As they strolled along the city road, Ye Feng let his eyes wander, taking in the sights—and the occasional curve. When he looked up, his gaze settled on the two massive red characters etched into the city wall.
"Mocheng," he muttered with a smirk.
After a full day's journey, Ye Feng and Ya Fei had finally arrived.
At the gate, a guard in rough armor stepped forward, spear in hand.
"Entrance fee," he barked, standing in their path.
Ye Feng's expression didn't change. He simply raised his hand.
A gust of compressed wind surged forward.
Boom!
The guard was hurled backward, slamming into the ground fifty meters away, coughing up blood. His body trembled, eyes wide with terror.
The surrounding guards closed in instantly.
"Who are you? Why attack within City?!"
Before Ye Feng could speak, Ya Fei stepped forward, eyes narrowed coldly.
"You have the audacity to collect fees from Young Master Ye? He doesn't need your protection. Stand down—unless you'd prefer to die."
The word die hung in the air like a guillotine.
The guards hesitated.
Then, seeing their comrade lying broken and bloodied, they quickly scattered, making way.
"Master Ye," Ya Fei asked softly, "Where are we going?"
"To meet someone," Ye Feng replied.
"Someone… connected to me?"
"You'll know soon enough."
With a sweep of his spiritual sense, Ye Feng scanned every corner of the City. The people, the houses—even the ants beneath their feet—were imprinted clearly in his mind.
Without another word, he led Ya Fei to a quiet little store with an ancient wooden sign that read:
Gutu Map Shop.
It was early morning, but business was nonexistent. The shop was simple, its décor minimal but steeped in a rustic, scholarly charm. Behind the counter sat an old man, hunched over parchment, drawing lines with a thick black pen.
His hair was snow-white. His hand, though aged, moved with precision.
"Is it him?" Ya Fei asked.
Ye Feng nodded. "Yeah."
"But I don't know him…"
"You don't. But he knows you."
As Ye Feng spoke, the old man paused. Then—
Snap.
The pen in his hand broke in two. One half pierced the wooden table like a dagger, while a cold breeze swirled from nowhere, slamming the shop door shut.
The old man looked up.
First at Ye Feng.
Then, his gaze landed on Ya Fei—and didn't leave.
"Who are you?" he asked, voice low.
Ya Fei blinked. "You… are you Miteer Hai Bodong?"
"You haven't answered me, girl," Hai Bodong said, eyes narrowing. "Why do you look exactly like her?"
"Who's her?"
"What's your name?"
"Ya Fei. Miteer Ya Fei."
"Miteer…" he whispered, understanding dawning in his eyes. "So that's it. No wonder. Are you here on Fujiyama's orders? No—he wouldn't know I'm hiding here."
She shook her head. "I… came here with Master Ye. He said someone here was connected to me."
Hai Bodong's eyes shifted back to Ye Feng, growing cautious.
Though his cultivation was sealed, his instincts remained sharp. Yet no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't read Ye Feng's strength.
"Hand over the incomplete map," Ye Feng said casually.
"Incomplete map?" Hai Bodong played dumb. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Ye Feng said nothing. He simply closed his eyes… then flicked his finger.
Whoosh!
From a dusty shelf, a torn scroll fluttered into Ye Feng's hand.
"This one?"
"You've already found it," Hai Bodong said coldly.
Ye Feng's eyes narrowed. "Don't think I won't touch you just because of your ties to Ya Fei. One last chance. Hand it over."
"You dare?" Hai Bodong's tone sharpened. "I'm one of the ten strongest in the Empire. Boy, don't think I'll hold back—give me the map, and I'll let you leave intact."
Ye Feng chuckled.
"The ten strongest?" he repeated mockingly.
Boom.
A massive energy hand appeared in the air above Hai Bodong, pressing down.
The pressure was overwhelming. Hai Bodong's teeth clenched as he braced himself.
Boom!
The force doubled.
Hai Bodong dropped to one knee, the wooden table beneath him shattering into splinters under the weight. Cold sweat rolled down his face.
Ye Feng sneered. "The so-called top ten… a joke."
Hai Bodong gritted his teeth, shame burning in his chest. He couldn't even raise his head.
"Who… are you?" he whispered.
But Ye Feng didn't answer.
"This is the last time I'll ask," he said. "Will you give it to me?"
"…I'll give it."
Defeated, Hai Bodong reached into his ring and withdrew a map fragment.
Ye Feng took it without a word and turned to leave.
Ding—!
System notification: You have obtained the remaining fragment of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame map. Timeline altered. Reward: 66 free attribute points.
Just as he stepped away, Hai Bodong called out.
"Wait… Little brother, can you do me a favor?"
Ye Feng glanced at Ya Fei.
She hesitated, then whispered, "Master Ye, could you help him? I think… he knew my family."
Ye Feng stopped, turning slowly. His eyes locked on Hai Bodong.
"For Ya Fei's sake… I'll help once. You mean the curse on your body?"
Hai Bodong nodded silently.
"Alright. I'll help."
Ye Feng lifted a single finger and pointed.
A transparent force erupted.
Boom!
Hai Bodong slammed into the ceiling—then the wall—then the floor. Again. And again.
"Master Ye!" Ya Fei cried, worried.
But Ye Feng didn't stop until seventy or eighty hits later.
Buzz—
Suddenly, a cold aura burst from Hai Bodong's body. His feet lifted off the ground, half a meter into the air. Frost spread rapidly from beneath him, covering the entire shop in thin ice.
Ya Fei, overwhelmed by the cold, had to quickly circulate her fire-attributed Dou Qi to shield herself.
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