Another Unexpected Incident

As Mo Cheng wailed, the Mo Family disciples who had been hiding nearby, already scared out of their wits, fled in terror. They did not even dare leave behind a harsh word or an angry glare, afraid that Liu Xi might suddenly come after them.

Hai Bodong, who had rushed over, witnessed this scene. His expression shifted as he roughly guessed why Liu Xi had suddenly left in such a hurry. Before he even arrived, he called out loudly, "Little Friend Liu, nothing happened at home, did it? Just say the word if there's trouble. I'll take care of all these scum for you!"

Back in the Jia Ma Empire, he had been known for his chivalry and eagerness to help others. His nickname was Timely Rain—Hai Bodong. Everyone knew it, everyone had heard of it. It was definitely not because the Po E Pill was still in someone else's hands. Hai Bodong explained to himself inwardly.

By now, Liu Xi had regained his usual calm. Hearing Hai Bodong's voice, he said, "There's no need to trouble you, Senior. They're merely a bunch of clowns."

After entering, Hai Bodong saw that the courtyard remained largely neat and tidy, nothing like a place where a battle had taken place—apart from the pile of black residue on the ground.

Upon seeing Liu Xi, he said righteously, "The Mo Family truly has the nerve! Relying on the Misty Cloud Sect to back them, they actually dared attack and threaten you, Little Friend. Once I recover my Dou Emperor cultivation, I will certainly demand an explanation for you!"

Liu Xi caught the blatant implication in Hai Bodong's words and smiled. "Senior, there's no need to worry. The Po E Pill is naturally yours. But shouldn't you take out that fragmentary map and let me have a look?"

Hearing this, Hai Bodong stroked his beard with one hand and laughed awkwardly. "Little Friend, the pill you showed me earlier does indeed possess almost all the characteristics described in the pill formula. How about you wait until I have truly broken the seal before I hand over the fragmentary map?"

Liu Xi's eyes narrowed into a dangerous arc as he said in a low voice, "Senior, are you suspecting that I merely took out some similar pill to fool you? Or are you doubting my pill-refining ability?"

Hai Bodong hurriedly waved his hands in explanation. "How could that be? I'm simply not certain whether this pill can truly break Medusa's seal. Once I regain my strength, I will immediately hand the fragmentary map over to you."

Liu Xi spoke slowly, "Senior, that is not very honorable of you. It truly does not suit your status."

Just as Hai Bodong was about to argue, Liu Xi continued, "However, I have great confidence in the pill I refined. As long as there is no issue with the pill formula you provided, there will be no issue with my pill. It is only that... when the time comes, I hope Senior will not make any irrational decisions!"

By the end, Liu Xi's voice had grown noticeably colder. Then, he directly took the jade bottle containing the Po E Pill from his Storage Ring and tossed it toward Hai Bodong.

Seeing Liu Xi actually throw the Po E Pill over so casually, Hai Bodong's face filled with wild joy. For a moment, he fumbled as he caught the jade bottle, then held it in both hands as though it were a priceless treasure, staring obsessively at the exquisite purple pill within.

Seeing that Hai Bodong was merely gazing obsessively at the pill in his hands, Liu Xi had no choice but to speak again. "Ahem, Senior, don't tell me you plan to keep staring at it like that? I'm still waiting for you to give me the fragmentary map."

Only then did Hai Bodong come back to his senses. Smiling, he said, "Little Friend, you have been so straightforward. Naturally, I would not be someone who breaks his word. Please follow me. When I break the seal, some of my aura will inevitably leak out. To avoid any unnecessary trouble, I have a secret chamber in my shop where I usually cultivate. It will serve perfectly as the place to break the seal."

"Mm." Liu Xi answered casually, then extended his hand toward Qing Lin. Qing Lin obediently placed her small hand in his.

The incident with Mo Cheng had made Liu Xi decide to keep Qing Lin by his side at all times. The outside world truly is too dangerous. He worried himself sick over it.

Only then did Hai Bodong look at the little girl who had been following Liu Xi all along. Seeing how close the two were, he could not help asking, "Little Friend, this is?"

Not wanting to reveal too much about Qing Lin, Liu Xi casually explained to Hai Bodong, "A maid I took in."

