Hai Bodong asked in a deep voice, "What do you want?"
Xiao Lei feigned contemplation for a moment before saying, "If I refine the Breaking Pill for you, Senior Ice Emperor, then aside from giving me the fragmentary map, you must also serve as my protector for ten years."
"Impossible!" Hai Bodong refused without hesitation.
Xiao Lei smiled faintly. "Then why don't you state your terms, Senior Ice Emperor? If we can't reach an agreement, this deal will have to end here."
"I'm somewhat interested in that fragmentary map, but it isn't something I absolutely must have. After all, who knows how long it will take to gather the complete map? And who knows how valuable the thing recorded on it truly is?"
Inside the ancient shop, the atmosphere was somewhat heavy and silent.
After a long while, Hai Bodong finally let out a helpless sigh. Raising his head to stare at Xiao Lei, he said, "At most, I'll serve as your guard for one year and ensure your safety."
"That works. However, if there's another piece of that fragmentary map, it must also belong to me," Xiao Lei said after a brief pause, smiling.
"Deal." Hai Bodong gritted his teeth.
Xiao Lei smiled. "You know the rules for asking an alchemist to refine pills, right? You provide the medicinal herbs."
Hai Bodong nodded with a bitter smile. Naturally, he knew the rule. However, as his dry hand tugged at a few strands of his beard, he said somewhat awkwardly:
"I've already gathered most of the medicinal herbs required by the prescription, but I'm still missing one."
"This herb is called Sand Mandala. It can only be found in the Tagor Desert, and the higher the temperature, the easier it is to find."
"But the Queen Medusa placed a seal