Hai Bodong: That Year, It Was as Though I Picked Up a Copy of Battle Through the Heavens in Tagor Desert!

At the gates of Desert City before dawn, Xiao Yan finally arrived after a month-long journey.

Other than Medicine Elder and himself, no one knew what kind of brutal beating he had endured over the past month.

After taking the Ice Fire Body Tempering Pill, he had spent an entire month being relentlessly lashed by the Bone Spirit Cold Flame for six hours every day. Xiao Yan had lived each day in the torment of full-body fractures and shattered balls.

However, the results of that month of beatings were extremely obvious. First was his Physical Strength, which had now reached the level of an ordinary Fourth-order Magical Beast. Though he still could not compare with a naturally gifted Magical Beast like the Amethyst Winged Lion King, dealing with a High-level Great Dou Shi no longer posed any pressure to him.

Then there was his Dou Qi cultivation. Over the course of a month, he had consumed more than a dozen Fifth-grade Pills. Even though they were not pills meant to increase cultivation, he had successfully broken through to become a Four-Star Dou Grandmaster. Five-Star Great Dou Shi was not far away either.

"Whew..."

"After rushing all the way here, I finally made it on the last day!"

Xiao Yan took a deep breath, removed his fitted travel clothes, changed into an Alchemist Robe, and headed toward the city gate!

At the largest inn in Desert City, Chen Yang had once again rented out an entire Small Courtyard.

Although Xiao Yan had arrived, it did not affect Chen Yang's enthusiasm for riding.

After a round of battle, Chen Yang finally stopped to inspect the rewards from this system trigger.

First was a brand-new Storage Ring. Although it could not compare with Han Feng's Nether Sea Storage Ring, the space within was much larger, making it suitable for his status.

The one he had obtained when the system triggered back in Wutan City could be given to Xiao Yi Xian.

Next was the complete Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Map.

Chen Yang did not take it out immediately. What if it contained the consciousness of the Nether Lotus Demon Saint? He would end up being marked. It was better to leave it in the Storage Ring and wait until Xiao Yan gathered the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Map, then take out his own copy.

When that time came, Xiao Yan would probably feel like King Silver Horn: "My map is male, while yours is female!"

However, while Chen Yang was indulging in this fantasy, he had overlooked one thing—the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Map Fragments had not yet fallen into Xiao Yan's hands at all!

That afternoon, after Xiao Yi Xian woke up, Chen Yang brought her to the Alchemist Association in Desert City.

He and Xiao Yan had agreed that no matter what happened, they would meet at the Alchemist Guild exactly one month later.

After entering, Chen Yang spotted Xiao Yan sitting in the main hall, respectfully attended by a young girl wearing an Alchemist Apprentice robe.

"Brother Yang!"

The moment Xiao Yan saw Chen Yang, he rose excitedly and hurried over.

"Not bad. We haven't seen each other for a month, and you've gotten much sturdier. Your cultivation has even gone up by a star. Well done!" Chen Yang reached out and patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder. The Young Man looked travel-worn, but he was noticeably more mature than he had been a month ago.

"Hehe..." Xiao Yan chuckled. Seeing Chen Yang again made him feel much more at ease.

"Come on, let's find somewhere else to talk!" Chen Yang said, leading Xiao Yi Xian out of the Alchemist Guild while Xiao Yan hurried after them.

After returning to the inn's Small Courtyard, Xiao Yan curiously looked around.

Chen Yang took out the various Medicinal Pills he had prepared long ago and Handed Them To Xiao Yan.

"Thank you, Brother Yang!"

Xiao Yan looked at Chen Yang with immense gratitude.

"It may be a fair trade, but since you insist on thanking me, I really do have something I need your help with!" Chen Yang said.

"Just say the word, Brother Yang!" Xiao Yan put the Medicinal Pills into his Storage Ring and looked at Chen Yang.

"If I remember correctly, your two brothers are in Tagor Desert, right?" Chen Yang asked.

"Yeah. Big Brother and Second Brother are both in Stone Desert City. They established a Mercenary Group and have made something of themselves." Thinking of his two brothers, Xiao Yan immediately smiled.

"When you get to Stone Desert City, have your two brothers help me send a batch of Medicinal Pills back to the Xiao Family. They can all help Big Brother Xiao Yong cultivate," Chen Yang said.

"No problem!" Xiao Yan patted his chest. "I'll have Second Brother deliver them personally. It'll be a good chance for him to go back and see Father too. Hehe, I heard Father has already advanced to Dou Ling. It's all thanks to the pills you gave him before leaving, Brother Yang!"

Chen Yang smiled. The two chatted for a while longer, and Medicine Elder came out to exchange a few words as well.

After lunch, the three people, two beasts, and one soul went out that afternoon to ask around before heading to the map shop called "Gu Tu."

After entering, Xiao Yan was still looking around when Hai Bodong, behind the counter, suddenly narrowed his eyes.

A Four-Star Dou Grandmaster, a Three-Star Dou Grandmaster, and a Fourth-order Magical Beast...

That Young Man and the Magical Beast by his feet—I cannot see through either of them...

Who exactly are they?

Years of hiding had made Hai Bodong instinctively suspicious.

"Hmm?"

"I never expected there to be a Dou Emperor in Desert City."

"But Old Sir, your luck is not very good. How did you end up being sealed?"

Chen Yang turned to look at Hai Bodong. With his current strength, even without the plot's influence, he could easily see through Hai Bodong's present condition.

"You..."

Hai Bodong panicked slightly. Since the other party could see through his condition at a glance, he was at least a High-level Dou Huang.

