Inside the Ancient Map Workshop:
Hai Bodong held a teacup and took a light sip.
"Refining a Sixth-grade Pill? But you look far too young. I find it hard to believe."
"Though this may be presumptuous, how old are you?"
"Fifteen."
Pfft!
The mouthful of tea he had yet to swallow sprayed straight out.
"How old!?"
Even with his cultivation sealed, he still possessed peak Dou Ling strength.
Yet at this moment, he suspected he had misheard.
Fifteen years old? A Sixth-grade Alchemist?
How could he possibly make sense of those two words together?
If word got out, people would think he had gone mad.
Good grief, this kid was definitely the Young Master of some reclusive family!
Or perhaps the disciple of some monstrously powerful old freak!
Hai Bodong had great confidence in his intuition, and it was a reasonable guess besides!
After a long while, he finally calmed down and skipped over the subject of age.
He stroked his beard, his voice hoarse.
"Over the years, I have been collecting the ingredients for the Tribulation Breaking Pill."
"But I have always lacked one main ingredient—Sand Mandara."
"Because of Medusa's seal, she will sense me the moment I enter the depths of the desert."
"But Sand Mandara only grows in the depths of the Tagor Desert."
"So..."
Before he could finish, Xiao Yan rolled his eyes at him, his tone helpless.
"So besides refining your pill, I also have to help you find ingredients?"
"Do you think a Sixth-grade Alchemist is an errand runner?"
At those words from Xiao Yan, even Hai Bodong felt somewhat embarrassed.
After all, this really was rather unfair.
But before he could speak, the youth suddenly changed his tone.
"Still, it isn't impossible."
"I can get the ingredients for you, but after you recover your cultivation."
"You must enter the depths of the desert with me to obtain a Heavenly Flame."
"What do you say?"
Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Hai Bodong's body suddenly stiffened.
He could not help thinking of that incomparably domineering crimson figure.
He immediately hesitated.
"What, the mighty Ice Emperor, one of the Jia Ma Empire's ten strongest experts, will recover his cultivation."
"And still not dare venture into the Snake People Clan's territory? What a coward!?"
When his dignity was at stake, Hai Bodong could no longer hold back.
"Fine."
Who would have expected that the moment he spoke, Xiao Yan flipped his palm and revealed a Jade Box.
Xiao Yan flicked the lid open with his finger.
Blood-red petals shimmered beneath the sunlight with patterns like sand.
The distinctive fishy-sweet scent of Sand Mandara instantly filled the workshop.
Hai Bodong's mouth twitched. So this was what he had been waiting for!
The more he thought about it, the more unsettling it became.
Why did it feel like this kid knew everything about him?
Xiao Yan smiled. This Sand Mandara.
Had been discovered in Gute's secret chamber in Black Rock City.
All he could say was that Gute was fated to cross paths with him.
Otherwise, why did Gute have whatever he needed?
With this medicinal ingredient before him, the hope of breaking the seal was right within reach.
Hai Bodong could no longer maintain his aloof image and hurriedly cupped his hands in salute.
"Master, when shall we begin refining the pill?"
"Now."
Hai Bodong looked stunned.
Shouldn't one bathe, burn incense, and prepare oneself before refining a Sixth-grade Pill?
Yet Xiao Yan looked utterly calm. To him:
Refining a Sixth-grade Pill was no different from refining a second- or third-grade pill.
The difficulty had merely changed from one plus one to one plus two.
In the center of the secret chamber in Hai Bodong's courtyard:
The Black Demon Cauldron breathed out radiant light as Xiao Yan held his palms over it, still as an old monk in meditation.
The Fire Cloud Water Flame transformed into nine Wandering Dragons that held the medicinal ingredients.
Xiao Yi Xian and Hai Bodong stood guard outside the door.
Hai Bodong did not understand why Xiao Yan had immediately begun refining the pill.
But he did not stop him, since Xiao Yan was the only person he could rely on.
He merely paced anxiously outside, for there was only one portion of the main ingredient.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yi Xian calmly ate pastries at the side.
Ever since she had met Xiao Yan, she had never seen him fail at refining medicine even once.
