Targeted by Medusa

"Ya Fei, a third-generation disciple of the Mite'er Family, pays respects to the Grand Elder."

At this moment, Ya Fei also came back to her senses and immediately bowed respectfully to Hai Bodong.

"Third-generation disciple? Who is your grandfather?"

Hai Bodong helped Ya Fei up before asking.

"Mite'er Haolin," Ya Fei replied respectfully.

"Haolin? So you're that brat's granddaughter!"

Upon hearing Ya Fei's grandfather's name, Hai Bodong could not help sighing at how quickly time had passed.

"This junior is Ye Tian."

"This junior is Xiao Yi Xian."

"We pay respects to Senior Ice Emperor."

At this moment, Ye Tian and Xiao Yi Xian also bowed to Hai Bodong.

"No need for such formalities."

"You aren't from the Mite'er Family? And how did you, brat, come to possess the Mite'er Family's Elder Token?"

Hai Bodong had paid no attention to worldly affairs these past years and knew nothing about Ye Tian.

"Elder Hai, this is what happened..."

Ya Fei hurriedly explained Ye Tian's circumstances, as well as the major events that had taken place in Wutan City.

"So that's what happened!"

"Ya Fei, you did very well."

After listening to Ya Fei's account, Hai Bodong felt immensely gratified. This girl had actually managed to win over a peerless talent like Ye Tian. She truly had an eye for talent!

"That useless Mite'er Tengshan is utterly incompetent. He actually allowed the three of you juniors to suffer an assassination attempt."

"Outrageous!"

However, when he heard what Ye Tian and the two girls had experienced in Wutan City, Hai Bodong trembled with rage.

"Senior, Wutan City is too far from the Imperial Capital. Senior Tengshan didn't know about it, and besides, we were unharmed. We dealt with all those assassins."

"At the time, I didn't want the matter to spread too quickly, so Sister Ya Fei and Master Gu Ni didn't report it upward. Senior, you needn't blame Senior Tengshan."

Seeing that the old man was still standing up for them, Xiao Yi Xian and Ye Tian found him rather agreeable.

"So that's what happened!"

"You three little ones meeting this old man can be considered fate. Come! Let's have a proper chat in the back courtyard."

Hai Bodong directly shut the shop's doors and brought the three of them to a small courtyard in the back to entertain them.

"Young people these days are truly incredible. This old man has already been left behind by the times."

After learning of Ye Tian and the two girls' strength, Hai Bodong felt as though he had lived his entire life in vain.

"Elder Hai, you flatter us."

"You should return to the Imperial Capital with us afterward!"

Ya Fei smiled modestly. Since they had found this Grand Elder, they naturally had to invite him out of seclusion.

"My strength is currently sealed. I only possess the strength of a Dou Ling. Even if I returned, I wouldn't be able to help you much."

Hai Bodong shook his head helplessly, willing but unable.

"Elder Hai, what happened?"

Seeing that Hai Bodong only had the strength of a Dou Ling, Xiao Yi Xian and Ya Fei were immediately stunned.

"Back then, I had some dealings with the Snake People in the Tagor Desert... Queen Medusa sealed me, causing my strength to fall to the Dou Ling level. I've lived in seclusion in Mo City all these years, searching for a way to break the seal."

Hai Bodong briefly recounted some of what had happened to him in the Tagor Desert back then.

"Queen Medusa?"

Upon hearing the name of the notoriously vicious Snake People queen, Xiao Yi Xian and Ya Fei were startled.

"That's right! Her strength was at the Peak Dou Emperor level. I lost that battle—lost utterly and completely."

Hai Bodong sighed helplessly. Recalling that incident from back then still caused a dull ache in his heart.

"Xiao Tian, do you have a way to remove Elder Hai's seal now?"

Seeing that her family's Grand Elder only possessed the strength of a Dou Ling, Ya Fei could only turn to Ye Tian for help.

"All that's needed is a Po E Pill to remove the Snake Seal within Senior's body. However, the Po E Pill is a Sixth-grade Pill, and its Spirit Herbs are rare and difficult to gather."

