Fragmentary Map

At the city gate, over a dozen armored guards stood blocking the entrance. They appeared to be collecting the entry tax.

The Jia Ma Empire had regulations stating that alchemists did not need to pay to enter a city, but Xiao Yan had never taken the alchemist certification exam, so naturally he had no corresponding proof.

As for showing off at the gate to prove he was a Third-Grade Alchemist, Xiao Yan felt he was not bored enough to go that far. Besides, taxpayers and tax collectors were all one big family. It was not a huge sum anyway, so he paid it.

After paying the entry tax normally, Xiao Yan led Little Fairy Doctor into the border city.

Though it was situated at the border, the city was no less bustling than those inland metropolises. Like Green Mountain Town, it had prospered through mercenaries and the Tagore Great Desert, that land of magical beasts. It gave Little Fairy Doctor a strangely familiar feeling.

"Xian'er, should we find an inn and rest first, or head straight into the Tagore Great Desert?" Xiao Yan asked, turning to look at the lovely girl beside him.

"You don't have to take such care of me. I'm a Dou Master too, after all. Let's go straight into the Tagore Great Desert, but we should buy a map first. Otherwise, we might get lost in there." Little Fairy Doctor replied.

Of course they had to buy a map. Even if Little Fairy Doctor had not mentioned it, Xiao Yan would have gone looking for one. After all, a certain old man who sold maps possessed a ready-made clue to a Heavenly Flame.

But even so, Xiao Yan did not know where Hai Bodong's Ancient Map shop was located.

He stopped someone by the roadside to ask, but the other party did not seem inclined to answer him. Compared to the original story, Xiao Yan lacked an alchemist's badge.

But that was fine. Xiao Yan said he understood, then warmly brought the man into a dead-end alley for a warm exchange. The man was so moved that he wept bitterly. Not only did he warmly answer Xiao Yan's questions, but he also told him the approximate prices of various maps and some of the Ancient Map owner's peculiar habits.

It had to be said that sometimes, an alchemist's badge was not the only thing that worked. Warmth could be quite effective too.

With that thought in mind, Xiao Yan led Little Fairy Doctor toward the shop called Ancient Map.

In Mo City, those entering the Tagore Great Desert had an enormous demand for maps, especially accurate maps. Thus, every map shop with any reputation was lavishly decorated. Yet Ancient Map, the best map shop in the city, was not luxurious at all. It even seemed somewhat antique.

Inside Ancient Map's storefront, only two moonlight stones illuminated the rather cramped interior. Apart from the map shelves lining both sides, there was only an old man behind the innermost counter, wholly focused on drawing a map.

The instant he entered, Xiao Yan, who had come prepared, cast his gaze toward a wooden rack in the corner. The Volcanic Rock Flame within him told him that another Heavenly Flame's aura was there, even faintly conveying a sense of fear.

Xiao Yan knew that was the fragmentary map of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame.

Holding Little Fairy Doctor's hand, Xiao Yan quietly walked toward it.

Although Little Fairy Doctor felt that Xiao Yan had been acting somewhat strangely since entering this map shop, she said nothing and simply followed him in silence.

The maps on this wooden rack were all somewhat damaged, clearly failed products from the mapmaking process.

Xiao Yan searched through the yellowed fragments, and soon a palm-sized fragmentary map appeared before his eyes.

"This is it!" Xiao Yan was delighted. Just as he reached out to take it, a terrifying pressure suddenly rose from the old man behind the counter and bore down upon Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor.

Little Fairy Doctor reacted as well. Xiao Yan had probably discovered some treasure, and this old man was unwilling to give it up, which was why he had made his move.

Though Xiao Yan's side could also be said to be planning a forced purchase, this was no time to argue reason. She swiftly turned around and hurled a streak of deadly poison at the old man.

Naturally, Xiao Yan would not sit and wait for death either. In an instant, crimson radiance erupted like spewing lava. Volcanic Rock Flame burst from his body and rapidly condensed. A suit of armor covered in molten, liquid-like flames and etched with brilliant patterns appeared around him. It was the Flame Emperor Armor Xiao Yan had created himself.

The terrifying heat burned the old man's pressure away completely. Xiao Yan pulled Little Fairy Doctor behind him with one hand and stored the fragmentary map of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame in his Storage Ring with the other, watching the old man warily. Although Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong had a good relationship in the original story, Xiao Yan would not naively believe that Hai Bodong held any goodwill toward him at this point.

Hai Bodong had just dispelled the deadly poison Little Fairy Doctor had sent his way. It had to be said that the Woeful Poison Body was truly blessed by nature. Even though Little Fairy Doctor was only a Dou Master, her poison had nearly caught Hai Bodong, once a Dou Emperor, off guard.

