The Tactful Hai Bodong

The moment the Amethyst Winged Lion King saw Ji Feng suspecting it of hiding the Amethyst Accompanying Source, it panicked, even beginning to stammer.

"Dou... Dou Zong sir, I really didn't lie to you. Two people really did steal the Amethyst Accompanying Source three months ago. Look at this horn of mine—it was cut off by a female Dou Emperor."

"It probably isn't lying. Ji Feng, let's go."

Now that they had confirmed Xiao Yan had been here three months ago, there was no need for Jiang Xing to stay.

They had come to steal its things in the first place, and since the Amethyst Winged Lion King had not provoked him, there was naturally no need to kill it.

There was nothing to gain from it. As for a sixth-tier magic core, well, sorry—his grandfather was a Six-Star Dou Saint. It was no exaggeration to say that even his childhood toys had been seventh-tier magic cores.

A sixth-tier magic core truly held no appeal for him... He looked down on it. It would only waste storage space.

If the Amethyst Winged Lion King had known what Jiang Xing was thinking, it would definitely have begun doubting its beastly existence.

Its magic core was a rare treasure coveted by countless people, yet Jiang Xing did not even want it and thought it was a waste of storage space...

Jiang Xing had already expected this trip to be fruitless, so there was no need to become discouraged and drain himself emotionally. He only needed to wait by the tree stump for the rabbit at the Snake-People Tribe.

Besides, he also wanted to meet Medusa, the queen of the Snake-People Tribe.

In the original story, Medusa had chosen to temper her body with the power of a Heavenly Flame in order to lead the Snake-People Tribe out of the desert and awaken the ancient Heaven Swallowing Python bloodline within her.

This method did indeed give Medusa a chance to break through.

But the Snake-People Tribe possessed a yin-cold constitution, while Heavenly Flames were objects of utmost yang.

In the original story, Medusa had suffered immensely while evolving through a Heavenly Flame.

However, Medusa ultimately broke through to Dou Zong and evolved into a Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python.

For the sake of securing better territory for her people, she had been willing to risk evolving with a Heavenly Flame.

Jiang Xing greatly admired Medusa's spirit. Now that he had transmigrated into the Dou Disciple Continent, he naturally wanted to meet her.

Jiang Xing and Ji Feng then went to the cave Xiao Yi Xian had discovered.

After confirming that Xiao Yan had also taken away things like the map fragments, Jiang Xing and Ji Feng set off for the Snake-People Tribe.

The Snake-People Tribe was not far from the Monster Mountain Range, and with a Dou Zun like Ji Feng carrying him along, Jiang Xing arrived at Shi Mo City in less than an hour.

That was right, Shi Mo City. Jiang Xing suddenly remembered during the journey that Hai Bodong possessed a fragment of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame map here.

Although he would have to rob Xiao Yan sooner or later, Jiang Xing was a cautious person. He was not sure whether his arrival would cause a butterfly effect, so he would only feel at ease after taking it first.

There were not many people with Dou Ling strength in Shi Mo City. With Jiang Xing's powerful Soul Strength, he quickly located Hai Bodong's map shop.

When they arrived at the map shop named "Ancient Map," its door was still open.

The two stepped inside and swept their gazes around. The shop was not particularly spacious, but it was bright. There was not a single customer buying maps, and business could be said to be extremely slow.

Behind the counter sat an old man with his head lowered, carefully making a map. Without any surprises, this old man should be Hai Bodong.

"The goods are on the counter. Pick whatever you want yourself."

Hai Bodong sensed someone entering but did not raise his head, continuing to carefully draw his map.

Jiang Xing said nothing. Familiar with the original story, he walked over to a wooden rack in the corner of the shop where damaged maps had been placed.

His hand casually rummaged through the yellowed maps. He picked up a stack and gave it a slight shake, whereupon a damaged map fragment no larger than his palm suddenly fell from among them.

"Found it!"

He bent down and picked up the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame map fragment.

Suddenly, a hoarse voice sounded from behind the counter.

"Kid, I'm not selling that map fragment. Put it down."

