Nether Poison Flame and the Fragmented Map of the Demonic Flame!

Hai Bodong put down his teacup, his gaze fixed intently on Xiao Yan: "According to vague information leaked from within the Auction House, the information on the final item of this auction is very likely to involve clues about the Nether Poison Flame!"

"Nether Poison Flame?!"

Xiao Yan's previously calm eyes suddenly burst forth with an astonishingly bright light, and his body unconsciously leaned forward slightly.

For him, the Heavenly Flames was an irresistible temptation.

The evolution of the Flame Mantra and the leap in strength are inseparable from the Heavenly Flames.

Although the Northwest Continent was resource-poor in his eyes, the appearance of Heavenly Flames, a rare and wondrous thing, was enough to attract his great attention, no matter where it appeared.

In addition, the Old Yao once mentioned that if Xiao Yi Xian could refine the Nether Poison Flame, she might be able to better control the Woe Poison Body in another way.

Therefore, if he could obtain it, Xiao Yan could first devour and refine it himself to upgrade the Flame Mantra to the level of Heaven Tier technique. Then, he could remove the soul imprint within it and give the Nether Poison Flame, which had already been refined once and had little energy, making it easier to refine, to Xiao Yi Xian so that she could devour and refine it.

In this way, Xiao Yi Xian can more easily refine the Heavenly Flames and eliminate the hidden dangers of the Woe Poison Body as soon as possible. From then on, if she wants to improve her strength, she can take poison without restraint.

The Woe Poison Body will grant her an unparalleled cultivation speed.

Okay, okay!

Xiao Yan was overjoyed.

Is the message reliable?

He couldn't help but confirm, his voice tinged with urgency.

He never expected to hear such important news upon arriving in Tianxin City.

Hai Bodong stroked his beard and said in a deep voice:

"The source of the information is a manager inside the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion with whom I have some connections, so the credibility is not low. However, the Auction House is extremely strict about keeping the final item confidential, and all he revealed was the simple eight words: 'Ancient Poison Swamp, suspected to be Heavenly Flames.'"

Based on the known information about the Heavenly Flame Ranking, the one that best fits the description is the Nether Poison Flame, ranked twentieth.

"Ancient Poison Swamp... Nether Poison Flame..."

Xiao Yan repeated in a low voice, his eyes gleaming.

This does indeed fit the background setting of the Nether Poison Flame —it is said to be a kind of flame that exists in the Ancient Netherworld Poison Marsh. After being tainted by the sky-covering poisonous miasma in the Poison Marsh for millions of years, the flame consumes endless poisonous miasma and becomes a spirit after a hundred years and takes shape after a thousand years. When it is fully formed, its color is greenish, and it moves through the miasma of the Poison Marsh swamp like a will-o'-the-wisp.

Since the flames themselves are fed by poisonous miasma and contain highly toxic substances, even the slightest touch of a spark will cause severe poisoning, let alone attempting to devour and fuse with them!

This is precisely why few people seek out this Heavenly Flames; it remains relatively unknown throughout the Dou Qi Continent.

Once fully mature, the Nether Poison Flame transforms into the shape of a butterfly. It is pale purple in color and filled with a highly poisonous Heavenly Flames. It is extremely deceptive, and ordinary people cannot see its origins at all. They treat it as an ordinary butterfly, and then they are poisoned and their souls are destroyed in the poison and flames.

But for a freak like Xiao Yan who had already refined four different kinds of Heavenly Flames, that bit of poison was nothing at all. The Heavenly Flames ranked twentieth could not even cause him any pain now.

Praise be to the Great Sun Separation Fire Body!

For Xiao Yi Xian, the Nether Poison Flame was like a sweet and soft little cake.

The potent poison within will undoubtedly become resources for Xiao Yi Xian to enhance her strength, thus significantly improving her power in the future, which makes Xiao Yan very satisfied.

After all, sending Xiao Yi Xian to manage his forces in the Black Corner Region was a last resort. Of course, he would take her with him when he ventured into the Dou Qi Continent in the future.

Aside from his childhood Xun'er, Xiao Yi Xian could, in a sense, be considered his first love.

She was also the first woman to know about his "rebirth".

This trip to the Northwest Continent was originally intended to be just to improve the ranking of the Yan Alliance and to officially activate some of the things that had been planned in the past, but I never expected to have such a huge unexpected gain!

This trip was totally worth it!

When does the auction begin?

Xiao Yan asked impatiently.

"At 7 PM tonight, at the Tianbao Auction House, under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion in the center of Tianxin City."

Hai Bodong was naturally reliable, and he replied immediately.

"Alright!" Xiao Yan stood up abruptly, a confident smile appearing on his face. "Sister Ya Fei, you can collect and coordinate the alliance's funds for use at tonight's auction. Tonight, whatever you need to buy, use the alliance's funds first. I will replenish the funds spent with an equivalent amount of pills."

Ya Fei immediately nodded in agreement. As an elder of the alliance and the secretary of the alliance leader, she was the most powerful person when Xiao Yan was away. As the person in charge of the alliance's economy, this kind of thing should naturally be entrusted to her.

