Black Tier Summoning

Nothing unexpected happened while Xiao Fan rode on the Thick-Winged Bird's back.

After all, the passengers on the magical beast's back were all Alchemists. Without the energy fluctuations of a Fifth-grade Pill stirring up trouble as they had for Xiao Yan, there was naturally no conflict.

After half a day of flying, Xiao Fan finally reached the outskirts of Stone Desert City.

This place was extremely close to the desert. Xiao Fan could feel that most of the energy permeating the surrounding air consisted of fire and earth elements.

"So this is the Tagor Desert!"

Xiao Fan looked at the enormous city walls towering before him and spoke with curiosity.

Desert City was a large city near the Tagor Desert, the closest one to the desert itself.

Because it bordered the Tagor Desert, it was home to many mercenaries. After all, plenty of them made their living by gathering materials in the desert.

Although Xiao Fan had the Green Lotus Core Flame Map, he knew that the Green Lotus Core Flame had already been taken by Queen Medusa of the Snake-People Tribe. All that remained at its original location was its lotus pedestal and a few lotus seeds.

However, those things could also greatly aid the cultivation of fire-attribute cultivators, so Xiao Fan had no intention of passing them up.

Before exploring, though, Xiao Fan needed to familiarize himself with his surroundings. Now that he was here in person, he could not simply rely on the original novel's brief descriptions.

After entering Desert City, Xiao Fan asked around about the city's factions.

For two gold coins, Xiao Fan learned from a mercenary who lived in Desert City that there were two major factions.

One was the city's long-established Iron Cavalry Mercenary Group. Its leader's surname was Han, and his full name was Han Jue. He was a four-star Da Dou Shi, and his mercenaries included a cavalry unit reputed to be undefeated in battle. On flat terrain like the Tagor Desert, they swept through everything in their path.

The other was the Flame Mercenary Group. Its leader was a five-star Da Dou Shi who practiced a fire-attribute cultivation art. He was slightly stronger than Han Jue, but because he feared Han Jue's cavalry, the two groups remained at peace despite occasional friction.

Considering the information he had obtained, Xiao Fan felt his money had been well spent.

After all, the original novel's description of Desert City mentioned only the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, who lived here in seclusion. None of its other factions had been described.

Walking along Desert City's streets, Xiao Fan watched the mercenaries coming and going around him. He planned to buy a map of the surrounding area and compare it with his Green Lotus Core Flame Map, locating the flame first.

After asking the mercenary a little more, he learned that the best mapmaking shop in Desert City was called the Ancient Map. Xiao Fan smiled knowingly. The Ancient Map-wasn't that where Hai Bodong lived in seclusion?

Ever since Queen Medusa had placed a seal within Hai Bodong, his Dou Emperor strength had been sealed away. The strength he could currently wield was only at the Dou Ling level.

Before long, Xiao Fan arrived at the Ancient Map's entrance. Looking at the quiet, deserted storefront, he still found it hard to believe, despite having expected it, that the mighty Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, one of the Ten Great Experts of the Jia Ma Empire, was hiding in such a tiny shop.

He stepped through the Ancient Map's doorway, and the entire hall's layout came into view.

Cabinets lined the walls around the hall, holding maps of all sizes.

Only behind the counter to the left of the entrance was there a gray-haired old man, his head lowered as he sketched on a sheet of parchment. Barring any surprises, this was the famed Ice Emperor.

Xiao Fan did not intend to expose the Ice Emperor's identity yet. After all, he was currently only a four-star Dou Shi. If the Ice Emperor unleashed his might, Xiao Fan would have no chance to resist.

"Shopkeeper, do you have any maps of the Tagor Desert?"

Xiao Fan turned toward him and asked softly.

Without lifting his head, Hai Bodong said, "The maps of the Tagor Desert are in the cabinet to your right. Look for yourself."

Walking over to the counter on the right, Xiao Fan saw many parchment maps.

Xiao Fan picked out a scroll at random and opened it. This map depicted the area around Desert City. Not only did it mark the routes mercenaries commonly traveled, but it also showed the magical creatures nearby. Even the locations of the closer oases were marked.

Xiao Fan nodded in satisfaction. What was the scarcest thing in a desert? Water!

If you found yourself stranded in the desert without water, even when offered a bowl of water or a bowl of gold, you would certainly choose the water.

And oases were the best places in the desert to replenish supplies.

Holding the map, Xiao Fan walked over to Hai Bodong, placed it on the counter, and casually asked, "How much is this map?"

Hai Bodong raised his head for a glance. When he saw Xiao Fan's Third-Grade Alchemist robes, a flicker of surprise flashed through his eyes.

Xiao Fan looked only about twenty, yet he had already become a Third-Grade Alchemist. That stirred a little interest in Hai Bodong, but then he thought of the method he knew. Even the Misty Cloud Sect's Pill King Gu He could not resolve his problem. After all, his seal could not be broken through strength alone.

"Ten gold coins."

Xiao Fan paid and left the Ancient Map with the gold coins in his hand. He intended to make thorough preparations before entering the desert.

