Hai Bodong's Shock!

Hai Bodong stared at Xiao Chen, his eyes full of disbelief. He had kept that fragment of a map hidden for many years and never mentioned it to anyone. How had this young man found out about it?

"How do you know about the map fragment?"

Xiao Chen didn't answer.

"I'm asking you a question."

Hai Bodong rose to his feet, his aura beginning to surge. "You don't need to know how I found out. Give me the map fragment."

Hai Bodong froze for a moment, then sneered.

"Give it to you? You're just a green young brat, yet you dare come and take what's mine. Do you even know who I am? How dare you set your sights on me? You really don't know your own limits."

"You won't give it to me?"

"Why would I give it to you? What are you, anyway?"

Xiao Chen said nothing. He simply watched him.

Hai Bodong looked Xiao Chen up and down, a trace of disdain flashing in his eyes.

"I don't care how you learned about the map fragment. Get out now, or don't blame me for being rude."

"Being rude? Are you sure?"

Hai Bodong's expression darkened.

This little brat was far too insolent.

Although Queen Medusa's seal had greatly weakened his strength, he was still a Dou Ling-level expert. There were few people in the Jia Ma Empire who dared speak to him like this.

"If you're looking to die, then don't blame me."

He struck out with one palm, blasting toward Xiao Chen's chest with half his strength.

In his opinion, that was more than enough. It would be plenty to deal with a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old kid.

Xiao Chen didn't even look at him. He casually waved a hand, and a burst of Dou Qi erupted from his palm, scattering Hai Bodong's palm force.

Hai Bodong's expression changed. Though he had used only half his strength, that strike wasn't something just anyone could withstand.

This young man had brushed it aside with a casual wave. "You've got some skill. No wonder you dared come after what's mine."

He stopped holding back. Dou Qi surged wildly within him, and he released the full force of his Dou Ling-level aura. The entire wooden hut began to shake.

Medicinal herbs and magical beast materials tumbled from the shelves, clattering to the floor. Qing Lin was crushed back several steps by the aura, her face turning pale.

Xiao Chen glanced at her. "Stand farther away."

Qing Lin nodded and retreated to the doorway.

Hai Bodong stared at Xiao Chen and formed a hand seal. A bone-chilling cold burst from his body, and the temperature in the air plunged.

A thin layer of frost formed across the ground, and white rime coated even the walls.

"Mystic Ice Dragon Soar."

Hai Bodong barked the words. An ice dragon coalesced from his palm, its entire body glittering as it radiated a piercing chill. With claws bared, it pounced toward Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen watched the ice dragon, raised a hand, and struck out with one palm. A terrifying surge of Dou Qi erupted from his palm and slammed directly into the dragon's head.

The ice dragon let out a mournful cry. Its entire body shattered, turning into a rain of ice shards.

Hai Bodong's pupils abruptly contracted. His Mystic Ice Dragon Soar was a high-tier Black-ranked Dou Technique, yet this young man had shattered it with a single palm strike.

"How is that possible?" He stared at Xiao Chen, his eyes filled with shock.

This young man's strength far surpassed his imagination. He wasn't merely a Dou Ling—he was at least a Dou Wang, perhaps even a Dou Emperor.

A Dou Emperor who was only fifteen or sixteen? How could that be possible? Hai Bodong took a deep breath and forced down his shock.

"Who are you, really?"

Xiao Chen didn't answer. His attention had shifted to the system panel before him.

[Host detected fighting Hai Bodong. Copy opportunity triggered.]

[Copying Mystic Ice Dragon Soar.]

[Copy successful.]

[Congratulations, host has acquired the high-tier Black-ranked Dou Technique Mystic Ice Dragon Soar. Comprehension: 100%. Host has now fully mastered this Dou Technique.]

The moment the system notification sounded, a flood of information poured into Xiao Chen's mind.

The cultivation method and Dou Qi circulation routes for Mystic Ice Dragon Soar appeared clearly, as if he had cultivated it for decades.

Xiao Chen closed his eyes and absorbed the information in his mind, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

Seeing him close his eyes, Hai Bodong thought he had an opening. Gritting his teeth, he stirred the Dou Qi within him and formed another hand seal. Another ice dragon took shape. This time, he used all his strength. The dragon was larger than before, and its chill even more intense.

"Go to hell!"

The ice dragon lunged at Xiao Chen, opening its jaws to swallow him whole.

Xiao Chen opened his eyes and raised a hand. He formed the same hand seal Hai Bodong had just used, and a bone-chilling cold burst from his body, even denser than Hai Bodong's.

An ice dragon coalesced from his palm. It was a full circle larger than Hai Bodong's, and its entire body radiated an even more piercing chill.

Hai Bodong was dumbstruck at the sight, his face full of shock. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. This young man could actually use his signature technique, Mystic Ice Dragon Soar.

"Mystic Ice Dragon Soar? How do you know Mystic Ice Dragon Soar?"

Xiao Chen didn't answer. He thrust out a palm.

The ice dragon shot toward Hai Bodong at tremendous speed.

Beside Xiao Chen's ice dragon, Hai Bodong's looked like a little snake.

The two ice dragons collided with a deafening crash. Hai Bodong's dragon shattered instantly, becoming a rain of ice shards.

Xiao Chen's ice dragon continued forward and slammed directly into Hai Bodong's chest.

Hai Bodong was sent flying backward into the wall. He spat out a large mouthful of blood, then slid down the wall and slumped to the ground, his face deathly pale.

"You..."

Hai Bodong pointed at Xiao Chen, his voice trembling.

He couldn't understand why this young man knew his Dou Technique, let alone why he could use it with such overwhelming power, as though he had cultivated it for decades.

Mystic Ice Dragon Soar was a Dou Technique he had created himself and never taught to anyone.

Even the experts of the Jia Ma Empire didn't know this Dou Technique existed.

Yet this young man had used it—and more skillfully than he had, with even greater power.

"Who are you, really?"

Xiao Chen walked over and looked down at him. "Give me the map fragment."

Hai Bodong gritted his teeth and said nothing.

"I don't want to have to say it a third time."

Hai Bodong fell silent for a moment, then pulled a tattered piece of paper from his robes and handed it over. He was outmatched, and he accepted defeat.

Xiao Chen took the map fragment, glanced at it, and nodded.

"You could've handed it over sooner and saved yourself the beating."

Hai Bodong wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked at Xiao Chen, his eyes filled with mixed emotions. This young man was terrifying. At such a young age, he already possessed such strength and could use Hai Bodong's own secret Dou Technique. He was destined for greatness.

"Can I leave now?"

"Leave if you want. Like I said, you were outmatched."

Hai Bodong struggled to his feet and braced himself against the wall. He made his way toward the door one step at a time. When he reached it, he stopped and looked back at Xiao Chen.

"What's your name?"

"Xiao Chen."

Hai Bodong repeated the name once, then turned and left.

Qing Lin stood in the doorway, staring after Hai Bodong and unable to recover for a long while. Young Master had won again—and so effortlessly.

"Young Master, you're amazing."

Her eyes were full of admiration. Although she didn't know who the old man had been, she couldn't miss the aura of a ruler radiating from him.

Xiao Chen put away the map fragment and turned toward the door.

"Let's go."