A Dou Zun Strong?!

However, just as Hai Bodong thought he had succeeded, every glacier he had unleashed abruptly froze in place.

The Ice Emperor's expression stiffened. He suddenly turned to look at the stunning woman beside Li Xiao and exclaimed, "You can actually control my Dou Qi? Who exactly are you people?!"

As a Dou Huang expert, Hai Bodong could naturally sense his Dou Qi being devoured. He had never encountered anyone of this level before. Clearly, these two possessed extraordinary status!

Lian Xue said coldly, "Anyone who dares harm Pavilion Master must die!"

With that, all the glaciers previously unleashed by the Ice Emperor reversed course and attacked, their speed and power magnified countless times over.

"Xue'er, show mercy."

Li Xiao spoke up to remind her.

If he had not stopped her, Lian Xue would likely have killed Hai Bodong! Ice Emperor Hai Bodong also felt an unprecedented sense of oppression. He naturally understood just how terrifying this woman's strength was. If he did not defend himself, his life would be in danger!

With that thought, Hai Bodong's eyes turned icy. He hurriedly gathered all his Dou Qi into his hands, then summoned a shield formed from condensed ice.

However, Hai Bodong had still greatly underestimated Lian Xue's strength. The instant the glaciers struck the shield, his body staggered several steps backward. The shield began to crack apart at a visible rate. With a crisp bang, the ice shattered completely.

The flying shards sliced across Hai Bodong's aged cheek, and hot blood flowed down his face.

Ice Emperor Hai Bodong widened his eyes, touched the blood on his face, and roared, "Who exactly are you people?!"

Li Xiao said, "I told you already, old sir. We came to discuss terms."

Hai Bodong's mouth twitched as he snapped angrily, "Whether you are the successor of the Misty Cloud Sect Leader or some young master from one of the great families, you will never leave here with this Map Fragment today!"

Lian Xue sneered. Even now, he still dared make such boasts. As her flawless little foot lightly stepped onto the desert, the blazing-hot sand instantly froze into ice, and every living thing in the area was turned into an Ice Sculpture.

Hai Bodong was startled and instinctively swallowed.

Hai Bodong's pupils constricted as he said in shock, "Such terrifying pressure... How is this possible? In the entire Jia Ma Empire, aside from me, there seems to be no one else with ice-attributed Dou Qi..."

"Impossible! Such terrifying ice-attributed Dou Qi absolutely does not fit the style of those factions!"

Hai Bodong's expression was grave. He had not expected to encounter such terrifying people today. Lian Xue's Dou Qi completely crushed his own; he could even feel a devouring sensation coming from within his body.

Ice Emperor Hai Bodong knew that he could no longer keep hiding his strength. Otherwise, it would be difficult to keep these two here today.

With that thought, Hai Bodong's pupils suddenly shrank. Without further hesitation, he immediately raised his withered hands. As his Dou Qi circulated, he lightly clenched them, and the icy mist around him rapidly condensed, eventually solidifying into an ice-blue Ice Spear between his palms.

Even after condensing an Ice Spear from his Dou Qi, Hai Bodong still did not feel secure. With one hand, he swiftly formed a seal and shouted, "Ice Spirit Armor!"

As his shout fell, the icy mist permeating the surroundings immediately formed a thick suit of ice armor around the old man's body, gleaming with a cold light.

"Woman, you have truly enraged me. It has been a long time since anyone forced me to go all out. Today, none of you will leave this place!"

"Too noisy."

Lian Xue moved a finger, and the blazing desert instantly darkened as goose-feather snow began falling around them.

"How is this possible?!" Only then did Hai Bodong realize something was wrong. This woman had actually altered heaven and earth. Could she be a Dou Zun strong?!

Yet he refused to believe it. This girl looked barely more than a teenager. How could she possibly possess the strength of the Dou Zun realm?

"Mystic Ice Whirlwind Kill!"

Crackling sounds erupted from Hai Bodong's bones as powerful Dou Qi burst forth in an instant.

"I have never felt so invigorated before. Little girl, come! Let this old man see what you people are truly capable of!"

Li Xiao stood with his hands behind his back, watching several ice dragons form in midair. He could not help but marvel at Ice Emperor Hai Bodong's strength. Despite having fallen to the Dou Ling realm, he could still unleash such a terrifying Dou Technique.

Hai Bodong forcefully pushed both hands forward, and all the ice dragons charged madly toward Lian Xue.

Lian Xue looked at the charging ice dragons with disdain. How could a mere first-tier Dou Ling fight a Dou Zun? "Like an egg striking a stone."

She slowly raised a finger and casually pressed it downward. Hai Bodong had thought that the woman had given up, but to his surprise, his strongest Dou Technique shattered in an instant, turning into countless fragments that scattered across the ground.

The Dou Technique was broken.

Hai Bodong himself crashed heavily into the ground like a cannonball. However, he did not suffer any substantial injury. Otherwise, that previous strike would have killed him long ago.

Lian Xue said, "Pavilion Master instructed me not to kill you."

Hai Bodong struggled to his feet, his face drained of color. "You... who exactly... are you... Why do you possess such terrifying power?"

"I am Lian Xue. This is my Pavilion Master!"

"I am..." Hai Bodong's eyes suddenly widened. She actually referred to herself as a Venerable. Could she truly be a Dou Zun strong? Li Xiao strode over and smiled faintly at the old man with his hair hanging loose.

Hai Bodong, one of the Jia Ma Empire's ten strongest experts, was a decent man—loyal and righteous. Back then, he had not only helped Xiao Yan fight the Misty Cloud Sect, but had also assisted him in many other matters.

That was why Li Xiao had not allowed Lian Xue to kill him.

Hai Bodong rose to his feet and said, "I never expected that after living in seclusion in the desert for so many years, I would still be found."

"Back then, I encountered a powerful member of the Snake-People Race, Queen Medusa." A complicated look flickered in Hai Bodong's eyes. "Queen Medusa stood at the pinnacle among Dou Huang experts. In that battle, I suffered a complete defeat and was struck by her Serpent Sealing Curse!"

"My strength was sealed at the Dou Ling level."

Li Xiao said softly, "Then this is where our deal begins. Old Hai, you should still have a small Map Fragment in your possession, right?"

Hai Bodong narrowed his eyes. How could this man know that he still had a Map Fragment? Could he read minds? At that thought, Hai Bodong frowned. Could these two be from the Central Continent? How else could someone so young have reached the Dou Zun realm? "Fine," Hai Bodong said as he stroked his small mustache. "If you can provide the medicinal pill I need, I will give you this Map Fragment. Furthermore, this old man can do three things for you—three things that do not violate my principles!"

"This is the most precious thing I can offer."