Chapter 131: The Recovery of Hai Bo Dong's Strength!
In the room, Gu He took out all the medicinal herbs prepared by Hai Bo Dong and arranged them on the table one by one.
His gaze slowly swept over the ten or so pure white jade boxes in front of him. Gu He took a deep breath, suppressed his inner turmoil, flicked his fingers, and the massive "Dragon Soul Cauldron" appeared out of thin air. It descended heavily to the ground, accompanied by a low dragon's roar.
Squinting his eyes, Gu He's mind flashed with the process of refining the "Zong Breakthrough Pill" and the various things to be aware of. After a while, he suddenly opened his eyes. In his dark eyes, purple flames surged.
Puff!
With a subtle sound, a wisp of purple flame shot out from between Gu He's fingers, then he flicked his fingertip, and the flame turned into a streak of light, lightning-fast, and darted into the cauldron.
As soon as the flame entered the cauldron, the small body expanded rapidly. In just an instant, the small flame turned into a blazing fire, burning wildly inside the cauldron. As the purple flames rose, the dragon pattern on the surface of the "Dragon Soul Cauldron" seemed to come to life, emitting dazzling golden radiance.
Boom!
After a moment, Gu He methodically completed all the steps of alchemy, perfect and smooth.
In the tidy room, the golden cauldron rotated slowly in mid-air, and the purple flames within it churned violently.
As the cauldron rotated, the surrounding space emitted continuous ripples of subtle energy waves. These energy ripples, centered on the cauldron, formed circular shapes and gradually spread in all directions. Just as they were about to touch the walls, they quietly dissipated.
As time passed, inside the cauldron with its turbulent flames, a small lavender pill prototype gradually took shape in the fire's refining process. At a certain moment, a deep purple pill fragrance suddenly emanated from the cauldron, filling the room and lingering for a long time.
"Not bad, very smooth," Gu He said, smelling the lavender scent, with a smile on his lips.
The pill fragrance indicated that the high-level pill was about to take shape.
"Although the effect of this Zong Breakthrough Pill is somewhat peculiar, the difficulty of refining it is not too high, and with the assistance of the Dragon Soul Cauldron, it has saved at least half of the refining time."
Looking at the purple pill floating in the cauldron, Gu He nodded slightly.
After a brief silence, he waved his hand, and the purple flame in the cauldron suddenly surged. In an instant, it completely enveloped the lavender pill prototype, beginning the final round of intense incineration.
The purple flame only ascended for a blink of an eye before quickly subsiding. With the extinguishing of the flame, a thumb-sized, lightly purple, and glossy pill appeared, spinning within the cauldron.
At the moment when the lavender pill appeared, a fierce energy ripple surged out from within the pill, and as it passed through the Dragon Soul Cauldron, it intercepted some of it. Nevertheless, the rest of it still penetrated and rushed in all directions. If left unchecked, this room would collapse immediately.
Casually glancing at the rapidly spreading energy ripple, Gu He waved his hand, and an invisible soul energy instantly formed a transparent energy shield within the room.
When the energy ripple touched the soul shield, they collided. Immediately, the invisible energy shield seemed to be a lake when a large stone was dropped into it, causing wave after wave of energy ripples to emerge.
The ripples gradually transformed from intense to subtle and, after a while, completely dissipated.
After the final energy ripple dissipated, Gu He removed the soul shield and waved his hand toward the Dragon Soul Cauldron. The lavender pill was expelled from the cauldron and obediently landed in Gu He's palm.
Holding the lavender pill, Gu He examined it closely and nodded with faint approval.
The pill was light purple in color, perfectly round, and had a subtle sheen. Moreover, there seemed to be intricate, non-man-made patterns on the pill's surface, winding and curling like a mysterious and unique design.
Upon close inspection of the Zong Breakthrough Pill, Gu He could vaguely feel the unusual power contained within it, which was the main component for breaking seals.
Satisfied, he nodded and then took out a quality jade bottle from his storage ring and carefully placed the Zong Breakthrough Pill inside.
After completing these tasks, Gu He looked at the remaining precious medicinal herbs that Hai Bo Dong had worked hard to gather. A faint smile crept onto his lips as he unceremoniously put all these valuable herbs into his storage ring.
"Hehe, let's consider these herbs as an extra reward for my alchemy efforts."
The medicinal herbs prepared by Hai Bo Dong would be worth at least a million gold coins if auctioned, and some of them couldn't even be bought with money.
