C21 Sin Blood Book!

Typically, Fire Sand Crystal Essence indeed originates from volcanic magma. Yet, for such an essence to form, the location must possess an extraordinary amount of Spiritual Energy. Fire Cloud Valley, on the other hand, is quite unremarkable. Aside from its extremely dense Fire Attribute Energy, there isn't much Spiritual Energy present.

Moreover, the process of nurturing Fire Sand Crystal Essence takes several hundred years, which is many times longer than the growth cycle of common spiritual herbs.

Qiao Mao was aware that Fire Cloud Valley had formed less than a century ago, making it impossible for Fire Sand Crystal Essence to have developed here.

Qiao Mao engaged in a mental exchange with the Fire Rock Python, but since the python had only lived for seven or eight years, it naturally had no knowledge of the essence's origins.

"It looks like I need to go down and check it out myself," Qiao Mao resolved. His interest in the Fire Sand Crystal Essence was piqued.

The Fire Sand Crystal Essence is valued at several multiples higher than Amethyst Chalcedony. Its worth is unimaginable.

Not only would Martial Dao Great Masters covet it, but even Super Experts at the Spirit Wheel Stage would likely desire the Fire Sand Crystal Essence upon encountering it.

"Take me down," Qiao Mao commanded. He then mounted the Fire Rock Python and descended into the Magma Pool.

The Fire Rock Python, born of the Magma Pool, feared nothing. However, this presented a challenge for Qiao Mao, though he wasn't without solutions.

Qiao Mao first deployed his Spirit Flame, creating a thin Spirit Flame Barrier around himself. He then had the Fire Rock Python summon its internal fire Spiritual Energy to shield him.

Despite Qiao Mao's robust defenses, upon entering the Magma Pool, he was greeted by an intense wave of heat.

"The Fire Attribute Energy here is overwhelmingly concentrated. Absorbing it with my Spirit Flame will surely enhance its potency," Qiao Mao contemplated. Witnessing such dense Fire Attribute Energy, a flicker of excitement crossed his eyes. Without hesitation, he activated his Spirit Flame, drawing in the Fire Attribute Energy from the magma.

As the fiery energy surged into Qiao Mao's body, it was scorching and tumultuous. He quickly refined the Fire Attribute Energy with his Spirit Flame, then channeled it back into the flame, bolstering its strength.

"Even if I don't obtain the Fire Sand Crystal Essence, just absorbing the Fire Attribute Energy here is beneficial," Qiao Mao mused.

For a Spirit Flame Master, the quality of their Spirit Flame is crucial. It significantly influences a Spirit Flame Master's potential achievements.

Qiao Mao's own Spirit Flame, birthed from a Fire Cloud Snake, was of the lowest grade. To enhance it, he needed to either absorb Fire Attribute Energy or consume other flames.

For most Spirit Flame Masters, absorbing Fire Attribute Energy is somewhat simpler and is the typical method used to strengthen their Spirit Flame. Devouring other flames, however, is exceedingly difficult.

Spirit Flames are incredibly scarce to begin with, and the act of consuming one is fraught with peril.

Qiao Mao could sense his Spirit Flame growing stronger as it absorbed the Fire Attribute Energy, a spark of excitement lighting up his eyes.

Yet, with the pressing need to return to Martial Sun City within three days to concoct the Blood Lotus Pill for his uncle, Qiao Mao was short on time and couldn't afford to delay. So, he continued to absorb the Fire Attribute Energy while urging the Fire Rock Python to dive swiftly.

The Fire Rock Python, born of the Magma Pool, navigated the familiar terrain with ease. They met no resistance on their way and soon reached the pool's depths.

Upon reaching the bottom of the Magma Pool, the intense heat enveloped Qiao Mao, causing him great discomfort. With a stern expression, he declared, "I cannot linger here. We must head back within half an hour, or I'll be melted by the extreme temperatures."

The base of the Magma Pool was modest in size, spanning roughly a hundred meters. Qiao Mao dismounted from the Fire Rock Python and expanded his Divine Sense, scouring the area immediately.

"What's this? Why is there a body here?" Qiao Mao wondered, perplexed. His gaze quickly found a skeletal corpse lying not too far away.

The discovery startled Qiao Mao. The Magma Pool was seldom visited, yet someone had ventured here. Could this person have been seeking the Fire Sand Crystal Essence, just like Qiao Mao?

Qiao Mao rushed to the side of the corpse and began a meticulous examination. He discovered that the individual had been dead for a century. The clothing on the body was completely burned away, and there were no other signs of abnormality, except for a very distinct sword wound on the back, exposing chilling white bones.

Qiao Mao gasped in astonishment, his mind reeling from the shock.

The fact that the body had been dead for a hundred years and yet was so perfectly preserved was nothing short of miraculous.

In the wild, the body of an average person would decay after just seven days. What's more, this was the Magma Pool, where temperatures soared. Normally, a body would be incinerated within a day here.

"This individual might have been a super expert, or perhaps practiced a formidable Body Refining Martial Art," Qiao Mao mused to himself. Only those two scenarios could explain the preservation of the body under these conditions.

Upon searching the body, Qiao Mao quickly found a Storage Bag. The scent of the Fire Sand Crystal Essence was emanating from within.

With a flick of his wrist, he dispelled the bag's seal. A piece of Fire Sand Crystal Essence, smaller than his thumb, appeared in his hand, pulsating with energy.

"It appears that the Fire Sand Crystal Essence in the Magma Pool has been emanating from here."

Over the past century, half of the Fire Sand Crystal Essence's energy had dissipated, but the remaining half was still more than sufficient for Qiao Mao's needs. His find was substantial.

Despite the depleted energy, the Fire Sand Crystal Essence could still provoke a massive conflict in South Sun County.

After securing the Fire Sand Crystal Essence in his pocket, Qiao Mao turned his attention back to the Storage Bag, extracting two jade slips. Apart from these, the bag was empty.

He opened one of the jade slips, and his eyes sparkled with excitement. The slip contained the details of a Body Refining Martial Art that Qiao Mao had only heard of in legends.

"This is the Celestial Astral Battle Body of the Qiao family's first ancestor! How is this possible? I was under the impression that this martial skill had been lost to time!" Qiao Mao exclaimed in disbelief.

Thousands of years ago, when the founding ancestor of the Qiao family established their lineage, he practiced the Celestial Astral Battle Body. It was a High Grade Martial Skill of Profound Rank High Grade, renowned as the premier Body Refining Martial Art in South Sun County.

Qiao Mao's eyes widened in sudden understanding. It made sense why the corpse had remained so well-preserved for a century; the man had practiced the Celestial Astral Battle Body.

"Could it be that this martial artist was a high-ranking member of the Qiao family since he knew the Celestial Astral Battle Body?" Qiao Mao murmured to himself.

The possibility that the deceased was a member of his own family filled Qiao Mao with an intense curiosity. He was eager to discover the reasons behind this person's death here.

He quickly turned his attention to another jade slip, hoping it might reveal the individual's identity. However, as soon as he opened the slip, a loud buzzing filled his head.

"The Sin Blood Book? Qiao Zhouyin? Could this be my great-grandfather?"