Ice Emperor Hai Bo Dong

Three days of flying through the air had been exceedingly dull.

But that was nothing to Lei Luo, who had spent several months alone in the Magic Beast Mountain Range.

As he focused on cultivating, time quietly passed, and he reached his destination as well—Desert City!

When the flying magical beast slowly descended and finally came to a stop, Lei Luo at last set foot on solid ground.

Looking at the city hidden amid the yellow sands, Lei Luo's heart seemed to stir with excitement as well.

Braving the heat waves, he entered Desert City, the largest city in the desert.

Due to its geography, climate, and customs, the style of dress near the Tagor Desert was entirely different from that within the empire.

This was especially true for women. Unlike the reserved and restrained women elsewhere, their clothing was exceptionally daring.

Other than cloth covering their chests and lower bodies, they wore nothing else.

Although he had seen countless bikini beauties in his previous life, they simply could not compare to this primitive allure.

Lei Luo had certainly feasted his eyes along the way.

Looking at the people full of exotic charm, Lei Luo finally entered Desert City proper.

Feeling the dense fire-attributed energy in the air, he could not help clicking his tongue.

"No wonder those alchemists come here to train."

Rubbing his chin, Lei Luo found an inn and settled in.

His main reason for coming to the Tagor Desert was naturally the Green Lotus Core Flame. If he remembered correctly, the Heavenly Flame should be outside Rock Desert City.

And Desert City, where he currently was, was not his final destination.

After settling into the inn, Lei Luo planned to meet someone.

That person was the Ice Emperor Hai Bo Dong, one of the Jia Ma Empire's legendary ten greatest experts.

Or rather, Lei Luo's ancestor...

After resting at the inn for a day, Lei Luo began wandering around Desert City.

Lei Luo had long forgotten the name of Hai Bo Dong's map shop. Or rather, it was impossible for him to have remembered it in the first place.

But that did not hinder his search.

After all, he had once been a Dou Emperor. Even though his strength had been sealed and had fallen to the Battle Spirit realm, he would still be easy to identify.

After visiting no fewer than ten map shops, Lei Luo finally stopped before one named Ancient Map.

Unlike the other shops, this one was neither extravagant nor ostentatious. It even seemed to carry a faintly ancient air.

With some surprise in his heart, Lei Luo slowly walked into the shop.

The interior was not spacious. The faint glow of two moonlight stones illuminated it quite brightly.

His gaze swept across the shop. There were not many people inside buying maps, and compared to the other shops, it seemed somewhat deserted.

As Lei Luo slowly entered, his gaze settled on an old man behind the counter, who had his head lowered as he meticulously worked on a map.

The old man looked quite old. Though his head was already full of white hair, the withered hand holding the black drawing pen remained steady and powerful, more vigorous than that of most young men.

Seeing the old man, Lei Luo's brows relaxed. He murmured softly, "Found him..."

At this moment, the old man also noticed Lei Luo's gaze.

But he did not raise his head to look at Lei Luo again. He merely said coldly, "If you want a map, find one yourself. The prices are on the shelves. Just leave the money."

Hearing Hai Bo Dong's voice, Lei Luo could not help shaking his head with a bitter smile.

His bargain ancestor had quite the temper.

"Hehe, Senior, with that attitude toward business, you'll easily end up without food to eat," Lei Luo said with a smile.

Hearing this, Hai Bo Dong tossed aside the black pen in his hand and straightened up.

"Brat, have you come to pick a fight in this old man's shop?" Hai Bo Dong asked in an icy tone.

Glancing at the map on the table, Lei Luo could not help licking his lips.

Then, no longer intending to beat around the bush with Hai Bo Dong, he directly revealed his identity.

"I am Lei Luo, young clan leader of the Miter Family. Greetings, Elder Hai..."

Lei Luo's posture was sufficiently respectful, speaking entirely as a junior.

Upon hearing Lei Luo's introduction, Hai Bo Dong's eyelid twitched, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

By then, the few customers in the shop had already left. Hai Bo Dong waved a hand, and the shop door closed on its own with a dull thud.

Then, Hai Bo Dong's gaunt fingers repeatedly tapped against the counter. He said nothing, but his ruthless, vulture-like gaze kept sweeping over Lei Luo.

"How did you know? I don't recall ever revealing my whereabouts to anyone in the family," Hai Bo Dong slowly asked.

Seeing him admit it, Lei Luo also sighed in relief.

"Actually, I was only guessing.

Because of my special nature, I can sense an extremely powerful seal within your body.

And it seems your strength once stood at the Dou Emperor realm.

Judging from your aura, your Dou Qi attribute is ice.

A Dou Emperor with an ice attribute—throughout the Jia Ma Empire, I believe only the former Ice Emperor Hai Bo Dong could match you, Elder."

After speaking, Lei Luo looked at Hai Bo Dong with a smile.

Hai Bo Dong still did not speak.

He touched the Storage Ring on his finger, his expression carrying a trace of reminiscence.

After a long while, he let out a heavy sigh. "So what? Now I'm merely the owner of a map shop in Desert City."

"Leave. Pretend you were never here. But if you dare reveal this old man's information, even if you are a member of my Miter Family, I will not spare you."

Hearing this, Lei Luo spread his hands. "Elder Hai, why not return with this junior?"

"My father, Miter Tengshan, has been thinking of you dearly!"

Hai Bo Dong was somewhat surprised upon hearing Lei Luo's words.

"Hehe, has that boy Tengshan already become clan leader? He even has children now. Time truly spares no one!"

As he sighed, the look in Hai Bo Dong's eyes toward Lei Luo softened as well.

He pointed at his own heart and said helplessly, "Brat, it's not that I'm unwilling to leave. You just said it yourself—the entirety of my strength has been sealed. I truly..."

"I truly cannot leave! If I returned with you in my current state, that would be a true catastrophe for the family!"

After Hai Bo Dong finished speaking, Lei Luo understood the reason.

The stronger the Ice Emperor had been back then, the more people now wanted him dead after he lost that powerful foundation!

Over the years, due to Hai Bo Dong's disappearance, all sides had begun coveting the Miter Clan's vast fortune.

If they had not been uncertain whether Hai Bo Dong was alive, Lei Luo's bargain father, a mere Battle King, could never have protected that fortune.

And once news of Hai Bo Dong's sealed strength spread, the entire Miter Family would likely be devoured by wolves in an instant!

Understanding this, Lei Luo was not disappointed. Instead, he smiled at Hai Bo Dong and said:

"What if this junior has the ability to break your seal?"

At those words, Hai Bo Dong's aura changed, and a terrifying presence erupted instantly!

Layers of ice crystals continuously formed throughout the room. In the blink of an eye, the small shop was about to turn into an ice sculpture!