Netherworld Poison Flame

The morning sunlight streamed through the window, falling warmly on the young man cultivating cross-legged on the bed.

"Phew..."

After sitting quietly for a long while, Xiao Chen let out a long breath.

He stretched slowly, his face full of fascination and intoxication. "Cultivating really does feel amazing."

"Unfortunately..."

Climbing slowly out of bed, Xiao Chen loosened his limbs and sighed helplessly.

As he was now, he could only absorb Dou Qi from outside after consuming the Dou Qi inside his body.

He could only absorb as much as he consumed.

It felt like he could only earn money after spending the money in his hands.

And he could only ever have a hundred on hand, never even a hundred and one.

It truly left him utterly speechless.

He had just changed his clothes when Xiao Yan's familiar voice came from outside. "Ancestor, are you there?"

"This brat certainly came early." Shaking his head helplessly, Xiao Chen pushed open the door and walked out.

"Let's go. I'll take you treasure hunting."

As he spoke, Xiao Chen was already striding forward.

Xiao Yan hurried after him.

Yesterday, the ancestor had said he wanted to browse the Xiao Family Market, and Xiao Yan was looking forward to it too.

Going shopping with an expert like the ancestor was something he would never even have dared imagine.

They walked in silence.

Along the way, the two also encountered some Xiao Clan members.

Upon seeing Xiao Chen, they all bowed respectfully.

Xiao Chen greatly enjoyed that feeling.

When he was beside Su Qingxue, he rarely received such treatment.

After responding to each of them with a smile, Xiao Chen led Xiao Yan straight out of the clan grounds, then slowed his pace, strolling leisurely along the bustling street.

"I've already sent people to gather all the Purple Leaf Orchid Grass, Bone-Washing Flowers, and wood-type magic cores. Refining can begin today. Learn as much as you can from your teacher. Our Xiao Clan needs a high-level alchemist too."

Arriving at the entrance to a Xiao Family Market, Xiao Chen continued forward as he spoke.

There were several medium-sized markets like this in Wutan City, once controlled by the three great families.

Now, however, they all belonged to the Xiao Clan...

Two Xiao Clan guards stood at the entrance.

They clearly recognized both Xiao Chen and Xiao Yan.

Seeing Ancestor Xiao Chen arrive, they hurriedly bowed respectfully.

Nodding slightly, Xiao Chen walked straight inside.

Looking at the endless stream of people within, the corners of his mouth rose, and he kept walking.

"Ancestor, Third Young Master, have you come here to buy something?" Just then, a respectful voice came from behind them.

Hearing the voice, Xiao Chen turned around and saw seven or eight burly men wearing the Xiao Clan's standard uniforms.

The speaker was the sturdy man leading them, who looked about thirty.

A badge was pinned to his chest, with nine gold stars depicted upon it.

Clearly, he was a Nine-Star Dou Zhe.

Meeting Xiao Chen's gaze, the man gave an honest smile and said respectfully, "Ancestor, my name is Pei'en. The clan leader personally appointed me captain of the guards, responsible for keeping this market safe."

"So it's you." A smile appeared on Xiao Chen's face.

This was a familiar face. Pei'en, who should have been a Six-Star Dou Zhe in the original story, had now broken through to nine-star as well.

"You know me, Ancestor?" Pei'en immediately felt overwhelmed by the honor.

"I have some impression of you." Xiao Chen nodded.

"You're quite good. Come to my courtyard tonight. I'll help you enter the Dou Shi Realm."

"Thank you, Ancestor!" Pei'en immediately thanked him, his face filled with excitement.

This was an opportunity as vast as the heavens!

"Xiao Yan and I are just browsing. Go about your business. If anything comes up, I'll call you." Xiao Chen smiled faintly.

When he first read Battle Through the Heavens, he had thought this burly man named Pei'en was rather endearing, someone dependable.

Xiao Chen's smile made the smile on Pei'en's face deepen as well.

He scratched his head, nodded, and said with a smile, "Then please browse as you wish, Ancestor. Our people are everywhere in the market. If anything happens, just give us a shout."

Nodding lightly, Xiao Chen continued forward with Xiao Yan.

"Pa Li, take two men and follow the ancestor and Third Young Master. Warn those light-fingered fellows in the market: if any of them dares set their sights on the ancestor or Third Young Master, they can forget about plying their trade here ever again."

"The ancestor may be immensely powerful, but we still need to shoo the flies away for him so they don't spoil his mood."

Watching the two youthful figures disappear, Pei'en turned and gave his orders in a low, sharp voice.

