Hai Bodong

The group emerged from Desert City's transport center and were immediately met by dazzling sunlight. Though it was already nearing the end of the year, Desert City's weather remained intensely hot. Looking around, men and women alike on the streets were dressed very lightly.

Huo Yuhao glanced around, sensing the extremely high concentration of fire and earth elements in the world. Logically speaking, an environment so lacking in ice-attributed energy should have been highly unfriendly to an ice-attributed cultivator like him, and he should have felt at least somewhat uncomfortable. Yet after briefly sensing the ambient energy, Huo Yuhao paid it no further attention and instead carefully examined every person around them.

"What's this, you like this kind of style?" Xiao Yan nudged Huo Yuhao with his elbow, his face wearing a teasing expression. "Why don't you take Little Fairy Doctor shopping for clothes around Desert City? I'll go buy the map myself."

At his words, Little Fairy Doctor's face flushed slightly as she secretly watched Huo Yuhao's expression. But she saw him swiftly sweep his gaze across the surrounding passersby. Once he confirmed that none of them posed a threat, he stopped watching them.

"I just detected where the maps are sold," Huo Yuhao said. "I'll buy the maps. Xiao Yan, go get some food and seasonings to replenish our supplies. We used up what we brought in the Magic Beast Mountain Range. If Xian'er wants to visit the clothing stores..."

"I'll go buy maps with Brother Yuhao!" Little Fairy Doctor hurriedly said.

"Tch, I'm the errand boy again. I won't disturb your time alone together!" Xiao Yan grumbled before turning and blending into the crowd.

Arriving at the entrance of the "Ancient Map" map shop, Huo Yuhao did not merely give it a cursory glance as before. His spiritual power swiftly probed inside, thoroughly scanning the entire shop, especially the blue-green-haired old man seated within, wearing a monocle and carefully drawing a map.

After carefully sensing the shopkeeper's condition, Huo Yuhao frowned slightly. I didn't look carefully before. I thought he was merely a Dou Ling, but he's actually a sealed expert.

After determining that the old man's strength before being sealed had likely been around the Dou Huang level, Huo Yuhao relaxed slightly. He stopped Little Fairy Doctor, who was about to enter "Ancient Map," took out the flying spirit artifact, and handed it to her as he reminded her,

"If anything happens later, immediately go find Teacher and Xiao Yan."

"What's wrong?" Little Fairy Doctor instantly grew tense and looked around.

"It's nothing. Just an extra precaution."

"What are you two muttering about at the door? If you're buying maps, come in. If not, leave." The voice of the map shop's owner—the Ice Emperor, Hai Bodong—came from inside.

"Sorry for disturbing you." Huo Yuhao apologized and entered the map shop with Little Fairy Doctor.

Compared to its exterior, the interior was exquisitely decorated. Its style carried a somewhat antique air, but the overly delicate chandelier hanging from the ceiling ruined that ancient atmosphere.

Upon entering, Huo Yuhao and Little Fairy Doctor saw a tall table and chair in the center of the shop. The Ice Emperor, Hai Bodong, sat there with his head lowered, drawing a map.

"Hello..." Huo Yuhao had just begun to ask when a voice interrupted him.

"One hundred gold coins per map. Find whatever you want yourself." Hai Bodong did not even raise his head. His voice was unexpectedly crisp and full, unlike that of an old man.

"No bargaining."

Momentarily choked off, Huo Yuhao swallowed his question and exchanged a glance with Little Fairy Doctor.

"Looks like we'll have to look ourselves."

"What kind of business is that?" Little Fairy Doctor muttered softly. She was just about to turn and look for maps when her body suddenly froze. Looking down, she saw that Huo Yuhao had grabbed her wrist.

"Brother Yuhao?" Little Fairy Doctor's face grew hot. Though they had been more intimate before, that had been in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, with no outsiders around. But now they were holding hands in front of this unfamiliar old man, and the shop door was open, so passing pedestrians might see them as well. Her voice was therefore filled with embarrassment.

"Let's look together." Huo Yuhao said nothing more. He simply took Little Fairy Doctor's hand and led her toward the bookshelf holding the maps.

Without giving Little Fairy Doctor more time to be shy, Huo Yuhao mobilized his spiritual power, activated Mental Sharing, and connected their minds.

"Xian'er, this old man's strength is formidable. If we fight, I may not be able to protect you completely. Remember, if a fight breaks out, I'll hold him off first. Use the flying spirit artifact to find Teacher and the others," Huo Yuhao reminded her.

"Why would we fight?" Little Fairy Doctor's blush vanished, replaced by a trace of speechlessness.

"Mm... Just be careful."

The maps were not difficult to find. Or rather, most people who came to this shop were looking for maps of the Tagor Desert, so the shelves were packed with them. Huo Yuhao's gaze swept over the numerous maps, accurately picked out the most detailed one, opened it for inspection, and nodded in satisfaction.

For some reason, Hai Bodong's expression seemed a little unpleasant. After finding the map, Huo Yuhao had intended to let him inspect it, but even after waiting for quite a while, Hai Bodong ignored him.

Left with no choice, Huo Yuhao took out a cloth pouch, filled it with gold coins, and placed it on a table beside Hai Bodong.

Judging by the time, Xiao Yan should not have finished shopping yet. Thus, Huo Yuhao and Little Fairy Doctor browsed the shop a while longer.

They came to an antique wooden shelf in the corner. It was clearly long neglected, its mortise-and-tenon joints coming apart, covered in rotten cracks and wormholes. At the slightest touch, wood chips and dust scattered everywhere. A number of yellowed maps had been casually piled atop it. Judging from the damaged marks on their surfaces, they seemed to be failed products from mapmaking.

"Hm?" Little Fairy Doctor's surprised voice sounded through Mental Sharing as she reached into the pile of ruined maps and took out a fragment.

"Brother Yuhao, is this...?"

"That's right." After carefully examining the lines on the fragment, Huo Yuhao nodded slightly.

"It's the Demon Flame Fragment Map."

After obtaining the Demon Flame Fragment Map, Huo Yuhao and Little Fairy Doctor walked over to Hai Bodong and began waiting for him to finish drawing the map.

"What do you want?" Perhaps annoyed by the two staring at him, Hai Bodong set down his pen and finally raised his head, his tone unfriendly.

"Sir, do you happen to have any more map fragments like this?" Little Fairy Doctor raised the Demon Flame Fragment Map and asked brightly.

"No. Not for sale."

"Huh?" Little Fairy Doctor, who had been about to ask the price, was left speechless. Huo Yuhao took over, asking in a deep voice, "Sir, no price will do?"

"I said it's not for sale." Hai Bodong's voice grew impatient.

Huo Yuhao wanted to try once more and carefully examined the seal within Hai Bodong's body.

"I can help you..."

Under the gaze of Huo Yuhao's pale golden eyes, Hai Bodong felt his heart tremble. A faint fear rose within him, followed by anger born of humiliation.

"I said put it down!"

With a bang, the shop's front door instantly slammed shut, blocking Huo Yuhao and Little Fairy Doctor's retreat. A murderous glint flashed across Hai Bodong's face. He pushed off with his foot and shot toward Little Fairy Doctor like lightning, extending his hand to seize the wrist holding the map.