Hai Bodong's Shock, Map in Hand

The white mist in the shop vanished, revealing its original state.

Amid the shattered pieces of wood lay a white-haired old man. The dark circles around his weathered face were especially striking.

Hun Cang stood before the old man and looked down at him. "Ice Emperor, are we done fighting already?"

Fight? How was he supposed to fight? Hai Bodong shot him a sidelong glance, not even wanting to speak. His only source of support could not restrain this man—what chance of winning did he have left?

With Hun Cang staring at him, Hai Bodong felt uncomfortable and snapped, "What are you looking at? You won. Kill me or torture me, do as you please."

The more you don't want me to look, the more I want to look... Hun Cang simply crouched in front of the old man, his gaze moving repeatedly over the bruises around his eyes. He even gestured with his hands as he sighed. "The second punch wasn't quite right. It landed a little crooked, so they're not symmetrical."

Hai Bodong climbed to his feet and said irritably, "What exactly do you want, brat?"

"I came looking for you," Hun Cang answered.

Hai Bodong looked at him. "Yes, I'm the Ice Emperor. You found me, so you can make your move now."

"Make what move?" Hun Cang froze.

"Kill me!!" Hai Bodong was nearly driven mad. Where had this dense idiot come from?

Hun Cang asked in confusion, "Why would I kill you?"

Hai Bodong glared at him. "If you're not here to kill me, why were you looking for me?"

Hun Cang spread his hands. "Who said looking for you meant I had to kill you?"

"Then why do you think I've been living in seclusion for over twenty years... Hm? Wait, you weren't sent by those people?" Hai Bodong had been about to lose his temper, but he suddenly stopped halfway through.

He studied Hun Cang for a moment and asked, "What's your name?"

"Hun Cang."

So he really wasn't... Hai Bodong paused, then quickly realized something. "Then why didn't you explain yourself when you saw me attack?"

Hun Cang stared at him blankly. "Why would I explain?"

You're just a decrepit old man whose strength has been sealed. You couldn't hurt me at all.

Besides, you happened to be a perfect sparring partner.

How nice was that?

Why would I... Hai Bodong turned away and covered his face with both hands, almost wanting to cry. If only this brat had said one sentence, the old man would not have taken those two punches for nothing.

They hurt...

After forcing himself to calm down, Hai Bodong pushed the smashed items aside, reopened the shop door, and returned behind the counter.

Looking at Hun Cang, he asked, "Speak. What do you want from me?"

As the conversation turned serious, Hun Cang's smile disappeared. "I heard that the Ice Emperor knows some information about Heavenly Flames in the Tagor Desert."

"Who did you hear that from?" Hai Bodong's expression darkened slightly.

Hun Cang smiled. "Sorry, that's a secret."

Hai Bodong chuckled softly. "If you only heard it from someone else, then it must be a rumor twisted out of shape. How could a feeble old man like me possibly venture deep into the desert? The snake people there are not to be trifled with."

Hun Cang said seriously, "Everything I've heard is backed by facts. Don't bother trying to lie to me. It's useless."

He seemed to have some kind of confidence... Observing Hun Cang's expression, Hai Bodong felt uneasy. He had indeed gathered some information about Heavenly Flames.

However, he had intended to keep that information as leverage for a future trade, should the right opportunity arise.

Moreover, that information was also tied to whether he could restore his strength to its peak.

Thus, Hai Bodong lowered his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Please leave. I don't know anything about the Heavenly Flames you mentioned."

Hun Cang's gaze sharpened. "Aren't you afraid I'll kill you and look for it myself?"

Hai Bodong laughed at that. "Don't threaten me with death. I've lived most of my life—what storms haven't I weathered?"

"Are you sure?" Hun Cang had been leaning against the counter, but he slowly straightened up. Seemingly at a loss, he turned and walked toward the door as he said, "Seeing that you're already so old, and that the Snake Seal Curse has reduced your strength to less than a tenth of what it was, I actually felt rather sorry for you. I was thinking that if I got the Heavenly Flame, I'd help you solve that problem. Looks like you aren't fated for it after all."

He actually knew?! And he's an alchemist? Hai Bodong's heart skipped a beat. Watching Hun Cang reach the doorway, he considered it for a moment before raising a hand. "Wait!"

Hun Cang turned around and watched Hai Bodong emerge from behind the counter. Smiling lightly, he said, "Remembered something?"

"You're an alchemist?" Hai Bodong asked.

Hun Cang nodded.

Hai Bodong asked again, "What grade of pills can you refine?"

Ever since his strength had been sealed, he had constantly searched for a way to break it. At last, he had found a prescription.

As long as the pill listed on it could be refined, consuming it would break the seal Queen Medusa had left on him.

However, that pill was a Sixth-grade Pill.

"Seventh grade," Hun Cang said.

Seventh grade? At such a young age? Hai Bodong's eyes widened. He scrutinized Hun Cang from head to toe with obvious suspicion, then took several steps back and sighed. "Forget it. You should leave."

"Hm?" Hun Cang was stunned. What was going on? Why had Hai Bodong changed his mind after hearing that?

He asked, "Don't you want to break the Seal?"

Hai Bodong looked at him and said, "Of course I do. But young man, you underestimate this old man too much. I've lived to this age; I'm not so easily deceived.

"You look barely over twenty, yet you claim to be a Seventh-grade Alchemist? Isn't that far too ridiculous?"

Then you clearly have no idea what it means to live life with cheats enabled... Hun Cang grumbled inwardly as he unleashed his aura.

Vast Dou Qi surged and roiled within him, pressing down upon Hai Bodong.

Hai Bodong's gaunt face changed abruptly. He staggered back several steps, his expression filled with disbelief.

"Y-you... you're a Dou Emperor?" Hai Bodong's voice trembled.

Hun Cang withdrew his aura, lifted his chin slightly, and smiled. "Have you ever seen such a young Dou Emperor?"

The shock had yet to fade from Hai Bodong's face. He shook his head, visibly wavering, but still asked uneasily, "But how will you prove your alchemy skills?"

"How about you bring me the ingredients for a Grade 7 Pill, and I'll refine one for you personally?" Hun Cang was getting numb to it. This old fellow really had far too many demands.

Hai Bodong gave a bitter smile. Ingredients for a Grade 7 Pill? Did he think they were cabbages sold on the street, available whenever he wanted to buy them?

After pondering for a long while, Hai Bodong decided to take a gamble. "Fine. This old man will trust you once."

Hun Cang smiled. "That's more like it. You were once one of the top ten Dou Emperors, yet you don't have even a bit of decisiveness."

The two returned to the counter, and Hai Bodong took out a map from his Storage Ring.

"These are the three locations where Heaven Flames are most likely to exist, according to my investigations. As for their exact whereabouts, you'll have to find them yourself," Hai Bodong said.

Hun Cang glanced at the markings and reached out to take it, but after tugging twice, he realized Hai Bodong was gripping it tightly. He sighed. "Can't you just say everything at once?"

Hai Bodong smiled awkwardly. "Actually, I also want to ask you for a small favor. I've gathered most of the ingredients for the pill; only the final ingredient, Sand Mandara, is missing."

"Fine, that's easy." Hun Cang was not surprised in the slightest and agreed immediately. Only then did he take the map.

After looking it over twice, he put it into his Storage Ring and turned to leave.

At the door, he paused slightly. "Don't go running around these days. If I can't find you when the time comes, don't blame me for missing your chance."

"I won't, I won't..." Hai Bodong hurriedly agreed, watching Hun Cang leave.