How Did I Get So Confused?

Hai Bodong's face twitched twice before he forced out a faint smile.

"Please don't take offense, little friend. I've only just recovered my strength today and still can't control the Dou Qi in my body. What happened just now was all a misunderstanding."

The situation was stronger than the person. Hai Bodong wasn't some hotheaded fool who would provoke someone despite knowing they were stronger.

There was no real conflict between the two of them. In a certain sense, Xiao Jin could even be considered his benefactor.

"I don't care whether it was a misunderstanding. If you dare touch my people again, I'll cripple you!" Xiao Jin was nothing like the amiable person he had been yesterday.

Even after fighting Hai Bodong yesterday, Xiao Jin had still held back.

But today, Hai Bodong had actually released his pressure against Xiao Yi Xian. That wasn't merely a slap in Xiao Jin's face—it was also an injury to Xiao Yi Xian.

Did he really think I had a good temper?

Xiao Yi Xian gazed at Xiao Jin with tender eyes, a faint smile hanging from the corners of her lips. Her eyes rippled like water, and she almost wished she could melt into Xiao Jin's body.

She had suffered only a little grievance, yet Xiao Jin was willing to stand up for her against a Dou Emperor expert.

If he was willing to go this far, what more could she possibly ask for?

Hai Bodong forcibly suppressed his shame and took a Fragmented Map from beneath the counter.

"Little friend, this is another one-eighth of the Fragmented Map."

Xiao Jin accepted the Fragmented Map with a cold expression, pointed at Hai Bodong's nose, and then strode out of the Map Shop.

Before leaving, he said coldly, "Old man, I'll give you one minute. Take your most important possessions and leave this place. Otherwise, you'll bear the consequences."

With that, he spread his palm. A cluster of deep-purple flames danced within it, making Hai Bodong's heart pound with fear.

The old man moved swiftly. With a grand sweep of his hand, he sucked all the maps inside the shop toward him and stored them in his Storage Ring.

He then ran toward the shop's exit. Since Xiao Jin was blocking the door, he jumped straight out through the window.

The moment he landed outside, flames brimming with an aura of destruction instantly swallowed his shop.

The power of these flames was worlds apart from what they had displayed during yesterday's battle. Their terrifying temperature made Hai Bodong, who cultivated an ice-type technique, extremely uncomfortable.

Even more astonishing was the area covered by the flames. They were actually confined entirely to the Map Shop.

The two shops adjacent to the Map Shop were completely unharmed. Even the signs hanging outside showed no trace of scorching.

Such control over fire was something Hai Bodong had never seen even from a Sixth-Grade Alchemist.

"Old man, we're even now. If you're unhappy about it, I can accompany you outside the city for another fight right now."

Xiao Jin was a man who believed in equal exchange.

You provide the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Fragment Map, and I provide the pills you need.

You offend my people, and I burn down your shop.

Did you really think that after making the first move, I would just smile and pretend nothing happened, or merely threaten you a few times and let it go?

An apology was merely what one ought to do after making a mistake. Paying the price was what made up for that mistake.

Under the burning of the Three Thousand Burning Flame, the ancient Map Shop turned into a ruin within just a few minutes.

"Heavenly Flame?" During yesterday's battle, Hai Bodong had already sensed the power of those flames.

But because Xiao Jin had held back, he hadn't realized that they were the legendary Heavenly Flames.

Only today did Hai Bodong understand how laughable yesterday's battle had been.

It had been like an adult playing with a child. If Xiao Jin had harbored malicious intent yesterday, relying on Dou King-level strength and the power of the Heavenly Flames, how could Hai Bodong have survived?

"You have some eyesight, at least." Xiao Jin beckoned with one hand, and the flames leaping across the ruins instantly returned to his palm.

His five fingers closed. Sparks scattered in all directions, the terrifying temperature gradually subsided, and the distorted space slowly returned to normal.

