[Pre-pay for subsequent events complete.]
[Current pre-pay count: One!]
On the way back to Purple Cloud City with Cai Lin in his arms, Chen Xiao finally had time to check the pre-pay information in his mind.
The completion of the subsequent pre-pay meant that the Earth Demon Old Ghost was utterly dead, with no bones left, his soul scattered.
This surprised Chen Xiao slightly. He had originally planned to use the Earth Demon Old Ghost's body to refine a Heavenly Demon Puppet as 'repayment' after killing him.
Unexpectedly, the Earth Demon Old Ghost met such an end, and the idea of refining a Heavenly Demon Puppet from his body was completely dashed.
Fortunately, the previous subsequent event was always about finding a way to kill the Earth Demon Old Ghost and use his materials to refine a Heavenly Demon Puppet. It didn't strictly mandate refining a Heavenly Demon Puppet immediately as repayment, or using the Earth Demon Old Ghost's corpse for refining.
Looking back now, he could see that there was a lot of room for maneuver.
"What are you thinking about?" Cai Lin's voice sounded.
Chen Xiao came back to his senses and held the person in his arms tighter.
"Thinking about the Earth Demon Old Ghost. All this time, I thought my strength improvement speed, even if not comparable to the Little Fairy Doctor's Woeful Poison Body, was definitely not slow."
"I started cultivating Dou Qi at five, broke through to Dou Zhe at eight, and now I'm not even seventeen, a Two-Star Dou Huang. If I take a Royal Extreme Pill, I'd be a Three-Star Dou Huang. But today's battle made me feel it's still not fast enough. If the Earth Demon Old Ghost was a Seven-Star Dou Zong, and if you hadn't evolved into a Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, I would have suffered a great loss from his self-detonation."
"Why so many 'ifs'? Isn't a seventeen-year-old Two-Star Dou Huang enough? When this Queen was seventeen..."
Cai Lin stopped halfway through her sentence.
Although she had completely figured things out when the Earth Demon Old Ghost self-detonated, it didn't mean she liked discussing age with Chen Xiao.
After all, whenever this topic came up, she couldn't help but remember that many years ago, when she first saw Chen Xiao, he was still a young boy with a tender appearance.
And at that time, she was already the famous Queen of the Snake-People Race in the Jia Ma Empire.
Now that things had developed to this point, thinking about it carefully, even with her personality, she felt a little awkward.
"It's enough for others, but not enough for me. I have many things I want to do, and some people are waiting for me, and these all require strength. I want the next time I encounter a strong enemy, I can also be like you, stand in front of you, and block all the dangers for you."
Hearing this, Cai Lin's beautiful lips curved slightly, and a trace of imperceptible pleasure flashed in her eyes. Yet, she said dismissively, "Male chauvinist."
"Undeniably, a little."
"It's a pity you're not Fire Attribute, otherwise with the Heavenly Flames you've obtained, you might not be worse than this Queen now."
Chen Xiao hadn't told Cai Lin about the Burning诀, but she could keenly spot some issues from Cao Ying's previous changes.
"More than that. If I were Fire Attribute, I'd be at least a high-level Dou Zong by now."
"..."
Choosing not to fly, Chen Xiao walked the entire way back to the city, also taking this opportunity to talk to Cai Lin about many things.
He no longer concealed his ambition, nor did he hide his future plans, rambling on so much that Cai Lin felt somewhat unfamiliar.
Just like that, when the two returned to Purple Cloud City, it was already half an hour later.
As gazes filled with different emotions fell upon them like substance, Cai Lin's quiet posture, which she had maintained in Chen Xiao's arms for half an hour, completely broke.
Her cheeks were hot, and her delicate body twisted slightly, wanting to escape from this awkward situation.
"Put me down."
"Can you walk?"
"This Queen is just exhausted, not dead."
Chen Xiao nodded slightly, doing as she wished.
Enduring all sorts of gazes along the way, when the two arrived in front of the Purple Firmament Pavilion, everyone was there, including Zi Yan.
On the open ground, rows of unrecognizable corpses were laid out. Apart from the few Storage Rings given to the Thousand Medicine Shop, all the spoils of war were gathered and placed to the side.
Having killed so many powerhouses at once, today was a feast for the Purple Firmament Pavilion, and also a feast for Protector Xuan of the Soul Hall. That guy was hidden in the dark, and his harvest today was definitely not small.
Shaking his head slightly in his heart, Chen Xiao first looked at Zi Yan.
"I wonder if the Earth Demon Old Ghost's Storage Ring survived the self-detonation impact. Zi Yan, go take a look..."
Chen Xiao's words stopped abruptly. He had already seen Zi Yan's eyes curved, with a sly smile on her face. She raised her small hand, and in her palm lay a cold-gleaming dark Storage Ring.
When the Earth Demon Old Ghost self-detonated, she was the first to react.
Originally, Zi Yan wanted to check on Chen Xiao and Cai Lin's life and death, but when she reached the mountain hollow behind, she saw that the two were safe and sound, pulling and tugging, and the surrounding space seemed to be filled with an indescribable aura.