Hai Bodong and the others solemnly agreed. Hai Bodong even took out his own custom-made Purple Gold Card and handed it to Ya Fei.

With Elder Hai making a move, Jia Xingtian couldn't just stand by and watch, so he also contributed some "alliance funds."

However, there are some things that you probably can't buy no matter how much money you have.

Fortunately, as Seventh-Tier Alchemist, Xiao Yan had no shortage of high-grade pills, the hard currency of the Dou Qi Continent, which could be used for bartering.

If all else fails, the rare medicinal herbs and Dou Technique scrolls he's Storage Ring from the Black Corner Region and other places over the years are all priceless and enough to cover tonight's auction.

"However," Xiao Yan changed the subject, looking at Hai Bodong, "Elder Hai, besides this clue about the Heavenly Flames, are there any other noteworthy items at the auction? Such as high-grade medicinal herbs, rare metals, or special soul-related items?"

Old Yao's soul power has recovered somewhat, but not completely. If he could recover further and reach the Heavenly Realm level, even Soul Hall Heavenly Venerable who has reached the Five-Star Dou Zun level would probably be unable to deal with Old Yao.

Hai Bodong nodded. "Yes, Alliance Leader, yes, it's said that there's an Advanced Earth Tier Dou Technique at this auction, but I don't know its name. However, many people are here for it; it's said to be the grand finale treasure!"

"Advanced Earth Tier Dou Technique?"

Xiao Yan's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that one?

"Okay, I understand. We'll go to the auction tonight."

Xiao Yan felt a sense of anticipation. If it was really as he thought, then he was determined to obtain this Advanced Earth Tier Dou Technique. If someone was ungrateful, then he would have no choice but to be ruthless.

"Xiao Yan, I want to go too!" As a dragon, Zi Yan was clearly powerless against such a scene full of treasures. She immediately raised her hand excitedly, her little feet dangling, "There must be delicious medicinal herbs at the auction!"

Xiao Yan glanced at her helplessly. "You can go, but don't cause trouble, and don't even think about stealing other people's auction items."

"Okay, okay!"

Zi Yan readily agreed, but the glint in her bright, lively eyes made Xiao Yan find her words utterly unbelievable.

"Sister Cailin, Sister Yun Yun, Sister Ya Fei, why don't you come along too?"

Zi Yan then turned to look at the other three.

Queen Medusa nodded slightly. "It would be good to go and take a look."

She was also somewhat interested in this auction, which was considered the most prestigious in the Northwest Continent.

Yun Yun and Ya Fei naturally wanted to be with Xiao Yan, so they didn't need to think too much and nodded in agreement.

Night falls and the city lights come on.

The prosperity of Tianxin City is on full display at night, especially in the city center, which is brightly lit and teeming with people.

The enormous Heavenly Treasure Pavilion resembles a crouching beast, its entire body constructed from a jade stone that gleams with a soft luster, appearing exceptionally magnificent and imposing in the night.

The area in front of the building was bustling with traffic, and elegantly dressed, imposing figures entered one after another, showcasing the ultimate in luxury of this auction.

Xiao Yan and his group arrived in the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

After showing their credentials from the Yan Alliance, they were immediately led to a private room upstairs by a You Rong and well-trained maid.

Elder Hai, the VIP box had a great location with a wide view overlooking the huge auction hall below, while the specially designed one-way crystal wall effectively protected the privacy of the guests inside.

The hall was packed, and the noise blended into a buzzing background sound.

The air was filled with various powerful auras, with many Dou Wang and Dou Emperor, and even some Dou Zong powerhouses who deliberately restrained themselves but still exuded a sense of oppression.

Countless gazes, some open and some furtive, swept across the various private rooms, attempting to discern the identities of those inside.

Xiao Yan sat in the main seat, his gaze calmly sweeping over the people below.

Queen Medusa sat to his left, her eyes closed in repose. Her cold and beautiful profile appeared much gentler in the soft light of the private room.

Yun Yun and Ya Fei sat on the right, talking in hushed tones.

Zi Yan would sometimes cling to Queen Medusa, and sometimes perch on Xiao Yan's shoulder, curiously looking around, her little nose twitching from time to time, as if she could already smell the delicious aroma of the medicinal herbs.

"There's something good here!"

She muttered to herself.

Xiao Yan ignored her, his attention drawn to several subtle but powerful auras below. He certainly couldn't openly kill and rob in this place, but after the Sect Assembly was over, if necessary, he wouldn't mind making a killing!

Xiao Yan picked up the fragrant tea offered by the maid, took a small sip, and his eyes were deep.

I hope everything goes as planned tonight.

On the auction stage, a sprightly old man dressed in brocade robes slowly walked out, releasing a powerful aura of Peak Dou Emperor, instantly suppressing the noise of the entire venue.

