The Ice Emperor's Pledge of Loyalty, Another Simulation!

"Master, wait!"

Seeing this, Hai Bodong panicked. He hurriedly reached out to block Lin Chen's path and said urgently, "It isn't that I don't want to gather this herb. The seal placed on me all those years ago was the work of Queen Medusa of the Snake-People Tribe."

"If I venture deep into the desert, that queen will sense me immediately. My life would hang by a thread, and in the blink of an eye, both my life and cultivation would be snuffed out!"

"Please understand my predicament, Master. If you are unwilling to go yourself, I will hire a few Dou Ling experts to gather the sand mandala from deep within the desert. Please wait a few months. If the pill is successfully refined, I will certainly repay you generously!"

Lin Chen stopped and looked at him with undisguised disdain. "You were once a Dou Huang expert, at least. Now you can only hire Dou Ling experts?"

"As far as I know, the Snake-People Holy City lies deep within the desert. Besides Queen Medusa, eight great Snake-People Tribes guard it, and every single tribal leader is a Dou Wang expert. If you can only hire Dou Ling experts, how are they supposed to gather the sand mandala successfully?"

"I think you should just stay here obediently and live out the rest of your days!"

With that, his body shuddered, and a surge of powerful Dou Qi erupted, immediately forcing Hai Bodong back. He reached for Zi Yan, who had been enjoying the spectacle beside him, and prepared to leave.

Hai Bodong staggered back several steps, his face paling and his eyes filled with unwillingness. After waiting bitterly for so many years, he had finally found a glimmer of hope. Was he really going to let it slip away?

After this, would he ever encounter another alchemist who possessed a heavenly flame?

At that thought, even though the years had long since worn away his edge, he could not help sighing inwardly. Then determination flashed through his eyes, and he shouted, "My lord!"

"Please stay!"

"I swear here and now that if you are willing to help me, my lord, once I regain my strength, this life of mine will be yours to command!"

His words rang firm and clear, carrying the resolve of someone willing to cast everything aside. He sounded extraordinarily sincere.

Lin Chen stopped once more and gave him a meaningful look, his tone difficult to read. "Truly?"

"You are a Dou Huang expert. If you refuse to serve me after your seal is broken, what could a mere Dou Wang like me do to you?"

Hai Bodong gritted his teeth and offered, "I've heard that alchemists who have refined a heavenly flame can separate out a child flame and implant it in someone else's body, placing that person's life and death under their control."

"Please implant a child flame in me, my lord. I am willing to demonstrate my sincerity first. All I ask is that you break the seal, so I no longer have to squander my years here in obscurity."

"Tsk, tsk. Have you thought this through?"

"Once the child flame is implanted, your life will no longer be your own. If you dare betray me, I can detonate the heavenly flame with a single thought. Even if you survive, your meridians will be devastated, your cultivation will be scattered, and you will be reduced to a cripple."

Lin Chen clicked his tongue twice, a faint smile appearing on his face, though inwardly he was extremely satisfied.

At present, he truly had no other way to keep a Dou Huang expert in check.

After all, when Xiao Yan had refined the Breaking Adversity Pill for this old man, Hai Bodong had even considered killing him and seizing his possessions to reclaim that half of the Demonic Flame Remnant Map. That alone showed how treacherous people's hearts could be. He had to remain on guard.

If he relaxed his vigilance simply because this man had wholeheartedly supported Xiao Yan later on, he would suffer for it sooner or later.

Hai Bodong nodded firmly. "I have thought it through. I will not regret it. If this seal cannot be broken, sooner or later I will die of old age in this desert wasteland, unknown to anyone."

"As long as there is even a thread of hope, I will not give up. Please implant the heavenly flame in me, my lord!"

"By the way, my lord, my name is Hai Bodong. You can simply call me Little Hai."

Lin Chen patted his shoulder and nodded in satisfaction. "At your age, Little Hai hardly suits you. I'll call you Old Hai instead. Old Hai, you're not bad. I think you have the makings of a Dou Zun. As long as you serve me faithfully, I won't treat you poorly."

"Once you prove your loyalty, I will naturally withdraw the heavenly flame from your body. Then you will be free to come and go."

With that, Lin Chen opened his palm, and a thumb-sized wisp of deep blue flame rose from it.

