Chapter 122: Testing (Two Chapters)

Seeing Hai Bodong stare intently at the Soul Communication Token, Xiao Yan feigned sudden understanding, picked up the token with a smile, and said: "This thing? It's a talisman my family elders blessed me with—said to ward off misfortune and attract good luck."

Hai Bodong could naturally sense it was a Soul Communication tool, not some damn talisman.

Crafting such a Soul Communication tool requires immense Soul Force—only Alchemists typically make them, using the same principle as creating Pill Formulas.

Precisely because such tools exist, Alchemists are called wasp nests.

Should an Alchemist be attacked, they can use this Soul Communication tool to send a distress signal to others. 【Original text: Yao Lao used it twice.】

Watching Xiao Yan, smiling lightly, leaning back in his chair with one leg crossed over the other, fingers interlaced before him, Hai Bodong narrowed his eyes and slowly descended from midair.

Who was Hai Bodong? Once the Ice Emperor, cold and domineering—no one had ever dared forcibly take anything from him. Yet Xiao Yan broke his taboo—and even extorted him.

After regaining his strength, it was certainly false to claim Hai Bodong never once considered snatching back the Residual Map.

"Indeed, a fine talisman," Hai Bodong forced a smile, yet made no move.

Because he recalled Yun Yun's words from a few days prior—and the fact that Gu He and others had returned empty-handed.

Xiao Yan smiled faintly and returned the Soul Communication Token to his Storage Ring. He wasn't worried—he'd known this outcome all along.

From the moment he entered the shop, Xiao Yan had been testing Hai Bodong.

From the very beginning—when Xiao Yan deliberately claimed he had infiltrated the Snake People Empire's treasury, to later lying that he'd found the Beast Technique Scroll sealing Mei Du Sha, and handed it to his elders—it was all a test.

This wasn't Xiao Yan making up a fake "elder powerhouse" to scare Hai Bodong; he was testing what news Hai Bodong had heard after Yun Yun and the others left.

Yun Yun let Xiao Yan escape—she had to give Gu He an excuse. Yun Yun was a Wind Attribute Dou Huang; in Jia Ma Empire, no one flew faster than her. She couldn't possibly have failed to catch Xiao Yan.

So the only plausible excuse for failing to seize the Spiritual Flame was that a second person had blocked her.

During the struggle for the Spiritual Flame in Shen Cheng, Gu He and the others genuinely believed Xiao Yan's side had two people: one was the black-robed man who infiltrated Shen Cheng to steal the Flame, and the other was the mysterious powerhouse causing chaos in the MaiShe Tribe.

Thus Yun Yun's excuse was perfect—no one would doubt it.

Yet no one had imagined that the mysterious powerhouse causing chaos was actually a Spiritual Flame Fusion capable of traversing Space.

So Xiao Yan deduced Yun Yun would use the excuse of a mysterious powerhouse blocking her, allowing the black-robed man to escape.

When Xiao Yan mentioned his elder, Hai Bodong never doubted whether such an "elder" truly existed—he only questioned whether the Flame Sealing could be broken.

At that moment, Xiao Yan had already confirmed: Yun Yun had said a second mysterious powerhouse blocked her, and the black-robed man slipped away.

And Hai Bodong knew this news.

Precisely because of this, when Xiao Yan removed Hai Bodong's Flame Sealing, he did so without hesitation, without any hidden precautions—so confident, so swift.

As if he had no fear Hai Bodong would turn on him—after all, Xiao Yan had confirmed Hai Bodong dared not, and Hai Bodong had already been subtly conditioned through prior conversations to believe "I have a powerful elder behind me."

Xiao Yan smiled faintly, gently stroking his Storage Ring: "I'm such a fool—I forgot to congratulate Hai Lao."

Slowly rising from his seat, Xiao Yan bowed with a perfectly standard congratulatory gesture and said softly: "I am Xiao Yan—congratulations, Hai Lao, on your return to Dou Huang status."

Xiao Yan's bow was water without leak—it gave Hai Bodong face, introduced himself, and subtly signaled Xiao Yan had no intention of becoming his enemy.

"Sigh," Hai Bodong shook his head, a bitter smile on his face, and pulled the remaining half of the Residual Map from his Storage Ring: "Enough. I've stared at this Residual Map for over twenty years and learned nothing. Perhaps you're the one destined for it—this map is yours."

Xiao Yan reached out and took the Residual Map, its surface smooth and supple. He examined it closely—a faint aura of antiquity and age washed over him. Clearly, this map had endured far longer than most could imagine.

Holding this fragment, Xiao Yan withdrew the other fragment he'd taken from Hai Bodong earlier from his Storage Ring, then carefully aligned them. When he found the edges joined perfectly, without a single gap, he finally exhaled in relief.

