Simply because you're Hai Bodong!

Xiao Yan was startled too. He had never expected Hai Bodong to be this formidable, handling two opponents with ease.

In just one exchange, Hai Bodong disarmed Xiao Yan with a backhand move and caught the Heavy Xuan Ruler in his hand.

"Hey, kid, you're a little weak, but your Dou Qi is pretty solid."

As he spoke, Hai Bodong looked at Han Chen and held Xiao Yan in front of him as a shield.

"Come on, other kid. Think carefully before you make your move."

Han Chen looked at the captured Xiao Yan, the corner of his mouth twitching.

"He's the one you caught. What's that got to do with me?"

With a wave of Han Chen's hand, the Gold-Devouring Insects lunged straight at both of them.

"You little lunatic! You don't act like someone Yun Shan taught at all."

Hai Bodong knew Han Chen had said that deliberately, but he wasn't about to test him with Xiao Yan's life. After pushing Xiao Yan away, he raised a hand and erected an ice wall, scattering the Gold-Devouring Insects.

"All right, no more fighting. You two passed."

After blocking the Gold-Devouring Insects, Hai Bodong sighed. Seeing this, Han Chen put away the insects and the Golden Aphid Mother-and-Son Blades.

"Thank you for going easy on us."

Rubbing his wrist, Xiao Yan walked up to Hai Bodong and asked with a grin.

"Elder Hai, since we passed, then..."

Hai Bodong took a Fragment Map from his Storage Ring and tossed it to Xiao Yan.

"This is a piece I cut from it. It's yours. By the way, do you two know what's on this Fragment Map?"

"No."

Both of them answered in unison, refusing to take Hai Bodong's bait.

Hearing that, Hai Bodong sneered, then returned with his hands behind his back to the counter he had smashed and began tidying it up.

Xiao Yan gazed at the Fragment Map in his hand, his face brimming with delight.

"Another piece. Oh, right... Brother Han, what's wrong with that little girl?"

Xiao Yan had intended to keep asking Han Chen for his Fragment Map, but when he turned around, he saw Qing Lin hiding in a corner. The green light in her eyes and her strange pupils left him too shocked to speak.

Han Chen's heart sank at those words. He turned and saw that Qing Lin's eyes had changed.

"Damn it, why did they awaken early?"

Han Chen hurried over to Qing Lin, crouched beside her, and asked anxiously.

"Qing Lin, how do you feel? You're not feeling uncomfortable anywhere, are you?"

Qing Lin shook her head.

"Master, I'm fine. It just feels like my eyesight has gotten a little better."

"The Jade Spirit Three-Flower Eyes. To think his luck would be this good."

Yao Lao was also somewhat surprised when he sensed the change in Qing Lin. With his experience, he naturally recognized those extraordinary eyes.

"Teacher, you recognize them?"

"Yes. They're an extremely powerful type of extraordinary eyes. Her future achievements will be limitless.

"But... now that they've awakened, that place might not let this opportunity slip away!"

"What place?"

"The Heavenly Snake Mansion, one of the top powers on the Northwest Continent. Although its strength has declined over the years because the younger generation hasn't been able to fill the older generation's shoes, it still can't be underestimated.

"I've crossed paths with them before, and they were rather troublesome. I suspect they have a Dou Zun ancestor hidden in the shadows."

Hearing that they had a Dou Zun startled Xiao Yan. What was a Dou Zun? They were among the upper ranks of the Dou Qi Continent. Here on the Northwest Continent, even a Dou Emperor was revered by countless people, let alone a Dou Zun.

"A Dou Zun? Seriously? Doesn't that mean Brother Han is in danger?"

"Heh, why are you so anxious if he's in danger?"

Yao Lao raised his eyebrows, then grew a little more serious. Stroking his beard, he continued:

"There's no need to be all that afraid, necessarily. I suspect this boy came here to find Hai Bodong precisely because of this matter.

"No one knows whether the Heavenly Snake Mansion has a Dou Zun. After all, its strongest members haven't shown themselves for a long time. Most people suspect they're dead."