"Little friend, today's matter was my fault." Hai Bodong's face was ashen, as if he had suddenly aged more than a decade. "My shop has also been burned down, so I'll be leaving Mo City today. Consider this matter a favor I owe you. If you ever need my help in the future, you can send someone to find me at the Mite'er Family in the Imperial Capital."

Xiao Jin's expression eased somewhat, and the way he addressed him changed as well. "Old sir, if you had taken this attitude from the beginning, things wouldn't have developed this far."

"Little friend, you're right. I was too proud." Hai Bodong let out a soft sigh. He had truly been taught a lesson.

At his age, he was less steady in handling matters than a child. This time, he had thoroughly humiliated himself.

"Old sir, since you're a member of the Mite'er Family, I really do have something I need you to do."

"What is it?"

"There's a woman in the Mite'er Family named Ya Fei. She's currently gaining experience at the Miteer Auction House in Wutan City. If possible, I hope you can look after her. As payment, I'll provide you with an Imperial Extreme Pill that I refined myself."

His finger brushed across his Storage Ring, and he took out a jade box. "This is an Imperial Extreme Pill I personally refined. Its effects are better than those of the Imperial Extreme Pills on the market. After taking it, you're guaranteed to break through two stars within the Dou Emperor realm. With good luck, you can break through three."

Aside from shortening the time required to refine pills, the Samsara Cauldron could also increase the effectiveness of pill refinement by fifty percent.

A normal Imperial Extreme Pill could raise a Dou Emperor's cultivation by one or two stars. With the fifty-percent increase, the Imperial Extreme Pill refined by Xiao Jin could guarantee a two-star increase.

With good luck, it could directly raise one's cultivation by three stars.

Hai Bodong's expression grew heated. He had been trapped in the Dou Ling realm for many years, but that hadn't delayed his cultivation.

It was only because of the seal that all his cultivation over the years had accumulated.

After taking the Purple Spirit Recovery Pill, his strength would recover to the Five-Star Dou Emperor level. After a period of further accumulation, breaking through to the Six-Star Dou Emperor realm would be just a matter of time.

Once he took this Imperial Extreme Pill, he might even reach the Peak Dou Emperor realm directly with good luck!

One had to know that the strongest person in the Jia Ma Empire today—the old monster from the Imperial Family—was only a Peak Dou Emperor.

"May I ask, little friend, what is your relationship with that girl named Ya Fei?"

Xiao Yi Xian couldn't help pricking up her ears. This was the first time she had heard that name from Xiao Jin.

"Just friends. I'm very optimistic about her potential."

"Good. Rest assured, little friend. I still have some influence within the Mite'er Family. Once I return, I'll have that good-for-nothing Teng Shan handle this matter."

Miteer Tengshan was the current Great Elder of the Mite'er Family. He was a Four-Star Dou King and one of the Ten Great Experts of the Jia Ma Empire.

Xiao Jin flicked his finger, and the jade box landed in Hai Bodong's hands.

He lifted the corner of the jade box. Rich medicinal energy wafted out, and merely taking one breath caused the cultivation within his body to show signs of loosening.

"Little friend, you said just now that you refined this Imperial Extreme Pill yourself. Could it be that you're a Sixth-Grade Alchemist?"

"Yes, but I haven't taken the examination for a rank yet." Xiao Jin felt somewhat helpless. The president of the Alchemist Guild in the Jia Ma Empire was only a Fifth-Grade Alchemist.

If he wanted to register and certify his rank, he would have to go to the Central Plains.

Hai Bodong regretted his actions even more. This was a Sixth-Grade Alchemist! Even a Dou Emperor expert would have to placate him.

How did I get so confused? For the sake of that vague and meaningless pride, he had almost offended such an important figure.

Fortunately, the family had an outstanding girl. Otherwise, wouldn't the Mite'er Family have provoked a powerful expert for no reason?

At that moment, Hai Bodong made up his mind.

Once he returned to the Imperial Capital, he would have Teng Shan raise the status of that girl named Ya Fei.

From this day onward, he, Hai Bodong, would be Ya Fei's most loyal supporter.