Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Here Comes Hun Yan!
Chapter 108: Here Comes Hun Yan!
Hai Bodong immediately understood what Xiao Yan was trying to do. He was planning to pit Queen Medusa and Gu He against each other and then reap the benefits himself!
Despite Queen Medusa's fearsome reputation as a peak Rank 6 magical beast and the immense threat she posed to the Jia Ma Empire-resulting in yearly conflicts where the empire usually ended up losing-there was a crucial factor to consider.
If Pill King Gu He were to fully support the Jia Ma Empire, the entire Snake-People Tribe might not be able to resist.
Pill King Gu He didn't take orders from the imperial family of the Jia Ma Empire. In fact, even the king had to treat him with the utmost respect.
Such was the power of the empire's number one alchemist and its only 6th-tier alchemist.
As a high-grade 6th-tier alchemist, Pill King Gu He's influence was in no way inferior to Queen Medusa at the peak of Rank 6.
If Gu He wasn't still relatively young, just over forty, and had spent more time at the 6th-tier, Hai Bodong believed he would be even more terrifying than her.
A high-grade 6th-tier alchemist could rival the queen of a magical beast empire. Alchemists were just that frightening. Provoking an alchemist was no different from kicking a hornet's
nest.
If the Jia Ma Empire offended Gu He, and he could take out a 6th-tier Zong Breaking Pill, even Queen Medusa would likely take action for him.
Xiao Yan didn't deny it. He simply gave a faint smile and said, "Gu He wants the Heavenly Flame too, doesn't he? Telling him this won't offend him. In fact, he might even reward you with some pills."
Hai Bodong's eyelid twitched. If Gu He found out that he was being set up, things would be difficult, even if he regained his strength!
"Old Hai, think about it. You just 'happened' to come across this information. As long as Gu He obtains the Heavenly Flame, he can help you refine the pill you need. All you have to do is tell him, and as a fee for the intelligence, ask him to refine the pill if he gets the flame. He definitely won't suspect a thing."
!!!!!
"See, no matter who ends up getting the Heavenly Flame, someone will refine the pill Old Hai needs. If Gu He obtains the Green Lotus Core Flame, not only will you keep the remaining map fragment, but you'll also immediately get the pill to remove the seal."
Xiao Yan's voice was like the whisper of a demon, precisely grasping Hai Bodong's inner thoughts. There was no need to guess that Hai Bodong certainly didn't want to give the remaining map fragment to Xiao Yan, nor did he want to wait several more years.
No matter what, he wouldn't lose out.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
"You brat really aren't afraid that if that guy Gu He snatches the Heavenly Flame and helps me refine the pill, I won't give you the map fragment?" Hai Bodong looked at Xiao Yan who was smiling confidently beside him. Was this kid really that sure of himself, that confident?
Since Xiao Yan wanted to set the tiger against the wolf, it meant that even if he had the ability to call over experts, they definitely wouldn't exceed the Dou Emperor realm. Otherwise, he could just go steal it himself.
Of course, if Hai Bodong knew that Xiao Yan planned to rely on himself alone to snatch the Heavenly Flame, he would probably think Xiao Yan was crazy.
"Old Hai, have you always been completely sure of every step you've taken in your cultivation journey? When competing for the map fragment, when breaking through to the Dou Emperor realm, when fighting for certain opportunities, did you always act only when you had complete assurance?" Xiao Yan looked at Hai Bodong with a calm expression.
Hai Bodong could only slowly shake his head. How could one always have absolute certainty? When he fought against Queen Medusa for the map fragment back then, he didn't even have 10% assurance.
And yet, he had actually managed to snatch the map fragment from Queen Medusa's hands, even though it had resulted in him being sealed.
"It seems that these twenty years of being sealed have dulled more than just my Dou Qi."
Hai Bodong glanced at Xiao Yan, who still wore a confident smile on his face, and said. "You cunning kid. Even though I know you're taking advantage of this old man, the temptation is still hard to resist."
Xiao Yan cupped his hands and said, "No matter the outcome, this junior will bring back the Sand Datura from the Snake - People's Holy City for Old Hai this time."
