Heavenly Flames Valley

Although he had no shortage of Heaven-tier cultivation methods and combat skills, his current condition was not suited to using them.

The Dou Qi produced by Heaven-tier cultivation methods was vast and powerful, but his current physique could not withstand it. He would need to reach at least the High-Rank Dou Zong level before practicing one.

Heaven-tier Dou Techniques were even more terrifying. Even experts who had just entered the Dou Zun realm dared not use them lightly. The Dou Qi consumed by a single complete Heaven-tier Dou Technique was enough to drain a Three-Star Dou Zun dry.

"Hm?" Xiao Yan took a closer look and discovered that, besides cultivation methods, combat skills, and pill formulas, this floor actually held some rather interesting things.

"Dragon Phoenix Love and Hate Record"

"The Stone Clan Chief's Untold Secret"

This... Looking at these things, Xiao Yan felt a cluster of black lines forming in his mind.

These were all scandalous secrets about top experts, the weakest of whom was a Seven-Star Dou Saint.

Is this something a mere Dou Emperor like me should be reading? Xiao Yan cursed inwardly, then picked up a copy of Pure Lotus Demon Saint's Romantic Affairs and began studying it closely.

Hm? This is actually pretty interesting.

But the pressure here was too intense. He had barely finished the opening while enduring it before beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

"Forget it, forget it. Once I return from my travels and come back to choose Dou Techniques, I'll take another look while I'm here.

Mm... I'll have to study these carefully."

Only after putting down the books did Xiao Yan take a deep breath and look toward the stairs leading to the eighth floor.

The seventh floor already held secret romantic histories of figures on the level of the Pure Lotus Demon Saint. Wouldn't the eighth floor let him peek at the little secrets of Dou Di experts?

Xiao Yan felt it was necessary to visit the eighth floor and inspect the clan's outstanding Heaven-tier Dou Techniques.

To his disappointment, however, before he even reached the top of the stairs, the terrifying pressure had turned his face pale and sent sweat streaming down his body.

"Forget it, forget it. The secrets of a measly Dou Di aren't worth reading anyway." In the end, Xiao Yan left the Scripture Repository Hall in a sorry state, carrying a dozen or so Earth-tier cultivation methods and combat skills.

"Elder Wen, Elder Wu, where are we going next?"

"Young master, we can visit the Heavenly Flames Valley next," Xiao Wen said with a chuckle.

"The Heavenly Flames Valley!" Xiao Yan's eyes lit up at his words.

He had decided to follow the path of devouring heavenly flames, so naturally, the more heavenly flames, the better.

He simply had not expected the Xiao Clan to have a place dedicated to collecting them.

After crossing an endless succession of mountain ranges, Xiao Yan finally arrived at a mysterious gorge under the guidance of Wen and Wu, the Two Saints.

As soon as he drew near, Xiao Yan felt the temperature rise considerably. The world around him teemed with violent fire-attributed energy, abundant to a terrifying degree.

This was an enormous gorge stretching tens of thousands of zhang. Deep within it, rolling magma flowed unchecked, belching fiery-red smoke.

"There are so many experts cultivating here." Xiao Yan looked around. Dozens of figures sat cross-legged on the cliffs lining both sides of the gorge, absorbing the abundant energy of heaven and earth.

Anyone who dared cultivate here had to be at least a Dou Zun, because even Xiao Yan dared not casually absorb the violent fire-attributed energy.

Absorbing too much would, at best, allow fire poison to enter the body and damage the meridians. At worst, it would cause cultivation deviation, making one burn to death from within.

The arrival of Xiao Yan's group did not disturb these ascetic cultivators. The three entered the sweltering gorge and flew above the magma.

"According to legend, our clan ancestor formed this Heavenly Flames Valley by using Dou Di power to connect it to an earth flame vein. Its abundant fire-attributed energy is suited to fire-attributed Dou Zhe cultivation, while also helping heavenly flames grow and nurturing them."

As they spoke, the three spotted a jade-green lotus growing in the scorching magma below. The lotus was the size of a millstone, with a deep-green flame blooming atop it.

"Please look, young master. That is the Green Lotus Core Flame, ranked nineteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking." Xiao Wu pointed toward the lotus.

Of course I know it's the Green Lotus Core Flame. According to the plot, it should have been my first heavenly flame, Xiao Yan grumbled inwardly, though admiration appeared on his face.

"Impressive. It truly deserves to be called a marvel forged by heaven and earth."

