I can receive unlimited protection; my parents handed me over to the state.

"roar--!!!"

A furious dragon roar, seemingly from the ancient wilderness, resounded throughout the entire Purgatory Island!

With this roar, the entire active volcano, which is thousands of meters high, shook violently.

The crater at the top of the mountain, where the lava lake was originally calm, suddenly boiled over!

"Boom!"

A dark red magma column with a diameter of over ten meters shot into the sky!

At the top of the magma pillar, an enormous, ferocious dragon slowly revealed its form.

Its entire body was covered in scales as hard as obsidian, with golden magma patterns flowing between the gaps in the scales. A huge dragon head was ferocious and majestic, and its two enormous eyes, like molten gold, were filled with a tyrannical and destructive will.

It is the absolute ruler of this island—an 80-level lord-class star beast, the [Ancient Lava Dragon]!

At this moment, the monarch was staring intently at the two tiny figures in mid-air, which looked like ants, with its cold golden eyes.

It was Lu Yuan and Yan Ji.

"Are you ready?" Lu Yuan hovered in the air, his expression completely calm. He even had the leisure to open his system panel and begin analyzing the various data of this giant dragon.

[Name]: Primordial Lava Dragon

[Level]: 80 (Lord)

[Attributes]: Fire, Earth, Elemental Magnetism

[Weakness]: The third scale below the Reverse Scale (energy cycle node) and the spiritual core are vulnerable.

[Review]: An old lizard that has lived for a very long time. The meat is probably a bit tough now, but the heart is a top-quality legendary ingredient. It is recommended to remove the heart while the animal is still alive to preserve its energy.

"..."

If this proud lava dragon knew that in this human's eyes it was just a "slightly tough" piece of roasted meat, I wonder if it would be so angry that its brain blood vessels would burst on the spot.

"Anytime!" Yan Ji took a deep breath, her hand already gripping the crimson-gold divine sword [Phoenix Cry], her entire being brimming with fighting spirit!

Facing this terrifying being that was two whole levels higher than her, she felt no fear, but rather an excitement of meeting a worthy opponent!

"superior!"

At Lu Yuan's command, Yan Ji moved!

She transformed into a streak of crimson light and took the initiative to meet the enormous lava dragon!

"Human! You're asking for death!"

The Primordial Lava Dragon let out an angry roar, opening its gaping maw large enough to swallow a warship. A dark red dragon breath, crackling with golden lightning, surged towards Flame Princess like a celestial river pouring down!

This is a destructive dragon breath containing the power of "Primordial Magnetic True Fire"! Enough to instantly turn a city to ashes!

Yan Ji neither dodged nor evaded! She let out a delicate shout, and the [Phoenix Cry] in her hand burst forth with a dazzling crimson-gold light!

"Phoenix Wings Soaring Through the Sky!"

A massive, hundred-meter-long sword beam of flame surged upwards and slashed fiercely at the terrifying dragon breath!

"BOOM—!!"

Two extreme fiery forces collided violently in mid-air, unleashing a massive fireball even more dazzling than the sun! Terrifying energy shockwaves swept outwards in all directions, making the entire sky seem to be ablaze!

Yan Ji let out a muffled groan as her body was thrown hundreds of meters away by the enormous recoil force, and the tiger's mouth holding the sword went slightly numb.

In just one tentative exchange, she found herself at a disadvantage. The difference in their levels was simply too great.

"Hahaha! Tiny insect! Is this all the power you have?!"

The Primordial Lava Dragon let out a mocking laugh. With a sudden flap of its massive wings, its enormous body leaped out of the volcano, blotting out the sky! A gigantic dragon claw, as large as a mountain, slammed down towards Flame Princess with the power to destroy everything!

This claw seemed to tear the sky apart!

Yan Ji's pupils suddenly contracted. She could feel that the surrounding space was imprisoned by an invisible force, leaving her with no way to escape!

At that critical moment, Lu Yuan's voice suddenly rang in her mind: "Left rear, three o'clock position, at the base of its wing. That's the weakest point when it flaps its wings. Attack there!"

Yan Ji didn't have time to think; her body reacted instinctively! She forcefully twisted her body, and the [Phoenix Cry] in her hand transformed into a tricky arc, precisely stabbing towards the base of the Lava Dragon's massive wing!

