The brown-robed elder did not finish his sentence immediately. He slowly rose, walked to the window, and rested a hand on the cold stone sill, as though trying to sense the last traces of the fluctuations in the air. Only after a moment did he turn back toward the others seated around the table.
-"This wasn't someone descending from the forbidden land. It was someone from our side opening a gate and preparing to enter it. Nothing like this has ever happened before. At the very least, there must be an expert guiding him from behind the scenes. Otherwise, he couldn't possibly have opened this portal."
As soon as he finished speaking, one elder's fingers unconsciously stopped on the ring he was wearing. The person opposite him narrowed his eyes, while the blue-robed elder immediately looked up, seemingly wanting to ask something more, but ultimately said nothing. The silence lasted several seconds, long enough for everyone to realize that the simple explanation they had first assumed might no longer hold.
If this really was a portal deliberately opened by someone from the outside, then the issue went far beyond someone approaching a forbidden land. Someone had found a way to overcome a limitation they had always believed impossible to cross—and had managed to do so right before the Blood Moon descended. One elder slowly turned the ring on his finger, his gaze growing colder as he considered the possibility that the rules they had relied on for so long might no longer be absolute.
-"Whatever the case, we need to take control of that portal!"
The elder seated closest to the door immediately spoke up. He braced both hands against the table and leaned forward slightly, sweeping his gaze across every face as though seeking their agreement. In his view, now that the portal had appeared, it had to be brought under their control. Who had opened it and what their purpose might be could be considered later.
A soft tap came from the other end of the table. The white-robed elder touched the tabletop with one finger. It was not a forceful gesture, but it was enough to make the previous speaker stop. He did not immediately object. Instead, he slowly looked toward the brown-robed elder before speaking.
-"No. Let's just observe for now. As long as the person didn't descend from the forbidden land, there's no need for us to make a move yet. Taking action would only draw even more attention from the outside forces."
The white-robed elder spoke slowly, but his eyes never left the man who had proposed seizing the portal. He understood that once they acted openly, the other forces would certainly investigate the reason. If they could observe in secret, they would still have a chance to identify the person who had opened the gate before making any larger decision.
The blue-robed elder leaned back slightly in his chair, but his hand on the armrest had tightened into a fist. He stared at the white-robed elder for a long moment before finally asking a single question.
-"And what if that person isn't as simple as we think?"
No one answered immediately. The white-robed elder tilted his head slightly, a cold glint passing through the corner of his eyes, but he offered no guarantee. That silence only made the others more uneasy. If someone had already mastered a method of opening portals that they knew nothing about, then nobody could be certain that the events unfolding were still within their control.
The meeting eventually ended without a decision to take immediate action. One by one, the figures vanished from the room, leaving only the wind blowing through the window and the round table in the middle of the spacious chamber. Before disappearing, the brown-robed elder glanced back toward the doorway. His gaze lingered longer than usual, as though there were still things he could not bring himself to say.
A piece of paper remained on the tabletop beside a cup of tea that had gone cold. After several breaths, it suddenly trembled, then slowly rose into the air and drifted across the room toward the distant horizon. Nothing on its surface suggested that it carried any particular secret, yet no one remained in the room to stop it from leaving.
No one knew what message the paper would carry, nor how the other forces would react once they heard what had happened. However, for the eight elders, the appearance of the portal was already enough to force them to change their original plans. Somewhere else, the person who had just opened that portal did not even know that he had become the focus of someone's attention.
Back to Chen Luo.
After the portal stabilized, he raised a hand and gently rubbed his temples, trying to suppress the nausea rising in his stomach. The sensation came more suddenly than he had expected, forcing him to stand still for a while before he could regain his balance. Even so, he did not panic, because he knew exactly what the ritual had truly cost him.
The incantation sounded like a ritual that demanded the sacrifice of a soul, but that was merely ceremonial wording used by the method for opening the portal. Chen Luo had neither cut apart his soul nor offered it in exchange for anything. What had actually been consumed was fifty percent of his current mana. As for whether the discomfort was his body's reaction to having so much energy drained away too quickly, he could not be completely certain yet.
He lowered his head and looked at his hands, then tried circulating the mana within his body before finally exhaling. The energy was still there, just greatly reduced, which meant he could not casually use skills with enormous mana costs for the time being. Still, the portal had been opened, and that result alone was enough to satisfy him.
By then, the others outside had also gathered near the gate. The purple patterns on its surface had not completely faded, while the golden structure above it, carved with a skull and flames, left everyone both curious and wary. A few people wanted to step forward for a closer look, but when they sensed the energy still lingering nearby, they instinctively stopped.
Chen Luo looked at their reactions and took the initiative to explain what they needed to know. He told them that if he died during this trip, the light on the golden structure above the portal would disappear, which meant he would be reborn. He said nothing more about the portal's mechanics and had no intention of explaining everything he knew. The most important thing now was to make sure they understood that they did not need to panic over his journey.