He smiled broadly and cupped his hands in greeting:

"Welcome, distinguished guests, to the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion! I am Qian Wanguan, and I am honored to host this auction. Without further ado, let's begin with tonight's first item— Fifth-grade Pill, the Dou Ling Pill!"

The auction has officially begun.

One after another, exquisite items that would cause a bloodbath were presented, triggering rounds of fierce bidding.

Elixirs, Dou Technique, Magical Core, medicinal herbs... the atmosphere at the scene remained high-spirited.

Xiao Yan also made several attempts, acquiring two Sixth-Grade medicinal herbs beneficial for soul recovery: "Soul Condensing Grass" and "Soul Nourishing Flower."

Each move they made was swift and decisive, raising prices to levels that deterred competitors, demonstrating their substantial financial resources and attracting curious glances from many private rooms.

Shortly after purchasing two sets of Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills for Jia Xingtian and Hai Bodong, the auction gradually came to an end. Auctioneer Qian Wanguan's smile suddenly faded, replaced by a serious and solemn expression.

He cleared his throat, and his voice, amplified by the loudspeaker, filled the entire venue, drowning out all the noise:

"As everyone knows, the 'Heavenly Flames,' a rare treasure of heaven and earth, is a spiritual object coveted by countless powerful figures on the Dou Qi Continent. Today, our Heavenly Treasure Pavilion is fortunate to present two pieces of important information related to the Heavenly Flames!"

The moment these words were spoken, the entire auction hall fell silent; you could hear a pin drop.

Countless burning gazes were fixed on the auction stage, and several significantly stronger soul fluctuations emanated from the private boxes, clearly indicating that there were alchemists of considerable level among them.

Xiao Yan's eyes, which had been half-closed, suddenly opened, gleaming with sharp light.

Two dishes? That's an unexpected delight, a double blessing!

Qian Wanguan was very satisfied with the reaction from the audience. He clapped his hands, and two pretty maids, each carrying a specially made jade plate covered with a black cloth that isolated soul detection, slowly walked onto the stage.

"The first piece of intelligence," Qian Wanguan pointed to the jade plate on the left, his voice carrying a hint of seduction, "Concerns the Nether Poison Flame, ranked twentieth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking."

He suddenly ripped off the black cloth, revealing that the jade plate did not contain any actual object, but rather a jade slip emitting a faint, eerie green light.

"According to reliable investigation, the traces of this fire are hidden in the Ancient Poison Swamp in the southwest of the Northwest Continent, in the Chu Yun Empire. It is known as the 'Abyssal Poison Zone,' a place where even Dou Huang expert has a high chance of perishing if they enter!"

This jade slip contains information about the locations where the Nether Poison Flame had appeared and some details about the 'Abyssal Poison Zone'.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow.

So it's in the Chu Yun Empire? Looks like I'll have to take Xiao Yi Xian there with me.

She'd probably be very familiar with that place. If they could get their hands on the Nether Poison Flame, it would be a great help to both him and Xiao Yi Xian.

After finishing his introduction, Qian Wanguan did not announce the auction price, but instead lifted the black cloth covering the jade plate on the right.

Suddenly, a tattered old piece of cloth appeared in everyone's sight.

"Hehe, as for the second piece of information, it comes from a treasure map in the 'Abyssal Poison Zone.' Although it's incomplete, it's said that even the Nether Poison Flame didn't damage it in the slightest. Therefore, we speculate that this item is also related to the Heavenly Flames!"

"Shh..."

Upon seeing the tattered cloth, the auction hall was silent for a moment before erupting in boos.

Hearing the disdainful hisses, Qian Wanguan's smile stiffened. In fact, they thought the Fragmented Map was completely useless. According to the master map maker, the Fragmented Map was at most one-fifth of the whole map, or even less than one-fifth.

The reason it's listed as a separate message is to bundle it with the information about the Nether Poison Flame for sale, thereby increasing the price.

Seeing that no one was interested, Qian Wanguan quickly tried to salvage the situation:

"As we all know, the Nether Poison Flame is extremely difficult to subdue. This Fragmented Map seems to contain information about Heavenly Flames as well. If we fail to subdue the Nether Poison Flame, this Fragmented Map can serve as insurance. Our Heavenly Treasure Pavilion will auction these two pieces of information about Heavenly Flames as a single item. The starting price is ten million! Each bid must be at least five hundred thousand!"

"Huh..."

Most people scoffed at his words.

"Heavenly Treasure Pavilion is really obsessed with money! They can sell two pieces of information for ten million? That's laughable!"

"Yes, that 'Abyssal Poison Zone' is a death trap where even Dou Emperor might not be able to come out. The Nether Poison Flame is said to be extremely malevolent. Because it contains a deadly poison, any pills made from it after an alchemist has refined it will be Poison Pill, and anyone who eats them will die!"

A murmur of discussion arose from below, but Xiao Yan had already stood up from his chair!

After carefully examining the Fragmented Map, Xiao Yan took a deep breath.

He had two similar tattered maps in his Storage Ring; those were Fragmented Map of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame map!

He was determined to get this map!

Anyone who dares to block his way, he will kill!