Hai Bodong, a Powerhouse of the Jia Ma Empire

Green Scales was afraid that her appearance had frightened Xiao Tian.

After all, everyone here mocked her and feared her.

They believed she was cursed, a harbinger of misfortune!

Encountering her meant bad luck.

Anyone who saw her hands would hate her and be startled by her.

Xue Lan beside her said to Green Scales, "Green Scales, don't be afraid. This is Commander Xiao Tian, the elder brother of the two commanders."

Hearing that, Green Scales's tense nerves finally relaxed somewhat.

Under normal circumstances, she would never escape a beating in a situation like this.

Yet the two commanders had treated her very well.

The commanders' elder brother!

Green Scales blinked and looked at Xiao Tian.

Xiao Tian smiled. "Such beautiful arms."

At Xiao Tian's words, Green Scales's eyes froze slightly before she revealed a delighted, excited expression. After so long, this was the first time anyone had said her arms were beautiful.

It was the first praise she had ever heard in her life.

An inexplicable warmth filled her heart.

Green Scales slowly stood up. "Young Master."

She was now a maid of the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps, and upon seeing the commanders' elder brother, she instinctively bowed in greeting.

Xiao Tian raised his hand, caught Green Scales by the arm, and helped her up!

"Green Scales, there's no need for this."

Green Scales was deeply moved by Xiao Tian's attitude. No one had ever treated her like this before.

"Green Scales, from now on, live for yourself. Don't care about how others see you."

Green Scales nodded. "Mm-hmm!"

"Alright, let's head back."

As Xiao Tian spoke, he led Green Scales, Xue Lan, and the others back into the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps.

The moment they entered, they felt a powerful wave of residual energy surge toward them.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li flashed into view. "Haha, we finally broke through! This feels amazing!"

Xiao Li stood with his hands on his hips and laughed.

"Big Brother, Second Brother and I have already broken through to seven-star Battle Masters. We'll reach the Grand Battle Master realm soon."

"It's all thanks to the pills Big Brother gave us."

"Isn't this Green Scales?" Xiao Li then turned his gaze toward the little girl.

"Commander!" Green Scales nodded.

"Mm. When I was out, I saw someone bullying her, so I brought her back," Xiao Tian said.

Afterward, the three brothers sat down while Green Scales went to make tea!

Looking at Xiao Tian, Green Scales wore a long-lost smile.

Then she hurried off to pour the tea.

"Big Brother, now that you're back, what are you planning to do?" Xiao Ding asked after taking a sip of tea.

"Next, I'm going to look for a few people," Xiao Tian slowly said.

"Look for people? Can we help?" Xiao Li asked curiously.

Now that he had found and made contact with Little Fairy Doctor and Green Scales, there were still Hai Bodong and Medusa!

They were all fairly good characters from the original story. It would be more interesting to simply take them under his command.

"There's no need. You two just focus on cultivating."

"Oh, and Green Scales has quite a talent for cultivation as well. Second Brother, Third Brother, you can let her give it a try," Xiao Tian suddenly said.

Green Scales, who was carrying the tea, froze on the spot. Her large eyes opened wide. "Young Master, I... I can cultivate too?"

Xiao Tian looked at the adorable little Green Scales, smiled, raised his hand, and patted her head. "Of course you can."

"Do you remember what I told you before?"

Little Green Scales blinked. "Mm... Young Master told Green Scales not to care about other people's eyes!"

Xiao Tian smiled faintly. "That's right. As long as you want to cultivate, you can do so anytime. I believe Green Scales will become very strong too."

Hearing Xiao Tian's words, Green Scales's eyes filled with hope. Her gratitude was beyond words; it was the look in a young girl's eyes when she saw hope.

No one had ever encouraged her like this before. It was the first time in her life.

Little Green Scales nodded heavily, determined not to let Young Master down.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged smiles and nodded repeatedly.

As Green Scales looked at Xiao Tian, she silently made a vow that she would repay Young Master someday. He had given her the courage to live!

After a brief conversation, Xiao Tian left the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps and soon found a shop standing amid the desert!

This should have been where Hai Bodong was.

