Now, twenty years later, the Jia Ma Empire had also given rise to a Dou Zong expert.
After all, perhaps only a Dou Zong expert could make a Dou Huang expert bow his head and submit.
"Hahaha! Since you're not afraid, then after living this long, how could this old man be afraid of death?"
Hai Bodong laughed heartily, having decided to stick with this young man.
If a young man wasn't reckless, could he even be called young? When he was young, he'd been even more reckless than this!
He'd been the sort who'd cause trouble if you didn't keep him in line for three days.
"Then let's not waste time. I'll break your seal right now." Xiao Ze's gaze was calm.
Elder Hai's joining him had been within his expectations. After all, anyone sealed for twenty years would have a hard time bearing it.
Especially a Dou Huang expert. For him, it was worse than being killed.
Then Hai Bodong led the two of them to an underground ice chamber.
"Let's do it here. Queen Medusa has held me back for twenty years. Whether I can return to my peak depends on you, young friend Xiao Ze."
Hai Bodong looked expectant. Although breaking the seal required a Sixth-Grade Pill, the Break-Edict Pill, a Dou Zong expert didn't need to go to all that trouble. He could simply suppress the seal by force.
Xiao Ze nodded, then raised his right hand. The aura of a Dou Zong burst forth at full force, and Hai Bodong, seated before him, immediately felt immense pressure.
As energy poured into his body, Hai Bodong's body on the ice platform suddenly began trembling violently. Waves of fierce energy ripples rapidly spread out from within him. Wherever they passed, the surrounding tables and ice pillars all burst apart with a series of sharp cracks.
Then, at the center of his forehead, a strange, dusky-green energy rapidly gathered. A moment later, it formed a tiny, dusky-green serpent marking.
The serpent marking coiled above Hai Bodong's forehead, firmly sealing the surging Dou Qi within his body.
Seeing this, Xiao Ze immediately reached out with his right hand and grabbed it, refining it in an instant.
But how could a seal imposed by a Peak Dou Emperor possibly trouble him, a Three-Star Dou Zong?
The whole process was over in no time. By the time Hai Bodong reacted, it was already finished.
Feeling the robust Dou Qi surging within him, Hai Bodong's old face flushed with excitement for once.
"Hahaha! This is the feeling! It's back. Everything's back!"
"Damn seal, you're finally gone! I'm a Dou Huang again!"
His feet touched the ice platform, and Hai Bodong's body shot up into the air. His face brimmed with joy as he threw back his head and laughed uproariously.
The violent sound waves, carried by Dou Qi, shook the cracked ice around him. With a boom, it shattered and collapsed.
The aura of a Five-Star Dou Emperor erupted like a geyser.
Under that mighty aura, even the ice crystals in the underground chamber began to crack.
"Old man, take it easy. Getting carried away in front of my master never ends well."
Xiao Zi's words were like a bucket of cold water.
Only then did Hai Bodong realize he'd gotten a little too carried away.
"Sorry, young friend Xiao Ze. I got excited and lost control for a moment."
"Five-Star Dou Emperor. It looks like you've recovered quite well, Elder Hai." Xiao Ze glanced over Hai Bodong and nodded in satisfaction. His trip had been worth it.
"So, when are we attacking the Misty Cloud Sect? I haven't fought in twenty years. I'm practically itching for a fight!"
Having regained his peak cultivation, Hai Bodong wished he could storm the Misty Cloud Sect right that instant. He hadn't fought in decades, and his hands were itching.
"Not yet. I'll go after Queen Medusa and make her mine first."
At those words, the smile on Hai Bodong's face froze.
After what he'd been through, just hearing Queen Medusa's name now stirred a trace of fear in his heart.
If he could go back and choose again, he'd never foolishly provoke Queen Medusa.
"Does that mean you're going to conquer Queen Medusa, young friend Xiao Ze?"
Xiao Ze nodded.
Queen Medusa was a Peak Dou Emperor, after all. If he could have a little two-person game with her, why risk swallowing a Heavenly Flame to advance to Dou Zong?
With two Dou Zongs, would he still have any reason to fear the Misty Cloud Sect?
"Be careful, young friend Xiao Ze. Don't underestimate Queen Medusa. I was sealed last time because I got careless."
Hai Bodong advised him out of genuine concern. The Snake-People Tribe was nothing like their human race. It was a dangerous place.
"Don't worry, Elder Hai. I know what I'm doing." Xiao Ze's confidence was bolstered.
If he were still a Peak Dou Emperor, then he really would need to be careful. But now he was a Dou Zong expert.
Facing a Dou Huang expert, he might not be able to kill them instantly, but he could certainly overwhelm them.
Besides, he had countless high-level Dou Techniques. This time, he'd make sure to beat her until she yelped.
Hai Bodong knew there was no point in saying more, so he stopped trying to dissuade him. He could only wish him luck, then gave him a more precise map.
"This map accurately marks the Snake-People Tribe's exact location. If you follow it, you'll save quite a bit of time."
Xiao Ze took the map and carefully spread it out. Sure enough, he easily found the location of the Snake-People Tribe.
There were also three conspicuous flame markings on it.
Pointing to the three flames, Hai Bodong explained, "These three flame markings indicate the locations of Heavenly Flames. I imagine those should be important to you."
"You've done me such a big favor. I should show my gratitude, or this old man would seem stingy."
"Then thank you." Xiao Ze glanced at Hai Bodong and accepted the map.
This would help him a great deal, since Queen Medusa might not be staying in the Snake-People Tribe.
These three Heavenly Flame sites were the places where he was most likely to find Queen Medusa.
"Now that we've got everything ready, we'll take our leave."
Watching Xiao Ze's departing figure, Hai Bodong could only wish them luck.
Once they returned, it would be time to declare war on the Misty Cloud Sect.
He'd better spend this time making preparations.
The sun blazed overhead, and yellow sand stretched as far as the eye could see.
Xiao Ze and his companions traveled through the vast desert.
At last, after who knew how long,
a city came into view, standing amid the desert. Xiao Ze stood on Xiao Zi's back, his gaze filled with anticipation.
"Master, weren't we supposed to look for Queen Medusa? Why are we coming here?" Xiao Zi asked, puzzled.
Xiao Ze smiled. "My two older brothers are here. I haven't seen them in ages, so I thought I'd stop by and see them."
Ever since he was little,
his two older brothers had always looked after him, their younger brother. But after they left the Xiao Clan, he hadn't seen them again.
Now that he'd regained his cultivation, his two brothers would surely be delighted to see him.
Filled with anticipation, the two of them soon entered Stone Desert City.
Unlike the cities farther inside the empire, this place was under constant threat of attack from the Snake-People Tribe. The people here looked full of vigor, every one of them radiating a steely toughness.
Even the defenses were far stricter. Fully armed soldiers could be seen patrolling everywhere.
After asking the locals, Xiao Ze soon arrived at the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.
"Big Brother! Second Brother!"
"I'm here to see you!"
Before you continue