Xiao Yan Had Hai Bodong in the Palm of His Hand

The icy mist had dispersed, leaving the shop in a shambles.

Xiao Yan held a porcelain kettle in his left hand and placed his right palm beneath it. Purple flames leaped up.

Soon the water boiled, and white steam hissed from the spout.

Xiao Yan took out two teacups, added some tea leaves, and poured in hot water. The fragrance of tea immediately spread through the room.

"Old sir, the way you run this business, you don't even have tea for your customers. No wonder it's so quiet."

Smiling, Xiao Yan pushed a cup of tea toward Hai Bodong across the table.

The tea was pale yellow, with steam curling above it.

At Xiao Yan's words, the corner of Hai Bodong's mouth twitched.

This was a desert. Who drank hot tea here?

Besides, he cultivated ice-attribute Dou Qi. His body preferred the cold, and when he drank tea, he drank it cold.

Hai Bodong took a small sip of the hot tea and frowned.

He was slowly circulating the Dou Qi within him to heal his injuries, driving out the fire Xiao Yan had left inside his body bit by bit.

As the hot tea entered his body, it opened the tiniest gap in the ring of Dou Qi surrounding that fire. The fire nearly escaped again.

That brat did this on purpose.

The tea contained fire-attribute energy.

Xiao Yan drained his cup of hot tea and felt comfortable all over.

He had happened upon these tea leaves in the Magic Beast Mountain Range. They contained fire-attribute energy and were perfect for those who cultivated Fire Attribute Dou Qi.

He had already transplanted the tea tree into his Portable Space.

"Old sir, bring out the rest of the map fragment."

Xiao Yan refilled his empty cup with hot water, tapping two fingers of his right hand against the wooden table in an irregular rhythm.

The thudding reached Hai Bodong's ears and made his heart beat a little faster.

He was certain that if he uttered even half a word of refusal, the brat across from him would slam the table over his head.

"Do you know who I am?"

Hai Bodong's voice sounded faintly desolate.

"Ice Emperor Hai Bodong. Once one of the Jia Ma Empire's ten great Dou Huang experts."

Xiao Yan gave a soft laugh.

"How do you know?"

Hai Bodong started. He had the unsettling feeling that someone had seen right through him, down to his underclothes.

"You still seem unconvinced. Trying to use your identity to pressure me? Then I'll make you accept it with all your heart."

Xiao Yan spoke evenly.

Hai Bodong then watched in horror as Xiao Yan's aura climbed rapidly.

Da Dou Shi. Dou Ling. Dou Wang.

At the same time, a bone-white flame rose from Xiao Yan's right palm.

"Soul power? A Spirit Realm soul?"

"A Heavenly Flame?!"

Hai Bodong stared at Xiao Yan in terror, unable to believe what he was seeing.

What kind of monster is this brat?

The cultivation of a high-star Dou Master.

A body comparable to a Fourth-Order Magical Beast.

A Spirit Realm soul.

And a terrifying Heavenly Flame.

Even at his peak, Hai Bodong might not have gained any advantage against this brat.

He was still so young. To what terrifying heights could he rise in the future?

Dou Emperor? Dou Zong?

Perhaps even higher.

At that moment, Hai Bodong was thoroughly convinced.

He gave a bitter laugh, looking somewhat forlorn.

"Young friend, what should I call you?"

"Xiao Yan."

Hai Bodong pressed his left hand against his right. Light flashed, and a map fragment appeared in his left hand.

He handed the fragment to Xiao Yan.

"Years ago, I came to the Tagor Desert and happened upon this map fragment. Because of it, I drew the pursuit of the serpent people's sovereign—Queen Medusa."

"Queen Medusa ranked among the strongest Dou Emperors. Unsurprisingly, she defeated me. I managed to escape, but she struck me with the Serpent Sealing Curse. My body aged rapidly, and my strength was sealed at the Dou Ling level."

Xiao Yan glanced at the fragment. Once he confirmed it was genuine, he put it into his Storage Ring.

"Oh? After all these years, have you found a way to remove the seal within you?"

Xiao Yan took a small sip of tea and spoke calmly.

"Over the past few decades, I obtained a medicinal formula that can break the seal. If its pill can be refined, I'll regain my strength," Hai Bodong said gravely.

"Then why not ask Pill King Gu He to refine it for you?"