Although his explanation put everyone somewhat at ease, Chen Luo did not linger. He checked the items he had prepared, confirmed that the containers and fire-resistance potions were all in their proper places, and then headed toward the vortex. Now that the portal was open, every minute spent hesitating was a minute wasted that could otherwise have been used to gather resources.
The moment his body touched the purple light, his figure immediately began to turn translucent. His outline gradually faded, as though an invisible hand were pulling him through the space beyond the gate. In the blink of an eye, he vanished completely, leaving the people outside looking at one another in silence.
Chen Luo had officially entered the Hell Cauldron.
As he slowly opened his eyes, the first thing he noticed was the unsteady ground beneath his feet. The stone floor was not as solid as he had imagined. It sank slightly with each movement, making him stagger as soon as he appeared and nearly fall over. Chen Luo quickly lowered his center of gravity, braced one hand against the ground, and steadied himself.
He did not rush to stand up. Instead, he looked at the ground beneath his palm. Tiny cracks spread across the stone, with a faint red glow visible inside them. He picked up a nearby fragment of rock and tapped the surface. The sound it produced was duller than expected. Only after confirming that the area beneath him was not about to collapse did he stand, brush the dust from his clothes, and look into the distance.
In that instant, his expression changed completely. Joy, excitement, and a hint of barely contained exhilaration appeared in his eyes. The place he had once been able to picture only through memories was finally right before him.
He had made it to the Hell Cauldron!
Above him stretched a vast expanse of crimson, but a closer look revealed that it was not an open sky like the one in the outside world. A gigantic, enclosed ceiling extended overhead all the way to the horizon, separating this space from the world beyond. Red light bathed the ground, tinting everything in an unusual hue—magnificent, yet somewhat suffocating.
Rivers of lava wound through the landscape below, their surfaces churning with scorching red light. Numerous Grittonir creatures moved among the streams of molten rock, their bodies occasionally surfacing before disappearing beneath the red waves again. Farther away, several strange humanoid figures could be seen near a few structures, proving that this place was not merely a stretch of barren land; its native inhabitants were active here as well.
Chen Luo quickly surveyed the terrain and determined that his arrival point was relatively favorable. However, instead of immediately heading down into the lava river as he had originally planned, he took out a small object to test the environment's reaction. After waiting for a while and detecting nothing unusual, he took out the fire-resistance potion he had prepared, opened it, and drank it.
The bitter taste spread across his tongue, making him frown slightly. Chen Luo waited for the effect to take hold before approaching the lava river and carefully choosing a relatively flat section of its bank. He could not accurately judge the temperature here with his eyes alone, so before entering the flow, he also used a simple measuring tool to check the changes in the surrounding environment.
The initial results showed nothing unusual. Chen Luo took a deep breath and slowly entered the lava river, relying on his fire resistance to protect himself. The sensation of coming into contact with such a scorching liquid was unlike anything he had experienced in the outside world. What drew his attention even more, however, was the resistance and depth of the flow—factors that could directly affect his ability to move.
He followed the sections that seemed passable, continuously observing the creatures that came into view. His first objective was to find several good-quality demon fish, since they would serve as the food needed to tame Grittonir. Chen Luo did not want to waste precious items on unsuitable prey, so whenever he spotted a target, he patiently observed it before deciding whether to strike.
Before long, a demon fish appeared near a crevice in the rock. Most of its body was hidden beneath the lava, leaving only its deformed head exposed. Chen Luo immediately approached, but just as he was about to catch it, the fish suddenly thrashed violently, sending a wave of scorching lava toward him. He leaned aside to avoid it, then used a swift, decisive movement to restrain the prey before it could escape back into the crevice.
That first attempt made him realize that hunting in this environment was not as simple as his memories had suggested. He remembered demon fish usually appearing in relatively accessible areas, but the one he had just caught reacted faster than expected. Perhaps their habits differed depending on where they appeared, or perhaps the current conditions were not entirely the same as those he had known before.
Chen Luo did not continue relying on assumptions. He caught another one nearby, observed the differences in their size and reactions, and only then selected the most suitable fish. Once he had gathered enough food, he began approaching the Grittonir, keeping a safe distance and trying one fish after another to attract them.
A large Grittonir slowly approached, its eyes reflecting the red light of the lava river. Chen Luo tossed a fish toward it and waited patiently. As long as the creature remained wary, he did not move closer. Only after it had accepted the food and its reaction had become stable did he attempt to establish a contract.
The process did not go as quickly as he had expected. The first Grittonir hesitated for quite some time and even backed away when it sensed the fluctuations of mana, forcing Chen Luo to adjust his approach. He tried reducing the intensity of the mana he released while maintaining his distance, so the creature would not feel threatened.
