Xiao Ming and Xiao Yi Xian followed Tian Qing Zi as they made their way towards the treasure trove.
Along the way, Xiao Ming's strength gradually reverted back to the level of an eight-star Dou Ancestor, and his aura became somewhat diminished.
This was an inevitable consequence of using the Sky Fire Three Mysterious Change. Although the secret technique was powerful, it paled in comparison to the ancient clans' bloodline marks and carried side effects.
Fortunately, Xiao Ming's strong body allowed him to maintain a relatively stable aura despite its slight weakening.
'If only I could use the Sky Fire Three Mysterious Change to directly condense the bloodline mark of the Xiao Clan. That would be fantastic,' Feeling the strangeness in his body, Xiao Ming sighed inwardly.
He possessed only the initial transformation of the Sky Fire Three Mysterious Change and lacked the complete technique, making it impossible to directly condense the bloodline mark.
Xiao Ming had long harbored the intention of acquiring the complete technique for the Sky Fire Three Mysterious Change. The last time he tempered the Sky Demon Puppet in the Falling Thunder Mountain Range, he had the opportunity to proceed directly to the Burning Flame Valley. Sound Valley and the Burning Flame Valley were adjacent to each other, making it a feasible option.
However, while the Sky Fire Three Mysterious Change originated from the Xiao Clan's ancestor, Xiao Xuan, it had become the secret technique of the Burning Flame Valley and was not easily obtainable.
In the original work, Xiao Yan helped them refine a pill in exchange for the technique. With Xiao Ming's current strength, refining the pill would be a piece of cake.
Yet, the timeline was not correct now, and it would take several more years. Who knew what the situation of the Burning Flame Valley was? So, Xiao Ming refrained from heading there directly.
Unlike the Ice River Valley, the Burning Flame Valley had Huo Yun, a one-star Dou Saint, backing them. They possessed a formidable background and were not to be trifled with. If Xiao Ming were to request their secret technique outright, they might not give him a face.
Observing Xiao Ming's aura weaken, Xiao Yi Xian cast a wary glance at Tian Qing Zi, ready to act in case he made any sudden moves.
Despite Tian Qing Zi's current state of severe injury, he was still a Dou Venerate and might still possess some cunning methods.
Sensing Xiao Yi Xian's gaze, Tian Qing Zi smiled helplessly. If Xiao Ming dared to withdraw the secret technique directly, he must have some tricks up his sleeve. Tian Qing Zi had no desire to discover what those tricks might be. He had not yet lived long enough.
Under Xiao Yi Xian's watchful eyes, Tian Qing Zi continued forward in silence.
Soon enough, they reached their destination.
...
This was an extremely hidden valley, enveloped by a spatial barrier, concealing its existence. Upon entering the valley through the barrier, Xiao Ming immediately sensed the presence of numerous snake-type magical beasts. However, most of them were only of the fifth or sixth rank, with none surpassing the seventh rank.
It was evident that the snake clan in the Ten Thousand Snake Mountain Range had suffered significant losses, with only Tian Qing Zi, as a Dou Venerate, remaining.
Tian Qing Zi glanced at the valley with a tinge of melancholy in his heart, but he didn't forget the main purpose. Leading the way, he guided Xiao Ming and Xiao Yi Xian towards the depths of the valley until they reached a cliff. With a wave of his hand, a deep and lengthy tunnel appeared, revealing a hidden dark cave within the cliff.
"This is our clan's treasure trove," Tian Qing Zi pointed towards the end of the passage.
"Please lead the way, Elder Tian," Xiao Ming smiled.
Tian Qing Zi nodded and proceeded to walk ahead, with Xiao Ming and Xiao Yi Xian following closely behind. Their gazes intertwined, and the Dou Qi within their bodies circulated silently as they stepped into the passage.
Upon passing through the short tunnel, the group came to a halt outside the entrance of the cave. Dim lights emanated from within, and the surrounding rock walls were adorned with snake patterns, exuding an aura of fierceness and intimidation.
Without hesitation, Tian Qing Zi entered the cave, with Xiao Ming and Xiao Yi Xian trailing behind. Inside, they discovered a long stone staircase descending into the abyss of darkness. Moonstones embedded in the walls emitted a faint glow, gradually illuminating the cave and dispelling the shadows.
Slowly, they descended along the stone steps. After approximately ten minutes, they finally reached the bottom of the staircase, where a tightly shut, heavy stone door stood before them.
The stone gate was completely black, covered in moss, exuding an air of weightiness.
Beside the stone gate, two snake-type guards with human bodies stood. The guard on the left had a blue head, while the one on the right had a green head.
The green-headed guard expressed surprise upon seeing the First Elder.
