling magma oozing from their wounds.

Shaurya stretched his arms lazily as he walked, expression calm but focused.

His boots crunched over blackened stone.

His shadow stretched long behind him in the red light.

He moved deeper into the cavern —

the rocky path narrowing, twisting, then splitting into a dead end.

But ahead of him...

The ground suddenly disappeared.

A massive cliff-edge.

A glowing, roaring lava pool spread wide in front of him — a shimmering lake of molten orange, bubbling and sloshing like a living creature.

Shaurya stopped at the edge and raised a brow.

"...A lava pool?"

He stared across the other side — a solid cliff wall far away, barely visible through the orange glow.

Between him and that cliff

were dozens of floating rock platforms, drifting gently on the lava’s surface.

Shaurya smirked.

"Well... that looks fun."

He stepped back once—

then sprinted forward and leaped straight off the cliff.

Wind brushed past him—

his coat fluttered—

his hair trailed like black ribbons—

He flipped mid-air

and landed on one of the floating rocks with perfect grace.

THUD!

The rock bobbed gently but held steady.

Shaurya bent his knees, stabilizing instantly.

"So far so good."

More floating rocks drifted ahead—each one spaced a good distance apart, but still reachable.

Shaurya smirked again and dashed forward.

Aerial Steps—FWIP!

He launched himself from one rock to another, using short bursts of air beneath his feet to gain balance in mid-air.

He landed.

Then—

"Hm?"

The rock tilted.

Shaurya’s body swayed.

His heel slipped—

"...oh?"

He fell backward—

But

before his back even touched the lava, he twisted sharply and slammed his hand onto the rock’s edge, holding on with a tight grip.

He pulled himself up and collapsed onto the rock with a sigh.

"That... was close."

He lay on the floating stone for a moment, staring at the glowing lava surface inches away.

Then he blinked.

His eyes narrowed.

"...Why isn’t it hot?"

He sat up slowly.

He waved a hand over the lava.

No heat.

No burning sensation.

Nothing.

Not even warmth.

He touched the rock beneath him.

Cold.

His eyes widened in sharp realization.

"Wait... these rocks aren’t burning?"

He pressed the rock again.

Cold.

Completely cold.

He stood up quickly.

His mind began racing.

"These rocks should melt instantly... unless..."

He stared hard at the lava.

He swallowed once.

Only one way to test it.

"System," he muttered.

"Open shop."

A translucent screen flickered open beside him.

[System Shop — Open]

He scrolled quickly, then tapped.

"Simple wooden stick. One Dharma point."

[–1 Dharma points]

A plain wooden stick appeared in his hand.

System’s emotionless voice responded:

[Inquiry: What idiotic experiment are you about to attempt?]

Shaurya grinned.

"You’ll see. Watch and learn."

He twirled the stick once, then crouched near the rock’s edge.

Slowly, carefully—

He dipped the wooden stick into the glowing lava.

System screeched internally.

[WARNING: This action is—]

Shaurya’s eyes widened slowly.

The stick didn’t burn.

He dipped deeper.

Still nothing.

He pulled it out.

The tip was wet.

A drop slid down the wood and hit the rock surface.

"..."

Shaurya’s smile slowly spread across his face.

"I knew it."

System froze.

[...What?]

"It’s not lava."

Shaurya laughed, tapping the wet stick.

"It’s water."

[Impossible.]

Shaurya rolled his shoulders.

"A very strong illusion formation. The temperature, glow, bubbling sounds— all fake. Probably meant to scare weaker cultivators."

[...So, you won’t do anything stupid now, right?]

Shaurya raised a brow.

Then he stretched.

Then he jumped.

Straight into the lava.

System panicked.

[IDIOT!!! RETREAT!!! RETREAT!!!]

Shaurya dove with a front flip and crashed into the surface—

SPLAAAAASH!!!

Not a burning explosion.

Not death.

Not sizzling flesh.

Just—

Water.

Silence for a moment.

Then—

SPLOOSH!

Shaurya burst out of the water, laughing.

