While in Battle Through the Heavens, one can pre-appoint oneself as an emperor.

Grand Master!

And such a young Grand Master!

What surprised and puzzled Hai Bodong even more was that he was quite certain that it was the boy he had met for the first time, but for some inexplicable reason, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity with him, as if they shared the same origin.

But he was certain that he had never taught his techniques to anyone. Years ago, when some ice-attribute juniors of the Mittel family fawned over him, he never revealed his secret.

The Ice Emperor's Code is not to be passed on to mediocre talents!

"The maps are all on the counter. Pick one yourself. If you can't find it, come and ask me."

Suppressing his doubts, Hai Bodong made no attempt to get up and introduce them, and greeted them casually.

He decided to observe further.

Chen Xiao nodded slightly, not in a hurry to achieve results. This follow-up had already been delayed for so long, so he didn't care about a little more time.

Fortunately, the Canaan Academy's recruitment team won't arrive for almost half a year, so Chen Xiao has plenty of time to kill.

In addition, Chen Xiao had already prepared seven plans (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) to complete this follow-up, and he was only showing his face today.

Without arguing with Hai Bodong, Chen Xiao browsed the shop like an ordinary customer.

The Tagor Desert is a suitable place for adventure. It is essential to prepare a detailed map in advance so as not to get lost in the desert.

After looking at various maps for a while, Chen Xiao chose the most exquisite and detailed one. He didn't rush to pay and continued to wander around the shop.

Soon, Chen Xiao's attention was drawn to some yellowed maps casually piled up next to an old-fashioned wooden shelf in the corner.

These maps all have some damage on their surface, and appear to be failed products during map making.

Chen Xiao casually flipped through the pages, and a tattered picture, no bigger than a palm, naturally came into view.

With just one glance, Chen Xiao could tell that this fragment of the map was of the same origin as the one he had obtained in the stone chamber of the Monster Mountain Range, except that it was exactly half the size.

Knowing that Hai Bodong had deliberately placed it there to fish for them, and that the other half was hidden in the shadows, Chen Xiao smiled and put it back in its original place.

Not urgent.

If you're going to take it, you have to take the half that Hai Bodong hid as well, otherwise it's pointless.

At the counter, Hai Bodong appeared to be busy drawing a map, but his mind was focused on observing Chen Xiao, and he didn't even notice that the map in his hand was drawn crookedly.

Seeing that Chen Xiao had discovered the bait he had set up, Hai Bodong's eyes narrowed slightly.

Seeing that Chen Xiao seemed uninterested in the incomplete map, he couldn't help but shake his head inwardly.

I'm probably overthinking it.

He had left that incomplete map in the shop for many years, and people would often find it, but they would always discard it like worn-out shoes.

No one knew that he had once walked on the edge of life and death for this incomplete map, and his current appearance was the result of that struggle back then.

Unfortunately, although he obtained the incomplete map, he still gained nothing from studying it for many years.

Otherwise, it wouldn't be used for fishing.

"Sir, how many gold coins?"

Chen Xiao walked over with the map he had chosen.

Hai Bodong glanced at the map casually and replied, "Five hundred is fine, two hundred is fine, one hundred is also acceptable."

?

Is this how business is conducted?

Chen Xiao was taken aback.

But then I thought about it again, Hai Bodong didn't open this map shop to make money in the first place.

With his connection to the Mittel family, gold coins held no meaning for him.

Suddenly realizing the significance, Chen Xiao was no longer surprised and took out one hundred gold coins from his storage ring to pay the bill.

However, Hai Bodong didn't even glance at the gold coins piled on the counter; instead, he stared directly into Chen Xiao's eyes.

"Young man, don't you have any doubts? Or do you think you know this old man very well?"

Unable to discern anything from his previous observations, Hai Bodong finally couldn't help but speak up to probe.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiao immediately realized that his quick reaction had revealed a flaw, giving the other party an excuse to test him.

These old guys are all thousand-year-old fox spirits who have become demons.

A single word, a glance, a small gesture can all carry a deeper meaning.

Compared to them, I definitely still need to practice!

With a quick change of heart, Chen Xiao swiftly abandoned Plan A, which he had been slowly working towards.

Plan B, activated!

Immediately, Chen Xiao took out a VIP card made of crystal from the Mittel Auction House from his storage ring.

In recent years, Chen Xiao has made many transactions with the Mittel Auction House in Wutan City, and has long since obtained VIP status.

Furthermore, he learned that the VIP cards issued by the Mittel family had five levels.

The match Chen Xiao was in was neither high nor low, but just the third level.

"I wouldn't say I know him well, but I have frequent dealings with the Mittel Auction House. I once saw a portrait by chance. According to them, the person in the portrait is the Ice Emperor, one of the top ten strongest people in the previous generation of the Gama Empire. And that person looks about six-tenths like the old gentleman."

When you're out and about, you can't be too honest; you have to learn to speak freely.

Since there's no way to verify it, no one can be certain that you're lying.

After a moment's thought, Hai Bodong realized that he had been hiding in Mocheng for many years and had not been in contact with the Mittel family. Many people probably thought he had already perished.

But given Tengshan's nature, he would not give up searching for him until he found his own body. He would then draw a portrait and distribute it to the Mittel auction houses in various cities. That would be somewhat plausible.

Furthermore, Chen Xiao's attire and fair complexion were enough to prove that he had indeed come from the other side of the Monster Mountain Range.

Therefore, this statement has a degree of credibility of three or four points.

"You've mistaken me for someone else. I'm not some Ice Emperor."

Hai Bodong has no plans to return to the Mittel family for the time being, and denied it without even thinking.

Otherwise, if the mercenaries in the shop overheard this and spread the news, he was certain that Teng Shan would come looking for him in person within three days.

The idea was good, but Chen Xiao didn't care about any of that.

Since we're going to speak frankly and openly, there's no point in hiding anything.

"Originally, I wasn't sure if the old gentleman was the Ice Emperor. After all, in my perception, the old gentleman was only a Battle Spirit. But your probing just now has made me even more certain. However, I can't understand why the legendary Ice Emperor, who was once so amazing, has become so weak, and doesn't even dare to openly reveal his identity?"

how so?

It's simply been sealed away.

Chen Xiao's words instantly reminded Hai Bodong of that unbearable past, and the woman in the desert who terrified him and made him never dare to set foot in the desert again.

When this scar is peeled back, it hurts, it hurts so much!

Chen Xiao uttered dangerous words, but his internal fighting spirit had already quietly begun to circulate.

Inside the shop, the mercenaries who appeared to be selecting maps but had actually been listening intently were also surprised to hear Chen Xiao speak with such conviction.

Hai Bodong glanced at the group, his expression slightly cold.

With a flick of his sleeve, the shop door swung open, and his sharp gaze fell upon the mercenaries, his meaning all too clear.

Seeing this, the mercenaries dared not continue to watch the show, and they all put down their maps and rushed out the door.

Both the aura Chen Xiao was exuding at this moment and the shop owner who was suspected to be the Ice Emperor made them feel immense pressure.

If we don't run now, we'll inevitably be caught in the crossfire.

Soon, only Chen Xiao and Hai Bodong remained in the not-so-spacious shop.

"Young man, what is your intention in deliberately exposing my identity? State your purpose!"

I'm not pretending anymore, I'm laying my cards on the table.

Once the disguise was removed, Hai Bodong's demeanor changed abruptly. His gaze became sharper, and his Dou Ling-level aura appeared intermittently.

Chen Xiao seemed to feel no pressure whatsoever, smiled slightly, and revealed his purpose.

"I want to make a deal with the Ice Emperor!"