Battle Through the Heavens: Heavenly comprehension

The growth of the Xuan Huang Flame accelerated Xiao Yan's comprehension of the Yin-Yang Twin Flames.

At the same time, the increase in the Xuan Huang Flame's power allowed Xiao Yan to further expand his mastery of Pure Yang Palm.

[You recall the Pure Yang Palm technique, experience a moment of enlightenment, and comprehend the move "Pure Yang One Qi."]

[Pure Yang One Qi: An ultimate yang-based palm technique possessing extreme masculine and rigid properties, highly effective in suppressing yin and demonic energy.]

At this moment, the flying beast began to descend slowly.

As they stepped out of the dimly lit passage of the aerial transport terminal, their vision brightened. A cityscape with a distinct desert style unfolded before them—rows of oddly shaped buildings unique to the region filled Xiao Yan and Little Doctor Fairy with awe.

Standing on the street, Little Doctor Fairy asked, "Where to now? Should we head straight through the Tagor Desert to Rock Desert City?"

"This is my first time traveling this far. We should get an accurate map of the Tagor Desert before moving forward," Xiao Yan mused.

At that moment, Yao Lao's voice echoed in Xiao Yan's mind, "Your two brothers are quite bold, setting off on their own adventure right after coming of age, and in such a dangerous borderland too."

"Hehe, my brothers have decent talent, but they lack access to powerful cultivation techniques and Dou Skills—the kind of resources that only major forces can provide," Xiao Yan chuckled.

Yao Lao saw through Xiao Yan's intentions instantly, "Ah, trying to take advantage of this old man again, are you?"

With his status as a Tier 2 Alchemist, Xiao Yan quickly learned of the best map shop in Mo City—"Ancient Maps."

Xiao Yan and Little Doctor Fairy rounded a street corner and headed toward the shop.

After a short walk, a small store exuding an ancient aura appeared before them.

"Are we getting scammed?" Little Doctor Fairy murmured. The store's appearance was extremely unremarkable…

At that moment, Yao Lao immediately warned, "It's not as simple as it looks. That old man making maps… Based on my probing, his true strength should be at the Dou Huang level. However, he seems to be under the suppression of some strange force, limiting his power to only the Dou Ling level."

Xiao Yan nodded slightly and said to Little Doctor Fairy, "Let's go in and take a look."

How many medicinal ingredients had Hai Bodong gathered? A Tier 6 pill was no easy thing to acquire in the Jia Ma Empire.

Suppressing the questions in his heart, Xiao Yan and Little Doctor Fairy stepped into the shop and walked toward an old wooden shelf, upon which stacks of yellowed maps were casually piled.

Judging from the torn and damaged appearances of some of these maps, they seemed to be failed drafts made during the map-making process.

Xiao Yan picked up a stack of failed maps and casually flipped through them.

Little Doctor Fairy also picked up a stack, and as her fingers trembled slightly, a small, palm-sized fragment of a map suddenly slipped out from between the folded drafts.

Bending down, Xiao Yan picked up the fragile fragment, which looked as if it would crumble into dust at the slightest touch.

His pupils instantly shrank—this was it! This fragment contained the soul power of the Nether Lotus Demon Saint!

"This thing… seems rather extraordinary," Xiao Yan muttered, turning to consult Yao Lao.

Yao Lao's deep voice echoed, "Your soul perception is quite sharp. This map is indeed extraordinary. However, it's just a fragment—its use is unclear."

Xiao Yan smiled faintly. Of course, it's unclear now—the other fragment containing crucial information is still in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

"This fragment is not for sale." Hai Bodong slowly lifted his head, his gaze sweeping over the tattered map in Xiao Yan's hands. Though his tone was calm, it carried an unquestionable finality.

Yao Lao chuckled mischievously, "So tense? Seems like it's something valuable. We can't let it slip away."

No need to ask—he wouldn't make a move unless it was a life-or-death situation.

Xiao Yan looked at Hai Bodong and said, "Sir, I believe there's no such thing as an impossible deal in this world."

"But the kind of person who could offer me something truly tempting… is certainly not you." Hai Bodong's voice was indifferent. His long white hair swayed without wind, and cold ice Dou Qi coiled around his body. "If you intend to take it by force, then don't blame this old man for bullying the young."

Xiao Yan took the puppet bird off his shoulder and placed it in the stunned Little Doctor Fairy's hands. "Keep this. It will protect you."

Hai Bodong glanced at the puppet bird with disdain and let out a cold laugh. "Even though that cursed thing has severely weakened my strength, dealing with a brat like you is still no trouble."

"Then let's try." Xiao Yan stored the fragment into his Na Ring, narrowing his eyes slightly.

With a sudden burst, Hai Bodong charged forward, moving like a flash of lightning as he closed in on Xiao Yan.

Seeing Hai Bodong's sudden attack, Xiao Yan swiftly traced a circular motion with his hands and let out a low shout: "Reincarnation Calamity!"

The sheer force of the clash exceeded Xiao Yan's limit, forcing him to retreat step by step, crashing heavily into the wooden shelves.

The vast gap in their strength was apparent. Xiao Yan steadied himself in a two-character stance, transitioning from Reincarnation Calamity into Void Annihilation.

Caught off guard, Hai Bodong's immense power vanished like mud sinking into the sea, completely nullified. This was Xiao Yan's chance to counterattack. "Wolf King Seal!"

As Xiao Yan's palm, carrying a gust of oppressive wind, struck toward him, Hai Bodong's withered hands swiftly formed a seal. He uttered in a low voice: "Condensed Ice Mirror!"

The white mist in front of Hai Bodong swirled violently, and in an instant, a half-meter-wide transparent ice mirror condensed out of thin air.

Boom!

Xiao Yan's palm struck fiercely, landing directly on the ice mirror. His expression changed instantly.

A powerful rebounding force shot out unexpectedly, deflecting his attack and forcing his hand away.

Instead of retreating, Xiao Yan stepped forward in a lunge stance, thrusting his elbow forward as boundless Dou Qi surged out. "Eight Extremes Sky Break!"

A scorching blast of energy shot out like a raging dragon emerging from the sea, its thunderous force targeting Hai Bodong's chest.

The power was overwhelming and searing hot, like a meteor tearing through the night sky. It struck Hai Bodong directly, sending his figure flying straight out of the shop.

"Did we win?" Little Doctor Fairy asked excitedly. The opponent didn't seem that strong.

"No," Xiao Yan shook his head, his expression serious as he stared outside. "He's a Dou Ling-level expert—his strength is on another level."

Dou Ling-level!

Hearing those words, Little Doctor Fairy fell silent.

The strongest combatant she had ever seen was a Tier 2 Magical Beast from the Magical Beast Mountain Range, which was merely on par with a Dou Shi-level human—and that was already enough to give an entire herbal-gathering team a massive headache. A Dou Ling was two whole ranks above a Dou Shi.

"Damn… you've already mastered multiple high-level Dou Techniques at your age?"

Hai Bodong slowly walked back into the shop, looking at Xiao Yan in astonishment.

Had he not possessed Dou Ling-level strength and an extraordinary physical constitution, a lesser Da Dou Shi might have already been severely injured under that chain of fierce attacks.

(End of Chapter)

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