Chapter 183: The Seal Clearing Pill
Hearing Xiao Yan's words, the old man's hand, busy drawing maps, trembled slightly. Slowly, he raised his head to look at Xiao Yan.
The old man's face was marked by a deep scar running from his left cheek to the corner of his eye. Although his expression was calm, the scar gave him a fierce and intimidating aura.
Xiao Yan, however, knew very well how this scar came to be it was a mark left by the "wife in his sleeve."
"Friend, I'm sorry, but this map fragment is not for sale," the old man said, shaking his head slightly.
He wasn't entirely sure of the map fragment's purpose, but he knew it was immensely valuable. Selling it was out of the question unless absolutely necessary.
While the old man prepared himself for the possibility of the youth trying to snatch the fragment by force, the black clad youth surprised him by speaking again, his tone calm:
"This map fragment is indeed priceless. But what if I offer you a Breaking Barrier Pill in exchange?"
The old man froze, his aged face now showing genuine shock.
"Who are you? How do you know about the Breaking Barrier Pill?"
"Jie jie, no need to be so tense, old man. I'm here to help you," Xiao Yan said with a playful grin.
"Help me?" The old man's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Xiao Yan.
"Ice Emperor Hai Bodong," Xiao Yan began, his smile widening. "Once one of the top ten powerhouses of the Jia Ma Empire, the second elder of the Mittel Clan who led it to glory. You even fought Yun Shan but lost to him."
Hai Bodong's expression grew more incredulous with each word, though his shock soon gave way to a guarded calm.
"Are you Yun Shan's disciple? Or perhaps a prodigy of the Yun Lan Sect?" he asked cautiously.
"Yun Shan? That weakling?" Xiao Yan's face darkened at the suggestion.
"If I called him 'teacher,' do you think he'd dare to answer?"
Suppressing a laugh, Xiao Yan leaned forward mischievously.
"Your current strength has fallen to the Dou Spirit level, all because Queen Medusa of the Snake Clan defeated and sealed you, isn't it?"
"You how do you know all this?" Hai Bodong stammered, his confusion and alarm growing.
"Jie jie, because I'm Medusa's man," Xiao Yan replied with a devilish smile. "She's by my side even now."
Hai Bodong's face paled in terror, and he instinctively stepped back. His Dou Qi flared as he entered full battle readiness.
"You're with the Snake Clan?!"
Xiao Yan couldn't help but laugh at Hai Bodong's reaction.
"Jie jie jie, look how scared you are!"
To Hai Bodong, Xiao Yan's laughter was more sinister than reassuring.
"What do you want from me?" Hai Bodong demanded, his body now encased in an icy battle armor.
"Relax, old man. There's no need to be so tense," Xiao Yan said, waving off Hai Bodong's hostility. "I really am here to help you."
"Help me? How?"
Xiao Yan casually tapped his storage ring, producing a small jade bottle.
"I don't have a Breaking Barrier Pill on me, but I do have this Seal Clearing Pill. It works even better. Take it, and the seal in your body will dissolve on its own."
With that, he tossed the bottle toward Hai Bodong.
"A Seal Clearing Pill?" Hai Bodong murmured, momentarily stunned. He recognized the name an extremely rare pill developed by alchemists of the Pill Tower. Though more effective than the Breaking Barrier Pill, it was nearly unheard of in the Northwest Continent.
"It's a six tier pill," Xiao Yan explained nonchalantly. "It should work better for your situation."
"A six tier pill?" Hai Bodong was stunned again, his wariness now mixed with awe. After a pause, he asked, "We have no personal connection. Why would you help me?"
"Why help you?" Xiao Yan smirked. "Let's just say you should thank another version of yourself from a different world."
Hai Bodong blinked, completely baffled.
Xiao Yan didn't bother explaining further. Instead, he raised the half map fragment in his hand and said,
"Now, hand over the other half of the map."
Hai Bodong's shock deepened.
"You even know I have another piece? Is there anything you don't know?"
"What is this map anyway?" he asked cautiously.
"You wouldn't understand. It's beyond your reach. Don't ask questions you don't need to," Xiao Yan replied with a dismissive wave.
Hai Bodong bristled but ultimately sighed. Despite being reduced to a Dou Spirit, he still had his pride, and Xiao Yan's tone stung. However, considering the circumstances, he retrieved the remaining map fragment from his storage ring and handed it over.
"Good. A wise man adapts to the times," Xiao Yan said approvingly, accepting the fragment. He added with a grin,
"Once your strength returns and you go back to the Jia Ma Empire, you'll understand who I am. And when you return to the Mittel Clan, make sure you work hard for my girl."
"My girl?" Hai Bodong muttered, confused. "This brat has ties to the Mittel Clan too?"
Before he could ask more, Xiao Yan had already opened the door and stepped outside.
"Wait, friend!" Hai Bodong called, following after him. But by the time he reached the doorway, the black clad youth was already far away, stepping through the air.
Each step Xiao Yan took crossed a hundred meters, his figure shrinking into the distance.
"A Dou Sect powerhouse?" Hai Bodong's face turned pale, cold sweat dripping down his back.
That youth was a Dou Sect?
Had he acted rashly earlier, he would've been crushed without mercy.
"This kid... he only looks young, right? He can't actually be that young... can he?" Hai Bodong muttered to himself, struggling to reconcile what he had just witnessed.
With a sigh, he returned to the shop, gripping the jade bottle tightly. Opening it, a rich medicinal fragrance wafted out.
Just from the scent alone, he could feel the seal in his body loosening.
"This is incredible!" Hai Bodong's eyes lit up. He decided to find a secluded place to undo the seal completely.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan was already speeding toward his next destination a new city and the next step in his journey.
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