"As for half of the Miter Auction House's share, I won't break my word. Whenever you're free, I'll take you there to explain. But I hope that in the future, should the Auction House need anything, you'll lend a hand." Hai Bodong waved his hand casually.

Xiao Yan didn't press further: "Hai Lao, you flatter me. I'm just an ordinary Alchemist—I'm not skilled in commerce or management. But if I need Medicinal Materials for Spirit Refining in the future, I hope the Auction House can supply them. As for daily operations and revenue—I take not a single coin."

"Don't give me that," Hai Bodong shot him a skeptical look. "An ordinary Alchemist doesn't possess a Spiritual Flame. And the Medicinal Materials you need for Spirit Refining? You'd have to turn the entire Jia Ma Empire upside down to find them."

"If you ever need me to repay this favor, find me—or give me a Soul Communication Tool, and notify me when you need me." Hai Bodong said.

"No need to repay," Xiao Yan grinned, showing his white teeth. "Right now, I need Hai Lao's help."

"Now?" Hai Bodong puffed his beard. "So that's why you came here to break my Seal—you've got a task for me, you little rascal! No wonder you showed up to remove my Seal!"

"Speak up—what do you need me to do? I'll warn you: I was once a Five-Star Dou Huang, but sealed for over twenty years. Though the Seal is broken now, my Cultivation Realm has dropped to One-Star Dou Huang."

"Mo Cheng, the Elder of the Mo Family in Yan City, captured one of my people. I want Hai Lao to accompany me to the Mo Family and demand their release."

"The Mo Family captured one of your people?" Hai Bodong fell silent for a moment. "I once dealt with the Mo Family. I know some secrets—they've long experimented by removing powerful claws or bones from beasts and transplanting them into humans. Your person must have something special."

Xiao Yan's eyes darkened. It was indeed because of the Qi San Hua Tong.

"If anything happens to Qing Lin, I will make the Mo Family pay."

"I've heard of Mo Cheng in Mo City—a Five-Star Dou Ling. But he's shrewd—he's cultivated good relations with the Yun Lan Sect, gaining their tacit protection."

Attacking the Mo Family is like slapping the Yun Lan Sect in the face.

In the Jia Ma Empire, even the Jia Ma Royal Family feared the Yun Lan Sect, as if the Sect had already surpassed the Royal Family in authority.

"Hai Lao, don't worry—I can handle Mo Cheng alone. If I can get Qing Lin back directly, all the better. If not, I only need you to block Yan City's guards and the Mo Family's men."

Hai Bodong glanced at Xiao Yan and snorted: "Are you suggesting I'm afraid of the Yun Lan Sect!? Though I don't want to offend them, I, Hai Bodong, keep my word. If needed, I'll step in and eliminate Mo Cheng for you."

"Then thank you, Hai Lao. But I believe it won't come to that. Time is critical—the longer we wait, the more complications arise. Let's go."

Smiling, Xiao Yan nodded and waved to Hai Bodong beside him. His back trembled slightly, then the Purple Cloud Wings unfurled, lifting him slowly into the air.

Together, they ascended into the sky, wings flapping—two streaks of light swiftly vanishing beyond the horizon.

The two flew for a full day and night before reaching Yan City.

"Xiao Yan, you're really a Great Dou Shi?" Hai Bodong was stunned. He, a Dou Huang, could fly for a day and night—no problem. But you're just a Great Dou Shi! And you're using a Flying Dou Technique—how in the world can you fly for a full day and night!?

Xiao Yan naturally understood Hai Bodong's shock and laughed: "Probably because of the Spiritual Flame—it makes my Dou Qi more enduring."

"The Spiritual Flame can do that?"

Yan City, situated along a broad highway linking the eastern provinces of the Jia Ma Empire, served as the region's major transportation hub—making it the largest city in the eastern provinces, heavily garrisoned by imperial troops.

Within Yan City, beyond imperial forces, the strongest faction was naturally the Mo Family—their target this journey.

Though great trees attract wind, with the Yun Lan Sect as their backer, even the Jia Ma Imperial Family dared not easily trouble the Mo Family.

"We've flown for a day and night—let's find an inn to rest before heading to the Mo Family," Hai Bodong said, glancing at Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan nodded. If he was to storm the Mo Family, he needed to restore his condition first.

The two landed several hundred meters outside Yan City, walked to the queue, and joined the flow of people entering the city.

As they approached the city gate, Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong noticed dozens of fully armed soldiers standing along both sides of the wall, their sharp gazes sweeping constantly over passersby.

Xiao Yan slightly furrowed his brows; even the city guards here rivaled those of Wang Du.

"Tsk tsk tsk, the Mo Family really knows how to put on a show—just for Elder Mo Cheng's birthday, they can even command the city garrison," Xiao Yan suddenly heard a few men in mercenary attire whispering ahead.

