In Tang Huoer's opinion, being able to call each other by name means that the relationship between the two people has become closer. It is no longer the kind of polite respect and being respected, but more like a natural getting along between friends.
Tang Huoer secretly rejoiced in her heart. She felt that Xiao Ling's initiative to change the name was, to some extent, an acceptance and recognition of her. This subtle sense of closeness made her feel happy, as if the distance between them had shortened a little.
"Huo'er, you come here so early, is there something wrong?" Xiao Ling asked curiously, with interest in his eyes.
Tang Huoer smiled slightly, and that smile was like a flower blooming in spring, warm and bright. "My father asked me to accompany you to the treasure house of Burning Flame Valley to pick out some treasures as an extra reward for your help in refining the Fire Bodhisattva Pill."
Xiao Ling nodded slightly, feeling a little puzzled by Tang Huo'er's sudden visit. Logically, she should be busy taking the Fire Bodhisattva Pill and concentrating on recovering from her injuries, so how come she has time to come out and receive him? It seems that Tang Zhen's regard for him has exceeded his expectations.
However, Xiao Ling did not delve into it, but simply nodded and responded: "Then I'll trouble you, Huo'er."
"It's not a trouble at all. I happen to be free today." Tang Huoer smiled brightly and answered in a relaxed tone.
Then, she gracefully made a gesture of invitation and walked in front to lead the way for Xiao Ling. Xiao Ling turned back and signaled to Qing Lin, then took Xiao Diao and followed Tang Huo'er's steps to walk out.
The little mink curled up comfortably in Xiao Ling's arms, looking lazy. Xiao Ling brought the little mink with him this time, hoping that it could help him open his eyes. With the little mink's broad knowledge, it might be able to discover some treasures that even Xiao Ling might overlook.
Xiao Ling and Tang Huoer strolled and chatted, their steps were light, and laughter could be heard from time to time. The scenery along the way was pleasant, and both of them seemed to be in a good mood, enjoying this rare relaxing time.
The two walked and talked as they passed through the winding corridors of the Burning Flame Valley and gradually entered the core area of the valley.
The buildings here are more simple and ancient, and every brick and tile seem to bear the traces of time, revealing a vicissitudes and solemn atmosphere.
When the surrounding disciples saw Tang Huoer, they would bow respectfully, and towards Xiao Ling, their eyes were full of curiosity and respect.
Finally, they arrived at the location of the treasure house. The treasure house was located on an isolated hill. The entire building was made of fine steel rock, and the surface was inlaid with dense defense array runes, flashing a faint light.
The Kumen is made of a huge piece of red copper, carved with ferocious dragons and beasts, giving people a strong visual impact.
"This is the treasure house of our Fenyan Valley. Most of the treasures are collected here." There was a hint of pride in Tang Huoer's voice.
Xiao Ling looked up at the towering building, feeling the ancient atmosphere it exuded, and couldn't help but feel shocked.
The square in front of the treasure house is wide and flat, with two huge stone lions majestically guarding the door, as if warning anyone with bad intentions.
As expected of a power inherited from a peak Dou Sheng, although it is no longer as glorious as it was in its heyday, the buildings here are still magnificent. Each one is like a guardian that has gone through vicissitudes of life, quietly telling of the glory of the past.
Moreover, the restrictions set up in various places seemed to be quite profound. Even Xiao Ling, who had now broken through to the Dou Zun level, vaguely felt a sense of oppression, as if reminding him of the serious consequences of forcing his way in.
Xiao Ling could sense that the space around this treasure house was filled with a mysterious aura.
It seems that the treasure house is right in front of us, but in fact the real distance is difficult to estimate. This must be the result of some means used by a former powerful person.
If there is no correct method of entry, even if Xiao Ling knows the location of the treasure house, whether he can actually step into this space is still a huge unknown.
Xiao Ling was wondering why he couldn't sense any strong presence around him. After all, even the place where the fighting skills were stored was guarded by three masters. It stands to reason that such an important treasure house cannot be left unguarded.
Now it seems that the various restrictions on this treasure house are too powerful, and there is no need to send people to guard it. If someone can really break these restrictions, the guards probably can't stop them.
"Tsk tsk, these restrictions are really mysterious. It seems that the person who set them must be a peerless master. However, the power of these restrictions is no longer as strong as before, perhaps even less than one-tenth of the original power. However, if you want to trap a few people who are less than the semi-saint level for a period of time, it is still more than enough."
The little mink had a wide range of knowledge and understood the current status of these restrictions at a glance. Its eyes scanned the surroundings, as if it could see deeper secrets through the surface.
There were many strong men in the Tianyao Marten Clan, and Xiao Diao's father was one of the top strong men who had reached the Samsara Realm. Xiao Diao had seen a lot of powerful restrictions since he was a child.
However, although the restrictions in front of him were complex, Xiao Diao always felt that some of them were a bit crude. He thought to himself that if he had set up these restrictions in the first place, even after such a long time, at least 70% to 80% of their power would be retained.
Tang Huoer was standing aside. When she heard Xiao Diao's words, she turned her head in surprise and her eyes fell on Xiao Diao standing on Xiao Ling's shoulder.