The flame then contracted, condensing into an oval flame seed. Its aura was tightly contained, but a careful examination would reveal the terrifying energy held within.

"Open your mouth."

Hai Bodong obediently opened his mouth. A deep blue flame seed was tossed inside, sliding down his throat and quickly settling into his dantian. Then crystalline blue tendrils spread out, taking root deep within it.

"Good. That settles that."

"I only arrived in the Tagor Desert a few days ago. Do you know where I can buy crimson flame grass and fire crystal lotus?"

Lin Chen reined in his aura, his expression turning amiable again as he asked with a cheerful smile.

"The Tagor Desert is always unbearably hot, with windblown sand filling the sky. It produces abundant fire- and earth-attribute herbs. Both herbs you mentioned are sold in shops here in the city, my lord."

Sensing the heavenly flame seed containing terrifying power within his dantian, Hai Bodong gave a bitter smile before replying.

"Mm. Go buy them for me. If you find any of the other herbs on this list, purchase those as well."

Lin Chen flicked his sleeve, producing a sheet of white paper covered in densely packed writing, and handed it to Hai Bodong.

The list contained precisely what he needed for the Crimson Flame Barrier-Breaking Pill, the Marrow-Burning Liquid, and the Three-Turn Flame Spirit Pill.

The Crimson Flame Barrier-Breaking Pill increased cultivation, while the Marrow-Burning Liquid could be applied all over the body to accelerate cultivation. It could thus also be considered a medicine that indirectly increased cultivation.

As for the Three-Turn Flame Spirit Pill, it was that Seventh-Rank Alchemist's exclusive pill. Its first turn was fourth-grade, its second turn fifth-grade, and its third turn sixth-grade. Each version could be taken once, unconditionally raising one's cultivation by one minor stage in the Dou Ling, Dou Wang, and Dou Huang realms, respectively. It was an exceptionally precious special pill.

Its only drawback was that only fire-attribute cultivators could take it. Compared to continent-renowned pills such as the Dou Ling Pill and the Emperor's Extreme Pill, its applicability was far more limited.

"Understood. I will certainly not disappoint you, my lord!"

Hai Bodong accepted the list, a solemn expression appearing on his face. This was the first task Lin Chen had given him, and he had to do everything he could to complete it.

Otherwise, wouldn't he disappoint his lord? How could he speak of having his seal removed then?

"Go on. Oh, do you have somewhere we can rest?"

"We only just arrived in Mo City and need to meditate and regulate our breathing for a while."

"Please wait a moment, my lord. I live in the back of the shop, but it is rather shabby. I will rent two fine rooms at the inn next door so you can rest."

With that, Hai Bodong cupped his hands in salute and hurried outside.

Seeing this, Lin Chen sighed softly and rubbed Zi Yan's little head. "Zi Yan, did you see that? That's what it means to be an alchemist. On the Dou Qi Continent, alchemists are the real masters. You'd better show me more respect from now on, or you'll have a bitter pill to swallow!"

Zi Yan rolled her eyes and angrily swatted his hand away. "I get it, Great Alchemist Lin. If you're so capable, go hunt down herbs yourself every time we go out instead of relying on me. I can find another alchemist too."

"At worst, they'll taste a little worse."

Lin Chen's expression turned solemn. He scooped up Zi Yan's chubby little body and hurriedly soothed her. "How could you do that? I was only joking. Other alchemists are all bad people. You're so adorable—what if someone lures you away?"

"Especially certain alchemists surnamed Xiao. They have peculiar tastes and are particularly fond of young children. If you ever meet them, make sure you stay far away. All right, my precious little Zi Yan, what would you like to eat today..."

"Lin Chen, you're shameless!"

"Being shameless doesn't affect my alchemy, does it? How about honey-flavored pills today?"

"Add three spoonfuls of sugar. I like them sweeter!"

"Coming right up!"

Not long afterward,

Inside a luxurious room at the Desert Beauty, the finest inn in Mo City.

Lin Chen sat cross-legged as a pale blue screen slowly unfolded before him.

[Cooldown complete. Simulations available: 1]

[Begin simulation?]

"I've finally waited long enough. Let's see just how hard I work!"

"Simulator, start!"

Lin Chen's expression was solemn. With a thought, the screen before him abruptly changed, and lines of text began appearing.