Fragment of the Netherworld Flame Map

Rock Snakes, as their name suggested, were snake-like magical beasts that lived within rock walls, roughly at the first tier.

Thanks to their long, flat, wing-like bodies, these magical beasts could soar through the air like hawks. And because they possessed a mutated earth attribute, their bodies were as hard as stone.

Ordinary blades, spears, and clubs could not harm them at all.

Lin Che gave a disdainful snort, then raised a finger before Xiao Yi Xian.

With a slight twitch of his finger, a pebble on the ground rose into the air and shot toward the Rock Snake's head like a bullet.

Splat!

The Rock Snake's hard skull exploded instantly. Its massive body let out a shrill cry before sliding down from the hundred-meter-high ravine.

Xiao Yi Xian stood frozen in place, studying the man before her with curiosity. Just what realm had he reached...

He had actually killed a Rock Snake in a single move?

"All right. Since there's no danger left, let's go in."

Lin Che shrugged. He still had many matters to handle and did not want to waste too much time here.

Just as Xiao Yi Xian was about to speak, she saw Lin Che already walking into the cave.

The cold wind howled, and Xiao Yi Xian could not help hugging her arms as she hurried after him. "Wait for me. I'm scared."

Inside the quiet, dark cave, a faint chill wrapped around them. In the silent passage, only the soft footsteps of the two of them could be heard.

Lin Che glanced at the somewhat timid Xiao Yi Xian beside him, then waved his right hand. Pale golden Dou Qi gathered in his palm before transforming into flames that completely illuminated the dark cave.

The cave, once filled with chill, became somewhat warmer as well.

Xiao Yi Xian asked in surprise, "You're... a Dou Huang expert?"

After sensing the Dou Qi energy within Lin Che, Xiao Yi Xian's expression changed dramatically. She had never expected the young man before her to be a Dou Huang expert.

Lin Che shrugged. "What? I don't look like one?"

Xiao Yi Xian nodded honestly.

In her understanding, Dou Huangs were all old men in their forties or fifties. This was her first time seeing such a young Dou Huang expert.

If word of this got out, probably few people would be willing to believe it.

A Dou Wang under twenty could shake the entire Jia Ma Empire, let alone a Dou Huang expert under twenty.

Lin Che said nothing more and led Xiao Yi Xian toward the end of the cave.

Before long, their path was blocked by a stone door glowing with a faint yellow light.

Lin Che calmly drew the sword at his waist, raised his right hand, and casually slashed twice at the stone door. The originally thick stone door was instantly cut into two halves and crashed to the ground.

Xiao Yi Xian coughed twice. "Ahem, Senior, there must have been mechanisms here. You were too rough."

Beyond the stone door was a huge stone chamber. It looked plain and empty, with moonlight stones embedded in the walls for illumination.

At the center of the chamber was a seat, upon which sat a skeleton. Its sunken skull had fallen onto its pale thigh bone. In this silent atmosphere, the sight was rather eerie.

Xiao Yi Xian looked somewhat frightened.

Lin Che, however, walked over and gave a slight cupped-fist salute to the remains before him.

This was his reverence for the dead.

As the saying went, the dead deserved the greatest respect.

Three boxes were placed before the skeleton, along with countless gold, silver, and jewels. It seemed this fellow had been quite greedy for wealth in life.

Lin Che's gaze settled on the fragment of a map clutched tightly in the skeleton's hand. With a wave of his right hand, the Fragment of the Netherworld Flame Map slowly flew over.

As the fragment was unfolded, a vast soul force reflected out from it.

"So this is the Fragment of the Netherworld Flame Map?" Lin Che observed the soul fluctuations on it and confirmed that it was the map fragment of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame, ranked third on the Heavenly Flame Ranking.

Xiao Yi Xian leaned closer and asked curiously, "What is this?"

"A treasure map." Lin Che put the map fragment into his Storage Ring, then turned his gaze to the three boxes.

The key he had obtained from the skeleton earlier was also placed in Xiao Yi Xian's hand.

She immediately opened one of them and took out a colorful scroll. As the scroll unfolded, a line of ancient writing came into view.

"The Seven-Colored Poison Scripture?" A trace of delight appeared on Xiao Yi Xian's face as she hurriedly said, "Senior, you can take whichever of the remaining two boxes you want, but please give me this poison scripture. It would be useful for protecting myself."

Lin Che nodded. The Seven-Colored Poison Scripture was of no use to him, and Xiao Yi Xian was the inheritor of the Poison Body of Calamity. With this poison scripture, she could improve her strength in the future.

Xiao Yi Xian eagerly crouched down, preparing to open the next box.

As the second box was opened, a Dou Skill scroll appeared before them.

"A Mysterious Tier High-Grade Flying Dou Skill..." Xiao Yi Xian looked at Lin Che and asked curiously, "Senior, you've already broken through to the Dou Huang realm. A Flying Dou Skill doesn't seem very useful to you..."

Lin Che smiled faintly. "Don't tell me you want to take everything?"

"Oh, Senior, what are you saying?" Xiao Yi Xian pursed her youthful lips. "Senior, once someone breaks through to Dou Wang, they can form Dou Qi Wings, and Dou Huangs are even faster. This Dou Skill... is not of much use to you."

"Forget it. I only need the herbs here. You can have everything else."

Lin Che had come this time for the Fragment of the Netherworld Flame Map. Everything else was useless to him. Even a long-lost Flying Dou Skill was nothing more than a tasteless trifle.

Although it could increase his flying speed, he already possessed an Earth Tier High-Grade Flying Dou Skill, so this Dou Skill was not particularly useful to him.

"Thank you, Senior. You're such a good person."

Xiao Yi Xian happily stored away the Flying Dou Skill. Just as she was about to open the third box, she heard the sound of a scheming laugh from behind her.

"Ha ha ha ha ha..."

Looking over, they saw Mu Li, the young leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, striding over with a group of experts, an eerie smile spread across his face.

"What a stroke of luck. If I hadn't received word beforehand that you had another purpose for entering the mountains, why would I, the dignified young leader, have followed you into the mountains?"

Mu Li laughed sinisterly. "Xiao Yi Xian, if you know what's good for you, spend the night with me. Otherwise, don't blame me for turning ruthless."

"Pah!" Xiao Yi Xian said furiously, "You shameless bastard! Have you been following me all this time?"

Lin Che stored everything before him into his Storage Ring, then turned to Xiao Yi Xian beside him and said evenly, "Let's go. There's no need to stay here any longer."