Dou Zong experts, which the entire Jia Ma Empire lacked, were not rare in those places.
Within those powers, there were also many geniuses with extraordinary talent, yet none of them could compare to the young girl before him.
Possessing Water Attribute Fighting Qi yet able to refine a strange fire, and reaching nine-star Great Dou Master at such a young age.
This kind of talent was simply terrifying.
Under the shock of those extremely terrifying transcendent powers, he could no longer maintain his composure.
Moreover, Xiao Xue had said at the very beginning that the value of that remnant map could buy the entire Northwest Continent!
After witnessing Xiao Xue's strength, Hai Bodong had to become cautious, and her words gained several degrees of credibility.
"I originally thought you were just an ordinary Dou Ling, but from our exchange just now, Old Mister's aura seems a bit strange?" Xiao Xue said with a faint smile.
"Sigh, I didn't expect that after living in seclusion here for over twenty years, I would be made to look so pathetic by a Great Dou Master today." Hai Bodong's voice sounded slightly desolate.
"Heh, this old man is incompetent, but I was once one of the Jia Ma Empire's ten strongest experts, the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong."
Xiao Xue: "..."
Hai Bodong: "..."
Never mind, to a Genius of this level, a mere Dou Huang probably really didn't amount to much.
Thus, Hai Bodong's tone suddenly shifted as he gazed at Xiao Xue and said indifferently, "Girl, is this remnant map very important to you?"
Xiao Xue was silent for a moment before nodding. She had nothing to hide regarding this point.
Seeing Xiao Xue nod, Hai Bodong smiled triumphantly. "Look closely at that remnant map; it is merely..."
"It's one half of it," Xiao Xue interrupted him directly. "If this were the complete map, would I be here chatting with you?"
"Old Mister, if I wanted to leave, I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to keep me here, right?"
Hai Bodong was choked by her words, clearly not expecting Xiao Xue to be so knowledgeable about this remnant map.
However, he quickly adjusted his state. "Girl, I don't care what power you come from, how high your talent is, or how powerful your master is."
"I, Hai Bodong, have no children, no daughters, and no relatives. My Fighting Qi is sealed, my strength has dropped to that of a Dou Ling, and I don't have much longer to live."
"If I don't want to speak, no one can force me," Hai Bodong laughed with a face full of pride.
After a moment of silence, Xiao Xue did not utter a threat; instead, she gave a light laugh and shrugged her shoulders.
"Old Mister, if you have something to say, feel free to be direct. No matter how precious something is, it should have a price, shouldn't it?"
"Moreover, this Junior should still be able to afford the price you set."
Xiao Xue knew that an old fox like Hai Bodong wouldn't deliberately say angry words just to spite her.
Furthermore, from Hai Bodong's words just now, Xiao Xue was certain he already thought she came from some great power with someone backing her.
If she thought Hai Bodong truly wasn't afraid of death, she would have lived these dozen or so years in vain—
No one is truly unafraid of death, and even less likely to die for such an unknown remnant map.
The only reason Hai Bodong said that was for one purpose—playing hard to get, wanting to drive up the price to sell it for a good deal.
Xiao Xue naturally understood perfectly what game Hai Bodong was playing, so she didn't hide anything and stated her attitude directly.
After pondering for a while, Hai Bodong asked very seriously, "Are you really an Alchemist?"
Xiao Xue smiled and pointed to the Fifth-Grade Alchemist badge on her chest. "The real deal."
"Then can you help me refine a sixth-grade pill?" Hai Bodong asked with some excitement.
Hearing this, Xiao Xue deliberately raised her eyebrows with a hint of surprise. "A sixth-grade pill?"
Hai Bodong took a deep breath. "With your talent, I imagine it won't take long for you to break through to become a Sixth-Rank Alchemist."
"I want you to refine a pill for me when you reach the level of a Sixth-Rank Alchemist."
"This remnant map should be worth that price, right?"
Xiao Xue smiled slightly. "Naturally. However, if it's just a sixth-grade pill, why doesn't Old Mister go find Pill King Gu He?"
"That pill requires an Alchemist who possesses a strange fire to refine. Pill King Gu He... he does not have a strange fire," Hai Bodong said somewhat awkwardly.
"So that's how it is." Xiao Xue nodded. "After I break through to the sixth rank, I will definitely refine the medicine for you."
"Of course, when the time comes, I also hope you will proactively hand over the remaining part of the remnant map to me."
"Don't think about reneging on the debt. You should know that while a Dou Huang can be considered an expert in the Jia Ma Empire, they are nothing in the Central Plains."
Hearing this, Hai Bodong became even more embarrassed and could only squeeze out a smile and agree.
"Oh right, you know the rules of Alchemists, don't you? The Pill Formula and medicinal ingredients are provided by you," Xiao Xue said indifferently.
Hai Bodong's face stiffened, and only after a long while did he speak. "Uh... I have already gathered most of the ingredients required by the formula, but I am still missing the last one."
"This ingredient is called the Sand Mandragora. It can only be found in the Tagor Desert, and the hotter the place, the easier it is to find it."
"But as you know, I Cultivate an ice-attribute technique, and I still have Queen Medusa's Seal within me."
"As soon as I step into the depths of the Tagor Desert, she will Detect me, so..."
Hai Bodong had never felt so embarrassed!
He even felt that even when he fought Medusa with his strength as a five-star Dou Huang, it wasn't as agonizing as it was now!
"Understood," Xiao Xue nodded. "Old Mister, I can help you go into the depths of the desert to gather the medicine."
"However, that will be a separate price."
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