31: Team Assembly and Journey to the Demon Flame Valley

Black Wind Post Station, the only supply point on the Gobi Desert west of Black Flame City, consisted of a few simple stone houses and a low earthen wall. After the black sandstorm, the post station appeared particularly dilapidated and silent.

By the time Xiao Chen arrived at the post station, dawn had already broken. At the entrance of the station, three magnificent black-maned horses were tethered, their saddles laden with bulging travel bags.

Inside the post station, Ya Fei, Hai Bodong, and Mo Chen had already arrived.

Ya Fei had changed into a tight-fitting black leather armor, outlining her graceful curves. Her long hair was tied back, making her appear heroic and capable, with less of her usual charm and more of a decisive air. A thin sword was at her waist, and her aura was steady, clearly indicating considerable strength.

Hai Bodong was an old man with white hair and beard, dressed in a blue robe. His face was gaunt, his eyes as deep as the sea, and a faint chill emanated from his body, giving him an air of authority without needing to express anger. The powerful aura of a Three-Star Dou Ling made Xiao Chen's heart tremble. He merely glanced at Xiao Chen indifferently, then paid him no further attention, clearly not putting this young man without Dou Qi (Battle Energy) in his eyes.

Mo Chen maintained his usual stern demeanor, clad in black combat attire with a long sword on his back, exuding a sharp aura. Seeing Xiao Chen, he gave a slight nod in greeting.

"You're here." Ya Fei smiled upon seeing Xiao Chen. "Let me introduce you, this is Elder Hai Bodong. Elder Hai, this is Xiao Chen."

Hai Bodong nodded slightly in response, his tone flat: "Since Miss Ya Fei thinks highly of you, I hope you don't hold us back."

Xiao Chen bowed respectfully, neither servile nor overbearing: "Greetings, Elder Hai. This junior will do his best."

Ya Fei interjected to smooth things over: "Alright, everyone's here, let's depart. Our destination is Demon Flame Valley, the journey is long and fraught with danger, so everyone must be careful."

She swung herself onto the horse with clean, swift movements. Hai Bodong and Mo Chen also mounted their horses. Although Xiao Chen was not skilled at riding, with the control over his body afforded by his Spirit Movement Late-stage soul power, he managed to sit steadily.

The four individuals on three horses (Xiao Chen and Ya Fei shared one to conserve the horse's strength) left the Black Wind Post Station and galloped eastward into the deeper, more desolate and perilous Gobi Desert.

Along the way, Hai Bodong and Mo Chen spoke little, only observing their surroundings vigilantly. Ya Fei, however, occasionally conversed with Xiao Chen in a low voice, describing the terrain and potential dangers they might encounter.

"Demon Flame Valley is located on the eastern edge of the Black-Corner Region, a vast canyon formed by a cluster of volcanoes. It's perpetually hot, covered in lava rivers and poisonous gas swamps, making the environment extremely harsh. Many fire-attribute magical beasts live within the valley, ranging from first to fifth-tier, and it's even rumored that sixth-tier Fire Lizardmen roam there..."

"Besides magical beasts, you must also be wary of other treasure hunters. People in the Black-Corner Region will do anything for profit. Murder and robbery are commonplace."

Xiao Chen listened intently, committing every detail to memory. At the same time, his soul perception remained at its maximum range, alert to any disturbance.

Indeed, about a hundred li after leaving Black Flame City, they encountered their first wave of attack.

It was a pack of over a dozen second-tier magical beasts, "Sand Wolves," led by an alpha wolf. They burst from behind a sand dune, baring their fangs and lunging at the horse team.

"Courting death!" Mo Chen snorted coldly, his long sword unsheathed. A sharp sword qi swept out, instantly cutting several of the leading Sand Wolves in half! The strength of a Great Dou Master was fully displayed!

Hai Bodong didn't even make a move; he simply released a hint of Dou Ling (Spirit) pressure, which sent the remaining Sand Wolves fleeing in terror with their tails between their legs.

Xiao Chen watched with trepidation. The power of a Great Dou Master and a Dou Ling (Spirit) was indeed far beyond what he could achieve currently. He became even more determined to raise his strength as quickly as possible.

