Hai Bodong's Residence

In the blink of an eye, they arrived at the gates of Desert Rock City.

"Senior, if you don't mind, you can come to my residence to rest and recover from your injuries."

Seeing that Yao Chen was weak, injured, and apparently unsure where to go, Hai Bodong invited him to stay at his residence.

At that moment, Yao Chen was recalling the plot of Battle Through the Heavens from his previous life. After thinking it over, he decided Hai Bodong's place would do. Hai Bodong had a Purifying Lotus Demon Flame Fragment Map there, after all.

Besides, Hai Bodong was now seriously injured, and Yao Chen could use pills to treat him.

When the time comes, he'll offer to thank me, and I can take the opportunity to ask for the fragment map.

A smile tugged at Yao Chen's lips. Then another thought occurred to him.

But I don't have any pills on me right now, only the medicinal herbs I brought from the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Looks like I came out too early. I'll have to refine some pills after we get to Hai Bodong's place!

"Senior? Senior?" Hai Bodong called out when he saw Yao Chen staring into space. He was afraid Yao Chen might refuse to go with him. Seriously injured, Hai Bodong feared his enemies might ambush him; having Yao Chen there would give him a measure of security.

"My residence is one of the quieter places around here. Few people come by to disturb me. Senior, why don't you come with me and recuperate there?"

"Ahem..."

"Very well. Since you're inviting me so sincerely, I'll go with you."

Yao Chen coughed once, then accepted Hai Bodong's offer.

Hai Bodong's residence stood in a corner of Desert Rock City.

It was a stone house that looked simple and old-fashioned, yet sturdy, situated at the end of a somewhat secluded alley.

Its walls were built from rough-hewn stones, their surfaces mottled by the ravages of time.

The front door was made of heavy logs and studded with rusty iron nails, as though telling tales of the hardships of ages past.

Beyond the entrance lay a small courtyard. Fine sand and gravel covered the ground, and a few hardy cacti grew in one corner, bringing a touch of life to the otherwise barren yard.

The main building's roof was covered with blue-gray tiles. Here and there, nameless weeds poked through the gaps.

The interior was simply furnished. A stone bed stood in one corner, covered with bedding that was worn but clean.

A wooden table sat by the window, with books and maps neatly arranged on top.

A black fragment map lay carelessly on one corner of the table.

Several spoils Hai Bodong had won during his youthful adventures hung on the walls: a sharp sword and some strange beast hides.

Some of the tools he used for cultivation were piled in one corner. Though old, they had been wiped spotless.

Through the window, one could see the narrow street outside and the rolling sand dunes in the distance. Though humble, this place was Hai Bodong's peaceful refuge in this desert city.

"Senior, this is my residence. It's rather humble, so I hope you won't mind roughing it."

Looking at the simple little house, Hai Bodong spoke to Yao Chen with some embarrassment.

"It's no trouble. As long as I can rest, that's enough."

Yao Chen said it made no difference to him.

"Do you have a secret chamber here? Judging by your injuries, you won't recover for a while."

"What does Senior need a secret chamber for?"

Hai Bodong looked at Yao Chen in confusion.

"I'm an alchemist. I left in a hurry earlier and didn't bring any pills with me. I need a secret chamber to refine some. While I'm at it, I can make some healing pills to help treat your injuries."

Hearing Yao Chen say he was an alchemist and would refine pills to treat him, Hai Bodong ignored his injuries and forced himself to endure the pain. He clasped his hands together and bowed deeply to Yao Chen.

"Senior, I, Hai Bodong, have no way to repay your great kindness. If you ever need anything from me, I, Hai Bodong, will brave fire and water to repay you for saving my life."

Yao Chen looked at Hai Bodong calmly and spoke slowly.

"You needn't be so formal. I merely happened upon you in the desert and saw you fighting Medusa of the Snake-People Tribe. Since we're both human, it was only natural for me to step in."

"I still have to thank Senior," Hai Bodong insisted, remaining bent at the waist.

"If you're determined to thank me, then I noticed a black map on your table when I came in. Give it to me as payment for saving you."

Seeing this, Yao Chen stated his request for the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame Fragment Map.

"Senior, please take whatever you like. I came across that black map by chance, but I never figured out what it was for, so I usually just leave it on the table. If Senior needs it, you may have it."

Hearing that Yao Chen wanted the map on the table, Hai Bodong immediately picked it up with both hands and offered it to him.

Yao Chen accepted the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame Fragment Map, then smiled at Hai Bodong with satisfaction.

"Then find me a secret chamber as well. I'm going to refine some pills."

"Of course, Senior!"

"Senior, please follow me."

After agreeing, Hai Bodong remembered the secret chamber where he usually cultivated and led Yao Chen there.

The secret chamber lay beneath Hai Bodong's bedroom.

A streak of blue-white Dou Qi shot toward the carpet in Hai Bodong's bedroom. A black stairwell appeared, just wide enough for one person to pass through.

A moment later, Yao Chen followed Hai Bodong inside.

The secret chamber's walls were built from massive blocks of bluestone. Moss and tiny beads of water covered their surfaces, giving off a faint chill.

Several oil lamps cast a dim yellow glow from the walls. Their flickering light made shadows dance across the chamber, creating a mysterious and eerie atmosphere.

A huge stone table stood in the center of the chamber, piled with ancient scrolls and yellowed books. Some pages were damaged, others had blurred writing, but every volume seemed to bear secrets without end and immense power.

Several exquisite wooden boxes stood on one side of the stone table. Jewels and precious metals adorned them, and inside lay mysterious objects Hai Bodong treasured above all else.

On the other side stood bottles and jars of every shape and size, filled with liquids and powders of various colors that gave off strange odors.

Old weapons were piled in a corner of the chamber: sharp swords and heavy battle-axes. Perhaps they had once shone on the battlefield, but now they lay sleeping quietly in that corner.

Complex formations had also been drawn on the floor. They shimmered faintly, as if they contained some kind of powerful force.

"Senior, this is the chamber where I usually cultivate. I had someone specially create the formation on the floor. It can block certain celestial phenomena, allowing me to cultivate without being detected by anyone below the level of a Dou Huang expert."

Yao Chen walked slowly through the chamber, taking in his surroundings. He was especially pleased with the formation in the center.

"This place will do. I'll begin refining the pills now."

"Go upstairs and rest for a while. I'll call you when I'm done."

"Of course, Senior! Call me whenever you need anything."

Hai Bodong knew that alchemists didn't usually let others watch while they refined pills, so he tactfully went back upstairs to rest.