"SEE?!"

He splashed the surface.

"I told you! Just water!"

He inhaled deeply, the cold air refreshing against his skin.

Then he exhaled and began swimming—

Fast.

Aerial Steps beneath the water boosted him forward like a torpedo, creating ripples and waves.

In seconds he reached the other side of the pool.

He grabbed onto a floating rock, pulled himself up, and stretched his legs.

Golden aura surged around his calves.

"Alright. Up we go."

He crouched.

Then jumped.

BOOOOOOOM!!

The floating rock shattered from the force.

Shaurya shot upward like a cannonball, flipping mid-air.

He landed perfectly on the cliff’s edge, sliding back half a step before stabilizing.

He placed both hands in his pockets.

A proud smile stretched across his face.

"Heh."

He began walking forward—straight into the unknown chambers of the underground castle.

The castle above was a maze of moving stone and echoing hallways.

Lin Shu walked at the front, sword out, her steps cautious but determined.

Elder Liya followed beside her, leaning slightly on Elder Wan’s arm.

Behind them—

Elder Feng Yu, Elder Hua, Wang Tian, Luo Chen, Xiao Rui, Sheng Lu, and several disciples walked in formation.

The hall was eerily quiet.

Torches flickered weakly.

Walls shifted like living ribs.

Dust drifted in thin trails.

The floor rumbled every few minutes.

The atmosphere felt heavy—

like something ancient was breathing through the stone.

Xiao Rui swallowed.

"This place feels worse than the maze..."

Wang Tian grunted.

"Feels like the walls are watching us."

Luo Chen sighed.

"They probably are."

Elder Feng Yu nodded.

"This structure... it’s alive. Or at least, spiritually conscious."

Lin Shu said nothing.

But her eyes kept scanning every shadow.

Elder Liya asked softly, "Are you worried about Master Shaurya?"

Lin Shu’s hand tightened on her sword.

"...Yes."

Elder Hua smiled warmly.

"He’s stronger than any of us. Believe in him."

Lin Shu lowered her shoulders.

"I do."

They continued walking.

A long staircase formed ahead, spiraling upward.

They climbed.

The castle was no longer silent.

It breathed.

Every corridor pulsed faintly, like veins carrying ancient energy through stone.

Every flickering torch cast shadows that twisted unnaturally.

Every step echoed too loudly—like the ground was listening.

Elder Wan walked in the center, one hand supporting Elder Liya, the other gripping a talisman.

Lin Shu walked ahead of them, sword ready, expression sharp.

Behind, Luo Chen, Wang Tian, Sheng Lu, Xiao Rui and other disciples fanned out in a triangular formation.

The hallway they walked through was huge —

pillars carved with old beast patterns, dust drifting like silver mist.

But something was wrong.

The carvings... were warm.

Xiao Rui brushed one with his fingers—

and jerked back.

"It... pulsed."

Luo Chen narrowed his eyes.

"Don’t touch anything. This castle is awakening."

Lin Shu felt a faint vibration under her boots.

"Everyone," she said softly,

"don’t lower your guard."

The hall forked into two paths —

one dim, narrow, twisting deeper,

the other wide, glowing faintly with red light.

Elder Feng Yu murmured,

"We choose the wide path. Easier to defend."

They moved.

Their footsteps echoed forward.

But something followed behind them...

A soft tapping.

Slow.

Steady.

Almost matching their pace.

Wang Tian turned, gripping his blade.

"What was that?"

Silence.

Only their breathing.

And the thrum of ancient stones shifting.

THE GIRLS — MUO QIAN’S GROUP

Their hall was completely different.

Narrower.

Silent as a tomb.

The walls pressed close, carved with mirrored surfaces reflecting their silhouettes.

Five shadows moved across the glossy black stone —

Muo Qian in front, Su Quan beside her,

Jun Hua and Xu Ran guarding the sides,

Xiao Lian protected in the middle.

Xiao Lian whispered,

"...It’s cold here."

Her breath fogged in front of her lips —

even though the rest of the castle was scorching.

