Douluo Traversal: I Pulled Out a Dou Technique, and You Still Didn't Explode?

"Hmph, who gave you permission to look?"

Liu Bai grinned.

"Let's go. We'll get a map first, then start searching for the Heavenly Flame."

"Mm."

The two left together.

The moment Xiao Yi Xian appeared on the street,

as expected, her fairy-like figure immediately drew plenty of attention. Some mercenaries even revealed ill intentions.

But Liu Bai merely glanced at them, and his vast Soul Power instantly intimidated them to the core.

Then, upon seeing the Alchemist robe Liu Bai wore, they could only scurry away in disgrace.

"Sigh, our Xian'er is just too beautiful. No matter where we go, you're always the center of attention."

Liu Bai did not forget to tease her as they walked.

Xiao Yi Xian stayed by Liu Bai's side the entire time. She knew her own situation, so she never wandered too far from him.

"Hmph, then shouldn't you be secretly delighted?"

Liu Bai smiled.

He gently took one of her hands.

Xiao Yi Xian froze for a moment, but she did not pull away. Her cheeks merely turned slightly red.

The two walked hand in hand and soon arrived at Liu Bai's destination: a map shop with the words Ancient Map written on its sign.

They entered.

The shop was somewhat dim, lit only by several Moonlight Stones. The air carried a faint scent of old paper and ink.

Compared to the noise and scorching heat outside, this place felt like another peaceful world.

Behind the counter, a white-haired old man was bent over a map, drawing with a steady brush and a focused expression.

Liu Bai's gaze swept over the stacks of yellowed and new maps on the counter before he seemingly casually walked to an ancient wooden shelf in the corner, riddled with wormholes.

The shelf was cluttered with defective maps that had failed during production.

He casually flipped through the old, moldy papers. His movements appeared lazy, but his Soul Power carefully scanned every inch.

Suddenly, his fingertips trembled slightly. A palm-sized, ancient-looking fragment of a map with damaged edges quietly slipped out from a pile of scrap paper.

Liu Bai caught sight of the faintly outlined mysterious lines on the map from the corner of his eye, and his heart jolted!

Though the lines were incomplete, their distinctive aura and the feeling that they overlapped with an image deep within his memories made him instantly certain.

The Fragmented Map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame!

He had found it!

Without changing expression, he pinched the fragment between his fingers. It was as thin as a cicada's wing, as though it would shatter at the slightest touch, and he examined it carefully.

That was right. This feeling, this texture—it came from the same source as the fragmented map he had obtained from the cave in Green Mountain Town!

Just as Liu Bai was secretly thrilled, the old man behind the counter seemed to have finally finished his work. Without raising his head, he spoke in an aged, indifferent voice.

"Buying maps? Look for yourself. Put your choice on the counter when you're done."

Liu Bai smiled, carefully closed his hand around the fragmented map, and walked to the counter. His expression had already returned to calm.

He casually picked up a rather detailed map of the Tagor Desert from the counter, then spread open his palm to reveal the ancient fragmented map.

"Sir, this fragmented map is quite interesting. Do you happen to have any other similar pieces?"

Liu Bai asked gently.

The old man drawing maps—Hai Bodong, the Ice Emperor living here under an assumed name—paused almost imperceptibly.

He slowly raised his head. His cloudy gaze swept over the fragmented map in Liu Bai's hand, then lingered briefly on the Third-Grade Alchemist badge on his chest and Xiao Yi Xian beside him, whose temperament was otherworldly.

"You've seen this kind of map?"

Hai Bodong had lived in seclusion for many years. Even he himself did not know the origins of this fragmented map, which he had acquired by chance. He had only kept it because it seemed extraordinary. He never expected someone to specifically ask about it today.

Liu Bai smiled and responded calmly.

"I happened to see something similar once. I thought the pattern was quite unusual, so I became curious. Sir, would you be willing to part with this fragmented map? I'm willing to pay a high price for it."

Of course, he would not be foolish enough to say that he already had another piece.

"Not for sale."

Hai Bodong's answer was swift and decisive. He could not even be bothered to explain as he lowered his head again and continued drawing his map.

"Put it back. Pick your map and leave."

Hai Bodong

Liu Bai had long expected it would not be so simple.

He was in no hurry. His fingers lightly rubbed the edge of the fragmented map before he suddenly changed the subject.

"Sir, you seem... unwell? Your aura is deep, yet there is an underlying stagnation, as though you have been eroded and sealed by some sort of energy for a long time, greatly diminishing your strength. This feeling... is it Queen Medusa's seal?"

