At dawn, Xiao Yan finally arrived at the gates of Mo City after a month-long ordeal.
Apart from the old man and himself, no one knew the extent of the beatings he had suffered over the past month.
After taking the Ice and Fire Body Tempering Pill, Xiao Yan was subjected to six hours of relentless whipping by the Bone Chilling Flame every day for a whole month. He was immersed in the torment of shattered bones all over his body and broken testicles every day.
However, the effects of this month of beatings were also very obvious. First of all, his physical strength had reached the level of an ordinary 4-Tier Magical Beast. Although he was still not as talented as a Magical Beast like the Amethyst Winged Lion King, he could now deal with High-Level Great Dou Masters without any pressure.
Then came his Dou Qi cultivation. In a month, he consumed more than a dozen Grade 5 Pills. Even if they didn't increase his cultivation, he successfully broke through to the 4-Star Great Dou Master level, and it seemed that he was not far from becoming a 5-Star Great Dou Master.
"Call…"
"We rushed and hurried, and finally made it on the last day!"
Xiao Yan took a deep breath, took off his tight-fitting clothes, changed into an alchemist's robe, and walked towards the city gate!
...
In the largest inn in Mo City, Chen Yang still booked a small courtyard.
Although Xiao Yan arrived, it did not dampen Chen Yang's enthusiasm for practicing together.
After a battle, Chen Yang stopped to rest and began to examine the rewards that the World Tree had given for triggering this mechanism.
First of all, there was a brand new Storage Ring. Although it was not as good as Han Feng's Nether Sea Storage Ring, the space inside was much larger, which was in line with his status.
The one he obtained last time by triggering the World Tree mechanism in Wutan City could be given to Xiao Yixian.
Secondly, there was the complete map of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame.
Chen Yang didn't take this thing out immediately. If it contained the consciousness of the Purifying Lotus Demon Saint, he would be marked again. So he simply left it in his storage ring and took it out when Xiao Yan collected all the maps of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame.
At that time, Xiao Yan would probably feel like the Silver Horn King. 'My map is male, while yours is female!'
However, while Chen Yang was indulging in his fantasies, he overlooked one thing—that is, Xiao Yan hadn't obtained a single fragment of the map of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame yet!
...
In the afternoon, after Xiao Yixian woke up, Chen Yang took her out to the Alchemist Guild in Mo City.
He and Xiao Yan agreed that no matter what, they would meet at the Alchemist Guild on time one month later.
Upon entering, Chen Yang saw Xiao Yan sitting in the hall, being respectfully served by a young girl dressed as an alchemist apprentice.
"Brother Yang!"
Upon seeing Chen Yang appear, Xiao Yan excitedly stood up and stepped forward.
"Not bad, you've gotten even stronger in a month, and your cultivation level has increased by one star. Well done!" Chen Yang reached out and patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder. The young man looked travel-worn, but he seemed more mature than he had been a month ago.
"Hehe…" Xiao Yan chuckled. Seeing Chen Yang again, he felt much more at ease.
"Let's go, let's talk somewhere else!" Chen Yang said, leading Xiao Yixian ahead of him and leaving the Alchemist Guild. Xiao Yan hurriedly followed.
Back in the courtyard of the inn, Xiao Yan looked around curiously.
Chen Yang took out various pills that he had already refined and handed them to him.
"Thank you so much, Brother Yang!"
Xiao Yan looked at Chen Yang, filled with gratitude.
"Although it's a fair trade, since you want to thank me, I really have to ask you to do something for me!" Chen Yang said.
"Brother Yang, what do you say?" Xiao Yan put the pill into his storage ring and looked at Chen Yang.
"I remember, your two older brothers are in the Tagor Desert, right?" Chen Yang asked.
"Yes, my eldest brother and second brother are both in Shimo City. They've established a mercenary group and are doing quite well." Thinking of his two older brothers, Xiao Yan immediately smiled.
"When we get to Shimo City, have your two older brothers send a batch of pills back to the Xiao Family for me. They'll all be helpful for Brother Xiao Yong's cultivation," Chen Yang said.
"No problem!" Xiao Yan patted his chest. "I'll have my second brother personally deliver it. It'll be a good opportunity for him to go back and see Father. Hehe, I heard Father has already advanced to the Dou Ling realm. Thanks to Brother Yang for the pills you gave him before you left!"
Chen Yang smiled, and the two exchanged pleasantries for a while. Yao Lao also came out and chatted for a few words.
After lunch, the three people, two beasts, and one soul went out to inquire about the location and headed to the map shop called Ancient Map.
After entering, Xiao Yan was still inspecting everything, but Hai Bodong behind the counter suddenly narrowed his eyes.
'A 4-Star Great Dou Master, a 3-Star Great Dou Master, and a 4-Tier Magical Beast…'
'I couldn't even see the young man and the Magical Beast at his feet clearly…'
'Who exactly are they?'
Hai Bodong's years of hiding made him subconsciously suspicious.
"Um?"
"I never expected that there would be a Dou Huang powerhouse in this desert city."
"But old man, you're not so lucky. How come you've been sealed away?"
Chen Yang turned to look at Hai Bodong. With his current strength, even without the power of the plot, he could easily see through Hai Bodong's current state.
