Transaction

Lin Feng briefly explained his relationship with the Mittel Auction House, then stated his background. In particular, when Hai Bodong saw the special card issued by the Mite'er Family that Lin Feng produced, the vigilance on his face lessened somewhat. However, his gaze toward Lin Feng still carried traces of caution and suspicion.

Although Lin Feng had explained everything so clearly and even produced proof of his identity, and Hai Bodong had examined the card and confirmed that it was indeed a special card issued by the Mite'er Family to its distinguished guests—

He could not help but remain wary of a young man like Lin Feng who had appeared out of nowhere, especially since Lin Feng gave him an unfathomable feeling.

"Enough. There's no need to say any more. Take your things and leave."

Lin Feng showed no intention of leaving. Instead, he picked up the map and looked at Hai Bodong. "To be honest, Old Hai, a map is ultimately just an inanimate object. Conditions in the desert are ever-changing and difficult to predict. You've been here for so many years and drawn so many maps, so you must know the desert's terrain and conditions far better than an outsider like me."

Hai Bodong raised his eyes to look at him and cut in, "You want me to take you there."

Lin Feng smiled faintly and nodded. "Yes."

The Tagor Desert was incomparably dangerous. A single map offered no real guarantee, and there was also the Snake-People Tribe, which harbored extreme hatred toward humans and possessed no weak strength. With Hai Bodong, a living map, at his side, Lin Feng could take far fewer detours through the desert and face much less danger. Besides, though Hai Bodong's current strength was only at the Dou Ling level, who could say where the limits of a former Dou Emperor lay?

Hai Bodong merely snorted. "Kid, you've come knocking at the wrong door. Judging by you, you're definitely headed somewhere far from ordinary. You want this old man to work for you? Dream on."

Lin Feng's mouth twitched. Why was the Ice Emperor's way of thinking so strange? How was this making him work for me? This was clearly cooperation.

"Then Old Hai has misunderstood. I want to make a deal with you."

Hai Bodong said nothing, merely watching him and signaling for him to continue.

Seeing this, Lin Feng went on, "The seal inside Old Hai's body must have troubled you for many years. I happen to be a fourth-rank alchemist, and I can help Old Hai remove that seal."

After saying that, Lin Feng did not add anything further. He simply watched Hai Bodong's reaction.

He believed that since he had seized upon the seal Hai Bodong cared about most, the old man would surely be tempted.

Sure enough, Hai Bodong furrowed his brows and fell into thought. Only after a long while did he look up at Lin Feng and say, "Kid, do you know that the Breaking Calamity Pill I need is a Six-Rank Pill? You can't refine it yet, and refining that pill requires Heavenly Flames."

"Can your flame do it?"

Lin Feng gave a carefree smile. "Since Old Hai asked that question, I'm sure you already have an answer in your heart. It's only a Six-Rank Pill. Though I can't reach that level in a short time, with this, I can still refine some high-grade pills."

Chaos Flame appeared in Lin Feng's hand once again. Though it floated quietly in his palm, the faint might it emitted made even Hai Bodong's heart tremble.

"As for Heavenly Flames, with it, I may not need one at all."

Hai Bodong could feel the powerful force contained within Lin Feng's black flame. It was countless times stronger than a Heavenly Flame.

"What exactly is this flame of yours?"

With all his years of experience, Hai Bodong could not identify the origin of Lin Feng's flame. Yet one thing was certain in his heart: this was absolutely not a Heavenly Flame.

Lin Feng put away Chaos Flame and said, "What this flame is doesn't matter. Old Hai only needs to know that it is more precious and more powerful than a Heavenly Flame. With it, refining the Breaking Calamity Pill should not be a problem."

Lin Feng looked at Hai Bodong and asked, "So, Old Hai, does this deal work for you?"

Hai Bodong did not speak. After a long silence, he finally said, "The deadline. How long until you can refine the Breaking Calamity Pill? I need a definite timeframe."

Seeing this, Lin Feng knew that he had agreed. After thinking for a moment, he said, "At the soonest, half a year. At the latest, one year."

"Of course, if I encounter some fortunate opportunity, it may be even sooner."

Hai Bodong considered it for a moment before finally nodding. "Fine. This old man agrees."

Lin Feng smiled calmly, then extended his hand. "Old Hai, happy cooperation."

Hai Bodong shook hands with Lin Feng and asked, "When are you leaving?"

"As soon as possible."

Upon hearing that, Hai Bodong turned around and began packing. As he gathered several necessities for the desert, he asked, "Where in the desert are you going?"

"The Snake-People Tribe."

The instant Lin Feng said those words, Hai Bodong's body abruptly froze. He then turned to look at Lin Feng, a flash of shock in his eyes. "What are you going there for?"

"To retrieve something."

"Do you know that place is deep within the desert? The Medusa Queen is there as well. One careless mistake, and you'll lose your life there."

Lin Feng knew that this mission was extremely dangerous, but he had no choice. The location assigned by the system was there, and if he wanted to grow stronger, he had to go.

He could also see the fear in Hai Bodong's heart. The impact the Medusa Queen had left on him back then was considerable; even after all these years, the shadow in his heart remained.

"I know, but I have to go for certain reasons. If Old Hai wishes to go back on his word, that's fine as well. We can consider our deal from earlier void. I can go alone."

Hai Bodong raised a brow. "Hmph, go back on my word? This old man always keeps his promises."

But a conflicted look appeared on his face again. "However, I still carry the seal the Medusa Queen placed on me back then. If I approach the depths of the desert, the Medusa Queen will sense me. That will be troublesome."

Lin Feng knew about this situation, but he did not reveal it. A trace of surprise appeared on his face instead. "I never expected the seal inside Old Hai's body to have been placed by the Medusa Queen."

Hai Bodong's old face reddened, and he snorted coldly. "If I hadn't been careless back then, how could I have been injured by her seal?"

Lin Feng laughed secretly, but outwardly he said, "Old Hai needn't worry about that. I can refine some pills to temporarily suppress the aura of the seal in your body, allowing you to evade the Medusa Queen's senses."

When Hai Bodong heard this, his old face twitched. He then turned away and muttered, "It's good that you came prepared."

Lin Feng found it secretly amusing. Now he had truly seen how terrifying the Medusa Queen was. For her to make the Ice Emperor, one of the former ten strongest experts in the Jia Ma Empire, fear her so deeply—there really was no one else like her.

As Lin Feng watched Hai Bodong pack his belongings, his gaze fell upon the tattered map once more. After thinking for a moment, he finally asked, "Old Hai, do you know that this fragment of your map has quite an extraordinary origin?"