"Hehe, the conditions needed to form a Green Lotus Core Flame are relatively simple. The Dou Qi Continent is vast, so naturally, the lower-ranked heavenly flames aren't limited to a single specimen.

Our clan alone nurtures three Green Lotus Core Flames. According to our rules, once someone becomes a high-level eighth-tier alchemist, they qualify to enter the Heavenly Flames Valley and seek out a heavenly flame ranked below fifteenth to refine."

Xiao Wen spoke with a chuckle.

So fucking rich. After inwardly cursing his ancestors, Xiao Yan followed them farther ahead.

"This is the Mysterious Yellow Flame! Its formation conditions are similar to those of the Green Lotus Core Flame, and even a little easier to fulfill.

It is the heavenly flame most commonly possessed by our clan's alchemists. Besides us, the Yao Clan and Yan Clan also have Mysterious Yellow Flames that they specifically collect and nurture."

Xiao Wen pointed at a lively little flame sporting a tuft of yellow hair. Having worked as a librarian, he was exceedingly knowledgeable and kept introducing the flames to Xiao Yan.

"This is the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame. It is formed by fusing the beast flame of one ninth-rank magical beast with those of eight eighth-rank magical beasts and countless mid-ranked magical beasts. It could be called the king of beast flames, fully deserving the title of heavenly flame."

"This is the Volcanic Stone Flame. It is also born deep within magma-filled volcanoes, but it is more powerful and somewhat rarer."

"This is the Fire Cloud Water Flame, a unique variety nurtured by the Yan Clan. Their clan chief sent this one as a congratulatory gift when our current chief took office."

"This is the Fallen Heart Flame. It can ignite a person's heart fire, causing them to burn from within without a sound, but it also has a tempering effect on Dou Qi cultivation."

"This is the Turtle Spirit Earth Flame." Xiao Wen pointed at a large brown turtle doing the backstroke in the magma. "Starting with the fifteenth-ranked Sea Heart Flame, these heavenly flames become increasingly spiritual and develop intelligence.

Starting with the Fallen Heart Flame, heavenly flames gain the ability to move on their own.

Therefore, the higher a heavenly flame ranks, the rarer it becomes. Our clan has only collected two Turtle Spirit Earth Flames."

"Two is already plenty." The corner of Xiao Yan's mouth twitched.

After traveling another few hundred zhang, Xiao Yan suddenly saw a human skull the size of a basketball darting about.

Strangely, the temperature dropped considerably wherever it passed.

"This is the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, ranked eleventh on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. It is born in places of extreme cold. Perhaps only two or three emerge across the entire Dou Qi Continent in a century. Even with our clan's capabilities, we have only collected one."

As he continued his explanation, Xiao Wen smiled. "I heard that an extraordinary alchemist who obtained a Bone Spirit Cold Flame emerged in the Central Plains in recent years. He seems to have a chance of reaching the ninth tier. Apparently, he was even cast out by the Yao Clan."

"Really? Tsk, tsk. The Yao Clan must regret that. Even they only have two or three ninth-tier alchemists, don't they?" Xiao Yan said with a thoughtful smile.

"Indeed. Ninth-tier alchemists stand at the very pinnacle of alchemy in this world. Their status is no lower than that of our clan's supreme elders." Xiao Wen smiled and shook his head as well.

"Abba, abba!" While the two were chatting, the skull-shaped Bone Spirit Cold Flame suddenly let out a strange, indistinct cry.

"Hehe, young master, this Bone Spirit Cold Flame has spent a thousand years in the Heavenly Flames Valley. It has already begun developing human traits," Xiao Wen said with a smile.

You must be the college student of the Heavenly Flames World, Xiao Yan quipped inwardly.

"This is the Nine Nether Wind Flame, this is the Eight Desolations Destruction Flame, and this is the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame..." Xiao Wen pointed at the flames on the walls, introducing them one by one.

"Unfortunately, even if these heavenly flames aren't unique in the world, they are exceedingly rare. Our clan lacks the ability to gather them all. Fortunately, their owners hold our clan ancestor in great esteem. When he created the Heavenly Flames Valley, they each sent a child flame to serve as an exhibit."

After inspecting these heavenly flames one by one, Xiao Yan and his two companions finally reached the center of the Heavenly Flames Valley.

A palace formed from condensed flames stood there, looking quite extraordinary. What truly caught the eye, however, was a black-robed man sitting cross-legged inside it.