After several attempts, the contract finally succeeded. Chen Luo repeated the process with the others until he had tamed several Grittonir as planned. He could not help but breathe a sigh of relief. The task was not particularly difficult, but it had taken more time than he had anticipated.
Even so, he had not forgotten the most important objective of this trip. Chen Luo took out several large containers he had prepared in advance and began collecting lava from an area where the flow was relatively stable. He did not fill them carelessly. Instead, he tested a small amount first, observed how the container material reacted, and only then continued filling the remaining vessels.
To other people, lava might be nothing more than a dangerous substance to stay far away from. To Chen Luo, however, it was a valuable resource that could keep the Alchemy Furnace running for a long time. The lava in the Hell Cauldron possessed special properties: despite releasing enormous amounts of heat, it could be processed and used in ways that ordinary lava from the outside world could not.
That unique property made it an ideal fuel source for his plans. As long as he could bring back a sufficiently large quantity, Chen Luo would be able to reduce the trouble of operating the furnace and devote more time and resources to other crafting work. He carefully checked each container and confirmed that they were sealed before storing them in his space.
After finishing the collection, Chen Luo stretched and relaxed his body. The trip had already yielded some initial results, but he had no intention of returning immediately. He still needed to explore the surrounding area, especially the locations he remembered from his previous life, to determine whether they still existed and whether they could be reached.
He began moving along a stone path between two lava rivers, memorizing the terrain as he went. The structures in the distance gradually became clearer, but the actual route was not entirely the same as he remembered. A section of stone path that had once been considered passable was now covered by lava, forcing him to take another route.
Chen Luo stopped before the blocked section and watched the lava flowing across it. He then picked up a small object and tossed it onto a nearby patch of stone. The surface, which had appeared to have cooled, immediately cracked, revealing dark red liquid underneath. He frowned, stepped back, and marked the location on his map.
It was not a major obstacle, but it reminded him that memories from his previous life could not replace actual observation. He had once known that the Hell Cauldron contained several relatively safe routes, but that did not mean they would always remain unchanged. If he relied solely on old information and moved carelessly, he could easily put himself in danger.
Chen Luo changed direction and continued exploring the areas he could reach. Along the way, he discovered several strange marks on the stone surface. They looked like long claw marks leading toward an abandoned structure. He did not approach immediately. Instead, he observed the area from a distance, checked whether any creatures were hiding nearby, and then marked the location so he could return when he had enough time to prepare.
More than three hours passed.
After exploring for a while, Chen Luo finally gathered the information he needed. Most of the terrain and environmental features still matched his memories, but some minor details had changed. This made him feel both relieved and more cautious. His old knowledge was still useful, but if he wanted to turn that information advantage into actual results, he had to keep verifying everything.
During a short rest, Chen Luo took out the system clock to check the time. The displayed time continued to pass normally, with no sign of interruption or slowdown. However, when he switched to the day-and-night display, the related information began jumping around erratically, completely disregarding the rules he had known.
He tried closing the interface and opening it again, then continued observing for a while. The result remained unchanged. Chen Luo frowned slightly and finally realized that the problem did not lie with the clock, but with the environment in which he was standing.
In the Hell Cauldron, day and night did not exist in the conventional sense. The crimson sky overhead was not a sign of a prolonged sunset; it was an inherent feature of this space. The system clock could still record the passage of time, but information dependent on the day-night cycle could no longer function normally.
This discovery confirmed part of his earlier suspicion, but it also forced him to adjust his calculations. If he could not use day and night to determine the environment's activity cycle, he would have to rely on other signs to estimate the time and assess his surroundings. He immediately recorded the test results, refusing to let a seemingly minor detail interfere with his plans later.
After confirming what he needed to know, Chen Luo's expression gradually grew serious. If most of the Hell Cauldron's rules were still similar to what he remembered from his previous life, he could use that information advantage to search for important resources. But before taking action, he needed to determine the locations, access conditions, and any changes that might affect the level of danger.
In his memories from his previous life, the place contained more than lava and Grittonir. There were many other resources worth exploring, but the opportunity to collect them might not remain in his hands for long. Once other players began entering, the currently quiet locations could very well become targets of competition.
Chen Luo had no intention of waiting until then to act. He checked the items he had collected, confirmed that the lava containers were still safe, then opened his map and marked the areas that should be explored first. Locations he could not yet confirm would be left for later inspection, while places he could reach immediately were moved to the top of the list.
He did not need to explore the entire Hell Cauldron in one trip. What he needed was to find the most valuable resources, understand the rules that directly affected his safety, and make use of the time before others arrived. For Chen Luo, this journey was not a leisurely exploration to satisfy his curiosity, but a step toward preparing for what was coming.
Opportunity often belongs only to those who know how to seize it at the right moment. And this time, Chen Luo had absolutely no intention of letting anyone get ahead of him.