Although Hai Bodong was a member of the Mittel Family in the capital, he opened an Ancient Map shop in Mo City, which was considered as settling down in Mo City and met the World Tree's judgment conditions.
Hai Bodong was undoubtedly proud.
If we took Hai Bodong, the character created in Song of the Sands, as the model, the refreshed Ice Emperor would not yield even to Queen Medusa, and naturally would not abandon his dignity for a mere unsealing pill.
However, Hai Bodong was also wise.
The Jia Ma Empire had at least two dozen Dou Wang level experts, but only five had reached the Dou Huang level. His talent may even surpass Yun Shan and Jia Xingtian.
Yun Shan was backed by the Yun Lan Sect, Jia Xingtian possessed the resources of the entire Jia Ma Empire, Fa Ma was the President of the Alchemist Guild and received guidance from Yao Chen in his youth, while Hai Bodong was just an ordinary elder of the Mittel Family.
Throughout Hai Bodong's life, whether he was making choices or being chosen, his vision and judgment were undoubtedly extremely accurate.
In the original story, the mysterious young Xiao Yan was worth investing in. Now, standing in front of him was a Dou Huang at the peak age of twenty, who had also subdued the Amethyst Winged Lion King, whom even he had to be wary of.
He wouldn't believe anyone who told him that Chen Yang had no background and was just a young man who rose to power through his own cultivation.
Furthermore, tempted by the promise of breaking the seal, Hai Bodong didn't hesitate and immediately bowed down in worship.
In one's life, one would encounter countless opportunities, but one may only be able to seize one or two.
Many years ago, he seized an opportunity and used it to break through to become a Dou Huang powerhouse.
Thus, what lay before him may be a path leading to a broader future.
...
"I'm still missing two ingredients for the Shattering Star Pill. Xiao Yan, do you have any?"
"If not, try asking at the Mittel Auction House and the Alchemist Guild."
After introducing themselves, everyone sat down in the backyard of Ancient Map. Chen Yang took out paper and pen and wrote down two medicinal herbs and handed them to Xiao Yan.
"I have Bellflower Grass here, but you might have to ask at the auction house or the Alchemist Guild for Hollow Fruit," Xiao Yan said, glancing at the prescription.
"Hollow Fruit? I have some here!" Hai Bodong suddenly said upon hearing this.
Seeing the curious looks from Chen Yang and Xiao Yan, Hai Bodong smiled awkwardly. "Over the years, I have been running around for my seal. Finally, through the resources of the Mittel Family, I found a Grade 6 Pill Formula called the Breaking Calamity Pill. This Breaking Calamity Pill requires a Hollow Fruit, and I happen to have collected some here!"
"In that case, that's perfect." Chen Yang nodded, then took the Bellflower Grass and Hollow Fruit from Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong, and took out the Shattering Star Pill ingredients he had collected in the Monster Mountain Range. He then took out his alchemy furnace, sat down in the courtyard, and began refining the pills.
"This…" Hai Bodong was dumbfounded when he saw Chen Yang start refining pills without saying a word.
Although he wasn't an alchemist, he had come into contact with high-level alchemists in the empire. Gu He and Fa Ma had both refined pills for him. Before each of those two opened the furnace, they would burn incense, bathe, and adjust their posture. They would even take calming pills before refining Grade 5 or Grade 6 Pills.
But when it came to Chen Yang, not only did he not adjust his state, he didn't even consider the environment.
"Don't worry, Elder Hai, Brother Yang's alchemy skills are excellent, there's nothing to worry about!"
"I see your courtyard is quite spacious, Mr. Hai. How about we practice our skills together?"
The last time Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian sparred while Chen Yang was refining medicine, Xiao Yan both won and lost.
After another month of training, his strength had improved considerably.
Xiao Yan wanted to test just how big the gap was between himself and a Dou Ling expert.
"Since Brother Xiao Yan has something to ask for, I naturally have no objection!"
"Although most of my Dou Qi has been sealed, I still possess the strength of a Dou Ling level, so young brother, you must be careful!"
Hai Bodong said with a smile.
"No problem!"
Xiao Yan nodded.
However, Hai Bodong ultimately did not start the fight in the courtyard, but instead left Mo City with Xiao Yan and went outside the city.
...
The pill refining went smoothly. Even though the desert environment wasn't particularly good, it was still only a Grade 5 Pill for Chen Yang.
About an hour later, Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong returned one after the other.
Chen Yang could clearly see that Xiao Yan looked smug, while Hai Bodong looked like he had seen a ghost.
"Sigh… I'm getting old!"
"Even if he has the Dou Qi of a Dou Huang, you still managed to steal his chicken."
"Well!"
Hai Bodong looked at Xiao Yan, who was smiling smugly, and shook his head helplessly.
