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"Qing'er, is that the person you mentioned before, the one suspected to possess the bloodline of the Heaven Demon Phoenix?"
Beside Feng Qing'er stood a tall, white-haired man dressed in embroidered robes, who spoke softly. The man appeared to be around thirty years old, but for the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan, that age was merely the youth stage.
His appearance was exceedingly handsome, and the faint smile on his refined face made him look noble and imposing. At a glance, one could tell he was far from an ordinary individual.
At this moment, the man in white swept his gaze subtly across Wei Yang and the other five. Though his face carried a gentle smile, a faint heaviness flickered deep within his eyes.
"Mm, it's him. But I didn't expect that in just a few short years, he would actually reach the level of Dou Zun." Feng Qing'er bit her lip, her tone tinged with unwillingness.
"Hehe, once this matter is over, you too will be able to receive the clan's inheritance. By then, breaking through to Dou Zun won't be impossible." The white-robed man comforted her with a light tone.
The Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan was no ordinary magical beast race. Possessing the bloodline of the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix, they had many secret methods that could allow a talented clansman to greatly enhance their strength within a short period of time.
For example, breaking through the threshold of Dou Zun. Of course, such methods naturally came with drawbacks. After all, the power gained through bloodline inheritance was still different from what one achieved through one's own hard cultivation.
This difference might not be obvious on the surface, but once in actual combat, the flaws would inevitably show. However, these minor flaws could not overshadow its overwhelming advantages and tangible benefits.
After all, if one could take the fast route, who would still want to grind through hardship?
The man in white then said softly, "As for that Xiao Yan, don't provoke him for now. The people around him are not easy to deal with."
His tone carried a hint of gravity. Hearing this, Feng Qing'er's gaze also swept subtly over Wei Yang and the others nearby, and she nodded slightly.
They waited in silence.
"Hey, Xiao Yan, you're here too?"
A surprised and pleasant female voice suddenly came from not far away.
Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned, then turned his head. There, a young woman dressed in a fiery red dress was staring at him with a pair of bright, lively eyes.
"Tang Huo'er?" Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow.
This woman was none other than the eldest young lady of Burning Flame Valley. Since she was here, that could only mean that Tang Zhen, the Valley Master of Burning Flame Valley, must have arrived as well.
Following that thought, Xiao Yan's gaze shifted slightly and soon landed on the elderly man beside Tang Huo'er, dressed in a crimson robe and smiling warmly. It was indeed the Valley Master of Burning Flame Valley—Tang Zhen.
"Hehe, Xiao Yan, my young friend, it has been quite some time. I trust you've been well?"
Under the watchful eyes of the many powerful figures present, Tang Zhen chuckled, leading the experts of Burning Flame Valley toward them, and clasped his hands politely with a smile.
"Valley Master Tang, you're too kind. It's been a few years, yet you look even more vigorous than before." Xiao Yan responded with equal courtesy and a smile.
"Burning Flame Valley, Tang Zhen?" Wei Yang looked on with curiosity.
Burning Flame Valley was one of the major powers in Central Plains—one of the renowned Three Valleys.
Tang Zhen himself was a well-known Dou Zun expert, and more importantly, the elder behind him was a Dou Sheng powerhouse, though he suffered from fire poison.
Wei Yang's impression of Burning Flame Valley ran deep. After all, the Nine Dragons Fire Control Technique he once studied was an exclusive secret art of that very valley.
Even now, Wei Yang occasionally used that technique in battle. Under the amplification of the Death Life Flame, it could unleash power comparable to a Quasi-Heaven Grade Dou Technique.
"In just a few short years, not only did you win the Pill Gathering, but you also advanced to the level of Dou Zun. Such astonishing speed—even this old man must admit defeat." Tang Zhen's eyes swept over Xiao Yan, his tone filled with admiration.
The first time he had met Xiao Yan, the latter had just broken through to Dou Zong—not long into that stage, still somewhat immature. Yet now, only a few years later, Xiao Yan had already stepped into the mid-level of Dou Zun. Such cultivation speed was truly shocking.
Then, Tang Zhen's gaze turned toward Wei Yang and his group.
"Valley Master Tang, this is my senior brother, Wei Yang." Xiao Yan smiled and introduced.
"Mr. Wei, I've long heard of your great name." Tang Zhen's expression grew solemn as he cupped his hands respectfully.
