Chapter 60

"Flame Valley? What kind of place is that? What treasures are there?" Hu Gao asked, his expression becoming suspicious. How could this person be so kind? Not only did he rescue and guide him, but he also enthusiastically introduced him to a treasure spot?

"The saying goes, 'Fire Valley gathers fire poison, fire poison nurtures Fire Lotus, Fire Lotus bears essence.' This has been passed down since Flame Valley was discovered, describing the three great treasures of Flame Valley," Qi Hong said solemnly, not looking back at Hu Gao's expression but slowing his steps slightly.

"Flame Valley is about eighty miles to our left front, but it stretches for over a hundred miles. It is home to a large number of fire-attribute beasts that can spew flames and lava, making them very powerful. Moreover, there is often a flow of earth fire, which makes it impossible for martial artists below the Seventh Rank of the Condensation Shadow Realm to withstand the high temperature and fire poison."

"As for the treasures, hehe, it's the Black Fire Lotus, one of the three treasures!" Qi Hong's voice was full of temptation, as if he were talking about a rare and invaluable treasure.

"Black Fire Lotus? Is it a spirit medicine?" Hu Gao had never heard of the Black Fire Lotus, but thinking of the Black Leaf Grass and the treasures Qi Hong carried, which were no less valuable than the Black Leaf Grass...

Would Qi Hong pull out the treasure next and tempt him to go to Flame Valley? It felt like he was trying to lure a child. Humph, taking a Fifth Rank Condensation Shadow Realm youth to a place where only Seventh Rank Condensation Shadow Realm martial artists can go! Although he looked like a youth, his mind and strength were not so easily deceived...

Qi Hong didn't look back, but he understood. A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth because he heard the youth suppress his breathing, clearly moved but not showing it.

"The Black Fire Lotus is the second of the three treasures. It is said that the Black Fire Lotus is a spirit medicine nurtured by earth fire, growing in places where fire energy gathers. Such places are often very hidden and surrounded by fire poison, making it difficult to approach, so the Black Fire Lotus is hard to collect."

"But the value of the Black Fire Lotus is worth the risk for martial artists. The fire energy condensed in the Black Fire Lotus can help Condensation Shadow Realm martial artists refine their bodies. Fifth to Eighth Rank Condensation Shadow Realm martial artists can enhance their body strength by one rank with the Black Fire Lotus. However, those below the Third Rank of the Condensation Shadow Realm risk bursting their bodies if they consume it. Your cultivation level is just right for it."

Qi Hong turned back and smiled at Hu Gao, as if asking, "Are you interested?" He continued, "A single Black Fire Lotus is worth over a hundred thousand gold coins. Just a few days ago, a Black Fire Lotus bloomed in Flame Valley, and it appeared in the outer area, picked up by an ordinary Seventh Rank Condensation Shadow Realm martial artist."

"He immediately refined the Black Fire Lotus, and his physical strength doubled. Then he entered Flame Valley and picked up several more Black Fire Lotus flowers, refining them one after another, enhancing his body strength to the peak of the Ninth Rank of the Condensation Shadow Realm. However, the beasts he encountered became increasingly powerful, and he couldn't handle them. So he gathered a few close friends to enter Flame Valley, but this time..."

Qi Hong shook his head, looking somewhat pitiful. "This time, their luck was bad. They encountered a herd of beasts in Flame Valley, and only one person survived. However, a few days after telling everyone about it, he died from his injuries."

Pausing, Qi Hong continued, "Although that person met an unfortunate end, the news he revealed before dying attracted more and more martial artists to Flame Valley."

Hu Gao's curiosity was piqued. The person who escaped must have said something to attract so many martial artists to Flame Valley.

Qi Hong glanced at Hu Gao, then looked around, and continued, "In Flame Valley, there are not only Black Fire Lotus flowers but also Black Fire Lotus pods, which contain many Black Fire Lotus seeds. It is said that one Black Fire Lotus seed is equivalent to one Black Fire Lotus flower. If you can get a Black Fire Lotus pod, it would be worth at least a dozen Black Fire Lotus flowers. Tsk tsk, even if you don't need it, you could sell it for tens or even hundreds of thousands of gold coins, and you would truly be rich!"

Qi Hong spoke at length and then turned back to Hu Gao, adding, "I haven't introduced it wrong. Young brother, you can certainly give it a try. You might get lucky and pick a few Black Fire Lotus pods, and then you'll have millions of gold coins."

Qi Hong's final words made Hu Gao cautious. "With my Fifth Rank Condensation Shadow Realm cultivation, is it appropriate to go to Flame Valley? Why don't you, Brother Qi Hong, try it yourself?"

"Haha, young brother, you're quite cautious!" Qi Hong seemed very satisfied with the youth's cautious expression but quickly dispelled it. "Although entering Flame Valley usually requires Seventh Rank Condensation Shadow Realm cultivation, it's not always the case. Not every place has such intense fire poison. Some areas can be entered by Fifth Rank martial artists. Moreover, due to the emergence of the Black Fire Lotus, the fire poison in Flame Valley has decreased somewhat."

