After a long journey, Xiao Ling and Qing Lin finally entered the jurisdiction of Fenyan Valley in Zhongzhou and came to a city called Yanhui City.
Immediately, Xiao Ling found the manager of Fenyan Valley who was in charge here, revealed his identity, and explained the purpose of his trip.
After hearing this, the local deacon of Fenyan Valley did not dare to delay and quickly reported the situation.
When Fenyan Valley heard the news, they responded immediately and sent an elder of prominent status to greet them quickly.
……
In a courtyard exuding ancient charm, this place temporarily became a resting place for Xiao Ling and Qing Lin.
In the luxurious guest room where Xiao Ling stayed, a palm-sized mink was curled up on a soft pillow.
The fur of this little mink was as black and shiny as the deepest night sky, without a trace of other colors, as if it was woven from the finest black silk.
Its eyes were shining with a lively light, and at this moment it was holding a fresh and juicy spiritual fruit, chewing it with relish.
Xiao Diao said incoherently, "Xiao...Xiao Ling, this fruit is really delicious. I have never tasted anything so delicious in Tianxuan Continent. It is simply amazing..."
"Haha, just eat as much as you want. I can still afford to provide you with these herbs."
Xiao Ling couldn't help laughing out loud when he saw Ah Diao, who looked as if he had never seen the world.
He stretched out his hand and gently rubbed the smooth and silky fur of the little mink, secretly admiring in his heart that the feel of this heavenly mink was so irresistible.
The little mink was eating happily. It didn't get angry when it saw Xiao Ling caressing it like a pet.
After all, over the past few days, it has become accustomed to Xiao Ling's intimate behavior.
Besides, the delicious spiritual fruit in its mouth made it completely unable to resist and it was only focused on enjoying the deliciousness in front of it.
"By the way, A Diao, how do you feel about the magic cores I gave you before? Do they have any special effects?"
Xiao Ling stopped rubbing as he spoke, looked at the little mink curiously, and asked.
"Hmm, those magic cores are really good to eat." Little Marten smacked his lips, as if he was still savoring the taste. "They are very helpful for my demon spirit to recover, and the effect is better than these spirit fruits. However, the taste is a bit disappointing."
As Xiao Diao said this, he swallowed the last bite of the spiritual fruit, patted his stomach in satisfaction, and then continued to answer Xiao Ling's questions.
The little mink licked the juice on his paws and continued, "After eating those magic cores, I found that not only my recovery ability has increased. If I don't absorb all the energy in the magic cores, I can still use this energy to fight."
When Xiao Ling heard this, his eyebrows slightly raised, and he asked in confusion: "Oh? This is something new. Didn't Yan say before that the secret method can only allow you to condense a physical entity in the form of a demon spirit, but it cannot be used for fighting. When you fight, don't you still have to rely on the demon spirit state?"
The little mink shook its furry little head proudly and said with a grin, "Haha, you don't know this. Although I can't fight directly like a physical body, the energy of those magic cores can make my demon spirit form stronger. Moreover, with the blessing of these energies, even a body condensed by secret methods can last for a while in battle and won't fall apart so quickly."
After a slight pause, Xiao Diao continued, "If the energy of the magic core is sufficient, I can't say that it can restore me to my full strength, but it should be no problem to restore me to 70% or 80% of my strength. It will be a piece of cake to deal with those Dou Zun in your Dou Qi Continent who haven't mastered the compression of Dou Qi."
Xiao Ling was a little surprised when he heard Xiao Diao say this. He didn't expect that the magic core would have such a great effect on Xiao Diao. It seemed that if used properly, Xiao Diao would definitely become a trump card in his hand. However, from what it said, in order to exert its true strength, it seemed that it would consume a lot of magic cores, which was not a small cost.
Seeing the doubt on Xiao Ling's face, Little Marten raised his head and said proudly, "Humph, don't underestimate me, your Lord Marten. We, the Heavenly Demon Marten, are famous for swallowing everything. Whether it's the energy, spiritual objects, or various physical substances in the world, I can swallow them and make use of them. Other demons don't have such abilities as us. This is the unique ability of us, the Heavenly Demon Marten."