"Pfft!"

A sharp sound of a blade piercing flesh rang out as [Phoenix Cry]'s indestructible sword successfully broke through the Lava Dragon's tough scales! Although it only penetrated less than half a meter, it successfully disrupted the Lava Dragon's attack rhythm!

"roar--!!"

The lava dragon let out a roar of pain, never expecting that this tiny human could actually hurt it! It withdrew its claws and turned to glare at the Flame Princess in fury.

Taking advantage of this opening, Yan Ji had already retreated and created a safe distance. She glanced at the spot where she had just attacked, still shaken, and felt immense admiration for Lu Yuan.

What are this guy's eyes made of? How could he see through the opponent's weakness in such a chaotic situation!

The ensuing battle turned into a bizarre "Pictionary" game.

While Yan Ji was fiercely battling the Lava Dragon head-on, Lu Yuan, like a ghost, constantly lingered on the edge of the battlefield. He didn't make a move, but his voice repeatedly echoed in Yan Ji's mind at the most crucial moments.

"Its next tail whip will be accompanied by a magnetic explosion. Dodge to higher altitudes in advance."

"Use Phoenix Strike to attack its throat. That's where it gathers its dragon breath; you can interrupt its spellcasting there."

"Don't fight it head-on! It's more than ten times stronger than you! Use your speed to outmaneuver it!"

Under Lu Yuan's precise command, who was like a "human cheat code", Yan Ji, who should have been completely crushed, actually managed to fight back and forth with this level 80 Ancient Lava Dragon!

She was like a top-notch bullfighter, dancing on the edge of a knife every time, recklessly testing the limits of danger. Despite the perilous situations, she successfully dodged fatal attacks time and time again, leaving shallow wounds on the lava dragon's body.

The battle lasted a full hour. Flame Princess was panting heavily, her spiritual energy nearly exhausted. The ancient lava dragon, worn down by her relentless pace, had completely lost its patience.

"Damn bug! I'll burn you to ashes!!"

The lava dragon let out a deafening roar. It stopped its ordinary attacks and its massive body began to glow with a dazzling red light. The earth vein energy of the entire volcanic island began to frantically converge on its body!

It's about to go all out!

"Now!"

Lu Yuan's voice boomed in Yan Ji's mind: "It's channeling its ultimate skill, 'Purgatory Judgment'! This process is irreversible and cannot be interrupted! All its defenses are concentrated on its surface! But its heart is at its weakest! Charge in! Use all your strength! Pierce it through!!"

An unprecedented glint flashed in Yan Ji's eyes! She had been waiting for this opportunity for far too long!

She poured all the last of her spiritual energy into the Phoenix Cry, and the entire divine sword seemed to burst into flames!

"Man and sword as one! Phoenix rebirth!"

With a shout, Yan Ji transformed into a crimson phoenix reborn from the ashes. With unwavering determination and an indomitable belief in victory, she charged headlong into the massive, mountain-like chest of the ancient lava dragon that was gathering world-destroying energy!

"puff--!!"

This time, there was no obstacle! The crimson phoenix transformed from the Flame Princess pierced through the seemingly indestructible chest of the Lava Dragon with ease, like a red-hot iron piercing butter!

Time seemed to stand still at that moment.

The ancient lava dragon's enormous golden eyes were filled with disbelief. It slowly lowered its head, looking at the huge, translucent hole in its chest, its mind filled with confusion.

Why... its ultimate skill, which gathered the power of the entire island's ley lines, came to an end before it could be unleashed.

"Boom..."

The enormous dragon body lost all its power and, like a toppled mountain, fell heavily from the sky, crashing into the boiling lava lake and splashing up towering waves of lava.

Where it crashed, a figure engulfed in flames slowly emerged. It was Yan Ji.

At this moment, her face was as pale as paper, and her breath was extremely weak, but in her hand, she was tightly clutching a huge heart that was still beating loudly!

The heart was made entirely of the purest golden crystals, and it seemed to contain a miniature sun, radiating a terrifying energy that made one's heart tremble.

This is the source of power for the Ancient Lava Dragon – the Heart of Lava!