"As for me, I have tried entering, but after half a month of hard work, I didn't even see the shadow of a Black Fire Lotus. I only encountered some blind beasts and obtained a few beast cores, which were not as valuable as what I could get in the forest. So, I returned to my old job."

Qi Hong pointed to the badge on his chest. "Capturing a Land Tiger and handing it over to the Beast Extermination Castle can earn me a lot of gold coins from the victims. Unfortunately, the Black Charcoal Head escaped! That guy is cunning and has robbed many people, worth about five hundred thousand gold coins! Plus, the treasures he has stolen before..."

"That's really a pity!" Hu Gao sighed.

"Yes! It's also because of this that many martial artists have flooded into Flame Valley, hoping to find Black Fire Lotus flowers or pods. At the same time, Land Tigers have become more active, and we at the Beast Extermination Castle are busy every day dealing with robberies. We also tell people entering the Dragon Armor Mountains about the emergence of the Black Fire Lotus, to form a good relationship. Haha!"

Strictly speaking, I am now a body-refining martial artist. I wonder if the Black Fire Lotus seeds will help me...

Hu Gao's eyes flickered, but he quickly dismissed the idea of going to Flame Valley. At least for now, he couldn't go because his cultivation had not yet reached the Seventh Rank of the Condensation Shadow Realm. Going there rashly would be of no benefit to him.

Hu Gao seemed to think of something and asked, "Right, with so many Black Fire Lotus flowers and pods in Flame Valley, haven't Body Realm martial artists been attracted?"

Qi Hong laughed. "There aren't many Body Realm martial artists. Those who can reach the Body Realm usually join a faction and don't lack gold coins. The Black Fire Lotus and seeds don't help them much. Moreover, most of the Condensation Shadow Realm martial artists who come to Flame Valley are independent cultivators. The people from major factions don't care about the Black Fire Lotus and pods and don't want to compete with independent cultivators."

"I see..."

Hu Gao finally relaxed. If there weren't too many Body Realm experts, he might dare to go and see if he could get some benefits. If there were too many Body Realm martial artists, he really didn't want to go, as it might expose his identity, which would be a big problem.

"Young brother, you're quite brave to enter the Dragon Armor Mountains alone for training. Aren't you afraid of the beasts here?"

Qi Hong looked at Hu Gao, no longer talking about the Black Fire Lotus, and continued, "In the outer hundred miles of the Dragon Armor Mountains, although Second Rank beasts rarely appear, First Rank beasts are everywhere, and even First Rank peak beasts often appear. First Rank peak beasts can only be handled by Body Realm martial artists. Aren't you afraid at all?"

"Afraid? I'm here to train, how can I be afraid? They're just First Rank beasts. Don't worry, they can't hurt me." Hu Gao was full of confidence and didn't take First Rank beasts seriously.

Qi Hong was taken aback and then became suspicious...

Just First Rank beasts?

Ordinary early and mid-First Rank beasts are one thing, but late and peak First Rank beasts are nothing? I can't handle them, can you?

Seeing Hu Gao's confident face, Qi Hong suddenly became a bit worried...

"Brother Qi, don't you believe me? I'm serious. I might not be able to handle a First Rank peak beast, but I'm not afraid of late First Rank beasts. Although I'm only at the Fifth Rank of the Condensation Shadow Realm, I have many treasures to deal with beasts. Otherwise, my family wouldn't let me come alone."

Hu Gao saw that Qi Hong was silent and turned to him, saying, "Not afraid of late First Rank beasts?"

Qi Hong's mouth twitched. Could I really have met an elite disciple from a family? This is a big deal!

Qi Hong immediately put on a smile and said to Hu Gao, "Young brother, you must be from a major family? To have such confidence and strength at such a young age is truly remarkable! However, don't underestimate the beasts in the Dragon Armor Mountains. This place is not like the outside world, and it's your first time here. If I were you, I wouldn't let you enter alone. Your family must have arranged guards for you, right?"

"Who says not!" Hu Gao seemed a bit dissatisfied. "The head of the Ningcheng Guo family is my grandfather. Before I left, he arranged three Body Realm elders as my guards, saying I am a变异图腾拥有者, the hope of the Guo family, and must be careful."

"Brother Qi, what kind of training is this? It's just a fat pig with big ears, black and ugly, and they say it might be a招风猪 with good hearing. I'm embarrassed to even mention it! So I secretly took my grandfather's low-grade earth treasure sword and sneaked out. If that Black Charcoal Head hadn't escaped so quickly today, I could have earned some gold coins for Brother Qi as a thank you!"

Low-grade earth treasure sword! Variant totem? Body Realm elders?!

Qi Hong's eyes widened.

This kid...

If Body Realm elders were following you, would you know?

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