Chapter 14: Remnant Map

Walking to the city gate, a dozen armored guards were blocking the entrance, looking as if they were collecting a city gate tax.

Come to think of it, the Jia Ma Empire had a regulation that alchemists did not need to pay a fee to enter the city, but Xiao Yan had never taken an alchemist certification exam, so naturally, he had no corresponding credentials.

As for putting on airs at the city gate to prove he was a Tier 3 Alchemist, Xiao Yan felt he wasn't bored to that extent. As the saying goes, the tax collector and the taxpayer are one family; it wasn't a huge sum anyway, so he just paid it.

After paying the entry tax normally, Xiao Yan led the Little Fairy Doctor into this border city.

Although located at the border, the bustle in the city was no less than that of inland metropolises. Like Green Hill Town, this place also prospered by relying on mercenaries and the Tagor Desert, a land of magical beasts, so much so that the Little Fairy Doctor felt a sense of familiarity here.

"Xian'er, do you think we should find an inn to rest for a while first, or head straight into the Tagor Desert?" Looking back at the lovely girl beside him, Xiao Yan asked.

"You don't need to take such care of me; I'm a Dou Shi now, after all. Let's just go straight into the Tagor Desert, but we must buy a map first, otherwise, I'm afraid we'll get lost inside if we just walk in," the Little Fairy Doctor said.

Of course they had to buy a map; even if the Little Fairy Doctor hadn't said it, Xiao Yan would have gone anyway, as the old man selling maps had a ready-made clue to a Heavenly Flame.

But having said that, Xiao Yan didn't know where the "Ancient Map" shop opened by Hai Bo Dong was.

He found someone on the side of the road to ask, but the other party seemed unwilling to pay attention to Xiao Yan, as compared to the original story, Xiao Yan was missing an alchemist badge.

But that didn't matter; Xiao Yan expressed his understanding of this, so he kindly led the person into a dead-end alley for a friendly exchange. The other party was so moved by Xiao Yan that they wept bitterly, not only answering Xiao Yan's questions kindly but also telling him the approximate prices of different maps and some strange habits of the Ancient Map boss.

It must be said that sometimes it is not just an alchemist badge that is useful; "kindness" is also very effective.

With a sigh in his heart, he led the Little Fairy Doctor toward the shop named "Ancient Map."

In Mo City, because the demand for maps, especially precise ones, was extremely high for people entering the Tagor Desert, every famous map shop was resplendent with gold and jade. But the best one in the city, Ancient Map, was not luxurious at all, and even appeared somewhat simple and unadorned.

Entering the shop of Ancient Map, the not-so-spacious store was lit by only two moonlight stones. Aside from the shelves on both sides for displaying maps, there was only an old man behind the counter in the innermost part, concentrating on making maps.

As soon as he entered the door, Xiao Yan, who had prepared in advance, aimed his gaze at a wooden shelf in the corner of the shop. The Volcanic Stone Flame within his body told him that there was an aura of another Heavenly Flame there, even faintly emitting a feeling of fear.

Xiao Yan knew that was the remnant map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame.

Xiao Yan held the Little Fairy Doctor's hand and walked over there nonchalantly.

Although the Little Fairy Doctor felt that Xiao Yan had been acting a bit strange since entering this map shop, she didn't say anything and just followed quietly.

The maps placed on this wooden shelf were all somewhat tattered, clearly failed attempts at map-making.

Xiao Yan rummaged through these yellowed, tattered maps, and soon a palm-sized remnant map appeared before his eyes.

"This is!" Xiao Yan felt a surge of joy in his heart. Just as he was about to reach out to take it, a terrifying pressure suddenly rose from the old man behind the counter, bearing down horizontally upon Xiao Yan and the Little Fairy Doctor.

The Little Fairy Doctor reacted at this moment, realizing that Xiao Yan had probably discovered some treasure, and the old man before them didn't want to give it up, hence this move.

Although there was a suspicion of forced buying and selling on Xiao Yan's side, now was not the time to reason. She turned around quickly and threw a dash of potent poison at the old man.

Naturally, Xiao Yan would not sit and wait for death. In an instant, crimson brilliance surged like a volcanic eruption. The Volcanic Stone Flame burst out from his body and quickly condensed. A suit of armor, flowing with magma-like liquid fire and outlined with gorgeous patterns, appeared around Xiao Yan—it was the Flame Emperor Armor, created by Xiao Yan himself.

The terrifying high temperature burned the old man's momentum away completely. Xiao Yan pulled the Little Fairy Doctor behind him with one hand, and with the other, he tucked the remnant map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame into his storage ring, watching the old man before him vigilantly. Although in the original story Xiao Yan and Hai Bo Dong had a good relationship, Xiao Yan would not be naive enough to think that the current Hai Bo Dong would have any good feelings toward him.

At this time, Hai Bo Dong had just expelled the potent poison thrown by the Little Fairy Doctor. It had to be said that the power of the Woeful Poison Body was indeed unique; even though the Little Fairy Doctor only had the cultivation of a Spirit Master, her poisonous gas had still nearly caused the former Spirit Emperor, Hai Bo Dong, to fall victim.