Yan Ji looked at the spoils in her hand, a relieved smile spreading across her face. She had succeeded; she had truly slayed the dragon!

Just then, Lu Yuan appeared beside her. He reached out and supported the swaying Yan Ji.

"Well done," he praised sincerely. Although he was in charge, Yan Ji's fearless fighting spirit still impressed him.

Yan Ji leaned against Lu Yuan's chest, enjoying his faint, pleasant scent and hearing his rare praise. She felt all her fatigue vanish.

She looked up at Lu Yuan's handsome face so close to hers, and a hint of tenderness and longing flashed in his eyes, which always burned with fire.

As if guided by some unseen force, she tiptoed forward and gently kissed the cheek that was somewhat dirty from the volcanic ash.

Soft, warm, and easily separated.

Lu Yuan was stunned. He could feel the lingering warmth on his cheek. He blinked, looking completely bewildered.

What... is going on?

"What...what are you doing?" he asked instinctively.

Yan Ji's face flushed red instantly, from her ears all the way down to her neck. She was startled by her own bold action—she had actually kissed this boy who was several years younger than her?

"I...I..." Yan Ji stammered, unable to utter a complete sentence for a long time. Her queenly aura vanished at this moment.

Just as she was so embarrassed she wanted to disappear into the ground, Lu Yuan suddenly reached out and touched his cheek where he had been kissed. Then, looking at her seriously, he asked, "Were you giving me a buff just now? What special effect did that kiss have? Did it temporarily increase my fire resistance? Or would it increase my success rate when I forge things next?"

Flame Princess: "..."

Looking into Lu Yuan's clear eyes, which were filled with a thirst for knowledge, she felt like she was about to have a heart attack from anger.

This utterly clueless blockhead, the biggest blockhead in the universe!!!

When Lu Yuan and Yan Ji returned to the East Sea base with the still-beating [Heart of Lava], the entire base was in an uproar.

"My God! What...what is that? Such terrifying energy fluctuations!"

"It's a dragon! It's the heart of a dragon! I feel it, the pure power of a dragon!"

"They...they really went to slay a dragon? And they succeeded?!"

Countless soldiers and officers gazed at the heart, which resembled a miniature sun, their eyes filled with awe and fervent worship.

The members of the "God-Making Project" then gathered around.

Gu Tianye stared at the heart, his mouth practically watering: "Boss! This...this is the heart of an 80th-level lord? This energy is fucking pure! Give me a bite, I feel like I could break through to the next level right now!"

"Get lost!" Xiang Batian slapped him aside. "This belongs to Instructor Yan Ji! You glutton, all you know is eating!"

Although he said that, Xiang Batian's eyes were fixed on the heart, unable to look away. This was a legendary, top-tier material!

However, what shocked them even more was yet to come.

Suddenly, someone with sharp eyes pointed at Yan Ji and exclaimed, "Look! Instructor Yan Ji's face!"

Everyone turned to look, and saw that Yan Ji's pretty face, which always carried a touch of heroism, was now as red as a ripe apple, and her eyes were somewhat evasive. She had completely lost her usual queenly domineering aura and instead looked like a young girl in love.

What... what's going on? Has the sun risen in the west?

"Ahem!" Yan Ji felt uncomfortable under everyone's gaze and quickly cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure. "What are you looking at?! Have you all got nothing better to do?! Have you finished the training tasks Lu Yuan assigned you?!"

Her shout carried some of her usual imposing manner. Gu Tianye and the others immediately shrank back, not daring to utter another sound. However, the burning fire of gossip within them could not be extinguished no matter what.

Something must have happened between those two when they went out!

In this eerie atmosphere, Mu Bingli silently stepped out from the crowd. Her gaze lingered for a second on Yan Ji's abnormal blush, then fell on Lu Yuan. Her eyes were complex, containing envy, disappointment, and a hint of barely perceptible determination.

She didn't say anything, but quietly walked up to Lu Yuan.

"What?" Lu Yuan asked without looking up, busy figuring out how to deal with the [Heart of Lava]. He had assumed Mu Bingli had come to express her gratitude again.

However, Mu Bingli's next move surprised everyone.

She extended her right hand, which was as delicate as white jade.