Mite'er Family

A year later.

Inside a luxurious villa in the outskirts of Tianjin City.

Hai Bodong, dressed in casual training clothes,

was currently sitting cross-legged in a specially constructed training room, carrying out his daily Dou Qi cultivation.

In order to better explore this unknown world,

even though the Time Wheel Hourglass's cooldown had long since ended over the past year,

Hai Bodong had not used its world-traveling ability again to return to the world he had originally come from.

After a year of exploration, he had also gained a general understanding of this new world.

As far as he currently knew, this wondrous world contained many different countries.

And the common languages used between those countries varied greatly.

In order to save time,

over the past year,

he had only learned Chinese Language and English Language, the two languages more widely used in this world.

The suburban villa he now lived in

had also been obtained half a year ago through a deal with a special group in this world known as the Corpse Tribe.

Based on what he had learned over the past year,

this special group known as the Corpse Tribe

had originated in Hua Country before later spreading throughout the world along with population migrations.

Among them, the Huaxia Corpse Tribe

was led by the Bai, Zhang, and Liu families.

As for the Corpse Tribe, this special group was not much different from ordinary humans in daily life.

Only when Heart Addiction flared up did members of the Corpse Tribe need to eat human hearts to alleviate it.

For this reason, the Corpse Elders of the Liu, Zhang, and Bai families

had divided territories for the Corpse Tribe groups under their command according to blood relations and differences in strength.

The one who had traded with Hai Bodong was Fifth Master Liu, Zong Zheng of the Liu Family and lord of Tianjin City.

As for the exact terms of the deal, Hai Bodong had agreed that if the Liu Family faced a calamity capable of wiping them out,

he would act on their behalf once,

provided it was within his abilities.

In return, the Liu Family would fulfill their duties as hosts and provide Hai Bodong with convenience in all his activities within Tianjin City.

"Ah...!"

"The world's energy in this realm is truly far too thin. If I want to break through to the Three-star Dou Huang realm more quickly..."

"Hmm! It seems I still need to find time to return to the Dou Qi Continent. But I haven't been back for so long."

"I wonder whether that old fellow Tengshan still remembers me, the Supreme Elder of the Mite'er Family."

Inside the training room, Hai Bodong, who had once again attempted to break through the shackles of two-star Dou Huang, thought to himself.

Then, with a mere thought from Hai Bodong, his entire body turned into nothingness once more.

He returned to where he had originally been—

the Ice Cellar of the Mocheng Map Shop.

Feeling the concentration of the world's energy within the Ice Cellar, so vastly different from that of the other world, Hai Bodong was greatly invigorated and could not help sighing:

"It feels so good to be home!"

"Still, this damned place is far too close to that scourge, Queen Medusa."

"Before I gain even greater power, I'd better hide for a while."

After heaving a sigh, Hai Bodong thought to himself.

The next morning.

After sorting through everything useful in the map shop, Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, who had recovered his Dou Huang cultivation,

set off on the journey back to the imperial capital.

Three days later.

"Phew...! After wasting so much time, I've finally flown to this so-called Jia Ma Imperial Capital!"

"I wonder what that old fellow Mite'er Tengshan is doing now!"

"Forget it. I can't be bothered to think so much. I'd better return to the Mite'er Family first!"

After passing through the checkpoint at the gates of the Jia Ma Imperial Capital, Hai Bodong could not help muttering softly.

After speaking, Hai Bodong, feeling inexplicably excited,

continued slowly toward the end of the broad street

paved with bluestone.

Upon arriving before the gates of the Miter Auction House, Hai Bodong's body moved like a fish through water.

He smoothly slipped through the crowded flow of people.

Empowered by his formidable Dou Qi,

he merely flicked his sleeve from time to time, easily knocking away the many hands that strangely reached out from the crowd toward the Storage Ring on his finger.

Without paying much attention to those annoying flies, Hai Bodong merely swayed slightly.

He effortlessly passed through the jam-packed entrance passage of the Miter Auction House.

Under the watchful gazes of the guards beside the auction house's entrance, sharp as hawks,

he calmly stepped into the Miter Auction House.

After entering the Miter Auction House, gentle sunlight was evenly scattered throughout the entire hall.

The clamor from outside

seemed to have been completely isolated by some special formation.

As he looked at this luxurious hall, like a crystal city,

and the fully armed family guards visible everywhere, all wearing the Mite'er Family emblem on their chests,

although Hai Bodong had never cared much about the Mite'er Family's development, something stirred within him.

Seeing such a fairly presentable sight before him, a satisfied smile could not help appearing on his face.

After briefly inspecting the place, Hai Bodong left the crystal hall expressionlessly.

He continued deeper into the Miter Auction House, following the route he remembered.

When he reached a staircase guarded by several men, the guards stopped him for questioning.

Too lazy to waste words on these little fellows, Hai Bodong spoke bluntly:

"You lot, hurry and bring that old fellow Mite'er Tengshan to me. Tell him Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, the Supreme Elder of your Mite'er Family, has come to see him!"

After truly sensing the pressure of a powerful expert deliberately released by the middle-aged man before them,

the few lowly guards did not dare to be negligent.

They immediately responded in unison:

"Please wait a moment, honored sir. We will immediately report to the family head in the inner residence!"

A moment later, after Mite'er Tengshan arrived upon receiving the news and saw Hai Bodong's true appearance,

his originally stern-looking face

immediately broke into a smile.

"Er... Elder Hai, is that really you?" the arriving Mite'er Tengshan asked tentatively, somewhat uncertain.

"Hmph! Have you gone blind in your old age? You can't even recognize me?" Hai Bodong snorted coldly at his words.

Then, after casually probing Mite'er Tengshan's Dou Qi cultivation, a trace of surprise flashed through his heart.

Hai Bodong paused before speaking again:

"Still, I really didn't expect this!"

"Only a few decades have passed, yet even trash like you has somehow reached three-star Dou Wang!"

"Has Dou Wang become so worthless now?"

"Haha! Elder Hai is absolutely right!"

"After all, compared to an unparalleled genius like you, a mediocre fool like me, who only barely attained Dou Wang cultivation in old age, really is a complete and utter piece of trash!"

Mite'er Tengshan, who had long understood Hai Bodong well, did not take his mockery too seriously.

He immediately bent slightly and replied with a joking smile.

Hearing this, Hai Bodong did not continue mocking Tengshan.

Afterward, as they walked, Hai Bodong had Mite'er Tengshan beside him

report on the Mite'er Family's development over the past few decades, as well as the difficulties and challenges it currently faced.

Mite'er Family headquarters.

Inside the reception hall.

A group of old fellows who were usually rarely seen were all sitting stiffly in their chairs.

Having long heard the news of Elder Hai's return,

they now

ignored the astonished looks of the younger generation below and merely cast respectful gazes toward the middle-aged man seated in the place of honor at the head of the reception hall.