Battle Through the Heavens: I Can Solidify All Talents

He had not expected this young-looking boy to not only ignore his soul pressure.

But also effortlessly break through his ice-attributed Dou Qi.

What alarmed him even more was that the other party had directly brought up a "deal"!

Clearly, Xiao Qing had seen through the secret contained within this Fragmented Map and... had come prepared.

The atmosphere inside the shop instantly became subtle and tense.

"Not only do I recognize this Fragmented Map, I also know where the seal on your body came from..."

Xiao Qing's calm voice rang through the silent shop.

"Give me this half of the Fragmented Map, along with the other half..."

He paused, his tone brimming with confidence as he offered a condition the other party could not refuse.

"In exchange, I can help you break the seal and let you... return to the realm of a Dou Emperor!"

Bang—!

A surge of icy blue Dou Qi erupted from his aged body, fully awakening at that moment.

The temperature inside the shop plummeted instantly. Everything in the store gradually began to frost over at a visible rate.

Bone-piercing cold filled every corner of the room, and even the air seemed about to freeze.

Hai Bodong's slightly hunched body slowly straightened at that moment.

Ice-attributed Dou Qi filled with chill swirled around him.

His aged eyes were full of shock, along with a trace of furious rage at having touched a sore spot.

"Who... exactly are you?!"

Hai Bodong's gaze turned cold as frigid blue ice-attributed Dou Qi rapidly gathered in his palm.

"That isn't important. What matters is whether you are interested in this 'deal,' old sir." Xiao Qing smiled faintly, amusement flickering in his eyes.

"Boy, you dare speak of a deal with me? I wonder whether you even have the qualifications!"

Ice crystals condensed around Hai Bodong's fingertips, his voice cold and piercing.

He knew all too well how difficult it was to undo the Snake Sealing Curse!

It required at least a Tier 6 Alchemist, perhaps even one above Tier 6, and a high-level alchemist possessing Heavenly Flames to refine the required pill!

Even Tier 6 Alchemists were exceedingly rare within the Jia Ma Empire!

Not to mention Tier 6 Alchemists who possessed Heavenly Flames.

Yet Xiao Qing was far too young. The youthfulness in his aura did not seem feigned, unlike those old monsters who relied on secret arts to preserve their appearance.

Is he toying with me, Hai Bodong?!

The moment the thought arose, Hai Bodong's icy blue Dou Qi spread along the floor beneath his feet.

The entire room's temperature instantly dropped below freezing. He gave a cold shout. To determine whether Xiao Qing's words were true, he still needed to test him himself!

Mystic Ice Dragon Soar!

In an instant, dense ice-attributed Dou Qi surged forth, forming an ice dragon several meters long in midair.

Dense ice spikes covered its scales, while blue light flickered in its eyes.

The instant the ice dragon formed, a thick layer of ice rapidly coated the edges of the tables and chairs.

Yet Xiao Qing merely raised his eyes at the sight, a faint smile curling at his lips.

Not to mention that the Talent-granted Law of Fire stood at such a high level that it inherently suppressed ice attributes.

And then there was the Sub-Flame derived from Old Yao's Bone Chilling Flame. Although it was only a Sub-Flame—

—it possessed the mutually generating and restraining properties of ice and fire, giving it a natural suppressive effect against ice-attributed Dou Qi like Hai Bodong's.

Playing with ice in front of him? Wasn't that asking for death?

He did not even move his feet. With merely a thought—

—the next moment, invisible Soul Power surged out, like tangible energy crashing straight into the ice dragon.

Hai Bodong's aged pupils contracted. He could clearly sense that this Soul Power was not only powerful, but also carried a faint trace of Flame aura!

The instant it touched the ice dragon, he felt his control over the Dou Technique begin to slip away!

Crack!

A crisp shattering sound rang out. The ice dragon's horns broke apart first, followed by its body.

The originally sturdy crystal dragon body faced the dual suppression of Soul Power and Flame aura.

Like fragile glass, the ice dragon gradually crumbled and shattered, eventually turning into fragments of ice that filled the air.

When they hit the ground, not even a trace of cold remained; they were directly vaporized.

This sight instantly changed Hai Bodong's expression, his pupils shrinking sharply!

