Subduing Hai Bo Dong

"The young lady wishes to make a deal with you. She wants you to protect Xiao Yan on his way to the Misty Cloud Sect, and she asked me to test your strength first."

Ling Ying had been in the Magical Beast Mountain Range for the past few days, and it was only after witnessing Xiao Lei's strength that he brought this matter up to Xiao Xun'er.

After all, his identity was ultimately that of Xiao Xun'er's bodyguard; he preferred to remain in the shadows whenever possible.

Consequently, Xiao Xun'er had dispatched Ling Ying to test Xiao Lei's strength.

Of course, these were only the reasons spoken aloud.

In truth, how could Ling Ying not probe a genius emerging from the declining Xiao Clan, and how could the Ancient Clan not have their own ulterior motives?

"Go back and tell her that the deal is acceptable, but have the compensation ready first. Since you took the initiative to provoke me, I should kill you right now. You should be grateful that your backing is saving you for the time being!"

As he spoke, Xiao Lei stepped forward and brought his foot down onto Ling Ying's leg.

A crisp cracking sound echoed as the latter's right leg shattered instantly.

With the Ancient Clan involved, Xiao Lei could not kill him outright just yet, but he certainly wouldn't let Ling Ying off easily!

After a long while, having vented his anger, Xiao Lei tossed Ling Ying aside, effectively letting him go for the moment.

Xiao Lei sensed the Ancient Clan's intent to probe him, but he was not afraid; Xiao Yan had Xiao Xun'er's endorsement.

And he could use Xiao Yan to leverage Xiao Xun'er!

Therefore, the deal was necessary; at the very least, it would appease Xiao Xun'er and prevent the experts of the Ancient Clan from taking action themselves.

Once free from Xiao Lei's control, Ling Ying hurriedly channeled his Dou Qi and scrambled away, terrified that Xiao Lei might change his mind.

In his eyes, Xiao Lei was nothing but a madman who disregarded the power behind him. He would break a limb just because he said he would. Such people were often the most terrifying, as they were liable to flip the entire table!

Yet, in Xiao Lei's eyes, everything was perfectly reasonable.

There was no logic in being beaten and still having to kneel like a subservient grandson!

If that were the case, there would be no point in cultivating; he might as well find a pile of cow dung and end it all.

With Ling Ying gone, Xiao Lei began to reconsider the deal: protecting Xiao Yan on his ascent to the Misty Cloud Sect.

The strength required for this was at least that of a peak Dou Emperor, as the Misty Cloud Sect was far more formidable than it appeared on the surface.

"What should I ask for?"

Xiao Lei relied on replication and his constitution for cultivation, the Ancient Clan couldn't provide Heavenly Flames, he could simply kill Han Feng later to seize the Myriad Beast Cauldron, and he could pluck Dou Techniques directly from others without wasting time learning them.

Besides, Xiao Xun'er hadn't even returned to the Ancient Clan yet; how much could she possibly offer?

"Forget it, I'll stop thinking about this for now! I should focus on how to improve my own strength; without power, everything else is just fleeting clouds!"

Xiao Lei stayed in Green Mountain Town for another month, finally waiting for everyone to emerge from their seclusion. Xiao Yi Xian had relied on her talent and hard work to break through to the Dou Ling realm.

Truly, such wealth and talent were inhuman!

Qing Lin was slightly behind, only at the peak of the Dou Shi realm, so Xiao Lei refined a Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill on the spot to help her break through to the Dou Grandmaster realm.

As for Xiang Liu, he successfully achieved human form with the help of a Humanoid Transformation Pill, though he seemed to prefer his magical beast body and never shifted. Xiao Lei couldn't be bothered with such trivial details.

In any case, he was being used as a mount, and the magical beast body was perfect for that; the pill was merely to grant him the human talent for cultivation.

It is worth mentioning that once Xiang Liu recovered his strength, Xiao Lei acted quickly and replicated his eight-star Dou Emperor cultivation.

Such an effortless, resistance-free replication truly earned a wave of praise from Xiao Lei.

Afterward, Xiao Lei led the group toward the desert, as the dispute over the Heavenly Flame from the original story was about to begin.

The Heavenly Flame was also Xiao Lei's target.

The Tagor Desert was a region filled with heat and conflict. To defend against the Snake-People Tribe, the Jia Ma Empire had constructed a series of cities within the sands.

Desert City was one of these many outposts, and for years, it had been home to a strange map shop.

Oddly enough, the shopkeeper was an old man who sold maps but didn't seem to make a living from it, often ignoring his customers entirely.

Crack!

The sound of the wooden door rubbing against the frame reached Hai Bo Dong's ears. He had no intention of responding, but upon sensing the cultivation of the person who had entered, he immediately turned his head.

"Hehe, I've come to ask the senior for information about a young man!"

The youth's voice fell upon Hai Bo Dong's ears like the twang of a bowstring to a startled bird.