Su Quan exhaled slowly.

"It’s not the temperature. It’s spiritual suppression."

Jun Hua ran her fingers along the wall.

Her Aura flared—

And reflection-hands pressed from behind the mirror stone.

Xu Ran pulled her back instantly.

"Don’t touch the walls! Something is inside them."

The corridor narrowed further until only two could walk side-by-side.

The reflections in the wall flickered—

first matching their movement...

then delaying by one second...

then smiling when the girls weren’t.

Xiao Lian clenched her sword, voice trembling:

"...Why are they smiling...?"

Muo Qian’s purple aura sparked.

"Stay together. No matter what."

Their steps quickened.

But something moved behind the mirrored wall—

large, crawling shapes, following them silently.

Scene Shift to Other Disciples.

TEAM A — Two male disciples

The castle corridor stretched endlessly.

Old banners hung from the ceiling, their fabric long rotten.

One disciple exhaled,

"Do you think we’ll find the others soon?"

The other one nodded—

CRACK.

A banner fell from above.

Something heavy had been resting on it.

Both disciples froze.

Slowly...

something crawled up the wall—

but only its shadow was visible.

Long arms.

Longer legs.

A hunched silhouette.

The disciples drew their swords.

Drip.

Drip.

Something wet hit the floor.

The shadow crawled sideways across the ceiling—

until it vanished above them.

The two disciples pressed their backs together.

"Don’t... look away."

TEAM B — Three disciples

They entered a wide hall with statues lining both sides.

The statues wore cracked armor, stone swords raised.

One disciple muttered,

"These statues... weren’t here five minutes ago."

Another swallowed.

"Then when did they appear?"

The torches around them began flickering violently.

Shadows shifted—

And the stone statues turned their heads

just one inch

toward the disciples.

The three disciples froze in absolute terror.

Stone dust spilled from the statues’ necks.

A low grinding noise echoed.

Something was waking up.

Far below—

in the vast cavern of glowing magma-water

and stone bridges—

Shaurya walked forward casually.

Hands in pockets.

Breathing calm.

Expression unreadable.

His boots tapped lightly on the stone,

each step echoing faintly.

The air was thick with heat that wasn’t heat,

the illusion still shimmering faintly.

He passed between two massive stone pillars carved with symbols—

spirals, teeth, flames, serpents.

The hall expanded into an even larger cavern.

Lava-water rivers crossed each other in glowing patterns.

Massive stone platforms floated like islands.

Shaurya stood at the center.

His eyes narrowed.

"...this place feels different."

His Divine Form flickered faintly around him for a split second—

and he felt it.

A presence.

Deep.

Watching.

Hungry.

He placed his hand slowly on the hilt of his Meteorite Sword.

"Come out," he said calmly.

"I know you’re there."

The cavern answered him.

With a rumble.

A deep vibration traveled through the floor.

Small stones bounced.

Lava rippled.

Shaurya’s black irises sharpened—

Then—

BOOM.

A massive stone gate on the far end of the cavern cracked open.

Not fully.

Just an inch.

Enough for—

A single eye to open inside the darkness.

A colossal eye.

Slitted like a dragon.

Burning molten orange.

Reflecting Shaurya’s small silhouette inside its pupil.

Shaurya’s breath paused.

"Oh...?"

The eye twitched once.

Then the stone gate shuddered.

And something enormous moved behind it.

The ground vibrated harder—

hard enough to make magma splash.

Cracks spread across the stone beneath Shaurya’s feet.

He shifted into stance.

Hands still casually in pockets,

but his aura lifted slightly, like steam around his shoulders.

"Alright then..."

he whispered.

"You’re next."

The gate began to open—

Inches...

Inches...

Darkness spilling out...

A massive claw emerged—

Each talon the size of a human.

Shaurya’s expression grew deadly serious.

"...Tch."

Scene Shift. To Lin Shu and others.

The tapping behind them turned into running.

Something was CHASING.

To The girls

The mirrored walls cracked.

Hands pressed from inside.

