Hai Bodong Keeps His Word!

Queen Medusa struggled to her feet from the sand, swaying several times and almost falling again.

Yue Mei hurried over to support her. "Your Majesty, are you all right?"

Queen Medusa said nothing, only staring in the direction Xiao Chen had gone.

The young man's figure had already vanished at the edge of the desert, leaving nothing but yellow sand.

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

Queen Medusa glanced at her, her gaze icy.

"What else can we do?" she said. "Can you beat him?"

Yue Mei lowered her head and didn't dare say another word.

She couldn't even withstand one of Xiao Chen's moves. How could she fight him? But, come to think of it, how did that brat know the Misty Cloud Sect's Great Wind Hand Seal? What was his relationship with the Misty Cloud Sect? Yue Mei ran through countless possibilities in her mind.

Queen Medusa withdrew her gaze, turned, and headed deeper into the desert.

Yue Mei hurried after her, helping Queen Medusa along step by step.

The two women's figures grew farther and farther away in the desert, eventually disappearing into the endless blowing sand. After leaving the area, Queen Medusa was still seething with indignation. She hadn't expected to run into a human brat on this outing, much less suffer such a complete, humiliating defeat. She was the peerless Queen Medusa, yet she had lost to a human brat. What an utter disgrace!

Hai Bodong leaned against the wall, staring in the direction Queen Medusa had gone, still dazed.

He had lived for decades and had once been one of the Jia Ma Empire's ten strongest experts, the Ice Emperor. He had seen plenty of powerful people, but never anyone like Xiao Chen—not only was he young, his strength was terrifying.

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

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

At the peak of his strength, he hadn't been able to last more than a few moves against her. She had even sealed his cultivation, reducing him to a Dou Ling.

This young man had not only defeated her, but kissed her, too.

"Good heavens," Hai Bodong muttered. "He's got some nerve."

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

This young man was even more terrifying than he'd imagined.

"Kid, who exactly are you?"

Xiao Chen didn't even bother to answer.

After a moment of silence, Hai Bodong stopped pressing him.

"There's something I'd like to ask you."

"Go ahead."

"How do you know Mystic Ice Dragon Soar?" Hai Bodong asked. "It's my signature Dou Technique. I've never taught it to anyone."

"I learned it." Xiao Chen didn't know how to explain, so he casually made something up.

"You learned it?" Hai Bodong was stunned. "When I used that Dou Technique just now, did you learn it after seeing it once? How is that possible? Do you have some kind of photographic memory?"

Xiao Chen nodded.

Hai Bodong sucked in a sharp breath.

To learn a high-grade Xuan-tier Dou Technique after seeing it once—what terrifying talent.

"And your version was even stronger than mine," Hai Bodong said. "Its power was several times greater, maybe even more."

Xiao Chen said nothing.

He looked at Hai Bodong and fell silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke. "I'd like to ask you for a favor."

"What favor?"

"Help me break the seal."

Xiao Chen looked at him without speaking.

"You know the Queen Medusa sealed my strength," Hai Bodong said. "I've been trapped at the Dou Ling level all these years, unable to break through even to Dou Wang. If you can help me recover my strength, I'll return to my former peak as a Dou Huang expert."

Xiao Chen nodded. Seeing that Xiao Chen didn't answer, Hai Bodong continued.

"You can defeat Queen Medusa, so perhaps you can break her seal, too," Hai Bodong said. "If you help me remove it, I'll grant you one favor, no strings attached. Whatever you ask, no matter how outrageous, just say the word and I'll do it."

Xiao Chen considered this and was about to reply when a system notification suddenly popped up before his eyes.

[Quest triggered: Help Ice Emperor Hai Bodong break his seal by refining a Break-Obstacle Pill. Upon completion, the host will receive one copy opportunity. Accept quest?]

Xiao Chen looked at the system panel, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

The Break-Obstacle Pill was a Sixth-Grade Pill capable of breaking seals and restoring strength.

For him, refining a Sixth-Grade Pill was no difficult task.

With Gu He's Sixth-Grade Alchemist skills, the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python's bloodline, and Xiao Xun'er's Dou Emperor Bloodline bolstering him, refining a Sixth-Grade Pill would be as easy as raising a hand—he could do it without even stirring up a breeze.

"Accept," he said in his mind.

[Quest accepted. The host may begin refining the Break-Obstacle Pill at any time.]

Xiao Chen closed the system panel and looked at Hai Bodong.

"I can help you."

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

"But there's one condition."

"What condition? Name it," Hai Bodong said hurriedly. "If it's within my power, I'll agree."

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

Hai Bodong paused. "That's all?"

"That's all."

A smile immediately spread across his face, and he nodded repeatedly. "Good, I agree. Forget one favor—even ten would be fine."

Xiao Chen nodded. "Then it's settled."

Hai Bodong rubbed his hands together, his face brimming with excitement.

After all these years, he had finally waited for this day.

"What medicinal ingredients do you need?" Hai Bodong asked. "I can go look for them. I've also collected quite a few over the years, so I should have some that'll be useful."

"No need. I'll prepare the ingredients myself."

Hai Bodong looked at him, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes.

The Break-Obstacle Pill was a Sixth-Grade Pill, and its ingredients were all rare. Could this young man really prepare them himself?

"Are you sure?"

Xiao Chen nodded.

"Then when will you start refining it?"

"Let's talk about it when we get back."

Hai Bodong nodded firmly, anticipation welling in his heart.

After all these years, he finally had a chance to regain his strength.

Once the Break-Obstacle Pill was refined, he'd be able to return to the Dou Huang level.

Then Hai Bodong wouldn't be such a down-and-out wreck anymore.

"Kid, whether or not you manage to refine it, I appreciate the gesture."

"You'd better start thinking about how you'll repay this favor."

"Don't worry. I, Hai Bodong, keep my word. If you need me in the future, I won't refuse."

Xiao Chen nodded, turned, and walked toward Qing Lin.

"Let's go."

Qing Lin nodded and hurried after him.

The two of them followed the edge of the sand toward Shimo City.

Hai Bodong stood in the wooden house doorway, watching Xiao Chen's departing figure, his eyes filled with complicated emotions.

This Xiao Chen was no ordinary person.

At such a young age, he possessed strength beyond that of a Dou Huang.

He could learn Hai Bodong's high-grade Xuan-tier Dou Technique after seeing it once, and he could even refine Sixth-Grade Pills.

Where had he come from?

Whatever the case, there was finally hope of breaking the seal.

Hai Bodong turned and walked back into the wooden house. He sat behind the counter and closed his eyes, a faint smile on his lips.

After all these years, he had finally waited for this day. Hai Bodong could hardly contain his excitement!