Hai Bodong's Whereabouts

The moment the Yang Yuan Pill entered his mouth, a faint scorching sensation spread through it. Moments later, a warm, pure energy surged directly from his mouth into his body, and Xiao Yan's body suddenly trembled.

His face calm, Xiao Yan swiftly formed the hand seals for cultivation.

His breathing gradually steadied. The faint Dou Qi within his body moved at his will, quickly entwining itself around that powerful, pure medicinal energy before beginning to refine it frantically.

Half an hour later.

"Boom!"

His aura fluctuated as his tightly shut eyes abruptly opened. A milk-white glow lingered in his pitch-black pupils for more than ten seconds before gradually fading away.

His mouth parted slightly, and Xiao Yan expelled a mouthful of murky, stale air. After breathing it out, his complexion visibly became much more radiant.

"Five-Star Dou Zhe. I made it!"

Feeling the much more abundant Dou Qi within his vortex, a brilliant smile climbed onto the young man's face.

At this point in time, if he had not encountered such a great opportunity as the Dual-Passage Gate, he would probably still only have three or four stages of Dou Qi.

After obtaining the Dual-Passage Gate, Old Yao had awakened a year early, and Xiao Yan had regained his cultivation talent a year early as well. Coupled with the cultivation resources from the Profound Sky Continent, not only had the Xiao Family undergone earth-shaking changes, but even he himself had changed his original fate.

"According to the letter sent by the Mite'er Family, judging by the time, that Elder Teng Shan should be arriving at the Xiao Family soon."

His eyes flickered slightly. Xiao Yan ended his cultivation, waved the remaining Yang Yuan Pills into his Storage Ring, then rose and headed down the mountain toward the Xiao Family.

Once Teng Shan arrived, he could invite Hai Bodong back. Then, he would be able to obtain the map of the Heavenly Flames and the Fragmentary Map of Pure Lotus Demonic Flame.

Although he had a Life-Bound Fire Seed that could continuously grow stronger...

Fen Jue was already an invincible path; the more Heavenly Flames, the more paths ahead!

Swallow a Heavenly Flame, and my fate shall be mine, not heaven's!

Inside the Xiao Family's spacious Reception Hall.

Several figures sat within, with the occasional sound of cheerful conversation. Graceful maids moved through the hall, pouring tea and serving water to the distinguished guests.

"Ha ha, Virtuous Brother Xiao Zhan, congratulations on advancing to Dou Ling. So, do you plan to hold a Dou Ling Banquet?"

"With the Xiao Family's current strength, your businesses should no longer be confined to a mere Wutan City. Spread your strength and reputation, and your future business expansion will proceed much more smoothly."

A vigorous, powerful laugh sounded through the hall. The speaker wore a luxurious robe, and his aged eyes gleamed with sharp light, making him appear especially spirited.

This elder was none other than the Mite'er Family's Great Elder, Mittel Teng Shan, who had come from the Jia Ma Imperial Capital!

"Brother Teng Shan, you flatter me. I owe my achievements today entirely to Yan'er. As for whether to hold a banquet, I'll have to ask my son's opinion."

Seated at the head of the room, Xiao Zhan spoke with some helplessness upon hearing this.

By age, Teng Shan was about as old as Xiao Lin. Yet for some reason, the moment he arrived, he insisted on addressing Xiao Zhan as a brother, and his enthusiasm was almost frightening.

"Ha ha, I wonder what matter the restrictions refer to. This Old Man is quite looking forward to it."

"Since our last parting, my Mite'er Family has gained tremendous profits in many cities by using Spiritual Medicine Pills as bargaining chips. We have Nephew Xiao Yan to thank for all of this."

At the mention of Xiao Yan, Teng Shan became interested as well, a trace of anticipation flashing in his eyes.

A young Dou Zhe with extraordinary talent—once this nephew matured, perhaps he could surpass even Elder Hai's heights?

What a pity. Elder Hai had been missing for many years. Otherwise, with his Five-Star Dou Huang strength before his disappearance and the various resources gathered by the family, he should have advanced further after all these years.

Ah, Elder Hai... why did you disappear without a word?

Teng Shan sighed inwardly.

"Father, let's hold the Dou Ling Banquet at the end of the month. We can also take this opportunity to formally announce that Wutan City belongs to my Xiao Family."

A clear voice that still carried a hint of youthful immaturity came from the doorway. Everyone looked up and saw a black-clad young man striding over.

"Then we'll do as Yan'er says. The end of the month it is."

Xiao Zhan nodded.

There was not really such a thing as a Dou Ling Banquet. It was merely using the pretext of a banquet to display one's strength to the surrounding powers, so that when expanding their businesses outward, they could subdue others without fighting and make those local snakes show some respect.

However, for the Xiao Family, which had killed the "Chuyun Dou Ling," there was no longer any need to use a banquet to demonstrate its strength.

Across the entire Jia Ma Empire, aside from the Jia Ma Imperial Family, the Misty Cloud Sect, the Alchemist Guild, and the handful of Dou Wang families, no other power could threaten the Xiao Family.