Xiao Tian slowly descended and walked toward the shop. As soon as he opened the door, he saw an old man practicing calligraphy, though the man said nothing.

Xiao Tian looked around and immediately spotted the fragmentary map of a Heavenly Flame inside the shop. There was no need to say more—it was the map of the Pure Lotus Demonic Flame.

Xiao Tian picked up the map fragment. "Sir, how much is this map? I'll take it."

Hai Bodong glanced at it. "Not for sale. This is something I obtained with great difficulty. Anything else is negotiable."

Xiao Tian smiled softly. "I never expected Hai Bodong, once renowned throughout the Jia Ma Empire, to have fallen to such a state. What a pity."

At those words, Hai Bodong's brows furrowed tightly. He suddenly stopped writing, his eyes filled with shock. No one knew about his affairs. How had this person discovered them?

"Well? Are you selling it or not?" Xiao Tian asked.

A chill radiated from Hai Bodong, and the entire room turned piercingly cold.

"Kid, although I don't know how you learned of this..."

"What exactly is your purpose in coming here?"

"Since you know that I am Hai Bodong, then even though my cultivation has fallen to the Dou King level, I am not someone just anyone can challenge."

After all, there were not many Dou Kings in the entire Jia Ma Empire.

Moreover, with the strength he had once possessed as a Dou Emperor, he had nothing to fear even against stronger Dou Kings.

A terrifying aura erupted from Xiao Tian, and in an instant, the room's temperature returned to normal!

Hai Bodong froze. This aura was... stronger than a Dou Emperor!

This...

His pupils trembled. Could this be a Dou Sect powerhouse?!

Impossible.

Hai Bodong was dumbfounded. When had a Dou Sect appeared in the Jia Ma Empire?

And the youth before him did not even look twenty.

His talent was simply monstrous. As far as Hai Bodong knew, even the Cloud Mist Sect did not possess such strength.

Or perhaps he had come from somewhere else.

After witnessing Xiao Tian's cultivation, Hai Bodong also withdrew his aura.

Not to mention now—even before Medusa had sealed his cultivation, he would not have been able to defeat the youth before him.

"A dignified Dou Sect powerhouse came to this old man's shop. Don't tell me it was just for this fragment?" As he spoke, Hai Bodong had already felt that the map was unusual.

He had never expected it to attract a Dou Sect today. Clearly, this map was no ordinary thing.

"If Your Excellency intends to use force, I won't be able to keep this map."

Xiao Tian smiled lightly and walked over. "If I wanted to take it by force, you would not even have the chance to stand here and speak."

"However, I can help you remove the seal."

Hai Bodong's eyes suddenly lit up. He desperately wanted to recover his Dou Emperor strength.

"Really? This old man is willing to exchange this map fragment for it."

"However, removing the seal on me requires a sixth-tier Breaking Misfortune Pill. This old man has already gathered all the other materials over the years."

"Now, only one crucial medicinal ingredient is missing: the Sand Mandala!"

"To be frank, the Sand Mandala grows near the Snake-People's territory. Medusa's seal is on me, and the moment I get close, she will discover me."

Xiao Tian nodded slightly. "I can help you with that, but..."

Before Xiao Tian could finish, Hai Bodong immediately said, "Rest assured, little friend. As long as you can remove the seal, I, Hai Bodong, will agree to any condition you have! So long as it is not excessive."

Xiao Tian wanted to help Hai Bodong simply because the man had excellent character. As long as someone helped him, he would never forget it for the rest of his life.

Even before transmigrating, he had liked Hai Bodong's character very much.

Besides, he was heading toward the Snake-People's territory anyway.

"Good."

"When the time comes, Elder Hai only needs to help with matters concerning my Xiao Clan."

Hai Bodong was slightly stunned. The Xiao Clan? He had never heard of it.

Forget it.

This youth possessed such strength at such a young age.

He absolutely could not afford to offend him.

"Alright!" Hai Bodong said. This was nothing to him.

He was serious about repaying favors, provided this kid could truly refine a sixth-tier pill.

"Good. Since that's settled, Elder Hai, come with me! I'll refine it for you on the spot!" Xiao Tian said directly.

"What?" Hai Bodong was utterly dumbfounded.