"First Elder, why are you here? Isn't today the blood ritual? Have they returned? And what's the matter with these two humans?"
'Come back my ass, besides me, everyone else is dead!' Tian Qing Zi's face darkened as he thought of the tragic state of the clan. He didn't bother explaining and simply commanded, "Open the gate!"
When the green-headed guard saw Tian Qing Zi's dark expression, he stopped asking and opened the gate.
The gate swung open, revealing an expansive and brilliantly lit warehouse before Xiao Ming and Xiao Yi Xian. The walls of the warehouse were constructed from sturdy green steel, giving the impression that it had been hewn from a vein of green steel ore.
The warehouse was filled with numerous shelves, meticulously arranged with scrolls, while crystal cabinets held a wide array of rare and precious medicinal herbs.
Tian Qing Zi weakly gestured, saying, "Take whatever you want."
The two guards standing nearby were taken aback, their eyes widening in disbelief. The First Elder was typically held in high regard and respected. Why was he behaving in such a manner?
"First Elder, this is not permitted!"
"You're violating the clan's rules!"
Tian Qing Zi cast a cold, penetrating gaze at the guards, silencing their objections.
Turning his attention to Xiao Ming, he continued, "Young friend, please do not be reserved. To be honest, you have done us a great favor by dealing with the deranged Snake Lord and the others. You have also saved this old man's life. Feel free to take whatever you desire."
"In that case, we won't hold back," Xiao Ming smiled and exchanged a knowing glance with Xiao Yi Xian.
The two of them began scouring the treasure trove, their eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Is this the Thousand-Year Sun Fruit?"
"Look at this Three-Colored Leaf!"
"And here's the Soul Spirit Grass, used to refine Spirit Nourishment Powder. Not bad, not bad..."
"This is the 'Misty Snake Phantom Body,' a High Di Dou Technique. It should be the Second Elder's avatar Dou Technique. Not bad, I'll take it."
"An Eighth-Rank Monster Core! Good stuff!"
"Hmm? The Ten Thousand Snake Devouring Heart Fruit! With this, Xian'er should be able to break through to the nine-star Dou Ancestor. I'll take it."
"Xiao Ming..."
"..."
As they unabashedly plundered the treasure trove, Tian Qing Zi couldn't help but feel his heart ache. The wealth accumulated by the snake clan over countless years was being taken away in an instant.
After a while, Xiao Ming finished his loot and approached Tian Qing Zi with Xiao Yi Xian by his side.
"Are you done, young friend?" Tian Qing Zi forced a smile.
"More or less, we'll be taking our leave now," Xiao Ming replied with a smile.
Tian Qing Zi had been wise enough to let them take what they wanted, and Xiao Ming had seized half of the treasure trove. This half was not to be underestimated - the accumulation and collection of the Snake Clan in the Ten Thousand Snake Mountain Range, though a hidden power, were not weaker than one of the three valleys, the Ice River Valley. Their accumulation could be considered terrifying.
The current Xiao Ming was now rich beyond measure.
"Take your time," Tian Qing Zi watched them leave, his heart heavy with mixed emotions.
The guards standing nearby could no longer hold back their questions and concerns.
"First Elder! The Snake Lord..."
"The Snake Lord and the others won't be returning! They're all dead!" Tian Qing Zi said, his voice filled with sorrow.
"What? Is it because of those human cultivators?!" The guards were alarmed.
"It is and it isn't. Sigh, I'll urgently summon our tribe members and explain everything to all of you. If you come across those human cultivators again, don't provoke them. They could easily wipe us out. We've actually benefited from this encounter by exchanging half of our treasures for their departure..."
...
As the First Elder and the guards continued their discussion, Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Ming returned to the valley where they had left Qing Lin and Venerable Tian Huo.
"Qing Lin, can you control this Second Elder?" Xiao Ming glanced at the Second Elder who he had knocked out earlier.
"I can manage it, but it's somewhat challenging to command him. Thanks to the soul technique you gave me earlier, my soul power has greatly increased. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to control him at all." Qing Lin looked a bit troubled.
"As long as you can control him, it's fine. Killing him would be a waste. When we return, I'll refine some pills for you to help you break through to the Dou Ancestor realm. Additionally, I'll give you a wisp of the Falling Heart Flame to temper your Dou Qi, so you won't have to worry about its instability." Xiao Ming gently stroked Qing Lin's head and said with a smile.
With Qing Lin in control of a large number of experts, her own strength would undoubtedly improve rapidly.
"Mmmm… thank you, Young Master," Qing Lin murmured softly, her cheeks blushing as she nuzzled into his hand.
She felt a mixture of shyness and longing as she sensed the deep care he had for her.
Xiao Ming smiled warmly, then turned to everyone and said, "We're done here. Let's return to the Pill Tower."
