Hai Bo Dong's Fiery Temper

At the border of the Jia Ma Empire, on the edge of the Tagor Desert.

Tonight, the moon had quietly hidden away. Only the stars glittered in the pitch-black sky, illuminating the people traveling through the wilderness below. Suddenly, a fiery-red streak shot across the heavens like a comet, flying from the end of the sky before stopping directly above them. Then, the streak swiftly descended toward the crowd, making them all look up and scramble aside.

"Mom, is that meteor going to crash into us?"

"Sweetheart, that isn't a meteor. That's a Dou Wang expert, a human like us."

"Why would a Dou Wang expert come to the border? Could war be breaking out with those Snake-People in the desert again?"

The crowd below discussed anxiously, worried about the coming of war. After all, if war broke out, ordinary people like them would suffer the greatest losses.

The Jia Ma Empire and the Snake-People Tribe had a deep-seated feud. Both sides wanted to wipe the other out completely, but due to the gap in their strength, they had always maintained a delicate balance. Now that a Dou Wang expert had appeared at the desert border, it was no wonder these people feared war would break out.

However, their worries were unnecessary. The person flying through the sky was not a Dou Wang serving the Jia Ma Empire, but Xiao Yun, who was currently lost.

"Damn it, how did I even take the wrong route?" Xiao Yun said angrily as he looked at the map in his hand.

According to the map, if he flew east from Black Rock City, he should have reached Stone Desert City in less than half a day. Yet Xiao Yun had flown until nightfall without even seeing a trace of Stone Desert City.

Xiao Yun rapidly descended, only coming to an abrupt stop when he was twenty meters above the crowd. Looking at the people below, who clearly bore the traits of desert dwellers, he asked, "Where are you headed? Does anyone know how to get to Stone Desert City?"

Xiao Yun's voice rang across the desert. The crowd exchanged looks, and after a long while, a dark-skinned woman in tight leather clothes stepped out from the group. She respectfully said, "Sir, we are headed to Desert City, which is still more than twenty li from here. As for the Stone Desert City you mentioned, it lies northeast of Desert City."

"Desert City? Northeast?" Xiao Yun stroked his chin, considering whether he should first make a trip to Desert City so he would not get lost again. After a while, his eyes suddenly lit up!

At the woman's words, Xiao Yun suddenly remembered that Hai Bo Dong was in Desert City, and that he possessed a map concerning the Heavenly Flames! Xiao Yun had only known that the Green Lotus Core Flame was somewhere underground near Stone Desert City, but he did not know the exact location. He had originally planned to search slowly and rely on luck, but if he could find Hai Bo Dong and obtain the Heavenly Flame map from him, Xiao Yun would be able to locate the Green Lotus Core Flame very quickly.

"Hahaha! Thank you. This is your reward!" Xiao Yun laughed loudly. With a swipe across his Storage Ring, he took out a large bag of gold coins and tossed it to the woman. Then his wings flapped as he flew toward Desert City.

To Xiao Yun, gold coins were nothing more than a string of numbers. But to people trying to make a living in the desert, they might be even more important than medicinal pills. That was why he had given the woman gold coins.

Following the woman's directions, Xiao Yun did not lose his way this time. A moment later, at the end of his vision, the outline of a brightly lit city stood in the desert.

"This should be Desert City, right?" Xiao Yun looked at the brightly lit city, gave his wings a slight beat, and sharply increased his flying speed.

Not wanting to waste time, Xiao Yun flew straight to Desert City's gate. Looking at the two words "Desert City" above it, he let out a soft breath. He had finally found the right place.

Looking at the city before him, Xiao Yun flashed forward. In the next instant, he had appeared in a dark alley.

Walking out of the alley, Xiao Yun looked at the bustling streets, which remained lively even at night, and nodded in satisfaction. He casually grabbed a passerby and asked, "Which shop in Desert City sells the best desert maps?"

The passerby had been grabbed for no reason and was about to curse, but upon seeing Xiao Yun's alchemist robes, he immediately swallowed the words at his lips and respectfully pointed out the shop's exact location.

After thanking the passerby, Xiao Yun followed the route he had been given and headed toward a map shop called Gu Tu.

Xiao Yun strolled leisurely down the street. After a while, the Gu Tu map shop appeared in his sight.