Hai Bo Dong's heart sank, and he hurriedly began to circulate his Dou Qi.

The next moment, a pair of large hands landed on Hai Bo Dong's shoulders, and the latter's Dou Qi was strangely forced into a state of absolute stillness.

"Old gentleman, there is no need to be so agitated!"

Only then did Hai Bo Dong have the chance to observe Xiao Lei and his group: three people and two snakes. "A Dou Grandmaster, a Dou Ling, a Dou King, and..."

Hai Bo Dong could sense absolutely nothing from Xiao Lei or Xiang Liu; his probing soul power seemed to simply bypass them as if they weren't there.

This could only mean that both of their strengths exceeded his own at his peak, especially since his soul power was currently in its peak state.

Realizing he had no chance of retaliation, Hai Bo Dong stopped feeling nervous and simply spread his hands, ready to accept whatever fate awaited him.

"There is no such person in my memory. If you are here for revenge, then just do it!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Lei was surprised, then gave a wry smile. "Old gentleman, I am not here for revenge, but to find someone. Did a young man named Xiao Yan come here recently? The boy possesses an ability that allows him to instantly boost his cultivation."

"This old man does not know; I have never heard of such a youth!"

Hai Bo Dong was a seasoned actor; he could spout lies without a moment's preparation.

Xiao Lei did not mind; his idle chatter with the other was merely a means to acquire the man's Dou Techniques.

Some of Hai Bo Dong's Dou Techniques were quite distinctive!

For instance—Mystic Ice Dragon Soar!

Hai Bo Dong's foundation was not worth mentioning in front of Xiao Lei. Xiao Lei successfully copied it in no time, during which Hai Bo Dong dared not move a muscle.

Having obtained the Dou Technique he desired, Xiao Lei turned his gaze elsewhere.

After scanning the room, Xiao Lei found no sign of any peculiar maps. Clearly, Xiao Yan had already been here and taken the other half of the Fragmented Map.

Looking around the shop, many walls bore obvious scorch marks, and the air still held the lingering, violent aura of a Heavenly Flame.

Seeing this, a smile appeared on Xiao Lei's handsome face. He flipped his hand, and the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame slowly emerged.

"Old sir, why bother with such self-deceiving words? Do you think I am unfamiliar with the aura of a Heavenly Flame?"

Upon seeing the blood-red flame in Xiao Lei's hand and hearing his words, Hai Bo Dong was immediately convinced that the flame before him was indeed a Heavenly Flame.

That's right! It is exactly that violent essence!

He looked again at Xiao Lei's alchemist robes (newly reapplied for, as his previous set had been destroyed by Xiang Liu).

Hai Bo Dong felt a surge of excitement. He had not expected the heavens to favor him so greatly, sending two alchemists possessing Heavenly Flames to him in such quick succession.

"My apologies for the earlier neglect; I hope the Master will be magnanimous!"

Hai Bo Dong immediately changed his tune for Xiao Lei. After all, he had been trapped by a seal for who knows how many years; his former arrogance had long since been worn away by reality.

"I am merely a high-level grade six alchemist; I cannot be called a Master."

Hearing this, Hai Bo Dong's brain felt as if it had been struck again, though this was good news.

The grade six alchemist with a Heavenly Flame he had been longing for was right before his eyes. Even with the mental fortitude Hai Bo Dong had cultivated over the years, he could not help but feel a ripple of agitation.

"Master, this humble one has a favor to ask!"

Xiao Lei glanced at him, knowing the fish had taken the bait, and then spoke with feigned indifference.

"My services always come at a high price. Can you afford it?"

Hearing this, Hai Bo Dong was jolted awake. Yes, the most valuable Fragmented Map has already been promised to Xiao Yan. What else do I have that could move a grade six alchemist?

"I sense a dense amount of Dou Qi within your body, yet it is locked away by a tyrannical seal. It seems this is what you were referring to!"

Hearing Xiao Lei accurately describe his condition, Hai Bo Dong became even more certain that Xiao Lei could help him break the seal!

"How about this: I happen to need someone with decent strength to help me with some matters. If you are willing to become my subordinate and follow my orders, I can help you break the seal."

Hearing this, Hai Bo Dong fell silent!

He had lived a life of freedom for half his life, only to be trapped in this small map shop after falling into the hands of Medusa. For a man like him, giving up his freedom was a difficult thing indeed!

A long, long time passed!

"Sigh! How is being trapped in this tiny space any different from losing my freedom?"

Hai Bo Dong let out a deep sigh, his gaze gradually hardening.

"I am willing. I beg the Master to assist me!"

Hearing this, Xiao Lei smiled broadly. With Hai Bo Dong, why would he worry about the Miteer clan not working honestly?

"It seems I will have to make a trip to the Snake-People Tribe next!"

Xiao Lei muttered to himself. Whether it was for the Green Lotus Core Flame or the medicinal pills for Hai Bo Dong, everything compelled Xiao Lei to head deep into the Tagor Desert.