Chapter 22: Xiao Family Secret Ground Flame Cavern, Seventh Elder Dispatched Again to Guard Spirit Netherworld Poison Fire

Imperial Capital, Xiao Family.

In the deepest, most heavily guarded part of the Xiao Family, there stands a tower-shaped building with an octagonal base, which the Xiao Family calls the "Flame Cavern".

The origin of the Flame Cavern is extremely ancient; it is said to be a small space opened up by the Xiao Family's first-generation ancestor, specifically for descendants to cultivate in.

All year round, the Flame Cavern's tower body is scorching hot, emitting heat at every moment.

The material of the exterior gate is meteoric iron from beyond the heavens of unknown origin.

The part above ground is one layer; the rest are all underground.

As for how many layers there are underground, it remains a mystery to this day.

Upon entering the Flame Cavern, it is as if one has entered another world.

The spiritual energy inside the cavern is mixed with dense fire elements; ordinary Spirit Masters simply cannot cultivate here.

But for Spirit Masters possessing fire-attribute Guardian Spirits, the Flame Cavern is a feng shui treasure land for cultivation.

Cultivating here, cultivation speed increases significantly.

Moreover, with each layer deeper, the contained fire spiritual power nearly doubles.

But each layer of the Flame Cavern possesses a terrifying sealing power, restricting Spirit Masters above a specific cultivation from entering.

For instance, the first layer of the Flame Cavern only allows those below Grand Spirit Master cultivation to enter.

Additionally, the Flame Cavern is filled with all kinds of dangers.

Inside the Flame Cavern survive extremely large numbers of native inhabitants — Flame Demons, and other fire-element ferocious beasts.

At this moment, the sixth underground layer of the Flame Cavern.

Magma of abnormally terrifying temperature flows surgingly; at the edge of the red flame sea, there sits a cross-legged human figure.

He is Xiao Tianmie, who was reborn through the Sub-Fire.

Xiao Tianmie's whole body is filled with terrifying suction force, crazily devouring the fire spiritual power of this space.

His aura rises accordingly, finally reaching a certain point, then erupts with a boom!

"Haha, Second-Rank Spirit Master Grandmaster! This cultivation speed, besides me, who else, who else?"

Xiao Tianmie opens his eyes, his pupils filled with kingly aura.

He glances at his phone, his expression suddenly stiffening.

The phone displays an unread message.

Just today, the Ninth Elder's spirit tablet suddenly shattered!

Every Spirit Master of the Xiao Family has a spirit tablet symbolizing their life force stored in the ancestral hall.

Once the spirit tablet shatters, it means that person is dead.

"Ninth Elder died? What happened? Didn't I send him to Black Sea City to investigate Xiao Qingran's whereabouts, could it be..."

Xiao Tianmie's gaze is ruthless; that scene from a year ago, he will never forget, it has already become a heart demon.

He must personally kill Li Qingran to dispel the heart demon.

With a burden on his heart, Xiao Tianmie cannot calm down to cultivate, so he simply leaves the Flame Cavern.

Xiao Family Discussion Hall.

Xiao Family Head Xiao Xuan, and all the elders, gather together.

Xiao Tianmie frowns slightly, saying strangely: "Ninth Elder is a First-Rank Spirit King; in a small place like Black Sea City, even if he can't walk sideways, self-protection definitely isn't a problem, how could he have died?"

Xiao Xuan pats the table, slowly saying: "Ninth Elder's death is related to that criminal; the person behind him has made a move again."

Everyone's pupils suddenly contract; they all inexplicably recall the scene from a year ago when Li Qingran finally disappeared without a trace.

"After a year, the mysterious expert who took Xiao Qingran from my Xiao Family ancestral hall that day has appeared in Black Sea City!"

Xiao Xuan never thought that all this was done by Li Qingran alone.

Self-destructing one's Guardian Spirit, in everyone's view there is only one outcome: thoroughly becoming a cripple.

How could it be possible to still cast illusion arts, deceiving all the Spirit Masters present.

Xiao Xuan is very confident; there is only one truth.

Behind that criminal stands an expert with strength at least at Spirit Venerable, and skilled in illusion arts.

Ninth Elder's mishap absolutely cannot be separated from the mysterious person behind Li Qingran.

But Xiao Xuan still cannot figure it out.

A cripple with no power or influence, how could he gain the favor of a Spirit Venerable.

Even selling his beauty, he couldn't win over a Spirit Venerable.

