Burned Valley lies along the volcanic ridge in the southwest of the Central Region. This mountain range is entirely composed of hot volcanic rock, presenting a uniform crimson hue when viewed from afar. Thick white mist rises continuously from the summits of some peaks, and occasionally, molten lava gushes out from within. The Volcanic Ridge of Ji is no mere name among the central plains—it carries considerable renown, naturally due to the contributions of the Burned Flame Valley, but also because of the harsh environment of the mountain range itself. Though the landscape may not be particularly picturesque, the continuous chain of volcanoes has resulted in an exceptionally rich concentration of fire-energy. Practicing fire-based cultivation techniques here yields remarkable results, making it worthwhile despite the inherent dangers. Thus, even knowing the risks, many practitioners of fire-based arts have ventured here. Standing on the back of the giant bird, Xiao Yan slightly extended his gaze, and at the far horizon, a vivid red line seemed to emerge—majestic and imposing, stretching out endlessly, its end invisible to the eye. "Ah, young Rock Hawk, that is the Incandescent Volcanic Pulse—the headquarters of Burned Flame Valley lies within it," smiled the elder with crimson flame. "The fire energy within the pulse is exceptionally abundant, though due to the volcano's constant eruptions, it carries a certain wild, turbulent nature. Therefore, if one wishes to absorb this energy, the turbulence must first be subdued; otherwise, prolonged cultivation might affect one's mental clarity." Xiao Yan nodded politely, smiling. Though his unique fire protection rendered him immune to the turbulent energy, he appreciated the elder's thoughtful suggestion. "Additionally, the volcanic ridge is teeming with numerous beast-wilds. Due to the unique energy of this realm, the beasts here are notably more fierce and aggressive than those in other regions. Moreover, this volcanic ridge stretches endlessly, and in some areas, even our Burned Flame Valley has not yet fully explored. Therefore, if Rock-Owl Young Master chooses to travel alone, he should exercise extra caution." "Ah, thank you, Elder Chi-Fu for the reminder." Elder Chi-Fu waved indifferently and, with a sweep of his sleeve, the massive crimson bird beneath him accelerated its pace, soon transforming into a streak of fiery light and directly plunging into the endless mountain range. The sky within the volcanic mountain range had also warmed significantly, yet for Xiao Yan and the Elder of Crimson Flame, these temperatures were nothing to remark upon, and neither showed much concern. The Elder scanned the mountain range with his gaze, then blew a soft whistle, causing the massive crimson bird to gradually slow its pace. After a moment, it descended gently and settled at the foot of a crimson peak. As Xiao Yan stepped down from the bird's back, he glanced around and immediately noticed two towering, majestic crimson mountains standing close together, with a winding stone staircase winding up from their base. His eyes paused a little way ahead of the staircase, where a subtle yet remarkable spatial ripple seemed to emanate—clearly indicating something extraordinary lay beyond. "Ah, young Rock Hawk," he smiled, "follow me." "Old Master Chi smiled and stepped first onto the stone staircase. Following closely behind, Xiao Yan ascended, his gaze slowly sweeping across the surroundings, his mind slightly alert. After a moment, their steps halted at the far end of the staircase. It was only then that Xiao Yan noticed the presence of a spatial barrier stretching across the area. He gently pressed his palm against it, only for a powerful rebound force to surge forth, forcefully launching his hand backward. "Such a solid spatial barrier," Xiao Yan remarked, shaking his arms with a touch of surprise. "Ah, this spatial barrier has been personally reinforced by each of our valley's past masters. It can withstand an attack from a Battle Sovereign-level warrior—ordinary Battle Sovereigns simply cannot breach it," Old Master Chi chuckled. "A barrier capable of withstanding attacks from Battle Sovereigns?" Xiao Yan nodded in admiration, impressed. Indeed, the depth of this valley's foundation was far beyond that of ordinary factions. The elder Chi-Huo chuckled and withdrew a crimson jade plaque from his meditation robe. He then pressed it against the spatial barrier, and a peculiar ripple spread outward. Instantly, the barrier began to split open automatically. Before Xiao Yan now stood was an exceptionally long stone staircase, surrounded by a lush green canopy. Looking far into the distance, one could see several buildings emerging from the foliage, with faint sounds of human voices drifting from afar, echoing through the valley that seemed to stretch endlessly. "Indeed a self-contained world—no wonder it ranks among the top three valleys!" marveling at this scene so vastly different from the surrounding crimson world, even Xiao Yan could not help but be amazed. "Hmm, this isn't quite a fully self-contained world—only a Dao Saint-level being could achieve that. Nevertheless, thanks to the generations of elders of our Burned-Inn Valley, this place has truly become a secluded paradise within a volcanic world." The Red Flame Elder waved his hand, yet a clear sense of pride shone in his expression. The scale of such an extensive valley built within a volcanic world was truly worthy of the term "grand." Xiao Yan smiled, raising his hand and lightly grasping the air before him. The fire-energy here remained as rich and abundant as it did outside, but the wild, turbulent quality had completely vanished—clearly purified entirely. He lifted his head and glanced upward, sensing a subtle distortion in the sky. It was evident that the entire Burned Flame Valley was enveloped within a layer of warped space—a method reminiscent of the Inner Courtyard, though clearly, the spatial lattice here was far more solid and resilient. As Xiao Yan marveled at this, sudden gusts of wind erupted from the surrounding forest near the stone steps. A group of agile figures flashed through the air and landed around the steps. Upon seeing Elder Chi, their initial alertness softened, and they bowed respectfully before him. These figures were all clad in red robes, not particularly old in age, yet the streams of cultivation energy radiating from within them were remarkably robust—worthy of constant nods of approval from Xiao Yan. The young disciples of Burned Flame Valley clearly possessed strong potential. "Yes, Miss Huo's eccentricity is enough on her own—having too many of them would be quite overwhelming..." For the murmurs of the others, Xiao Yan had not heard a word. After flying alongside the Red Flame Elder for a few minutes, he gradually descended and landed before a grand crimson hall. Within the valley, numerous buildings stood, with many disciples of the Burned Flame Valley in red robes moving about, their occasional shouts of practice adding vitality to the vast landscape. Outside the crimson hall, several disciples of the Burned Flame Valley were on guard, their vigilant eyes constantly scanning the surroundings. "It seems other master pharmacists have also arrived..." the Red Flame Elder murmured, gazing at the well-defended hall. "Indeed, what exactly does your valley master intend to produce? It's quite remarkable that so many pharmacists are required." Xiao Yan slightly furrowed his brow, saying this. "Hehe, we don't actually need that many. What we're aiming for is to find one or two suitable candidates among these alchemists. Of course, even if we don't end up selecting you, Rock-Claw Xiao will still receive a generous gift—there's no need to worry," said Elder Cihuo with a smile. "We're still going to select people?" Xiang Yan frowned further. If he wasn't chosen, he doubted he'd even have a chance at securing the Tianhuo Sanxuan Transformation. He certainly didn't believe the Burned-Inn Valley would hand over their secret technique so easily to outsiders. "Ah well, let's just see," sighed Xiang Yan, shaking his head helplessly. At this point, there was no way he could simply turn around and leave. With a deep breath, he nodded. Seeing Xiang Yan agree, Elder Cihuo smiled slightly, then quickly stepped forward to lead the way. After that, Xiang Yan gazed at the magnificent crimson hall, sighed softly, and hurried to follow. Since they'd already come to the Burned-Inn Valley, they'd surely have to secure the Tianhuo Sanxuan Transformation—no matter what!"