Soft Jade and Fragrant Warmth, Demonic Flame Map!

Under Xiao Yao's terrifying speed, the two entered the Monster Mountain Range in no more than the time it took to burn an incense stick, arriving before a sheer cliff rarely visited by anyone.

Below the cliff, clouds and mist swirled endlessly, its depths unfathomable. It was like the gaping maw of some colossal beast, inspiring fear at a glance.

"We're here."

Xiao Yao slowly descended onto the cliff's edge and came to a stop.

Yet the girl in his arms remained like a startled ostrich, burying her little face tightly against his chest, seemingly with no intention of getting down.

Seeing this, Xiao Yao could not help teasing her in a low voice. "What? Is it that comfortable in my arms that you don't want to leave?"

"Ah!"

Xiao Yi Xian snapped back to her senses and cried out, hurriedly struggling free from Xiao Yao's embrace. Her movements were too rushed, and she nearly stumbled, but Xiao Yao swiftly caught her slender waist.

Once she had steadied herself, she shot Xiao Yao an embarrassed, irritated glare. Her flushed, lovely face looked all the more delicate and enchanting.

Xiao Yao, however, solemnly stretched lazily and smacked his lips as though savoring something. "Sigh, you really are heavy. Carrying you for so long made my arms sore."

"You!"

Both embarrassed and angry, Xiao Yi Xian raised her delicate fist and punched at Xiao Yao's chest.

But her soft, powerless fist landed upon Xiao Yao's firm chest, tempered by the Lightning Law, without causing him the slightest pain. Instead, it looked more like a young woman playfully flirting with her lover.

Xiao Yao laughed heartily and stopped teasing her. He took a tough rope from his storage ring and tied one end around a massive boulder at the cliff's edge.

"I'll go down first. Follow behind me and be careful."

After giving her that reminder, he did not hesitate in the least. With a leap, he moved like a nimble ape, rapidly climbing down the rope toward the bottom of the cliff.

As Xiao Yi Xian calmed down, a strange feeling rose in her heart. Not only had he trusted her enough to leave his back exposed as he took the lead, he had also thoroughly considered her safety. Even if he had absolute confidence in his own strength, she could still feel his genuine concern.

One after the other, the two soon descended to the middle of the mountain, arriving before a pitch-black cave concealed by vines.

Chilly wind wafted from the entrance, accompanied now and then by hissing sounds. Clearly, things inside were far from peaceful.

Xiao Yao walked directly at the front, acting as the vanguard. Dou Qi surged as he thrust out a palm, and the immense force swept through the piled, tangled rocks like a gale scattering fallen leaves, blowing them into the dark mountain ravine.

The moment they entered the cave, several enormous Rock Snakes, flat and long like wings, shot out of the darkness and lunged to bite them.

"Careful! They're Rock Snakes! Ordinary blades can't even cut through them!" Xiao Yi Xian cried.

"Just a pack of vermin."

Xiao Yao snorted coldly and flicked his fingers repeatedly. Several streams of golden force shot forth, piercing every Rock Snake with flawless precision and killing them instantly in an effortlessly dashing manner.

Xiao Yi Xian watched with her beautiful eyes shining brightly!

After dealing with those minor nuisances, the two continued deeper into the cave.

The passageway was deep and dark, the ground beneath their feet damp and slippery, and the atmosphere oppressive. Xiao Yi Xian was still just a young woman, and in such an environment, she could not help feeling nervous. Her pace gradually slowed.

Xiao Yao noticed her unease. After a moment's thought, he slowed down as well and naturally reached out, gently taking her slightly cool little hand in his.

"Hm?!"

Xiao Yi Xian's body abruptly stiffened.

She hesitated slightly, but all she felt was her small hand tightly enveloped by that warm, strong hand. An unprecedented sense of security instantly drove away every trace of fear and unease in her heart.

It... doesn't feel too bad? Since he's been considerate enough to look after me, I'll reluctantly let him do as he likes!

Feeling the tender, smooth touch in his palm, as fine as exquisite cherry-colored jade, Xiao Yao's heart could not help rippling as well.

Thus, amidst an atmosphere both ambiguous and warm, the two soon reached the end of the passageway.

A heavy stone door blocked their path.

"There should be some kind of mechanism here..." Xiao Yi Xian was just about to step forward and inspect it.

But Xiao Yao had already impatiently shaken his head. "Too troublesome."

He released Xiao Yi Xian's hand and simply struck the stone door, which had been fashioned from hard rock, with a single palm.

Boom!

With a thunderous crash, the stone door—capable of withstanding the combined attacks of several Dou Shi—shattered into pieces like paper and collapsed with a rumble!

A spacious stone chamber appeared before them. Moonbright Stones embedded in the walls dispelled the darkness, and their field of vision suddenly opened up.

At the center of the chamber stood a seat with a dried skeleton resting upon it. In one corner lay a small mountain of gold coins and various glowing Magic Cores. In another corner grew numerous rare medicinal herbs, extremely scarce in the outside world. Among them was the valuable Ice Spirit Flame Grass, an herb with fatal appeal to most alchemists. It was an essential ingredient for refining the Blood Lotus Pill, which could help one subdue Heavenly Flames!

"Wow! Purple Blue Grass, White Spirit Ginseng Fruit, Snow Lotus Seeds... There's even Ice Spirit Flame Grass!"

Xiao Yi Xian stared blankly at the high-grade medicinal herbs in the little flower bed before her, unable to stop herself from exclaiming in delighted surprise.

"As agreed, we split everything fifty-fifty." Xiao Yao pointed at the treasures and herbs, speaking generously. "Take whatever you need from here. No need to stand on ceremony with me."

He then pointed at three old locked treasure chests in the corner of the chamber.

"The key is in that skeleton's palm. Go open the chests and see what good things are inside."

"Mm!" Xiao Yi Xian nodded forcefully, her beautiful eyes brimming with gratitude and excitement. Unable to suppress the joy in her heart any longer, she actually stepped forward on her own initiative and lightly hugged Xiao Yao.

"Xiao Yao, thank you!"

After saying that, she ran off with a flushed face like a joyful little deer, excitedly using jade bottles to collect the medicinal herbs.

Watching her buoyant retreating figure, Xiao Yao savored the lingering softness and fragrance from her embrace and smiled faintly. Then he turned and walked toward the dried skeleton.

He did not touch the gold coins or Magic Cores. Instead, he respectfully clasped his hands and bowed to the skeleton.

"Senior, this junior has no intention of offending you. I merely wish to take something of vital importance to me. I hope you will forgive me."

With that, he slowly reached out, broke off the skeleton's arm, and carefully took a simple, weathered scroll made from some unknown beast hide from between its bones.

A fragmentary map was drawn upon the scroll.

Xiao Yao slowly unfolded the map. As he looked at the blurry lotus mark on the fragment, an uncontrollable, smug smile curled across his lips.

A fragment of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame map...

It was his!