Ice Emperor Hai Bodong

Within Shi-Mo City, Xiao Jie's immense soul power blanketed the entire city. He quickly sensed a powerful expert with sealed strength, but he did not find Qing Lin.

Thinking about it, Qing Lin was not even a Dou Zhe yet, and her soul power was far too weak. Since he had never seen her before, it was normal that he could not locate her. Unlike Hai Bodong, who still possessed Dou Ling-level cultivation even while sealed, Xiao Jie could sense the energy contained within his body through his soul perception. There was no rush concerning Qing Lin. Since he had already found Hai Bodong, he would visit him first. Hai Bodong also possessed a Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Fragment Map.

Following the direction of Hai Bodong's location, Xiao Jie strolled through Shi-Mo City, stopping now and then to examine the local specialties for sale and appreciate the beautiful products born from different regional cultures.

Meanwhile, Hai Bodong was making maps when his hand suddenly paused. The ink brush in his hand slipped to the floor. Hai Bodong sensed an immense soul power locking onto him. He had already abandoned any thought of fleeing and silently weighed his options.

I don't seem to have offended anyone with such immense soul power, have I?

Hai Bodong shook his head and thought.

This person's strength is formidable, far beyond what my current cultivation can contend with. But since they have come, I'll take things as they come. At worst, I'll die. I've hidden in this desert for decades already; that's enough.

He then took out another ink brush and continued drawing his map.

At this moment, Xiao Jie was watching a street performance amid the crowd. Just as he was getting absorbed in it, he suddenly sensed a hand reaching toward a scantily clad young married woman beside him. It was unclear whether the person intended to steal her belongings or take advantage of her.

A tiny flicker of flame flashed, and one of the man's ring fingers fell away from his palm. Not a single drop of blood flowed from the severed wound. Before the man could feel pain or cry out, Xiao Jie, whose enjoyment had been interrupted, grabbed him and vanished from the spot.

When Xiao Jie reappeared, he was already in a deserted alley. He threw the man onto the ground and spoke.

"Don't scream. You interrupted my enjoyment, so I took one of your fingers as punishment. I have something for you to do. Find a little girl named Qing Lin in Shi-Mo City. She is of mixed Snake-People Tribe and human blood. Come to the Ancient Map Shop before this time tomorrow. If you find her, there will be a reward. If you don't... heh." Xiao Jie snorted coldly and left.

Xiao Jie headed for the Ancient Map Shop operated by Hai Bodong. He had sent that man to find Qing Lin because people who engaged in petty theft were always well-informed. Besides, he had only given him one day. It did not matter if he failed, but if he succeeded, Xiao Jie would not need to make the trip himself. He was not stingy with a small reward, either.

Before long, Xiao Jie arrived at the entrance of the Ancient Map Shop. He happened to see a white-haired old man opening the door, though he did not know whether this man was Hai Bodong.

"An honored guest has arrived. Please, come in." The old man stepped aside and gestured invitingly.

Xiao Jie nodded and entered. After sweeping his gaze around the shop, he fixed his eyes on the old man and said,

"Are you the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, one of the Jia Ma Empire's Ten Great Experts?"

"You flatter me, honored guest. My name is indeed Hai Bodong, but I am merely a Dou Ling now. I can no longer bear the title of one of the Ten Great Experts." Hai Bodong shook his head with a bitter smile.

"Then it is you, the former Ice Emperor Hai Bodong. I'll be direct. My name is Xiao Jie, and I have come to make a deal with you. I want to buy five years of your time, as well as a fragment map in your possession. Don't refuse so quickly; hear my terms first. I will give you a Sixth-grade Break-Obstacle Pill. It is highly effective at breaking seals and can remove the seal on your body. I will also give you a Sixth-grade Purple Spirit Recovery Pill, which can restore cultivation that regressed due to being sealed. Finally, there is a peak Sixth-grade Emperor-Extreme Pill. You should have heard of it; it can raise the cultivation of a Dou Emperor by one star. What do you think?"

When Hai Bodong heard that Xiao Jie wanted to buy five years of his time and the fragment map in his possession, he had not even had time to refuse before hearing the words Break-Obstacle Pill. His pupils immediately widened, and his breathing quickened. Once Xiao Jie finished, he hurriedly said,

"I agree, I agree! But when will you give me the pills?"

Xiao Jie raised a hand and took two bottles of pills from his Storage Ring—the Break-Obstacle Pill and the Emperor-Extreme Pill. Only after tossing the bottles to Hai Bodong did he say,

"I have not refined the Purple Spirit Recovery Pill yet, but you can gather its ingredients yourself. If you perform well in the future, I will also give you an Ancestor-Breaking Pill to help you break through to Dou Zong. All right, give me that fragment map."

"Refined? Are you an alchemist, sir? Very well, this is a fragment map I obtained. I was never able to figure out anything from it. Do you know what this map records?"

"There's no harm in telling you. This fragment map is one of the maps recording the location of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame, ranked third on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. Even if you collected all the fragments and recovered your full strength, you would never be able to subdue it." Xiao Jie spoke in an even tone.

"So that's how it is. No wonder you came looking for me. Heavenly Flames are far more tempting to alchemists like you than to people like us. Please rest assured, once I break through the seal in a few days, I will send someone with the ingredients for the Purple Spirit Recovery Pill, along with the ingredients for the Emperor-Extreme Pill."

When did such a young Sixth-grade Alchemist appear near the Jia Ma Empire? He looks only around ten years old, yet he is already at least a Dou Wang-level expert. He is also a Sixth-grade Alchemist capable of refining an Ancestor-Breaking Pill. Such talent is truly rare even in a thousand years. I must build a good relationship with him. He said just now that he would consider giving me an Ancestor-Breaking Pill. With one, I may be able to break through to Dou Zong. Hai Bodong thought to himself.

"Then please make yourself at home, sir. I have endured this seal for decades, and I truly can no longer bear it. I will refine this Break-Obstacle Pill and break the seal first. Once I emerge from seclusion, I will properly entertain you. I hope you will forgive me." Hai Bodong clasped his hands.

"Mm, I understand. Go ahead, Ice Emperor. I have something to do, so I'll head out first and return later." With his back to Hai Bodong, Xiao Jie waved a hand.