Chapter 250: "Give It to Me!"
Generally speaking, the members of the Refining Master Guild's Xuanqi Masters have somewhat eccentric tendencies. After all, Soul Refining is such a brutal practice that it's very normal for them to end up a bit crazy.
Therefore, these Xuanqi Masters often have some odd side occupations. Some are quite respectable, while others are a little less so.
However, regardless of whether these side occupations are respectable or not, they almost all have incredibly inappropriate names, especially when it comes to writing materials. These people, for some unknown reason, like to choose book titles that could easily make a newly graduated refining master blush. Titles like "The Majestic Peaks Beneath the Light Veil" — a book about mineral classification, "The Breath of Life" — a material-related book, and "Forbidden Touch" and "Secrets of the Bedroom" — both books on forging techniques.
Not even Hai Bo Dong was prepared for it, and when Jiang Lin's senior brother, Yuan, first mentioned it, he was left in stunned silence for a long while. Jiang Lin felt like the refining masters were playing some sort of grand game, in a world where truth and lies were hard to tell apart. Even Yuan, when at work or sneaking peeks at such books, could confidently claim he was learning knowledge. In this environment, Jiang Lin himself found it only natural to pick up a few books that could make any young man's blood rush.
As for Hai Bo Dong's book "The Fiery Body and The Cold Me," it was one of Jiang Lin's many collections. Since he might need to go to the Tagor Desert, bringing books describing the desert was necessary, and this book from Hai Bo Dong was a surprise find.
"…Alright." Hai Bo Dong didn't know what to say. Should he thank the Refining Master Guild for still believing he's alive? Or thank them for creating such a touching story out of his decade-long suffering?
"And you?" Hai Bo Dong looked at Jiang Lin, who seemed to have no energy and appeared like an ordinary person. But as if sensing Hai Bo Dong's gaze, Jiang Lin's aura started to rise, becoming that of a typical Dou Master. Hai Bo Dong couldn't help but fall silent.
Such a terrifying technique of controlling his aura—Hai Bo Dong, who had dominated the Gama Empire for many years, had never seen anything like this! If this guy were to become an assassin, Hai Bo Dong couldn't help but feel a chill down his spine just thinking about it. He was like a ghost!
"A Refining Master," Jiang Lin simply replied, and Hai Bo Dong gave him an expression that seemed to say, "Of course." Only as a Refining Master could someone have so many odd novels and rumors.
Neither of them said anything more and sat silently, waiting for Xiao Yan to finish refining medicine in the room.
Finally, after a day of waiting in this somewhat oppressive silence, Xiao Yan emerged from the room.
"Did you succeed in refining it?" After waiting for a whole day and night, Hai Bo Dong, holding his nervousness, stepped forward to meet Xiao Yan, his face a mix of anticipation and concern. The recipe Hai Bo Dong gave Xiao Yan was for a sixth-grade medicinal pill, "Breakthrough Pill," which could break seals. Hai Bo Dong had also prepared the materials in advance, to prevent any failures.
If Xiao Yan failed three times in a row, Hai Bo Dong feared he might lose his mind. All the effort he had put into this for over ten years would be wasted in an instant. No one could bear such a blow.
Xiao Yan stretched lazily and then smiled at Hai Bo Dong, who had been waiting anxiously. "Fortunately, I managed to refine it."
Saying this, Xiao Yan handed Hai Bo Dong a small vial containing a purple pill. Hai Bo Dong's eyes flashed with intense joy, and his hands trembled slightly as he took the vial!
How many years had it been?
Do you know how I've been living these years?!
Hai Bo Dong took the Breakthrough Pill with trembling hands, his eyes filled with uncontrollable excitement. His heart seemed to shake a little! But soon, his excitement slowly faded, and a flicker of doubt flashed across his eyes as he looked at the purple pill in the vial.
At that moment, Xiao Yan's voice rang out, "I've given you the Breakthrough Pill. Now, it's time for you to give me the remaining map fragment."
"...But I only know that the Breakthrough Pill is purple. If you're trying to fool me with some purple pill, wouldn't I have nothing left?" Hai Bo Dong's eyes flashed with suspicion as he stared at Xiao Yan the moment the words "map fragment" were mentioned, his eyes filled with an unknown color.
"You have the Breakthrough Pill. If you don't believe it, you can try it yourself. Or do you want to wait until you recover your strength and then oppress me?" Xiao Yan's mouth curled into a cold smile when he heard Hai Bo Dong's hint of a possible refusal. From his position, he could see the distant Jiang Lin, who had been meditating, slowly open his eyes and then walk toward Hai Bo Dong, completely unaware of what was happening.
"I'm not going to back down," Hai Bo Dong immediately denied it and then frowned, looking at Xiao Yan with a half-smile. "The main thing is, I don't know if this pill has the desired effect. If I can break the seal, I'll naturally give you the map fragment, and I'll owe you a favor, Hai Bo Dong!"
Hai Bo Dong's eyes narrowed slightly. His words were sincere. If it was just Xiao Yan, he might have some doubts, but Jiang Lin's imposing aura made him deeply cautious. Even after knowing that he was facing the Ice Emperor Hai Bo Dong, Jiang Lin still showed no fear, treating him like an insignificant pawn. This made Hai Bo Dong extremely wary and unwilling to cause trouble. He was only worried Xiao Yan was bluffing because Xiao Yan looked so young. Even though the guy could refine a sixth-grade pill at his age, he still had a hard time believing it.
It's contradictory, right? Wanting Xiao Yan to refine the pill but doubting he could do it. But this was a perfect reflection of Hai Bo Dong's complex emotions. Xiao Yan was his last straw, but he couldn't help but think the straw was too thin.
"Hehe." Xiao Yan didn't argue, just gave a cold laugh.
Because bad people always have bad luck with Jiang Lin!
"Give it to me!" At that moment, when Hai Bo Dong's suspicion was still in full swing, he suddenly felt a shock in his heart. Before his Dou Qi could even react, a black hand shot out from the side and snatched the pill from his hand!
"Eat this, you idiot!"
(END CHAPTER)
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