"There is also another kind of pill, the Sheng Ling Pill, which can break the seal as well. This pill is a Seventh-grade Pill. After taking it, one's soul can surge by one or two major levels, though the effect only lasts for a quarter of an hour before returning to normal. If Elder Hai takes a Sheng Ling Pill now, his Soul Strength will instantly rise to around the peak Dou Zong level, allowing him to break Queen Medusa's Snake Seal."

"After taking the Sheng Ling Pill, there is a chance for one's soul level to break through to the next level within a short period, since this pill will have already shattered the barrier for your soul."

"However, the Spirit Herbs required for the Sheng Ling Pill are rare. With our current connections, it will be difficult to obtain them."

Breaking Hai Bodong's seal was not particularly difficult for Ye Tian. The Pill Dao Sacred Canon contained records of the Po E Pill, and there were another three or four kinds of pills that could also do it. The Sheng Ling Pill was merely one of them.

"Sheng Ling Pill? This old man has never even heard of such a pill. Where did you learn about it?"

Seeing Ye Tian instantly name two methods of breaking his seal, Hai Bodong was deeply shocked.

"Elder Hai, Xiao Tian passed the advanced Fourth Grade Alchemist examination with the strength of an Eight-star Dou Master. He is someone who creates miracles."

"As for the Master behind him, he is unimaginably powerful. This junior cannot tell you about him for now."

Ya Fei explained from the side, letting her family's Grand Elder understand just how much of a prodigy Ye Tian was.

"This old man understands."

Hai Bodong nodded. There had to be an exceptionally powerful expert guiding a prodigy like Ye Tian, and those great experts all had their tempers. He did not feel it was appropriate to pry.

"Elder Hai, Sister Ya Fei has a small goal: she wants to spread the Auction House's business across the entire Dou Qi Continent. You have to help her—you can't stay cooped up here and waste your days away."

"As for the issue with your snake seal, I'll help you resolve it."

At that moment, Ye Tian directly made his position clear to Hai Bodong, inviting him to return to the world.

"Cough... cough..."

"Taking the Auction House's business across the entire Dou Qi Continent—that goal is far too ambitious. Even if this old man recovers his strength, I'm afraid I would be powerless to accomplish it."

As soon as he finished speaking, Hai Bodong was utterly stunned, even choking on the tea he had just swallowed.

"You! Stop boasting in front of Senior Ice Emperor."

Xiao Yi Xian shot Ye Tian a glare. This Little Fellow was truly unreliable.

"If I don't make the goal sound bigger, how can I stir Elder Hai's fighting spirit?"

Ye Tian deliberately provoked Hai Bodong, letting the old man see the ideals of the younger generation.

"Fine! Let's put that goal aside for now. We can discuss it once we grow stronger."

"I have obtained the Spirit Herbs and pill formula for the Po E Pill, but I am still missing a Spirit Herb called Sand Mandara. My strength is sealed, and the Dou Qi I cultivate is ice-attributed. Once I enter the depths of the desert, Queen Medusa will sense me."

"At present, I have no way of obtaining that Spirit Herb."

Hai Bodong did not know the specifics of Ye Tian's alchemy, but since this Little Fellow had achieved so much at such a young age, he chose to trust him.

"Xiao Tian, we trained in the Monster Mountain Range for a year and explored a quarter of its territory. Among all the Spirit Herbs you collected, wasn't there any Sand Mandara?"

Thinking of the piles upon piles of Spirit Herbs in Ye Tian's Ring of Holding, Ya Fei felt that he should not be lacking one.

"Sand Mandara only grows in the desert. I never encountered it in the Monster Mountain Range."

"I was originally troubled over the Spirit Herb, but since Elder Hai has already gathered the other ingredients for the Po E Pill, I'll go into the depths of the desert to search for Sand Mandara."

If he wanted the old man Hai Bodong to return to the world, he could only lift his seal. Thus, Ye Tian planned to make the trip to the desert himself.