"You should still have the other half of the map fragment, right? Hand it over. Don't force me to take it by force."

Jiang Xing seemed not to hear Hai Bodong's words and spoke to himself.

"Kid, you're far too arrogant. Since that's the case, don't blame me for bullying the young."

As Hai Bodong spoke, an icy aura spread out from his body, enveloping the entire shop before surging toward Jiang Xing and Ji Feng.

"Hmph, a mere Dou Ling dares to act so brazenly."

Although Ji Feng knew Hai Bodong's icy aura could not harm Jiang Xing at all, he still had to make his stance clear.

With a cold snort, he immediately released the aura of a five-star Dou Zun.

That overwhelming aura crashed toward Hai Bodong like a tidal wave, directly pressing the Hai Bodong who had just risen to his feet flat onto the ground.

"Dou Zong..." Fear filled Hai Bodong's eyes as he lay prone on the ground.

Although his realm was currently sealed, leaving him with only the strength of a Dou Ling, he had once been a Dou Emperor expert.

In his view, anyone capable of releasing such an aura had to be at least a high-level Dou Zong.

Seeing that Hai Bodong, like the Amethyst Winged Lion King, had mistaken him for a Dou Zong, Ji Feng did not bother explaining. What was there to explain to an ant?

"Are you willing to hand over the map fragment now?"

Jiang Xing looked at Hai Bodong, who was pinned to the ground and nearly unable to breathe, then signaled Ji Feng to stop.

"I'll hand it over... I'll hand it over."

Ji Feng withdrew his pressure, and only then did Hai Bodong rise to his feet, drenched in sweat. He hurriedly took out the other half of the fragmentary map from his Storage Ring and respectfully offered it up with both hands.

There was none of the temperament expected of Hai Bodong, the Ice Emperor and one of the Jia Ma Empire's ten strongest experts.

What a joke. Even the guard at his side was a Dou Zong expert—what did he have to act arrogant in front of them? Even if he threw in the entire Mite'er Family, it still would not amount to anything.

Hai Bodong now only hoped that, after handing over the fragmentary map, they would spare him and forget what he had said earlier.

At the same time, he was curious. Why would a high-level Dou Zong appear in Shi Mo City? Could it really be just for this fragmentary map?

Hai Bodong's mind raced, and he suddenly recalled the energy fluctuations of a Heavenly Flame that he had sensed over the past few years.

Could they be here for the Heavenly Flame? That has to be it! Only a Heavenly Flame could attract a high-level Dou Zong expert.

At that thought, Hai Bodong's heart surged with excitement.

How could he not be excited? The two before him had taken the fragmentary map, yet showed no intention of leaving, while the guard beside them kept a close eye on him.

No matter how he looked at it, it seemed like the guard was waiting for his master's command. And did he even need to ask what that command might be?

He thought that if he offered up the map marking the possible location of the Heavenly Flame that he had researched over the past few years, these two should let him go.

"Young Master, this old man was disrespectful just now. I presume your purpose is the Heavenly Flame? This old man discovered Heavenly Flame fluctuations nearby over the past few years. After several investigations, I have already found its approximate location. I am willing to offer it to you, and I hope Young Master can forgive this old man's earlier disrespect."

He gently rummaged through his robes, then finally pulled out a thin piece of parchment and offered it up with both hands once more.

Jiang Xing accepted the map Hai Bodong handed over and gave it a casual glance.

It was an exceptionally detailed map of the Tagor Desert. On its eastern, western, and northern sides were three particularly conspicuous flame symbols.

Having read the original novel, Jiang Xing knew that the Green Lotus Core Flame was east of Shi Mo City.

With this map to guide them, he and Ji Feng would not need to waste any more effort searching the Tagor Desert.

Seeing how cooperative Hai Bodong was, Jiang Xing gave him an approving glance.

"Mm, very good. Then we'll let what happened earlier slide."

Having obtained both the fragmentary map and the location of the Heavenly Flame, Jiang Xing had no interest in staying to watch Hai Bodong's timid, cautious manner.

He put away the fragmentary map, confirmed the direction, then strode through the air toward the eastern part of Shi Mo City.