Battle Through the Heavens: I can solidify the talents of all things

Hai Bodong remained silent for a moment, then finally recounted everything that had happened to obtain the fragmented map. His voice carried a hint of resentment as he said, "Back then, deep in the Tagor Desert, I went to great lengths, even..."

"We even paid an unimaginable price to obtain it, and our current predicament is inextricably linked to it!"

He paused for a moment, as if to calm himself down, and continued, "After obtaining it, based on my years of experience in drafting, I could sense its mystery, so I perfectly divided it into two parts."

"One of them is the half of the map you're holding. The other one... I've hidden it in a completely secluded place that only I know about."

Queen Medusa?

Xiao Qing silently thought to himself that he was not surprised by the name.

He had long known that the reason Hai Bodong was confined to this remote desert city and unable to make any progress in his cultivation was entirely due to the infamous Snake-Man Queen.

He had long been "famous" for the stunningly beautiful yet ruthless Queen Medusa from the original story.

Hai Bodong shook his head somewhat helplessly, but then, an arrogance from his very bones surged onto his face. He straightened his back slightly and said in a deep voice, "I am Hai Bodong! I presume... you have heard of my former title—the Ice Emperor!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qing cupped his hands in greeting, a half-smile playing on his lips: "The name of the Ice Emperor is renowned far and wide, and I have naturally heard of him to some extent."

"But... who would have thought that the Ice Emperor, who once dominated the Gama Empire, would live in seclusion in a corner of this small desert city?"

The implication in those words made Hai Bodong's face stiffen, then turn into a deep bitterness. He nodded, his sigh growing heavier: "Yes, who could have imagined... more than ten years ago, I accidentally obtained this fragment of a map in the Tagor Desert, but it also attracted the pursuit of the Desert Serpent Queen, Medusa. Her strength is among the top tier of the Dou Huang level."

"That battle... I lost, and lost without a doubt." Hai Bodong's voice lowered, and when he mentioned that name, a trace of horror and suppressed anger still lingered in his eyes.

"Although I managed to escape using a secret technique, I was caught in her 'Snake Sealing Curse'!"

"Not only is his body beginning to age, but his entire life's cultivation has also been sealed away at the Dou Ling stage, unable to break free for over ten years!"

His fist clenched unconsciously, his knuckles turning white from the force.

"For so many years, I have lived in anonymity, hiding in this dark and gloomy shop, studying the secrets of this incomplete map day and night, hoping to find a clue to break the seal."

"But it... is ultimately just a fragment of a complete map! Despite spending over a decade of effort, I haven't even scratched the surface; I only know that it's connected to a mysterious treasure map!"

"To be honest..." Xiao Qing looked at Hai Bodong and revealed a key piece of information about the incomplete map, but still held back some details.

"The treasure that this fragment of the map points to is a kind of strange fire."

He didn't directly say that this strange fire was the Pure Lotus Demon Fire, after all, it was the third strange fire on the ranking list!

"Strange Fire..."

Hai Bodong murmured, his heart filled with bitterness.

For this fragment of a map that records the strange fire, he paid a heavy price: his cultivation was sealed and he was trapped here for more than ten years!

If it weren't for this damned seal, with his talent, he would probably have already reached the ranks of top-tier Dou Huang in the past ten years.

All the resentment and helplessness in the face of reality eventually turned into a heavy sigh.

He seemed to have all his energy drained away in an instant. His back slumped slightly, and his voice, filled with a resigned weariness, said, "So be it... If you can truly help me break this seal, I, Hai Bodong... am willing to hand over all the remaining fragments of the map!"

"Does the old gentleman have any specific insights into the seal on your body?" Xiao Qing finally spoke slowly, beginning to steer the conversation toward the core issue.

He had a general understanding of Hai Bodong's seal.

Queen Medusa's "Serpent Seal Spell" is a secret technique that combines soul power and battle aura.

As long as one's spiritual realm far surpasses that of Queen Medusa when she cast the sealing spell, breaking it is not very difficult.

As a snake-person, Medusa was destined not to have very high spiritual power.

With his current peak mortal realm soul power, he can easily engage in long-range combat with high-level Dou Huangs, provided he is not allowed to get close. He can even hold his own against Dou Zongs.

He was absolutely certain he could break the seal!

However, he is not in a hurry to show off the information gap he currently possesses.

He also wanted to extract more valuable assets from this former Ice King.

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope rekindled in Hai Bodong's eyes, and he hurriedly said, "I haven't been staying here for long these past years... I've also collected a prescription that's incredibly effective at breaking these kinds of seals, and I've basically gathered all the necessary medicinal ingredients."

He looked at Xiao Qing with expectant eyes and continued, "However... this pill formula is for a sixth-grade pill! Moreover, it can only be refined by an alchemist who possesses a different kind of fire!"

After saying that, he stared intently at Xiao Qing, waiting for her response.

However, Xiao Qing slowly shook his head, his tone calm: "A sixth-grade pill... I am not yet able to refine it with my current alchemy skills."

"you……!"

Upon hearing this, Hai Bodong felt a surge of blood rush to his head, and the veins on his forehead bulged instantly. The anger he had suppressed earlier and the humiliation of being mocked surged back into his heart.

He clenched his fists, and there were faint signs that the ice-attribute battle qi within his body was about to erupt.

If he hadn't been wary of Xiao Qing's unfathomable soul power, he would have already made his move!

One "Mystic Ice Dragon Soar" froze the kid who had repeatedly "amused" him into ice shards!

"but……"

Just as the atmosphere was tense, Xiao Qing suddenly changed the subject, a slight smile curving his lips, and continued speaking.

"I can't refine sixth-grade pills right now, but my teacher can!"

A casual remark, like cold water poured on a flame about to ignite.

Hai Bodong's anger was instantly extinguished by these unexpected words.

His frustrated expression, wanting to lash out but holding it in, looked quite comical.

Seeing this, Xiao Qing chuckled softly.

Who understands that feeling of wanting to beat someone up but being afraid of losing?

That's the current "Ice Emperor"!

Hai Bodong stared intently at Xiao Qing, his chest heaving violently, as if he were about to vomit blood and die of anger.

In the end, he swallowed it back.

There's nothing we can do; we can't win a fight, and the current situation is beyond our control!

What's more, behind the other party stands a high-level alchemist teacher who can refine sixth-grade pills and most likely possesses a different kind of fire!

This gave him a more real and urgent hope than a mere fragment of a map that was meaningless to him.

Break the seal and return to the peak!

A rare hint of embarrassment appeared on Hai Bodong's old face.

He coughed lightly, his voice unconsciously lowering a few decibels: "I've painstakingly gathered three sets of the medicinal herbs needed for this Calamity-Breaking Pill! But..."

"However, all three prescriptions are still missing the most crucial ingredient—Sand Datura!"

He tried to force a helpless smile.

But his perpetually frozen face had stiff muscles, which only added to the menacing feeling when he smiled.

"It's just one ingredient missing, it's alright."

Xiao Qing waved his hand lightly, his tone relaxed as if he were saying it was a trivial matter.

He continued, making Hai Bodong's heart race: "Give me the formula and the available medicinal herbs, and I can immediately break the seal for you."

"Is this really true?!"