The Demonic Lotus Wings on Xiao Tian's back appeared on their own, constantly lifting him upward.
His hair fluttered wildly in the wind. A golden chain mark appeared between his eyebrows, while red and green patterns spread across his face. His entire body shimmered with golden and silver light.
His aura also instantly soared from the peak of a nine-star Great Dou Master to the peak of a three-star Dou Ling.
Hai Bodong, who was used to grand scenes, couldn't help but gulp when he saw Xiao Tian's transformed appearance and the explosive increase in his aura. "Damn it, this kid is too strange. His trump cards seem endless."
Hai Bodong even wanted to report him for cheating.
"I wonder if my current strength can catch the Ice Emperor's eye?" Xiao Tian looked sharply at Hai Bodong and asked.
"Kid, I acknowledge you. Hahaha, I've never felt so refreshed. I feel like I've been reborn. Come, let me see your strength," Hai Bodong laughed heartily.
"Haha, I'd be happy to oblige." Xiao Tian was also infected by Hai Bodong's forthrightness and couldn't help but laugh. "Then let's decide the victor in one move. I have never used this move since I learned it. Please, Ice Emperor, appraise it."
"There's no harm in that. Profound Ice Dragon Soar."
Ice-attribute Dou Qi condensed around Hai Bodong, forming a massive ice dragon that circled him.
"Heaven Slaying Sword Art: Mortal Realm Destruction!"
Xiao Tian imbued the Fallen Heart Flame into his sword and activated the Heaven Slaying Sword Art: Mortal Realm Destruction. A golden-silver energy shot out.
The ice dragon and the sword energy faced each other. The sword energy extended its sharp intent, striking directly at Hai Bodong.
Hai Bodong controlled the ice dragon to charge forward.
Bang!
The golden-silver energy and the ice dragon collided violently.
At the moment of impact, due to elemental countering and because the energy was formed from sword intent mixed with strange flame, the ice dragon was partially shattered.
Seeing this, Hai Bodong continuously poured in Dou Qi, desperately maintaining the flow, but under the sword energy, it didn't last long and was destroyed bit by bit.
As the giant dragon was destroyed, Xiao Tian's sword energy also suffered some damage, but it still rushed toward Hai Bodong on the ground with the power to destroy everything.
Hai Bodong used his remaining Dou Qi to condense a Profound Ice Shield in front of him.
His current Dou Qi was only enough for this — multiple ice shields were no longer an option.
The sword energy directly struck the ice shield, continuously hissing with steam, followed by a loud bang.
After the mist dispersed, Hai Bodong lay in a deep pit, gasping for air, while Xiao Tian had already deactivated his Heavenly Prison Suppressing Divine Body, standing with his hands on his knees.
"Kid, you win. It's up to you whether to kill or torture me." Hai Bodong's voice sounded dead.
"I never intended to take your life. I said before that I just wanted to discuss a deal with you, but you insisted on fighting." Xiao Tian straightened up, took a few Qi-restoring pills, and stood at the edge of the deep pit, looking down at Hai Bodong.
"…" Hai Bodong was speechless for a moment.
It seemed he had indeed been the one to initiate the fight, relying on his seniority and higher cultivation, and then, after losing, it came to this.
"Can we continue discussing our deal now?" Xiao Tian didn't press the matter further, throwing a jade bottle to Hai Bodong's side.
Hai Bodong was a good person, and fighting him was for better cooperation and to test his own strength.
"What is this?" Hai Bodong asked, looking at the jade bottle with confusion, not reaching for it.
"A fourth-grade medicinal pill: Hundred Flower Spirit Ganoderma Pill. It can heal your injuries. If you don't believe me, you don't have to take it." Xiao Tian shrugged.
Hai Bodong propped himself up, reached for the jade bottle, opened the lid, sniffed it briefly, and then poured the pill directly into his mouth.
His wounds continuously healed. After feeling that his body was 80% recovered, Hai Bodong stood up, jumped out of the deep pit, and came before Xiao Tian.
"I didn't expect that after living in seclusion for more than twenty years, I would be beaten so miserably by a junior today. Truly, the waves behind push the waves ahead." Hai Bodong sighed with a desolate feeling, then asked: "What deal do you want to discuss with me?"
"You also know that I am an Alchemist, so of course, we're discussing the seal on your body." Xiao Tian pointed to his Alchemist's robe.
"Difficult. You are only a third-grade now. At least for now, you can't solve the problem on my body." Hai Bodong shook his head.
"What if I can help you undo your Serpent's Seal Curse?" Xiao Tian asked.
Hai Bodong was stunned by the question and lowered his head in thought.
Xiao Tian didn't urge him.
After about five breaths, Hai Bodong raised his head and looked directly at Xiao Tian, asking: "Is that red flame on your body a strange flame?"
Xiao Tian knew why Hai Bodong was asking this — because the Breaking Obstacle Pill, which could help him break the seal, required a strange flame to refine.
Xiao Tian nodded faintly.
Seeing that it was indeed a strange flame, Hai Bodong's face showed a hint of emotion. "If you can help me undo this damned seal, I can give you the remaining half of the map, and I can even tell you information about another strange flame."
"I definitely want the remnant map. Information about a strange flame is useless to me, and I also know that the strange flame in the Tagor Desert is the Green Lotus Core Flame, and it has already been taken away. This information of yours has no value to me. Exchange it for something else." Xiao Tian said indifferently.
Seeing that his most important information had no value in the opponent's hands, and that the other person even knew more details, Hai Bodong also fell into contemplation.
"Just tell me what conditions you want."
"I want you to…" Xiao Tian paused: "Join my faction."
"Little friend, speaking in riddles almost scared this old man. I thought you had a liking for men." Hai Bodong was initially startled by Xiao Tian, then, hearing the latter part, he took a breath and said, "What is your faction?"
"Heaven Suppressing Hall." Xiao Tian said.
"Heaven Suppressing Hall? Never heard of it." Hai Bodong frowned, searched his memories without success, then shook his head. "So, if I join your faction, it will just be the two of us?"
Xiao Tian thought for a moment. The Little Fairy Doctor would definitely join, plus Jin Mo and the yet-to-be-summoned Dou Zong. "Currently, including me, there are four people. If you join, it will be five."
"May I ask, what are the strengths of the others?" Hai Bodong asked curiously.
"You'll know once you join." Xiao Tian didn't answer directly.
Upon hearing this, Hai Bodong closed his eyes, pondered for a moment, and then said helplessly: "If you can help me undo the seal, I can agree to your condition — not just because I'm tired of this damned seal, but also as an investment in your talent."
Xiao Tian sighed inwardly that the older one was indeed wiser, and truly worthy of being an angel investor in the Dou Qi Continent world.
He clapped his hands in praise: "As expected of the former Supreme Elder of the Mitel Auction House, you truly have foresight and courage. I will certainly not disappoint you in the future."