Angel Investor Hai Bodong

Xiao Yi Xian took out her water flask, took a small sip, and handed it to Xiao Ce as she sighed, "So this is the Tagor Desert? It really is hot!"

Xiao Ce took the flask and gulped down a mouthful, smiling. "Eighty percent of the energy in the air is fire- and earth-attributed. How could it not be hot?"

Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian reached out and grabbed at the air.

"It really is. But you don't cultivate fire- or earth-attributed techniques, so what are you doing here?" Xiao Yi Xian asked curiously.

Xiao Ce pondered for a moment before saying, "Perhaps it's a feeling from fate. There may be someone in the Tagor Desert I want to find."

"Hm?" Xiao Yi Xian's heart stirred. "You mean someone with a special physique?"

She knew that the more unusual the physique of the person Xiao Ce dual-cultivated with, the faster his cultivation progressed.

Xiao Ce nodded.

Seeing this, Xiao Yi Xian looked at him resentfully. "I knew this day would come sooner or later. I just didn't expect it to come so quickly."

Xiao Ce pulled her into his arms and said earnestly, "Xian'er, no matter what happens in the future, you will always be unique in my heart."

Xiao Yi Xian gave a soft snort and said coyly, "You only know how to say nice things. Fine, fine, it's not like I'm angry with you."

Xiao Ce said solemnly, "Xian'er, I mean every word I said. I'm not just trying to placate you."

Xiao Yi Xian pressed her cheek against Xiao Ce's chest. Her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled gently.

"I believe everything you say!"

Xiao Yi Xian was a considerate person.

Although she longed to have Xiao Ce all to herself, she did not want to hinder his future because of it.

Besides...

Sometimes, dealing with Xiao Ce by herself truly left her unable to hold the fort alone.

After lingering in each other's embrace for a while, Xiao Yi Xian asked curiously, "Where are we going next? Are we going straight to find the special physique you sensed? What if it's a man?"

"Uh..."

Xiao Ce had not expected Xiao Yi Xian's question to be so tricky. He coughed lightly.

"Don't worry. My senses are accurate. That special physique definitely can't be a man."

Xiao Yi Xian sighed. "Fine, then I won't get to see you make a fool of yourself."

"Alright, let's buy a map first."

Afraid that Xiao Yi Xian might ask another shocking question, Xiao Ce hurriedly changed the subject.

The two strolled around Mo City and soon stopped before a shop named "Gutu."

Seeing the two words "Gutu" on the signboard, the corners of Xiao Ce's lips curled up slightly.

The second Incomplete Map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame was right before him.

"Xian'er, let's go inside and take a look."

"Mm!"

The two slowly entered the shop.

The inside of the shop was not particularly spacious, and there was not a single customer within. It felt somewhat deserted.

Behind the counter at the very back of the shop, a white-haired old man had his head lowered as he carefully drew a map on the table.

This man was none other than Battle Through the Heavens' foremost angel investor, the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, whose Xuanbing Longxiang was wielded with unparalleled mastery.

When Xiao Ce's gaze fell upon him, Hai Bodong seemed to sense something. He stopped what he was doing and raised his head.

The instant he saw Xiao Ce, a hint of surprise appeared on his weathered face.

This person was so young, yet his strength had already reached Nine-Star Dou Shi!

What terrifying talent!

Whose descendant was he?

Hai Bodong's gaze lingered on Xiao Ce for a moment before he quickly withdrew it. As though nothing had happened, he lowered his head and continued drawing his map.

His cultivation was currently sealed. He only wanted to live in seclusion in peace and find a way to break the seal on his body.

Without giving anything away, Xiao Ce began examining the maps in the shop.

Before long, an ancient incomplete map on a shabby wooden rack entered his sight.

A sharp gleam flashed through Xiao Ce's eyes.

Found it!

He stepped forward and picked up the Incomplete Map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame.

