Leaving the Yao Clan, He Finally Realized Just How Damn Noble Alchemists Were

Hearing Hai Bodong agree with a nod, Yao Xuan smiled slightly.

"Straightforward, old sir!"

"Since you agree, then please hand over the fragment of the map you have hidden..."

Upon hearing this, Hai Bodong did not immediately hand over the small piece of map he had concealed. Instead, he slowly said:

"I am naturally willing to make this trade, but I hope you can answer one question..."

"When will you be able to refine this Pō'è Pill..."

At those words, a chill flashed through Yao Xuan's eyes.

"Old sir, I trust you know the rules for asking an alchemist to refine pills. You must prepare the pill formula and medicinal ingredients yourself..."

"If you have sufficient ingredients in hand right now, I can refine this Pō'è Pill for you immediately..."

Hai Bodong gave an embarrassed smile. "You take my words too seriously..."

"I naturally understand the rules, and I do have the formula for the Pō'è Pill. It is just that even after all these years of collecting, I am still short one medicinal ingredient..."

"Sand Mandala..."

"I can tell that your status is extraordinary. You must be a high-ranking master alchemist. I wonder whether you have any?"

Yao Xuan shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I do not have that ingredient. However, as far as I know, Sand Mandala is extremely easy to find deep within this desert..."

"You have lived in seclusion here for so long, yet you have never ventured into the depths of the desert to gather the ingredients?"

Hai Bodong helplessly shook his head. "You have seen the seal Medusa placed within my body. Combined with my ice-attributed Dou Qi, the moment I enter the depths of the desert, Medusa will detect me. Therefore..."

Before Hai Bodong could finish, Yao Xuan interrupted him. "Enough..."

"Old sir, there is no need to explain everything in such detail..."

"I happen to be planning a trip into the depths of the desert. If fate permits, I will bring back some Sand Mandala for you while I am there..."

"However, the prerequisite for all this is that you hand over that map fragment to me now..."

Hearing this, Hai Bodong still hesitated somewhat.

Yao Xuan saw his indecision and spoke again. "Old sir..."

"If you are unwilling, then this deal can be called off..."

"You may continue waiting here for an alchemist who possesses a Heavenly Flame and is willing to go to the heart of the desert to seek Sand Mandala for you!"

"Of course, if you do not wish to wait, I can also give you a quick death right now! I can kill you on the spot, and that map fragment will naturally become mine!"

After Yao Xuan spoke, an unmistakable killing intent flashed through his eyes!

If he had not thought that Hai Bodong was a loyal and righteous man...

Yao Xuan would not have wasted so many words on him. He could have simply killed him!

Hai Bodong also sensed the killing intent in Yao Xuan's eyes. After all, Hai Bodong knew it well.

He might still have a chance against an ordinary Dou Spirit, but against a peak seven-star Dou Spirit who possessed a Heavenly Flame, he was truly no match in his current state!

Thus, after considering the matter and weighing the pros and cons, Hai Bodong smiled. He took out the map fragment he had hidden from his storage ring, handed it to Yao Xuan, and said solemnly:

"You speak far too harshly, young friend..."

"This is the other part of my map. I will hand it over to you..."

Yao Xuan accepted the fragment, glanced at it, and confirmed that it was the missing portion of the second fragment of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame map. He put it away in his storage ring and nodded.

"It is good that you trust me, old sir..."

"Since that is the case, then wait here peacefully for news..."

With that, Yao Xuan flashed away and directly left the place...

Inside the map shop, Hai Bodong could not help but suck in a cold breath.

"Just what is this boy's background?!"

"At such a young age, he has reached the seven-star Dou Spirit realm. He is an alchemist, and he even possesses a Heavenly Flame!"

Hai Bodong's shock was hardly surprising. After all, he understood the value of a Heavenly Flame...

Even Gu He, hailed as the Pill King of the Jia Ma Empire, did not possess such a thing...

At this moment, Hai Bodong could only silently pray that Yao Xuan would keep his promise, bring back the Sand Mandala, and refine the Pō'è Pill for him...

After Yao Xuan left the map shop, Yao Lao's voice slowly rang out once more. "Kid..."

"You have some skills. You got that map fragment without lifting a finger..."

Yao Xuan merely smiled. "Uncle Chen..."

"Only after leaving the Yao Clan have I truly realized that the status of an alchemist is so damn noble..."

Yao Lao smiled as well. "Naturally. Things are valued because they are rare. Alchemists are everywhere in the Yao Clan..."

"But once you leave the Yao Clan, they are sought after wherever they go..."

"Kid, what do you plan to do next?"

Yao Xuan slowly raised his head and looked toward the distant desert, speaking softly:

"Of course, I will head to where the Green Lotus Core Flame is hidden..."

"After all, the purpose of this journey is the Green Lotus Core Flame!"

Yao Lao asked, "Leaving now?"

Yao Xuan nodded. "Yes. The Heavenly Flame is right before us, and I also want to know what level the Flame Mantra can evolve to if it successfully absorbs the Green Lotus Core Flame this time..."

What Yao Xuan was even more worried about was Medusa getting there first and taking the Green Lotus Core Flame!

Yao Xuan remembered that Medusa had risked using the energy of a Heavenly Flame in order to evolve and break through to the Dou Zong realm...

In the original story, Xiao Yan had been one step too late and allowed Medusa to take the Green Lotus Core Flame first. Though he had still managed to pick up the scraps and subdue it, strictly speaking, it had not been a complete Green Lotus Core Flame...

If Yao Xuan wanted to help the Flame Mantra evolve further now, then he naturally had to subdue the complete Green Lotus Core Flame!

"What about that girl you picked up along the way?"

"You are not taking her with you on this trip?"

Yao Lao's figure slowly appeared as he looked at Yao Xuan with a mischievous grin.

Yao Xuan nodded. "She is indeed not suited to come along this time..."

"Her cultivation is still too shallow. Taking her with us would be rather dangerous..."

Yao Lao smiled, then said solemnly, "That is fine..."

"Since you have made up your mind, then let us depart..."

"You will lead the way from here!"

After Yao Lao spoke, his soul power once more slowly entered Yao Xuan's glabella...

As a faint white flame flashed through Yao Xuan's eyes, he once again reached the strength of a Dou Zong with Yao Lao's soul power!

However, Yao Lao did not completely take over Yao Xuan's body this time. He merely lent Yao Xuan his power.

After all, Yao Xuan still needed to lead the way.

Thus, Yao Xuan's body turned into a streak of white light and vanished from Mo City in an instant...