"Otherwise, bear the consequences yourself."
Upon hearing Hai Bodong's menacing words, the icy mist gathering on the ground thickened even more. Chen Mo's expression changed, and he quickly retrieved the Dou Ancestor Experience Card from his system, ready to crush and use it at any moment.
In a corner outside the shop, an elderly man in a white robe, sensing the chilling cold, frowned and stepped out from the shadows.
If anything seemed amiss, he was prepared to rush into the shop.
Inside the shop, a battle was imminent. Chen Mo, enveloped in a Nether Energy Gauze Robe flickering with Thunder Fire, caused Hai Bodong to emit low murmurs of surprise. Clearly, he hadn't expected the flames to be used in such a manner.
"Ice Emperor, I mean no harm. In fact, I'm here to help you," Chen Mo said, aiming to recruit Hai Bodong. He didn't want to use the Dou Ancestor Experience Card unless absolutely necessary.
"Hmm," came the response as the icy mist slightly receded, followed by a mocking voice, "A mere three-star Dou Master, where do you get the audacity to offer help to this old man?"
It was evident that Hai Bodong had acknowledged his identity.
"Because I can tell at a glance that you've been sealed by Queen Medusa's Serpent Seal," Chen Mo bluffed.
Hai Bodong frowned again, the icy mist on the ground retreating significantly as he stared intently at Chen Mo.
After a long while, the hundreds of ice crystals floating around him shattered one by one. He sighed softly and said, "Young man, who exactly are you? Since you can recognize the seal on me, do you have a way to break it?"
Nalan Yanran, sensing the old man's hostility dissipate, breathed a sigh of relief. She then turned her beautiful eyes to Chen Mo, a big question mark forming in her mind.
"I come from the Central Plains," Chen Mo continued to stretch the truth. "As for the seal on you, I currently have no way to break it."
"The Central Plains?" The mention of the Central Plains made Hai Bodong's gaze uncertain, though a hint of wariness crept into his heart. However, upon hearing Chen Mo's latter statement, his eyes turned cold. "Boy, are you mocking me?"
The previously receded icy mist began to climb again.
"Not at all. I said 'currently.' If the Ice Emperor agrees to join the Lofty Cloud Pavilion, I guarantee that within a year, I will break the seal within you," Chen Mo stated, not lying this time. The Calamity Breaking Pill was available in the system's shop for 4,000 Luck Points.
Even if he didn't purchase it from the shop, obtaining a Strange Fire for Gu He to refine one wouldn't be a big issue.
And if all else failed, with a year being such a long time, getting a Healing Charm from the system wouldn't be too difficult either.
"The Lofty Cloud Pavilion? What kind of faction is that?" Hai Bodong was puzzled. He had never heard of such a name.
Nalan Yanran's red lips parted slightly as she gazed at Chen Mo with a flicker in her eyes.
"I just founded it recently. It's a new faction."
Hai Bodong grew angry again, but this time he restrained his fury and said, "So you're saying you want this old man to join your newly founded faction and serve under you?"
As a long-renowned Dou Emperor, how could he possibly work for a young man who hadn't even reached the level of a Dou Grand Master?
What about the dignity of a Dou Emperor?
"Not to serve, but to cooperate," Chen Mo explained.
"Cooperate? Then where is your sincerity for this cooperation?" Hai Bodong sneered. "Just the empty promise you made earlier about a year?"
"For now, yes."
"Then you can leave."
"Of course, you can leave," Chen Mo smiled. "The torment of being sealed every day must be unbearable. Over the years, you must have tried many methods to break the seal, but none worked. So why not trust me this time?"
"All I ask is for you to agree to join the Lofty Cloud Pavilion. Until the seal within you is broken, you can refuse any tasks assigned by the pavilion. In simple terms, you don't have to give up anything, yet you gain a chance to break the seal. Why not take it?"
Hai Bodong thought it over and realized it was indeed a fair deal. After all, he had nothing to lose.
"If that's the case, I can indeed join the Lofty Cloud Pavilion. But as for working for the pavilion, we'll talk after you break the seal within me."
"Then it's a pleasure to cooperate," Chen Mo said with a smile, noticing the red dot on his system map had grown larger. He politely extended his hand.
Hai Bodong didn't shake it, instead coldly replying, "No need to see me out."
Chen Mo wasn't offended. He thought to himself that once he found a way to break the seal, he'd have a detailed discussion with Hai Bodong.
By then, he'd make sure Hai Bodong paid a hefty price.
"I don't need the medicinal ingredients for now, but give me the elixir formula, or at least a copy of it," Chen Mo said, extending his hand to ask for the formula.
"What formula?" Hai Bodong was momentarily stunned.
"How can I refine the elixir for you if you don't give me the Calamity Breaking Pill formula?"
"How do you know I have it?" Hai Bodong was astonished by Chen Mo's vast knowledge.
Chen Mo chuckled without answering, simply waving his fingers.
After a moment of hesitation, Hai Bodong copied the Calamity Breaking Pill formula and handed it to Chen Mo, then added, "I know the rules—prepare the ingredients yourself. But there's one ingredient, the Sand Mandala, that I haven't been able to find. It's only—"
"Fine, I'll find it for you," Chen Mo interrupted his rambling. "But nothing in this world is free. You'll have to offer something in return, won't you?"
"I can tell you about the Strange Fire," Hai Bodong said, sharing all the information he knew about the Strange Fire with Chen Mo.
He even gave Chen Mo a map marking the location of the Strange Fire.
Although Chen Mo knew that the Azure Lotus Core Flame had already been taken by the Queen, the Lotus Seat was still there.
That was also a valuable item.
Before leaving, Chen Mo deliberately scanned the shop and picked up the Purification Lotus Demonic Flame Remnant Map, waving it casually. "Keep this safe for now. We'll exchange it later."
Hai Bodong didn't fully understand but carefully tucked it into his robe.
Not long after Chen Mo and his companion left, a young man carrying a massive black ruler entered the shop.
...
"Junior Brother, how did you recognize Ice Emperor Hai Bodong?" Nalan Yanran asked curiously.
Ice Emperor Hai Bodong was a Dou Emperor even more renowned than their teacher, a figure from the same era as the old sect master.
"I told you, I'm from the Central Plains."
"Just being from the Central Plains allows you to recognize Ice Emperor Hai Bodong at a glance?"
Chen Mo fell silent.
Blind student, you've stumbled upon a key point.
By the way, in a certain sense, Hai Bodong is either Queen Medusa's brother-in-law or brother-in-law.
Looking out, the yellow sand raged.
Chen Mo gazed at the vast expanse of desert before him and sighed softly. Without Qing Lin's guidance as in the novels, could he find the traces of the Strange Fire?
No, in the novel, Qing Lin only led them to t
he general area. The precise passage seemed to be beneath this expanse of yellow sand.
It seems the only option is to seek help from the mercenary groups nearby.
(End of Chapter)