Two Deals!

Lu Bu's goal was not to fight Hai Bodong to the death, but to have a proper conversation with him. When facing someone this strong, a beating was necessary. Without one, there was no way to talk properly.

His purpose in revealing the Spirit Fire was equally simple: to give the other party an opening for cooperation.

As a transmigrator, he knew Hai Bodong's limits all too well. Sure enough, the moment the Spirit Fire appeared, Hai Bodong mistook it for a Heavenly Flame.

An alchemist, a Heavenly Flame, terrifying strength—Hai Bodong no longer dared to underestimate Lu Bu. Instead, he saw him as the savior who could break his seal.

"Hehehe, kid, don't think you can threaten me with death." Hai Bodong sneered. "I've lived most of my life and roamed the Jia Ma Empire for decades. Do you think I'd be afraid of your threats?"

"Are you sure?" Lu Bu flicked his fingertips and lied through his teeth. "My Fallen Heart Flame isn't much use otherwise, but it's especially damaging to souls."

"Once I pull out your soul and burn it for ten years or so, I refuse to believe... you still won't talk!?"

Hai Bodong's body stiffened, and he shuddered violently. This kid was ruthless!

After swallowing hard, Hai Bodong forced himself to remain calm. "Ten years is no short time. You wouldn't want to waste it for nothing either, would you?"

"If you refuse to talk, what else can I do?" Lu Bu smiled, revealing a hint of hesitation.

Delight flashed through Hai Bodong's eyes. "I can give you the rest of the map, but I hope you can refine a medicinal pill for me."

The corner of Lu Bu's mouth curled upward. It was done!

"A deal?" Lu Bu nodded with a smile. "Sure. Tell me about it. I, Lu, am not some arrogant tyrant. I'm not fond of fighting at all."

Hai Bodong's eye twitched. You beat me into this state, and you call that not fond of fighting?

"Why are you looking at me like that, Senior?" Lu Bu said with a curl of his lip. "Don't forget, you were the one who attacked first!"

Hai Bodong took a deep breath. It was true that he had attacked first, but you were the one who stole my things first...

Of course, Hai Bodong did not dare say that aloud. Instead, he went straight to the point.

"Brother Lu, you can probably tell that something is wrong with me, can't you?" Hai Bodong asked.

"I can." Lu Bu nodded and said with undisguised glee, "You were once a Dou Huang, yet you got unlucky and were sealed. Now even a Dou Wang can bully you."

Hai Bodong's mouth twitched. He wanted to curse, but he could not beat the other man, so he had better endure it.

"May I ask what level Brother Lu's alchemy has reached?" Hai Bodong cupped his hands. He had to confirm Lu Bu's capabilities. Otherwise... he would rather die than speak!

Lu Bu said nothing. He merely glanced at him indifferently as surging soul power suddenly roared out from between his brows.

The terrifying pressure instantly turned Hai Bodong's face pale, cold sweat pouring down his body.

Damn it, he's actually a Peak Dou Huang! Hai Bodong cursed inwardly, yet he also felt relieved. Fortunately, the other party was not unreasonable.

"After many years of searching, I obtained a pill formula that can break the seal on me." Hai Bodong said seriously, "It is a sixth-grade pill formula, and it requires a Heavenly Flame to refine."

"There are Sixth Grade Alchemists, but Sixth Grade Alchemists who possess Heavenly Flames are incredibly difficult to find. That is why I remain trapped by this seal to this day."

"Fine." Lu Bu nodded and agreed readily. "Give me the pill formula and all the ingredients. I'll refine it for you. In return, give me the map."

"I, Lu, have never liked fighting. I only like making deals. It saves trouble!"

However, an awkward expression appeared on Hai Bodong's face. He scratched his head, at a loss for what to do.

"What? You haven't prepared the ingredients?" Lu Bu raised a brow and asked blandly.

"That is indeed the case." Hai Bodong gave an embarrassed smile.

"My seal was placed by Queen Medusa. The ingredient I lack is Sand Mandara, which grows deep in the desert, within the territory of the Snake People Tribe."

"Because of the seal, I cannot venture deep into the desert. Queen Medusa would discover me, so I have never managed to obtain that ingredient."

"Heh..." Lu Bu immediately sneered. "You want me to refine a pill for you, yet you haven't even gathered all the ingredients? You expect me to find the ingredients for you too? And venture deep into the Snake People Tribe's territory to do it?"

"Senior, do you really think that's possible?"

"Uh..."

"Then you'll have to pay more!"

Hai Bodong's eyes immediately lit up. "I'll pay! Is information about a Heavenly Flame enough?"