"Yes, Captain!" A burly man nodded solemnly, waved his hand, and took two men into the crowd.

"Heh, the ancestor treats people so gently. It really puts you at ease..." Watching the three merge into the crowd, Pei'en smiled and began looking forward to nightfall.

Following behind the casually browsing Xiao Chen, Xiao Yan glanced discreetly at the crowd behind them, then suddenly smiled. "Ancestor, that Pei'en is quite good."

Xiao Chen gave a soft hum of agreement, his gaze sweeping over some nearby stalls before he gently shook his head.

Following Xiao Chen through one turn after another, the two slowly entered the depths of the market.

The goods sold deeper in the market were generally much more valuable than those outside.

Thus, customers who could come here to shop were considered people of some means in Wutan City.

While Xiao Chen searched for treasures, a bored Xiao Yan also approached a clean stall.

Looking over the many items for sale, his eyes suddenly flickered, and he reached out to pick up a pale green bracelet.

The bracelet was made of ordinary materials, with only a little ice silver added to make it cool to the touch, quite suitable for wearing in summer.

Though its materials were ordinary, it was nevertheless distinctive and elegant.

After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Yan still paid for it.

At the same time, Xiao Chen also stopped, his gaze sweeping over a stall before settling on a black iron fragment a moment later.

The black iron fragment was very old, its surface covered in rust.

This should be it.

Nodding lightly, Xiao Chen looked at a nearby burly man and beckoned to him.

The transaction was soon completed smoothly.

It cost five gold coins in total.

After finishing their stroll through this market and finding nothing else of value, Xiao Chen took Xiao Yan to the other markets.

In the end, he bought a few more things.

Leaving the market at a leisurely pace, the two slowly returned to the clan grounds.

Xiao Yan followed Xiao Chen to his courtyard.

Reclining on a bamboo chair, Xiao Chen took out the black iron fragment and tossed it to Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan examined it carefully from top to bottom, then asked in puzzlement, "Ancestor, what is this?"

Xiao Chen smiled. "There's a Dou Technique stored inside. I think it suits you very well."

"A Dou Technique?"

Hearing this, Xiao Yan's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly asked, "What grade is it?"

The Dou Qi Continent was incomparably vast. There were always some Dou Techniques left by predecessors that, for various reasons, were lost and forgotten, only to end up in the hands of some lucky person.

And this black iron fragment might well have been left behind by a predecessor.

A hint of amusement flashed through Xiao Chen's eyes. Only after a moment did he smile and say, "Suction Palm: Profound Tier Low Grade!"

"Profound Tier Low Grade?" Disappointment appeared on Xiao Yan's face.

In the past, a Dou Technique of this grade might have kept him excited for quite a while.

But now...

"Suction Palm: when cultivated to complete mastery, it can draw in a thousand-jin boulder. When facing an enemy, its ferocious suction can forcibly wrench the blood out of a human body!"

"Whatever else you might say, it's still quite an interesting Dou Technique. Take it and cultivate it. Have your teacher help you look over the specific cultivation method."

"Off you go."

Seeing that the ancestor seemed to be dismissing him, Xiao Yan did not linger.

"Thank you, Ancestor."

After Xiao Yan left, Xiao Chen took out the items he had purchased from the various major markets in Wutan City.

"I have to say, although none of these are particularly great treasures, they should already count as tremendous opportunities for the people of the Dou Qi Continent, right?"

For example, the purple liquid contained in a black stone, the Profound Tier Mid Grade Cultivation Technique hidden inside an ordinary-looking jade hairpin, and the remnant soul of a magical beast sealed within a damaged compass.

But what interested Xiao Chen most was the last item.

It was half a sheet of yellow paper, made from some unknown material, its surface entirely blank.

Yet Xiao Chen, with his extensive experience and keen eye, recognized it at a glance. This was clearly an incomplete map!

Without the slightest hesitation, Xiao Chen took out a green jade bottle, poured out a drop of milky-white liquid, and let it fall onto the yellow paper.

Instantly, dazzling white radiance spread, enveloping the entire sheet of yellow paper.

Soon, the yellow paper underwent a transformation visible to the naked eye.

First, its color turned green. Then, mottled lines appeared across its surface.

In the upper-right corner of the incomplete map, four slightly blurred characters gradually emerged.

The writing was pitch-black, yet radiated scorching heat.

"Netherworld Poison Flame?"

Looking at those four characters, Xiao Chen's eyes lit up.

He had never expected a treasure like this to be hidden in a market that had originally belonged to the Jia Lie Family!