Chapter 37: Two Deals!
Lu Bu's goal wasn't to fight to the death with Hai Bodong but to have a proper conversation. However, when dealing with someone this strong, a bit of physical persuasion was necessary without a good beating, they wouldn't take you seriously. The purpose of showcasing his Spiritual Flame was simple: to give the old man a way to cooperate without losing face.
As a transmigrator, Lu Bu was intimately familiar with Hai Bodong's limits and personality. Sure enough, the moment the Spiritual Flame appeared, Hai Bodong mistook it for a Heavenly Flame. To him, the combination of an alchemist, a Heavenly Flame, and a terrifying level of strength made Lu Bu a potential savior capable of breaking his seal.
"Jie Jie Jie, kid, don't think you can scare me with death threats." Hai Bodong sneered coldly. "I've lived for decades and roamed the Jia Ma Empire for years. Do you think I'd be afraid of such threats?"
"Are you sure?" Lu Bu raised an eyebrow and, without batting an eye, lied: "This Fallen Heart Flame of mine isn't good for much else, but it's especially destructive to souls. If I pull out your soul and roast it for ten or eight years, I don't think you'll stay so tough."
Hai Bodong's body froze as he shivered involuntarily. This brat is ruthless!
Swallowing nervously, Hai Bodong forced himself to appear calm. "Ten or eight years is a long time. You wouldn't want to waste that much time, would you?"
"If you don't cooperate, I won't have a choice." Lu Bu smiled faintly, his tone suggesting just enough hesitation to lure Hai Bodong in.
A flash of joy flickered in Hai Bodong's eyes. "I'll give you the rest of the map, but I need you to refine a pill for me."
The corners of Lu Bu's mouth curled upward. Got him!
"A trade?" Lu Bu nodded with a smile. "Sure, let's hear it. I, Lu, am not the unreasonable type. I dislike fighting and prefer making deals."
Hai Bodong's eye twitched. Not the unreasonable type? You beat me up like this, and you call that 'disliking fighting'?
"What are you staring at, old man?" Lu Bu said with a smirk. "Don't forget you attacked first!"
Hai Bodong took a deep breath. True, I did attack first, but only because you stole from me! Of course, he didn't dare say that out loud and instead moved straight to the point.
"Lu, my young friend, I assume you've noticed something unusual about me?" Hai Bodong asked.
"Of course." Lu Bu nodded, grinning mischievously. "You used to be a Dou Emperor, but look at you now. Sealed, and even a Dou King can bully you. Pathetic."
Hai Bodong's lips twitched, suppressing the urge to retort. I could call you a brat, but I can't even land a hit on you… Fine, I'll endure this humiliation.
"May I ask how skilled you are in alchemy?" Hai Bodong asked cautiously, cupping his hands. He had to confirm Lu Bu's abilities; otherwise, he might as well keep his mouth shut and die with his dignity intact.
Lu Bu didn't bother answering verbally. Instead, his gaze turned cold, and a surge of powerful soul force erupted from between his brows, sweeping through the room.
The oppressive aura made Hai Bodong pale instantly, cold sweat running down his face.
"Damn it, his soul force is at the peak of the Dou Emperor level!" Hai Bodong cursed inwardly, but at the same time, he felt a wave of relief. At least this guy wasn't unreasonable.
"I've spent years searching and finally obtained a pill recipe that can break my seal," Hai Bodong said seriously. "It's a six tier pill recipe, and it requires a Heavenly Flame to refine."
"There are six tier alchemists out there, but ones with a Heavenly Flame are nearly impossible to find. That's why I'm still trapped by this seal."
"Deal." Lu Bu nodded, agreeing without hesitation. "Hand over the recipe and all the ingredients, and I'll refine the pill for you. In exchange, give me the map."
"I'm a man who dislikes fighting and enjoys simple transactions."
Hai Bodong, however, looked slightly embarrassed. Scratching his head, he hesitated before speaking.
"What? You don't have the ingredients ready?" Lu Bu raised an eyebrow, his tone calm but carrying a hint of impatience.
"Uh… Yes, that's correct." Hai Bodong gave an awkward smile. "The seal was placed on me by Queen Medusa, and the missing ingredient is the Mandala of the Sands, which grows deep in the desert, within the Serpent Tribe's territory."
"Because of my seal, I can't enter the desert without being detected by Queen Medusa. That's why I've never been able to retrieve the ingredient."
"Oh, Jie…" Lu Bu let out a cold laugh. "So, you want me to refine a pill, but you didn't prepare the ingredients? And now you're thinking of asking me to venture into the Serpent Tribe's territory to fetch it for you?"
"Old man, do you really think that's possible?"
"Uh, well…"
"You'll have to pay extra!"
