A streak of azure light flashed swiftly across the sky, trailing a long arc of brilliance—it was none other than Liu Xi, fleeing from Queen Medusa's terrifying pursuit.
When Queen Medusa had appeared, an immense pressure instantly enveloped him. It wasn't just her overwhelming killing intent; the very energy of heaven and earth seemed to dance and revolve around her presence, resonating with her will. Once she struck, the world itself would tremble.
Liu Xi knew well that he wouldn't survive even a single casual blow from her. Since resistance was futile, he had already made preparations—when he picked up Qing Lin, he left behind an illusionary clone to mislead her while his real body vanished into concealment.
As he recalled that moment, the image of Queen Medusa's enchanting beauty and her proud, icy demeanor lingered in his mind. 'Xiao Yan really does have good taste in women,' he thought with a wry smile. 'No wonder he risked his life like a madman to win her over. That woman is far too fierce for ordinary men to handle.'
Thinking of Xiao Yan made Liu Xi's expression darken. 'Xiao Yan… though you and I have no personal enmity in this life, you want the Heavenly Flames, and so do I. You want to become Dou Di, and so do I. Blocking another's path to ascension is no different from killing his kin. It's not that I wish to suppress you—it's that I must.'
'But doing so openly would be reckless. If I made a move against Xiao Yan, that girl, Xiao Xun'er, would have her Gu Clan send assassins after me in the dark. The Gu Clan's influence runs too deep—I can't afford to become a stepping stone on Xiao Yan's road to supremacy.'
'No, I'll do it quietly. The Green Lotus Core Flame is already in my hands. Xiao Yan's rise has been disrupted. If he dies at the Yunlan Sect later, that'll save me the trouble altogether.'
"Young Master, do you… like that woman from before?"
Liu Xi blinked, glancing down at Qing Lin, who tilted her head curiously. "That woman… Queen Medusa?" He chuckled softly. "'Like' isn't quite right—it's more of an urge to conquer."
He lowered his gaze, smiling gently. "That woman is indeed beautiful, but far too fierce. If she were as gentle as you, Qing Lin, she'd be perfect."
Qing Lin's cheeks turned slightly red, while Liu Xi's laughter carried on the wind as they made their way back toward the desert. Before long, the vast dunes gave way to the distant silhouette of Stone Desert City.
This journey through the Tager Desert had been perilous, yet fruitful—he had acquired the Green Lotus Core Flame, and with the Sand Datura secured, all that remained was obtaining the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Fragment Map. Once that was done, this trip would be a complete success.
After entering the city, Liu Xi led Qing Lin straight to the unassuming shop labeled "Ancient Maps." His handsome face curved into a faint smile as he stepped inside.
The dim light of a Moonstone cast a pale glow across the cluttered interior. Behind the counter, Hai Bodong—the old man known to some as the fallen Ice Emperor—sat hunched over, carefully etching the lines of a map with precise strokes. The shop was quiet and empty as usual, but the old man didn't seem to care; this wasn't how he made his living anyway.
"Maps are on that side. Take what you want, but don't bother me if you've nothing important to say," Hai Bodong said coldly without lifting his head.
Liu Xi raised an eyebrow, stepped forward, and placed his hand firmly atop the half-finished map. "Old man, you might want to look up before you run your mouth. If I walk away now, you'll regret it."
That voice—familiar, steady, and unmistakable—made Hai Bodong freeze. His head snapped up, and his sharp eyes widened when they landed on Liu Xi. The young man in the azure robe stood with calm confidence, a faint smile on his lips. His aura was stronger than before, tinged with a heat so intense that even Hai Bodong's seasoned instincts felt a faint dread.
Recovering from his surprise, Hai Bodong's expression grew complex. "So you've returned already… and stronger than ever. If my senses aren't mistaken, you actually succeeded in obtaining the Heavenly Flame?"
Liu Xi chuckled lightly and nodded. "That's right. Your map was crude, but it gave me the general location I needed."
At his words, Hai Bodong's old eyes lit with fervor. For so many years, he had waited—endured—hoping to break the seal that bound his Dou Huang strength. Now, that hope stood before him. His hands trembled slightly. "And… the Sand Datura? Did you find it?"
Liu Xi wasn't surprised by his eagerness. Once, Hai Bodong had been the mighty Ice Emperor—one of the Ten Strongest Experts of the Jia Ma Empire. If not for the seal that had crippled his cultivation, he would never have been reduced to this quiet, lonely existence as a mapmaker in the Stone Desert City.