Over the next few days, they encountered several small-scale magical beast attacks and a few unobservant bandits, but all were easily dealt with by Mo Chen and Hai Bodong. Xiao Chen consistently played the role of "the protected," secretly observing and learning their combat styles, and using his soul perception to pre-warn them of several potential ambushes, saving the team from some trouble.

Hai Bodong's attitude towards Xiao Chen also softened slightly; although still aloof, he no longer completely ignored him.

After seven days of long travel, the surrounding environment began to change significantly. The air became hot and dry, the ground shifted from yellow sand to dark red volcanic rock, and in the distance on the horizon, a continuous outline of undulating volcanoes, emitting thick smoke, appeared.

Demon Flame Valley, they were almost there!

"Ahead is the outer perimeter of Demon Flame Valley." Ya Fei reined in her horse, her expression solemn, pointing forward. "From here on, the temperature will rise sharply, and fire poison will permeate the air. You must constantly circulate your Dou Qi (Battle Energy) to protect your body. Xiao Chen, you..."

She looked at Xiao Chen with some concern. Xiao Chen had no Dou Qi (Battle Energy); how would he resist the fire poison?

Xiao Chen smiled faintly: "Sister Ya Fei, don't worry, I have my ways." He secretly circulated the Spirit Nurturing Art, and his soul power formed a very faint, invisible protective film on his body's surface. While it couldn't completely block the high temperature, it was enough to resist most of the fire poison's erosion. This was a technique he had recently explored for using soul power.

Seeing Xiao Chen's normal expression, Ya Fei breathed a sigh of relief and nodded: "That's good. Let's find a place to rest, then enter the valley."

The four found a sheltered spot behind a rock, dismounted, and rested, replenishing water and dry rations.

Hai Bodong sat cross-legged, closing his eyes to meditate, a chill swirling around him, dispelling some of the surrounding heat. Mo Chen vigilantly surveyed their surroundings.

Xiao Chen leaned against a rock, extending his soul perception towards Demon Flame Valley. The closer they got to the valley, the more he could feel a vast and violent fire-attribute energy fluctuation, and the fire poison in the air grew denser. He could even vaguely sense that deep within the valley, something seemed to be attracting his soul... Was it the call of the Illusory Spirit Realm? Or the aura of a Heavenly Flame?

Just then, at the edge of his soul perception, he suddenly detected several rapidly approaching powerful auras!

"Someone's coming! And fast!" Xiao Chen's eyes snapped open, and he whispered urgently.

Hai Bodong and Mo Chen instantly became alert, and Ya Fei tightened her grip on her sword hilt.

A moment later, several figures appeared on a distant sand dune. The leader, dressed in luxurious brocade robes, was handsome but arrogant, exuding powerful Dou Qi (Battle Energy) fluctuations. He was indeed a Dou Ling (Spirit) expert! Behind him followed several attendants with considerable auras.

"It's people from the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect of the Chu Yun Empire!" Ya Fei's expression changed slightly, and she whispered, "The leader is the Young Sect Master of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect, Xie Biyan, a Two-Star Dou Ling (Spirit)! How did they get here so quickly?"

Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect? Xiao Chen's heart tightened. A major poison-wielding sect from the Chu Yun Empire, powerful and employing strange methods.

Xie Biyan led his people directly in front of the four, his gaze sweeping over Hai Bodong and Mo Chen, finally settling on Ya Fei, a lecherous smile appearing on his face: "I wondered who it was, turns out it's Miss Ya Fei of the Mittel Family. What, are you also interested in the ruins of Demon Flame Valley?"

Ya Fei said coldly: "Demon Flame Valley isn't your Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect's territory, can't we come here?"

Xie Biyan laughed heartily: "You can, of course you can! However, these ruins are extremely perilous. Miss Ya Fei is so delicate, why not follow this Young Sect Master? It would be good to have someone to look out for you, how about it?" His words were flippant, his gaze unabashedly sweeping over Ya Fei.

Mo Chen's eyes turned cold, and he stepped forward, blocking Ya Fei, saying coldly: "No need to trouble yourself."

Xie Biyan glanced at Mo Chen, scoffing: "A mere Great Dou Master dares to be presumptuous in front of this Young Sect Master? Get lost!"

One of his attendants immediately stepped forward and struck at Mo Chen with a palm, the palm wind carrying a foul-smelling green Dou Qi (Battle Energy), clearly containing potent poison!

