"You know that's good."
Medusa was very satisfied with Xiao Ting's current attitude. At least he hadn't made her lose face.
Hai Bodong watched this scene and reached out to pinch his own thigh hard again.
The intense pain told him that everything was not a dream or an illusion.
"Hiss." Hai Bodong inwardly drew in a cold breath.
He had originally thought that Queen Medusa was the most terrifying existence on the Battle Qi Continent.
Now he suddenly realized there was something even more terrifying—this woman flirting and bantering with a man who was who-knows-how-many years younger than her. It was simply like seeing a ghost.
An iron tree blooming?
An old snake eating tender grass?
The domineering Snake-People Queen falling for a young genius who might not even be an adult yet?
Sensing that Hai Bodong's expression was a bit strange, Xiao Ting didn't think much of it and asked, "Elder Hai, has your cultivation fully recovered?"
"Not yet." Hai Bodong instantly reined in his thoughts. He felt that Xiao Ting was even harder to deal with than Medusa. He answered very honestly, "I was previously at the peak of five-star Dou Emperor. After being sealed for so many years, my cultivation is now barely maintained at three-star Dou Emperor."
Saying this, afraid that Medusa would think he was dissatisfied or complaining, he quickly added, "However, Queen Medusa's seal has actually been a good thing for me in the long run."
"Being sealed for so many years has been a form of tempering for my meridians, Battle Qi, and will. My re-cultivation will be much faster. In the future, breaking through to Dou Ancestor might even give me a few extra points of confidence."
These words were also true. However, with Hai Bodong's talent, if his cultivation hadn't been sealed back then, he would at least be at seven stars or above by now.
With some opportunities, he might have even touched the threshold of Dou Ancestor.
So he was deliberately speaking in a positive direction.
"Indeed." Xiao Ting selectively listened to the key points and smiled. "My teacher knows a fifth-grade pill called Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill. Its effect is to restore the cultivation of cultivators below Dou Ancestor that has regressed due to seals or other special reasons. I have one of the main ingredients needed to refine this pill. Elder Hai can return to the imperial capital and have the Miteer family gather the other ingredients. I will refine it for you later."
Hearing this, Hai Bodong showed a pleasantly surprised expression and immediately agreed.
This was equivalent to one Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill raising his cultivation by two stars, saving him several years of bitter cultivation and resources.
If he waited until he re-cultivated back to five stars before taking it, he could directly reach seven stars and step into the high-level Dou Emperor realm. Quantitative change would lead to qualitative change, allowing him to grasp a trace of spatial power.
"Little friend, this old man will first return to the imperial capital, then visit a few friends. Afterward, I will go to Wu Tan City to find you." Hai Bodong cupped his fists and took his leave.
With Hai Bodong's matter resolved and the Pure Lotus Demon Flame remnant map obtained, Xiao Ting lost interest in continuing to stroll around. He brought the girls back to Desert City.
…
The next morning, everyone woke up early. After breakfast, they headed toward Rock Desert City.
Xiao Ting took Xun Er to the Desert Metal Mercenary Company to find Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, informing them that the family was already preparing for their return.
Queen Medusa and Ling Yue went to the lava world to subdue the Green Lotus Core Flame. In secret, Ling Ying and the others protected Xun Er's safety.
About an hour later, inside the Desert Metal Mercenary Company, Qing Lin, who was pouring tea for Xun Er, suddenly sensed something and looked toward the east.
"What's wrong?" Xun Er asked with concern.
"I feel a strange energy fluctuation in that direction attracting me," Qing Lin answered subconsciously.
Xun Er immediately thought of her Three Flower Snake Pupil and guessed it was related to Queen Medusa.
"That direction seems to be where the Green Lotus Core Flame is located. Could it be that Senior Ling Yue and Queen Medusa encountered some trouble?" Xiao Ting made a reasonable guess.
After exchanging a glance with Xun Er, wings appeared behind both of them. They rose into the air and flew toward that direction.
Qing Lin: "..."
Xun Er and Xiao Ting were very fast, but they hadn't flown for long before they met Ling Yue and Queen Medusa, who were returning with the Green Lotus Core Flame—including its roots—completely intact. In Medusa's hand, she was also holding a snake tail belonging to a fourth-tier snake-type magical beast, the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent.
"We encountered a reckless little snake on the way and caught it casually. You can make snake soup with it," Medusa said casually.
However, looking at this scene, Xiao Ting felt a sense of dissonance.
The Snake-People tribe used a method similar to the barbarian tribe's fusion of beast souls for combat. From a young age, they implanted snake-type magical beast souls, turning into half-human, half-snake beings with the trump card of beast transformation.
In essence, they were still human, but they leaned more toward the magical beast race. Yet in the end…
Well, even the Ancient Void Dragon and the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix ate each other. This was nothing.
If Medusa hunted a Quiet Purple Flame Serpent or a Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python to eat, that would be truly strange.
"It seems Qing Lin sensed something because of this Twin-Headed Fire Spirit Snake. I wonder why," Xiao Ting pretended to be puzzled.
Medusa and Xun Er exchanged a subtle glance. The latter spoke, "Brother Xiao Ting, Heavenly Flames are heavenly treasures. We should bring it back as soon as possible."
"Mm." Xiao Ting readily agreed. "Then let's return directly."
…
In the blink of an eye, two days passed.
Ling Yue secretly brought the Green Lotus Core Flame into the back mountain of the Xiao family in Wu Tan City, found a spot to temporarily place it, and set up a barrier to isolate others' senses.
As soon as Xiao Ting returned to the family, he received good news: the clan had gathered the medicinal ingredients needed to refine two Green Spirit Pills.
"Yao Lao, if Brother Yan and I each use our flames to assist you, can we refine three-pattern Green Spirit Pills?" Xiao Ting brought the ingredients to Yao Lao.
"Of course it's possible. You don't even need to assist the whole time. Just contribute some flames at the critical moments." Yao Lao stroked his illusory beard and nodded with a smile. "Did you think someone in this world could simultaneously control three types of flames? Normally, refining three-pattern Green Spirit Pills requires borrowing other flames."
"Using pre-stored beast flames, some earth flames, or the pill cauldron's own flames is fine. It just places high demands on the alchemist's soul power."
"Although the pill is only fourth-grade, the difficulty of refining the Green Spirit Pill to three patterns is, to some extent, higher than that of a fifth-grade pill."
With Yao Lao's confirmation, Xiao Ting immediately asked him to refine two three-pattern Green Spirit Pills.
"Very well. Let me show you two brats a thing or two." Yao Lao did not refuse.
Inside a secret room of the Xiao family, Yao Lao took out his pill cauldron and began refining the pills in front of Xiao Ting and Xiao Yan.
"Separate a strand of the flames you control."
…
Several hours later, when a medicinal fragrance appeared, Yao Lao condensed his soul power and slapped his palm toward the pill cauldron.
Xiao Ting and Xiao Yan immediately complied, each separating a strand—one of Purple Beast Flame and one of the Amethyst Winged Lion King's beast flame.
But the moment these two strands of flame approached, Yao Lao's expression changed drastically.
When he tried to use his soul power to guide the strand of Purple Beast Flame into the cauldron, the Bone Chilling Flame suddenly became unstable and transmitted a feeling of fear to him.
"How is that possible!?"
...