"Alright. Little Divine King, wait for my news. I'll be back within three days at most."
Hai Bodong nodded. Stone Desert City was only a few thousand li from Jia Ma Sacred City. At his Dou Emperor flying speed, it would not take much time.
After cupping his hands toward Meng Chen, Hai Bodong turned and left.
Meng Chen watched Hai Bodong's departing figure and murmured to himself.
"A sixth-tier magic core... If there really isn't one, I'll have to make a trip to the Magic Beast Mountains."
Fortunately, he needed a sixth-tier fire-attribute magic core. The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King in the Magic Beast Mountains was perfectly suited for it. If he needed another attribute, that would have been troublesome.
As for whether killing the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King would affect the cave's storyline, what did that have to do with Meng Chen?
With everything arranged, Meng Chen began cultivating as well.
During the journey from Wutan City to the Tagor Great Desert, he had already broken through to become a Battle Master. Everything had happened naturally, without the slightest bottleneck.
Divine King Physique—you were worth having!
Elsewhere, in Jia Ma Sacred City.
Hai Bodong returned to the Mittel Family, and Mittel Tengshan was overwhelmed with excitement.
"Hai Lao, you... you've finally returned!" Mittel Tengshan's eyes widened, and his eye sockets reddened.
Hai Bodong looked at the little follower who had once trailed behind him, now grown into a Dou Wang powerhouse and aged as well. He could not help but feel deeply moved.
He reached out and patted Mittel Tengshan's shoulder, his face showing a trace of apology. "You've had it hard these years."
"Not hard at all, not hard at all. As long as you've returned, Hai Lao, that's all that matters. You're back, you're back!" Mittel Tengshan repeatedly shook his head. "Hai Lao, where have you been all these years? The family has been searching for you all along, but we could never find you."
"What happened back then is a long story..." Hai Bodong did not hide anything from Mittel Tengshan.
He told him everything: how Queen Medusa had pursued him, how he had been afflicted by the Serpent Seal, how he had concealed his identity for decades to keep his enemies from learning of his whereabouts, and how Meng Chen had helped him recover.
Mittel Tengshan was utterly astonished after hearing it.
He had never expected Hai Lao to have fallen to such a state. In that case, it was better that he had not returned!
"Hai Bodong said, "Tengshan, I have now joined the Divine Court. I returned this time under the Little Divine King's orders to have the Mittel Family gather some items."
"Just give the word, Hai Lao."
Mittel Tengshan nodded. As long as Hai Lao was not asking him to sell off the Mittel Family, he would provide whatever Hai Lao wanted.
"One sixth-tier fire-attribute magic core, four fifth-tier wood-attribute magic cores, Earth Marrow Flame Crystal, blazing iron..."
But when he heard the long list of materials Hai Bodong named, Mittel Tengshan's eyes, which had just narrowed, widened again.
The other items were manageable, but a sixth-tier magic core?!
"Hai Lao, the other things won't be much of a problem. It's just the magic cores. The family only has two fifth-tier wood-attribute magic cores. As for a sixth-tier fire-attribute magic core, forget the family—even the royal family probably doesn't have one."
Mittel Tengshan looked helpless.
The Mittel Family's business extended not only throughout the Jia Ma Empire, but even into neighboring empires.
But sixth-tier magic cores were something one could only hope to encounter by chance. They truly did not have one.
"No matter. Gather the other two fifth-tier magic cores first. As for the sixth-tier magic core, the Little Divine King has his own solution."
Having only just returned to the family, Hai Bodong did not wish to make things too difficult for Mittel Tengshan.
Mittel Tengshan let out a breath of relief and nodded. "Yes, Hai Lao."
Two days later, aside from the sixth-tier fire-attribute magic core, Hai Bodong had gathered all the remaining materials and left Jia Ma Sacred City once more.
In Stone Desert City, Hai Bodong returned and handed Meng Chen the Storage Ring containing the materials.
"Little Divine King, aside from that sixth-tier magic core, I've gathered all the materials you requested."
Meng Chen took the Storage Ring, glanced through it, then handed it to Qing Yanjing.