"Then let's go!"

Seeing this, Ya Fei and Xiao Yi Xian also intended to venture into the Tagor Desert with Ye Tian.

"No!"

"The depths of the desert are too dangerous. If you encounter Queen Medusa, you won't be able to escape at all. This old man cannot let you risk your lives."

Seeing Ye Tian and the two women recklessly planning to enter the Tagor Desert, Hai Bodong immediately could not sit still.

"Compared with your lives, this old man's affairs are not worth mentioning."

At that moment, Hai Bodong was deeply moved. These three young people were actually willing to risk entering the depths of the desert for his sake. As an elder, how could he allow such a thing to happen?

"Elder Hai, the problem you're worried about isn't a problem for Xiao Tian."

Ever since Ya Fei and Xiao Yi Xian had entered Ye Tian's Chaos Tower, they knew that nowhere in the world was safer than by this Little Fellow's side.

"I can go alone. You two wait here for me."

This time, Ye Tian planned to go alone and did not intend to bring the two women into the Tagor Desert.

"Alright, then. Be careful."

The two women felt that following him would only hold Ye Tian back. They might as well stay behind and improve their strength.

"How confident are you, kid?"

Hai Bodong looked at Ye Tian suspiciously, unable to understand what trump card this kid had that made him dare enter the Tagor Desert.

"One hundred percent." Ye Tian nodded.

"Very well, then. But you need to make some preparations before entering the desert."

Seeing Ye Tian's confident expression, Hai Bodong knew that this Little Fellow definitely had an even greater trump card.

Hai Bodong then prepared a detailed Desert Map for Ye Tian, along with Snake Repellent, rations, and other supplies.

"Elder Hai, there's no need to prepare water. Xiao Tian has already stored enough."

Seeing Hai Bodong prepare water for Ye Tian as well, Ya Fei and Xiao Yi Xian felt it was unnecessary. After all, the Little Fellow's Chaos Tower contained a Small World.

"Alright!"

"Xiao Tian, Sand Mandara grows in the deepest part of the desert. Also, there may be Heavenly Flames in these locations. If you need them, go search for them."

Hai Bodong spread out the Desert Map and carefully marked several locations for Ye Tian.

"No problem."

"I'll be leaving first."

Ye Tian put away the map and left Mo City.

"I hope nothing happens to that kid."

Watching Ye Tian swagger away, Hai Bodong felt somewhat uneasy.

"Elder Hai, don't worry. He'll be fine."

Ya Fei and Xiao Yi Xian reassured the old man, then entered the small courtyard to cultivate.

"Fine. This old man knows there must be a powerful expert protecting that kid."

Seeing how relaxed Ya Fei and Xiao Yi Xian looked, Hai Bodong knew his worries had been unnecessary.

The lone smoke in the vast desert rose straight, while the setting sun over the long river hung round.

After entering the Tagor Desert, Ye Tian looked over the endless yellow sands and could not help recalling a timeless verse by a poet.

"Master, can Chaos Heavenly Flame devour the Heavenly Flames of this world?"

Walking across the dunes, Ye Tian thought of the Green Lotus Core Flame deep in the desert and asked his Master.

"There is no need. You only need to cultivate properly."

As the purest power of chaos from the dawn of the universe, Jin Yan had no interest in the Heavenly Flames of this world.

"Alright!"

Hearing the pride in his Master's voice, Ye Tian no longer dwelled on the matter. Besides, the Cultivation Method he practiced was not the Burning Art, so there was no need for him to devour any Heavenly Flames.

Traveling through the desert, there was no sense of direction at all. Ye Tian could only walk for a while, fly for a while, and observe his bearings. At night, he would enter the Chaos Tower to rest.

Several days later, Ye Tian had already reached the depths of the desert. Along the way, he encountered some Snake People, but he did not attack them. Whenever he encountered Snake People, he simply flew into the sky and avoided them.

"Rustle..."

