บท 52: Meeting Ice Emperor, Hai Bodong, For The First Time
Li Xiao finally made up his mind to visit the Tager Desert to obtain the Heavenly Flame and the Purifying Lotus Demonic Flame's fragment map. This way, they could be used in the next auction or sold to the Queen Medusa of the Snake-People Tribe directly.
A smile curled up on Li Xiao's lips as he called Lian Xue over to have some good times, considering it a reward for himself.
(T/N: Please, calm down you fellow cultured gentlemen. I'll make a separate chapter for this scene later so as not to disturb the flow of the story.)
…
Waking up in the next morning tired but refreshed, Li Xiao made some arrangements before departure, and then with Lian Xue, he set off to the depths of the Tager Desert in search of the Heavenly Flame.
He took Lian Xue primarily because of her rare ice attribute Dou Qi. Due to her aura, Within a ten-feet radius around Lian Xue the air was unusually cool. In the infernal Tager Desert, having a walking Dou Venerate-style air cooler was incredibly a paradise in itself!
The Tager Desert was sparsely populated and filled with magical beasts. Only a few mercenary groups settled there, with very few common people due to the harsh environment. The Tager Desert, the largest desert in the Jia Ma Empire, was located in the eastern province. Despite its rich resources, its harsh environment made it uninhabitable for most.
Two cities were established within the Tager Desert: Mo City and Stone Desert City.
Mo City, located in the eastern province within the Tager Desert, was governed by a nine-star Dou King.
After two days of traveling, the group finally reached their destination.
The desert was vast and barren, filled with rocks and low-level magical beasts, with no signs of life. Thankfully, with Lian Xue's presence, even the Amethyst Winged Lion King could navigate the harsh environment.
The temperature in the desert varied greatly between day and night. During the day, it could reach over fifty degrees Celsius, while at night, it could drop to tens of degrees below zero, piercingly cold!
Lian Xue stood up from the magical beast, looking into the distance, and softly said, "Master, I can sense a peculiar presence, probably from the Snake-People Tribe."
"Oh?" Li Xiao raised his eyebrows, "How far from us?"
He didn't have a map of the Tager Desert and didn't know his current location.
Lian Xue responded, "About a thousand kilometers away. I can sense a faint aura. It's definitely a Dou Emperor from the Snake-People Tribe, along with four elders, all of whom are at peak Dou Emperor realm."
As expected of a Dou Venerate, she could sense a Dou Emperor from such a distance. Truly terrifying! However, Li Xiao was not yet planning to visit the Snake-People Tribe. He first intended to find the Purifying Lotus Demonic Flame fragmentmap and obtain the Green Lotus Core Flame before making further plans.
Guided by Lian Xue, they finally arrived at the edge of the Tager Desert, where a small desert shop stood. The area around the shop exuded a cool aura, not as refreshing as what Lian Xue could create but still a nice natural respite.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King landed slowly, allowing Li Xiao to safely dismount.
Li Xiao jumped down, straightened his clothes, and shook the yellow sand from his garments, shaking his head helplessly. The desert was truly a suffocating place.
Lian Xue smiled gently and helped Li Xiao tidy up his clothes, "Master, there's no need to complain. The desert is like this. If you don't like it, I can transform a ten-mile radius into an icy land."
"That won't be necessary." Li Xiao shrugged, "I don't want to make a big scene. Besides, we're here for the fragment map. Let's go, the old man inside is probably waiting."
"Understood."
Lian Xue followed her master into the shop. The room was small but impeccably tidy. The shelves on the side were lined with many maps, likely maps of the Tager Desert.
Behind the counter, an elderly man was meticulously drawing a map. Despite his advanced age and white hair, his hands, holding the drawing pen, were steady and strong.
Noticing their presence, the old man didn't even look up. He coldly said, "The maps are over there. Find it yourself."
Li Xiao didn't respond. Both he and Lian Xue had hidden their true power, so naturally, the old man couldn't gauge their level.
After some searching, Lian Xue finally found a fragment of the Purifying Lotus Demonic Flame map in the most concealed part of the shelf. As a transmigrator, Li Xiao knew that this map was divided into four parts, one of them was in the hands of this old man.
Li Xiao took the fragment to the counter and softly said, "Sir, how about we make a trade?"
The blue-clad old man looked up. Seeing the fragment in Li Xiao's hand, he scornfully replied, "This fragment is not for sale. Don't think about it. I don't care about money. Also, don't even think about taking it by force; it won't end well for you."
Li Xiao smiled gently, "Sir, you misunderstand. I only want to propose an exchange. No need to be so tense."
"Moreover, as the Ice Emperor, you don't need to act this way."
Upon hearing this, the temperature in the room dropped drastically, and a powerful shockwave burst forth. In an instant, a circle of icy blue Dou Qi surrounded the old man.
The Ice Emperor, one of the top ten powerhouses in the Jia Ma Empire, was known for his fearsome strength. He once fought two Dou Emperors simultaneously without losing a ground, a story well-known across the Jia Ma Empire.
Hai Bodong glared dagger at them, "Who are you guys? I haven't left the Tager Desert for decades. How do you know my identity?"
With a shout, a freezing aura spread throughout the room, slowing down movements.
"Li Xiao, the pavilion master of the Heaven Ascending Pavilion."
Hai Bodong frowned. He had never heard of the name Heaven Ascending Pavilion or Li Xiao. Though he couldn't sense any Dou Qi fluctuations from Li Xiao, he was certain that the latter's strength was at least on par with his own. Otherwise, he would have taken the fragment by force already.
"Brat, you have some nerve, but I already said, this fragment is not for sale!"
Li Xiao calmly replied, "What if I offer you something you want in exchange?"
Hai Bodong sneered inwardly. An exchange? This kid couldn't possibly have anything valuable enough. He must be mistaken if he thought he can act recklessly here!
"Hmph!" Hai Bodong snorted, "I went through great lengths to obtain this. Do you think I would give it to you just like that? Dream on!"
As soon as he finished speaking, dozens of ice spikes shot toward Li Xiao.
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