Liu Xi's fingers brushed his ring, and with a flicker of light, a finely crafted wooden box appeared in his palm. He opened it and handed it over with a faint smile. "Here it is—the Sand Datura. Took me quite some effort to get it. In fact, I even ran into Queen Medusa herself for this."
Just recalling that moment made him shiver slightly. "That woman is terrifying. Every move she makes stirs the world's energy itself. No wonder she could seal your Dou Huang strength and force you down to a mere Dou Ling."
Hai Bodong's hand trembled as he accepted the box, his face twitching with old memories. "You met… Queen Medusa?"
Liu Xi nodded casually. "Yes, we met once. Good thing I had a few tricks prepared, or I wouldn't be standing here talking to you."
Hai Bodong sighed, the weight of years heavy in his tone. "I truly wonder what kind of power raised someone like you. So young, yet already a Dou Wang—and to escape from Queen Medusa alive. If the Ten Strongest of the Empire were ranked again, you'd certainly be among them."
Liu Xi simply smiled without answering. He knew his talent was exceptional, but talent alone would no longer carry him forward. Beyond the Dou Wang realm, progress demanded power, techniques, and resources. There were countless geniuses across the Dou Qi Continent—and even more among the ancient clans, blessed by the bloodlines of the Dou Di.
'If I want to rise further,' he thought, 'I'll have to seize the opportunities meant for Xiao Yan himself.'
Hai Bodong looked down at the Sand Datura, his murky eyes brightening with long-lost hope. He caressed the plant's curling shape as though it were the most precious treasure in the world. Then, lifting his gaze cautiously, he asked, "When will you refine the Breaking Adversity Pill for me?"
Liu Xi thought for a moment, then replied calmly, "With the Heavenly Flame, I can now refine 6th Tier pills. As for the exact success rate, I'll have to study the pill recipe first."
He gave Hai Bodong a pointed look. "I know you won't hand over that Heavenly Flame Fragment Map until you see the pill yourself. But I warn you—once you regain your Dou Huang strength, betraying a 6th Tier Alchemist wouldn't be wise."
Hai Bodong chuckled awkwardly, rubbing his hands together. "Rest assured, young friend. Once you refine the Breaking Adversity Pill and I restore my strength, I'll not only give you the fragment map—I'll owe you a great favor in return!"
He hesitated, then retrieved a worn parchment from his ring, handing it over with a pained expression. "This is the pill recipe. I paid a heavy price for it, all for the chance to regain what I lost. Hah… how pathetic. The great Ice Emperor reduced to hiding here in Stone Desert City, too weak to return home, too broken to face old enemies."
Perhaps the nearness of his long-awaited redemption loosened his tongue, for Hai Bodong began recounting fragments of his past—of glory lost and humiliation endured.
Liu Xi unrolled the ancient parchment as he listened, his mind already analyzing. 'So this is your fate, old man. Even without me, you'd meet Xiao Yan in a few years. He'd beat you, refine this same pill, and make you his loyal helper for life. Truly, the perfect tool.'
At the top of the aged scroll, three bold words were written in faded ink:
Breaking Adversity Pill
Beneath it were detailed annotations—A 6th Tier Pill capable of dispelling most types of seals. Once consumed, it grants resistance to similar restrictions, giving the user a chance to nullify them in the future.
Liu Xi's Spiritual Power seeped into the parchment, scanning every line—the required ingredients, proportions, flame control, and purification stages. These were the true challenges of alchemy: the delicate balance of opposing medicinal properties, refined through mastery and patience.
When he finished, Liu Xi exhaled softly. "Not too bad. The recipe's a bit obscure, but for a 6th Tier pill, it's on the easier side."
Hai Bodong's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "And the chances of success?"
"About sixty percent," Liu Xi replied honestly. "Maybe seventy at best, with the Heavenly Flame's help."
Hai Bodong let out a long sigh, tension easing from his shoulders. "That's more than enough. Even the greatest Alchemists can't succeed every time. When will you begin?"
Liu Xi smiled faintly. "In a few days. Once I've studied the recipe in depth and adjusted my state to perfection."
Hai Bodong nodded, hope rekindled in his old eyes, while Liu Xi turned his gaze to the faint flicker of blue flame dancing at his fingertip.
The next step on his path had just begun.
(End of Chapter)
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