Looking at the Little Fairy Doctor behind Xiao Yan, a flash of vigilance crossed Hai Bo Dong's eyes. Turning his gaze to Xiao Yan, although he only had the cultivation of a Great Spirit Master, the Heavenly Flame armor covering his body was clearly not something to be trifled with.

Hai Bo Dong couldn't help but feel a headache. Damn it, where did these two perverted youngsters pop out from? They grabbed the treasure he and Queen Medusa had risked their lives to obtain as soon as they arrived.

But letting them go just like that was impossible. He had fallen from a Dou Huang to a Dou Ling for the sake of this map! How could he be willing to give up just like that?

"You two, that remnant map just now is not for sale. Could you please return it?"

"Your words are truly interesting, sir. Opening a business and having things that aren't for sale. We won't cheat you; just name a price." Xiao Yan sneered. Returning it was still impossible, but Xiao Yan didn't want to keep this stalemate going, so he let Hai Bo Dong name a price. He knew that the current Hai Bo Dong had a request for others, so he wasn't afraid that he wouldn't agree.

"Hmph! I said it before, this remnant map is not for sale. If you two insist on taking it away, then this old man is not so easy to bully!" A cold tone carrying traces of killing intent came from the old man's mouth. Cold ice-attribute Dou Qi swept out, directly covering the entire shop and sealing off the retreat for Xiao Yan and the Little Fairy Doctor.

Xiao Yan did not show weakness either. The Flame Emperor Armor condensed from the Heavenly Flame blazed brightly, clearing away the cold air within several meters of Xiao Yan. Although he couldn't gain the upper hand, it was enough to stand his ground.

"Alright, old sir, you should know that if we want to leave, you can't stop us. Why insist on a head-on clash with us and end up with nothing to show for it? Furthermore, since this remnant map has been left here all this time, you probably don't even know what it's for, right? At most, you only kept it because you sensed the aura of a Heavenly Flame on it. But you are ice-attribute yourself and can't use a Heavenly Flame at all. Since that's the case, selling it directly to me, isn't it better to get a practical benefit?" Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes and said in a drawn-out tone, "Am I right, Ice Emperor Hai Bo Dong?"

As the words fell, the sweeping cold air suddenly stalled. A fierce light appeared in Hai Bo Dong's eyes: "You know who I am? Who exactly are you!"

"Ice Emperor, you've misunderstood. I don't know you, and you don't need to worry about whether someone sent us two to deal with you. You should understand that even if someone really had that intention and knew you were here, the people they sent would definitely not be two geniuses with bright futures like us." Xiao Yan spread his hands and took two steps back with the Little Fairy Doctor, signaling that he had no intention of threatening Hai Bo Dong.

Hai Bo Dong also calmed down a little.

To be honest, as a former Dou Huang powerhouse who had fallen to the Dou Ling realm overnight, his heart could be said to be extremely uneasy. The reason he hadn't gone back after wandering for so many years was that he was worried about people who didn't get along with him kicking him while he was down. And what level would the people who didn't get along with him, a Dou Huang, be? Just thinking about it was enough.

"Hmph! You brat really knows how to flatter yourself." Having said that, Hai Bo Dong actually acknowledged that the talent of the two was extremely heaven-defying and that they could never have been sent out to execute a dangerous mission to assassinate him. "But this doesn't explain why you would recognize me."

"That's nothing difficult." Xiao Yan spread his hands: "First, I sensed ice-attribute Dou Qi in your body that far exceeds the Dou Ling level. Second, your mastery of cold air doesn't look like that of someone at the Dou Ling level either. So I reasonably guessed that you should have originally been a powerhouse above the Dou Ling level, but your realm fell. And among the ice-attribute powerhouses above the Dou Ling level who have mysteriously disappeared and fit your age, I don't think there are many in the Jia Ma Empire, right? Perhaps there are Dou Wangs who fit these conditions, but I don't know them, do I?"

"Good lad, you're quite witty!" Hai Bo Dong looked at the youth before him with some surprise. Not only did he have such cultivation at this age, but he also had such a mind. And the little girl behind him was not simple either; she was only at the Spirit Master level, yet she could master a potent poison that nearly made him fall victim. Since when did the Jia Ma Empire have a force capable of cultivating such figures?

Could it be…

They are not from the Jia Ma Empire?

Yes! It must be like that! Just now he said that even if there were Dou Wangs who fit my characteristics, he wouldn't know them, which shows that he is probably not very familiar with the Dou Wangs of Jia Ma. If he were really a genius of the Jia Ma Empire, how could he not even know about such things?

Xiao Yan did not know that Hai Bo Dong's thoughts were running further and further off track at this moment. Of course, even if he knew, he wouldn't point it out, but would only further mislead him, letting him construct the idea that their background was very significant in his own mind. Only then would the possibility of a transaction be higher.