"He can't. The pill can only be refined with a Heavenly Flame."

Hai Bodong gave a bitter smile and looked at Xiao Yan with hope in his eyes.

"You want me to refine the pill for you? I could, but I have a condition."

"Please tell me, young friend Xiao."

"Follow my orders and work for me for three years."

Xiao Yan's tone was matter-of-fact.

"Agreed."

Hai Bodong answered without hesitation.

He had been sealed for decades and had long since had enough.

Now that he saw a chance to regain his strength, of course he wanted to seize it.

Besides, Xiao Yan's future achievements would far surpass his own. Taking orders from him would be no disgrace.

He could consider it an investment. Forming a connection with a future powerhouse might be a rare opportunity in its own right.

"Give me the formula. And you know the rules when an alchemist refines medicine for someone else: you provide the ingredients."

Xiao Yan smiled faintly. Having a Dou Emperor as a bodyguard would do nicely for now.

Hai Bodong stroked the few graying strands of beard on his chin and said, somewhat embarrassed:

"I've gathered most of the ingredients the formula requires. The only one I'm missing is Sand Mandrake."

"That herb can only be found in the Tagor Desert. The hotter the place, the more likely it is to grow there."

"But I cultivate an ice-attribute technique, and I still have the Serpent Sealing Curse inside me. The moment I step into the depths of the desert, Queen Medusa will sense me, so..."

Xiao Yan rolled his eyes and curled his lip. "I haven't even started giving you orders, and you're already giving them to me? If you have anything else valuable, bring it out. Otherwise, I'm not doing it."

"Information about a Heavenly Flame. Would that do?"

Hai Bodong spoke through gritted teeth.

Though he was not an alchemist, Heavenly Flames interested him greatly. If he could subdue one, his combat strength would rise substantially.

To persuade Xiao Yan, he had no choice but to reveal what he knew about the flame.

Xiao Yan's interest stirred at Hai Bodong's words.

One reason he had come to the Tagor Desert was to find the Green Lotus Core Flame.

As mentioned in the first chapter, Xiao Yan did not remember the original story's events clearly. He knew only the broad outline.

So he had no idea exactly where the Green Lotus Core Flame was.

The Heavenly Flame Hai Bodong spoke of was probably the Green Lotus Core Flame.

"Tell me everything you know about the Heavenly Flame. Then I'll decide whether it's worth it."

Xiao Yan's face betrayed nothing.

Seeing Xiao Yan unmoved, Hai Bodong felt rather helpless.

He knew Xiao Yan was putting on an act, but he needed his help. Xiao Yan had him firmly in the palm of his hand.

He could only put his hopes in Xiao Yan's character and pray that, once given the information, he would honor his request.

Hai Bodong swept his left hand over the Storage Ring on his right. Light flashed, and an old parchment scroll appeared in his hand. He passed it to Xiao Yan with a smile.

"There are three places in the Tagor Desert where a Heavenly Flame is most likely to appear."

Xiao Yan took the parchment scroll and slowly unfurled it. It was an exceptionally detailed map of the Tagor Desert.

Three conspicuous flame symbols marked locations to the east, west, and north.

Hai Bodong pointed to the flame symbols on the map.

"These three marked spots are where the Heavenly Flame is most likely to be."

"You can search the eastern and northern spots first. If you find nothing, check the western one last. But I advise you not to go there."

"Why?" Xiao Yan asked curiously.

"Because it lies deep within the Tagor Desert. Queen Medusa is there, and she can sense any human who enters her territory. You may be strong, but if you encounter her, I don't think you'll have any chance of escaping alive."

Even after decades, the thought of Queen Medusa's strength still left Hai Bodong shaken.

"Then I have even more reason to go."

Xiao Yan smiled.

"Why?" Hai Bodong asked, puzzled.

If you're determined to get yourself killed, could you at least refine my pill first?

Queen Medusa was one of the women Xiao Yan intended to marry. Of course he had to go.

But he certainly was not going to tell Hai Bodong that. He merely smiled and said nothing.

"Fine. Your information about the Heavenly Flame is worth it. I agree to your request. I'll be going now."

Xiao Yan stood and swept his right hand over the table. The kettle and teacups vanished, and he headed for the door.

Joy spread across Hai Bodong's face as he called after him, "I'll wait here for your successful return, young friend Xiao."