And at present, even at full strength, he only possessed the power of a Dou Ling. If the other party made a move, he would likely be in grave danger.

"This Old Sir is actually a Dou Emperor?"

Xiao Yan had been examining the maps around him, but Chen Yang's words caught his attention. He turned toward Hai Bodong.

Xiao Yi Xian also curiously sized up the old man before her.

"Master, the seal on this person is even stronger than my Amethyst Seal. It should have been placed by Medusa, the queen of the Snake-People Tribe." At that moment, the Amethyst Winged Lion King at Chen Yang's feet suddenly spoke.

Hai Bodong was startled again. He lowered his head to look at the dog-sized Magical Beast and gradually recognized the traits of the Amethyst Winged Lion King.

"You... you are the Amethyst Winged Lion King from the Monster Mountain Range?" Hai Bodong cried out in shock.

"Yes!" The Amethyst Winged Lion King Nodded and released a trace of the aura of a Sixth-order Magical Beast.

"Whew..." Hai Bodong was utterly despairing. Looking at the three people and two beasts before him, he gave a bitter smile. "If you wish Hai Bodong to do anything, just say so. However, my strength has now fallen only to the Dou Ling level. I may not be able to help you much!"

"Hai Bodong?"

"You are Hai Bodong, the Ice Emperor and one of the Jia Ma Empire's ten greatest Strong People?"

Xiao Yi Xian asked in surprise.

The Ice Emperor Hai Bodong was a legendary figure in the Jia Ma Empire. She had never expected him to have fallen to such a state.

"Yes!" Hai Bodong Nodded bitterly.

"Elder Hai, there is no need to panic. We are only here to buy maps; we mean no harm." Chen Yang smiled. Seeing Hai Bodong's expression ease somewhat, he continued, "Speaking of which, I have some dealings with the Mite'er Family as well. Elder Hai, there is no need to treat me as a stranger or an enemy."

Upon hearing this, Hai Bodong's expression relaxed further. "I cannot see through Esteemed Sir. May I ask who Esteemed Sir is..."

Chen Yang smiled. "Nine-star Dou Huang!"

Hai Bodong immediately sucked in a cold breath. "Hiss..."

"Elder Hai, first give my brother a map of the Heavenly Flames in Tagor Desert." Chen Yang looked at Hai Bodong.

Hai Bodong pondered for a moment before nodding. He then took out a map he had drawn based on the Heavenly Flame information he had collected over the years and gave Xiao Yan a few instructions.

After receiving the map, Xiao Yan casually wandered around the shop and discovered that small half of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Map Fragment.

"If Little Brother wants that, I have the other half here as well!" Hai Bodong looked at Chen Yang, then at Xiao Yan. After gritting his teeth, he took out the remaining half.

However, Xiao Yan directly handed the map to Chen Yang and transmitted with his Spiritual Power, "Brother Yang, this is a fragment of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame, ranked third on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. Do you want it? I'll give it to you!"

Chen Yang looked at Xiao Yan in surprise. "Your Cultivation Method has an immense need for Heavenly Flames. Are you willing to give it to me?"

Xiao Yan smiled freely. "Without you, Brother Yang, I might still be an ordinary Little Dou Shi. I might not even have gathered all the Medicinal Materials needed for the pill to devour Heavenly Flames. Besides, this is far too distant for me. You have deep fortune, Brother Yang. Maybe you can gather all of it someday. Then I can benefit from following you!"

Chen Yang burst into laughter. "Hahaha... Keep it. Just because of what you said today, Brother Yang will grant you an enormous opportunity someday!"

Xiao Yan scratched his head. Though he did not understand, he silently put the map away, thinking that if he found more fragments in the future, he could give them to Chen Yang then.

Meanwhile, Chen Yang looked at Hai Bodong. "Elder Hai, you took out this map without hesitation. My Little Brother and I will not take it for nothing. How about we help you break this seal in return?"

Hai Bodong abruptly raised his bitter face and looked at Chen Yang. "R-really?"

As he spoke, Hai Bodong weighed the matter in his heart. Medusa was a Nine-star Dou Huang, and the Young Man before him was also one. Perhaps there was great hope?

"I am a Nine-star Dou Huang, my Little Brother possesses a Heavenly Flame, and this Great Lion is skilled in Sealing Techniques. I will also refine a Fifth-grade Star Shattering Pill for you. With all four methods combined, if it still does not work, then I can only personally seek out Medusa!" Chen Yang said with a smile.

"You... you are Alchemists as well?" Hai Bodong asked in astonishment.

"Brother Yang is a Fifth-grade Alchemist," Xiao Yan said proudly.

"Hiss..." Hai Bodong sucked in another cold breath.

After thinking for a moment, Hai Bodong stepped out from behind the counter and gave Chen Yang a deep bow. "If Young Sir can break this seal for me, then from this day onward, I will serve at your command without a word of refusal."

Compared to the original story, where Hai Bodong still haggled with Xiao Yan, Chen Yang before him had reached Peak Dou Huang at such a young age and even had a Sixth-order Magical Beast as a mount. All of this had thoroughly subdued his proud heart.

"Good!" Chen Yang said, smiling as he Nodded.

Hai Bodong straightened up and revealed a smile as well.

Countless years later, after Hai Bodong had also reached the realm of Shatter Void and transcended the cycle of life and death, he happened upon an Azure Planet during one of his travels across countless planes.

In that world, Hai Bodong saw the story recorded in a book called Battle Through the Heavens, and he could not help recalling the events of this day.

"That year, it was as though I picked up a copy of Battle Through the Heavens in Tagor Desert!"