Subduing Hai Bo Dong

"Miss wants to make a deal with you. She wants you to protect Xiao Yan as he goes to the Misty Cloud Sect. She told me to test your strength first.

As it happened, Ling Ying had been in the Magical Beast Mountain Range these past few days. After witnessing Xiao Lei's strength, he'd brought the matter up with Xiao Xun'er.

After all, his role was to serve as Xiao Xun'er's bodyguard. He tried to stay out of sight whenever possible.

So Xiao Xun'er had sent Ling Ying to test Xiao Lei's strength first.

Of course, that was only what they'd said aloud.

In truth, how could Ling Ying not test a genius who'd emerged from the declining Xiao Clan? And how could the Ancient Clan not have its own designs?

"Go back and tell her the deal's possible. But she'd better prepare compensation first. You provoked me by making the first move. I should kill you right here and now. You're lucky your backing saved you—for the moment!"

As he spoke, Xiao Lei stepped forward and planted a foot on Ling Ying's leg.

A sharp crack rang out, and the latter's right leg shattered.

With the Ancient Clan involved, Xiao Lei couldn't kill him outright just yet. But he certainly wasn't about to let Ling Ying off easy!

After a while, Xiao Lei finally cooled down and tossed Ling Ying aside, letting him go for now.

Xiao Lei had sensed the Ancient Clan's probing, but he wasn't afraid. Xiao Yan had Xiao Xun'er's backing.

And Xiao Lei could use Xiao Yan to keep Xiao Xun'er in check!

So a deal was essential. At the very least, it would keep Xiao Xun'er steady and prevent the Ancient Clan's experts from making a move.

The moment Xiao Lei released him, Ling Ying hurriedly gathered his Dou Qi, scrambled to his feet, and fled, afraid Xiao Lei might change his mind.

In Ling Ying's eyes, Xiao Lei was a complete madman. He didn't care who stood behind his targets; if he said he'd chop off their hands, he did it. People like that were the most terrifying, because they might simply flip the whole table!

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

There was no reason he should have to kneel and play the obedient grandson after someone came knocking on his door looking for a fight!

If that was how things worked, what was the point of cultivating? He might as well find a cow pat and bash his head against it.

After Ling Ying fled, Xiao Lei began reconsidering the deal he'd mentioned: protecting Xiao Yan as he went to the Misty Cloud Sect.

That would require at least Peak Dou Emperor strength. After all, the Misty Cloud Sect wasn't as simple as it appeared.

"What should I ask for?"

Xiao Lei could raise his cultivation through copying and his physique. The Ancient Clan couldn't give him Heavenly Flames. As for a cauldron, he could always kill Han Feng later and take the Myriad Beast Cauldron. He could just pluck Dou Techniques from others, too, without wasting time learning them himself.

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

"Forget it. I won't think about that now! I should focus on how to improve my strength. Without strength, everything else is just floating clouds!"

Xiao Lei stayed in Green Mountain Town for another month, finally waiting for everyone to finish their seclusion. Thanks to her talent and hard work, Xiao Yi Xian broke through to the Dou Ling realm.

That was absurdly extravagant!

Qing Lin was a little behind, at around Peak Dou Master. Xiao Lei promptly refined a Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill and helped her break through to Da Dou Shi.

As for Xiang Liu, the Humanoid Transformation Pill helped him successfully take human form. But he seemed to prefer his magical beast body and never changed back. Xiao Lei couldn't be bothered with such minor details.

He was being used as a mount, after all. His magical beast body was just right. The Humanoid Transformation Pill had only been meant to give him the cultivation talent of a human.

One thing worth mentioning was that once Xiang Liu had recovered his strength, Xiao Lei had quickly copied his cultivation and acquired the strength of an Eight-Star Dou Emperor.

The ease of copying from someone who put up no resistance earned a hearty thumbs-up from Xiao Lei.

Afterward, Xiao Lei led the group toward the desert. The struggle over the Heavenly Flame in the original story was about to begin.

The Heavenly Flame was one of Xiao Lei's targets as well.

The Tagor Desert was a scorching region rife with conflict. To hold back the Snake-People Tribe, the Jia Ma Empire had built city after city across the desert.

Desert City was one of them. For years, it had been home to a strange map shop.

The shopkeeper was an old man. He sold maps, yet seemed not to depend on the business for a living, and was indifferent toward his customers.

Creak!

The sound of a wooden door scraping open rang in Hai Bo Dong's ears. He hadn't planned to pay it any mind, but after sensing the strength of those who'd entered, he immediately turned around.

"Hehe, I'd like to ask the old senior about a young man!"

The youth's voice reached Hai Bo Dong's ears, yet it sounded like a bowstring twanging beside a startled bird.

