"How is it so similar to the incomplete map you took from the mountain cave before?" Little Fairy Doctor asked, leaning closer to examine the torn parchment in Xiao Tian's hand.
"It's not just similar," Xiao Tian replied with certainty. "This is a small section of the exact same map."
Little Fairy Doctor's eyes widened in surprise. "You're not really the illegitimate son of the heavens, are you? How did you know there would be another piece here? You clearly came specifically for this."
Xiao Tian winked at her with a playful smile. "That's not impossible, you know. You've got me — you've hit the jackpot."
Little Fairy Doctor rolled her eyes helplessly at his teasing.
"You should wait outside," Xiao Tian said, his tone turning serious. "No matter what happens, don't come back in. There might be a fight, so protect yourself carefully."
Little Fairy Doctor glanced at him, understanding that her presence would only distract him. She nodded obediently and walked toward the door. "Then you must be careful too… and don't get hurt."
Once she had left the shop, Xiao Tian stepped up to the counter and placed the incomplete map in front of the white-haired old man who was quietly drawing.
"Do you still have the other half of this map?" Xiao Tian asked directly. "This piece was clearly torn in half not too long ago."
The old man's hand froze mid-stroke. He slowly put down his pen and raised his head.
Xiao Tian studied the elderly man before him and sighed inwardly. So this is the once-mighty Ice Emperor, Hai Bodong — reduced to playing in the "peak matches" of map-making.
The old man's face was wrinkled, with a long, fierce scar running from the corner of his left eye down to his jaw.
His cloudy eyes fell on the incomplete map, a flicker of surprise flashing through them. "You've seen other pieces of this map?"
"I was fortunate enough to see a similar fragment at an auction once," Xiao Tian said with a regretful tone. "Unfortunately, it was bought by a mysterious person. I wonder if Elder might know where the other half is?"
"I only have this one piece," the old man replied flatly. "I picked it up in the desert years ago. It looked ancient but worthless, so I tossed it onto the shelf. I'm not selling it. If there's nothing else, please leave."
"Oh? Is this how the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong — one of the Ten Greatest Experts of the Jia Ma Empire — treats his guests?" Xiao Tian asked with a faint smile.
The moment those words left his mouth, the old man's head snapped up. His previously cloudy eyes suddenly sharpened with cold intensity. "How do you know that name? Who exactly are you?"
Hai Bodong's hand moved subtly beneath the counter, triggering a mechanism. The shop door slammed shut with a loud bang. A surge of icy cold Dou Qi erupted from him, instantly freezing the entire interior of the shop in a layer of frost.
Outside, Little Fairy Doctor jumped as the door closed violently. She clenched her fists nervously, staring at the shop with deep worry. Her heart ached with the desire to become stronger.
"It seems the Ice Emperor intends to keep me here," Xiao Tian remarked calmly, showing no signs of panic. A small smile still lingered on his face.
Hai Bodong narrowed his eyes. "You came prepared. No wonder you dare speak so boldly. A Third-Rank Alchemist and a Great Dou Master at such a young age — you do have some foundation."
"The Ice Emperor flatters me," Xiao Tian replied modestly. He held up the incomplete map. "The other half is in your hands, isn't it? How about we make a deal?"
"Talk about a deal after you survive my hands," Hai Bodong sneered coldly.
"Then allow me to experience how much strength the former Ice Emperor still possesses," Xiao Tian said, his smile fading as he stored the map into his system space with a serious expression.
"You're courting death!"
A fierce light flashed in Hai Bodong's eyes. Another wave of freezing Dou Qi surged out. The moment it touched Xiao Tian, he felt his body's reaction speed drop sharply.
Xiao Tian immediately activated the Heaven-Devouring Dreamweaver Art. The cold energy was instantly dispelled, and his body returned to normal agility.
Seeing this, Hai Bodong condensed five sharp ice cones and hurled them at Xiao Tian while forming ice claws on both hands and lunging forward.
A long sword appeared in Xiao Tian's grasp. He deflected the ice cones with precise swings. The clash of energies forced him back three steps.
Hai Bodong no longer held back. His figure flickered rapidly within the shop as thick white mist condensed from the icy Dou Qi, severely reducing visibility.
Xiao Tian spread his soul power to sense his surroundings.
Suddenly, a pure white ice cone shot toward his right side. Xiao Tian raised his sword to block. The cone struck the weapon, instantly freezing it solid.
With a sharp shake, the ice shattered and fell away. Xiao Tian then condensed his Fallen Heart Flame in his left hand, covering his body before slowly expanding it outward.
"Oh?" A surprised sound came from within the white mist.
A few breaths later, the Fallen Heart Flame completely burned away the icy mist, revealing Hai Bodong's figure once more.
"Colorless flame? Is this… a Heavenly Flame?" Hai Bodong asked, his eyes narrowing.
Xiao Tian withdrew the flame without answering. He raised his halberd, gathered power, and swung it forward.
Heaven Slaying Sword Art: Moon Slash!
A half-meter-long crescent of sharp energy flew straight toward Hai Bodong's face.
Myriad Flower Ice Mirror!
Hai Bodong sensed the danger and hastily formed a massive ice mirror with both hands to block the attack.
The two Dou Techniques collided violently. A powerful shockwave erupted, shattering much of the thick ice covering the walls.
The residual energy leaked outside the shop. Little Fairy Doctor felt the strong wind blast against her, causing her hair to whip wildly. She bit her lip tightly, staring at the shop with intense worry, desperately suppressing the urge to rush inside.
If something happens to him… I won't live alone either.
Inside the shop, the interior was in ruins. Broken maps littered the floor. Fortunately, the thick layer of ice surrounding the building had absorbed most of the impact; otherwise, the entire structure would have collapsed.
Xiao Tian and Hai Bodong now stood facing each other in the center of the wreckage.
Xiao Tian suddenly flashed behind Hai Bodong and thrust his sword forward. An ice spear appeared in Hai Bodong's hand. He gripped it with both hands, turned, and blocked the strike, the shaft catching on the crescent blade of the halberd.
Xiao Tian lifted his weapon upward. Hai Bodong quickly released one hand and retreated, using the ground for leverage.
The two clashed fiercely — one advancing, one retreating — sword and spear continuously colliding.
"Brat, I've roughly gauged your strength," Hai Bodong said, his playful expression disappearing as his voice turned ice-cold. "It's time I showed you mine. Even though I'm currently sealed, I'm still not someone a mere Great Dou Master can contend with."
"Oh? Do you really think these are all my trump cards?" Xiao Tian smiled mysteriously. Silver light flashed in his eyes as green and red lightning began crackling around his body.
Heavenly Prison-Suppressing Divine Body — Activated.