"Hey, this little guy can actually talk. Is he already a high-level magical beast?" A hint of curiosity flashed in her eyes. "But the aura on his body is so weak. Could it be that because he has extraordinary blood, he has awakened his spiritual intelligence early?"
Tang Huoer stared at Xiao Diao and whispered to himself in confusion.
Tang Huoer had actually noticed this black little mouse a long time ago, and she found that Xiao Ling seemed to value it very much and took it with him wherever he went.
At first, she thought it was just an ordinary pet of Xiao Ling. After all, this mouse-like monster was very beautiful in appearance if you looked closely, and it also had a sense of nobility.
But now, Tang Huoer found that this little mouse could not only speak, but also see through the restrictions here at a glance. In her opinion, the origin of this mouse is definitely not simple. Maybe it is a magical beast with some special abilities like the psychic white fox.
Although Tang Huoer's whisper was soft, Xiao Ling and Xiao Diao beside her still heard it clearly.
Before Xiao Ling could say anything, the little mink standing on his shoulder immediately stood up as if its tail had been stepped on, with its fur standing on end and looking very angry.
"Listen, Master Diao, I am the noble Heavenly Demon Marten. How could you be so short-sighted as to compare me with those trash rats? If it weren't for the fact that you are Xiao Ling's friend, Master Diao would have let you see how powerful I am."
The little mink stood on Xiao Ling's shoulder, pointing one of its little paws directly at Tang Huo'er. It was so angry that even its purple and black fur seemed to be flashing with anger.
As a celestial demon marten, they were born with pride. Being mistaken for a mouse was a great humiliation for them. The anger seemed to be about to burst out from their tiny bodies at any time.
Tang Huoer was slightly stunned when she heard Xiao Diao's words. She didn't expect that her whispering was actually caught by Xiao Diao, and she didn't expect that this little guy who called himself "Heavenly Demon Marten" would react so violently.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, I may have made you uncomfortable with what I said just now." Tang Huoer said with an apologetic smile. Xiao Ling patted Xiao Diao's head gently and said to Tang Huoer: "Don't mind, this guy just has a bad temper. You didn't mean to do it, don't take it to heart."
Seeing that Tang Huo'er had apologized, Xiao Diao did not continue to rage. He just glanced at Tang Huo'er, and his eyes seemed to say, "Forget it this time, but don't make the mistake of admitting your identity to me next time."
Although he still looked a little angry, he had calmed down a lot.
Tang Huoer didn't waste any more words with Xiao Diao. She walked straight to the door of the treasure house. She casually took out a red token from her sleeve and shook her wrist lightly, and the token glowed with a bright red light.
The beam of light accurately hit the imperceptible mechanism on the copper door. With a crisp "click", the heavy door slowly opened, and a dark passage appeared in front of them.
Xiao Ling followed closely behind Tang Huo'er, and the two of them stepped into the treasure house together. It was dark inside, but once they entered, rows of night pearls automatically lit up, illuminating the entire space as bright as day.
Xiao Ling's eyes were instantly attracted by the scene before him. The interior of the treasury was like a huge maze. Various treasures were placed on the stacked shelves, and each of them exuded an exciting light.
"The things here are all treasures collected by the masters and elders of the Burning Flame Valley. Each one is extremely valuable." Tang Huo'er's voice echoed softly in the storeroom. "Xiao Ling, don't be restrained. Just take whatever you like."
After hearing this, Xiao Ling nodded, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he replied softly: "Well, I understand."
Although Tang Huoer generously told Xiao Ling to pick whatever he wanted, they both knew that Xiao Ling would not really be reckless. He would pick a few treasures that he liked, but he would be restrained. If he took too many, it would inevitably make both parties feel embarrassed.
Besides, most of the things piled up in the treasure house are things that are not usually used but are of great collection value. The people of Fenyan Valley have already picked up all the truly practical treasures. Even those things that may be very useful to others are just that to Xiao Ling.
Anyway, Xiao Ling came here mainly to broaden his horizons. If he could find some treasures by accident, that would be the best. If he didn't, it didn't matter. He could just pick a few good herbs or some materials for refining. That would be enough for him.
Soon, Tang Huoer led Xiao Ling along the winding passage to the depths of the treasure house. Her steps were light, as if she knew everything here.
"These things outside are basically some common treasures." Tang Huo'er said as he walked, with a hint of casual ease in his tone, "They may not be a big deal to you now. The further you go inside, the more valuable the things will be."
Xiao Ling followed behind, his eyes sweeping across the shelves on both sides. He saw all kinds of rare treasures, including gemstones emitting faint light, antiques of various shapes, and scrolls that looked ancient.
If these treasures were placed outside, people would surely flock to them. However, for the knowledgeable Xiao Ling, he just nodded slightly and did not stop.
They continued to walk in. The interior space of the treasure house was much larger than they had imagined, as if it had no end. As they went deeper, the variety of treasures became more and more abundant, and some even emitted energy fluctuations that affected the surrounding environment.