Zi Yan had some discernment. She didn't disturb them. After feeling relieved, she began searching for the Earth Demon Old Ghost's Storage Ring.
Perhaps it was due to Zi Yan's luck buff, she was fortunate enough to successfully find the Earth Demon Old Ghost's Storage Ring.
"I took a look. This old guy was Ice Attribute. Most of the Dou Skills and cultivation techniques inside can be used by you."
Zi Yan muttered, throwing the Storage Ring to Chen Xiao without any reluctance.
As for the part that was useful to her, she had already taken it out beforehand.
In this regard, she didn't even need to tell Chen Xiao. Chen Xiao was never stingy. Every time he obtained spoils of war, he would not be stingy with anything useful to them.
Catching the Storage Ring, Chen Xiao didn't check it immediately. Instead, he looked at Hai Bo Dong beside him.
"Old Man Hai, the Demon Flame Valley's elites are all gone, and the Earth Demon Old Ghost has also fallen. You go personally, and Zi Yan go too. Scrape it clean."
In Demon Flame Valley, what Chen Xiao was truly concerned about now were only the method for refining the Heavenly Demon Puppet and the Earth Demon Old Ghost's private stash.
Chen Xiao remembered clearly that the Earth Demon Old Ghost had hidden these things extremely well. In the original timeline, if it hadn't been for Zi Yan's unique treasure-hunting talent, Xiao Yan wouldn't have found them.
Therefore, there was no need to worry about others snatching and plundering them first.
Leave professional matters to professional people.
No one knew how to ransack a place better than Zi Yan.
"Okay! I've wanted to go to Demon Flame Valley for a long time! Old Man Hai, I'm going ahead, you can follow slowly!"
Upon receiving the task, Zi Yan was full of excitement. She dropped a sentence and disappeared from the spot, causing everyone to shake their heads and chuckle.
"I'll go too. Destroying Demon Flame Valley should be easier for me than for Old Man Hai."
Glancing at Cai Lin beside Chen Xiao, the Little Fairy Doctor said softly.
When the Earth Demon Old Ghost self-destructed, Cai Lin's decisive action made the Little Fairy Doctor quite envious.
Honestly, she was sure she could also do it, but the limitation of her strength left her powerless.
At this moment, she really wanted to do something.
Destroying Demon Flame Valley was a relatively suitable task.
Chen Xiao nodded slightly, "Leave no one alive!"
The Little Fairy Doctor and Hai Bo Dong responded in turn, immediately unfolding their Dou Qi wings and soaring towards Demon Flame Valley.
"Grand Elder..."
"The Inner Academy is fine for now. I'll hold the fort for you for a few days. You and Her Majesty just need to rest well." Su Qian chuckled and took over the conversation.
The destruction of Demon Flame Valley was undoubtedly a great thing for Jia Nan Academy.
It was not hard to foresee that the power structure of the Black-Corner Region would be reshuffled because of this, and Purple Firmament Pavilion, which had a close relationship with the academy, would become the true leader.
How could such a situation not put him in a good mood?
Chen Xiao nodded in thanks and finally looked at Cao Xi.
"There's no need for formalities between us. You don't need to keep me. With the matter of Demon Flame Valley settled, I should also withdraw. When you reach the Central State, we'll have plenty of time to chat. For now, it's best you adjust your state back. Recovering Dou Qi consumption is simple, but Soul Power consumption is too great. Without special heavenly treasures, you can only rely on time to accumulate it."
Seeing Chen Xiao look over, Cao Xi said with a light smile.
He had come to the Black-Corner Region this time to escort the Transformation Pill. Only after learning that Chen Xiao was going to deal with Demon Flame Valley did he stay to help.
Now that the matter of Demon Flame Valley was settled, Cao Xi naturally wouldn't stay in the Black-Corner Region for long.
As for the remaining cleanup, Dou Zong level experts were no longer needed.
With the words of thanks stuck in his throat, Chen Xiao nodded helplessly.
"Then I'll see Fourth Elder off tomorrow."
"Haha, why bother with so much trouble? There's no difference between today and tomorrow. However, those people in the clan are very much looking forward to and curious about you. I'll go back earlier to satisfy their curiosity."
Cao Xi laughed heartily and shook his head, his intention to leave already decided.
Seeing this, Chen Xiao didn't say anything more.
"Within three years, I will go to the Central State. I will visit Fourth Elder then. Also, I will bring the complete cultivation method to her at that time, and please thank her for her gift on my behalf."
By today, Chen Xiao had basically finished dealing with the important matters in the Northwest Continent. What remained were just some trivial things.
Setting it at three years was already calculating on the longer side.
In fact, as quickly as one year, or as slowly as two years, after further improving his strength and gaining the ability to protect himself, Chen Xiao would set off.
"Mm, we'll meet again in the Central State. Of course, if you need any help, send a message anytime."
Leaving this sentence, Cao Xi nodded goodbye to Su Qian and Cai Lin again. Then, without further delay, he stepped into the sky, waved his hand, and left freely.
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