Teeth formed in the reflections.

Team A

The shadow dropped from above.

Team B

The statues’ eyes lit up.

Shaurya

The gigantic claw dragged across the stone—

sparks exploding with every scrape.

Then—

A second claw.

Then—

A head larger than a carriage pushed through the crack.

Horns.

Scaled jaw.

Burning nostrils.

Lin Shu’s group:

Lin Shu screamed.

"DEFENSE FORMATION—!!"

Muo Qian’z Group:

Su Quan shouted.

"WE’RE SURROUNDED!"

Others:

A disciple yelled

"IT JUMPED FROM THE CEILING—!!"

Another:

"THE STATUES ARE MOVING—!!!"

Back To Shaurya:

Shaurya stood still now.

Hands in his pockets.

Staring ahead into the giant cavern where the air rippled like boiling water.

A massive pit lay at the center.

A pit large enough to swallow mountains.

A pit that pulsed with a low, unnatural heartbeat.

Shaurya narrowed his eyes.

"...You’re awake now?"

The ground beneath him cracked.

Lava-like energy pulsed from the pit—

not fake illusionary lava this time—

But raw spiritual heat so intense it warped the air.

Then—

Darkness moved.

A shadow... rose.

Slow.

Silent.

Heavy.

Two enormous horns emerged first.

Black and curved backward like blades of obsidian lightning.

Then—

A forehead.

Covered in glowing runes.

Then—

A pair of massive, molten red eyes opened fully.

Eyes larger than boulders.

Eyes that looked directly at Shaurya.

The beast inhaled.

A windstorm blasted the cavern.

Shaurya’s hair whipped backward.

His coat snapped like a banner caught in a hurricane.

He smirked.

"...Oh, My Ram Ji."

The beast pulled itself higher—

revealing a jaw of serrated magma-teeth.

And then—

It spoke.

A deep, ancient voice that shook the entire underground realm:

"WHO... DISTURBS... MY SLUMBER?"

The sound blasted through stone tunnels,

echoed through every hall,

reached every disciple.

A shockwave pulsed outward—

THUMMMPP!!!

The castle shook violently.

A crack split the floor beneath Shaurya’s feet.

He slid backward—

but caught himself instantly, boots digging into the stone.

The beast’s enormous head tilted slightly.

Its pupil shrank.

It focused fully on him.

"YOU... HUMAN..."

"YOU DARE... TO DISTURB MY SLUMBER..."

"YOU... WILL PAY... BY BECOMING MY FIRST MEAL."

Shaurya widened one eye.

Then clicked his tongue.

"...Ah, this is looking bad."

He slowly reached for his sword.

Meteorite Sword slid free.

A faint golden spark flickered across the blade.

The beast began moving upward—

rising fully from the pit.

Its claws dug into stone, molten cracks spreading beneath them.

Its roar built up—

A pressure so powerful that even air broke apart around it.

Every disciple across the castle felt it.

Su Quan braced Xiao Lian.

Elder Liya leaned on Elder Wan.

Lin Shu clenched her fists.

Wang Tian shouted in fear.

Luo Chen trembled.

Sheng Lu gasped.

Everyone could feel it.

Everyone could sense it.

A monster beyond anything they had faced.

The cavern exploded in molten light—

The full body of the ancient beast emerged—

GARGANTUAN.

PRIMORDIAL.

MYTHIC.

Its body was fused with black volcanic armor.

Its limbs were thick as fortress pillars.

Its mouth glowed with magma.

Its breath melted stone.

Its tail tore fissures across the cavern.

And towering above Shaurya—

It roared.

"I... AM... LORGANN—

THE PRIMEVAL LAVA DRAGON."

The roar shattered pillars.

Cracked the cliff walls.

And sent a blast wave rushing toward Shaurya.

Shaurya planted one foot back— eyes narrowing—

Smile growing.

He whispered—

"...A big flying lizard. Intresting."

The wave hit—

BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!

The entire underground exploded into molten chaos.

Cut to black.

TO BE CONTINUED...