Gu He had no intention of returning these herbs to Hai Bo Dong.
"Finally, it's done…"
After storing all the herbs in his storage ring, Gu He patted it with satisfaction. Then, he placed the Dragon Soul Cauldron in his storage ring, tossed the jade bottle aside, adjusted his clothes, and walked out of the room.
…
Above the dimly lit corridor, Hai Bo Dong leaned against the wall. His elderly face appeared calm, but his fingers continuously tapping the wall revealed his inner tension and restlessness.
As he felt time slowly passing, Hai Bo Dong turned to look at the tightly closed room at the end of the corridor. He couldn't help but furrow his brow.
After a moment, he sighed and realized that the materials for refining the Zong Breakthrough Pillwere not easy to find. It had taken him nearly several years to gather all these medicinal herbs. If Gu He failed in his alchemical endeavor, it would likely delay his wish to regain his strength.
Rubbing his hands together, Hai Bo Dong's normally calm face began to show traces of worry. He murmured softly, "Could it have failed? Ah, it seems I may have been a bit reckless."
The Zong Breakthrough Pill was a rare medicinal pill and much more challenging to refine compared to typical sixth-grade pills. Gu He, as a newly promoted sixth-grade alchemist, shouldn't have a high success rate in refining it.
With a heavy thud, Hai Bo Dong's fist collided with his palm, and his expression changed. After a moment, he shook his head in disappointment and sighed, "At this point, all I can do is hope that Gu He can bring some miracles, considering he possesses that extremely terrifying Heavenly Flame.."
As time passed, the atmosphere in the corridor became increasingly tense with each moment.
Hai Bo Dong's fingers impatiently tapped the wall. Suddenly, in one moment, his fingers were surrounded by fighting energy and, as he struck the wall hard, they created a hole.
"Let's go see!"
His withered face twitched, and Hai Bo Dong couldn't endure the torment of waiting any longer. He took a deep breath, turned abruptly, and was about to step into the corridor.
As Hai Bo Dong turned, his body suddenly froze. His face showed astonishment as he stared inside the corridor. There, leaning against the wall, was Gu He, who was smiling at him. After a brief pause, he swallowed hard and hurried forward, eagerly asking, "How did it go, Gu He? Was it successful?"
Gu He shrugged, slowly approaching the overjoyed Hai Bo Dong. He waved his hand, and a jade bottle was tossed towards Hai Bo Dong, saying, "I got lucky, so it barely succeeded."
Hai Bo Dong, in his eagerness, almost stumbled and appeared quite disheveled as he hurriedly received the jade bottle, treating it as if it were his own child. He gently cradled it in his hands and gazed at the purple pill inside. A mixture of joy and shock filled his elderly face.
The joy was from obtaining the Zong Breakthrough Pill as he had wished, and the shock was from Gu He's remarkable feat of crafting it in such a short time.
"This young man's alchemical skills are becoming more and more terrifying..." In that moment, Hai Bo Dong couldn't help but evaluate Gu He in this way.
As Hai Bo Dong looked at the delighted Gu He clutching the jade bottle, Gu He gave a slight smile and said, "Hai Bo, I have successfully crafted what you needed. What about the fragment?"
Hai Bo Dong was momentarily taken aback and quickly brought himself back from his jubilant mood. He licked his lips, rolled his eyes, and wore a somewhat embarrassed expression as he said, "Well, Gu He..."
"You're not trying to make excuses, are you?"
Seeing Hai Bo Dong's demeanor, Gu He slightly furrowed his brow and said in a faint tone.
"Heh, well, you see…" With a hint of embarrassment on his face, Hai Bo Dong raised the jade bottle in his hand toward Gu He. He smiled awkwardly and said, "Gu He, please don't blame me. It's not that I don't trust you, but I've never seen what a Zong Breakthrough Pill actually looks like. I only know from the recipe that it should be purple. So... I wonder if you could let me take it to confirm whether it truly helps me break the seal? If it indeed works, I'll offer you the fragment and offer my apologies."
In truth, Hai Bo Dong had his own concerns. While he had been residing in the Desert City, he had heard about Gu He's exploits.
He knew that Gu He had recently advanced to a sixth-grade alchemist, and considering his current alchemical skill level, the Zong Breakthrough Pill's crafting difficulty was substantial. Yet, within just half a day, Gu He had successfully crafted it. This amazed Hai Bo Dong but also led him to harbor some doubts about the pill.
