Xiao Yan's Defeat; First Meeting with Hai Bodong

Wu Changqing's clone and true body unleashed their sword techniques at the same time, sending five deadly attacks slashing toward Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan's pupils shrank sharply. He hurriedly circulated the Bone Spirit Cold Flame within his body, wrapping it around the massive ruler before swinging out a huge wave of force.

"Flame Splitting Wave-Devouring Ruler!"

Boom!

Even with Old Yao's power supporting him, Xiao Yan's strike barely blocked four of the swords. The power of the Flame Splitting Wave-Devouring Ruler was completely worn away and devoured.

The remaining sword slash came at him, forcing Xiao Yan to raise the broad Black Heavy Ruler before him.

Bang—!

The powerful impact sent Xiao Yan flying backward at once. His blood and qi churned violently, and he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.

How is this guy so strong?!

Although he knew Wu Changqing was a Dou Emperor, with Old Yao's power bolstering him, he now possessed the strength of a Dou Emperor as well.

Yet in a direct clash with Wu Changqing, he was still the one who suffered.

"Little Yan, let me take over."

Old Yao decisively took control of the body.

With the same power, there was naturally a difference between using it himself and Xiao Yan using it.

In just an instant, Wu Changqing clearly sensed a subtle change in Xiao Yan's aura.

The next moment, Xiao Yan raised the Black Heavy Ruler again and charged forward, surrounded by pale white flames. He was far more skilled and violent than before.

"Looks like Old Yao has taken over the body."

Wu Changqing gripped his sword. Even when facing the Medicine Venerable who had once commanded immense prestige throughout the Central Plains, he showed no intention of yielding.

"Flame Splitting Wave-Devouring Ruler!"

The moment Old Yao attacked, both the momentum and power of the Dou Technique rose by an entire level. The pale white ruler wave nearly split the entire sky in two.

"Bone Spirit Cold Flame... I really want to devour your Heavenly Flame too."

Wu Changqing slowly raised the Evergreen Sword in his hand. The Green Lotus Core Flame surged forth, transforming into a pale cyan sword qi that clashed with Old Yao's Bone Spirit Cold Flame.

Whoosh!

There was no earth-shaking explosion as expected.

Wu Changqing's sword qi latched onto the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, then refined it bit by bit.

[Successfully refined a Dou Emperor's attack. Cultivation has improved!]

"It was absorbed??"

Old Yao could clearly see that his Bone Spirit Cold Flame had actually been absorbed by Wu Changqing's sword qi?!

He remembered that the Green Lotus Core Flame did not have the ability to devour attacks, did it?

Or was this the ability of this mysterious Dou Emperor himself?

The ability to absorb attacks... that was an exceedingly troublesome ability.

"Little Yan, it seems we can only run today."

"Even Teacher can't defeat him? Are we really just going to let him take the Green Lotus Core Flame?" Xiao Yan was filled with unwillingness.

He had missed the Green Lotus Core Flame beneath the desert.

Then he had missed it again at the Snake People Royal City.

Now that he had finally caught Wu Changqing, he had thought that no matter what, he had to seize the Green Lotus Core Flame from him.

Yet now that they had already fought, he discovered that he was no match for him?

What the hell was he supposed to do?!

"I underestimated his abilities. To think the Jia Ma Empire had a Dou Emperor expert this capable... not simple." Old Yao admitted that he had underestimated Wu Changqing.

"Why aren't you continuing? Didn't you want to steal my Heavenly Flame?" Wu Changqing looked at Xiao Yan teasingly.

He had not expected this fellow to intercept him halfway through the journey.

"Let's try once more."

Old Yao was somewhat unwilling to give up as well. He raised the Black Heavy Ruler and released towering pale white flames that nearly set half the sky ablaze.

Wu Changqing gave a soft snort, raised the Evergreen Sword in his hand, and casually swung it.

Whoosh!

With a single sword strike, the towering flames were split in two. Every flame touched by the Evergreen Sword was refined and absorbed.

"This is your flame. I'll give it back to you!"

"Burning Heaven Sword!"

Wu Changqing slashed out a pale white sword qi, a Dou Technique condensed from the Bone Spirit Cold Flame he had absorbed moments ago.

Old Yao also raised the Black Heavy Ruler to meet it head-on.

The next moment, Wu Changqing suddenly appeared behind him. Brilliant sword radiance burst from the sword in his hand.

"Sword Extremity: Sun Devourer!"

In an instant, it was as though heaven and earth had gone blind, dim and lightless.

Even Old Yao failed to react to this strike. He was struck heavily in the chest, his body sent flying as he spat out a massive mouthful of blood with a "wah."

Without the slightest hesitation, he decisively turned and flew into the distance.

He couldn't win. He simply couldn't win!

Running was the best choice.

"He runs pretty fast." Wu Changqing did not pursue him.

His speed was not particularly fast. At the same cultivation level, it was somewhat difficult to catch someone fleeing at full speed.

Besides, if they truly fought to the death, he could only defeat Xiao Yan. He might not necessarily be able to kill him.

It was better to play it safe and leave this dangerous place first.

Otherwise, once the Snake People's experts recovered and caught up, there would be more trouble to deal with.

After leaving the desert, he did not hurry back to the Misty Cloud Sect.

Instead, he went to a nearby city close to the desert—Desert City.

He remembered that Hai Bodong was here.

Of course, he had no need to recruit Hai Bodong as a fighter, but Hai Bodong possessed something he needed—the fragment of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame map.

He could not afford to miss such a good thing.

After wandering around Desert City for a while, Wu Changqing quickly found Hai Bodong's shop.

He pushed open the door. The shop was cold and deserted. Aside from Hai Bodong, who was making maps behind the counter, there was not even a single customer inside.

Even after hearing someone enter, Hai Bodong did not react at all.

With service like that, it was no wonder there were no customers.

Wu Changqing did not mind. Based on his memories, he searched through the nearby shelves and quickly found the fragment of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame map he wanted.

"Boss, how much for this map fragment?"

Hai Bodong finally looked up, but when he saw the map fragment in Wu Changqing's hand, he lowered his head again. "That map isn't for sale."

"You put it on the shelf, yet it's not for sale?"

"I'm the boss. If I say it isn't for sale, then it isn't for sale."

This old fellow had quite the personality.

With no other choice, Wu Changqing could only offer his bargaining chip.

"What if I said I could remove the seal Medusa placed on your body in exchange? Could I get this map fragment then?"

The instant Wu Changqing said this, the temperature in the room plummeted.

One moment, he had been a filthy old man with a bad temper. The next, Hai Bodong's entire body radiated an icy aura.

"Who are you?!"

He stared coldly at Wu Changqing, ready to attack at any moment. It seemed that if Wu Changqing made any suspicious move, he would strike immediately.

"You're quite vigilant, but you're no longer the once-renowned Ice Emperor. You're just a mere old Dou Spirit now."

"If you want to fight me, you don't have the qualifications." Wu Changqing spoke casually.

Hai Bodong's expression became even more grave.

Wu Changqing knew his true identity, which meant he was no ordinary person.

"Who exactly are you? The Jia Ma Imperial Family? The Misty Cloud Sect? Or one of the three great clans?"