Chapter 120: Breaking Hai Bodong

At this moment, the Black Flame vanished and returned to Space, rejoining Mao Wu, who merely touched his face in Space and lay down to sleep again.

Only the blackened, charred marks on the ground and the traces of battle proved that what had just occurred was real—not a hallucination or a fleeting vision of the Mo Tie Mercenary Corps members.

This sudden change left not only the Mo Tie Mercenary Corps spectators stunned, but also former Sand Mercenary Corps mercenaries and Luo Bu, and even Xiao Yan's two brothers were bewildered—such a transformation was truly horrifying.

Xiao Ding was completely frozen, unable to recover his composure for a long time. All observers were equally petrified, even refusing to believe it!

Fifty or sixty Dou Masters, three Senior Dou Masters—all were reduced to nothing by the sudden, inexplicable Black Flame.

Not even ashes remained!

Dou Qi armor, group arrays, Mo Family cultivation techniques and Dou Techniques—all meant nothing before the nascent Void Swallowing Flame, which had absorbed vast amounts of flame energy and other substances, now standing like dust in history.

In the instant the Void Swallowing Flame swept across, the city governor of Shimo City suddenly opened his eyes—he was a Dou Wang, his deep gaze terrifying, and he murmured in a low, grave voice: "This boy must not be antagonized…"

Know that Shimo City is the city closest to the Snake People Empire, and its governor's strength is unfathomable. Though not among the Top Ten Strongest of the Jia Ma Empire, his power certainly ranks among the highest.

"Carry my order: the Shimo City garrison must not provoke any conflict with the Mo Tie Mercenary Corps. Violators will be punished by military law!"

This scene also stunned all "spectators," including distant onlookers from Shimo City who didn't even notice their melons had fallen from their hands.

All were utterly awestruck.

"Third brother… you—you—you, your strength!!" After a long while, Xiao Li finally asked.

Half a month ago, Xiao Yan was powerful, but he couldn't wipe out so many at once—not even three Senior Dou Masters—with a mere wave of his hand!

Xiao Ding narrowed his eyes and asked: "Third brother, did you succeed?"

With Xiao Ding's question, Xiao Li suddenly remembered why Xiao Yan had left half a month ago.

He sucked in a sharp breath! That meant Xiao Yan had truly stolen the Spirit Flame from Mei Du Sha Queen!

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had only heard of Spirit Flames, of their terrifying and Shen Mi Zhi Yi nature, but they had never witnessed their true power—today, as the Void Swallowing Flame swept through, reducing everything to nothing, they were profoundly shaken!

This was the power of a Spirit Flame!

Only now did they realize how terrifying a Spirit Flame truly was!

Xiao Yan merely smiled faintly and offered no further explanation—some things were better left unsaid.

"Big brother, second brother, was Qing Lin captured by the Mo Family in Yan City?" Xiao Yan returned straight to the point.

Jade itself is innocent; it is the possession of jade that invites disaster. Thus, when Xiao Yan had opened his storage ring, he had revealed nothing—not even a single Dou Technique or Cultivation Method—to anyone.

Not even his two brothers or his father knew—fearing exactly this kind of incident.

Yet he never expected that Qing Lin's Qi San Hua Tong would still be discovered, drawing such calamity.

After explanations from Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, Xiao Yan learned the full story.

"Two days ago, she likely already returned to Yan City—too late to intercept."

"The Mo Family's Senior Elder, Mo Cheng, who defeated the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake and captured Qing Lin, must be at least a Mid-Level Dou Spirit… and is the Yun Lan Sect involved?"

Mo Cheng was not only infamous, but more importantly, he had once been a disciple of the Yun Lan Sect—even among the candidates when Yun Yun took disciples eight years ago. Yet in the end, Yun Yun chose Nalan Yanran as her disciple.

Every year, the Mo Family pays large sums of gold to the Yun Lan Sect; their relationship resembles that of a vassal clan, paying annual protection fees in exchange for the Yun Lan Sect's protection.

Xiao Yan's relationship with the Yun Lan Sect is complicated—on one hand, with Sect Master Yun Yun; on the other, with Nalan Yanran.

Xiao Yan owes Yun Yun a debt; their relationship is ambiguous—he had seen her naked and even bitten her, and Nalan Yanran's betrothal to Xiao Yan has yet to be dissolved; nominally, Xiao Yan remains the Young Sect Master's betrothed.

"Big brother, second brother, leave Qing Lin's matter to me."

"Third brother, the Mo Family is the dominant power in Yan City—we'll go with you!" Xiao Li said seriously.

Xiao Yan looked at his two brothers and shook his head: "Second brother, Yan City isn't our territory—more people would only complicate things. Don't worry—I'm not going alone. I have an ally."

Xiao Yan smiled knowingly, gazing toward the direction of Mo City. Wasn't there still a Dou Huang needing help in Mo City?

I help you, you help me—we help each other.

Xiao Yan said no more and left Shimo City immediately, traveling day and night—he flew the entire afternoon to reach Mo City, arriving just as evening fell.

"The Flying Dou Technique is still too slow—even with sufficient Dou Qi, traveling between cities takes half a day."

Landing outside the shop, Xiao Yan stared at the slightly ajar door, unable to suppress a sigh. The Ice Emperor, Hai Bodong, once a towering figure of the Jia Ma Empire, was now sealed and hidden in such a humble storefront.

As soon as Xiao Yan pushed open the door and stepped inside, Hai Bodong's voice came from within: "Closed for the day."

Hearing Hai Bodong's voice, Xiao Yan smirked and said impatiently: "Fine, fine, you're closed—then I'm closed too. Go find someone else to break the seal."

!!!!

Hai Bodong forced a smile and stepped out, saying: "Hehe, it's you, young brother! Come in, come in, sit down."

Xiao Yan didn't hesitate, walking slowly into the shop and taking a seat.

Hai Bodong scanned Xiao Yan's body, his eyes swiftly flickering with surprise. It had been barely over a month since they last met, yet he sensed Xiao Yan had grown vastly stronger.

From his storage ring, Xiao Yan took out a water flask, and with a soft whoosh, a strand of blue flame sprouted from his fingertip and entered the flask, instantly boiling the water—he poured himself a cup without a word.

At the sight of the blue flame, Hai Bodong's expression changed: "So you've obtained the Blue Lotus Earth Core Fire."

Hai Bodong could easily deduce Xiao Yan had obtained the Blue Lotus Earth Core Fire—because after Gu He and others scattered, their rendezvous point was this very shop.

There was no choice—he was the one who had provided the intelligence to Gu He and the others.

Xiao Yan smiled, sipped the hot water, and said: "Just lucky—I barely escaped Sect Master Yun Yun."

Hai Bodong sighed and shook his head: "To escape from Yun Yun's grasp—no matter how you did it, that's your ability."

After a moment of silence, Hai Bodong asked: "So what brings you here this time…?"

Xiao Yan smiled inwardly—Hai Bodong still couldn't hold his composure. But then again, who could? Twenty years sealed, anyone would be desperate to be freed.

Click—the sound of Xiao Yan setting down his teacup, his eyes narrowing as he smiled: "I have another way to break Mei Du Sha Queen's seal."

(End of Chapter)