"Xiao Ling, that treasure is not simple, we must take it away!" The little mink's voice sounded eagerly in Xiao Ling's ears, and its excitement almost overflowed from the voice.
Since the sound was transmitted directly to Xiao Ling's ears, no one else could detect it, so Tang Huoer was still concentrating on observing the other treasures.
These words instantly drew Xiao Ling's attention away from the dazzling array of treasures in the treasure house, and he immediately followed Xiao Diao's instructions. A glimmer of inquiry flashed in his eyes, and an irrepressible curiosity and expectation surged in his heart.
He thought to himself that something that could make Xiao Diao so excited must be extraordinary. Maybe he could really find an unexpected treasure in this treasure house this time and get a big bargain.
In the sight of Xiao Ling and Xiao Diao, a large number of black stones appeared. From the outside, these stones looked like ordinary black stones, with a rough surface and covered with irregular textures, which looked inconspicuous. But when Xiao Ling looked at them carefully, he could feel a hot fire attribute energy hidden in them.
Tang Huoer noticed that Xiao Ling's eyes fell on the pile of inconspicuous stones, so she walked over to him, pointed at the stones and explained: "These stones are called Dark Flame Black Stones, and most of them are hidden in the lava dark rivers deep underground. When the magma in the lava dark rivers flows through some special black rock layers, those rocks will slowly be eroded and assimilated under the long-term effects of extremely high temperatures and fire attributes. Moreover, the dark attribute and fire attribute forces here are intertwined, and eventually these rocks become the Dark Flame Black Stones we see now."
"Because our Burning Flame Valley base is built on the Blazing Fire Mountain Range, we have been collecting a lot of such materials since the predecessors of Burning Flame Valley decided to take root here a long time ago."
"Over the years, we have accumulated little by little, and our inventory has become more and more abundant. We usually use these stones to forge defensive equipment. Mixing them with other materials, we can refine them into defensive equipment that can withstand several attacks from Dou Zong masters. They are considered to be a very good material for refining fire-attribute equipment. Xiao Ling, are you interested in these materials?"
After hearing this, Xiao Ling's eyes flashed with interest. He chuckled and said, "Well, I am indeed a little interested in these stones. Our Fengxian Pavilion Master is also quite knowledgeable about refining equipment. I want to take some back and ask him to help refine a set of defensive equipment."
As Xiao Ling spoke, he waved his hand, and his soul power spread out. Seven or eight pieces of dark flame black stones the size of a human head floated lightly in front of him and fell into his palm. With a light wave, these stones disappeared into the air and were collected into his ancestral stone space.
Xiao Marten had muttered before that those dark flame black stones were unusual and must be good things. When Xiao Ling carefully explored them, he also felt something strange, but he couldn't figure out what it was. So he greeted the spirit of the ancestral stone and asked it to help him see what the secrets of these stones were.
"Xiao Ling, I can see that you are quite interested in these Dark Flame Black Stones, so take some more. We have plenty of these in the Burning Flame Valley." Tang Huo'er smiled brightly, with curved eyes, and it was clear that she was hoping that Xiao Ling could take more.
"In addition, we also have weapons and armor made of Dark Flame Black Stone in our valley. Each piece is carefully crafted. If you are interested in them, I am happy to take you to see them at any time."
"These are enough for me, enough for me to refine a good defensive equipment. Taking too much would be a waste." Xiao Ling waved his hand, saying casually, "As for those finished weapons, I won't join in the fun. I still prefer to refine them by myself according to my own ideas. I feel that way is more appropriate."
"Okay, I won't say any more. Let's go to the herb storehouse and have a look. After all, you alchemists are always particularly fond of medicinal herbs. Maybe you can find a treasure that will excite you."
Tang Huoer noticed that Xiao Ling's expression was not enthusiastic, so she stopped dwelling on this topic and turned around to lead him towards the medicinal materials storage area.
Xiao Ling nodded slightly, without saying anything else, and just followed Tang Huoer silently.
"A Diao is right. These pieces of Dark Flame Black Stone are indeed unusual. If you look closely at them, they seem to have been fused with the blood of an unrivaled master. This perfectly combines with the properties of the Dark Flame Black Stone, making the quality of these stones have a qualitative leap, especially their affinity for flames, which has been increased by who knows how many times."
“Although there is almost no difference in appearance, and it is not easy to detect the changes, if you use them to refine weapons, they will definitely be top-quality materials that are hard to find in the world.”
At this moment, the voice of the Ancestral Stone Lingyan echoed in Xiao Ling's mind, revealing a corner of the mystery of these dark flame black stones and making him understand why these stones are so different.
The words of the Ancestral Stone Spirit shocked Xiao Ling's heart, and he was filled with joy. After this reminder, he made some associations and quickly guessed the identity of the peerless strong man.
If I guessed correctly, this person might be the legendary peak Dou Sheng ancestor of Fenyan Valley. I don't know why his blood was spilled here.
To be able to injure and bleed such a top figure, the opponent's strength must be earth-shattering. In all likelihood, the opponent is the Soul Clan leader, Emperor Hun Tian. (End of this chapter)