Unfortunately, given the importance of theZong Breakthrough Pill to him, he had to be cautious. If he gave Gu He the fragment and the pill had problems, he would be at a significant disadvantage. He was aware of Gu He's character to some extent, but he couldn't help but be cautious.
"Old Hai, if you keep finding excuses and delays like this, it doesn't match the demeanor of one of the top ten powerhouses of the Jia Ma Empire," Gu He responded.
"I remember that you, old Hai, were not so calculating back then."
Gu He's slender fingers lightly brushed off a speck of dust on his sleeve, his expression growing somewhat indifferent. He continued, "I've done so much for you, and in return, I've received just a fragment and a verbal promise. Tell me, did I lose or gain anything?"
Hai Bo Dong's face revealed a tinge of embarrassment. After a while, he dryly chuckled and said, "I know I've been a bit demanding, but rest assured, I would never do something ungrateful. How about this, instead of immediately removing the seal, if the Zong Breakthrough Pill shows even the slightest effect, I won't break my promise. This is, after all, the Zong Breakthrough Pill personally crafted by the esteemed Alchemist Gu He. Don't you have confidence in it? Heh heh."
"Phew..." Hearing this, Gu He looked at the somewhat awkward Hai Bo Dong, his brow slightly furrowed. After some time, he waved his hand, and in a disapproving tone, he said, "Fine, I'll go along with your request, but remember, Old Hai, this is my last concession."
Gu He understood Hai Bo Dong's concerns but couldn't help feeling a bit dissatisfied with the suspicion he was receiving.
"Heh heh, thanks for understanding my predicament," Hai Bo Dong replied.
Hearing Gu He's agreement, a delighted smile appeared on Hai Bo Dong's face. He carefully stored the jade bottle in his storage ring and then said to Gu He, "Gu He, please accompany me to the underground chamber. If the seal is truly broken later, this underground chamber will prevent the leakage of energy and help avoid unnecessary trouble."
Gu He nodded in response but said, "Wait a moment."
He then went outside the small shop and saw a young girl meditating on a cyan lotus platform. He nodded in approval without disturbing her and returned to the room.
"Let's go."
At this moment, Gu He didn't feel like saying much to Hai Bo Dong. He wore a cold expression on his face and motioned for Hai Bo Dong to lead the way.
"Alright..."
Seeing Gu He's current demeanor, Hai Bo Dong understood his dissatisfaction. He could only chuckle and walk ahead obediently.
Following behind Hai Bo Dong, Gu He gazed at the elderly figure with brisk steps in front of him. After a moment of silence, he sighed inwardly.
It seemed that the many years of being sealed had eroded Hai Bo Dong's spirit. He was no longer the Ice Emperor who was once full of determination and unburdened by trivial matters.
However, it was only natural. Anyone who had suffered such a setback during the peak of their power would likely become disheartened.
Suddenly, Gu He thought of Xiao Yan. In the original work, Xiao Yan had experienced the peak of his glory, only to have his cultivation regress and become labeled as a waste by others, enduring three years of contempt.
Compared to Hai Bo Dong, Xiao Yan's character was much stronger. At the very least, he didn't succumb to three years of humiliation, eventually picking himself up.
If it weren't for their unresolved issues from the original story, Gu He might have considered taking Xiao Yan as his disciple.
But...
Shaking his head and dispelling these thoughts, Gu He kept up with Hai Bo Dong.
He bit his lip and looked at Hai Bo Dong's back. His eyes narrowed slightly as he muttered to himself, "Old Hai, I hope you won't disappoint me. If you do, don't blame me for not remembering our past friendship!"
...
Although the corridor wasn't very long, its winding path was somewhat unexpected. As they closely followed Hai Bo Dong through several turns, the monotonous surroundings began to create a slightly fatiguing sensation. However, Gu He's strong mental composure kept him from feeling unbearable. He only felt a bit stifled.
The corridor had dim lighting, with a dimly glowing lantern placed every dozen meters. In this subdued environment, both of them maintained silence. The only sound was the faint echo of their footsteps as they walked down the long corridor. After a while, it started to give off an eerie feeling.
Although the corridor appeared straight, Gu He could sense that they were descending. After walking for nearly twenty minutes in this stifling atmosphere, Hai Bo Dong suddenly stopped and turned to Gu He, smiling as he said, "We're here."
Looking past Hai Bo Dong, Gu He swept his gaze ahead. Under the faint glow of the lanterns, he saw a thick iron door at the end of his line of sight. The door was dark and foreboding, giving off a sense of heaviness.