"Elder Hai, you are too modest. I only benefited from the flying Dou Technique. If Elder Hai's strength were restored, even ten of me wouldn't be a match for you!"
Xiao Yan humbly cupped his hands and smiled.
"Hahaha…"
Hai Bodong let out a hearty laugh; he couldn't remember the last time he had been this happy.
Whoosh!
Just then, a rich medicinal fragrance spread throughout the courtyard. Hai Bodong's face lit up with joy, but he quickly realized what was happening and waved his hand, using his ice-type Dou Qi to seal off the surrounding area and prevent the fragrance from spreading.
A few minutes later, Chen Yang reached out and patted the medicine cauldron, and a golden pill with three concentric circles of pill patterns appeared in his hand.
"I'm lucky, I actually managed to refine a three-patterned Shattering Star Pill."
"Now the old man Hai has an even greater chance of breaking the seal!"
Chen Yang tossed the pill in his hand and said with a smile.
"What are the effects of this Shattering Star Pill?"
Xiao Yan asked curiously.
"It can break seals set by those below the Dou Wang level with a one hundred percent success rate, and has a fifty percent chance of breaking seals set by Dou Huang level individuals. However, these three patterns have an eighty percent success rate!"
"If we add you, me, and the Amethyst Winged Lion King to the mix, it should be a sure thing!"
The Xiao Yan that Chen Yang was referring to was not Xiao Yan himself, but rather the Yao Lao within Xiao Yan's body.
"Master Chen Yang, please rest for a while. The pills are all ready, so there's no need to rush."
Hai Bodong looked at Chen Yang and tried to persuade him.
"Very well, Queen Medusa is also a peak Dou Huang expert, so let's meet tomorrow!"
Xiao Yan hasn't even received his beating yet; if we delay any longer, time will pass by.
...
This night was destined to be one that Hai Bodong would never be able to sleep peacefully.
Decades of vicissitudes almost wore away his pride as one of the top ten strongest men in the Jia Ma Empire, or rather, they had already worn it away.
Otherwise, given his pride, he would never choose to be subordinate to someone else.
"That's enough!"
"I don't think that the Amethyst Winged Lion King has lost his freedom. He can still play with that little girl. Many people would trade their freedom for the cultivation of a Dou Huang, but they can't even get it. Besides, I haven't completely lost my freedom either. I, Hai Bodong, have seized this opportunity!"
Hai Bodong gazed out the window at the night sky that belonged only to the Tagor Desert, and murmured to himself.
...
The next day, in Hai Bodong's secret chamber beneath the Ancient Map.
Chen Yang, who was possessed by Yao Lao, transformed into a large dog-sized Amethyst Winged Lion King and stood around Hai Bodong, while Hai Bodong sat cross-legged in the center, holding the Shattering Star Pill in his hand.
"Take the pill!"
Chen Yang looked at Hai Bodong and said in a deep voice.
"Mm!"
Hai Bodong nodded, calmed himself, and put the pill into his mouth.
Seeing this, Chen Yang nodded to the Amethyst Winged Lion King. The Amethyst Winged Lion King activated its unsealed skill, injecting a stream of purple energy into Hai Bodong's body. Hai Bodong immediately let out a muffled groan.
"Xiao Yan!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan placed his hand on Hai Bodong's back, channeling the Bone Chilling Flame into Hai Bodong's body. With precise Soul Force, he controlled the Bone Chilling Flame to envelop the medicinal power of the Shattering Star Pill, coordinating with the Amethyst Winged Lion King's unsealing skill to head towards Hai Bodong's dantian.
A moment later, Yao Lao found a snake-shaped mark in Hai Bodong's dantian, and then directed the energy that combined the Shattering Star Pill and the Amethyst Winged Lion King's skills toward the snake-shaped mark.
"Snort!"
Suddenly, a delicate shout rang out in the secret chamber, and the phantom of Queen Medusa appeared behind Hai Bodong, coldly looking at Chen Yang and the others.
"Absolutely stunning!"
Chen Yang sighed, but his hands did not stop. The Rainbow Sword appeared in his hand, and a sharp sword aura instantly shattered Queen Medusa's consciousness.
"Snap!"
As Queen Medusa's consciousness shattered, the snake-shaped mark within Hai Bodong's dantian also broke, and the seal that had suppressed Hai Bodong for decades was completely released at this moment.
Boom!
The energy fluctuations characteristic of a Dou Huang powerhouse rose from Hai Bodong's body; however, the two people and one beast standing around him were all stronger than him, so the energy fluctuations were like mud sinking into the ocean, causing nothing to happen…
Hai Bodong opened his eyes. As his Dou Qi circulated, his aged skin began to regain its fleshy color. Judging from the current, in a few more days, he would be able to restore his youthful appearance.
"Call…"
"I have everything I need now!!!"