He didn't dare to treat this man lightly. Don't be fooled by the fact that Wei Yang was a Tier 8 alchemist—when it came to killing, he was terrifyingly ruthless.
Just the battle records Burning Flame Valley knew of were already enough to shock people—and who knew how many others remained unrecorded?
Not to mention, the faint, oppressive aura emanating from Wei Yang's body made even Tang Zhen feel a distinct pressure. This one… was even more monstrous than Xiao Yan!
"Oh?" Tang Zhen was briefly stunned, then suddenly realized, "Could it be that Mr. Wei is referring to the Nine Dragons Fire Control Technique?"
Back when Xiao Yan had assisted in alchemy within Burning Flame Valley, he had revealed that very fire-controlling art in a critical moment, which had almost caused a misunderstanding at the time.
Since Xiao Yan knew it, then naturally, Wei Yang—who hailed from the same lineage—would as well. Thus, Tang Zhen immediately thought of this.
"Indeed." Wei Yang nodded and smiled. "It is the Nine Dragons Fire Control Technique. I still use it even now. The senior who created this fire control art was truly a man of astonishing talent. I admire him greatly."
"Haha, Mr. Wei flatters us. But it seems that you really do share a connection with my Burning Flame Valley." Tang Zhen laughed heartily, his mood clearly uplifted.
An alchemy grandmaster—no matter where he went—was someone all major powers sought to befriend. Now, there were not one but two of them here. Two Pill Gathering champions, both five-colored Tier 8 alchemists!
With such a relationship established today, Tang Zhen was overjoyed beyond words.
"Valley Master Tang, you've also come for the Ancient Ruins?" Xiao Yan asked with a smile.
"Ancient Ruins are rare enough, but those left behind by a Dou Sheng are even more so. Since such a thing has appeared, naturally, I had to come broaden my horizons." Tang Zhen replied with a wide, pleasant grin.
A group of powerful figures chatting and laughing together like this naturally drew many gazes. Hidden among the crowd, quite a few people frowned in displeasure—some even looked annoyed.
Damn that old fox Tang Zhen, always so quick to cling to a rising tide.
As they waited, about ten minutes quietly passed.
Boom!
The ground beneath their feet suddenly trembled faintly. From the towering ancient hall that had long remained silent came a thunderous rumble. Immediately after, everyone saw an enormous crimson stone gate—heavy as a mountain—slowly rising, revealing a pitch-black passage behind it.
"The gate is opening!"
At that sight, many eyes instantly turned blood-red with greed.
A few impatient ones couldn't restrain themselves any longer; in a flash of movement, they appeared at the mouth of the passage and, with a loud laugh, dove straight inside. Seeing someone take the lead, the surrounding crowd instantly became restless once more.
One figure after another darted forward, all impatiently charging into the dark passage as though terrified someone else would snatch the treasures first. Compared to these anxious individuals, however, Wei Yang and the others remained calm. They stood still, merely watching quietly.
"Mr. Wei doesn't seem to be in a hurry?" Tang Zhen asked with a smile.
"The mistakes of those before us still lie fresh in memory, yet some people never learn from them. They don't realize they're nothing more than cannon fodder used by others to test the path. The funniest part is, they rush to die with such eagerness."
Wei Yang clasped his hands behind his back and said flatly, "Just a bunch of fools. Then again, treasures do have a way of blinding reason."
"Haha, indeed, indeed." Tang Zhen chuckled, hands tucked inside his sleeves, nodding in agreement.
Xiao Yan and the rest watched those impatient figures vanish into the tunnel, a faint glimmer of pity flashing across their eyes. They shook their heads and sighed softly.
When would people ever learn?
If the ruins left behind by a Dou Sheng could be entered so easily, wouldn't that be far too ridiculous?
Pfft~
Reality soon proved the point. Not long after many people rushed into the tunnel, the pitch-black corridor suddenly turned fiery red.
Terrifying heat spread through the air.
The once-solid floor began to crack open, and before everyone's eyes, boiling crimson magma erupted violently from below. At the same time, from the walls on both sides of the passage, dazzling blue flames shot out like raging spears.
Ah~
Screams of terror and agony echoed through the air once again. And then—nothing.
Because those touched by the blue flames were instantly reduced to ash in the blink of an eye.
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