The item in Xiao Tian's hand was a black token with a brown flame carved into its surface.
"How… how did the ancestor's identity token end up in your hands?"
Fang Yan stared blankly at the token, mumbling in disbelief.
"You can all go down and ask him yourselves. Then you'll know."
Hearing Xiao Tian's words, the three of them felt their hearts turn to ash. Their ancestor must have fallen at their hands. Otherwise, his personal token would never be here.
A sword appeared in Xiao Tian's hand. He took a single step and materialized before them. The blade glided lightly across their necks. Three heads, their expressions frozen in terror, spun into the air. Flames roared to life around their bodies, consuming everything until only ash remained.
Xiao Tian stood in the void, watching the fires and explosions rise from below.
About two minutes later, figures flew up from the valley, gathering beside him to report. Many were stained with blood—some their own, some their enemies'. But Heaven Punishing Divine Palace had only sent their high-level combatants. There were no fatalities. A few minor injuries, the kind that would heal even if treatment came a little late.
As all the personnel assembled, it marked the official end of Demon Flame Valley. The long-prosperous sect had become history.
Joy spread across many faces. Xiao Tian had announced before the mission that, whether it was Maple City or Demon Flame Valley, any wealth or items found on the people they killed belonged to them. As for the valley's true treasures, Xiao Tian had a bird's-eye view and knew their approximate location. Those were the real prizes. The items scattered outside weren't worth his attention—far better to use them to win hearts.
"Clean up the battlefield. Don't miss anything."
Xiao Tian instructed the elders and deacons. They all nodded.
He led Medusa, Xiao Li, and Xiao Yi Xian toward the valley's depths. They passed through a long tunnel and arrived before a stone wall. It looked desolate, overgrown with weeds.
Xiao Tian studied it.
"Is there something wrong with this wall?" Xiao Yi Xian asked.
"Demon Flame Valley's treasure vault is right here."
Xiao Tian touched the stone.
Xiao Li scanned the wall but found nothing out of place. "This just looks like ordinary stone. How can anything be hidden here?"
Medusa, relying on her formidable strength, had sensed a faint abnormality. Without Xiao Tian's hint, she might not have noticed it at all. Xiao Yi Xian, on the other hand, had detected it long ago. The restrictions laid by Earth Demon Old Ghost had no ability to hide from her.
Medusa wore an unhappy expression. Her realm was the same as Xiao Tian's—Seven-Star Dou Zong. He had discovered it. She hadn't. Didn't that mean her strength was inferior to his? This was something she could not tolerate. Except for the very first time, when she had been on top, she had always been beneath him afterward. Unless Xiao Tian let her be the knight, she simply couldn't turn the tables. She could only sing the song of a serf longing for revolution.
She drove a furious punch into the wall. Colorful Dou Qi slammed against the stone. The seemingly impenetrable wall let out a rumbling groan under her strike. Shattered rock flew everywhere. Behind Xiao Tian, Xiao Yi Xian let out a soft hum, and the flying debris turned to ash before it could even come close.
Xiao Tian stared at Medusa's sudden, furious punch. He was bewildered. Why had she gotten angry all of a sudden? Was it her time of the month? No, that couldn't be—cultivators didn't have those. He was lost.
Xiao Yi Xian, who had fought beside her many times, understood the reason instantly. A smile curved her lips. *She really is the ever-strong Medusa. Always so competitive. Every time she loses miserably—and even as a cream puff, she's the fullest one.* She recalled their joint battles. Medusa was always the main attacker. She herself only played support.
After throwing that punch, Medusa felt much better. She shot Xiao Tian a proud glance, then went to Xiao Yi Xian's side. The two began chatting softly.
Xiao Li watched Medusa's violent display and silently gave Xiao Tian a thumbs-up. *My sister-in-law is terrifying, and you still managed to conquer her. Impressive.*
"Let's go see how rich Demon Flame Valley's collection really is. Second Brother, stay close. There may be guardians—or Magical Beasts—inside."
Xiao Tian walked into the tunnel. Xiao Li followed immediately. Xiao Yi Xian and Medusa brought up the rear.
After ten minutes of slow walking, a tightly shut stone door loomed before them. It was entirely black, impossibly heavy-looking. Magical Beast patterns were carved across its surface—fierce, menacing, radiating a bewitching aura. To Xiao Tian and the others, it posed no threat.
Xiao Li studied the door, already moving to search for an opening mechanism. "This door is enormous. We'll need to find a mechanism to open it."
Xiao Tian pulled him back. "Second Brother, there's no need for such trouble. In the face of absolute strength, no mechanism can stop us."
He turned to Xiao Yi Xian. "Xian'er, just blast it open. There's a Tier 5 Magical Beast inside too—smash it along with the door."
Xiao Yi Xian nodded. She stepped before the stone door, her slender palm gathering power.
Medusa appeared at Xiao Tian's side, staring intently at him. "How did you know there was a Magical Beast inside?"
"I was just talking nonsense."
Xiao Tian knew exactly what she meant. She truly was the ever-strong Medusa.
Medusa snorted at his perfunctory answer. "Sooner or later, I will surpass you. When that day comes, I will definitely make you call me Queen. Hmph hmph."
Xiao Tian's eyes lit up. He wrapped an arm around Queen Medusa's slender waist and leaned close to her ear. "So that's your wish? You should have said so earlier. I can fulfill that request tonight."
Seeing their intimate behavior, Xiao Li very tactfully shuffled his steps further away. *It's not that I'm sensible. It's just that I, a single dog, really don't want to eat dog food. I've already developed a conditioned reflex. I've been abused enough. Women? I don't need them. I only want to practice my marksmanship.*
Xiao Tian's warm breath brushed against Medusa's ear. It tickled. She knew his personality well—he was a pervert. If a normal person's body was seventy percent water, his was eighty percent or more yellow waste.
She glared at him, exasperated. "You wish! I'm talking about the kind where you willingly surrender and call me Queen."
"Well… that might be a little difficult then," Xiao Tian said, smiling at her.