"What can you do? Word is, even Yun Lan Sect sent people over to prevent any trouble."

"Oh? Yun Lan Sect sent people too? Elder Mo Cheng really has that much influence."

"In Yun Lan Sect's eyes, the Mo Family means nothing. If not for the massive tributes the Mo Family pays them every year, why would they deign to deal with them?" one mercenary sneered.

Xiao Yan nodded silently—he strongly agreed with the mercenary's words; Yun Lan Sect's people truly looked down on everyone.

Compared to Xiao Clan, the Mo Family had only one or two more Dou Master. Now Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had consolidated the mercenary trade in Shimo City, and with Xiao Clan's dominance over Wutan City years ago—thanks to Xiao Yan's help—

It wouldn't take long before Xiao Clan's strength matched the Mo Family's, and with Xiao Yan added, the Mo Family would be no match.

Just as Xiao Yan was about to step through the gate, a clatter of hooves came from not far behind him.

Several men and women on fine steeds galloped toward them, kicking up dust that enraged the waiting crowd. But when their angry glares fell upon the rider at the front, they swallowed their rage and stayed silent.

Xiao Yan glanced over—the lead rider was a young woman, clad in a tight red dress that clung to her slender figure. A small crystal pendant on her smooth forehead swayed gently, adding a touch of liveliness to her face, which carried a hint of spoiled arrogance.

Only after the hooves faded into the distance did a chorus of curses erupt.

"Fuck, she's just the Mo Family's second daughter—what's so special about her?"

Xiao Yan lightly furrowed his brows; the Mo Family's upbringing clearly left much to be desired.

"If the top is crooked, the bottom will be too—the Mo Family is rotten from within."

"Hehe, all big families are like this—acting like local emperors in their own cities," Hai Bodong chuckled.

Xiao Yan shook his head slightly and walked with Hai Bodong into the largest inn in Mo City. After requesting two Guest Rooms, the rather attractive maid sized them up, then replied sweetly: "Sir, do you have an invitation from the Mo Family?"

"Invitation?" Xiao Yan frowned and shook his head. "No. Are we in Yan City or Mo City? Do we need a Mo Family invitation?"

"I'm sorry, sir. For the past few days, every inn in Yan City has been fully booked by the Mo Family—only their guests are admitted," the maid replied with polite formality.

"Oh ho, the Mo Family is even more tyrannical than Yun Lan Sect," Xiao Yan chuckled, his tone dripping with mockery.

"Where did this bumpkin come from, daring to accuse the Mo Family of tyranny in Yan City?!" A woman's cold laugh suddenly came from behind Xiao Yan.

With his strong Soul Force, Xiao Yan didn't need to turn around—he knew it was the Mo Family's second daughter, the one who had just ridden past.

"Isn't that proof enough that your Mo Family is tyrannical?" Xiao Yan sneered without turning.

"Brat! You're asking for death!" Hearing Xiao Yan's sarcasm, the Mo Family's second daughter—accustomed to being treated like a treasure—flared her eyebrows. In an instant, her long whip hissed like a black shadow and lashed toward Xiao Yan.

Everyone watching shook their heads silently, pitying Xiao Yan's fate.

Whoosh! Suddenly, a wisp of Black Flame appeared out of nowhere—Void Swallowing Flame instantly burned the weapon, forged from a Second-Tier Magic Beast's Magic Core, into nothingness.

Before anyone could react, a large hand shot out like a venomous snake, gripping the Mo Family's second daughter by the throat and lifting her half a meter off the ground.

"Three years ago, someone else acted just like you. That man ended up with two fingers broken. Want to try?"

Question regarding Lotus Earth Core Fire.

The author has NOT suppressed Xiao Yan's Cultivation Realm!!!

In the original work, refining Lotus Earth Core Fire only raised Xiao Yan from Second-Star Dou Master to Fourth-Star Dou Master—an increase of two stars. Now that he's a Grand Dou Master, he can only gain one star.

I suspect everyone has forgotten: the original setting states that refining a Strange Flame does NOT increase Cultivation Realm! 【Original Setting】.

Each time Xiao Yan advances in cultivation, it's because the environment of the Strange Flame or the dungeon granted him additional boosts. Refining the Strange Flame itself does NOT increase cultivation!!

Also, about the five-chapter updates. The past two days were five chapters each; the first update was a combined two chapters totaling over four thousand characters. Going forward, I'll combine the first and second chapters for five-chapter days—it'll make tracking monthly ticket bonus chapters easier.

Today is also a five-chapter day. There's only one monthly ticket bonus chapter left from last month. Hahaha, I'm finally out of the sea of suffering!

(End of Chapter)