"Kid, not bad. Your sensing ability is impressive; you were able to detect my surprise attack and react quickly." Hai Bodong floated where Xiao Se had been standing and slowly landed on the ground.
Although a Dou Ling cannot fly like a Dou Wang, they do possess brief flying capabilities. It was clear that Hai Bodong had used the mist as cover, restrained his aura, and flew behind Xiao Se.
"Well, I must thank you for showing mercy, sir. If you had used both hands with full force just now, I wouldn't have simply fallen back—I'd likely have sustained serious internal injuries." Xiao Se shook his slightly numb arm, inwardly marveling at the strength of a Dou Ling. Just the speed and power alone created an insurmountable gap. Without special techniques, it was almost impossible for a Dou Shi to defeat even the most ordinary Dou Ling.
"Hmph, don't flatter me. I only took advantage of a sneak attack. If you don't hand over the remaining map piece, I won't hold back next time," Hai Bodong snorted coldly, his face twitching.
"Heh, as expected." Smiling, Xiao Se retracted his magic sword into his body and mentally said to Hong Kui, "Hong Kui, it's your turn. Remember, don't kill him. That map piece was only half; this old guy should have the other half."
Now that he had gauged the difference between himself and a Dou Ling, Xiao Se had no intention of continuing this meaningless battle. His strongest move—using beast fire to cast the Scarlet Flame Sword: Break Extreme—had power comparable to low-tier Earth-level techniques.
Even so, Hai Bodong's techniques wouldn't be much weaker. With their techniques roughly equal and his cultivation two levels lower, he stood no chance of victory.
"Brother, leave it to me." Hong Kui, who had long been displeased with the old man, directly took over Xiao Se's body. In an instant, Xiao Se's pupils changed from their original black to a dark red.
"Have you given up?" Seeing Xiao Se put away his weapon, Hai Bodong assumed that he was about to return the map. If possible, he didn't want to be enemies with such a talented individual.
But before he could rejoice, an overwhelmingly fierce aura erupted from the young man in front of him, stirring up strong winds.
Xiao Se's robe and long hair were lifted upward. A charming yet sinister vibe emanated from his handsome face, making it difficult to distinguish between masculine and feminine features.
"How is this possible?" Feeling Xiao Se's aura surge higher and higher, Hai Bodong could no longer suppress his shock.
In the air, due to Hai Bodong's technique, cold energy permeated the area, enveloping it in white mist, making the surroundings seem endless.
Within the mist, Hai Bodong stared in disbelief at Xiao Se's increasing aura. After a while, he finally reacted, his face growing serious as he questioned, "Kid, what did you do?"
Xiao Se grinned, the corners of his mouth curving into a dangerous arc. He replied with an indifferent voice: "Brace yourself!"
At that moment, though the voice was still Xiao Se's, his body was now controlled by Hong Kui. Hai Bodong's beating was inevitable.
"What?"
Hai Bodong didn't understand what Xiao Se meant.
In the next instant, Xiao Se's figure transformed into a red flash, disappearing from Hai Bodong's sight. Before Hai Bodong could react, he felt a sudden blackout, his legs buckled, and he passed out.
-
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In the secret chamber below the ancient map shop.
Time passed unknowingly, and Hai Bodong, now covered in bandages, slowly awoke from his unconscious state.
As he opened his eyes, he saw the familiar ceiling, covered with a thin layer of frost. Hai Bodong quickly realized he had been brought to his secret chamber.
"Hey, you're awake." Xiao Se's soft voice suddenly sounded.
Hearing this, Hai Bodong turned his head. Not far away, Xiao Se sat cross-legged in front of a medicinal cauldron, refining pills.
As Hai Bodong attempted to get up, Xiao Se's voice rang out again, "Don't move yet. I just set your bones. Once I finish refining this Bone Mending Pill, you'll fully recover in three days after taking it."
"Why didn't you kill me?" Sinking his mind into his body, Hai Bodong confirmed that his many fractures had indeed just been set. He stopped struggling and asked indifferently.
"Why would I kill you?" Xiao Se, retrieving the freshly refined pill from the cauldron, answered with a question of his own.
"Uh..." Hai Bodong was left speechless by Xiao Se's reply. Suddenly, as if thinking of something, a cunning smile appeared on his face as he coldly laughed, "You figured out that the map was incomplete and want to find the other half, right? Dream on! After beating me like this, even if you kill me today, I won't give it to you—"
Before he could finish the sentence, Xiao Se stood before him, holding the other half of the map.
"You really don't know how to hide things. This map was stashed in the secret compartment under your meditation cushion. When I carried you down, I didn't even have to search for it. I just threw you down, heard a muffled sound from the compartment, and found it without effort." Xiao Se shrugged, putting the map back into his system storage.
Of course, the system's X-ray vision had helped him locate it.
"Now that you've got what you wanted, why did you save me?" Hai Bodong's face twitched slightly. He found himself increasingly unable to understand the young man before him.
"Mutual benefit. From the start, I suggested we make a deal. It was you who insisted on fighting me. I only..." Xiao Se trailed off with a smile.
Hearing this, Hai Bodong rolled his eyes and added, "So, you only beat me up out of necessity, right?"
Xiao Se nodded slightly, calmly admitting it.
Hai Bodong's face twitched again. After a moment, he sighed and said, "Fine, fine. You're a freak with all kinds of strange items and mysterious ways to boost your strength. I, Hai Bodong, admit defeat. Do as you wish—kill or spare me."
Listening to Hai Bodong's words, Xiao Se rolled his eyes and glanced casually at the stone table beside him, where various rare medicinal herbs were placed. He spoke indifferently, "I noticed you seem to be under some kind of seal. With all these herbs here, I guess you're trying to refine a pill to break the seal. How about we make a deal?"
"What deal? The pill I need is a sixth-tier Breaking Adversity Pill, which requires a Heavenly Flame to refine. I admit you're talented, but do you have such a flame?" Hai Bodong asked in surprise.
"I don't, but that's exactly why I came all the way to the Tager Desert. I'm sure you've been here long enough to know something about the desert. How about sharing your intel with me?" Xiao Se smiled faintly.
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