Is the person in this Douqi Projection you?

Watching the old man intently drawing a map, he didn't disturb him. His gaze swept over the large number of maps on the counter, and he picked one up with great interest, turning it over and over to examine it. The clear routes on the map made him nod in satisfaction.

This dedication to mastering one's craft is truly admirable.

Upon sensing that the Mystic Ice Douqi within his body had become more active, Xiao Yuan knew that he had come to the right place.

Then, he looked around.

There were only two customers inside, a man and a woman.

The man was shirtless, his skin was dark, and he looked very capable. The woman, while also having dark skin, had a more sensual bronze hue.

Moreover, this woman's style of dress was not as reserved and shy as the women within the empire. Her tight-fitting leather outfit barely covered her chest and a little bit below, while her slender waist was boldly exposed.

Her long, slender thighs were simply covered by shorts that better concealed the top of her thighs, making her look very sexy.

However, Xiao Yuan only glanced at it casually and did not look at it in detail, so as not to cause himself unnecessary trouble.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, and he walked over to a quaint wooden shelf in the corner of the shop.

This wooden frame looks quite old, with some yellowed maps randomly piled inside. Judging from the tattered marks on the surface of these maps, they seem to be failed products from the map-making process.

Xiao Yuan glanced at the old man and saw that he was still drawing a map. He smiled and then very impolitely flipped through the pile of yellowed maps and found a tattered picture that was only the size of a palm.

The familiar material pleased him, and he completely ignored the musty smell that wafted from the map as he searched for it.

Stroking the map in his hand, Xiao Yuan smiled and was about to speak.

At this moment, Hai Bodong, behind the counter, did not look up, but he seemed to have noticed that Xiao Yuan had found something extraordinary. His aged voice echoed calmly in the room, "You want to buy a map of the Tagor Desert, right?"

Hearing the old man's question, Xiao Yuan slowly walked to the counter, smiled and nodded, and said, "Sir, could you please give me the most accurate and detailed desert map?"

"The items are on the counter, please choose for yourself."

The old man didn't even look up, and said something indifferently. His "take it or leave it" attitude didn't seem like that of a businessman at all.

No wonder the shop is deserted; with this attitude, even the few customers who were there before have left.

Pretending to be stupid, huh?

Xiao Yuan knew that Hai Lao had only spoken up because he had found the map fragment. Since there was no one else in the room, he decided not to waste time arguing and to be direct. He smiled casually, then opened his palm to reveal the ancient map fragment, and asked, "Sir, do you have any more map fragments like this here?"

Upon hearing Xiao Yuan's question, Hai Bodong, who was concentrating on drawing a map, trembled almost imperceptibly in his hand, causing the carefully drawn route to deviate.

With a slight frown, Hai Bodong finally raised his head slowly, his gaze sweeping over the tattered map in Xiao Yuan's hand, a strange meaning flashing in his cloudy old eyes.

Looking at the raised, aged face, Xiao Yuan confirmed it again. Although there was a horrifying scar running from the left cheek to the corner of the eye, and many wrinkles on the face, the flaws did not detract from the overall beauty. When the old man was young, his looks were absolutely top-notch.

The portrait of Hai Lao by Mittel Tengshan is said to be aged, but it is still younger than the Hai Lao we see today, and there are no scars on his face.

"You... have seen fragments of this map before?"

Hai Bodong sized up Xiao Yuan and was surprised to find that he couldn't see through Xiao Yuan's aura. After pondering for a moment, he looked at Xiao Yuan's face, which was even more handsome than his own when he was young, and asked in confusion.

"I've seen it before, so I want to buy it to study it."

Xiao Yuan nodded and said succinctly.

"Oh."

Upon hearing this, Hai Bodong said with little interest, "That's all. I only obtained this by chance. Based on my years of experience in cartography, it seems to be only a small part of a map."

Xiao Yuan nodded, a strange look flashing in his eyes. He then took out his Purple-Gold Card, pushed it out, and holding the incomplete map in his hand, said with a smile, "Old sir, can you sell me this map? I'm willing to pay a high price."

Upon seeing the familiar Purple-Gold Card, Hai Bodong's pupils suddenly contracted.

"Are you from the Mittel Family?"

After a moment of silence, Hai Bodong asked in a deep voice.

"I'd say it's barely half a [something]."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuan thought for a moment and said somewhat uncertainly.

"Oh, not for sale."

Hai Bodong nodded upon hearing this, said something with a firm tone, then lowered his head and continued drawing the map.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuan rolled his eyes at Hai Bodong in his heart, then said helplessly:

"Hai Lao, you don't want Great Elder Teng Shan to know that you've not only gone into seclusion here, but your strength has also been sealed, right?"

Hearing Xiao Yuan's threat, Hai Bodong's ink brush, which had been moving slowly in his hand, snapped in two with a "crack".

Staring at the large black mark on the map, Hai Bodong slowly raised his head, gazed at Xiao Yuan, and after a moment, slowly said, "Kid, you've mistaken me for someone else."

Feeling the temperature in the room gradually dropping, Xiao Yuan shook his head, then took out the jade piece left to him by Great Elder Teng Shan from his Storage Ring and activated it.

A slightly aged but upright and imposing figure emerged.

"Hai Lao, look at the person in this Douqi Projection, is that you?"

Xiao Yuan smiled slightly.

"No."

Hai Lao shook his head.

"I think so. Back then, you were very powerful and younger than you are now. You were Gama Empire Ten Strongest, and everyone admired you."

Xiao Yuan said with a smile.

"I don't think so. He doesn't have any scars on his face. Here's the map, now go."

As Hai Bodong finished speaking, the temperature inside the room dropped significantly again, and a powerful aura gradually emanated from it.

The meaning is clear: if you know what's good for you, get out of here quickly and don't force him to physically kick you out.

But Xiao Yuan not only did not feel uncomfortable, but also showed a comfortable and pleasant expression on his face.

Even with Hai Bodong's extensive experience, he was taken aback upon seeing this scene.

This kid is something else!

"Hai Lao, we're all on the same side, there's no need to hide anything, is there?"

Xiao Yuan shrugged, and a black battle qi-infused Douqi Gauze Robe, radiating a chilling aura, slowly emerged from his body.

"Mystic Ice Douqi?"

Sensing the familiar aura emanating from Xiao Yuan, Hai Bodong looked astonished and exclaimed in surprise.