As he gazed at the iron door, Hai Bo Dong's footsteps quickened noticeably. After a moment, he reached the door and manipulated a black iron lion head in front of it. With a creaking sound, the door slowly opened, and a bright light shone through.
In the cold underground chamber, as Hai Bo Dong gradually entered a state of cultivation, the atmosphere became increasingly silent.
The quiet atmosphere persisted for nearly half an hour, only to be shattered by a fierce energy ripple.
On the icy platform, Hai Bo Dong, who had been silent, suddenly began to shake violently. Ferocious energy ripples rapidly spread from his body, causing the surrounding tables and ice pillars to shatter.
Observing the swiftly approaching energy ripples, Gu He's thoughts shifted. He summoned a purple-flamed Qi energy shield, which quickly appeared on the surface of his body. The scorching purple flames incinerated the spreading energy ripples, turning them into nothingness.
Hai Bo Dong, on the ice platform, seemed unaware of the destruction he caused. His body trembled violently for a moment, and then, on his aged face, an eerie dark energy rapidly gathered on his forehead.
After a moment, a faintly glowing serpent pattern of dark energy formed on his forehead. This pattern coiled above Hai Bo Dong's forehead, sealing the surging Qi energy within him.
At the instant when the serpent pattern appeared, the faint purple energy around Hai Bo Dong's neck began to coil slowly, and within the blink of an eye, it made contact with the eerie dark energy serpent.
The collision of these two intense energy sources had caused the previous waves of energy ripples.
The purple energy and the dark green serpent pattern on Hai Bo Dong's forehead continued to confront each other, with the dim light emanating from both creating a strange appearance on his face. The intense pain generated by the struggle of these two energy sources in such a vital part of his brain made Hai Bo Dong's face slightly contorted. It gave him a somewhat sinister and grotesque appearance.
Gu He raised his head, his gaze firmly fixed on Hai Bo Dong's face, which was radiating two colors of light. He couldn't help but feel a sense of amazement. Queen Medusa's sealing technique was indeed bizarre. Without a fortunate encounter with the Zong Breakthrough Pill, Hai Bo Dong might never have had a chance to turn his life around.
As the time of the confrontation between the purple and dark green energies stretched to nearly half an hour, the eerie dark serpent pattern began to slightly fade. It seemed that this so-called Zong Breakthrough Pill did have a remarkable effect in countering such a seal.
"The effect of this Zong Breakthrough Pill is quite impressive. If I get a chance in the future, I should prepare some for the little fellows. After all, it's good to have a backup in case someone decides to seal them someday."
Watching the serpent pattern slowly dim in the purple light, Gu He's eyes brightened, and he chuckled.
Taking advantage of the counteractive effect of the purple energy, it gradually displaced the serpent pattern's hold on Hai Bo Dong's forehead. As it slowly pushed the latter out, the purple energy suddenly surged, and a powerful aura, like a roused lion, erupted from Hai Bo Dong's body.
Under the impact of this intense aura, the ice crystals in the underground chamber began to crack.
"Haha, that damn seal is finally gone! I've become a Dou Huang again!"
With his feet on the icy platform, Hai Bo Dong's body levitated in mid-air. His face was filled with wild joy, and he threw his head back, laughing heartily.
(End of this chapter)
"Please." Hai Bo Dong waved his hand invitingly, prompting Gu He to enter first.
Standing at the entrance, Gu He took a moment to observe the surroundings. Then he, too, entered the underground chamber.
Upon entering, the temperature dropped significantly, and a faint chill permeated the air. Gu He looked around and noticed that this underground chamber was like an ice cave. The ceiling and the thick walls were covered with white ice, and above them, sharp icicles hung like sharp swords, suspended from the ceiling.
A faint frosty mist filled the chamber, lingering for years. Hai Bo Dong must have invested a significant amount of time and effort to create this rather large underground chamber.
"Hehe, my Dou Qi technique leans towards cold attributes, so practicing in a place like this is more effective. Additionally, this location is at some distance from the surface. The ice and soil here conceal our presence, preventing detection by other strong individuals." As if understanding Gu He's doubts, Hai Bo Dong explained with a smile.
"I see."
Gu He nodded slightly and took a seat on a chair in the center of the underground chamber. He glanced up at Hai Bo Dong and calmly said, "Hurry up; I don't particularly like the environment here."
"Sure."