Inside the room:
"The third ingredient, Leaf Beard Dragon Ginseng."
"Lower the temperature a little more."
Old Yao's phantom floated beside him, personally offering guidance.
Though Xiao Yan did not particularly need it.
Suddenly, Crimson Flame burst from within the cauldron.
The medicinal liquid rapidly condensed together, forming a round pill.
Hai Bodong's footsteps continued pacing through the courtyard, his frosty hair fluttering.
Even Xiao Yi Xian was somewhat speechless.
"Grandpa, can't you calm down and wait patiently?"
"Pacing around like this won't improve the pill's success rate."
Hai Bodong stopped, his tone somewhat impatient.
"What does a little girl like you know?"
"Among Sixth-grade Pills, the Tribulation Breaking Pill is also one of the most difficult—"
Before he could finish, a crimson pillar of light shot from the room and surged straight into the sky!
It appeared before everyone in Desert City.
A pill formation phenomenon!
Rich Pill Fragrance instantly filled the courtyard.
Hai Bodong could not suppress the excitement in his eyes at all.
It succeeded!?
He hurriedly pushed open the door and entered.
The moment he crossed the threshold, Xiao Yan tossed a Jade Bottle toward him.
"I did not fail your expectations."
"Take it as soon as possible."
"Thank you, Master!"
Hai Bodong could hardly contain his excitement. He did not want to waste time on empty pleasantries.
He directly uncorked the bottle, took out a golden pill, and swallowed it.
The instant the pill entered his stomach, its surging medicinal power erupted.
Ice Rings exploded around Hai Bodong's body.
Medusa's snake-shaped seal twisted and shrieked upon his chest, only to be shredded inch by inch by golden locks formed from the pill's power.
The aura of a Dou Emperor erupted like floodwaters bursting through a dam!
The tiles along the entire street flew up with a rattling crash, fluttering like butterflies.
Two icy Dou Qi wings suddenly blossomed behind Hai Bodong.
His figure shot into the sky!
"Two-Star Dou Emperor."
Once the surging energy subsided, the old man touched the newly regenerated skin on his face.
He was now completely different from before.
His body was tall and robust, his eyes sharp and gleaming.
"Decades..."
An Ice Spear solidified in his palm, and a single glint of cold light at its tip tore through the air.
Xiao Yan leaned against the shattered doorframe and chuckled.
"Do you want your fallen cultivation to return faster?"
"I offer a complete cultivation unsealing and restoration service!"
"A Fifth-grade Purple Spirit Restoration Pill—well worth it!"
The tossed Jade Bottle traced an arc through the air.
"The condition is that you serve as my guard for one year."
"Think it over. For now, stabilize your cultivation first."
"At dawn three days from now, meet me at Desert City's gate."
With that, Xiao Yan directly left with Xiao Yi Xian.
He was not worried at all that Hai Bodong would go back on his word, because inside that pill.
He had added a little something—Kirin Devouring Heaven Flame Split Fire.
Besides, this was an angel investor.
Honestly:
Xiao Yan was already looking forward to joining Hai Bodong in the depths of the desert for another peak showdown.
Hai Bodong watched Xiao Yan's departing figure, his gaze growing increasingly grave.
To so openly leave his back exposed to a Dou Emperor.
And not fear betrayal in the slightest—such bearing was truly rare.
His cultivation was powerful, and his alchemy was even more extraordinary.
Perhaps he should take a gamble!
Elsewhere, inside the inn:
Xiao Yi Xian was helping Xiao Yan straighten his clothes, her fingertips inadvertently brushing across his chest.
"So dressed up?"
"Going to trick another young lady?"
The girl lifted her face, starlight flickering in her eyes.
"Or are you going to meet someone important?"
Looking into the girl's eyes, Xiao Yan unconsciously wrapped an arm around her waist.
The soft sensation against his hand made him pull Xiao Yi Xian even closer.
He leaned close to her ear.
"Yes, I'm going to meet my elder brother—your future elder brother."
Surprise and a trace of nervousness flashed through the girl's eyes.
Before you continue