Xiao Jie took the map from the flames. After confirming that it was the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Fragment Map, he placed it into his Storage Ring and said to Xiao Yi Xian,
"I've already obtained the item. The solution to the Woeful Poison Body is to condense a Poison Pill within your body that can control the toxins. I'll help you gather the materials for the Poison Pill Method. In the meantime, remain in Green Mountain Town. Within five years, I'll come and help you resolve it. If your Woeful Poison Body can no longer be suppressed during that time, go to the Black-Corner Region and find me. I'll help you suppress it temporarily. It isn't that I don't want to help you now, but the materials needed for the Poison Pill Method include the core of a seventh-tier magical beast, the Heavenly Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast, a portion of Bodhi Body-Transforming Saliva, and three kinds of Heavenly Flames. Even if you spent your entire life gathering them yourself, you likely couldn't meet those three conditions."
Xiao Yi Xian had not even had time to rejoice after hearing Xiao Jie mention the Poison Pill Method before she learned that the required materials included a seventh-tier magical beast core. The overlord of the Magical Beast Mountain Range was merely a sixth-tier Amethyst Winged Lion King, already an insurmountable mountain to her. The seventh-tier magical beast core Xiao Jie spoke of made her feel even more despair. Yet then Xiao Jie changed his tone and said that he would help her gather the materials. Aside from the seventh-tier magical beast core, she had never even heard of the other two materials required by the Poison Pill Method, but she could still tell how precious they were. The seventh-tier magical beast core alone was priceless, so anything comparable to it had to be incomparably valuable as well.
What Xiao Yi Xian did not know was that, in Xiao Jie's eyes, the seventh-tier Heavenly Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast core she knew of was the easiest item to obtain. However, he did not explain anything. He was helping her only out of pity, and so he said,
"Other than the Heavenly Flames, I already have leads on the other two items. The flame in my hand is a Heavenly Flame. I have already collected two, and I will soon obtain the third. As for the seventh-tier Heavenly Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast, traces of them exist within the Central Plains. I'll trade for the Bodhi Body-Transforming Saliva for you. Don't worry. I, Xiao Jie, always keep my word."
"What are you saying, sir? Telling me about the Poison Pill Method already counts as fulfilling your promise. Now you are even willing to gather materials for Xiao Yi Xian. How could I possibly fail to appreciate your kindness?"
"Mm. Since that is the case, take whatever you need from here, and then we'll head back."
"Yes." Hearing Xiao Jie say this, Xiao Yi Xian turned around and stored all the medicinal ingredients she needed in her Storage Ring, taking some of the gold coins as well.
Xiao Jie turned his gaze back to the three boxes on the stone platform. After unlocking one of them with the key, he removed a medicinal tome called the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture.
Before long, Xiao Yi Xian had arrived at Xiao Jie's side. Xiao Jie handed her the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture in his hand, then turned and walked out of the cave.
Xiao Yi Xian watched as Xiao Jie suddenly handed her a scroll before walking away. Looking at the medicinal tome called the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture in her hands, she felt somewhat excited. Seeing Xiao Jie walking farther away on his own, she stored it in her Storage Ring and quickly jogged after him.
Outside the cave, Xiao Jie and Xiao Yi Xian stood side by side, with a bottomless abyss beneath their feet. Dou Qi Wings unfolded from Xiao Jie's back. He grabbed Xiao Yi Xian by the arm and shot into the sky, vanishing from sight.
Ten days later, near Shi-Mo City in the Tager Desert, a deep azure beam of light rapidly approached from afar. It was Xiao Jie, who had come alone to the Tager Desert after parting with Xiao Yi Xian. Gazing across the boundless golden sea of sand and feeling the heat wave rushing toward him, he thought,
Finally, I'm here. Next, I need to find Qing Lin. Without her controlling the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake, finding the Green Lotus Core Flame within the magma beneath the earth would be truly difficult.
Xiao Jie gradually slowed down, and the Dou Qi Wings behind him dissolved into specks of starlight. His feet landed steadily on the ground. After lightly patting some sand from his clothes, he raised his head toward the enormous yellow city at the edge of his vision. Due to the desert's dry weather and scorching environment, the distant city appeared distorted and blurred beneath the sun.
Feeling the active fire-attributed Dou Qi within his body, Xiao Jie knew it was because fire and earth energy accounted for more than eighty percent of the energy in the desert.
Xiao Jie gradually approached the city. As he drew nearer, more and more passersby appeared around him. Most of the men were bare-chested, their dark skin lean and toned, giving them a rather bold and forthright appearance.
The occasional women passing by had similarly dark skin, though theirs leaned more toward a sexy bronze hue. The women here were not as reserved and bashful as those of the empire. Most wore tight leather outfits that barely covered their chests, boldly exposing their slender waists, while their lower bodies were wrapped in extremely short shorts or skirts. As they walked, their waists swayed like water snakes, creating a distinct charm and allure.
Along the way, Xiao Jie had thoroughly feasted his eyes. Raising his head toward the city whose scale was now clearly visible, he saw three enormous crimson characters carved above the entrance for the crowd, giving off a vivid yet bloody impression.
"Shi-Mo City..."
Xiao Jie softly read the three words aloud and slowly followed the line toward the city gate.
At the city gate, more than a dozen armored soldiers carrying long spears shouted as they directed the crowd to pay their fees and enter in an orderly fashion.
Seeing that Shi-Mo City's defenses seemed even stricter than those of Wutan City, Xiao Jie thought it over and understood. Shi-Mo City bordered the Snake-People Tribe, and bandits roamed the desert, so such strict security was understandable.
It was soon Xiao Jie's turn to pay the fee and enter the city. No conflict arose during the process. Although Xiao Jie could have flown directly into Shi-Mo City with his strength—no one would dare interfere with a two-star Dou Emperor—his reason for coming out was not solely to search for Heavenly Flames and gain experience. Part of it was to travel across this Dou Qi Continent and experience the customs and people of different places. If he revealed his strength like this, everyone would treat him with reverence and deference. That would be rather dull.
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