As the little mink spoke, his eyes twinkled with pride, as if to say, "Hehe, I'm so strong, don't you come and praise me?"
"The devouring ability of your Sky Demon Marten is truly impressive. In our Douqi Continent, you can't find any other magical beast race that is as good at devouring as you are." Xiao Ling looked at the smug look of the little marten, smiled, and praised.
Although Xiao Diao called himself "Master Diao", he was actually not that old among the monsters. Before the misfortune, he was only a teenager in the monster world.
Next, Xiao Ling and Xiao Diao conducted a series of detailed tests and roughly calculated the magic core energy that Xiao Diao would need in battle.
It was discovered that in order for Xiao Diao to burst out with power close to that of a high-level Dou Zun, five seventh-level magic cores would have to be consumed, and this state could only be maintained for about half an hour.
The expense is indeed quite high, but for Xiao Ling, it is still within his financial means.
All in all, Xiao Ling was very satisfied with the test results.
……
"Tuk tuk tuk~"
A brisk knock on the door broke the silence, and then Qinglin's clear and pleasant voice echoed in the room.
"Master, the contact person from Burning Flame Valley has arrived."
Xiao Ling responded and quickly opened the door, only to see Qing Lin standing outside the door, her figure looking particularly gorgeous in the sunlight.
"Okay, then let's go meet this contact. It's time to set off for Fenyan Valley." Xiao Ling said, reaching out and gently rubbing Qinglin's hair, with a gentle smile on his face.
Qinglin nodded obediently, then led Xiao Ling across the courtyard and walked outside.
The two walked briskly, both seeming to be looking forward to the upcoming journey.
They looked up and saw an old man with red hair standing not far away. Under the sunlight, his figure looked particularly energetic.
They looked up and saw an old man with red hair standing not far away. His figure looked particularly energetic in the sunlight.
The old man had a smile on his face and his eyes were full of gentleness. It was obvious that he had been standing here for quite a while.
Although the clothes he wore were old, they revealed a solemnity that could not be ignored. One could tell at a glance that this old man was no ordinary person.
As soon as Xiao Ling and Qing Lin stepped out of the courtyard, the red-haired old man came to meet them. In a few steps, he was already standing in front of them. He clasped his fists slightly and said with a smile: "Hello, Master Xiao Ling, hello young lady, I am Chihuo of Fenyan Valley, and I have come to greet you two to the valley."
Xiao Ling nodded slightly, with a faint smile on his face, and responded: "Haha, Elder Chihuo, you are too polite. Speaking of which, this is the second time we meet."
Just now he didn't look at him carefully because he was far away, but now that he was closer, Xiao Ling focused his attention on the old man's face.
This familiar face instantly brought back memories for Xiao Ling. He remembered that when he first arrived in Danyu and stayed in Tianhuang City for a short time, Elder Chihuo was the main person who represented Fenyan Valley to preside over the battle for the space wormhole between the Cheng family and the Liu family.
At that time, Tang Huoer challenged herself and wanted to compete in the art of controlling fire. This Elder Chihuo was right beside her and they had a few words of conversation at that time.
Seeing Elder Chihuo again, Xiao Ling couldn't help but mutter in his heart, what a coincidence this world is. Unexpectedly, the person sent by Fenyan Valley to pick him up was actually this old acquaintance. He secretly guessed that it was because he and Elder Chihuo had such a relationship that Fenyan Valley specially arranged for him to receive him.
"Haha, it was really my poor eyesight at that time that I did not recognize Master Xiao Ling's true identity. My behavior at that time was indeed a bit inappropriate. Please forgive me." Elder Chihuo said with an embarrassed smile.
If he had known at that time that the young man in front of him was a genuine eighth-grade alchemist, he would definitely not have let his daughter go and compete with him.
As a result, not only did the young lady lose the competition, she also suffered a great blow because of this incident. In her excitement, she started the Nine Dragons Thunder Fire inheritance ceremony ahead of time, and now it is a mess and an accident has happened.