Hai Bodong's eyes lit up at those words. "Pay extra? What if I give you information about a Heavenly Flame? Would that be enough?"
"Oh? Tell me more," Lu Bu remained expressionless. As someone who already possessed a Heavenly Flame, he couldn't afford to appear too eager when discussing it.
Hai Bodong reached into his storage ring and pulled out a map, handing it to Lu Bu. "This is the information I gathered in the Tagor Desert about a Heavenly Flame."
Lu Bu glanced at the map and nodded slightly. "Very well, let's go."
"Huh?" Hai Bodong was momentarily stunned. I can't enter the desert.
"I'll refine a pill for you, and you give me the map. You help me search for the Heavenly Flame, and I'll help you find the medicinal ingredients." Lu Bu raised two fingers and said indifferently, "Two separate transactions, neither interfering with the other. Any issues?"
"I can't enter the desert. Medusa will notice me," Hai Bodong sighed.
"You think too highly of yourself." Lu Bu scoffed. "You're just an old man. Do you really think Medusa is keeping tabs on you every day?"
"Besides, you don't have to venture deep into the desert. The two possible locations marked on the map are far from the Serpent Tribe. What are you so afraid of?"
Xiao Yan hadn't brought Hai Bodong along in the original story because he couldn't reveal Yao Lao's existence.
But Lu Bu had no such concerns. He roamed the Dou Qi Continent relying on himself unlike Xiao Yan, who depended on cheats.
Moreover, having a Dou Ling level fighter as backup would make entering the underground magma much easier.
"This..." Hai Bodong furrowed his brows, deep in thought. After a long pause, he reluctantly nodded. "Alright, if you're set on this, I'll accompany you."
"Hmph, don't act so reluctant. This is for your own good!" Lu Bu snorted. A transaction was a transaction no one owed the other anything.
"Let me pack my things," Hai Bodong said hastily, disappearing into his quarters to prepare.
The desert wasn't a place one could enter unprepared.
...
In the Magic Beast Mountain Range, beneath a waterfall.
Xiao Yan's face contorted in pain as his body was enveloped by a layer of grayish blue energy. His originally yellow Dou Qi was gradually shifting to the same hue.
With a loud cry, the Qi cyclone within his dantian abruptly retracted, fully suppressing the turbulent Green Nether Flame. At the same time, the surrounding energy surged into his body.
Having just refined the Green Nether Flame, Xiao Yan barely had a moment to breathe before being thrust into the challenge of breaking through to the Dou Shi realm.
Yao Lao nodded in satisfaction. This disciple was worth taking in. In just a year, he has already reached the Dou Shi level.
A raw gem like this is worth carefully polishing and nurturing.
Before long, Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes. Looking at the grayish blue Dou Qi cloak covering his body, his face lit up with joy.
"Teacher, I've broken through to Dou Shi!"
"Not bad," Yao Lao stroked his beard and smiled. "But don't forget, your Three Year Agreement has less than ten months left."
Xiao Yan's joy immediately faded. After a brief silence, he grinned and said, "Teacher, don't worry. I'll keep working hard. No matter how tough the training is, I won't back down. Bring it on!"
Yao Lao chuckled. "Since you're so determined, our next destination is the Tagor Desert. Are you mentally prepared?"
"It'll be a hundred times tougher than the Magic Beast Mountain Range!"
"Come on, Teacher. What kind of hardship haven't I endured?" Xiao Yan laughed, thumping his chest confidently.
"Then let's set off," Yao Lao said as he transformed into a streak of light and returned to the storage ring.
"Haha, let's g wait, Teacher…" Xiao Yan suddenly paused. "Do you think there might be more treasures inside the Amethyst Winged Lion King's cave?"
"Forget it. Amethyst Source Crystals are incredibly rare. Back then, I scoured eight Amethyst Winged Lion caves and didn't find a single one."
"But what if?" Xiao Yan refused to give up. "What if we discover something new?"
"You brat…" Yao Lao sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"Come on, let's take a look," Xiao Yan shamelessly insisted. "Teacher, you've already raided eight caves. What's one more?"
"Fine, fine, let's check it out," Yao Lao relented.
Xiao Yan chuckled, sneaking toward the Amethyst Winged Lion King's lair. With Yao Lao's spiritual power shielding them, the surrounding magical beasts remained oblivious to their presence.
"Hmm?" Yao Lao suddenly let out a soft exclamation, his normally calm voice tinged with a hint of surprise.
"Teacher, what's wrong?" Xiao Yan asked hurriedly.
"Something's off…" Yao Lao's voice grew solemn. "My Bone Chilling Flame… seems to be reacting to something unusual."
Xiao Yan's pupils shrank sharply, his expression turning serious!
(End of Chapter)
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