"Oh? Tell me more." Lu Bu remained expressionless. After all, he was an alchemist who already possessed a "Heavenly Flame." He could not appear overly excited at the mention of one.

Hai Bodong took out a map from his Ring and handed it to Lu Bu. "This contains information about a Heavenly Flame that I collected in the Tagor Desert."

Lu Bu accepted it, looked it over, and nodded slightly. "Very well. Let's go, then."

"Huh?" Hai Bodong froze. I can't enter the desert.

"I'll refine your pill, and you'll give me the map. You'll help me find the Heavenly Flame, and I'll help you find the ingredients." Lu Bu raised two fingers and said calmly:

"Two deals, separate and unrelated. Any problem with that?"

"I can't enter the desert. Medusa will find me," Hai Bodong sighed.

"You think too highly of yourself." Lu Bu curled his lip. "You're just a decrepit old man. Do you really think Medusa thinks about you every day?"

"Besides, you won't be going deep into the desert. The map marks two possible locations of the Heavenly Flame far from the Snake People Tribe. What are you afraid of?"

The reason Xiao Yan had not brought Hai Bodong into the desert was that Yao Lao's existence could not be exposed.

But Lu Bu had no such concern. When he, Lu, traveled the Dou Qi Continent, he relied on himself, unlike that little brother Xiao Yan who relied on cheats!

Besides, with Hai Bodong's Dou Ling strength helping him, entering the depths beneath the magma would be much easier.

"This..." Hai Bodong frowned deeply. After a long while, he nodded helplessly. "Fine. Since you insist, I'll accompany you on this trip."

"Hmph, don't act so unwilling. This is all for your own sake!" Lu Bu snorted coldly. A deal was a deal; neither owed the other anything.

"Let me pack up first," Hai Bodong said hurriedly as he entered his house to gather his things.

The desert was not a place one could enter casually. Thorough preparations were necessary.

Magical Beast Mountain Range, beneath a waterfall.

Pain covered Xiao Yan's face, and a blue-gray aura swirled around his body. His originally pale-yellow Dou Qi had begun gradually turning blue-gray.

With a loud shout from Xiao Yan, the cyclone within his dantian suddenly contracted, completely suppressing the turbulent Azure Nether Fire. At the same time, the energy of heaven and earth boiled and surged into his body.

Xiao Yan had only just refined the Azure Nether Fire when, before he could even catch his breath, he began the difficult process of breaking through to the Dou Master realm.

Yao Lao nodded in satisfaction. He had not chosen this disciple wrongly. In just one year, Xiao Yan had already broken through to the Dou Master level.

This youth was like an uncut jade, worthy of careful carving and devoted cultivation.

Before long, Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes. Looking at the blue-gray Dou Qi robe that had appeared around his body, his face was full of delight.

"Teacher, I've broken through to the Dou Master realm!"

"Not bad!" Yao Lao stroked his beard with a smile. "But don't forget, you only have around ten months left before your Three Year Agreement."

The joy of Xiao Yan's breakthrough vanished instantly. After a moment of silence, he grinned.

"Teacher, don't worry. I'll keep working hard. No matter how arduous the training may be, I fear nothing. Bring it on."

Yao Lao chuckled. "Since that is the case, our next destination is the Tagor Desert. Are you mentally prepared?"

"It will be a hundred times harsher there than in the Magical Beast Mountain Range!"

"Bring it on. What hardship have I, Xiao Yan, never endured?" Xiao Yan laughed, patting his chest.

"Then let's depart!" Yao Lao turned into a streak of light and entered the Ring.

"Haha, let's go... eh, Teacher..." Xiao Yan halted. "Do you think there might be more treasures in the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's cave?"

"Forget it. The Companion Purple Crystal Source is extremely rare. Back then, I searched eight Purple Crystal Winged Lion King caves and never found one."

"But what if?" Xiao Yan refused to give up. "What if we find something new?"

"You brat..." Yao Lao sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"Let's take a look." Xiao Yan said shamelessly. "Teacher, you've already searched eight caves. Surely one more won't matter?"

"Fine, fine. We'll take a look," Yao Lao said helplessly.

Xiao Yan chuckled and stealthily headed toward the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's cave. Wrapped in Yao Lao's soul power, the magical beasts outside the cave noticed nothing.

"Hm?" Yao Lao suddenly exclaimed, and ripples appeared in his usually calm voice.

"Teacher, what is it?" Xiao Yan hurriedly asked.

"Something is not right..." Yao Lao's voice was incomparably grave. "My Bone Spirit Cold Fire... seems to have sensed something unusual."

Xiao Yan's pupils abruptly contracted, and his expression changed dramatically!