Although his cultivation had been sealed at the Dou Ling level, relying on the foundation of his former Dou Emperor realm and his deep understanding of Dou Techniques—

—even one- or two-star Dou Wangs would never dare receive Mystic Ice Dragon Soar so casually!

Yet this boy had not even moved a hand, and he had dissolved it with Soul Power alone?

However, before Hai Bodong could think further, an even more terrifying pressure suddenly descended!

After crushing the ice dragon, that invisible Soul Power did not disperse.

Instead, like an invisible mountain, it crashed down upon Hai Bodong himself!

"Urgh!"

Hai Bodong let out a muffled groan. The intense pain emanating from his soul made his head feel as though it were splitting apart, as if countless fine needles were viciously piercing his soul.

At the same time, he found it difficult to breathe, as though a pair of invisible, icy hands had tightly gripped his throat.

A powerful sense of suffocation and fear of impending death instantly surged into his heart.

Even the Ice Emperor, who had once shaken the Jia Ma Empire, now experienced the despair of hovering at death's edge!

This... this is Soul Power!

Such terrifying Soul Power!

Hai Bodong's heart was filled with shock.

Fortunately, that despairing sense of death lasted only an instant, as if it had merely been a small warning.

The pressure upon his soul faded. Hai Bodong staggered half a step and had to brace himself against the cold wall to barely remain standing. His face was pale as paper, and fine cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

His eyes were full of terror. When he looked at Xiao Qing again, the contempt and anger in his gaze had long since been replaced by shock and disbelief.

He held his still-throbbing head, his voice trembling faintly as he asked with a mixture of reverence and probing, "Such terrifying Soul Power... You, are you a high-level alchemist?!"

I never thought... that even I, Hai Bodong, would misjudge someone one day?

At that moment, Hai Bodong's heart was filled with horror.

Xiao Qing slowly withdrew the Soul Power he had released.

A wisp of pale white Flame appeared at his fingertip. Looking at the pale-faced Hai Bodong, he said calmly, "Old sir, do you think I am qualified to discuss a deal now?"

Hai Bodong stared at that wisp of pale white Flame, his eyes widening slightly.

He could clearly sense the terrifying heat contained within it. It was the natural bane of ice-attributed Dou Qi like his.

After a moment of silence, he finally withdrew all hostility and clasped his hands in a heartfelt salute. "Your Excellency is not only a high-level alchemist, but also possesses Heavenly Flames... Earlier, it was I, Hai Bodong, who failed to recognize greatness!"

"May I ask what conditions Your Excellency requires before you are willing to help me break the seal?"

Xiao Qing extinguished the Flame at his fingertips and picked up that half of the Fragmented Map. With a smile, he said, "The conditions are simple. I want this... and the other half of the Fragmented Map you have hidden!"

"Ah, this Fragmented Map..."

Hearing that, Hai Bodong let out a long sigh, his expression indescribably complicated.

In the end, his gaze landed upon that half of the Fragmented Map, instantly stirring countless painful memories from the past...

Hai Bodong: This Is Called Following My Heart! Tier 6 Break-Edict Pill Formula

Hai Bodong was silent for a moment before finally recounting everything that had happened behind the scenes in order to obtain this Fragmented Map. His voice carried a trace of unwillingness. "Back then, deep within the Tagor Desert, I exhausted every scheme I had, and even..."

"Even paid an unimaginable price before obtaining it. The reason I have fallen to this state today is also inseparable from it!"

He paused, seemingly calming his emotions before continuing, "After obtaining it, I relied on my years of mapmaking experience to sense its mystery, so I split it perfectly into two portions."

"One portion is the half of the Fragmented Map in your hand. As for the other half... I hid it in an absolutely concealed location known only to me."

Queen Medusa?

Xiao Qing silently repeated the name to himself, unsurprised.

He had long known that the reason Hai Bodong had been trapped in this remote Desert City, unable to advance in cultivation, was entirely due to the notorious queen of the Snake-People Tribe.

As for the breathtakingly beautiful yet decisive and ruthless Queen Medusa from Battle Through the Heavens, he had long heard of her.

