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. In the pitch-black sky, only the stars twinkled, illuminating the travelers making their way through the desert below. Suddenly, a fiery-red streak shot across the sky like a comet, flying from the edge of the heavens before stopping directly above the crowd. Then, it swiftly descended toward them, causing everyone to look up and dodge in alarm.

"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? Are we going to war with those Snake-People in the desert again?"

The crowd below discussed anxiously, worried about the outbreak of war. After all, if war truly broke out, it would be ordinary people like them who suffered the greatest losses.

The Jia Ma Empire and the Snake-People Tribe had been mortal enemies for generations, each side wishing to wipe out the other completely. However, due to the balance of their respective strengths, they had maintained a delicate equilibrium. Now that a Dou Wang expert had appeared at the desert border, it was only natural for these people to fear war.

However, their worries were unnecessary. The one flying through the sky was not a Dou Wang belonging to the Jia Ma Empire, but Xiao Yun, who had gotten lost.

"Damn it, how the hell did I take the wrong road?" Xiao Yun said angrily as he stared 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 and had not even caught sight of Stone Desert City.

Xiao Yun rapidly descended, only coming to a sudden halt twenty meters above the crowd. Looking at the people below, who bore the obvious 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 looked at one another, and after a long while, a dark-skinned woman dressed in tight leather stepped out from the group and respectfully said, "My lord, we are heading to Desert City, which is still over 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 that he would not get lost again. After a while, his eyes suddenly lit up!

What the woman said reminded Xiao Yun that Hai Bo Dong was in Desert City, and that he possessed a map related to the Heavenly Flames! Xiao Yun only knew that the Green Lotus Core Flame was somewhere underground in 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 Flames map from him, he would soon be able to locate the Green Lotus Core Flame.

"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 merely a pile of numbers. But for people who made a living in the desert, they might be even more important than pills. That was why he had given the woman gold.

Following the woman's directions, Xiao Yun did not lose his way this time. Before long, at the edge of his vision, the outline of a brightly lit city stood in the middle of the desert.

"This should be Desert City, right?" Xiao Yun looked at the brightly illuminated city, gently flapped his wings, and increased his speed once more.

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

Looking at the city before him, Xiao Yun's figure flashed. In the next moment, he had already appeared in a dark alley.

After leaving the alley, Xiao Yun looked at the bustling streets that 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 his words and respectfully pointed out the shop's exact location.

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

Xiao Yun strolled leisurely along the street. After some time, the Gu Tu shop appeared in his line of sight.

His gaze swept across the outside of the shop. 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 stepped forward and lightly knocked on the door. "Get lost! This old man is not open at night!" Before Xiao Yun could speak, an aged voice came from inside the room.

"Such a bad temper?" Xiao Yun raised his brows in surprise. Wasn't Hai Bo Dong cultivating ice-elemental Dou Qi? Why was his temper worse than Xiao Yun's, even though Xiao Yun used fire?

Ignoring Hai Bo Dong's words, Xiao Yun coated his hand in Dou Qi and gave the tightly shut door a light push. The door was forcibly opened.

As he slowly entered the shop and casually glanced around, Xiao Yun discovered that the glow he had seen from outside was not from lamps, but from two Moonlight Stones.

"Young man, this old man already said the shop is closed. You still dare to come in? Are you not afraid of death?" Behind the counter, an old man who was making maps slowly raised his head. Already somewhat angry, he grew even more enraged upon seeing Xiao Yun enter and ignore him so completely. At the same time, an icy, 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 intent. I merely wish to make a deal with you."

"So you have some strength." Seeing that Xiao Yun was completely unaffected by his aura, a trace of surprise appeared on his face.

"Then we—"

"But that still does not give you the right to barge into this old man's shop. You ignorant little brat, today this old man will teach you a lesson in place of your elders!" Before Xiao Yun could finish speaking, Hai Bo Dong sneered. He stomped the ground, and his body shot toward Xiao Yun like lightning.

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

"No, old man, are you really pushing this?" Xiao Yun said helplessly as he watched 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 stretched out his arm and easily caught Hai Bo Dong's attack.

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

In Hai Bo Dong's eyes, Xiao Yun looked no more than thirteen or fourteen. Even possessing the strength of a Dou Shi would have made him a genius seen once in a century. Who would have thought that he was actually a Dou Wang? Such a young Dou Wang!

