Chapter 109: HunYan Has Arrived

"Kuang?! You're trying to drive the wolf away only to invite the tiger?!"

Hai Bodong immediately understood what Xiao Yan was up to—driving the wolf away to let the tiger in, then reaping the benefits himself!

Although Mei Du Sha Queen was infamous and a Sixth-Rank peak Flying Beast, posing a massive threat to the Jia Ma Empire—even sparking wars every year, which the empire consistently lost—

yet if the Dantian Alchemist Gu He threw his full strength behind the Jia Ma Empire, the entire SnakeTribe Empire would likely be unable to resist.

The Dantian Alchemist Gu He did not obey the Jia Ma Imperial Family; even the emperor had to treat Gu He with utmost respect.

This was the power of the empire's top Pill Alchemist—the only Six-Grade Alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire.

As a Six-Grade High-Level Alchemist, the Dantian Alchemist Gu He possessed energy no weaker than that of the Sixth-Rank peak Mei Du Sha Queen.

Had Gu He not been young, only in his early forties, and only recently reached Six-Grade, Hai Bodong believed Gu He would be even more terrifying than Mei Du Sha Queen.

A Six-Grade High-Level Alchemist could rival the king of a Flying Beast Empire—Alchemists were just that terrifying. Angering an Alchemist was no different from poking a hornet's nest.

If the Jia Ma Empire offended Gu He, and Gu He produced a single Six-Grade Po Zong Pill, even Mei Du Sha Queen would act on his behalf.

Xiao Yan did not deny it; he merely smiled faintly and said, "Isn't Gu He also after the Strange Fire? Tell him about it—you won't offend him. He might even give you a Pill."

Hai Bodong's eyelid twitched violently—if Gu He found out he'd been deliberately tricked, even if he regained his strength, it would be hard to handle!

"Hai Lao, think about it—you only 'accidentally' learned of this piece of information. If Gu He obtains the Strange Fire, he can refine the Pill you need. Just tell him: as payment for the intelligence, if he obtains the Strange Fire, refine the Pill for me. He'll never suspect a thing."

!!!!

"See? No matter who ultimately gets the Strange Fire, the Pill you need will be refined for you. If Gu He gets the Blue Lotus Earth Core Fire, you not only keep the Residual Map, but immediately receive the Pill to break the Flame Sealing."

Xiao Yan's voice sounded like a demon's whisper. Without needing to guess, Hai Bodong certainly didn't want to hand the Residual Map to Xiao Yan, nor did he want to wait years longer.

Xiao Yan had precisely seized Hai Bodong's hidden thoughts.

No matter what, he stood to gain nothing but profit.

"You little brat, aren't you afraid that if Gu He snatches the Strange Fire, refines the Pill for me, and then I don't give you the Residual Map?" Hai Bodong glanced at Xiao Yan, who smiled pleasantly—this kid had such confidence? Such backing?

Since Xiao Yan was driving the wolf and the tiger apart, it meant that even if he could summon powerful allies, none could surpass Dou Huang rank—otherwise he'd just go seize it himself.

Of course, if Hai Bodong knew Xiao Yan intended to seize the Strange Fire alone, he'd surely think him insane.

"Hai Lao, on your cultivation path, have you ever acted with absolute certainty? When you fought for the Residual Map, when you broke through to Dou Huang, during any other opportunity—did you always act only when you had absolute certainty?" Xiao Yan looked at Hai Bodong with calm expression.

Hai Bodong, upon hearing this, could only slowly shake his head. How could there be absolute certainty? When he fought for the Residual Map against Mei Du Sha Queen, he'd had less than a ten percent chance.

And yet—he still managed to snatch the Residual Map from Mei Du Sha Queen's hands, only to end up sealed away.

"It seems these twenty years of sealing haven't just sealed my Dou Qi."

Hai Bodong glanced at Xiao Yan, who still wore a smile, and said, "You little rascal, you've planned this well—even though I know you're manipulating me, this temptation is too hard to resist."

Xiao Yan bowed slightly and said, "Regardless of how this turns out, I will still retrieve the Desert Mandrake from the SnakeTribe's Shen Cheng for you, Hai Lao."