Xiao Ming and Xiao Yi Xian followed Tian Qing Zi as they made their way towards the treasure trove.
Along the way, Xiao Ming's strength gradually reverted back to the level of an eight-star Dou Ancestor, and his aura became somewhat diminished.
This was an inevitable consequence of using the Sky Fire Three Mysterious Change. Although the secret technique was powerful, it paled in comparison to the ancient clans' bloodline marks and carried side effects.
Fortunately, Xiao Ming's strong body allowed him to maintain a relatively stable aura despite its slight weakening.
'If only I could use the Sky Fire Three Mysterious Change to directly condense the bloodline mark of the Xiao Clan. That would be fantastic,' Feeling the strangeness in his body, Xiao Ming sighed inwardly.
He possessed only the initial transformation of the Sky Fire Three Mysterious Change and lacked the complete technique, making it impossible to directly condense the bloodline mark.
Xiao Ming had long harbored the intention of acquiring the complete technique for the Sky Fire Three Mysterious Change. The last time he tempered the Sky Demon Puppet in the Falling Thunder Mountain Range, he had the opportunity to proceed directly to the Burning Flame Valley. Sound Valley and the Burning Flame Valley were adjacent to each other, making it a feasible option.
However, while the Sky Fire Three Mysterious Change originated from the Xiao Clan's ancestor, Xiao Xuan, it had become the secret technique of the Burning Flame Valley and was not easily obtainable.
In the original work, Xiao Yan helped them refine a pill in exchange for the technique. With Xiao Ming's current strength, refining the pill would be a piece of cake.
Yet, the timeline was not correct now, and it would take several more years. Who knew what the situation of the Burning Flame Valley was? So, Xiao Ming refrained from heading there directly.
Unlike the Ice River Valley, the Burning Flame Valley had Huo Yun, a one-star Dou Saint, backing them. They possessed a formidable background and were not to be trifled with. If Xiao Ming were to request their secret technique outright, they might not give him a face.
Observing Xiao Ming's aura weaken, Xiao Yi Xian cast a wary glance at Tian Qing Zi, ready to act in case he made any sudden moves.
Despite Tian Qing Zi's current state of severe injury, he was still a Dou Venerate and might still possess some cunning methods.
Sensing Xiao Yi Xian's gaze, Tian Qing Zi smiled helplessly. If Xiao Ming dared to withdraw the secret technique directly, he must have some tricks up his sleeve. Tian Qing Zi had no desire to discover what those tricks might be. He had not yet lived long enough.
Under Xiao Yi Xian's watchful eyes, Tian Qing Zi continued forward in silence.
Soon enough, they reached their destination.
...
This was an extremely hidden valley, enveloped by a spatial barrier, concealing its existence. Upon entering the valley through the barrier, Xiao Ming immediately sensed the presence of numerous snake-type magical beasts. However, most of them were only of the fifth or sixth rank, with none surpassing the seventh rank.
It was evident that the snake clan in the Ten Thousand Snake Mountain Range had suffered significant losses, with only Tian Qing Zi, as a Dou Venerate, remaining.
Tian Qing Zi glanced at the valley with a tinge of melancholy in his heart, but he didn't forget the main purpose. Leading the way, he guided Xiao Ming and Xiao Yi Xian towards the depths of the valley until they reached a cliff. With a wave of his hand, a deep and lengthy tunnel appeared, revealing a hidden dark cave within the cliff.
"This is our clan's treasure trove," Tian Qing Zi pointed towards the end of the passage.
"Please lead the way, Elder Tian," Xiao Ming smiled.
Tian Qing Zi nodded and proceeded to walk ahead, with Xiao Ming and Xiao Yi Xian following closely behind. Their gazes intertwined, and the Dou Qi within their bodies circulated silently as they stepped into the passage.
Upon passing through the short tunnel, the group came to a halt outside the entrance of the cave. Dim lights emanated from within, and the surrounding rock walls were adorned with snake patterns, exuding an aura of fierceness and intimidation.
Without hesitation, Tian Qing Zi entered the cave, with Xiao Ming and Xiao Yi Xian trailing behind. Inside, they discovered a long stone staircase descending into the abyss of darkness. Moonstones embedded in the walls emitted a faint glow, gradually illuminating the cave and dispelling the shadows.
Slowly, they descended along the stone steps. After approximately ten minutes, they finally reached the bottom of the staircase, where a tightly shut, heavy stone door stood before them.
The stone gate was completely black, covered in moss, exuding an air of weightiness.
Beside the stone gate, two snake-type guards with human bodies stood. The guard on the left had a blue head, while the one on the right had a green head.
The green-headed guard expressed surprise upon seeing the First Elder.