"You…"
Hai Bodong was somewhat flustered. The other party could see through his state at a glance, so he must be at least a High-Level Dou Huang.
He currently only possessed the strength of a Dou Ling, and if the opponent launched an attack, he was likely to be in grave danger.
"This old gentleman is actually a Dou Huang powerhouse?"
Xiao Yan was looking at the pictures when Chen Yang's words caught his attention, and he turned to look at Hai Bodong.
Xiao Yixian also looked at the old man in front of her with curiosity.
"Master, the seal on this person is stronger than my Amethyst Seal. It must have been set up by Medusa, the Queen of the Snake-People." Just then, the Amethyst Winged Lion King at Chen Yang's feet suddenly spoke.
Hai Bodong was startled again. He looked down at the small dog-like Magical Beast and gradually saw the characteristics of the Amethyst Winged Lion King on it.
"You… you are the Amethyst Winged Lion King from the Monster Mountain Range?" Hai Bodong exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes!" The Amethyst Winged Lion King nodded, revealing a hint of the aura of a 6-Tier Magical Beast.
"Hoo…" Hai Bodong was utterly desperate. He looked at the three people and two beasts in front of him and gave a bitter smile. "If you want me to do anything, just say so. However, my strength is now only at the Dou Ling level, so I may not be able to help you much!"
"Hai Bodong?"
"You are the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, one of the ten strongest figures in the Jia Ma Empire?"
Xiao Yixian said in surprise upon hearing this.
Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, a legendary figure in the Jia Ma Empire, had unexpectedly fallen to this state.
"Yes!" Hai Bodong nodded bitterly.
"Mr. Hai, there's no need to panic. We're just here to buy maps and have no ill intentions." Chen Yang smiled and, seeing that Hai Bodong's expression had softened, continued, "Speaking of which, I also have some connections with the Mittel Family. Mr. Hai, there's no need to treat me as a stranger or an enemy."
Upon hearing this, Hai Bodong's expression softened somewhat. "I cannot see through you, sir. I wonder who you are…"
Chen Yang smiled. "9-Star Dou Huang!"
Hai Bodong gasped. "Hiss…"
"Mr. Hai, could you please get my brother a map of the Heavenly Flame in the Tagor Desert?" Chen Yang said, looking at Hai Bodong.
Hai Bodong pondered for a moment and nodded. Then he took out a map he had drawn from the information about different flames he had collected over the years, and gave Xiao Yan some more instructions.
After receiving the map, Xiao Yan wandered around the shop and discovered a small portion of the incomplete map of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame.
"If you want that, young man, I have half left!" Hai Bodong looked at Chen Yang, then at Xiao Yan, gritted his teeth, and took out the remaining half.
However, Xiao Yan directly handed the map to Chen Yang and then used his Soul Force to transmit his voice. "Brother Yang, this is a fragment of the map of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, which ranks third on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. Do you want it? I'll give it to you!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Yang looked at Xiao Yan in surprise. "The cultivation technique you practice requires a lot of Heavenly Flames. Are you willing to give it to me?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan smiled freely. "Without Brother Yang, I might just be an ordinary Dou Shi now, and I wouldn't even be able to gather enough pills and herbs to devour the Heavenly Flame. Besides, this thing is too far beyond my reach. Brother Yang is very fortunate, and who knows, he might be able to collect it all. I can benefit from your help in the future!"
Chen Yang burst into laughter. "Hahaha… Take this. Just for what you said today, I, Brother Yang, will give you an incredible opportunity in the future!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan scratched his head. Although he didn't understand, he silently packed the map away, thinking that if he could find other fragments of the map in the future, he could give it to Chen Yang later.
At this moment, Chen Yang looked at Hai Bodong and said, "Mr. Hai, since you took out this map without hesitation, my little brother and I won't take it for nothing. In return, we'll… help you break the seal. How about that?"
Upon hearing this, Hai Bodong's bitter face suddenly lifted as he looked at Chen Yang. "Really… really can it?"
As Hai Bodong spoke, he pondered in his heart. 'Medusa is a 9-Star Dou Huang, and this young man in front of him is the same. Perhaps, there is a great chance.'
"I am a 9-Star Dou Huang, and my little brother here possesses a Heavenly Flame. This great lion is also proficient in sealing techniques. I will also refine a Grade 5 Shattering Star Pill for you. If all four methods work together, then I will have no choice but to go and find Medusa myself!" Chen Yang said with a smile.
"You… you guys are alchemists?" Hai Bodong was astonished.
"Brother Yang is a Grade 5 Alchemist," Xiao Yan said proudly.
"Hiss…" Hai Bodong gasped again.
After a moment's thought, Hai Bodong stepped out from behind the counter and bowed deeply to Chen Yang. "If you can break this seal, young sir, you can command me at will in the future without any objection."
Compared to the original story where Hai Bodong was still struggling with Xiao Yan, Chen Yang, who was already at the peak of Dou Huang at a young age and had a 6-Tier Magical Beast as a mount, undoubtedly won over Hai Bodong's proud heart.
"Okay!" Chen Yang nodded with a smile upon hearing this.
Hai Bodong stood up and revealed a smile.