Mo Chen's expression changed, and he was about to draw his sword when Hai Bodong suddenly opened his eyes.

"Hmph!"

A cold snort, like cracking ice! Hai Bodong's body erupted with intense cold qi, and a stream of ice-blue Dou Qi (Battle Energy) struck the attendant's poisonous palm with precision, arriving after the initial attack but reaching its target first!

"Bang!"

The attendant screamed, his entire arm instantly frozen into an ice sculpture, then shattering into pieces! He flew backward, spitting blood, clearly severely injured!

Xie Biyan's face changed, and he stared intently at Hai Bodong: "Three-Star Dou Ling? Ice attribute? You are... Ice Emperor Hai Bodong?!"

Hai Bodong slowly stood up, his gaze cold as he looked at Xie Biyan: "Junior of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect, this is not your place to be arrogant. Get out!"

Xie Biyan's face alternated between green and pale. Although he was a Two-Star Dou Ling (Spirit), facing the long-renowned Three-Star Dou Ling Hai Bodong, he still lacked confidence. He gritted his teeth, leaving a harsh threat: "Hai Bodong! You just wait! Whatever is in these ruins, we'll each rely on our own abilities! Let's go!"

With that, he led his subordinates and scurried away.

Watching the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect members disappear, Ya Fei breathed a sigh of relief and said to Hai Bodong: "Thank you, Elder Hai."

Hai Bodong waved his hand, but his gaze fell on Xiao Chen, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Young man, your perception is very keen. They were still three li away, and you were able to detect them in advance?"

Xiao Chen's heart tightened, knowing that in his urgency, he had exposed his soul perception ability. He quickly explained: "This junior was born with stronger soul power than ordinary people, so I'm more sensitive to auras."

Hai Bodong looked at him deeply, not pressing further, merely saying faintly: "A good ability. In a place like Demon Flame Valley, being able to detect danger in advance is very important."

After this small interlude, the team finished resting and set off again, officially entering the confines of Demon Flame Valley.

Upon entering the valley, the temperature soared abruptly, as if they were in a furnace. Dark red rocks emitted scorching heat, and the air was filled with a pungent sulfur smell and toxic fumes. Cracks were visible everywhere on the ground, and in some, even churning lava could be seen.

Xiao Chen fully circulated the Spirit Nurturing Art, his soul protective film isolating most of the heat and fire poison, but he still felt parched and was sweating profusely. Hai Bodong and Mo Chen, however, circulated their Dou Qi (Battle Energy) for protection, appearing much more at ease. Ya Fei also activated some protective treasure, a faint halo enveloping her body.

The four cautiously advanced deeper into the valley along a well-trodden, relatively safe path.

The deeper they went, the harsher the environment became. The violent fire-attribute energy was almost solidified, and sparks occasionally shot through the air. They occasionally saw some fire-attribute plants and insects, entirely crimson and strangely shaped. Roars of magical beasts echoed in the distance, sending shivers down their spines.

Xiao Chen's soul perception was greatly interfered with here, its range shrinking to less than twenty meters. But he could still feel that in the deepest part of the valley, the energy fluctuation that attracted him was becoming increasingly clear!

Was that where the Illusory Spirit Realm ruins were located?

Just as they were passing through an area filled with jagged, strange rocks, an anomaly suddenly occurred!

"Rumble!"

Not far ahead, the ground suddenly vibrated violently, and a huge fissure abruptly opened, with scorching lava gushing skyward like a fountain! Immediately after, a deafening roar erupted from the fissure!

"Not good! It's an Earth Fire Lizard! Retreat quickly!" Hai Bodong's face changed, and he roared, simultaneously striking out with both palms. Majestic ice-attribute Dou Qi (Battle Energy) transformed into a massive ice wall, blocking the erupting lava!

"Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!"

The ice wall made a piercing sound upon contact with the lava, and large amounts of steam rose. But the ice wall only held for a few breaths before rapidly melting!

At the same time, a colossal lizard, covered in crimson scales and with a single horn on its head, crawled out of the fissure! Its lantern-sized eyes stared intently at the four, filled with ferocity and greed!

A Fourth-tier magical beast, an Earth Fire Lizard! Equivalent to a human Dou Ling (Spirit) expert!

The real danger had arrived!