Even Li Qingran's biological father Xiao Zhanyan doesn't believe it.

Xiao Zhanyan says with absolute certainty: "This is impossible!"

Others can be said to not understand Li Qingran; he knows him best of all.

Li Qingran has undergone who knows how many Guardian Spirit tests since childhood.

The results without exception: Li Qingran's Guardian Spirit is merely an ordinary beast-type Guardian Spirit, the Three-Headed Hellhound.

Li Qingran's mother Li Qingqing is a courtesan from a brothel.

Xiao Zhanyan once coincidentally visited a brothel, encountered Li Qingqing, and became obsessed with her beauty, kneeling beneath her pomegranate skirt.

After Li Qingqing became pregnant with his child, Xiao Zhanyan then persuaded Xiao Xuan to take Li Qingqing as a wife into the Xiao Family.

Xiao Zhanyan watched Li Qingran grow up, never seeing Li Qingran befriend any big shot, or climb up to any major power.

As for Li Qingran's mother Li Qingqing, a brothel woman, what background could she have?

"Wait, could it be that bitch's lover!" Xiao Zhanyan's expression changes slightly.

Who exactly is the person who killed Ninth Elder.

Could it be as the Family Head guessed, someone is secretly plotting something to deal with the Xiao Family.

What troubled times!

Xiao Xuan gave an order: "Investigate! This matter must be thoroughly investigated! No matter who they are, whoever dares kill my Xiao family elder must pay with their life!"

Xiao Xuan's gaze swept over the assembled elders, and he asked in a low voice: "Who is willing to go to Heihai City to investigate this matter?"

However, no one took up the task.

After all, according to the patriarch's reasoning, the Ninth Elder most likely died at the hands of a Spirit Master Venerable.

Who knows, going to Heihai City might mean ending up like the Ninth Elder, kicking the bucket early, without even leaving a name in the records.

Xiao Xuan started naming names: "Eighth Elder, you just emerged from seclusion, how about a trip to Heihai City?"

Down below, a wrinkle-faced, withered man coughed: "Patriarch, I have an appointment with the Ye Family Divine Doctor for a circumcision these few days, I really can't spare the time!"

Everyone was speechless.

Xiao Xuan looked at a white-haired old woman: "Old Five, how about you go?"

The Fifth Elder smiled bashfully: "Patriarch, I just took a husband last week, right now is the honeymoon period, hope the patriarch understands, please find another elder."

Just then, a dissatisfied cold snort rang out.

Xiao Tianmie said impatiently: "Since none of you are going, then I'll go."

"No." Xiao Xuan shook his head: "Tianmie, don't be impulsive! In half a month, it's the National Spirit Master College Entrance Exam, you stay in the Flame Cave and cultivate properly."

Xiao Tianmie said dissatisfied: "Patriarch, I've already secured a recommendation spot for the Imperial Capital Tianque Spirit Master University, the Spirit Master College Entrance Exam is just a formality."

Xiao Xuan patted Xiao Tianmie's shoulder: "Tianmie, this Spirit Master College Entrance Exam you must not treat as child's play, this is the Xiao family's chance to make a name and establish prestige."

Down below, a white-haired, sallow-faced old man who looked very kidney-deficient chimed in: "Yes, Young Clan Leader. Tonight, there's another batch of black market spirit masters, Young Clan Leader hurry and devour them, raising cultivation is the priority."

The kidney-deficient old man is the Seventh Elder, his guardian spirit is the Netherworld Poison Fire.

Legend says, the Netherworld Poison Fire is a flame existing in the ancient Netherworld Poison Marsh.

After ten million years of fumigation by the sky-covering poisonous miasma in the poison marsh, the flame burned and consumed endless poisonous miasma qi.

In a hundred years it gains sentience, in a thousand years it takes form; at its peak, its color leans green, like ghost fire traversing through the poison marsh miasma.

Because the flame itself was nurtured into sentience by poisonous miasma, it contains deadly poison.

As long as one touches even a moment's spark, they will be afflicted with deadly poison.

It is precisely because of this, affected by the guardian spirit Netherworld Poison Fire's toxicity, the Seventh Elder's body has always been in poor condition.

The Seventh Elder paused, then said with righteous indignation: "Then let this old man make a trip to Heihai City.

Old Nine and I were like brothers, I precisely want to uncover the truth, behead the mastermind behind the scenes, and offer sacrifice to Old Nine's spirit in heaven!"