Was this reasonable? No, it was not!

"Old man, you insist on fighting?" Xiao Yun stood wrapped in purple flames, coldness flickering in his eyes as he spoke calmly.

He had originally wanted to make the deal peacefully, but now it seemed they would have to fight first!

A massive dragon of Purple Flame 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 talk properly!" Releasing the fist he had been gripping, Xiao Yun precisely controlled the dragon. Without damaging the shop, the Purple Flame dragon suddenly slammed toward Hai Bo Dong.

What family produced such a monster? How could he be this absurdly powerful? A thought flashed through Hai Bo Dong's mind. Facing the oncoming dragon, he tapped the ground with his toes and retreated at high speed. At the same time, his hands moved rapidly. As his palms danced, seven ice mirrors glowing with cold light swiftly condensed before him.

Hai Bo Dong had barely set up the seven ice mirrors before he could relax when a series of sizzling sounds rang out. Looking up, he discovered in horror that the Purple Flame dragon was completely unimpeded. Its momentum did not diminish in the slightest as it shattered the ice mirrors one after another and crashed into him with overwhelming force.

Boom! The Purple Flame dragon exploded, and countless strands of Purple Flame emerged from it, drifting down from midair like brilliant butterflies.

Hai Bo Dong's body flew like a kite with its string cut, slammed directly into the counter behind him by the powerful force, and left a human-shaped crater in the wall.

"Now, I think we should be able to sit down and talk properly!" Xiao Yun waved his hand, drawing all the Purple Flame in midair back into his sleeves. Then he sat in a chair and smiled.

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

"Hahaha, how tragic. This old man once roamed the Jia Ma Empire freely, yet in his old age, he has been reduced to such a sorry state by a junior. I even needed you to hold back to avoid getting hurt." Hai Bo Dong stood up, his laughter carrying a trace of desolation.

"Uh, old man, weren't you the one shouting about fighting and killing from the start? Why are you blaming me now?" Xiao Yun was speechless. He had not expected Hai Bo Dong to be not only hot-tempered, but forgetful as well.

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

"You stubborn old man, I already told you I came to make a deal. 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. You were once one of the Jia Ma Empire's Ten Great Experts, the Ice Emperor Hai Bo Dong. I have a way to help you break 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've been sealed? And can you really restore my original strength?" His voice trembled as he spoke, his gaze filled with both anticipation and doubt.

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

After silently mocking him in his heart, Xiao Yun smiled. "Actually, I'm not only a Dou Wang. I'm also a Fifth-Tier Peak Alchemist!"

After speaking, 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 from Xiao Yun stimulated Hai Bo Dong's nerves. He hurriedly caught the badge and examined it carefully several times. After a long while, Hai Bo Dong still looked at Xiao Yun with 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 this reasonable? Had he gone mad, or had the world gone mad?

But what if he really was...

And an Alchemist genius like this had come to the Tagor Desert. His goal was likely the Heavenly Flames.

Moreover, after obtaining the Heavenly Flames, his alchemy level would surely improve. Perhaps in a few years, he would be able to refine Sixth-Tier Pills!

Then perhaps my seal could also...

At that thought, Hai Bo Dong's body began to tremble uncontrollably. After staying in the desert for so long, not a single day had passed when he had not longed to recover his former Dou Emperor cultivation.

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

Good question!

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

Whoosh!

A ball of Purple Flame appeared at Xiao Yun's fingertips. At the same time, he lightly swiped 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 Order Beast Flame. And these Fifth-Tier Pills—are they enough to prove that I'm a Fifth-Tier Alchemist?"

Hai Bo Dong hurriedly stepped forward and carefully examined the flame and the pills on the table. Although he could not understand any of it, seeing Xiao Yun's confidence and recognizing that the flame was indeed not formed from Dou Qi, he had already begun to believe Xiao Yun's words.

Damn, is this a turn of fortune? The luck this old man has lost over all these years of being sealed has been exchanged for meeting 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 Xiao Yun did not die young, he might become a Dou Zun-level expert in the future.

Moreover, the boy's temperament was gentle and modest. Perhaps I could befriend him.

Within moments, Hai Bo Dong had made what he believed was the most correct decision of his life!

"Hahaha, I believe that you are a Fifth-Tier Alchemist, young friend. You truly are a heaven-sent genius. This old man was rude earlier."