Secret treasures of the ruins, two arts acquired

Lin Xiu had already dismantled the defensive formation before the morning mist dispersed.

The Demonic Qi along the fissure's edge was several times denser than it had been the night before. A muffled pulsing rose from the bottomless crack, as though an enormous beast were breathing below.

He brought out his staff and traced a pale blue curtain of light along the cliff's edge:

"The Demonic Qi inside the nest will corrode your Dou Qi. You'll need to channel spiritual power into the barrier every hour to maintain its protection."

Xiao Yan gazed at the black mist churning within the fissure, Mysterious Yellow Flame dancing in his palm:

"The concentration of Demonic Qi down there is enough to make even a Dou Wang expert wary."

Yun Yun slung her long azure sword across her back and formed three wind blades at her fingertips:

"I'll clear the way."

Azure light flashed, tearing a passage through the mist.

The six of them leaped into the fissure one after another, falling a thousand feet before finally touching solid ground.

Beneath their feet lay cold obsidian. Demonic Crystals embedded in the rock walls gave off an eerie glow, illuminating the passage like a realm of ghosts.

Lin Xiu activated the jade slip. An arrow of light pointed straight toward the cavern's dark depths ahead:

"According to ancient records, this was once an ancient sealing ground. Watch out for rune traps underfoot."

They had traveled barely a mile when the passage suddenly opened into an enormous cavern.

Stalactites hung overhead like sharp swords. Dark purple demonic markings covered the ground, with dozens of magical beast skeletons scattered among them, their bones still bearing gnaw marks.

Xiao Yan abruptly stopped, the Mysterious Yellow Flame flickering violently at his fingertips:

"Something's wrong. The Demonic Qi on these skeletons is fresh."

Before his words had faded, a cracking sound came from the rock wall.

Dozens of demonic rats as large as calves crawled out of cracks in the stone. Their eyes glowed blood-red, and their sharp foreclaws gleamed like metal.

"It's a swarm of Bone-Eating Demon Rats!"

Lin Xiu struck the ground with his staff, turning blue soul power into a barrier,

"Their teeth can bite through Dou Shi-level defenses!"

Xiao Yan swept his heavy sword across, golden flames clinging to its edge as it traced a half-circle:

"Burning Heaven Art, first form: Flame Wave Slash!"

Wherever the wave of fire passed, the demonic rats were instantly burned to charcoal.

But more demonic rats poured out in an unending stream. Two exceptionally massive leaders among them even managed to hold out against the flames.

"Move aside!"

Yun Yun drew her long sword. Azure Dou Qi became a sky full of sword rain, each strand of sword Qi precisely piercing a demonic rat's eye socket.

She and Xiao Yan stood back-to-back, azure and gold light weaving into a defensive ring. "These demonic rats are guarding something."

Lin Xiu seized the chance to examine their surroundings, then suddenly pointed into the cavern's depths:

"There are energy fluctuations over there!"

Working together, they cleared a path and discovered a stone door covered in runes at the cavern's far end. The flame totem on it had long since dimmed, but its patterns still bore a clear resemblance to the Mysterious Yellow Flame.

"This is a sealing door of the Ancient Flame Spirit Clan!"

Xiao Yan brushed his fingertips over the totem, and the Mysterious Yellow Flame poured into the stone door of its own accord. Golden fire flowed through the runes. The door gave a deep shudder, and dazzling light spilled through its seams.

Lin Xiu exclaimed in surprise, "Legend says the Flame Spirit Clan excelled at purifying Demonic Qi. This might be their secret treasury!"

The stone door slowly opened, revealing a circular stone chamber. Two clusters of light floated above a stone platform in its center: a pale golden phantom of book pages on the left and an azure-green wing totem on the right.

The chamber's walls were covered in murals depicting members of the Flame Spirit Clan wielding flames against Otherworldly Demons.

"An Earth Tier Cultivation Method-the Purifying Spirit Burning Heaven Record!"

Lin Xiu cried out involuntarily, "And an upper-grade Xuan Tier Flying Dou Technique-the Azure Luan Wings!"

He was just about to step forward when the stone platform suddenly lit up red. A fiery phantom stepped out of a mural, taking the form of a Flame Spirit Clan warrior holding a long flaming spear.

"Intruders must pass the Flame Spirit Trial."

The phantom's voice was hoarse, its spear pointing straight at Xiao Yan,

"Only one with pure fire may receive the inheritance."

Golden flames suddenly surged, engulfing Xiao Yan.

Agonizing pain instantly swept through his entire body, as though it would melt even his bones.

"Focus your mind and guard your heart!"

Gritting his teeth, Xiao Yan circulated his Dou Qi. The Mysterious Yellow Flame raced wildly through his body, entering a wondrous resonance with the trial's fire.

Countless images flashed before his eyes:

Members of the Flame Spirit Clan sacrificed themselves to seal the Otherworldly Demons, preserving their cultivation method here before they died.

After an indeterminate length of time, the trial's fire suddenly receded, becoming streaks of light that merged into his body.

The golden pages on the left side of the stone platform flew into Xiao Yan's brow, and countless words appeared in his mind:

"The Purifying Spirit Burning Heaven Record, middle-grade Earth Tier. Using heavenly flames as a catalyst, it can purify all evil and corruption..."

The wing totem on the right also turned into azure light and merged into his Dou Qi vortex. A sense of control over the wind element arose naturally within him.

"Congratulations on receiving the flame spirit inheritance."

The fiery phantom gradually faded,

"The source of the Otherworldly Demons lies deeper within the sealing core. There..."

Before it could finish, it vanished completely. Lin Xiu hurried forward excitedly:

"With these two arts, we'll achieve twice the results with half the effort against the Otherworldly Demons!"

Xiao Yan, however, frowned deeply. He could feel the stone chamber trembling faintly:

"The emergence of the inheritance has disturbed something."

As soon as he spoke, a deafening roar came from deep within the cavern. A terrifying presence far surpassing that of the demonic wolves rapidly approached.

The rock wall suddenly exploded, and a demonic snake a hundred feet long burst out of the earth. Its scales had a metallic sheen, and its seven eyes burned with flames of different colors. It was none other than the Seven-Eyed Demon Snake King recorded in the ancient texts!

"It's a sixth-rank Otherworldly Demon Lord!"

Lin Xiu's face went deathly pale. "Retreat!"

Xiao Yan instead tightened his grip on his heavy sword, the Mysterious Yellow Flame forming azure wings behind him:

"It's too late. Purifying Spirit Burning Heaven Record, first form: Flame Spirit Possession!"

Golden flames covered his entire body, and his Dou Qi surged to Peak Dou Ling.

The Azure Luan Wings beat behind him, carrying him straight toward the Demon Snake King in a blaze of fire:

"Let's try out this new Dou Technique!"