Crack!

The hard ink brush in Hai Bodong's hand snapped in response!

He abruptly raised his head. A terrifying gleam and icy killing intent erupted from his cloudy eyes. A powerful aura mixed with frigid Dou Qi burst forth, sending the papers on the counter fluttering noisily!

Under his secret control, the shop's doors slammed shut with a bang!

Liu Bai stood before Xiao Yi Xian, shielding her behind him. Though Hai Bodong's aura was powerful, it could not shake Liu Bai in the slightest.

Even if he had once been a renowned Dou Emperor of the empire, he was now merely a Dou Ling.

"Who exactly are you?!"

Hai Bodong stared fixedly at Liu Bai, his voice icy to the bone.

He had hidden his identity here for decades. There were not many people in the entire Jia Ma Empire who knew his true circumstances or whereabouts. How had this exceptionally young Third-Grade Alchemist seen through him at a glance and even accurately named Queen Medusa?!

Xiao Yi Xian was startled by the sudden turn of events and instinctively moved a step closer to Liu Bai.

Liu Bai gently held her small hand, and his tender caress calmed her emotions.

A faint smile still hung on his face, as if he had not noticed Hai Bodong's fury at all.

"Please don't get worked up, sir."

Liu Bai waved a hand, his tone calm.

"Who I am is not important. What matters is that I can see it, and I can also... help you solve this seal problem."

The frigid Dou Qi surging around Hai Bodong suddenly stalled. A flash of astonishment crossed his sharp gaze, though there was still more suspicion than anything else.

He had been trapped at the Dou Ling level by this damned seal for far too long. He had tried countless times to break it without success and had even been afraid to return to the Mite'er Family because of it.

This unfamiliar youth actually dared to make such outrageous claims?

"You? A mere Third-Grade Alchemist?"

Hai Bodong sneered.

"Kid, anyone can talk big. If you think you can use such words to deceive me into handing over the fragmented map, you're far too naive!"

Liu Bai remained unhurried.

"Whether you believe me is up to you, but once this chance passes, it won't come again."

Hai Bodong fell into thought. His gaze could not help but carefully assess the youth before him. His first impression was that Liu Bai was young, looking no more than seventeen or eighteen, but his aura...

He was actually a Dou Ling, comparable to himself!

Such a young Dou Ling!

And a Third-Grade Alchemist as well. His talent was terrifying. When had such a monster appeared in the Jia Ma Empire?

Could he have come from outside the Jia Ma Empire?

"Kid, tell me. What method do you have?"

Liu Bai chuckled softly.

"There is certainly a method. Or rather, the method should be on you, sir, isn't it?"

Hai Bodong fell silent. After a moment, he let out a long sigh.

"I do have a method. It is a pill formula I obtained by chance, but only an Alchemist who possesses a Heavenly Flame can refine it. Do you have a Heavenly Flame?"

Liu Bai shook his head.

"A Heavenly Flame? I don't have one right now, but I will soon."

Hai Bodong frowned.

"Kid, anyone can talk big. Heavenly Flames are difficult to find. Even after staying in the desert for decades, I have only obtained a few scraps of information."

Liu Bai nodded. How could he not know that? Hai Bodong's capabilities were beyond doubt. Liu Bai knew that the possible location of the Heavenly Flame Hai Bodong had confirmed was accurate.

Moreover, it was near Graphite City. As long as he obtained the map and investigated the locations around Graphite City one by one, he would be able to find the Green Lotus Core Flame.

"You needn't worry about that. I know several locations of Heavenly Flames."

Hai Bodong fell silent. He did not know whether he should believe this kid, but after some consideration, he realized he would not lose anything by trusting him. Still, he definitely could not hand the item over directly.

"Hmph, I don't know whether you're telling the truth, so naturally I cannot give you the item outright. However, since you say you can obtain a Heavenly Flame, I can show you this. If you can refine this pill, I will give you the other half of the fragmented map."

Liu Bai held out his hand.

"Let me see it."

Hai Bodong handed over a pill formula. Liu Bai took one look and, as expected, it was the formula for the Po'e Pill.

After examining it carefully, he thought to himself that it truly deserved to be called a Sixth-Grade Pill.

The details within were far more profound than any pill formula or medicinal pill he had seen before.

With his current alchemy skills, he had no chance whatsoever of refining the Po'e Pill.

However, given some time, he would sooner or later be able to refine this pill.