The group of herb collectors advanced carefully, shielded by the mercenary group's vigilant protection. Shen Yuan, a Dou Zhe and a member of the mercenary team, had chosen not to remain beside the Little Fairy Doctor. His role as part of the mercenary group was clear, and he focused on ensuring the safety of the group alongside his comrades.
As they traveled through the dense wilderness, the mercenary group encountered numerous beasts along the way. Though formidable, each creature was swiftly dispatched by the mercenaries' skill and precision. At one point, Shen Yuan himself took action and defeated a Gray Rock Bear—a powerful beast with a renowned, rock-hard defense—with a single punch. His strike left the beast lifeless, and the other mercenaries could not conceal their amazement. The Gray Rock Bear was known for its durability even among other first-tier magical beasts, yet Shen Yuan, the young Dou Zhe in their ranks, had subdued it effortlessly. Awestruck by this display of strength, murmurs of admiration spread among the mercenaries.
After some time on the trail, the Little Fairy Doctor called out, "Everyone, we're approaching the herb collection area. Let's take a rest; we've been walking for quite a while, and I'm sure everyone must be tired."
The group came to a halt without hesitation, taking the opportunity to relax and regain their strength. Shen Yuan's gaze lingered on the Little Fairy Doctor as she quietly slipped away, making her way into the dense forest alone. Shen Yuan smiled softly, realizing what she was up to. It seemed that she had discovered something important, something she preferred to keep hidden from the others. Intrigued, he decided to follow her.
Moving through the thick underbrush, Shen Yuan eventually found himself at the edge of a cliff, where he observed the Little Fairy Doctor glancing around cautiously. From within her Najie, she retrieved a sturdy rope, secured it to a massive tree, and threw the other end over the cliff's edge. She began her descent carefully, inching down along the rope. Shen Yuan chuckled softly at the sight. "Treasure hunting, are we?" he mused, watching her progress.
Suddenly, a sharp cry of alarm echoed up from the cliff. Shen Yuan's expression shifted immediately as he darted forward, peering over the edge. There, he saw the Little Fairy Doctor dangling from the rope, clutching it tightly, her face pale with fear. Nearby, a brightly-colored, venomous spotted snake—another first-tier magical beast—had emerged and was poised to strike her. Frantically, she pulled out a small packet of powder from her Najie and flung it at the snake, hoping to repel it. The powder only seemed to enrage the creature, however, as it coiled itself and prepared to lunge.
Without hesitating, Shen Yuan grabbed the rope, pulling her up with a single strong tug. The Little Fairy Doctor, still clinging to the rope, closed her eyes tightly, as though bracing for the worst. But within moments, she felt her waist tighten and her body lifted into a warm, steady embrace. Startled, she opened her eyes and found herself pressed close against Shen Yuan's chest. His playful smile and steady gaze met her anxious expression.
"Beauty, you can open your eyes now," Shen Yuan teased.
The Little Fairy Doctor's face flushed red as she realized she was safe in his arms. "Thank you," she managed to murmur, her cheeks burning as she disentangled herself from his embrace. She found it difficult to hold his gaze, but her sense of gratitude shone through her embarrassment.
Shen Yuan chuckled, watching her flustered reaction. "You're a healer," he said, amused, "yet here you are, venturing out alone for a treasure hunt. I can't tell if you're incredibly brave or just reckless."
The Little Fairy Doctor rolled her eyes at him, shooting back, "You're the reckless one!"
Taking a deep breath, she softened slightly. "I stumbled upon this place while I was out gathering herbs. There's a hidden cave down there, though it's difficult to spot unless you're looking carefully." She hesitated, adding, "I thought it might hold something valuable… but I didn't expect to run into a venomous snake!"
Shen Yuan's eyes gleamed with interest. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go treasure hunting!"
Before she could protest, Shen Yuan scooped her up into his arms once more and leaped off the cliff. The Little Fairy Doctor gasped in fright as they plummeted, her scream tearing through the air.
"Stop screaming," Shen Yuan said with a grin. "You're not going to die."
She opened her eyes slowly, astonished to see him descending the cliff face as if he were walking on level ground. His feet found secure footholds with ease, each movement graceful and assured. Her fear gradually subsided as she took in his effortless agility, but annoyance still burned within her. Gathering her courage, she raised a small fist and punched him lightly on the chest. "You're a jerk," she huffed. "You nearly gave me a heart attack!"
Shen Yuan laughed, shrugging off her scolding as they continued down the cliff. Soon, he noticed a small, concealed cave entrance partially hidden by the rugged stone. Moving closer, he spotted several Rock Snakes slithering around the entrance. With casual efficiency, he dispatched each one with a single punch, collecting the valuable magical cores they left behind.
The Little Fairy Doctor cautiously approached, glancing nervously at the now-empty cave entrance. Seeing her concern, Shen Yuan took her hand. She didn't resist, her cheeks tinged with a soft blush as she allowed him to guide her forward.
Inside, the darkness of the cave engulfed them, and only their footsteps echoed in the silence. The Little Fairy Doctor clung to Shen Yuan's arm, her grip tightening as they moved deeper. Just then, Shen Yuan came to a sudden halt. She, unable to stop in time, collided with his back, her cheeks flushing a deeper red.
"What are you doing?" she asked, flustered.
He gestured ahead, pointing to a massive stone door that blocked their path. "We seem to have hit a dead end," he said, sounding mildly exasperated. "But I think I can handle this."
Without waiting for a response, Shen Yuan pulled back his fist. "Octane Blast!" he shouted, releasing a powerful punch that shattered the stone door into rubble. The Little Fairy Doctor blinked in surprise at his sheer strength, muttering under her breath, "Brute force… typical."
Shen Yuan turned back with a grin, offering her his hand once more. "Shall we?"