Looking at Little Fairy Doctor behind Xiao Yan, Hai Bodong's eyes flashed with vigilance. Then he turned to Xiao Yan. Though Xiao Yan possessed only the cultivation of a Great Dou Master, the Heavenly Flame armor covering his body was clearly not something to trifle with.

Hai Bodong could not help feeling a headache coming on. Where the hell had these two freakish youngsters come from? The moment they arrived, they had snatched the treasure he had acquired only after risking his life against the Medusa Queen.

But he could not simply let them leave. He had fallen from a Dou Emperor to a Dou Spirit for this map! How could he possibly accept giving it up just like that?

"Friends, that fragmentary map is not for sale. Could you trouble yourselves to return it?"

"Your words are rather amusing, sir. What kind of business opens its doors but refuses to sell its goods? We will not cheat you. Name your price." Xiao Yan sneered. Returning it was impossible, but Xiao Yan did not wish to remain deadlocked either, so he told Hai Bodong to name a price. He knew Hai Bodong needed help now, and was not afraid that he would refuse.

"Hmph! I already said that fragmentary map is not for sale. If you two insist on taking it, then this old man is not so easy to bully!" The old man spoke in a cold voice laced with killing intent. Chilling ice-attributed Dou Qi swept outward, shrouding the entire shop and sealing off Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor's escape routes.

Xiao Yan refused to show weakness. The flame radiance of the Heavenly Flame-forged Flame Emperor Armor flared brightly, clearing away all the cold within several meters of him. Though he could not gain the upper hand, he could at least stand on equal footing.

"Enough, old sir. You should know that if we want to leave, you cannot stop us. Why clash head-on with us only to end up drawing water with a bamboo basket? Besides, since this fragmentary map has remained here so long, you probably do not know what it is for either. At most, you sensed the Heavenly Flame aura on it and kept it. But you are ice-attributed, so a Heavenly Flame is useless to you anyway. Why not sell it to me and gain something tangible? Isn't that better?" Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes and deliberately drew out his words. "Wouldn't you agree, Ice Emperor Hai Bodong?"

The moment the words fell, the sweeping cold abruptly halted. Fierceness burst from Hai Bodong's eyes. "You know this old man? Who exactly are you?"

"You misunderstand, Ice Emperor. I do not know you, and you need not suspect that someone sent us to deal with you. You should understand that even if someone truly had such intentions and knew you were here, they would never send two talented youths with such promising futures as us." Xiao Yan spread his hands and took two steps back with Little Fairy Doctor, indicating that he meant Hai Bodong no threat.

Hai Bodong calmed down slightly as well.

Truthfully, after falling from a Dou Emperor to the Dou Spirit realm in a single day, he had felt extremely uneasy. The reason he had not returned all these years was that he feared old enemies might take the chance to strike him while he was down. And what level would those capable of opposing him, a Dou Emperor, be at? The answer was obvious.

"Hmph! You really know how to flatter yourself." Though he said that, Hai Bodong acknowledged that Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor possessed terrifying talent and would never be sent to carry out the dangerous task of assassinating him. "But that does not explain why you recognized me."

"It was not difficult." Xiao Yan spread his hands. "First, I sensed ice-attributed Dou Qi within you far beyond the Dou Spirit level. Second, your control over coldness is not something a Dou Spirit could possess. So I reasonably guessed that you were once a powerhouse above the Dou Spirit realm, but your cultivation had fallen. Among ice-attributed experts above the Dou Spirit realm who vanished without explanation and match your age, I doubt there are many in the Jia Ma Empire. Perhaps some Dou Kings also fit those conditions, but I do not know them, do I?"

"Good boy, you have some wits after all!" Hai Bodong looked at the youth before him in surprise. At such an age, Xiao Yan not only possessed this level of cultivation but also such a mind. And the little girl behind him was no simple figure either. She was merely a Dou Master, yet could wield poison that had nearly caught him off guard. Since when had the Jia Ma Empire possessed a faction capable of nurturing such people?

Could it be...

They were not from the Jia Ma Empire?

Yes! That had to be it! He had said that even if some Dou Kings fit this old man's characteristics, he would not recognize them. That meant he was probably unfamiliar with the Jia Ma Empire's Dou Kings. If he were truly a genius of the Jia Ma Empire, how could he not know such things?

Xiao Yan had no idea that Hai Bodong's thoughts had already veered farther and farther off course. Of course, even if he knew, he would not correct him. He would only mislead him further and let Hai Bodong build up the impression that they came from a powerful background. That would make a deal more likely.