His gaze swept across the shop's exterior. Perhaps because it was nighttime, although the lights inside were still on, the front doors had long since been shut tight.

Knock, knock, knock!

Xiao Yun slowly walked forward and lightly knocked on the door. "Get lost! This old man does not do business at night!" Before Xiao Yun could speak, an aged voice came from inside.

"What a bad temper?" Xiao Yun raised his brows in surprise. Was Hai Bo Dong not an ice-element cultivator? Why was his temper worse than Xiao Yun's, a fire-element cultivator?

Ignoring Hai Bo Dong's words, Xiao Yun coated his hand with Dou Qi and gave a gentle push. The tightly closed door was forcibly opened.

Walking slowly into the shop, Xiao Yun casually glanced around and discovered that the glow he had seen from outside was not lamplight, but the light emitted by two moonlight stones.

"Young man, this old man already said the shop was closed. You still dare enter? Are you not afraid of death?" Behind the counter, an old man making maps slowly raised his head. Already somewhat angry, he became even more furious when he saw Xiao Yun enter and ignore him so completely. At the same time, an icy and powerful aura seeped out from his body.

Facing Hai Bo Dong's oppressive aura, Xiao Yun remained relaxed. "Old sir, put away your aura. I bear no ill will. I simply came to make a deal with you."

"So you do have some strength." Surprise appeared on his face when he saw that Xiao Yun was entirely unaffected by his aura.

"Then we—"

"But that still does not justify forcing your way into my shop. You arrogant little brat, today this old man will teach you a lesson in your elders' place!" Before Xiao Yun could finish, Hai Bo Dong sneered. He stomped on the ground and shot toward Xiao Yun like lightning.

At the same time, freezing mist seeped from his body and gradually spread throughout the shop, blocking Xiao Yun's vision.

"No, old man, are you seriously getting worked up over this?" Xiao Yun said helplessly at Hai Bo Dong's actions.

A powerful aura erupted from Xiao Yun's body. Purple Crystal Lion Flame surged forth, dispersing all the freezing mist. Xiao Yun extended an arm and effortlessly caught Hai Bo Dong's strike.

"You're a Dou Wang?" Hai Bo Dong's pupils shrank as Xiao Yun gripped his fist, and he sharply inhaled.

In Hai Bo Dong's eyes, Xiao Yun was only thirteen or fourteen. Even possessing the strength of a Dou Shi would have made him a once-in-a-century genius. Yet he was actually a Dou Wang! Such a young Dou Wang!

Was this reasonable? No, this was not reasonable!

"Old man, you insist on fighting?" Xiao Yun was enveloped in purple flames, coldness flickering in his eyes as he spoke indifferently.

He had initially wanted to trade in a friendly manner, but it seemed they would have to fight first after all!

A giant dragon of purple fire emerged from Xiao Yun's body. This was one of an alchemist's combat methods: the Pillfire Technique!

"You hit me once, so I'll return the favor once. If you can take it, we'll sit down and have a proper talk!" Releasing the fist in his grip, Xiao Yun precisely controlled the giant dragon. Without damaging the shop, the purple fire dragon violently slammed toward Hai Bo Dong.

What kind of monstrous genius is this? How can he be so absurdly powerful? Hai Bo Dong's mind flashed with the thought. Looking at the incoming dragon, he tapped his toes and rapidly retreated. At the same time, his hands moved in a blur. With each motion of his palms, seven ice mirrors glittering with cold light swiftly condensed before him.

Hai Bo Dong had just set up the seven ice mirrors and had not even had time to relax when a series of sizzling sounds rang out. Looking up, he discovered in horror that the purple fire dragon seemed completely unimpeded. Its momentum did not diminish in the slightest as it shattered the ice mirrors one after another and struck him with overwhelming force.

Boom! The purple fire dragon exploded, and countless streams of purple flame burst from it, drifting down from the air like brilliant butterflies.

Hai Bo Dong flew backward like a kite with its string cut, slammed hard into the counter behind him, and left a human-shaped crater in the wall.

"Now, I think we can sit down and have a proper talk!" Xiao Yun waved his hand, drawing all the purple flames in the air into his sleeve. Then he sat on a chair and smiled.

"Stop playing dead. I only used half my strength in that attack. At most, you suffered some superficial injuries." After a while, seeing Hai Bo Dong still lying on the ground without getting up, Xiao Yun spoke helplessly.

