Chapter 100: The Great Con Artist

Xiao Yan's eyes slightly narrowed as he smiled at Hai Bodong. Being looked at like this, Hai Bodong suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

Xiao Yan chuckled and said, "Hai Lao, the faction behind me is powerful, but they're not specialized in alchemy. There may be higher-rank Alchemists, but I'm the only one who possesses a Mystic Flame."

"To be honest, I can currently only refine Fourth-Rank Pills, but I was born with a Spiritual Soul far stronger than ordinary people—my Soul Force has already reached the level of a Fifth-Rank Alchemist."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Hai Bodong suddenly understood. He thought: "No wonder this kid's attacks are so sharp, as if he can see through my movements—his Soul Force is already comparable to that old beast Fa Ma!"

Xiao Yan flashed a brilliant smile and said, "And I possess a Mystic Flame. I'm only one step away from the Fifth-Rank Alchemist level—just need to practice refining Fifth-Rank Pills. In other words, you can push me to Fifth-Rank with money alone."

!!!!!!

Hai Bodong's eyes widened. I thought your combat strength was already terrifying—turns out your Alchemy is even more shocking! Who the hell is this kid's master?!

"Hai Lao, I'm confident—sooner than a year, at most three, I will reach Sixth-Rank Alchemist. Then I can refine Pills for you."

If the Lion King were here, he'd probably curse Xiao Yan as a great con artist—this sounds so familiar!

But! Xiao Yan's bluff actually worked perfectly. Hai Bodong genuinely began to consider it. The Mystic Flame was simply too hard to obtain, and a Sixth-Rank Alchemist who possessed one? Even harder.

Hai Bodong had searched for over twenty years without finding one. Xiao Yan was now the most promising candidate in over two decades—if he missed this chance, Hai Bodong might not live to see another.

More importantly, Xiao Yan was young and possessed a Mystic Flame. What others found impossible—a Sixth-Rank Alchemist—might not be too difficult for him.

Xiao Yan was getting better and better at issuing empty promises—there's no such thing as the biggest con, only a bigger one!

"What do you want?" Hai Bodong finally understood Xiao Yan's intent. Hai Bodong had been holding the Residual Map hostage—but Xiao Yan had raised his own value!

Both were secretly maneuvering!

"Hai Lao, it's not what I need—it's what you can give me." Xiao Yan smiled like a fox.

"Sigh." Hai Bodong couldn't help but sigh—he knew he was completely outmaneuvered by Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan was his only hope to break Mei Du Sha's Flame Sealing.

He was now white-haired and truly didn't have much time left.

"I'll give you the remaining Residual Map."

"Hai Lao, the Residual Map you hold is only a tiny fragment of the complete map. Without the full map, it's not worth this price."

"When I regain my strength, I'll be a Five-Star Dou Huang. You refine the Pill for me, and I'll lend you my strength once." A Sixth-Rank Pill could buy a Dou Huang's assistance once—that was the standard price.

Xiao Yan still shook his head. "Hai Lao, the Pill you need isn't an ordinary Sixth-Rank Pill—it must be refined with a Mystic Flame. And even after you regain your strength, I don't know how strong a Dou Huang you'll be. It might not be enough."

Hai Bodong's face flushed red with rage—but he couldn't refute Xiao Yan. Sixth-Rank Pills varied in quality, and Dou Huangs varied in strength. A Dou Huang sealed for over twenty years couldn't possibly be considered strong.

"Boy, this is my final offer. If you still refuse, forget it. But if you truly refine the Pill for me within a year and break Mei Du Sha's Seal, I'll give you half of the Mitel Pai Mai Chang in Wang Du. If it takes longer than a year, the deal's off." Hai Bodong dropped the bomb.

Hearing this bomb, even Xiao Yan froze! The Ice Emperor had ties to the Mitel Pai Mai Chang?! The Mitel Pai Mai Chang in Wang Du was the headquarters!

