Hai Bo Dong

Tagor Desert was dry and scorching. The blazing sunlight poured down, baking the ground beneath their feet until heat continuously rose from it, warping one's vision ever so slightly.

Against the azure sky, two streaks of purple and green light cut across the horizon, flying toward the boundless desert.

Mo City was an earthen-yellow city standing within the desert, and also the city closest to Tagor Desert.

"Xiao Qing, what are we doing in this awful place?"

Feeling the sweltering heat rushing toward her, Zi Yan frowned slightly and spoke with some discomfort.

"Bear with it. According to my senses, Tagor Desert holds quite a few opportunities." Xiao Qing turned his head and soothed her.

"Really?"

Hearing that there were opportunities to be found, Zi Yan's brows immediately relaxed as she looked at Xiao Qing with suspicion in her eyes.

Since when did Xiao Qing have a talent for finding treasures?

"What, you don't believe me?"

Xiao Qing raised a brow, sensing the restless Life Spirit Flame within his body.

He truly was not lying. The mutual resonance between Heavenly Flames allowed him to vaguely sense the location of a certain opportunity.

"Of course I believe you. Then when are we going to look for it?"

Zi Yan chuckled, rubbing her little hands together impatiently.

"Don't rush. Let's first go to the city ahead and buy a map of Tagor Desert."

Xiao Qing shook his head and looked toward the bustling city not far away.

As the two gradually approached, the pedestrians on the ground also noticed the two streaks of light in the sky.

"Dou Qi wings! A Dou Wang expert!"

"Gasp, I never thought such a great figure would come to Mo City!"

"What a terrifying aura. As expected of a Dou Wang expert!"

The passersby discussed among themselves, their gazes filled with reverence and amazement.

Xiao Qing's expression did not change as he slowly descended with a flap of his green wings.

He casually pointed at a burly passerby who looked pleasing enough to the eye.

"You. Do you know where I can buy a map of Tagor Desert?"

Seeing this, the others all cast envious and jealous looks at the burly passerby.

The man's face flushed with excitement, and his body trembled slightly. He had never expected to be fortunate enough to speak with a Dou Wang expert!

"My lord, the best map shop in Mo City is called Gu Tu. It is located in the northwest corner of Mo City."

"However, the shop owner is a strange old man. He is usually cold toward everyone, so I hope Lord Dou Wang will not take offense."

Xiao Qing was somewhat surprised. He had not expected this burly man to be kindhearted.

With an expressionless nod, Xiao Qing flapped his wings and flew toward the northwest corner of Mo City that the man had indicated.

Zi Yan followed closely behind him in the air.

Not long after the two left, the bystanders at the spot congratulated the burly passerby one after another.

"Zhang Tie, you've made it big! You actually got to speak with a Dou Wang expert."

"Yeah, yeah! If you ever rise to greatness, remember to look after me, Old Eight!"

Amid the chorus of congratulations, Zhang Tie could not help feeling a little elated.

What he failed to notice, however, was that most of those congratulating him had jealousy in their eyes, and a few even flashed with a trace of malice.

"Xiao Qing, why didn't you give that man pills just now?"

Zi Yan, who had caught up, asked curiously.

Back at the academy, Xiao Qing would always reward people in such situations with a few pills. Why was it different now?

Seeing Zi Yan's innocent expression, Xiao Qing explained rather patiently.

"A common man is innocent, but treasures invite disaster."

"The outside world is not like the academy. If I gave him pills, I would only be harming him."

"I see."

Zi Yan nodded vaguely.

How could giving someone pills be harming them?

Though she did not quite understand, she still remembered the matter deep in her heart.

The two flew along the direction the burly man had told them.

Before long, an antiquated shop named Gu Tu came into view.

Landing before its entrance, Xiao Qing did not inspect it too closely. He stepped forward first and pushed open the door.

The shop was not very spacious, but two Moonlight Stones illuminated the entire place quite brightly.

Behind the counter sat an elderly man with a head full of white hair. At that moment, he had his head lowered, carefully making a map.

Though he did not even look up at the sound of the door opening, Xiao Qing, whose soul power was formidable, still vaguely sensed the old man probing them.

Ignoring this arrogant, aged Ice Emperor, Xiao Qing swept his gaze across the surrounding bookshelves one by one.

When he noticed a palm-sized fragment of a picture on a shelf in the corner, Xiao Qing walked over, picked it up, examined it for a moment, and then asked, "How much is this fragment map?"

Hai Bo Dong slightly raised his head. When he saw the damaged map in Xiao Qing's hand, a gleam flashed through his eyes before he said indifferently, "That fragment map is not for sale."

Xiao Qing narrowed his eyes. As if nothing had happened, he returned the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Fragment Map to its original place. Then he selected a fairly detailed map from the counter in front of Hai Bo Dong, left behind some gold coins, and prepared to leave.

However, just as he was about to step out of the shop, an aged, icy voice suddenly rang out behind him.

"Stop."

Xiao Qing halted, turned to look at Hai Bo Dong, and asked calmly, "What is it?"

"Boy, tell me the information on that fragment map, or don't even think about leaving this place today!"

Hai Bo Dong's expression was cold as a biting chill rapidly spread from his body. In no time, white mist filled the entire shop.

Through the mist, Xiao Qing calmly stared at Hai Bo Dong as he strode out from behind the counter. His expression did not change in the slightest because of the freezing air around him.

"Since you insist on courting death, don't blame me."

Hearing this, Hai Bo Dong sneered. Just as he was about to say something, he saw Xiao Qing strike out with a crystalline green palm print that charged toward him with unstoppable force.

Sensing the terrifying aura radiating from the palm print, Hai Bo Dong's expression changed drastically. His withered hands rapidly formed a seal as he shouted, "Myriad Flower Ice Mirror!"

The surrounding cold air surged wildly, and in an instant condensed before him into a strange ice mirror half a meter wide and long.

The mirror's surface was covered in countless tiny facets, like layers upon layers of ice flowers stacked together to form this peculiar ice mirror.

The instant the ice mirror formed, the blazing green palm print had already arrived before Hai Bo Dong.

The moment the emerald crystalline palm print touched the dazzling ice mirror, the mirror melted away like ice and snow, releasing a wisp of curling white vapor before vanishing without a trace.

Seeing this, Hai Bo Dong was horrified. He could only watch helplessly as the palm print slammed into his aged body.

Boom!!!