Ice Emperor Hai Bodong

Having thought it over, Li Xiao decided to make a trip to the Tagor Desert to obtain a Heavenly Flame and the Fragment of Purification Lotus Demon Flame. That way, they could also come in handy at the next Auction.

Or he could sell them to Queen Medusa of the Snake-People Race.

The corner of Li Xiao's lips curled upward. He immediately summoned Lian Xue and engaged in some deep exchange with her, which could be considered a reward for himself.

The next morning.

After waking up, Li Xiao made arrangements for matters here before heading deep into the Tagor Desert with Lian Xue to search for traces of the Heavenly Flame.

The main reason he had brought Lian Xue was that she possessed extremely rare ice-element Dou Qi. Within thirty meters of her, the air was exceptionally cool.

In a hellhole like the Tagor Desert, having a walking Dou Zun icehouse was simply heavenly!

The Tagor Desert was sparsely populated and filled with Magical Beasts. Aside from a few mercenary groups stationed here, there were pitifully few ordinary civilians. Moreover, the Tagor Desert was the largest desert in the Jia Ma Empire, located in the eastern provinces. Though it was rich in resources, its harsh environment remained unbearable.

Two cities had been established within the Tagor Desert: Desert City and Stone Desert City.

Desert City was located within the Tagor Desert of the eastern provinces, and its city lord was even a powerful nine-star Dou Wang.

After two days of travel, the two people and two beasts finally reached their destination, the Tagor Desert.

The desert was covered in Gobi wasteland. Other than a few low-level Magical Beasts, there was practically no sign of life.

Fortunately, Lian Xue was with them. Otherwise, even the Amethyst Winged Lion King would not have been able to keep traveling through such a harsh environment.

The temperature difference between day and night in the desert was enormous. At noon, temperatures exceeded fifty degrees, while at night, they dropped dozens of degrees below zero. It was like winter had arrived, cold enough to pierce flesh and freeze one to the bone!

Lian Xue rose from the Magical Beast's back, gazed into the distance, and said softly, "Pavilion Master, I sense a peculiar aura. It should be the Snake-People Race expert you mentioned."

"Oh?" Li Xiao raised his brows. "How far away are they?"

He did not have a map of the Tagor Desert, nor did he know where they currently were.

Lian Xue replied, "More than a thousand kilometers away. I can only sense a faint trace of their aura, but I can determine that they are Dou Huang experts of the Snake-People Race. Four of them are elders of the Snake-People Race, and each has reached the peak Dou Huang realm."

As expected of a Dou Zun Strong—she could sense the aura of Dou Huang experts from such a distance. It was truly outrageous! However, Li Xiao had no plans to visit the Snake-People Race just yet. He first needed to find the fragmentary map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame. After obtaining the Green Lotus Core Flame, he would make further plans.

With Lian Xue's guidance, the two finally arrived at the outskirts of the Tagor Desert. A small desert shop stood there, surrounded by a cool aura. Though it was not as refreshing as Lian Xue's presence, it was still a fairly decent natural haven.

The Amethyst Winged Lion King slowly landed on the ground and lay down, allowing the Pavilion Master to safely jump off his back.

Li Xiao jumped down from the Amethyst Winged Lion King, straightened his clothes, brushed the yellow sand from his arms, and shook his head helplessly. A hellhole like the desert was truly suffocating.

Lian Xue smiled gently and personally helped the Pavilion Master straighten his clothes. "You should stop complaining. The desert is simply like this. If you dislike it, this subordinate can turn everything within ten miles into a land of ice and snow."

"That won't be necessary."

Li Xiao shrugged. "It's not yet time for me to make a grand display. Besides, we came here for the fragmentary map. Let's go. The old gentleman inside has already been waiting impatiently."

"Yes."

Lian Xue followed the Pavilion Master into the shop. The room was not large, but it was exceptionally neat. Many map scrolls were displayed on the cabinet to the side. There was no need to guess that these were maps of the Tagor Desert.

Behind the counter was an old man with his head lowered, carefully drawing a map. He was clearly quite old. Though his hair was completely white, the withered hand holding the black drawing pen remained steady and strong.

When he sensed someone entering, the old man did not move. Instead, he said coldly,

"The maps are over there. Go find one yourself."

Li Xiao did not speak. Both of them had concealed their strength, so naturally, the other party could not discern their realms.

After searching several times, Lian Xue finally found the fragmentary map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame in the most concealed part of the cabinet. However, as a transmigrator, Li Xiao naturally knew that this map had been perfectly divided into two halves, one of which was still in this old gentleman's hands.

Li Xiao picked up the fragmentary map and walked to the counter. "Old sir, how about we make a deal?"

The old man in blue raised his head. Upon seeing the fragmentary map in Li Xiao's hand, he said disdainfully, "This fragmentary map is not for sale. Give up on the fragment. I have no use for money. And don't entertain any thoughts of forcibly taking it. That will do you no good."

The same words, in the same place.

But spoken to a different person.

Li Xiao smiled softly. "Old sir, you misunderstand. I merely wish to discuss a transaction with you. There is no need to be so nervous."

"Besides, as the Ice Emperor, there is no need for you to act this way."

The instant those words fell, the temperature in the room dropped dozens of times over. A powerful shockwave burst forth, and at a speed visible to the naked eye, a ring of icy blue Dou Qi spread around the old man's body.

The Ice Emperor, one of the ten greatest experts of the Jia Ma Empire. At his peak, he had fought two Dou Huang experts alone. His strength could only be described as terrifying! Hai Bodong stared at him coldly. "Who are you? This old man has not left the Tagor Desert for decades. How did you learn of my identity?"

With a furious shout, a frigid aura that slowed others' movements instantly enveloped the entire room.

"Lord of Ascending Heaven Pavilion, Li Xiao."

Hai Bodong frowned. He had never heard of the Lord of Ascending Heaven Pavilion, nor had he ever met Li Xiao. Although he could not sense any Dou Qi fluctuations from him, he was certain that the other party was not stronger than himself.

Otherwise, he would have already made a move to seize it.

"Kid, you have some nerve, but I already said it: I'm not selling this fragmentary map!"

Li Xiao said softly, "What if I can exchange it for something you want?"

Hai Bodong sneered inwardly. An exchange? What good thing could a kid like this possibly produce? If he wanted to cause trouble here, he had come to the wrong place! "Hmph!" Ice Emperor Hai Bodong snorted. "This old man went to great lengths to obtain this thing back then. The secret it contains is certainly no small matter. You want me to hand it over to you for nothing? Dream on!"

As soon as his words fell, dozens of ice pillars suddenly swept toward Li Xiao.