Hai Bo Dong's heart sank. He hurriedly circulated his Dou Qi.

The next moment, a large hand clapped onto his shoulder, and his Dou Qi abruptly fell into an eerie stillness.

"Old sir, there's no need to get so worked up!"

Only then did Hai Bo Dong get a chance to look over Xiao Lei and the others. Three people and two snakes: "A Da Dou Shi, a Dou Ling, a Dou Wang, and..."

Hai Bo Dong couldn't sense Xiao Lei or Xiang Liu's cultivation at all. His probing spiritual power seemed to pass right around them.

That could only mean the two of them were stronger than he'd been at his peak. His spiritual power was still at the level it had been back then.

Realizing he had no way to fight back, Hai Bo Dong grew less tense. He simply spread his hands. They could kill him if they wanted.

"In my memory, I don't know either of you. If you're here for revenge, just get on with it!"

Xiao Lei was taken aback, then gave a helpless, amused smile. "Old sir, I'm not here for revenge. I'm looking for someone. Did a young man named Xiao Yan come here a few days ago? He had the ability to raise his cultivation in an instant."

"I don't know. I've never heard of such a young man!"

Hai Bo Dong was an old hand at acting. He didn't need to prepare a lie; it rolled right off his tongue.

Xiao Lei didn't mind. He was only chatting with Hai Bo Dong to get his hands on the man's Dou Techniques.

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

For example—Mystic Ice Dragon Soar!

Hai Bo Dong's reserves were nothing compared to Xiao Lei's. Xiao Lei quickly copied the technique, and Hai Bo Dong didn't dare make a move the whole time.

After getting the Dou Technique he wanted, Xiao Lei turned his attention elsewhere.

He looked around but didn't find any unusual maps. Xiao Yan had clearly already been here and taken the other half of the Fragmented Map.

Looking around the shop, Xiao Lei saw distinct scorch marks on several walls. The air still held traces of the violent energy released by a Heavenly Flame.

At the sight, a smile rose on Xiao Lei's handsome face. He flipped his hand, and the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame slowly rose into the air.

"Old sir, why tell such an obvious lie? Would I not recognize the aura of a Heavenly Flame?"

When Hai Bo Dong saw the blood-red flames in Xiao Lei's hand and heard his words, he was immediately certain that the fire was a Heavenly Flame.

"That's it! That's the violent aura!"

Then he noticed Xiao Lei's alchemist's robe. (He'd just applied for a new one; Xiang Liu had destroyed the previous one.)

Hai Bo Dong's heart surged with excitement. He couldn't believe Heaven had favored him so much, sending two alchemists who possessed Heavenly Flames right to his doorstep.

"I was rude just now. Please forgive me, Master!"

Hai Bo Dong promptly put on a show of obsequiousness. After all, he'd been trapped by the seal for who knew how many years. Reality had long since ground away the arrogance he'd once possessed.

"I'm only a high-grade sixth-tier alchemist. I hardly deserve to be called Master."

Hai Bo Dong felt as though he'd been struck by another blow, but this time it was good news.

A sixth-tier alchemist with a Heavenly Flame, the very person he'd long dreamed of meeting, stood right before him. Even after years of honing his composure, Hai Bo Dong couldn't keep his emotions from stirring.

"Master, I have a favor to ask!"

Xiao Lei glanced at him, knowing the fish had taken the bait. Then, feigning indifference, he said, "My help always comes at a high price. Can you afford it?"

Hai Bo Dong came to his senses. Right. He'd already promised the most valuable Fragmented Map to Xiao Yan. What else could he offer a sixth-tier alchemist?

"I can sense a dense mass of Dou Qi in your body, but it's locked away by a domineering seal. I assume that's what you meant?"

Hearing Xiao Lei describe his situation so accurately, Hai Bo Dong became even more certain that Xiao Lei could remove the seal!

"How about this? I happen to need someone with a bit of strength to help me with some things. If you're willing to become my subordinate and do as I say, I can help you break the seal."

Hai Bo Dong fell silent.

He'd lived freely for half his life. Only after falling into Medusa's hands had he confined himself to this tiny map shop. For a man like him, giving up his freedom was no small matter!

After a long, long while—

"Alas! How is being confined to this tiny place any different from losing my freedom?"

Hai Bo Dong sighed deeply. Then his gaze gradually hardened.

"I'm willing. Please help me, Master!"

Xiao Lei smiled broadly. With Hai Bo Dong on his side, could the Miteer Clan really refuse to get to work?

"Looks like the next stop is the Snake-People Tribe!"

Xiao Lei murmured. Whether it was the Green Lotus Core Flame or the pills Hai Bo Dong needed, both forced Xiao Lei to head into the depths of the Tagor Desert.