Douluo Traversal, I Whip Out a Dou Technique and You Don't Explode? Part 49

He put away the pill formula.

"Alright. This Po'e Pill is a sixth-tier pill. With my current strength, it really is difficult for me to refine it. But I only need some time. Reaching the sixth tier won't be difficult."

Hai Bodong raised a brow. So confident?

That made sense. Reaching the third tier at such a young age meant he truly might reach the sixth tier in the future.

But was he supposed to keep waiting indefinitely?

Liu Bai offered no explanation.

"You have a map showing where Heavenly Flames might be, don't you? Take it out. You should know that to refine this Po'e Pill, one must possess a Heavenly Flame."

Hai Bodong's brow twitched fiercely.

"You brat really aren't polite. It doesn't matter if I give it to you."

He directly handed Liu Bai all the maps he had collected over the years showing possible locations of Heavenly Flames.

Liu Bai looked them over. Sure enough, the circled spots were where Heavenly Flames were most likely to appear.

One of them happened to be right beside Stone Desert City. If nothing unexpected happened, the Green Lotus Core Flame was there!

As long as he kept exploring downward, he would find it sooner or later!

Excellent!

All the necessary pieces had come together.

"Old man, just wait patiently. I'll come back for the other half of the Fragmented Map."

Hai Bodong sat back down without even turning his head.

"Stop talking big. When you give me the Po'e Pill, I'll give you the Fragmented Map."

Liu Bai waved a hand, took Xiao Yi Xian with him, and walked out of the Ancient Map Shop.

The blazing sunlight shone down on them once more. It was practically a different world from inside the Ancient Map Shop.

Hai Bodong was basically a human-shaped refrigerator. The temperature difference between indoors and outdoors had to be over ten degrees.

Xiao Yi Xian let out a long breath.

"Phew... I thought you two were about to start fighting. You scared me to death."

Liu Bai patted her head.

"Heh, do you think I'm that kind of person? I'm the one who wants something from him. I wouldn't just snatch it by force. Since he wants a Po'e Pill, I'll give him one."

Liu Bai knew a little about Hai Bodong's personality.

"Don't underestimate that old man. He used to be a Dou Emperor."

"A Dou Emperor?!"

A Dou Emperor was considered one of the strongest figures in the entire Jia Ma Empire, as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns. Who would have thought one would appear here?

"He was a Dou Emperor? I couldn't tell at all."

Liu Bai shook his head.

"He used to be a Dou Emperor, but because he was afflicted by a seal, his realm has been sealed down to only that of a Dou Ling."

Xiao Yi Xian nodded as if she understood.

"So that's how it is."

Liu Bai weighed the Heavenly Flame map in his hand.

"But it wasn't a complete loss. Don't we now have a possible location for the Heavenly Flame?"

Chapter 56: Qing Lin

Xiao Yi Xian looked at the map in his hand and asked doubtfully.

"So, are we going to the location on this map next to look for the Heavenly Flame?"

Liu Bai nodded.

"That's right. But first, let's spend the day properly enjoying Stone Desert City."

"Alright, alright!"

"Come on. I'll take you to try this desert border city's specialties."

Though Stone Desert City's streets were not as prosperous as those of a major city, they possessed a uniquely rugged and lively charm.

The scorching sunlight spilled across the yellow-brown earthen walls, while the air was filled with the mingled scents of spices, roasted flatbread, and windblown sand.

Liu Bai accompanied Xiao Yi Xian as they lingered before stall after stall.

Xiao Yi Xian rarely relaxed like this. Her eyes sparkled, and everything felt novel to her.

"Try this."

Liu Bai bought two skewers of meat sizzling with oil.

Xiao Yi Xian took a bite and inhaled sharply from the heat. Her cheeks puffed out like a little hamster's as she said indistinctly,

"It smells so good, but it's not as tasty as the roasted meat you made before."

As she spoke, a little grease stained the corner of her mouth.

Liu Bai found it amusing and naturally wiped it away with the pad of his thumb.

His fingertip touched her warm, soft skin, and both of them paused. Their gazes met. Xiao Yi Xian's ears turned slightly red as she lowered her head and took small bites from the skewer, though the corners of her lips secretly curved upward.

"I used better seasonings for mine."

They were like the most ordinary young couple, strolling through the bustling marketplace, their relationship gradually drawing closer.

Just as they passed a corner, a burst of intense noise and angry cursing suddenly rang out, shattering the peace.

"Get out, get out, get out! Disgusting Snake-Person! You're not welcome here!"

This was followed by a suppressed cry of pain.

"Ow!"

Liu Bai frowned and looked toward the sound. In the general store beside them, a frail little girl with green hair was roughly shoved outside, stumbling and falling into the dust.

Liu Bai frowned and quickly stepped forward to help the little girl up.

She was startlingly light in his hands, showing just how terribly thin she was.

Xiao Yi Xian followed as well. Seeing a frail child being bullied, she immediately became angry.

"What are you doing? Bullying a child?"

The shop owner had not cared much at first, but the moment he saw Liu Bai wearing an Alchemist's robe, his expression changed. He forced out a fawning smile.

"Esteemed Alchemist, this isn't an ordinary child. She's Snake-Person mixed blood, tainted with bad luck!"

"What's wrong with mixed blood?"

Xiao Yi Xian grew even angrier.

"I didn't steal anything. I just wanted to buy something to eat!"

A weak voice rang out.

Liu Bai looked down. The little girl was around ten years old, with dark green hair and emerald-green eyes.

Her lips were pressed tightly together. Though she was clearly afraid, she still spoke softly.

"She didn't steal anything. Apologize."

Liu Bai's voice was calm as he stared directly at the shop owner.

The owner's face went pale, and he hurriedly bowed.

"Y-Yes, sorry..."

Though he did not feel even the slightest remorse toward the little girl, he did not dare disobey now that Liu Bai had spoken. He was only an ordinary shop owner, after all, and could never afford to offend an Alchemist.

Xiao Yi Xian glared fiercely at the shop owner.

Then she crouched down and asked gently,

"You're hungry, aren't you?"

Qing Lin's stomach softly growled, and she immediately lowered her head in embarrassment.

Liu Bai glanced down at the little girl.

"What's your name?"

Qing Lin spoke timidly.

"Q-Qing Lin."

Liu Bai's heart stirred.

Qing Lin? So it was her. No wonder she was being bullied so badly. She was of Snake-Person mixed blood, and this was Stone Desert City.

It was a place where the Snake-Person Tribe and human territory bordered one another.

The two sides had accumulated deep hatred. But these people could not go looking for Snake-Persons to vent it on, because they could not defeat them.

So they could only pour it out on this frail little girl.

"A bunch of trash!"

Liu Bai picked Qing Lin up and fixed the shop owner with an icy gaze.

The shop owner immediately broke out in cold sweat.

Liu Bai did not make things difficult for him. After all, these were merely people following the crowd. There were no telling how many like them in all of Stone Desert City, and he could not possibly trouble every single one.

He exchanged a glance with Xiao Yi Xian. She understood what he meant, and the two of them immediately headed back toward the inn.

Xiao Yi Xian walked beside them, occasionally speaking softly to coax Qing Lin into talking.

"Qing Lin, where is your family? Why are you outside alone?"

Liu Bai asked, softening his voice.

The little body in his arms stiffened slightly, and her weak voice carried a sob.