Maple City wasn't far from Eternal Heaven City. A direct flight would reach it quickly, especially with Shui Ye leading the group.
Eternal Heaven City's current location was strategic—surrounded by four major cities.
North: Maple City
South: Skeleton City
East: Black Seal City
West: Black City
In terms of distance, Black Seal City was closest, followed by Skeleton City, then Maple City. Black City was the farthest.
Canaan City, where Jia Nan Academy was located, sat quite close to Maple City. That proximity explained why Han Feng had been able to sense the Fallen Heart Flame's fluctuations—Maple City bordered the same mountain range as the academy.
Demon Flame Valley required passing through Maple City and then traveling even further. The distance from Eternal Heaven City to Demon Flame Valley was significantly greater than to Maple City.
Which was why Xiao Jietian chose to use a one-time teleportation gate.
Before activating the gate, Xiao Jietian turned to Little Fairy Doctor.
"Xian'er. Can you construct a spatial wormhole now?"
She considered the question.
"Yes. But it would take some time."
"How long?"
"Alone, from Maple City to Eternal Heaven City? About a month." She paused. "But you're a high-level Dou Zong now. If you and Old Shui assisted me, we could complete it in half a month."
Xiao Jietian's brow furrowed.
"Half a month... for such a short distance?"
No wonder there were so few wormholes connecting to the Central Plains. The effort required was immense. Though, to be fair, most of the reason was that the Northwest Continent held little value for Central Plains powers. They simply couldn't be bothered.
"We'll discuss this later." He shook his head. "Now isn't the time."
There was another issue: traveling through spatial wormholes required a spatial ship. He had no blueprints, no existing ships to study. Without one, travel would be slow and dangerous.
He waved his hand, drawing everyone into the Eternal Heaven World.
Then he activated the one-time teleportation gate.
The coordinates for Demon Flame Valley were no secret. He had obtained them long ago.
Space twisted. He stepped through.
When he emerged, he stood at the edge of a mountain range.
The entire range was dark—almost black, as if soaked in ink or stained by ancient fires. At its center, a massive valley yawned open like a wound in the earth.
Xiao Jietian stood at the valley's edge, gazing down.
The valley was enormous—comparable in size to Eternal Heaven City itself. People moved constantly within, mostly outer disciples and their families. Only a small number of inner disciples were visible.
This valley-city was the lifeblood of Demon Flame Valley. It provided a constant stream of fresh blood, ensuring the sect's survival through the ages. And with the protection of a Seven-Star Dou Zong founder, no one in the Black-Corner Region dared provoke them.
Until now.
As Xiao Jietian observed, a figure flew up from the valley, halting not far from him.
"Who are you?" The newcomer was an old man at the Dou Wang realm. His eyes narrowed suspiciously as he studied Xiao Jietian. "What business do you have in my Demon Flame Valley? Spying?"
Xiao Jietian didn't even look at him. His hands remained clasped behind his back.
"You ask what I'm doing here?"
A pause.
"Why don't you go ask the King of Hell?"
The moment the words "King of Hell" left his lips, the old man's body exploded.
A cloud of blood mist hung briefly in the air, then dispersed on the wind. No scream. No struggle. Simply—gone.
Xiao Jietian released everyone from the Eternal Heaven World.
Briefly, he assigned their tasks.
Little Fairy Doctor's role was critical: seal the entire Demon Flame Valley. No one escapes.
Deep within the valley.
A massive black palace dominated the center of the valley-city. Almost invisible flames flickered across its surface, giving it an eerie, otherworldly appearance. Above its main gate, a flame symbol blazed—the mark of Demon Flame Valley.
Inside the main hall, four old men sat in deliberation.
They were:
The First Elder – Fang Yan
The Second Elder
The Third Elder
The Fifth Elder
The Fourth Elder—Old Eagle Claw—was already dead, his corpse long turned to ash.
"Big Brother!" The Third Elder's voice was loud, agitated. His throat tore with the force of his shouting. "What do we do next? Fourth Brother died so tragically! We must make Boundless Heavenly Hall and Jia Nan Academy pay! I want to destroy them! I want to—"
"Is that so?"
A calm voice echoed through the hall.
"I think you're going through too much trouble."
A pause.
"Since you miss him so much... why don't you just go keep him company?"
A giant energy palm descended.
It was covered in multi-colored lightning, crackling with power that made the very air scream.
It covered all four elders completely.
*BOOM!!! *
The black palace shattered like glass. The ancient structure, standing for centuries, collapsed into rubble and ruin.
Before the smoke could even clear, three figures shot out from the debris.
Fang Yan. The Second Elder. The Third Elder.
Their condition was... poor.
Fang Yan appeared relatively intact, though blood streamed down his face. The Second Elder had lost an entire arm. The Third Elder was missing a leg.
They were half-dead, clinging to life by the thinnest thread.
The Fifth Elder?
He was beyond dead. His eyes were wide open, frozen in eternal shock. The three elders had used him as a human shield.
They had also activated the Transformation Fire—a technique from their Flame Manipulation Art—merging it with their bodies at the critical moment. That desperate act had allowed them to survive.
Xiao Jietian observed them with mild interest.
"Oh? That's somewhat interesting." His tone was conversational, almost bored. "Is that the Transformation Fire from your Flame Manipulation Art?"
He felt no curiosity about the modified technique. Its flaws were too obvious, too fundamental.
Harms the user during condensation. Harms the user during activation. Hurts others, but hurts yourself first.
Useless.
Fang Yan stared at the figure standing in the void before him. His heart sank like a stone in deep water.
With the Ancestor absent... with us in this state...
We cannot win.
This man could kill us as easily as slaughtering chickens.
"Your Excellency!" Fang Yan's voice was hoarse, desperate. "If my Demon Flame Valley has offended you in some way, we can discuss this calmly! We will provide whatever compensation you require!"
In the distance, faint screams echoed from other parts of the valley.
They didn't come alone.
They're slaughtering everyone.
Is Demon Flame Valley truly going to fall today?
"Who am I?" Xiao Jietian's lips curved in a mocking smile. "Didn't you just say you wanted revenge on us? Now that I'm here, suddenly you want to discuss things?"
The three elders' faces contorted.
Fang Yan's expression curdled. "You... you're from Boundless Heavenly Hall?!"
The other two looked as though they had swallowed something utterly foul.
They had been confident in their intelligence. Their spies had reported that Boundless Heavenly Hall possessed at most a low-level Dou Zong. Yet this man before them radiated an aura even stronger than their own Ancestor's!
We boasted about destroying them.
Now it seems we're the ones being destroyed.
This boomerang... it hurts.
Fang Yan forced himself upright, his body trembling but his voice defiant.
"Don't be arrogant! When our Ancestor returns, even you will not be able to defeat him!" His laughter was manic, desperate. "We'll wait for you, Boundless Heavenly Hall, down in hell! Hahaha—"
Xiao Jietian raised his hand.
In it, he held something.
Fang Yan's laughter cut off like a strangled chicken.
His eyes bulged.
"Th-this is—"