Rolling her eyes but smiling faintly, she accepted his hand, and together they stepped beyond the shattered doorway into a vast chamber.
Their surroundings opened up to reveal a spacious room bathed in eerie, bluish light that seemed to emanate from the strange crystals embedded in the walls. The atmosphere was thick with mystery, and the Little Fairy Doctor's apprehension returned as she gripped Shen Yuan's hand tighter. He gave her a reassuring squeeze, his eyes scanning the chamber for any signs of danger.
At the center of the chamber stood a stone pedestal, upon which rested an ancient, intricately carved box. Shen Yuan's eyes narrowed as he approached the relic, sensing an aura of power radiating from it. The Little Fairy Doctor followed closely, her curiosity overcoming her fear.
"What… what do you think is inside?" she whispered.
"Only one way to find out," Shen Yuan replied. He reached for the box, his fingers brushing over the ancient carvings. As he lifted the lid, a faint glow escaped, illuminating their faces. Inside lay a shimmering crystal vial filled with a deep, rich liquid. Shen Yuan's eyes widened as he recognized it—the Elixir of Da Dou Shi. This elixir was said to hold the power to elevate one's strength, and he could feel its potent energy thrumming even from within the vial.
The Little Fairy Doctor gasped softly, her eyes fixated on the vial. "Shen Yuan, this is… it's incredible."
A triumphant smile spread across Shen Yuan's face as he carefully pocketed the vial. "This treasure hunt turned out to be worth it," he said, casting her a grateful look. "But we'd better get out of here before more beasts show up."
Hand in hand, they retraced their steps, ascending the cliff together with newfound excitement and camaraderie. For the Little Fairy Doctor, the once-intimidating dark cave and perilous cliff felt far less frightening in Shen Yuan's steady company. And for Shen Yuan, there was a certain thrill in treasure hunting with the spirited healer at his side.
As Shen Yuan and Xiao Yi Xian prepared to leave, a peculiar sound suddenly echoed from the treasure box they had opened just moments earlier. The unexpected noise reverberated through the silent atmosphere, startling Shen Yuan and stirring Xiao Yi Xian's curiosity and concern.
"Ding...Ding..."
The sound was almost hypnotic, a soft chime that seemed to bypass the physical world and resonate directly within Shen Yuan's mind. Before he could register what was happening, Shen Yuan's body fell into a cross-legged position, and he entered a meditative trance as if compelled by an unseen force. Xiao Yi Xian watched with wide eyes, a flash of worry surfacing in her gaze as she reached out, hesitating. Despite herself, she was beginning to feel a deepening affection for Shen Yuan, a fact she hadn't yet come to terms with. She swallowed down her concern, reminding herself to stay focused. But she remained by his side, her fingers curled slightly, ready to intervene if necessary.
Within the depths of Shen Yuan's mindscape, a mysterious scene unfolded.
The treasure box, no longer a mere object, began to glow and shift, its form flickering until it transformed into a translucent, ethereal figure. It hovered before Shen Yuan, appearing almost like a soul or a hologram—a ghostly figure of someone who had once lived, someone who had possessed immense power.
"Greetings, successor," the figure said, its voice a soft murmur that seemed to echo through the vast expanse of Shen Yuan's mindscape. "I don't have much time, so I'll be brief. I am an alchemist… or at least, I was."
Shen Yuan watched, transfixed, as the figure's form flickered, radiating an aura of ancient knowledge and strength. There was a sorrowful, resigned glint in the figure's eyes as it continued speaking.
"I perished in my pursuit of a Heavenly Flame—a flame that few can even dream of taming. It consumed me before I could claim it, leaving only fragments of my soul to haunt this treasure."
The weight of the figure's words settled over Shen Yuan, yet he felt no fear, only a growing sense of anticipation. This wasn't an ordinary encounter; it was a summons, an inheritance of sorts. He could feel the power in the figure's presence, even if it was only a shadow of what it once had been.
The figure's tone grew urgent as it went on, "The flame I sought lies roughly one hundred kilometers to the east, near the nest of the Amethyst Winged Lion."
The mention of this creature sent a shiver through Shen Yuan's mind. He had heard of the Amethyst Winged Lion before—a creature of terrifying strength and majesty, known to guard its territory with fierce determination. For a flame to exist so close to such a powerful being, it must indeed be something extraordinary.
"It is called the Ten Thousand Beast Flame," the figure continued, its voice filled with a strange mix of reverence and fear. "It is no ordinary fire. It carries the essence of countless beasts, a wild and untamable force. Many have attempted to claim it… and many have perished."
As the words sank in, Shen Yuan's heart beat faster. He knew that such a flame was a treasure beyond imagination, a power that could elevate him far beyond his current abilities. Yet he also understood the risks. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame was not something to be claimed lightly.
The figure seemed to sense Shen Yuan's thoughts and offered a faint smile. "If you are to pursue it, remember this: the flame demands respect. It is a force of nature, wild and dangerous. To tame it, one must possess an indomitable will and an unbreakable spirit. That is why I chose you, successor. I saw in you the potential to achieve what I could not."
With that, the figure's form began to waver, its edges blurring as its energy dissipated. It raised a ghostly hand, as if offering a final blessing.
"May you succeed where I failed, and may the Ten Thousand Beast Flame become yours. This is my legacy to you, Shen Yuan."
The figure vanished, leaving only the fading echoes of its words in Shen Yuan's mind. Slowly, Shen Yuan's awareness returned to the physical world, where Xiao Yi Xian's worried face greeted him. She had remained by his side, watching over him, her gaze intense.
"Are you alright?" she asked softly, her voice carrying a trace of the concern she had tried to hide.
Shen Yuan nodded, his expression resolute. The vision, the encounter—everything had left him with a newfound purpose, and a goal he could not ignore.