Of course, since Yan'er had suggested it, then they would hold it. He surely had his reasons.

That was what Xiao Zhan thought.

"Nephew, it's been a long time. Your cultivation has improved considerably again. Unlike this Old Man, who has remained stuck in place for years without making the slightest progress."

When he saw Xiao Yan arrive, Teng Shan's smile became even more radiant.

Anyone would greet a god of wealth with a smile, let alone one with such extraordinary talent, who might one day become a Dou Ancestor Expert that the Jia Ma Empire had never possessed.

A fifteen-year-old Five-Star Dou Zhe! If not for the unexpected mishap that had delayed him by two years, he would have been a Five-Star Dou Zhe at twelve or thirteen!

He was undoubtedly material for greatness!

The Mite'er Family had risen through commerce, and what mattered most was discernment and the ability to invest.

It was precisely this angel-investment mindset of treating rare goods as precious that had allowed the family to gain a Dou Emperor Expert as its Supreme Elder, propelling it into the empire's very top ranks!

"Elder Teng Shan, inviting you here this time concerns a good matter. There is no need to worry about your cultivation. Before long, you will be able to advance another step."

Xiao Yan found a seat and sat down. Facing Teng Shan, who possessed Dou Wang strength, he remained neither servile nor overbearing. His fingers lightly brushed the ancient ring, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

"Oh? Nephew, do you mean that Senior is preparing to refine a Dou Ling Pill?"

Upon hearing that, Teng Shan's eyes widened, and even his breathing grew much heavier.

"The medicinal ingredients for the Dou Ling Pill will still need to be gathered by the Mite'er Family. And I'll have to trouble Elder Teng Shan with these pills as well."

"The rest can wait. The ingredients for the Blood Lotus Pill must be assembled as soon as possible."

As he spoke, Xiao Yan handed over a scroll listing all sorts of medicinal ingredients.

There were Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pills, Blood Lotus Pills, Soul Nourishing Saliva, Spirit Recovery Purple Pills, Imperial Pills...

"Blood Lotus Essence and Ice Spirit Flame Grass should be easy enough to find, but this Ice Spirit Cold Spring... I have heard of it, but such Natural Treasures have not appeared within the Jia Ma Empire for many years."

Spreading open the scroll, Teng Shan fell into thought, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter.

Setting everything else aside, the temptation of the Dou Ling Pill alone was enough to make him mobilize the entire Mite'er Family's strength to search for these ingredients.

But while the other ingredients were manageable, where was he supposed to find Ice Spirit Cold Spring?

"Gu He has a younger brother named Gu Te..."

Xiao Yan smiled faintly and continued.

To devour a Heavenly Flame, he naturally had to make ample preparations. He only had one life; he could not take risks lightly.

If that truly did not work, the Snake People Tribe had an entire pool of Ice Spirit Cold Spring. Once Teacher awakened, he could find time to make a trip to the Tagor Desert.

Cai Lin, Xiao Xiao...

"Rest assured, Nephew. This Guy Gu Te often collects Natural Treasures through the Mite'er Family. I never expected him to hide information about the Ice Spirit Cold Spring so deeply. This Old Man will go find him at once!"

Teng Shan was a clever man and immediately understood Xiao Yan's meaning. He put away the scroll, rose directly from his seat, and was about to rush outside.

He had assumed Xiao Yan had called him here for these matters.

However, since it concerned the Dou Ling Pill, it was indeed worth a Dou Wang Expert like him making the trip personally. He would not feel at ease leaving it to anyone else.

Over the past year, Teng Shan had done an excellent job of keeping things confidential.

To this day, no one outside knew that the Spiritual Medicine Pills were supplied by the Xiao Family. Even fewer knew that a master alchemist capable of refining Sixth-Grade Pills lived in seclusion within the Xiao Family!

"Ah, Elder Teng Shan, please wait. This time, the main matter is something else."

Seeing Teng Shan's initiative in full force, Xiao Yan was slightly stunned, then hurriedly spoke.

"Nephew, what else is there?"

His steps halted, and Teng Shan turned around with an anxious expression.

What could be more important than gathering medicinal ingredients?

As long as he gathered all these ingredients and satisfied that master alchemist, this Old Man could obtain a Dou Ling Pill.

That was a Dou Ling Pill!

When consumed at the Dou Wang realm, it unconditionally raised one's strength by a full star!

Three years after three years, this Old Man had been stuck for years without any progress! This Old Man truly wanted to improve!

"This matter is to ask Elder Teng Shan to make a trip to the Tagor Desert and invite Ice Emperor Hai Bodong back."

Xiao Yan looked Teng Shan in the eyes and slowly spoke.

"Boom!"

The moment those words were spoken, Teng Shan's pupils abruptly shrank to the size of needlepoints. A violent aura suddenly burst uncontrollably from his body, and small whirlwinds let out soft howls within the hall.

"Nephew, is that true? You know Elder Hai's whereabouts!?"