Hai Bo Dong smiled and nodded, then retrieved the Zong Breakthrough Pill from his storage ring. He touched the ground with his foot, flicked up to a seat entirely made of ice, and sat cross-legged. He then placed the Pill into his mouth, swallowed it, and let it slide down his throat.
Sitting in the chair, Gu He glanced at Hai Bo Dong and then, with a thought, took out a scroll from his spatial ring.
Serpent Spirit Formula!
Flipping through the scroll, Gu He read the name of the technique inscribed there. The Serpent Spirit Formula was the cultivation method used by Queen Medusa.
Serpent Clan cultivation methods were different from those of humans and did not have clear ranks. However, according to Queen Medusa's description, the Serpent Spirit Formula should be no less than a low-tier Earth-grade cultivation technique.
"Let's wait for the young girl to become a Dou Practitioner first."
With a slight shift in his thoughts, Gu He placed the scroll back in his spatial ring.
Only a Dou Practitioner had the qualifications to practice a cultivation technique.
However, with the assistance of the cyan lotus platform and Gu He providing various spiritual liquids, it shouldn't take much time for the young girl to break through to the Dou Practitioner level.
...
Chapter 131: The Recovery of Hai Bo Dong's Strength!
In the room, Gu He took out all the medicinal herbs prepared by Hai Bo Dong and arranged them on the table one by one.
His gaze slowly swept over the ten or so pure white jade boxes in front of him. Gu He took a deep breath, suppressed his inner turmoil, flicked his fingers, and the massive "Dragon Soul Cauldron" appeared out of thin air. It descended heavily to the ground, accompanied by a low dragon's roar.
Squinting his eyes, Gu He's mind flashed with the process of refining the "Zong Breakthrough Pill" and the various things to be aware of. After a while, he suddenly opened his eyes. In his dark eyes, purple flames surged.
Puff!
With a subtle sound, a wisp of purple flame shot out from between Gu He's fingers, then he flicked his fingertip, and the flame turned into a streak of light, lightning-fast, and darted into the cauldron.
As soon as the flame entered the cauldron, the small body expanded rapidly. In just an instant, the small flame turned into a blazing fire, burning wildly inside the cauldron. As the purple flames rose, the dragon pattern on the surface of the "Dragon Soul Cauldron" seemed to come to life, emitting dazzling golden radiance.
Boom!
After a moment, Gu He methodically completed all the steps of alchemy, perfect and smooth.
In the tidy room, the golden cauldron rotated slowly in mid-air, and the purple flames within it churned violently.
As the cauldron rotated, the surrounding space emitted continuous ripples of subtle energy waves. These energy ripples, centered on the cauldron, formed circular shapes and gradually spread in all directions. Just as they were about to touch the walls, they quietly dissipated.
As time passed, inside the cauldron with its turbulent flames, a small lavender pill prototype gradually took shape in the fire's refining process. At a certain moment, a deep purple pill fragrance suddenly emanated from the cauldron, filling the room and lingering for a long time.
"Not bad, very smooth," Gu He said, smelling the lavender scent, with a smile on his lips.
The pill fragrance indicated that the high-level pill was about to take shape.
"Although the effect of this Zong Breakthrough Pill is somewhat peculiar, the difficulty of refining it is not too high, and with the assistance of the Dragon Soul Cauldron, it has saved at least half of the refining time."
Looking at the purple pill floating in the cauldron, Gu He nodded slightly.
After a brief silence, he waved his hand, and the purple flame in the cauldron suddenly surged. In an instant, it completely enveloped the lavender pill prototype, beginning the final round of intense incineration.
The purple flame only ascended for a blink of an eye before quickly subsiding. With the extinguishing of the flame, a thumb-sized, lightly purple, and glossy pill appeared, spinning within the cauldron.
At the moment when the lavender pill appeared, a fierce energy ripple surged out from within the pill, and as it passed through the Dragon Soul Cauldron, it intercepted some of it. Nevertheless, the rest of it still penetrated and rushed in all directions. If left unchecked, this room would collapse immediately.
Casually glancing at the rapidly spreading energy ripple, Gu He waved his hand, and an invisible soul energy instantly formed a transparent energy shield within the room.
When the energy ripple touched the soul shield, they collided. Immediately, the invisible energy shield seemed to be a lake when a large stone was dropped into it, causing wave after wave of energy ripples to emerge.
The ripples gradually transformed from intense to subtle and, after a while, completely dissipated.
After the final energy ripple dissipated, Gu He removed the soul shield and waved his hand toward the Dragon Soul Cauldron. The lavender pill was expelled from the cauldron and obediently landed in Gu He's palm.