This incomplete map was only half the size of the one he had obtained in the Magic Beast Mountain Range. The other half was undoubtedly in Hai Bodong's possession.

If Xiao Ce had not been strong enough, he would never have acted rashly.

But as a Nine-Star Dou Ling, Xiao Ce naturally did not need to have so many concerns.

Holding the Incomplete Map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame, Xiao Ce walked up to Hai Bodong and cupped his hands. "Old sir, may we talk?"

Hai Bodong raised his head. When he saw the Incomplete Map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame in Xiao Ce's hand, a sharp light burst from his eyes.

He stared at Xiao Ce with the gaze of a hawk, his tone calm.

"What is it?"

Xiao Ce calmly placed the Incomplete Map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame on the counter. "If I'm not mistaken, old sir, you should have another incomplete map in your possession."

"You... recognize this incomplete map? Or have you seen it somewhere before?"

Xiao Ce calmly shook his head.

"I don't recognize this incomplete map, but that doesn't stop me from being interested in it. So, I would like to make a deal with you, old sir."

"No deal!"

Hai Bodong did not hesitate in the slightest.

Back then, he had gone through great pains to obtain this incomplete map in the desert. How could he possibly trade it away so easily now?

Although he had yet to uncover what secret this incomplete map contained, his intuition told him that it likely held an immense secret.

At that moment, a faint chuckle sounded beside him.

"Old sir, don't you want to regain your strength?"

Before the words had even faded, a cold and powerful aura erupted from Hai Bodong's body.

A layer of frost instantly formed across the counter around him, and the temperature in the shop rapidly plummeted.

Hai Bodong abruptly looked at Xiao Ce, his gaze icy and piercing.

"Who exactly are you!"

Out of the corner of his eye, Xiao Ce glanced at Xiao Yi Xian standing nearby. She was only a One-Star Dou Shi, and facing the aura erupting from Hai Bodong, she was struggling somewhat, shivering from the cold.

The next second, an invisible aura spread from Xiao Ce's body as well.

The two auras collided in midair.

In an instant, the surrounding frost quietly melted away. Xiao Yi Xian stopped shivering, and a smile rose on her lips as she looked at Xiao Ce.

Hai Bodong's pupils constricted violently, his face filled with disbelief.

Although Queen Medusa's seal had struck him, he could still wield the strength of a Five-Star Dou Ling.

Yet this brat before him was merely a Nine-Star Dou Shi, and he could actually suppress him in terms of aura.

How was that possible!

Xiao Ce said indifferently, "Naturally, I am someone who can help you, old sir!"

"Old sir, you are the great Ice Emperor. Do you truly wish to spend the rest of your life cowering in this tiny map shop, wasting away your remaining years?"

Hai Bodong narrowed his eyes. Xiao Ce's performance just now made him take the young man somewhat more seriously.

"I never expected you to know my identity as well. Tell me, which old fellow took you as his disciple? Jia Xingtian, or Yun Shan?"

Xiao Ce shook his head. "Neither of those two is qualified to be my teacher!"

"What an arrogant brat. Give you ten years, and with your talent, perhaps you would be qualified to say that. But right now, you are only a Nine-Star Dou Shi."

Hai Bodong shook his head slightly, and his opinion of Xiao Ce dropped by another notch.

His eyes were higher than his abilities. He was unlikely to achieve anything great!

"If this junior were truly only a Nine-Star Dou Shi, where would I get the confidence to make a deal with the Ice Emperor?" Xiao Ce remained composed, but his eyes shone brilliantly. His calm confidence was like a treasured sword with its edge fully revealed.

"What? You've hidden your cultivation as well?" Hai Bodong froze.

Although his cultivation had been sealed, his discernment remained. He had not expected to fail to see through Xiao Ce's true strength.

Xiao Ce smiled faintly, no longer concealing his aura as it revealed itself.

Nine-Star Dou Ling!

Hai Bodong: "I spoke too loudly just now!"