As he spoke, Yao Lao narrowed his eyes and watched Han Chen anxiously examining Qing Lin.

"Still, he doesn't need to be too afraid. Although the Misty Cloud Sect is no longer at the heights it reached in Yun Potian's time, if Han Chen wasn't lying,

"and the Misty Cloud Sect's previous sect master isn't dead, then he must have broken through to Dou Zong. That wouldn't leave them too far behind the Heavenly Snake Mansion."

Xiao Yan couldn't help complaining.

"How is that not too far behind? That's a huge difference! A Dou Zong fighting a Dou Zun?"

"What do you know, you ignorant brat? If the Heavenly Snake Mansion really sends someone, the Misty Cloud Sect certainly won't be the only ones to act.

"You should understand that in these small countries on the Northwest Continent, the local powers generally huddle together for warmth. If the Misty Cloud Sect falls, do you think the Jia Ma Empire will still exist?

"So the Heavenly Snake Mansion would have to face more than one Dou Zong. Besides, have you forgotten that the Misty Cloud Sect also has a sixth-tier Alchemist?

"An Alchemist's ability to rally support is terrifying. All he has to do is put out word, and he can even enlist Dou Zong experts."

"So you're saying the two sides would be evenly matched?"

After hearing Yao Lao's explanation, Xiao Yan understood why his teacher had said the outcome wasn't certain.

By now, Han Chen had examined Qing Lin from head to toe. He scratched his head, puzzled.

"Qing Lin, were you frightened just now?"

Qing Lin shook her head, then suddenly lowered it as though something had occurred to her. A blush crept over her cheeks.

When she had watched Han Chen fighting Hai Bodong, she had thought he looked incredibly handsome. In her excitement, her eyes had turned this way.

Hearing Qing Lin say she hadn't been frightened left Han Chen rather baffled.

"What the hell? If she wasn't frightened, how did the Jade Spirit Three-Flower Eyes activate on their own?"

Even after turning it over in his mind, Han Chen couldn't figure it out, so he simply set it aside. When soldiers came, he would meet them with generals; when floods came, he would dam them with earth.

He certainly wouldn't let Qing Lin go to somewhere like the Heavenly Snake Mansion, which started high only to sink low. What kind of lousy place was that? Not a single Dou Zong had appeared there even by the finale. Why would Qing Lin go there? To suffer?

As for Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills, that was simple enough. The uses of the Jade Spirit Three-Flower Eyes were easy to understand anyway. He could just capture a few elders, search their souls, and get some Dou Techniques to tide her over.

Once I'm strong enough later... it's not as though I'm someone who seizes things by force. At worst, I'll trade with them. Trading for their lives is a good deal, isn't it?

"Qing Lin, take this for now and practice it diligently. As for the magical beasts you need, I'll catch them for you when the time comes."

After explaining the uses of the Jade Spirit Three-Flower Eyes to Qing Lin, Han Chen gave her the Eye-Scorching Divine Light he had just obtained. They were both eye techniques, after all, so they ought to be similar enough.

"Yes, yes, Qing Lin understands."

Qing Lin nodded vigorously. Han Chen had told her how powerful the Jade Spirit Three-Flower Eyes were, and knowing she would no longer hold him back filled her with excitement.

"What are you planning to do? The Heavenly Snake Mansion is no small fry."

Once the two finished talking, Hai Bodong, seated by the counter, quietly interjected.

His words plunged the entire room into silence. Qing Lin's eyes filled with worry, while Xiao Yan remained silent and didn't interrupt.

Han Chen said nothing at first. Only after a moment did he smile and reply.

"That's why I came to find you, Elder Hai."

"You think I'll help? I'm no fool. Offending a major power for the sake of one little girl?"

Hai Bodong poured a bucket of cold water over his hopes without hesitation.

But Han Chen wasn't discouraged. He simply looked at him and said firmly.

"You will!"

"Why?"

"Simply because you're Hai Bodong."