Looking at the current situation, maybe we will have to ask Master Xiao Ling to help solve the problem in the future. This matter is so serious that I really don't know what to say.
"Haha, it's actually nothing serious, just some trivial matters." Xiao Ling waved his hand lightly, with a calm face, "I'm not a person who likes to quibble, let the past go with the wind."
Xiao Ling paused, a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes, and then he changed the subject and continued, "However, I have read the news you sent me. If the alchemists you invited can really refine the elixir your young lady needs, then I will become redundant. Wouldn't it be like I have made a wasted trip?"
Elder Chihuo couldn't help sweating on his forehead after hearing what Xiao Ling said, but he tried his best to pretend that nothing happened, and said with a forced smile:
"Haha, Master Xiao Ling, don't worry. The Valley Master has already told you that if your trip is in vain, he will personally select a gift that satisfies you as compensation and will definitely not let you feel embarrassed or unhappy."
Xiao Ling nodded slightly, his tone calm as water, without any emotion: "Well, I hope so. Then let's not waste time, let's go."
Elder Chihuo noticed that Xiao Ling didn't seem to be very enthusiastic, so he wisely didn't continue to disturb him.
At this moment, the giant fiery red bird in the sky let out a sharp cry and slowly landed in front of them. Elder Chihuo then turned around and politely invited Xiao Ling and Qing Lin to climb onto the broad back of the firebird.
Seeing that the two were in place, Elder Chihuo waved his sleeves, and the giant bird under his feet suddenly let out a loud and sharp cry, and its huge wings vibrated, bringing up a gust of hot wind. Under the envious gazes of the residents in the city below, it quickly flew towards the northern sky.
Xiao Ling stood on the giant bird with his hands behind his back, looking towards the distant north, and couldn't help but chuckle.
Xiao Ling understood Fen Yan Valley's concerns. After all, the Three Mysterious Transformations of Heavenly Fire were the valley's most valuable treasures, so they would naturally not pass it on to outsiders easily.
They hoped to try to refine the seventh-grade high-level Fire Bodhi Pill through other alchemists. If they succeeded, there would be no need to hand over the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Fire to ask Xiao Ling for help. If those alchemists failed, Fenyan Valley would have no choice but to ask Xiao Ling for help.
As for hiring another eighth-grade alchemist, with the financial resources of Fenyan Valley, they can naturally hire one by spending some money.
However, those other eighth-grade alchemists were all shrewd characters, and they would not easily make a move without seeing real money. Their asking price was probably much higher than the value of the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Fire that Xiao Ling was looking for. In that case, it would be better to ask Xiao Ling to back it up.
Xiao Ling shook his head slightly and decided not to dwell on these speculations.
He knew that if the alchemists invited by Fenyan Valley were unable to refine the Fire Bodhisattva Pill, and he could successfully obtain the Three Mysterious Transformations of Heavenly Fire, that would naturally be the most ideal result.
But if things don't develop in the direction he expects, Xiao Ling has also prepared other means to ensure that his goal can be achieved.
Xiao Ling is determined to obtain the Three Mysterious Transformations of the Heavenly Fire in the Fenyan Valley. No matter what, he will not waste this opportunity.
……
The Burning Flame Valley is located in the Blazing Fire Mountains in the southwest of the Central Region. The landform here is made up of a series of blazing volcanoes. Looking around, it is all red, as if the whole world is dyed by flames.
Thick white smoke often rises from the mountain peaks, like nature breathing in and out. Occasionally, magma flows slowly from the top of the mountain, like a fire dragon wandering on the surface.
The Blazing Fire Mountain Range is also quite famous in Zhongzhou. This fame comes from the existence of the Burning Flame Valley and the extremely harsh natural environment here.
Although it is not a beautiful scenery, due to the continuous volcanoes, the fire attribute energy here is extremely rich. For those who practice fire attribute exercises, this is a good place to get twice the result with half the effort.