Understanding dawned on Hai Bodong's face. Then he looked at Liu Xi with a strange expression and said with a sigh, "I understand. I understand. Young people are full of vigor—it's perfectly normal. Just remember to exercise restraint. Otherwise, when you reach my age, you'll realize that there are some things... beyond your strength."

Liu Xi shot the old rascal a disdainful glare and said irritably, "Just lead the way properly. Stop talking nonsense that makes people sick of you!"

Hai Bodong shook his head as he walked ahead to lead the way. It was clear that ever since obtaining the Po E Pill, he had felt as though a great burden had been lifted from his heart. Of course, it was also because he had truly begun treating Liu Xi as an equal that he seemed so easygoing, even making harmless jokes.

Holding Qing Lin's small hand, Liu Xi followed behind Hai Bodong. Qing Lin wore an expression that said she understood nothing and knew nothing as she clung closely to Liu Xi. Occasionally, she would tilt her head to look at him, and the corners of her lips would unconsciously lift into a happy smile.

The three soon arrived at Hai Bodong's shop. Entering the corridor through a side door, they watched as Hai Bodong fiddled with the wall. The formerly sealed wall opened to either side, revealing a hidden passage that appeared dark and deep.

Hai Bodong entered first, with Liu Xi following closely behind. A Moonlight Stone was embedded into each wall every five meters, casting a soft glow through the passage. The passage was not particularly cramped, but its route was exceedingly complicated. As he walked through it, Liu Xi thought, This old man is quite cautious.

They finally entered the secret chamber. The temperature within was extremely low, and an icy chill surrounded them. Liu Xi looked around with interest and discovered that this so-called secret chamber was actually an underground ice cavern.

Thick walls of snow-white ice covered the ceiling and surrounding walls of the cavern. Above their heads, sharp icicles hung upside down from the ceiling like keen swords.

Pale white frost mist lingered throughout the underground ice cavern, refusing to disperse. It was unknown how much time and effort Hai Bodong had spent constructing such a vast and intricate underground ice cavern.

"The Dou Qi technique I cultivate leans toward yin and coldness, so cultivating in a place like this is more effective. Furthermore, this place is buried deep underground. The solid ice and earth can conceal its aura, preventing other powerful experts from noticing it." Seeing Liu Xi observing the surroundings with great interest, Hai Bodong explained.

"Mm." Liu Xi nodded slightly and lowered his head to look at Qing Lin. Seeing Ling Shuang coiled around Qing Lin's arm, releasing its power to help her adapt to the environment, he was reassured. Raising his head toward Hai Bodong, he said calmly, "Hurry it up. My maid isn't well suited to this environment."

"Hehe, all right!"

With a smile and a nod, Hai Bodong took the Po E Pill from his Storage Ring and carefully examined it in his palm. His overly cautious manner drew a cold snort from Liu Xi.

After inspecting it for a while and finding nothing unusual, Hai Bodong finally let out a soft breath of relief. Ignoring Liu Xi's displeased expression, he lightly tapped the ground with his toes and soared onto a platform formed entirely of ice. Sitting cross-legged, he stuffed the Po E Pill into his mouth, formed a cultivation seal with his hands, and began absorbing the pill's medicinal power with all his strength.

Meanwhile, in the vast blue sky tens of thousands of miles away from Desert City, an enormous Serpentine Magical Beast was flying through the heavens at an astonishing speed. With a mere sway of its massive tail, it seemed to vanish and reappear like teleportation.

The giant serpent was immense, its entire body pitch-black and covered in brilliant, multicolored patterns that gave it a strange appearance. Eight black wings tinged with purple grew from either side of its body. A black, spiraling horn protruded from its head, its tip flickering with a faint purple glow that clearly contained potent venom. The faint multicolored patterns around its head vaguely outlined the shape of a crown. Its triangular pupils no longer held pure beastly savagery; instead, they carried the shrewd cunning of a human.

At that moment, the Green-robed Woman flying beside the giant serpent, looking tiny in comparison, spoke. "Hey, Bai Ya, your sensing wasn't wrong this time, was it?"

The giant serpent called Bai Ya responded in human speech, "Absolutely not. And judging from this scent, it has most likely already begun awakening."

Thanks to readers Crossing Worlds Only to Build a Harem and A Leisurely Crane for the rewards!