A hint of fear and desolation flashed in Haibodong's eyes.
Feeling the injuries on his body and the seal in his dantian, a touch of bitterness crossed Haibodong's face.
Is this the end?
Although he survived, Haibodong understood that in his current state, he was no match for Su Yun.
Su Yun retracted his fist and shook his arm. The Ice Shield from earlier still had some effect; the recoil had made his left hand slightly sore.
Watching Haibodong gasping on the ground, Su Yun nodded in satisfaction.
He had already broken through to the Fighter Spirit stage, and after strengthening with the "Brutal Bull Power," his strength was no longer comparable to when he was just a Nine-Star Great Fighter.
If he were to fight the Ice Serpent now, it wouldn't take more than three rounds to slay it.
Feeling the power within him, a hint of heat flashed in Su Yun's eyes.
He had already tasted the benefits of body refining techniques.
"Brutal Bull Power" not only strengthened his physical body but also increased his speed as his physical strength improved, significantly enhancing his overall strength.
Su Yun sheathed the red long sword and approached Haibodong.
"Senior Haibodong, I apologize for my rudeness."
Saying this, Su Yun took out a bottle of internal injury healing medicine from the system space.
In fact, he had already held back.
The Eight Extremes Burst just now didn't contain any hidden force.
Otherwise, even if blocked by the Ice Shield, the hidden force could not enter Haibodong's body, but it could remain on his arms.
Once detonated, he would have been crippled.
At Su Yun's words, Haibodong paused, lowering the hand covering his chest, pointing at Su Yun, his finger trembling slightly.
"How did you know my identity?"
Su Yun smiled faintly, not answering directly, but instead helping Haibodong up.
"Senior Haibodong, there's no need to be nervous. I bear no ill will."
No ill will? You still beat me up like this.
Haibodong muttered in his heart, but he didn't say it out loud, fearing Su Yun might just punch him to death.
Helping Haibodong to a chair, Su Yun sat opposite him.
"Now, Senior Haibodong, can we have a good talk?"
Haibodong snorted coldly.
"Hmph, say what you want."
At this moment, Haibodong also understood that this fellow with an unknown background probably had something to ask of him, or he wouldn't have adopted this posture.
Thinking of this, Haibodong breathed a sigh of relief.
He valued his life too. Who wants to die?
"Hehe, Senior Haibodong, this time I'm here to make a deal with you."
Haibodong opened the jade bottle and swallowed the medicine Su Yun gave him.
Although he was not in his prime, his eyesight had not diminished in the least.
This was a fourth-grade healing medicine. He had consumed many when he was younger, and it was not poisonous.
Moreover, if this person wanted to kill him, it would have been a simple matter with just one punch. There was no need for such trouble.
Without any suspicion, he directly swallowed the medicine.
Feeling the injuries in his body easing a bit and no longer worsening, Haibodong breathed a sigh of relief and said, "What do you want to trade?"
"I heard that Senior has a Frost Spirit Flame Grass. I want that and the incomplete map. Additionally, I want Senior's help to find a rare flame in the Tagor Desert."
Haibodong furrowed his brows, pondering for a moment before saying, "And what do I get?"
"I will find a way to help you restore your Emperor-level cultivation."
Haibodong widened his eyes, slamming the table.
"You're asking for too much with nothing but a promise to help me. It's impossible."
Su Yun smiled and took off his face mask, revealing the face of a young man in front of Haibodong.
Of course, this wasn't his real face.
Haibodong looked at the young man in front of him, somewhat shocked.
So young, how is this possible?!
"Then, Senior Haibodong, what do you propose?"
Haibodong took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions.
"I want you to go to the Tagor Desert and find a herb for me, the Sand Mandala. Additionally, I want you to find a sixth-grade alchemist who possesses a rare flame."
Su Yun nodded.
"Okay."
Seeing Su Yun agree readily, Haibodong was surprised.
Unable to hold back, he asked, "Kid, do you know the difficulty involved? The Sand Mandala is deep within the Tagor Desert, where numerous snake people lurk. Even if you are a Spirit Fighter, you may not necessarily come back unscathed. And finding a sixth-grade alchemist with a rare flame is even harder. In the entire Empire of Jiamai, only the Pill King, Guhe, is a sixth-grade alchemist, and he doesn't possess a rare flame."
Su Yun shook his head with a faint smile. "Senior Haibodong, rest assured. Since I've agreed, I won't go back on my word. But I need you to give me the Frost Spirit Flame Grass first and help me find the rare flame in the Tagor Desert."
Haibodong frowned.
"No, you bring me the Sand Mandala and the sixth-grade alchemist with the rare flame first."
At his words, Su Yun's smile faded, and his expression gradually turned cold.
"Senior Haibodong, you probably haven't figured out the situation."
Su Yun's tone was flat, but Haibodong could sense a hint of killing intent.
Haibodong then remembered his situation and smiled awkwardly.
"Young man, let's talk things out. Why resort to violence?"
Saying this, Haibodong took out a herb from his storage ring, which was the Frost Spirit Flame Grass Su Yun wanted.
Haibodong was about to speak, but Su Yun directly snatched the Frost Spirit Flame Grass from him and put it into the system space.
Haibodong smiled bitterly. Now that he was at the mercy of others, he had no choice but to relent.
Seeing Haibodong's expression, Su Yun snorted.
Just as he was about to lose his patience, Haibodong's storage ring was only a middle-grade one, with no capability to recognize its master.
If he angered him, he could simply kill him and take his treasures.
He was well aware that the map indicating the approximate location of the Heart of the Blue Lotus was inside.
As for the half of the Devil Lotus Fire that Haibodong had divided, it was hidden in this old man's chest and kept on him at all times.
During the negotiation just now, he had already used the system's scanning function to probe everything.
He could still negotiate with him calmly at the table because he was interested in his Emperor-level strength after breaking the seal.
"Young man, now that you've taken the Frost Spirit Flame Grass, how about we compromise? You find the Sand Mandala
for me first, and I'll help you find the rare flame you want in the Tagor Desert. Then, you bring the sixth-grade alchemist with the rare flame, and I'll give you the other half of the map. The one you took just now was only half complete."
A hint of coldness flashed across Su Yun's face. His patience was almost exhausted.
Su Yun reached out and directly took out the other half of the map hidden in Haibodong's chest and stored it in the system space.
(End of this chapter)