Hai Bodong's Shock!

Hai Bodong stared at Xiao Chen, his eyes filled with shock. He had kept that map fragment hidden for many years and had never mentioned it to anyone; how could this youth possibly know about it?

"How do you know about the map fragment?"

Xiao Chen did not answer.

"I am asking you a question."

Hai Bodong stood up, the aura around his body beginning to surge. "You don't need to worry about how I know. Just give the fragment to me."

Hai Bodong paused for a moment, then let out a cold laugh.

"Give it to you? A mere brat like you dares to come and snatch my belongings? Do you have any idea who I am to be targeting me? You truly don't know your own limits."

"You refuse to give it?"

"Why should I give it to you? Who do you think you are?"

Xiao Chen said nothing, merely watching him.

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

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

"Impolite? Are you sure?"

Hai Bodong's expression darkened.

This little brat was far too insolent.

Although his strength had been greatly reduced by the seal placed by Queen Medusa, he was still a Dou Ling level powerhouse. In the Jia Ma Empire, few people dared to speak to him in such a manner.

"Since you are courting death, don't blame me."

He struck out with a palm, aiming for Xiao Chen's chest, using fifty percent of his strength.

In his view, this was more than enough; it was overkill for dealing with a fifteen or sixteen-year-old child.

Xiao Chen didn't even look, merely waving his hand casually. A burst of Dou Qi erupted from his palm, shattering Hai Bodong's palm wind.

Hai Bodong's expression changed. Although he had only used half his strength, it was not something an ordinary person could withstand.

This youth had neutralized it with a casual wave. "You have some skill. No wonder you dared to come and snatch my things."

He no longer held back. The Dou Qi within his body surged wildly, and his Dou Ling level aura was released without reservation, causing the entire wooden hut to tremble.

Medicinal herbs and magical beast materials fell from the shelves with a clatter. Qing Lin was forced back repeatedly by the pressure of this aura, her face turning pale.

Xiao Chen glanced at her. "Stand further back."

Qing Lin nodded and retreated to the doorway.

Hai Bodong stared at Xiao Chen and formed hand seals. A frigid, icy aura erupted from his body, and the temperature in the air plummeted.

A thin layer of frost formed on the ground, and even the walls were covered in white rime.

"Mystic Ice Dragon Soar."

Hai Bodong let out a low shout. An ice dragon condensed from his palm; the dragon was crystalline throughout, radiating a bone-chilling cold as it bared its fangs and lunged at Xiao Chen.

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

The ice dragon let out a mournful cry, its entire body shattering into a sky full of ice shards.

Hai Bodong's pupils contracted violently. His Mystic Ice Dragon Soar, a Xuan-tier high-level Dou Technique, had actually been shattered by this youth with a single palm.

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

This youth's strength far exceeded his imagination; he was not just a Dou Ling, but at least a Dou King, perhaps even a Dou Emperor.

A fifteen or sixteen-year-old Dou Emperor? How could this be? Hai Bodong took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart.

"Who exactly are you?"

Xiao Chen did not answer, his attention fixed on the system panel before him.

[Detected that the host is engaged in combat with Hai Bodong. Triggering copy opportunity.]

[Copying Mystic Ice Dragon Soar.]

[Copy successful.]

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Xuan-tier high-level Dou Technique: Mystic Ice Dragon Soar. Comprehension level: 100%. The host has now completely mastered this technique.]

The moment the system prompt faded, a vast amount of information flooded into Xiao Chen's mind.

The cultivation method and the circulation path of the Dou Qi for the Mystic Ice Dragon Soar appeared clearly, as if he had been practicing it for decades.

Xiao Chen closed his eyes, sensing the information in his mind, and the corners of his mouth curled upward slightly.

Seeing him close his eyes, Hai Bodong thought he had found an opening. Gritting his teeth, he channeled his Dou Qi once more and formed hand seals. Another ice dragon condensed; this time, he used his full strength, and the ice dragon was larger and colder than before.

"Go to hell!"

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

Xiao Chen opened his eyes and raised his hand, forming hand seals identical to the ones Hai Bodong had just used. A frigid, icy aura erupted from his body, even more concentrated than Hai Bodong's.

An ice dragon condensed from his palm, a full size larger than Hai Bodong's, radiating an even more bone-chilling cold.

Hai Bodong was stunned by this scene, his face filled with shock as he struggled to believe what was unfolding before his eyes; this young man was actually capable of executing his own signature technique, the Mystic Ice Dragon Soar.

"Mystic Ice Dragon Soar—how do you know the Mystic Ice Dragon Soar?"

Xiao Chen did not answer, instead pushing his palm forward.

The ice dragon lunged toward Hai Bodong with incredible speed.

Compared to Xiao Chen's ice dragon, Hai Bodong's own ice dragon looked like nothing more than a small snake.

The two ice dragons collided with a thunderous roar, and Hai Bodong's ice dragon shattered instantly, dissolving into a sky full of ice shards.

Xiao Chen's ice dragon continued its charge, slamming directly into Hai Bodong's chest.

Hai Bodong's body flew backward, crashing into the wall before he slid down to the floor, slumped over with a deathly pale complexion and a mouthful of blood spraying from his lips.

"You..."

Hai Bodong pointed at Xiao Chen, his voice trembling.

He could not fathom why this youth knew his Dou Technique, nor how he could execute it with such ferocity, as if he had spent decades of bitter cultivation mastering it.

The Mystic Ice Dragon Soar was a technique he had created himself and had never taught to a single soul.

Even the powerhouses of the Jia Ma Empire were unaware of the existence of this technique.

Yet this youth had not only used it, but used it with greater proficiency and power than he himself possessed.

"Who exactly are you?"

Xiao Chen walked up to him and looked down. "Give me the remnant map."

Hai Bodong gritted his teeth and remained silent.

"I do not wish to say it a third time."

After a moment of silence, Hai Bodong pulled a tattered piece of parchment from his robes and handed it over; his skills were inferior, and he had to accept his defeat.

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

"If you had handed it over sooner, you wouldn't have had to suffer this."

Hai Bodong wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked at Xiao Chen, his eyes filled with complex emotions; this youth was too terrifying. To possess such strength at such a young age and to know his exclusive Dou Technique—he was destined for greatness.

"Can I go now?"

"You may leave if you wish; as I said before, your skills are simply inferior."

Hai Bodong struggled to his feet, leaning against the wall as he walked toward the door step by step. When he reached the threshold, he paused and looked back at Xiao Chen one last time.

"What is your name?"

"Xiao Chen."

Hai Bodong repeated the name to himself before turning and leaving.

Qing Lin stood at the doorway, watching Hai Bodong's retreating figure, unable to snap out of her daze for a long time; the Young Master had won again, and with such ease.

"Young Master, you are so amazing."

Her eyes were filled with adoration. Although she did not know the identity of the old man, the aura of a ruler he exuded could not be hidden.

Xiao Chen tucked the remnant map away and turned to walk out the door.

"Let's go."