"Otherwise, you'll have to face the consequences."
Hearing the fierce tone of Hai Bodong, the ice mist in the air thickened, causing Chen Mo's expression to change. He quickly retrieved the Dou Emperor Experience Card from his system, ready to crush it at a moment's notice.
Outside the shop, in a dark corner, an old man in a white robe sensed the chilling aura and frowned. He stepped out from the shadows, prepared to rush into the shop if anything went wrong.
Inside the shop, the tension was palpable as the battle was about to erupt. Chen Mo's body was surrounded by a cloak of eerie energy imbued with thunder and fire, which made Hai Bodong emit a series of surprised grunts, clearly not expecting such a novel use of flames.
"Frozen Emperor, I mean no harm. On the contrary, I'm here to help you," Chen Mo said. His goal was to recruit Hai Bodong, and he didn't want to use the Dou Emperor Experience Card unless absolutely necessary.
"Oh?" Upon hearing this, the ice mist around them receded slightly. A mocking voice followed, "A mere three-star Dou Practitioner dares to claim he can help me?"
Clearly, Hai Bodong had acknowledged his identity.
"I can tell at a glance that you've been cursed with the Serpent Seal by Queen Medusa," Chen Mo bluffed.
Hai Bodong's frown deepened, and the ice mist on the ground withdrew further. His eyes fixed intently on Chen Mo.
After a long pause, the hundreds of ice crystals suspended around Hai Bodong shattered one by one. He sighed deeply and asked, "Young man, who exactly are you? Since you can see the seal on me, do you have a way to break it?"
Nalan Yanran, sensing the old man's hostility dissipate, breathed a sigh of relief. She then looked at Chen Mo with wide eyes, full of curiosity.
"I'm from Central Plains," Chen Mo said, resorting to another bluff. "As for breaking the seal, I don't have a solution just yet."
"Central Plains…" The mention of Central Plains made Hai Bodong's eyes flicker with uncertainty, though he seemed more cautious than before. However, when he heard Chen Mo's next words, his gaze turned cold. "Are you playing games with me, boy?"
The ice mist that had retreated began to rise again.
"How dare I? I said I don't have a solution yet. But if you agree to join Lingyan Pavilion, I guarantee that within a year, I'll find a way to lift the seal on your body." Chen Mo wasn't lying. The system's store had a Dan formula that could break the curse, available for just 4,000 luck points.
Even if he didn't buy it from the store, he could ask Gu He to refine it if he provided a Heavenly Flame, which wouldn't be a big problem.
And if that didn't work, he could always get a healing talisman from the system within that year. It wouldn't be too difficult.
"Lingyan Pavilion? What kind of force is that?" Hai Bodong was puzzled. He had never heard of such a force before.
Nalan Yanran's lips parted slightly as she looked at Chen Mo, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"I just founded it recently. It's a new force," Chen Mo explained.
Hai Bodong's anger flared again, but this time he managed to contain it. He spoke through gritted teeth, "So you're asking me to join a force you just created and serve under you?"
As a Dou Emperor who had been famous for years, there was no way he would work for a young man who wasn't even a Dou Grandmaster yet.
What about the dignity of a Dou Emperor?
"It's not about serving. It's about cooperation," Chen Mo clarified.
"Cooperation? And what sincerity are you offering for this cooperation?" Hai Bodong sneered. "Just your verbal promise to break the seal in a year?"
"That's all I can offer for now," Chen Mo admitted.
"Then you can leave."
"Of course, I can leave," Chen Mo replied with a smile. "But it can't be pleasant being tortured by that seal every day. You've probably tried countless ways to break it, all to no avail. So why not take a chance and trust me this time?"
"All I'm asking is that you agree to join Lingyan Pavilion. Until the seal is broken, you're free to refuse any tasks the Pavilion assigns you. In short, you won't have to give up anything and you'll gain a chance to break the seal. Why not?"
Hai Bodong thought it over and realized Chen Mo had a point. He wouldn't lose anything.
"If that's the case, I can join Lingyan Pavilion. But as for doing anything for the Pavilion, we'll talk after you break my seal."
"Then it's a pleasure doing business." Seeing a red dot on the system map grow larger, Chen Mo was delighted and politely extended his hand.
Hai Bodong didn't shake it, instead coldly saying, "I won't see you out."
Chen Mo didn't mind and thought to himself, Once I break your seal, we'll talk more. By then, I'll make sure you pay a hefty price.
"Keep your herbs for now, but give me the Dan recipe—or at least a copy," Chen Mo said, holding out his hand.
"What recipe?" Hai Bodong looked puzzled.
"If you don't give me the recipe for the Breaking Curse Dan, how can I refine the pill for you?"
"How did you know I had that…" Hai Bodong was shocked by Chen Mo's knowledge.
Chen Mo just smiled and didn't answer, motioning with his hand for Hai Bodong to hand it over.
After a moment of hesitation, Hai Bodong copied down the Breaking Curse Dan recipe and handed it to Chen Mo. "I know the rules. I'll provide the ingredients, but there's one I couldn't find—the Sand Mandala Flower. It only—"
"I'll find it for you," Chen Mo interrupted. "But there's no such thing as a free lunch. You'll have to offer something in return."
"I can give you information about a Heavenly Flame." Hai Bodong then shared what he knew about a Heavenly Flame with Chen Mo and even provided a map indicating its location.
Although Chen Mo knew that the Green Lotus Core Flame had already been taken by the Queen, the Lotus Seat was still there.
That was a valuable item too.
Before leaving, Chen Mo glanced around the shop and casually picked up a fragment of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame map. "You should keep this safe. We'll trade it later."
Although Hai Bodong didn't fully understand, he carefully tucked it away.
Not long after Chen Mo and Nalan Yanran left, a young man carrying a huge black ruler walked into the shop.
…
"Junior Brother, how did you recognize Ice Emperor Hai Bodong?" Nalan Yanran asked curiously.
The Ice Emperor Hai Bodong was a renowned Dou Emperor, even more famous than her teacher. He was a figure from the same era as the old Sect Master.
"I told you, I'm from Central Plains," Chen Mo replied.
"Being from Central Plains means you can recognize Hai Bodong at a glance?" Nalan Yanran pressed.
Chen Mo fell silent. Did she just catch me in a lie?
Oh right, Hai Bodong is kind of like Medusa's brother-in-law… or is it brother?
Looking ahead, Chen Mo saw the endless stretch of desert, the yellow sands swirling in the wind.
Chen Mo sighed softly as he gazed at the vast desert before him. Without Qinglin to guide him, could he really find traces of the Heavenly Flame?
No, wait. In the novel, Qinglin only led them to a general area. The exact location of the entrance was hidden beneath the sand.
It seemed he would need to seek help from a nearby mercenary group.