"First Elder, why are you here? Isn't today the blood ritual? Have they returned? And what's the matter with these two humans?"
'Come back my ass, besides me, everyone else is dead!' Tian Qing Zi's face darkened as he thought of the tragic state of the clan. He didn't bother explaining and simply commanded, "Open the gate!"
When the green-headed guard saw Tian Qing Zi's dark expression, he stopped asking and opened the gate.
The gate swung open, revealing an expansive and brilliantly lit warehouse before Xiao Ming and Xiao Yi Xian. The walls of the warehouse were constructed from sturdy green steel, giving the impression that it had been hewn from a vein of green steel ore.
The warehouse was filled with numerous shelves, meticulously arranged with scrolls, while crystal cabinets held a wide array of rare and precious medicinal herbs.
Tian Qing Zi weakly gestured, saying, "Take whatever you want."
The two guards standing nearby were taken aback, their eyes widening in disbelief. The First Elder was typically held in high regard and respected. Why was he behaving in such a manner?
"First Elder, this is not permitted!"
"You're violating the clan's rules!"
Tian Qing Zi cast a cold, penetrating gaze at the guards, silencing their objections.
Turning his attention to Xiao Ming, he continued, "Young friend, please do not be reserved. To be honest, you have done us a great favor by dealing with the deranged Snake Lord and the others. You have also saved this old man's life. Feel free to take whatever you desire."
"In that case, we won't hold back," Xiao Ming smiled and exchanged a knowing glance with Xiao Yi Xian.
The two of them began scouring the treasure trove, their eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Is this the Thousand-Year Sun Fruit?"
"Look at this Three-Colored Leaf!"
"And here's the Soul Spirit Grass, used to refine Spirit Nourishment Powder. Not bad, not bad..."
"This is the 'Misty Snake Phantom Body,' a High Di Dou Technique. It should be the Second Elder's avatar Dou Technique. Not bad, I'll take it."
"An Eighth-Rank Monster Core! Good stuff!"
"Hmm? The Ten Thousand Snake Devouring Heart Fruit! With this, Xian'er should be able to break through to the nine-star Dou Ancestor. I'll take it."
"Xiao Ming..."
"..."
As they unabashedly plundered the treasure trove, Tian Qing Zi couldn't help but feel his heart ache. The wealth accumulated by the snake clan over countless years was being taken away in an instant.
After a while, Xiao Ming finished his loot and approached Tian Qing Zi with Xiao Yi Xian by his side.
"Are you done, young friend?" Tian Qing Zi forced a smile.
"More or less, we'll be taking our leave now," Xiao Ming replied with a smile.
Tian Qing Zi had been wise enough to let them take what they wanted, and Xiao Ming had seized half of the treasure trove. This half was not to be underestimated - the accumulation and collection of the Snake Clan in the Ten Thousand Snake Mountain Range, though a hidden power, were not weaker than one of the three valleys, the Ice River Valley. Their accumulation could be considered terrifying.
The current Xiao Ming was now rich beyond measure.
"Take your time," Tian Qing Zi watched them leave, his heart heavy with mixed emotions.
The guards standing nearby could no longer hold back their questions and concerns.
"First Elder! The Snake Lord..."
"The Snake Lord and the others won't be returning! They're all dead!" Tian Qing Zi said, his voice filled with sorrow.
"What? Is it because of those human cultivators?!" The guards were alarmed.
"It is and it isn't. Sigh, I'll urgently summon our tribe members and explain everything to all of you. If you come across those human cultivators again, don't provoke them. They could easily wipe us out. We've actually benefited from this encounter by exchanging half of our treasures for their departure..."
...
As the First Elder and the guards continued their discussion, Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Ming returned to the valley where they had left Qing Lin and Venerable Tian Huo.
"Qing Lin, can you control this Second Elder?" Xiao Ming glanced at the Second Elder who he had knocked out earlier.
"I can manage it, but it's somewhat challenging to command him. Thanks to the soul technique you gave me earlier, my soul power has greatly increased. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to control him at all." Qing Lin looked a bit troubled.
"As long as you can control him, it's fine. Killing him would be a waste. When we return, I'll refine some pills for you to help you break through to the Dou Ancestor realm. Additionally, I'll give you a wisp of the Falling Heart Flame to temper your Dou Qi, so you won't have to worry about its instability." Xiao Ming gently stroked Qing Lin's head and said with a smile.
With Qing Lin in control of a large number of experts, her own strength would undoubtedly improve rapidly.
"Mmmm… thank you, Young Master," Qing Lin murmured softly, her cheeks blushing as she nuzzled into his hand.
She felt a mixture of shyness and longing as she sensed the deep care he had for her.
Xiao Ming smiled warmly, then turned to everyone and said, "We're done here. Let's return to the Pill Tower."
