Heavenly Snake Manor

As the Supreme Elder of the Mite'er Family, Hai Bodong knew this was only to be expected.

Therefore, he merely urged him a little.

After telling Miter Tengshan to continue searching,

he temporarily set the matter aside.

Hai Bodong sat in a bathtub filled with medicinal herbs.

His eyes were slightly closed.

He was diligently refining the medicinal power filling the tub.

Throughout the process,

wisps of green smoke rose from the steaming bathwater.

They continuously drifted up from above his head.

At the same time, he used his own Dou Qi and soul perception to inspect the state of his body internally.

This was already who knew how many times he had used a Medicinal Bath over the past two months to accelerate his cultivation of the Ice Muscle Jade Bone Art.

The resources spent during that time

were no small sum, even for the resources controlled by the entire Mite'er Family!

If Hai Bodong had not sold the materials and magic cores from the high-level magical beasts he had hunted not long ago,

then with such extravagant cultivation,

he likely would have been unable to keep it up long ago!

Of course, Old Yao's exclusive Medicinal Bath method,

specially formulated for cultivating the Ice Muscle Jade Bone Art,

was expensive,

but its actual effects

were extremely impressive.

In just two months,

he had not only thoroughly consolidated his eight-star Dou Huang cultivation during the process,

but had also greatly tempered his physique.

Under his observation,

as the Dou Qi throughout his body

continuously circulated according to the route of the Ice Muscle Jade Bone Art,

countless intricate patterns seemed to have suddenly appeared

upon his already crystal-clear bones.

These patterns flickered in and out of sight,

flashing from time to time as though they were breathing.

Two hours later, he felt his Dou Qi gradually running dry, showing signs that he could no longer sustain it.

By then, the medicinal power within the entire tub

had long since been completely exhausted.

Hai Bodong slowly stopped circulating his technique.

He picked up a fifth-tier Ice Muscle Jade Bone Pill refined by Old Yao from beside the tub and swallowed it directly.

Afterward, he carefully felt the nourishment this pill provided to every part of his body.

A moment later, after digesting the pill's medicinal power, Hai Bodong stirred his Dou Qi, and his body lightly floated out of the bathtub.

Just as Hai Bodong was preparing to test the results of his recent cultivation,

Xiao Yi Xian's voice suddenly came from outside.

"Elder Hai, come out quickly!"

"A woman with Dou Huang cultivation has come outside. She says she wants to take Qing Lin away!"

"Mm, I understand. Take me to her."

Since he had already sensed the other party's aura,

Hai Bodong had roughly guessed why she had come.

Therefore, compared to Xiao Yi Xian's anxiety,

Hai Bodong remained calm.

After tidying up his appearance slightly, Hai Bodong followed Xiao Yi Xian

to a hidden reception hall.

"May I ask if you are from Heavenly Snake Manor?"

After briefly sizing up the uninvited female Dou Huang, Hai Bodong asked somewhat uncertainly.

"Oh? Elder Hai knows of our Heavenly Snake Manor as well?" Upon hearing this, Lu Man, who was seated beside Qing Lin, asked in surprise.

"Hehe, I've lived long enough..."

"How could I not know the great name of Heavenly Snake Manor?" Hai Bodong replied with a smile.

"Hehe, let's not beat around the bush. Since Elder Hai knows I am from Heavenly Snake Manor,"

"then you should also know exactly why I have come to your residence this time, right?"

Lu Man said with a smile that did not reach her eyes.

Regarding Lu Man's demand,

Hai Bodong paused before speaking in a half-joking tone. "Haha! Then if I kill you right here and seal off the news,"

"would Heavenly Snake Manor not find out that I have someone with the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils bloodline here?"

"Then feel free to try!"

Lu Man was stunned for a moment upon hearing that.

But how could she possibly be so foolish?

The moment she had sensed the fluctuations of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils bloodline awakening in the Jia Ma Imperial Capital,

she had already reported this astonishing news

to Heavenly Snake Manor's intelligence department.

That was why she could respond to Hai Bodong's threat with such confidence!

As for Lu Man's demand, leaving aside the fact that Hai Bodong did not know whether she had reported the matter to her sect,

even if this woman had truly come here to demand someone without making any preparations,

with the power Hai Bodong currently possessed,

even if he revealed all his trump cards,

it would be difficult to instantly suppress a Dou Huang expert like her without alerting other factions!

Therefore, after considering it again and again,

Hai Bodong could only speak somewhat helplessly:

"Fine. I will not let you take her away today. If Heavenly Snake Manor wants to take Qing Lin, your Manor Lord must come personally!"

Seeing that Hai Bodong had already made a concession,

Lu Man could not say much more.

After all, she knew clearly enough

that this was someone else's territory.

If she insisted on forcing the issue,

then what she would have to face

would likely not be Hai Bodong alone.

Moreover, according to her perception,

this Dou Huang expert standing before her

would likely require both herself and Snake Fang working together just to barely contend against him!

"Since that is the case, Lu Man shall take her leave!"

Lu Man conceded.

"Mm! At least you know when to back down."

"Miter Tengshan! Come see our guest out!"

Hai Bodong then called over Miter Tengshan, who had been waiting outside the door, and had him escort Lu Man away.

After Miter Tengshan saw Lu Man off,

Hai Bodong met with Qing Lin alone.

"Qing Lin, let me ask you..."

"Are you willing to leave with that woman from earlier?"

Hai Bodong gently stroked Qing Lin's head as he asked.

"Qing Lin only wants to stay with you, my lord!"

Qing Lin paused, then spoke again with some sadness:

"But if this matter puts you in a difficult position, Qing Lin is willing to share your burden!"

"Hmph! What nonsense are you talking about? Since you are now a member of the Mite'er Family,"

"then as the Supreme Elder of the Mite'er Family, I have the responsibility and duty to protect you!"

Hai Bodong paused, then continued:

"Heavenly Snake Manor has nothing more than a dozen Dou Huang elders and a Manor Lord with peak Dou Zong strength!"

"If they dare to come again, I, Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, will make sure they never return!"

"Don't overthink this matter! During this time, just cultivate in peace!"

"Leave the fighting to me!"

"But..."

Qing Lin spoke worriedly upon hearing that.

After all, during the time Qing Lin had lived in the Mite'er Family, she had learned from Ya Fei

roughly how strong the Mite'er Family under Hai Bodong's protection was.

As for what Hai Bodong had just said,

she felt it was simply impossible!

Still, Hai Bodong's willingness to protect her like this

deeply moved her.