That day, Ye Tian was resting atop a sand dune and checking his direction when a series of sounds suddenly came from the dune ahead. Immediately afterward, two purple giant snakes shot out and attacked him.

"Whoosh... Bang..."

Ye Tian immediately waved his hand, condensing a long sword from powerful Dou Qi and sending the two giant snakes flying. However, after being struck away, the two snakes directly turned into energy and vanished.

"Huh!"

Seeing this, Ye Tian grew curious. He recalled the warning from the city gate guards a few days earlier, who had said that Snake People had been appearing recently. Those two snakes must have been a method used by the Snake People.

"This human youth has quite the nerve."

At the same time, a seductive Snake People woman a thousand meters away was silently watching Ye Tian.

She possessed peerless beauty and a bewitching figure. Wearing a crown and a red veil over her face, she was none other than the infamous Queen Medusa. According to reports from the Charm Snake Tribe's scouts, a young Dou Emperor had entered the depths of the desert. Medusa had come out to take a look, only to find that he was a human youth.

"Whoosh..."

At that moment, Queen Medusa flew directly toward Ye Tian, intending to see who this young man the Snake People scouts had mentioned was.

"Fuck..."

Ye Tian also sensed a powerful Aura at that moment. Turning his head, he saw a graceful red figure flying toward him and was instantly startled.

"Whoosh..."

Ye Tian had never expected the infamous Queen Medusa to appear. He immediately activated the Golden Light Wings Flying Dou Technique and soared into the sky.

Ye Tian's mind was completely blank. Wasn't Queen Medusa supposed to be preparing to absorb the Green Lotus Core Flame at this point? Why had she set her sights on him?

"Huh!"

When Queen Medusa saw Ye Tian use a Flying Dou Technique, she immediately realized that the Snake People scouts had misjudged him. This Little Fellow was not a Dou Emperor at all.

"Whoosh..."

"Little Fellow, I didn't expect you to be a Fourth Grade Alchemist. Not bad at all!"

Medusa then accelerated, flying directly in front of Ye Tian and cutting him off. She discovered that this human youth possessed only Dou Ling strength and was also a Fourth Grade Alchemist, so she planned to capture him and put him to use.

"Who are you? Why are you chasing me?"

Ye Tian immediately turned around and flew into the distance, pretending to ask curiously.

"My dear disciple, you've run into a beautiful snake. Do you want your Master to step in and subdue her for you?"

"Her strength has reached the peak of the Dou Emperor realm. She'd make a fine mount."

At that moment, Jin Yan in the Chaos Tower also learned of the Snake People woman's strength through Ye Tian's senses.

"Master, not for now."

Hearing the teasing in his Master's voice, Ye Tian thought, Is this mount even decent?

"This King is Medusa, Queen of the Snake People. Little Fellow, you're only a mere Dou Ling, yet you dared to enter the Tagor Desert. You've got some nerve!"

Seeing that this human youth was as slippery as a loach, Queen Medusa quickly caught up to him again.

"Ah, you're Queen Medusa?"

"Let me tell you, I was only searching for Spirit Herbs in the desert. I never had any conflict with the Snake People, so don't even think about killing me! Otherwise, the consequences will be severe."

Ye Tian put on a shocked expression, then made his stance clear to this terrifying queen.

"You humans and our Snake People are mortal enemies. Otherwise, we wouldn't have fled to this desolate Tagor Desert."

"Little Fellow, this King will spare your life for the sake of your being an alchemist. However, you must return with me and become this King's alchemist."

Queen Medusa stared coldly at Ye Tian. This Little Fellow had become a Fourth Grade Alchemist at such a young age; his future prospects were boundless. She had to take him back and make him her slave. He would surely be useful to her in the future.

"That's impossible."

Without even thinking, Ye Tian refused outright. If I enter that Snake People nest of yours, wouldn't I be done for?

"Do you think this King is discussing it with you? This King is merely informing you."

"Whoosh..."

Queen Medusa spoke coldly, then reached out and grabbed at Ye Tian, intending to forcibly take the Little Fellow back.