Qing Yanjing's delicate brows furrowed slightly, and she felt a trace of dissatisfaction with Hai Bodong's efficiency.
The core of this improved Eight Desolations Burning Flame Formation was that sixth-tier magic core. Without it, even if it were replaced with a fifth-tier magic core and they took advantage of the Tagor Great Desert's terrain, its power would be greatly reduced.
"It's fine, Aunt Qing. I happen to know where a sixth-tier fire-attribute magic beast is. We can just kill it and take its magic core."
Hearing her disciple's reassurance, Qing Yanjing's brows relaxed. She glanced at Hai Bodong, a streak of golden light flashing through her purple eyes.
The next instant, Hai Bodong felt as though he were facing a great enemy. Dense cold sweat broke out across his forehead as terror surged within him.
Even a single look from her gave Hai Bodong the feeling that he was facing Queen Medusa—no, someone even more terrifying than Queen Medusa.
Was this the power of a Dou Zong?
Time was of the essence. Meng Chen's group set off that very day for the Magic Beast Mountains.
Several days later, outside Qingshan Town.
A carriage stopped at the town gate. A handsome, refined young man in purple robes, tall and slender, led a petite and lovely girl in green robes down from the carriage.
They were none other than Meng Chen and Qinglin.
Immediately afterward, Hai Bodong stepped out of the carriage and followed closely behind Meng Chen without leaving his side.
Qingshan Town lived off the mountains. Passing through were mercenaries dressed in leather armor and carrying faint scents of blood. Some hurried along, some traveled in groups, while others had their arms slung around each other's shoulders as they drank and chatted openly in the street.
The gazes of several mercenaries were drawn to Meng Chen's group—or, more precisely, to Qinglin. Their eyes wandered repeatedly over her pretty little face and slender waist as they began talking among themselves.
"Look at that waist. It's so thin. Feels even thinner than Xiao Yi Xian's..."
But before the words had fully left his mouth, a cold snort rang out like thunder from a clear sky, leaving their heads splitting with pain as if their skulls were about to burst.
The mercenaries all revealed terrified expressions. How could they not realize that they had provoked someone they should not have? They fled down the street in a panic.
Hai Bodong coldly swept his gaze over those fleeing mercenaries and flicked his hand. Several streams of icy battle qi shot out, instantly freezing them solid. With a bang, they shattered into icy powder.
Meng Chen paid those men no further attention. Leading Qinglin by the hand, he arrived before a large medicinal shop. Looking up at its signboard, he murmured, "Ten Thousand Medicines Hall."
Just as he was about to enter, a commotion broke out at the shop entrance, followed by several cries of surprise.
"It's Xiao Yi Xian! She's here to provide free consultations again!"
"Hurry up and get in line! Getting treated by Xiao Yi Xian once makes this injury worth it!"
"What a slim waist, what a beauty... I really want to—"
As the crowd gathered at the entrance parted, Meng Chen and the others finally saw the true appearance of the Xiao Yi Xian everyone was talking about.
Xiao Yi Xian wore a simple, elegant white dress. Though she could not be called devastatingly beautiful, she was still a rare beauty. Her features were delicate and lovely, and a calm smile rested on her cheeks, making her seem as fresh and ethereal as an orchid blooming in a secluded valley.
That detached, otherworldly aura elevated her charm even further.
Most eye-catching was her willow-slender waist, bound by a green sash. It seemed as though it could be held in one hand, so delicate and frail that it looked as if the slightest pressure could snap it in two, leaving people stunned.
"Calamity Poison Physique."
At the sight of Xiao Yi Xian, Meng Chen murmured softly.
His voice was not loud, yet it happened to reach Xiao Yi Xian nearby. She looked over at the sound, noticing Meng Chen and the others, a trace of confusion flashing through her beautiful eyes.
From his appearance and clothing, everything about Meng Chen proclaimed his extraordinary status. Qingshan Town was merely a small town, so why would someone like him come to such a place?
And what was this Calamity Poison Physique he had mentioned?
Meng Chen withdrew his gaze from Xiao Yi Xian and led Qinglin into the Ten Thousand Medicines Hall...
Before you continue