Therefore, even though they know that this place is full of dangers, there are still many practitioners who are willing to take the risk to come here, just to improve their cultivation in this fire area...
The Scorching Fire Mountains were not far from Yanhui City, and it took less than half a day to get there. In addition, Elder Chihuo's giant bird flew quite fast, so after just four hours or so, Xiao Ling could vaguely feel that the energy between heaven and earth around him was gradually becoming more abundant, and in this abundance, there was also a hint of violence.
Standing on the broad back of the giant bird, Xiao Ling looked into the distance. At the end of his sight, he seemed to see a fiery red line extending on the horizon.
The line was so magnificent that it seemed to have no end at first glance, like a giant python made of fire lying across the earth.
"Haha, Master Xiao Ling, look, that's the Blazing Fire Mountain Range. The base of the Burning Flame Valley is in that flame." Elder Chihuo smiled, pointed to the mountains in the distance, and said:
"Although the fire energy in the Scorching Fire Mountains is very rich, the volcanoes are always erupting restlessly, so the energy is somewhat violent. If you want to absorb this energy, you must first get rid of the violent energy. Otherwise, long-term cultivation may affect your mind."
Elder Chihuo paused, then continued, "However, for a fire control master like you, these violent energies should not be a big problem."
Xiao Ling nodded slightly, knowing in his heart that he had the strange fire protecting his body, and these so-called violent energies were just a piece of cake for him.
Compared to the violent underground magma world under the Tianfen Qi Training Tower of Canaan Academy, the energy fluctuations here are simply not worth mentioning.
Immediately, Elder Chihuo waved his hand and took out a string of red beads that shone like flames. He introduced them cheerfully: "This string of treasures is called Lihuo Pearls. It is the standard magic weapon of our Fenyan Valley. It has a special ability that can automatically absorb the surrounding fire energy. When the energy accumulates to a certain level, it can reflect a full-strength attack comparable to that of a mid-level Douhuang."
"It has the added benefit of dispelling heat. This lady can protect herself from the heat by wearing it."
As soon as he finished speaking, Elder Chihuo blew gently, and his fighting spirit lifted up the Lihuo Pearl, and it floated lightly in front of Xiao Ling and Qing Lin.
Xiao Ling smiled and nodded, and said in a relaxed tone: "Haha, Elder Chihuo, I accept this kindness on behalf of Qinglin. Thank you."
He gently stretched out his hand, took the Lihuo Pearl, and then carefully put it on Qinglin. The pearl looked quite delicate on her wrist.
Although Qinglin is strong enough and the hot energy here has little effect on her, the snakeman blood flowing in her body is always somewhat uncomfortable with the hot and dry environment.
As soon as Qing Lin put on the Lihuo Pearl, he felt refreshed immediately, and even his eyes brightened up a bit, and it was obvious that he liked this thing very much.
"Haha, this little thing is nothing, don't take it to heart." Seeing Xiao Ling accept the Lihuo Pearl with satisfaction and seeming to be in a good mood, Elder Chihuo smiled heartily.
Although this thing can be considered quite precious, it is nothing compared to giving Xiao Ling a good initial impression of Fenyan Valley.
He said no more and just waved his sleeves lightly. The giant red bird under his feet seemed to have received an order. It sped up suddenly and turned into a dazzling flame, rushing straight into the winding mountains.
Stepping into the Blazing Mountains, Xiao Ling could finally clearly see the true face of this land. The mountains here lacked the common greenery, but were replaced by a sea of red. There was not even a blade of grass on the land, and the environment seemed particularly desolate and harsh.
As they went deeper into the mountains, the temperature in the air continued to rise. However, for cultivators like Xiao Ling and the other two, this heat was nothing. They just smiled and didn't take it to heart.
Elder Chihuo looked around and suddenly whistled. The giant fiery red bird seemed to understand the command, and the flapping of its wings gradually slowed down. Its figure drew an elegant arc in the air, and finally landed slowly under a red mountain.
The rocks at the foot of the mountain appear even hotter under the sunlight... (End of this chapter)