As for Hai Bo Dong, as he continued to analyze the origins of Xiao Yan and the Little Fairy Doctor, his mind became increasingly active. He was unwilling to seek help from people within the Jia Ma Empire because he didn't dare to trust anyone who had the ability to help him; who knows if he would be sold out!

But outsiders were different, because there was no conflict of interest, and sometimes they were actually more trustworthy.

"What do you think, sir?"

"Nameless brat, I can let you have the remnant map, but you must let the person behind you help me refine a medicinal pill."

"What medicinal pill?" Xiao Yan asked, knowing the answer.

"A Tier 6 medicinal pill—the Breaking Eruption Pill!"

"Hiss, you really know how to open your mouth. A remnant map for a Tier 6 medicinal pill."

"Hmph! You can choose not to give it, but I can tell you that the remnant map in your hand is only half of what I have. The other half has long been hidden by me. If you are not willing, I guarantee you will never get the other half of the remnant map!" Hai Bo Dong sneered, revealing a smile of a scheme successfully executed.

It was obvious that a remnant map he had risked his life to obtain wouldn't just be left out in the open. The reason he did this was just to lure people in.

"Hmm~" Xiao Yan feigned deep thought for a while: "Fine, okay. Give me the medicinal ingredients."

"Uh, about that, regarding the medicinal ingredients, I am still missing one main ingredient," Hai Bo Dong had already retracted his cold air at this time, saying with a somewhat lacking tone.

"Oh? Is that so? No problem, I can resolve the medicinal ingredients, but~" Xiao Yan smiled at Hai Bo Dong: "You should know the rules for asking someone to refine medicine, right?"

"The missing main ingredient is the Sand Mandala… what, you can resolve the medicinal ingredients?!" Hai Bo Dong had originally intended to continue explaining, but after hearing Xiao Yan's words, his expression changed drastically, and he said with great joy.

"Of course! But…" Xiao Yan rubbed his fingers together, smiling like a cunning merchant.

Hai Bo Dong naturally knew what Xiao Yan meant by this, and immediately said: "No problem! It should be so. I see you two must have come to the Tagor Desert for the Heavenly Flame, right? I happen to have a lead regarding a Heavenly Flame here, I wonder if the two of you are interested?"

"Oh? A Heavenly Flame?" Xiao Yan's eyes lit up; finally, they had reached the main topic, it hadn't been easy!

"Correct, you should have heard some rumors about Heavenly Flames in the Tagor Desert, right?" Seeing Xiao Yan's expression, Hai Bo Dong knew there was a chance.

"So, do you know where the Heavenly Flame is?" Xiao Yan asked.

"I have some interest in drawing maps, and I often enter the Tagor Desert to draw them. Over these years, I have also summarized some places where it is very likely for a Heavenly Flame to exist." Hai Bo Dong laughed proudly: "I dare say that without my map, even if you wandered in the Great Tagor Desert for a year, you wouldn't find it!"

Xiao Yan thought to himself, never mind a year, if he couldn't find it in half a year, he would have to go check Medusa's nest. But it should still not have been found yet, otherwise, she wouldn't have waited until nearly a year later in the original story to attempt to use the Heavenly Flame for her evolution.

However, at this moment, Hai Bo Dong's map was still very useful.

"Deal!"

Xiao Yan agreed, and the purpose of coming to find Hai Bo Dong this time had basically been fully achieved.

Leaving Hai Bo Dong's Ancient Map Shop, they found a decent inn in the city to stay at.

It was not until they entered the guest room that Xiao Yan and the Little Fairy Doctor finally relaxed completely.

The two of them didn't even have the strength to take a bath, and just lay straight on the bed like that.

Don't look at how Xiao Yan acted so forcefully in front of Hai Bo Dong; in reality, he only had the strength to flee for his life with the Little Fairy Doctor.

After all, this Spirit Master, Hai Bo Dong, was much stronger than an average Spirit Master; even if it were a King Master, he could actually clash with one if pushed to the limit.

It was only because Hai Bo Dong felt that Xiao Yan and the Little Fairy Doctor had a major power backing them that he negotiated. Otherwise, if the negotiations had broken down, Hai Bo Dong would never have easily let the two go, even just to keep his secret.

The Little Fairy Doctor looked at the man beside her panting heavily, and really wanted to tell him not to do such risky things in the future.

But she knew that was impossible. The person before her was a ruthless man who dared to throw himself into the Magical Beast Mountain Range for over two years just to avoid having a hollow cultivation base!

Xiao Yan's desire to become stronger was just as intense as his desire for women.

Xiao Yan, who was resting with his eyes closed, seemed to sense the worry of the person beside him. He held the Little Fairy Doctor's hand, turned his head to look over, and said: "Rest assured, when have you ever seen me do something I wasn't sure about?"

The Little Fairy Doctor pursed her lips and took the initiative to embrace Xiao Yan, saying nothing.

"Alright, let's sleep early today; we still have to prepare for entering the Great Tagor Desert tomorrow."

"Mm."