Upon reaching an inn, Xiao Fan called over an attendant. "Prepare a fine guest room for me. It must be absolutely quiet!" He tossed the attendant a pouch as he spoke. "This is my deposit."

The attendant opened the pouch Xiao Fan had tossed him, and delight flashed across his face. He had landed a big customer.

"Certainly! Please follow me. You can rest assured about our accommodations-they're absolutely quiet!"

The attendant led Xiao Fan to a room upstairs and opened the door. Xiao Fan looked it over. The surroundings were decent, and none of the nearby rooms were currently occupied.

After telling the attendant not to disturb him, Xiao Fan stepped into the room.

This time, Xiao Fan intended to test a new system feature. He had not used it since it had become available: the Summoning Module.

He opened his panel.

[Strongest Supporting Character System] (Pidàn)

Host: Xiao Fan

Level: 5 (6311000)

Strength: Four-star Dou Shi (4201000), Third-Grade Alchemist (3001000)

Source coins: 2000

Cultivation art: Radiant Sun Art

Dou Techniques: Profound Tier Low Grade Suction Palm (major mastery), Black Tier High Grade Eight Extremes Collapse (major mastery), Profound Tier Low Grade Dragon-Shocking Steps (major mastery), Earth Tier Low Grade Cloud Crane Shadow (beginner)...

Items: Green Lotus Core Flame Map, Jia Nan Academy Admission Invitation, Shadowless Mask, Thousand-Flame Spear, pure soul experience (awaiting absorption)...

Main quest: None currently

Character relationships:

[Xiao Yan] Favorability 85, trust.

[Yao Lao] Favorability 83, trust.

[Xiao Xun'er] Favorability 66, slight fondness.

[Xiao Yi Xian] Favorability 70, trust.

[Yun Yun] Favorability 75, trust.

...

With a thought, Xiao Fan's panel appeared before him.

Thanks to the system's upgrade, Xiao Fan could now hide many things and view them only when needed.

For example, he had chosen to hide certain Yellow Tier Dou Techniques by default.

Looking at his mere two thousand source coins, Xiao Fan felt that the system was truly greedy.

A single Black Tier summon required one thousand source coins, and what appeared was entirely random. That meant he had only two chances if he chose Black Tier summoning.

Xiao Fan had already read the system's instructions carefully. The things produced by Yellow Tier summoning corresponded to the Dou Shi level and below. They were no longer of much use to him, since his own strength had already reached four-star Dou Shi.

Black Tier summoning, meanwhile, corresponded to Da Dou Shi, Dou Ling, and Dou Wang-level combat power. It was the most suitable option for Xiao Fan now. In particular, if he drew Dou Wang-level power, he could crush everything in his path.

As for Heaven and Earth Tier summoning, those had not yet been unlocked because Xiao Fan's level was too low. He could therefore only perform Black Tier summons.

System, perform a Black Tier summon!

Xiao Fan gave a low shout inwardly.

Ding! Summoning successful.

As the system's voice rang out, Xiao Fan saw a flash of light, followed by the appearance of an item.

Congratulations, host. You have obtained a Da Dou Shi-Level Combat Card.

Looking at the item that had appeared, Xiao Fan felt it had some value, but it would not serve the crucial purpose he needed.

The Purifying Lotus Demon Flame Map Fragment was with Hai Bodong, but that very fragment was the reason Medusa had sealed him. To obtain it, Xiao Fan would have to strike a deal with him. Hai Bodong possessed Dou Ling-level strength, so Xiao Fan needed at least some means of pressuring him. Otherwise, he would simply be delivering himself to Hai Bodong's doorstep like a package.

Moreover, a Dou Ling-level Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake lived at the Green Lotus Core Flame's birthplace. Without a way to handle it, he could not possibly obtain the flame's lotus pedestal, and that was precisely the key item needed to collect the Green Lotus Core Flame.

After all, the Green Lotus Core Flame was currently with Medusa. His only chance to obtain it would come while she underwent her tribulation, and he might even have to face Xiao Yan then. All of these things gave Xiao Fan a headache.

"Keep summoning!"

Xiao Fan gritted his teeth and chose to continue. Without obtaining an effective means of dealing with these obstacles, he could forget about the Green Lotus Core Flame.

Ding! Congratulations, host. You have obtained a Da Dou Shi-Level Speed Card!

"Damn it!"

Xiao Fan slammed the table. This was not even as useful as the Da Dou Shi-Level Combat Card. All it offered was speed-was it supposed to help him run away?

Xiao Fan took stock of the items in his Storage Ring. Including what he had gained since wiping out the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, he had a total of 1.35 million gold coins.

One Black Tier summon required 1,000 source coins. Converted into the Dou Qi Continent's currency, that meant one million gold coins.

Xiao Fan's heart was bleeding!

Xiao Fan could only top up with one million gold coins, bringing his source coin balance back to 1,000.

Inwardly, Xiao Fan prayed as desperately as someone begging every grandfather and grandmother for help.

Heaven, bless me! Please let me draw Dou Wang-level combat power!

"System, summon!"

As Xiao Fan's words fell, the system's voice rang out in his mind once more.

Ding! Congratulations, host. You have obtained the Da Dou Shi Soul Imprint Art!