Whether Xiao Yan obtained the Heavenly Flame, Gu He got it, or it was just to annoy Queen Medusa, Hai Bodong felt that telling Gu He the intelligence was a completely profitable deal no matter what.
Xiao Yan had grasped this point. Hai Bodong wouldn't lose out no matter the outcome. So he knew Hai Bodong would definitely do this.
And this was also Xiao Yan's only chance to obtain the Green Lotus Core Flame.
He had to muddy the waters, because one could only catch fish in turbid waters.
"Then this junior will wait for Old Hai's news."
Time flew by, and half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
Xiao Yan's finger suddenly tapped on his storage ring and a green light surged in the room. After which, a Green Colored Lotus Platform abruptly appeared and floated motionlessly in the air in front of him.
With a beckon of his hand, Xiao Yan skillfully made the Green Colored Lotus Platform descend a little. Then, with a leap, he steadily sat cross-legged on the lotus platform.
He slowly closed his eyes and began to circulate the Flame Mantra. A warm energy was transmitted from the lotus platform, slowly permeating through his skin and lingering on the surface of his body. That comfortable sensation made Xiao Yan take a long breath.
Afterward, he removed his shirt and applied a type of 4th-tier medicinal liquid called Burning Blood onto his body. Burning Blood could improve the sensitivity and speed of refining and absorbing fire attribute energy when cultivating.
A faint green light rose from the lotus platform, working in harmony with the Burning Blood as if they complemented each other.
Since Xiao Yan had obtained the Green Colored Lotus Platform half a month ago, he had been cultivating the Flame Mantra while sitting on it. It was no exaggeration to say that this lotus platform was a cultivation treasure.
The lotus platform would automatically convert the surrounding natural energy and provide a green-colored fire attribute energy that would increase his cultivation speed several times over. Combined with the High Xuan Class Flame Mantra and the aid of Burning Blood, his cultivation speed simply increased by leaps and bounds.
An hour later, Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes and revealed a hint of joy at the corners of his
mouth.
"2-star Dou Grandmaster already. This Burning Blood is indeed worthy of being a 4th-tier medicinal liquid. Combined with the green fire energy from this lotus platform, it's truly an unparalleled aid in cultivation."
He had originally estimated that it would take him another month to break through to the 2- star Dou Grandmaster stage, but now his speed had directly increased by three to four times! In this half a month, besides waiting for Hai Bodong's news, Xiao Yan had been making all
sorts of preparations. His main focus had been on alchemy.
He was capable of refining 4th-tier pills now that he had reached the level of a 4th-tier alchemist, and with the aid of the Heavenly Flame and the Black Demon Cauldron, his success rate was enviably high.
With Xiao Yan as their alchemist, the Desert Metal Mercenary Company not only monopolized the entire mercenary industry in Rock Desert City but even began purchasing precious medicinal ingredients from the desert.
As a result, Xiao Yan was able to acquire several precious herbs at bargain prices. The Desert Metal Mercenary Company had already become the hegemon of Rock Desert City. Many local powers were aware of the mysterious alchemist behind the company and did not dare to use underhanded tactics against them.
Even the 1-star Dou Grandmaster Luo Bu was completely convinced by Xiao Yan. The lure of medicinal pills was something no one could resist.
Xiao Yan gently petted Mao Wu, who was lying on the lotus platform like a lazy kitten. The lotus platform had also become Mao Wu's cat bed.
"You seem to have grown again."
As for the Core-Fire Lotus Seeds, although Xiao Yan had found a suitable pill recipe, he hadn't gathered all the required medicinal ingredients and couldn't refine it yet.
Gugu~
Suddenly, a silver-white carrier pigeon flew in through the window. Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes. This was Hai Bodong's messenger pigeon, a Rank 2 flying magical beast with a very fast
flying speed.
He opened the letter and revealed a brilliant smile after seeing the contents inside.
"Three days later, Holy City."
Xiao Yan took out the pitch-black Soul Robe from his storage ring, chuckled, and said. "It's been a while since Hun Yan has made an appearance. Heavenly Flames should be obtained by those with the ability. Don't blame me, Queen Medusa."
He donned the Soul Robe with a swoosh and left a letter on the table. Then, a figure entirely shrouded in a black robe flew off in the direction of the Snake-People Tribe's Holy City.