Hai Bodong shook his head helplessly. Then, an innate pride rose onto his face. He straightened his back somewhat and said in a deep voice, "I am Hai Bodong! Surely... you have heard my former title—the Ice Emperor!"

Hearing this, Xiao Qing clasped his hands, a faintly amused expression on his face. "The Ice Emperor's name is like thunder in the ears. Of course, this junior has heard of it."

"It is only... who could have imagined that the Ice Emperor, who once shook the Jia Ma Empire, would hide away in a corner of this tiny Desert City?"

The implication in those words made Hai Bodong's expression stiffen, before it turned into deep bitterness. He nodded, his sigh growing heavier. "Yes, who could have imagined... More than ten years ago, I accidentally obtained this Fragmented Map in the Tagor Desert, but it also brought Queen Medusa, the ruler of the desert Snake-People, upon me. Among Dou Emperors, her strength was among the very best."

"That battle... I lost. I lost without the slightest suspense." Hai Bodong's voice sank. At the mention of that name, a trace of lingering shock and suppressed anger remained in his eyes.

"Although I was fortunate enough to escape using a secret technique, I was struck by her Snake Sealing Curse!"

"Not only did my body begin to age, but my lifetime cultivation was also firmly sealed at the Dou Ling stage, leaving me trapped for more than ten years!"

His fists unconsciously clenched, his knuckles whitening with force.

"For all these years, I concealed my name and hid in this sunless shop, studying the secret of this Fragmented Map day and night, hoping to find a clue to break the seal."

"But it... is ultimately only a fragment of an entire map! Despite spending more than ten years of effort, I have not understood even the slightest part of it. I only know that it is connected to a mysterious treasure map!"

"To be honest..." Xiao Qing looked at Hai Bodong and revealed a key piece of information about the Fragmented Map, though he still held some back.

"The treasure indicated by this Fragmented Map is a type of Heavenly Flame."

He did not directly say that this Heavenly Flame was the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame. After all, it was ranked third on the Heavenly Flame Ranking!

"Heavenly Flame..."

Hai Bodong murmured, bitterness immediately filling his heart.

For the sake of this Fragmented Map that recorded a Heavenly Flame, he had paid the painful price of having his cultivation sealed and being trapped here for over ten years!

If not for this damned seal, then with his Talent, over the past ten-odd years, he likely would have already stepped into the ranks of the top Dou Emperors, wouldn't he?

All his unwillingness and helplessness before reality eventually turned into a heavy sigh.

It was as though all spirit had been drained from him at once. His back bent slightly, and his voice carried the weary resignation of someone accepting his fate. "Fine, fine... If Your Excellency can truly help me break this seal, then I, Hai Bodong... am willing to offer all the Fragmented Maps in my possession with both hands!"

"Do you have any specific understanding of the seal on your body, old sir?" Only then did Xiao Qing slowly speak, guiding the conversation toward its core.

He had a general understanding of Hai Bodong's seal.

Queen Medusa's Snake Sealing Curse was a secret technique that combined Soul Power and Dou Qi.

As long as one's soul realm far surpassed Queen Medusa's at the time she cast the sealing technique, breaking it would not be particularly difficult.

As a member of the Snake-People Tribe, Medusa was destined not to have especially high Soul Power.

With his current Peak Mortal Realm Soul Power, relying on soul strength alone, as long as he was not approached at close range, he could already battle high-rank Dou Emperors from afar. Even against a Dou Zong, he could contend for a while.

He was absolutely certain he could break this seal!

But he was in no rush to reveal the information advantage he currently possessed.

He still wanted to squeeze more valuable bargaining chips from this former Ice Emperor.

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope reignited in Hai Bodong's eyes. He hurriedly said, "Over these years, I have not remained here the entire time... I also collected a pill formula that is exceptionally effective at breaking this type of seal, and I have basically gathered all the necessary medicinal ingredients."

His eyes full of expectation, he looked at Xiao Qing and continued, "It is only... this formula is for a Tier 6 Medicinal Pill! And it must be refined by an alchemist who possesses Heavenly Flames!"

After speaking, he stared intently at Xiao Qing, waiting for his response.

Yet Xiao Qing slowly shook his head and said calmly, "A Tier 6 Medicinal Pill... With my current alchemy skills, I am still unable to refine one."