"Hahaha, how pathetic. This old man once roamed the Jia Ma Empire unchallenged, yet in his twilight years, he has been reduced to such a sorry state by a junior. I even needed you to hold back so I would not be injured." Hai Bo Dong rose to his feet, and there was a trace of bleakness in his laughter.

"Uh, old man, weren't you the one shouting about fighting and killing from the very beginning? Why are you blaming me now?" Xiao Yun was speechless. He had not expected Hai Bo Dong to have not only a terrible temper, but poor memory as well.

"Hmph, enough nonsense! Fight or kill as you please. If this old man so much as frowns, then I do not deserve to be called Hai Bo Dong." Hearing Xiao Yun's words, he could not be bothered to argue over who was right or wrong and spoke disdainfully.

"You stubborn old man, I already said I came to make a deal with you. Why can't you understand?" Seeing Hai Bo Dong acting like an unyielding tough guy, Xiao Yun scratched his head in frustration. "Stop talking about fighting and killing. I know who you are—the Ice Emperor Hai Bo Dong, once one of the Jia Ma Empire's Ten Great Experts. I have a way to help you remove your seal and restore your original strength."

At those words, Hai Bo Dong froze and stared at Xiao Yun in disbelief.

"How do you know I was sealed? And can you truly restore my original strength?" His voice trembled as he looked at Xiao Yun with both hope and suspicion.

I know from the book. I know how to break your seal too. I just didn't know your temper would be this foul!

After silently grumbling in his heart, Xiao Yun smiled. "Actually, I am not merely a Dou Wang. I am also a Fifth-Tier Peak Alchemist!"

After saying that, Xiao Yun took out his Fifth-Tier Alchemist badge from his Storage Ring and tossed it to Hai Bo Dong across from him.

Every word Xiao Yun spoke struck at Hai Bo Dong's nerves. He hurriedly caught the badge and inspected it carefully several times. After a long while, Hai Bo Dong still looked at Xiao Yun with some disbelief.

This young boy was not only a Dou Wang expert, but also a Fifth-Tier Alchemist! Was this a joke? Was it even possible? Was it reasonable? Had he gone mad, or had the world gone mad?

But what if he really was...

And such a genius alchemist had come to the Tagor Desert. His purpose was most likely the Heavenly Flames.

And once he obtained a Heavenly Flame, his alchemy would surely improve. Perhaps in a few years, he would be able to refine sixth-tier medicinal pills!

Then perhaps my seal could also...

At the thought, Hai Bo Dong's body could not help trembling. After staying in the desert for so long, not a single day had passed without him wishing to regain his former Dou Emperor cultivation.

"This badge is indeed genuine, but how can you prove it does not belong to one of your elders or teachers?" After thinking for a long time, Hai Bo Dong finally could not help asking.

Good question!

Hearing that, Xiao Yun only wanted to praise Hai Bo Dong's old brain. How could he prove that his own things were his? What a truly genius question!

Whoosh!

A ball of purple flame appeared at Xiao Yun's fingertips. At the same time, he lightly swept his hand over his Storage Ring, taking out one jade bottle after another and placing them on the table.

"Take a look at this flame. It is a sixth-rank Beast Flame. And these are all fifth-tier medicinal pills. Is that enough to prove that I am a Fifth-Tier Alchemist?"

Hai Bo Dong hurriedly stepped closer and carefully observed the flame and the pills on the table. Although he could not truly understand much of what he saw, Xiao Yun looked so confident, and the flame was indeed not formed from Dou Qi. In his heart, he had already believed Xiao Yun's words.

Damn it, is this what it means for fortune to finally turn? All the luck this old man lost during so many years of being sealed has brought me together with such a monstrous figure.

The boy before him was only thirteen or fourteen, yet he was already a Dou Wang expert and a Fifth-Tier Alchemist. In all his years across the Northwestern Continent, Hai Bo Dong had never even heard of such monstrous talent! If he did not die young, he might become a Dou Zun-level expert in the future.

And the boy's temperament was gentle and humble. Perhaps I could befriend him.

In just a few moments, Hai Bo Dong had made what he believed was the wisest decision of his life!

"Hahaha, I believe that young friend is a Fifth-Tier Alchemist. You truly are a heaven-defying genius. This old man was presumptuous just now."