As Hai Bodong continued analyzing Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor's origins, his thoughts grew increasingly active. He had been unwilling to seek aid from anyone in the Jia Ma Empire because he did not dare trust those capable of helping him. Who knew whether they would sell him out?

Outsiders were different. With no conflicts of interest involved, they could sometimes be more trustworthy.

"Have you made your decision, sir?"

"Unknown brat, I can give you the fragmentary map, but you must have whoever stands behind you refine a pill for me."

"What pill?" Xiao Yan asked despite knowing the answer.

"A sixth-grade pill—the Calamity-Breaking Pill!"

"Hiss, you really know how to ask. You want a sixth-grade pill for one fragmentary map?"

"Hmph! You may choose not to agree. But I can tell you that the fragmentary map in your hands is only half of what I possess. The other half has long since been hidden away. If you refuse, I guarantee that you will never obtain the other half!" Hai Bodong sneered, wearing an expression as though his scheme had succeeded.

It was obvious that he could not possibly leave a fragmentary map he had fought so desperately to obtain sitting out in the open. He had only done so to bait someone.

"Hmm..." Xiao Yan pretended to ponder for a while. "Fine. I agree. Give me the ingredients."

"Uh, about the ingredients, I am still missing one main ingredient." Hai Bodong had already withdrawn the coldness and spoke with a lack of confidence.

"Oh? In that case, no problem. I can take care of the ingredients, but..." Xiao Yan smiled at Hai Bodong. "You know the rules for asking someone to refine pills, right?"

"The missing main ingredient is Sand Mandrake... What? You can solve the ingredient issue?!" Hai Bodong had been about to continue explaining, but his expression changed drastically when he heard Xiao Yan's words. He was overjoyed.

"Of course! But..." Xiao Yan rubbed his fingers together, smiling like a cunning merchant.

Naturally, Hai Bodong understood what Xiao Yan meant. He immediately said, "No problem! That is only proper. You two came to Tagore for the Heavenly Flame, correct? I have a clue regarding a Heavenly Flame here as well. Would the two of you be interested?"

"Oh? A Heavenly Flame?" Xiao Yan's eyes lit up. They had finally gotten to the point. It had not been easy!

"Indeed. You must have heard some rumors about a Heavenly Flame in the Tagore Great Desert as well." One look at Xiao Yan's expression told Hai Bodong that there was hope.

"So, you know where the Heavenly Flame is?" Xiao Yan asked.

"I have some interest in drawing maps, so I often enter the Tagore Great Desert to chart it. Over the years, I have identified several places highly likely to contain a Heavenly Flame." Hai Bodong smiled smugly. "I dare say that without my map, you could wander the Tagore Great Desert for a year and still not find it!"

Xiao Yan thought that if he could not find it within half a year, he would have to visit Medusa's lair. But it should not have been found yet, or else she would not have waited until nearly a year later in the original story to attempt her transformation using the Heavenly Flame.

Still, Hai Bodong's map was very useful right now.

"Deal!"

Xiao Yan agreed. His purpose in coming to find Hai Bodong had now basically been fully achieved.

After leaving Hai Bodong's Ancient Map shop, they found a fairly decent inn in the city and checked in.

Only after entering their room did Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor finally relax completely.

They did not even have the strength to bathe, simply lying flat on the bed.

Though Xiao Yan had acted so forcefully before Hai Bodong, he actually only possessed the ability to flee with Little Fairy Doctor.

After all, Hai Bodong, a Dou Spirit, was far stronger than ordinary Dou Spirits. Even a Dou King could clash with him if pushed to the limit.

Hai Bodong had only been willing to negotiate because he believed Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor had a powerful faction behind them. Otherwise, if negotiations had fallen apart, Hai Bodong would never have easily spared them, if only to keep his secrets hidden.

Little Fairy Doctor looked at the man beside her, who was breathing heavily, and wanted badly to tell him never to take such risks again.

But she knew that was impossible. This was a ruthless man who had dared throw himself into the Magic Beast Mountains for more than two years just to avoid having an unstable foundation in cultivation!

Xiao Yan's desire to grow stronger was as intense as his desire for women.

Xiao Yan, who was resting with his eyes closed, seemed to sense the worry of the person beside him. He took Little Fairy Doctor's hand, turned toward her, and said, "Don't worry. When have you ever seen me do something without confidence?"

Little Fairy Doctor pressed her lips together, then took the initiative to nestle into Xiao Yan's embrace without saying anything.

"All right, get some sleep early tonight. We still need to prepare to enter the Tagore Great Desert tomorrow."

"Mm."