Whether Xiao Yan obtained the Strange Fire, Gu He obtained it, or he merely annoyed Mei Du Sha Queen, Hai Bodong felt that informing Gu He was a completely profitable deal.

Xiao Yan had seized this point: no matter what, Hai Bodong would never lose. So he knew Hai Bodong would inevitably act.

And this was Xiao Yan's only chance to obtain the Blue Lotus Earth Core Fire.

He had to stir the waters—only in murky water could one catch fish.

"Then I'll wait for your news, Hai Lao."

Time slipped by, nearly half a month passed.

His finger suddenly flicked against his storage ring, and instantly, a brilliant blue light flooded the room. Before Xiao Yan, a blue lotus seat abruptly appeared, hovering motionless in midair.

With a wave of his hand, Xiao Yan skillfully lowered the lotus seat slightly, then leapt onto it and sat cross-legged upon it with perfect stability.

Slowly closing his eyes, he began activating the Burn Decree. A warm energy flowed from the lotus seat, gently circling his skin. The soothing sensation made Xiao Yan inhale deeply.

He then removed his upper garment and applied a Fourth-Rank Medicinal Essence called Burn Blood. Burn Blood enhanced sensitivity and speed in absorbing Fire Attribute Energy during cultivation.

A faint blue glow rose from the lotus seat, perfectly synergizing with Burn Blood.

Since acquiring the Blue Lotus seat half a month ago, Xiao Yan had been cultivating the Burn Decree seated upon it. Without exaggeration, this seat was a cultivation treasure.

The lotus seat automatically converted Heavenly Energy into a blue Fire Attribute Energy, boosting Xiao Yan's cultivation speed several-fold. Combined with the Arcane-Rank High-Level Burn Decree and Burn Blood, his cultivation speed soared.

An hour later, Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes, a hint of joy on his lips.

"Second-Star Great Dou Shi—Burn Blood truly lives up to its Fourth-Rank status. With the lotus seat's blue flame energy, this is the ultimate cultivation method."

He'd originally estimated needing a full month to break through to Second-Star Great Dou Shi—now his speed had increased three to four times!

For the past half-month, besides waiting for Hai Bodong's news, Xiao Yan had prepared everything—mainly refining Pills.

As a Fourth-Rank Alchemist, Xiao Yan could now refine Fourth-Rank Pills. With the Strange Fire and Black Demon, his success rate in Pill Alchemy was enough to make others envious.

With Xiao Yan as their Alchemist, the Mo Tie Mercenary Corps not only monopolized all mercenary business in Shimo City, but had begun acquiring rare medicinal materials from the Desert.

He'd also picked up several valuable medicinal materials as bargains.

Now, the Mo Tie Mercenary Corps had become a dominant force in Shimo City. Many local families and factions knew a mysterious Alchemist stood behind it—and none dared play tricks on them.

Even Luo Bu, a First-Star Great Dou Shi, had fully submitted to Xiao Yan—under the allure of Pills, no one could resist.

Xiao Yan stroked Mao Wu, who lay curled up on the lotus seat like a lazy kitten—the lotus seat had become Mao Wu's sleeping nest.

"You've grown again."

As for the Earth Core Fire Seed, although Xiao Yan had found a suitable Pill Formula, he hadn't yet gathered all the Medicinal Materials, so he couldn't refine it.

Coo coo~~~ Suddenly, a silver-white messenger pigeon flew in through the window. Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes—it was Hai Bodong's pigeon, a Second-Rank Flying Beast with incredible speed.

Xiao Yan opened the letter, and upon reading its contents, broke into a radiant smile.

"Three days from now. Shen Cheng."

He took out the pitch-black Soul Robe from his storage ring and smiled. "HunYan hasn't appeared in a while. Strange Fire belongs to those with the strength to claim it—don't blame me, Mei Du Sha Queen."

Whoosh—the Soul Robe wrapped around him. He left a letter on the table, and a black-clad shadow flew toward the SnakeTribe's Shen Cheng.

(End of Chapter)