Chapter 1664: Chapter 819: Flame Codex? Patience Is Still Needed!
"We wish to coexist peacefully with you." Qing Shuang spoke softly as she began to perform a peace spell, attempting to soothe the Fire Phoenix.
The Fire Phoenix quietly observed Qing Shuang’s spell, and after a moment, it let out a low cry, seemingly accepting Qing Shuang’s goodwill.
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang let out a sigh of relief, knowing this meant the Fire Phoenix would not attack them.
The two cautiously approached the Fire Phoenix, trying to establish a deeper connection with it.
"We are here to uncover the secrets of Flame Valley. Can you help us?" Luo Chen asked, his voice tinged with anticipation.
The Fire Phoenix nodded and then flew deep into Flame Valley.
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang followed closely, knowing the Fire Phoenix was leading them to a special place.
After flying for a while, the Fire Phoenix led them to the entrance of a hidden cave.
A gentle glow emanated from the cave, seemingly concealing some mysterious power.
"Is this where the secret of Flame Valley lies?" Qing Shuang asked curiously.
The Fire Phoenix did not answer, it simply nodded its head towards the direction of the cave, signaling them to enter.
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang exchanged a glance, knowing this was a crucial moment.
The two carefully walked into the cave, while the Fire Phoenix stood guard at the entrance.
The inside of the cave was spacious and bright, with a massive stone platform in the center on which an ancient book was placed.
Flames were engraved on the book’s cover, emitting a faint warmth.
"Could this be the legendary Flame Secrets?" Luo Chen whispered, excitement glinting in his eyes.
Qing Shuang nodded, knowing the Flame Secrets was one of the most precious treasures in Flame Valley, containing countless secrets and spells about fire.
The two stepped forward and carefully opened the Flame Secrets.
The pages were densely inscribed with various spells and cultivation methods, each page emanating powerful energy waves.
"This is truly a treasure!"
Luo Chen exclaimed excitedly.
But just as he began to read more closely.
Loud footsteps echoed from a distance.
It seemed that not only had he and Qing Shuang found this place, but even those outside, the Immortal Cultivators, had also found it here.
"Let’s find a place to hide first."
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang quickly looked around, finding no other places to hide inside the cave besides the stone platform and the Flame Secrets.
They exchanged a glance, deciding to hide the Flame Secrets first to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.
"Qing Shuang, use your spell to conceal the Secrets." Luo Chen instructed in a low voice.
Qing Shuang nodded, quickly cast a spell, and a light blue glow enveloped the Flame Secrets.
The light flashed and the Flame Secrets vanished into thin air, as if it never existed.
Just then, a group of Cultivators stormed into the cave, their eyes greedily scanning every corner, each wielding various magic artifacts.
The leader was a strong man in golden armor; after glancing around, his gaze landed on Luo Chen and Qing Shuang.
"You two, hand over what you’ve found!" the golden-armored man shouted fiercely.
Luo Chen sneered; he did not fear these Cultivators but did not wish to fight unnecessarily.
"We’ve found nothing; feel free to search yourselves."
The golden-armored man clearly did not believe Luo Chen; with a wave, the Cultivators behind him began searching every corner in the cave.
They overturned every stone, even attempting to damage the stone platform, but they never discovered the whereabouts of the Flame Secrets.
"Hmph, don’t think I don’t know you’ve hidden something." The golden-armored man snorted coldly, walking up to Luo Chen and Qing Shuang, his gaze as sharp as a blade. "Speak, where is it hidden?"
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang remained silent, knowing if the Flame Secrets were found, the consequences would be unimaginable.
The golden-armored man, his anger rising, waved his hand, and those Cultivators behind him drew their magic artifacts, preparing to strike.
"Wait!"
A voice suddenly rang out in the cave, and an elderly man with white hair slowly stepped out from the crowd.
"What are you doing?" The white-haired elder’s voice was peaceful yet carried undeniable authority.
The golden-armored man paused, then replied respectfully, "Elder Bai, we suspect these two are hiding treasures from the Secret Realm."
The white-haired elder cast a scrutinizing gaze at Luo Chen and Qing Shuang, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes: "Who are you two?"
Luo Chen bowed courteously, "I’m Luo Chen and this is Qing Shuang; we are just ordinary Cultivators, with no intention to antagonize anyone."
Elder Bai nodded, his gaze scanning the cave, finally settling on the stone platform: "Did you touch anything here?"
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang shared a glance; they knew they couldn’t reveal a flaw now: "We’ve just arrived and haven’t had a chance to look closely."
Elder Bai was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly: "In that case, you may leave, but remember, the treasures of Flame Valley are not to be trifled with; if you are hiding something, you will bear the consequences."
The golden-armored man, though reluctant, did not dare act recklessly before Elder Bai and had to clear a path.
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang breathed a sigh of relief, knowing they could leave safely thanks to Elder Bai’s fairness.
The two bowed to Elder Bai once more, preparing to leave the cave.
After Luo Chen and Qing Shuang left, the golden-armored man approached the elder, puzzled: "Elder Bai, why let them go? They must be hiding something!"
Elder Bai waved his hand, signaling him to calm down, then smiled and said: "Let them leave, it’s merely to make them drop their guard. If they’re not hiding anything, naturally they would leave; if they are, they would return to retrieve it, then we can seize it."
...
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang exited the cave, still feeling a bit tense.
They knew, even though they’d temporarily escaped the golden-armored man’s threat, the secret of the Flame Secrets remained unresolved.
They stayed outside the cave for a moment; Luo Chen spoke softly to Qing Shuang, "We can’t just leave it like this; the Secrets are too important to fall into the hands of those greedy people."
Qing Shuang nodded, understanding Luo Chen’s intent.
The two decided to find a hidden place near the cave to wait for an opportunity to sneak back in and retrieve the Flame Secrets.
"Let’s find a place to hide first, and observe the situation." Qing Shuang suggested.
Luo Chen scanned the area, noticing a pile of rocks nearby, which could serve as a temporary hideout.
The two quickly moved behind the rock pile, concealed themselves, and kept a close watch on the cave’s movement.
Time slowly passed; the Cultivators in and out of the cave were still searching everywhere but never found the whereabouts of the Flame Secrets.
The golden-armored man appeared increasingly impatient, beginning to question Elder Bai’s decision.
"Elder Bai, should we really let them leave? They must have hidden something!" the golden-armored man once again questioned.
Elder Bai remained calm, speaking slowly: "Be patient; if they truly possess the treasure, they will come back for it; we just need to wait, and it will be ours without effort."
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang listened to this conversation in the rock pile, reinforcing their resolve to retrieve the Flame Secrets.
They knew if the Secrets fell into the golden-armored man’s hands, the consequences would be dire.
As night fell, the temperature in Flame Valley gradually dropped, but the atmosphere became more tense.
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang decided to sneak into the cave under the cover of night.
They cautiously avoided the Cultivators’ sight, using the terrain and darkness for cover, and quietly returned to the cave.
Inside the cave, Elder Bai and the golden-armored man kept vigil, but their guard had waned.
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang used Qing Shuang’s Concealment Magic to invisibly approach the stone platform.