Countless families in Wutan City had wanted to seize the Mitel Pai Mai Chang—but none succeeded. Not even others—when Ya Fei once offered to trade the Pai Mai Chang for a Pill Formula, Xiao Yan had briefly been tempted.

What an Alchemist lacked most was refining experience. That couldn't be shortcut—it required time and effort to test and refine Pills. And refining Pills required Medicinal Materials—and Medicinal Materials meant money.

The entire Jia Ma Empire's richest source of Medicinal Materials was the Mitel Pai Mai Chang. Rumor had it the Pai Mai Chang's assets exceeded even those of the Jia Ma Royal Family!

Truly, wealth rivaling a nation.

"No wonder the Mitel Pai Mai Chang thrives so fiercely in the Jia Ma Empire—it has a Dou Huang behind it." Xiao Yan looked at Hai Bodong and finally understood why the Jia Ma Royal Family never touched the Pai Mai Chang despite its massive size.

Who would dare move against it with a Dou Huang watching?

This offer was like rain falling just as he was parched. To reach Fifth-Rank, even Sixth-Rank, or to refine a Transformation Pill for the Lion King, he needed massive amounts of Medicinal Materials to "waste." But how could Xiao Yan possibly find the time to earn money for them?

It was as if a pillow had appeared just when he was sleepy!

But Hai Bodong had his own little scheme—he set the one-year deadline. He bet Xiao Yan couldn't refine the Pill within a year. After all, that Pill was a high-grade Sixth-Rank—far from simple.

But how could he have known? Xiao Yan had held back a trick!

"Well?" Hai Bodong asked.

Xiao Yan smiled confidently and extended his hand. "Deal, Hai Lao."

The old fox and the young fox shook hands, each smiling inwardly with their own calculations.

Xiao Yan suddenly remembered something. "By the way, Hai Lao—you know the Alchemist's rule: Medicinal Materials must be provided by the client."

Hearing this, Hai Bodong froze, then awkwardly said, "Uh… there's still one Medicinal Material missing—the Shade of the Sand Mandala. It's rare, found only near the Desert around the Holy City of the Snake People Empire."

"Even the Mitel Pai Mai Chang doesn't have it?"

"No."

Xiao Yan fell silent for a moment. He'd wanted to say he didn't need it—but if he did, he'd lose both the Pill Formula and the Medicinal Materials. More importantly, he couldn't buy himself time.

Breaking Hai Bodong's Seal wasn't the problem—the problem was what happened after! Once Hai Bodong regained his Dou Huang strength, how would Xiao Yan protect himself?

Before he could guarantee his own safety, Xiao Yan would never lift Hai Bodong's Seal.

The year, the three years—he was just buying time, to grow strong enough to stand against a Dou Huang, at least enough to run.

"I can help you find it—but…" Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. The implication was clear.

Extra payment!

"I can give you some information—six months ago, Gu He secretly led a team into the Desert searching for a Mystic Flame."

!!!? There's a Mystic Flame in the Desert!

"Did he find it?" Xiao Yan asked, then immediately realized it was a stupid question—if Gu He had found a Mystic Flame, would Hai Bodong be this desperate?

"No—he didn't. That's why this information is valuable. Mystic Flames are Supreme Treasures granted only to the destined. You possess one—you might attract it. Gu He failed. Maybe you can succeed."

Xiao Yan rolled his eyes. He'd been conning Hai Bodong—now Hai Bodong was conning him.

If Gu He couldn't find it, the information was either fake—or the Mystic Flame had already been taken. Even Gu He came up empty—what could Xiao Yan do?

Still, Xiao Yan ultimately agreed. It was free. He had zero intention of ever searching for the Shade of the Sand Mandala. Once his strength grew, he'd return, lift the Seal, and take the Residual Map.

Free information? Why not take it?

After bidding farewell to Hai Bodong, Xiao Yan spread his Purple Cloud Wings and flew straight toward Shimo City. He stared at the several maps in his hand—each marked with a few circles, nothing else.

Xiao Yan sighed helplessly. Hai Bodong was too good at conning—he was almost as good as Xiao Yan himself.

(End of Chapter)