Chapter 180 – The One Who Was Once Among the Top Ten. Ice Emperor! (2/2)

When he heard the two words ‘Ice Emperor’, Xiao Yan first stilled. Quickly following that, his face clearly changed. His gaze carried a bizarre expression as he observed the old man who had been continuously suppressed by him. Although Xiao Yan had always been staying at Wu Tan City in the past, he was not unfamiliar with this strong person who was once extremely well known within the Jia Ma Empire.

Ice Emperor, a member of the previous generation of the Top Ten in the Jia Ma Empire. He was both prideful and introverted while being extremely good at using Ice type Dou Qi. Once, in anger, he had sealed an entire city in ice. Back then, he was one of the few Dou Huangs among the Ten Strong. Later on, he had a huge fight at the peak of the Misty Cloud Mountain with the previous leader of the Misty Cloud Sect. Although he was finally defeated, his opponent had a very difficult victory. During the last time Jia Ma Empire and Chu Yun Empire held a convention for the strong, he single handedly fought a Dou Huang and a Dou Wang from the other side and was not defeated, shocking all present.

After the last convention for the strong, Ice Emperor gradually disappeared from the sight of many people. Now, the name Ice Emperor only existed personally in the memories of the older generation. The current generation of the top ten had already replaced their fame and glory.

Xiao Yan had never expected that this old man, who did not have a very pleasing appearance, would actually be the Ice Emperor who had once caused the upper echelons of the Dou Zhes in the Chu Yun Empire to have a headache. This kind of drama like result made him feel a little stunned.

“Heh, luckily my old name has not vanished with time. You actually have heard of it…” Seeing Xiao Yan’s stunned expression, Hai Bodong laughed in a somewhat pleased manner.

Gradually inhaling a breath, Xiao Yan sighed, “Indeed it is an answer that shocked me. I did not expect that the Dou Huang whose name had reverberated throughout the Jia Ma Empire would actually be living in isolation in the desert area as a shop owner selling maps.”

“Why did you end up like that? The strength that you displayed earlier seemed to be only that of a Dou Ling, right?” Xiao Yan curiously asked.

Hearing this, Hai Bodong bitterly nodded his head and sighed, “Back then, after attending the convention between the empires, I came to the Tager Desert. By accident, I obtained the map fragment but I attracted the emperor of the Snake People, Queen Medusa who chased me with the intention to kill. You should know that the strength of Queen Medusa can be ranked among the peak among the Dou Huangs. Was it not for the Snake People having only this one strong person, they might have long ago tried to attack the human empires.”

“In that battle, I was defeated by her hands without question. Although I found a chance to escape in the end, I was struck by her Curse of the Snakes Seal. Not only did my body quickly become old, even my strength was sealed to the level of a Dou Ling.” Hai Bodong sighed, “In all these years, I have been hiding here, studying the secret of the map fragment and hoping to obtain something that could undo my seal. However, this map fragment is merely a small part of the map. No matter how experienced I am, I cannot crack it.”

“You aren’t think of getting me to break the seal for you, are you?” Xiao Yan said as he narrowed his eyes and twitched his eyebrow.

“Yes.”

“Uh… you really think too highly of me. I don’t have that ability.” Shaking his head, Xiao Yan laughed dryly. He did not dare bear such a heavy responsibility.

“Over the last few decades, I have obtained a medicinal formula that can break the seal. As long as you refine the medicinal pill on it, I will be able to regain my strength.” Hai Bodong said gravely.

“… I think you should go and find Pill-King Gu He. In the entire Jia Ma Empire there should not be many people who can beat him in refining medicine. I am merely a tier two alchemist.” Xiao Yan shrugged his shoulders and said helplessly.

“He won’t do.” Hai Bodong shook his head and said with a bitter smile, “The key requirement for refining this kind of medicinal pill is that the alchemist must possess a ‘Heavenly Flame’… Pill-King Gu He, doesn’t appear to have that.”

“Oh?” Hearing this, Xiao Yan felt a little shocked in his heart. What kind of medicinal pill would have such a stringent requirement?

“Originally, I would not tell you about the news on the other small map fragment, However… the thick white flame that you displayed in the end led me to change my mind.”

“As long as you can refine the medicinal pill that I need, I will hand over that small map fragment to you. At the same time, I, Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, would also owe you a favor. You ought to know… how much a favor from a Dou Huang is worth…” Hai Bodong said seriously.

Hearing this, Xiao Yan’s heart was slightly interested. He softly inquired, “What is the tier of the medicinal pill you need?”

“Tier six.” Hai Bodong licked his lips and said with a smile.

Rolling his eyes, Xiao Yan helplessly waved his hand. “Tier six… even if I possess a ‘Heavenly Flame’, I am but a tier two alchemist. How could I possibly refine a medicinal pill of that grade?”

“I believe that your strength is not the little bit that you display on the surface…” When faced with Xiao Yan’s helplessness, Hai Bodong cunningly smiled as he said.

Xiao Yan sighed and became quiet. In his heart, he softly asked, “Teacher, what do you think?”

“Regardless of what happens, that map fragment that is related to the ‘Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame’ is something we must obtain. It will play an extremely crucial role in evolving your Qi Method in the future!” Yao Lao mused and said.

“You mean… we say yes?”

“Yes, promise him first. In any case, a favor from a Dou Huang is worth this price.”

“But I am worried that once this old man regains his strength, then…” Xiao Yan rotated his eyes and cautiously said.

“Keke, relax. With me around, even if he recovered his strength, he would not be able to snatch the map fragment back. Moreover… when refining the medicinal pill, can we not make some preparations for the unexpected?” Yao Lao smiled faintly and said.

Hearing this, Xiao Yan heaved a sigh of relief. He raised his head to watch Hai Bodong whose face was filled with anticipation. Nodding his head, he smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll agree.”