Small Valley

"Interesting!"

Looking at the broad pair of purple, cloud-patterned wings on his back, Xiao Yan could not resist reaching out to touch them.

Heh! Hot!

They looked as though they were made of steel, yet they felt like real living creatures to the touch. These Purple Cloud Wings were indeed quite good!

However, feeling the Dou Qi within him being rapidly drained, Xiao Yan could only shake his head helplessly.

With his current reserves of Dou Qi, he could not sustain flight with the Purple Cloud Wings for long. This thing could only serve as a final escape trump card. Using it for travel was still beyond his capabilities for now.

"To fully bring out the abilities of this flying Dou Technique, you will need to reach the Dou Master realm at the very least. With the support of Dou Qi Gauze and an Earth Tier cultivation method, you should be able to fly long distances for extended periods."

Old Yao looked at the wings on Xiao Yan's back, stroking his beard as he spoke with a faint smile.

"A Dou Master?"

Hearing this, Xiao Yan nodded and stopped supplying Dou Qi. With a flash of light, the broad wings on his back adhered to him, transforming into a purple wing tattoo wreathed in black flames.

"Oh, right. Teacher, help me take a look at this too."

Xiao Yan slapped his forehead, then took an ancient, yellowed scroll from his Storage Ring. He untied it and slowly spread it open.

What appeared before him was a sheet of parchment made from some unknown material. Upon the slightly yellowed paper were lines that seemed utterly random.

Old Yao swept his gaze over the ancient parchment, frowned, and pondered aloud.

"This seems to be... a fragment of a map."

Xiao Yan nodded and fully spread out the parchment.

Old Yao at his side also began to study it seriously. When his gaze suddenly fell upon a blurry pattern resembling a lotus in one corner of the parchment, his expression changed slightly. He bent down again and carefully examined the lotus pattern.

The lotus was black, and a thin layer of black flame seemed to cling to its surface. Looking closely, the entire lotus faintly gave off an eerie, demonic feeling.

"Teacher?"

Old Yao looked at the map, while Xiao Yan looked at Old Yao.

After being together for so long, this was the first time Xiao Yan had seen Old Yao study something so seriously. As expected of a Fragmented Map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame!

Sure enough, after pondering for a moment, Old Yao recognized the Fragmented Map of the Demonic Flame and began explaining information about the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame to Xiao Yan.

Ranked third on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, it was a flame that purified all things.

"It sounds impressive, but we only have one Fragmented Map right now. With information this vague, we cannot possibly find it."

Xiao Yan spoke with some regret after hearing this.

"Obtaining information about the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame is already quite good. Besides, even if you were lucky enough to find it, with your strength, you would probably be reduced to ashes before you could even approach it. Take things slowly. Perhaps you will have a chance to obtain other Fragmented Maps in the future."

Old Yao smiled and comforted him.

"True!"

Xiao Yan nodded, then took out a third scroll.

This green scroll was the other high-level Mystic Tier Dou Technique obtained from the cave, Mad Lion Roar.

"Not bad. Although it is inferior to the Earth Tier Dou Technique I plan to teach you, and its explosive force is also weaker than Eight Extremities Collapse, its attack range and distance far surpass those close-combat Dou Techniques like Eight Extremities Collapse."

With just one glance, Old Yao saw through all the strengths and weaknesses of Mad Lion Roar.

"Though it is said that greed leads to indigestion, with your talent, being a little greedy will not hurt. You can study it over the next few days."

After giving it some thought, Old Yao smiled as he spoke.

"Mm, that was what I had in mind."

Xiao Yan nodded with a smile and began carefully studying the contents recorded within the green scroll...

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Early in the morning, Xiao Yan emerged from his room and saw Xiao Yi Xian sitting beside the stone table in the middle of the courtyard.

"How has your cultivation been going?"

Seeing Xiao Yan come out of the room, Xiao Yi Xian gave a faint smile and asked gently.

"Not bad, but taking you all the way into the Monster Mountain Range by flight probably will not be easy. That flying Dou Technique consumes too much Dou Qi."

Xiao Yan hesitated before speaking helplessly.

"As long as you can fly, that is enough. We do not need to fly for too long. Let us set out! I have already made the arrangements at the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion."

Xiao Yi Xian said with a bright smile.

"All right."

Xiao Yan nodded. After disguising themselves, he led Xiao Yi Xian out through the back gate of the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion. Once they had left Green Mountain Town, they headed straight for the Monster Mountain Range.

Since he had taken this route three days ago, Xiao Yan was already quite familiar with it. Avoiding the magical beasts along the way, they arrived without incident at the basin filled with medicinal herbs.

"We need to enter the deepest part of the basin. There is a small valley there with abundant energy and plenty of medicinal herbs."

After arriving at the place where they had camped before, Xiao Yi Xian pointed into the basin and spoke seriously.

"The depths of the valley?"

Xiao Yan nodded, then circulated his Dou Qi into the Purple Cloud Wings on his back.

Whoosh!

A pair of broad purple wings suddenly unfurled behind Xiao Yan without warning.

"Come on!"

Xiao Yan smiled and opened his arms.

Xiao Yi Xian rolled her eyes at him helplessly, then threw herself into his embrace and hugged him tightly.

Wrapping an arm around Xiao Yi Xian's slender waist, Xiao Yan gave the Purple Cloud Wings behind him a fierce flap, and his body shot up from the ground!

The feeling of soaring through the sky was intoxicating. Freed from the shackles of gravity, the thrill of flying freely made Xiao Yan's entire body surge with excitement.

"Keep flying straight ahead. I will tell you when we get there."

Although Xiao Yi Xian had once walked through the air, her current body was still that of a frail young woman. Feeling the pull of the earth, her expression changed slightly. She could not help tightening her embrace around Xiao Yan and hurriedly reminded him.

Hearing this, Xiao Yan came back to his senses. He flapped his wings fiercely, and his body shot through the sky. Under Xiao Yi Xian's guidance, they flew toward the depths of the basin.

A short while later, Xiao Yan slowly descended into the small valley deep within the basin while holding Xiao Yi Xian tightly. The dense natural energy there invigorated his spirit, and the Dou Qi he had expended on the journey was rapidly replenished as his cultivation method refined the natural energy.

"What a great place!"

Xiao Yan gave Xiao Yi Xian a thumbs-up.

"This little valley is completely cut off from the outside. Magical beasts generally will not risk falling to their deaths to enter, while thick mist conceals it from above. It is extremely hidden. It should be enough for your cultivation, right?"

Xiao Yi Xian blinked and said with a charming smile.

"It is enough. I plan to cultivate here until I reach the Dou Master realm before considering my next move."

Xiao Yan nodded with a smile.

"Mm, but before that, we need to make somewhere to live. Otherwise, we will have to sleep on the ground at night."

Xiao Yi Xian shrugged and spoke playfully.

"Leave it to me."

Xiao Yan patted his chest and declared loudly.