I, Hai Bodong, Keep My Word!

Queen Medusa struggled to stand up from the sandy ground, her body swaying unsteadily as she nearly collapsed again.

Yue Mei hurried forward to support her, "Your Majesty, are you alright?"

Queen Medusa did not speak, merely gazing in the direction where Xiao Chen had departed.

The youth's silhouette had already vanished at the edge of the desert, leaving behind nothing but a vast expanse of yellow sand.

"Your Majesty, are we... just going to let this go?" Yue Mei asked tentatively.

She cast a glance at her, a gaze that was bone-chillingly cold.

"And what else would you have Me do?" Queen Medusa replied. "Could you defeat him?"

Yue Mei lowered her head, not daring to utter another word.

If they couldn't even withstand a single move from Xiao Chen, how could they fight? Yet, it was strange—how did this brat know the Misty Cloud Sect's Dou Technique, the Great Wind Hand Seal? What kind of relationship did he have with the Misty Cloud Sect? Yue Mei pondered countless possibilities in her heart.

Withdrawing her gaze, she turned and walked toward the depths of the desert.

Yue Mei hurriedly followed, supporting Queen Medusa as they walked step by step.

The figures of the two women grew smaller in the desert, eventually disappearing into the swirling yellow sands. Having left the scene, Queen Medusa was filled with immense resentment. She had never expected that coming out this time would lead to meeting a human brat, only to be defeated so thoroughly and left in such a disheveled, humiliated state. She was the peerless Queen Medusa, yet she had lost to a human boy—what a profound disgrace!

Hai Bodong leaned against the wall, staring at the direction in which Queen Medusa had vanished, unable to collect his thoughts for a long time.

Having lived for decades and once being one of the top ten powerhouses of the Jia Ma Empire, the Ice Emperor, he had seen many experts, but he had never seen anyone like Xiao Chen—not only young but possessing such terrifying strength.

He had killed the Great Elder of the Snake-Person Tribe, wounded Yue Mei, kissed her twice, and just now, he had even kissed Queen Medusa.

That was Queen Medusa, the most terrifying woman in the entire Jia Ma Empire.

Back in his prime, he couldn't even last a few moves against her, and he had been sealed by her, reduced to a Dou Ling.

This youth had not only defeated her but had also kissed her.

"Good grief," Hai Bodong muttered to himself, "he's got some nerve."

He turned his head to look at Xiao Chen, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

This youth was even more terrifying than he had imagined.

"Brat, who exactly are you?"

Xiao Chen didn't even bother to respond.

After a moment of silence, he did not press the matter further.

"There is something I wish to ask you."

"Speak."

"Why do you know the Mystic Ice Dragon Soar?" Hai Bodong asked. "That is my unique Dou Technique; I have never taught it to anyone."

"I learned it." Xiao Chen didn't know how to explain, so he made up a convenient excuse.

"You learned it?" Hai Bodong was stunned. "Did you learn it just by watching me perform it once? How is that possible? Do you possess the ability of photographic memory?"

He nodded.

Hai Bodong gasped.

To learn a Xuan-tier high-level Dou Technique after seeing it once—this talent was truly terrifying.

"And the version you performed was even stronger than mine," Hai Bodong added. "The power was several times greater, if not more."

Xiao Chen remained silent.

Watching him for a moment, he suddenly spoke, "I would like to ask you for a favor."

"What favor?"

"Help me break this seal."

Xiao Chen looked at him without speaking.

"You know that my strength was sealed by Queen Medusa," Hai Bodong said. "For all these years, I have been trapped at the Dou Ling level, unable to even break through to a Dou King. If you can help me restore my strength, I can return to my former peak as a Dou Emperor powerhouse."

He nodded, and seeing that Xiao Chen did not answer, he continued.

"Since you can defeat Queen Medusa, perhaps you can also break her seal," Hai Bodong said. "As long as you help me break the seal, I can unconditionally grant you one request. No matter what kind of request it is, or how excessive it may be, as long as you ask, I will certainly fulfill it."

As he looked at him and pondered, a system notification popped up before his eyes.

[Quest Triggered: Help the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong break his seal by refining the Break-Obstacle Pill. Upon completion, the host will receive one replication opportunity. Do you accept?]

Looking at the system panel, the corners of his mouth curled upward slightly.

The Break-Obstacle Pill was a tier 6 medicinal pill capable of breaking seals and restoring strength.

For him now, refining a tier 6 pill was not a difficult task.

With the tier 6 alchemist prowess of Gu He, the bloodline of the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python, and the added boost of Xiao Xun'er's Dou Emperor Bloodline, refining a tier 6 pill was a mere trifle—he could do it without the slightest effort.

"Accept," he said in his heart.

[Mission accepted. Host may begin refining the Break-Obstacle Pill at any time.]

Closing the system panel, he looked at Hai Bodong.

"I can help you."

Hai Bodong's eyes lit up instantly. "Really?"

"But there is one condition."

"What condition? Speak," Hai Bodong said hurriedly. "As long as it is within my power, I will certainly agree."

"Just as you said, you owe me a favor. When I have a need in the future, you must repay it."

He was stunned for a moment. "It's that simple?"

"It's that simple."

A smile immediately appeared on his face as he nodded repeatedly. "Good, I agree. Never mind one favor, ten would be fine."

Xiao Chen nodded. "Then it is settled."

He rubbed his hands together, his face full of excitement.

After waiting for so many years, he had finally reached this day.

"What medicinal ingredients do you need?" Hai Bodong asked. "I can go find them, and I have collected quite a few over the years; they should be useful."

"No need, I will prepare the ingredients myself."

A flash of surprise crossed his eyes as he watched him.

The Break-Obstacle Pill was a Tier 6 medicinal pill, and the ingredients required were all rare items. This youth could actually prepare them himself?

"Are you sure?"

He nodded.

"Then when will you begin refining?"

"We'll talk about it when we get back."

Hai Bodong nodded vigorously, a surge of anticipation rising in his heart.

It had been so many years; he finally had a chance to restore his strength.

As long as the Break-Obstacle Pill was successfully refined, he would be able to return to the level of a Dou Emperor.

When that time came, he, Hai Bodong, would no longer be the down-and-out figure he was now.

"Kid, regardless of whether you succeed or not, I accept this favor."

"You had better think about how to repay this favor first."

"Rest assured, I, Hai Bodong, keep my word. In the future, if you have a need, I will never refuse."

He nodded and turned to walk toward Qing Lin.

"Let's go."

Qing Lin nodded and hurriedly followed.

The two walked along the sand dunes in the direction of Shimo City.

Hai Bodong stood at the doorway of the wooden house, watching Xiao Chen's departing back, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

This Xiao Chen was far from simple.

At such a young age, he possessed strength surpassing a Dou Emperor.

He could learn his Profound Tier Advanced Dou Technique after seeing it once, and he could even refine Tier 6 medicinal pills.

What exactly was his background?

Regardless, there was finally hope for the seal to be broken.

Hai Bodong turned around and walked back into the wooden house, sitting behind the counter and closing his eyes with a faint smile on his lips.

How many years had it been? He had finally waited for this day, and Hai Bodong felt somewhat stirred!