Holding the lavender pill, Gu He examined it closely and nodded with faint approval.
The pill was light purple in color, perfectly round, and had a subtle sheen. Moreover, there seemed to be intricate, non-man-made patterns on the pill's surface, winding and curling like a mysterious and unique design.
Upon close inspection of the Zong Breakthrough Pill, Gu He could vaguely feel the unusual power contained within it, which was the main component for breaking seals.
Satisfied, he nodded and then took out a quality jade bottle from his storage ring and carefully placed the Zong Breakthrough Pill inside.
After completing these tasks, Gu He looked at the remaining precious medicinal herbs that Hai Bo Dong had worked hard to gather. A faint smile crept onto his lips as he unceremoniously put all these valuable herbs into his storage ring.
"Hehe, let's consider these herbs as an extra reward for my alchemy efforts."
The medicinal herbs prepared by Hai Bo Dong would be worth at least a million gold coins if auctioned, and some of them couldn't even be bought with money.
Gu He had no intention of returning these herbs to Hai Bo Dong.
"Finally, it's done…"
After storing all the herbs in his storage ring, Gu He patted it with satisfaction. Then, he placed the Dragon Soul Cauldron in his storage ring, tossed the jade bottle aside, adjusted his clothes, and walked out of the room.
…
Above the dimly lit corridor, Hai Bo Dong leaned against the wall. His elderly face appeared calm, but his fingers continuously tapping the wall revealed his inner tension and restlessness.
As he felt time slowly passing, Hai Bo Dong turned to look at the tightly closed room at the end of the corridor. He couldn't help but furrow his brow.
After a moment, he sighed and realized that the materials for refining the Zong Breakthrough Pillwere not easy to find. It had taken him nearly several years to gather all these medicinal herbs. If Gu He failed in his alchemical endeavor, it would likely delay his wish to regain his strength.
Rubbing his hands together, Hai Bo Dong's normally calm face began to show traces of worry. He murmured softly, "Could it have failed? Ah, it seems I may have been a bit reckless."
The Zong Breakthrough Pill was a rare medicinal pill and much more challenging to refine compared to typical sixth-grade pills. Gu He, as a newly promoted sixth-grade alchemist, shouldn't have a high success rate in refining it.
With a heavy thud, Hai Bo Dong's fist collided with his palm, and his expression changed. After a moment, he shook his head in disappointment and sighed, "At this point, all I can do is hope that Gu He can bring some miracles, considering he possesses that extremely terrifying Heavenly Flame.."
As time passed, the atmosphere in the corridor became increasingly tense with each moment.
Hai Bo Dong's fingers impatiently tapped the wall. Suddenly, in one moment, his fingers were surrounded by fighting energy and, as he struck the wall hard, they created a hole.
"Let's go see!"
His withered face twitched, and Hai Bo Dong couldn't endure the torment of waiting any longer. He took a deep breath, turned abruptly, and was about to step into the corridor.
As Hai Bo Dong turned, his body suddenly froze. His face showed astonishment as he stared inside the corridor. There, leaning against the wall, was Gu He, who was smiling at him. After a brief pause, he swallowed hard and hurried forward, eagerly asking, "How did it go, Gu He? Was it successful?"
Gu He shrugged, slowly approaching the overjoyed Hai Bo Dong. He waved his hand, and a jade bottle was tossed towards Hai Bo Dong, saying, "I got lucky, so it barely succeeded."
Hai Bo Dong, in his eagerness, almost stumbled and appeared quite disheveled as he hurriedly received the jade bottle, treating it as if it were his own child. He gently cradled it in his hands and gazed at the purple pill inside. A mixture of joy and shock filled his elderly face.
The joy was from obtaining the Zong Breakthrough Pill as he had wished, and the shock was from Gu He's remarkable feat of crafting it in such a short time.
"This young man's alchemical skills are becoming more and more terrifying..." In that moment, Hai Bo Dong couldn't help but evaluate Gu He in this way.
As Hai Bo Dong looked at the delighted Gu He clutching the jade bottle, Gu He gave a slight smile and said, "Hai Bo, I have successfully crafted what you needed. What about the fragment?"
Hai Bo Dong was momentarily taken aback and quickly brought himself back from his jubilant mood. He licked his lips, rolled his eyes, and wore a somewhat embarrassed expression as he said, "Well, Gu He..."
"You're not trying to make excuses, are you?"
Seeing Hai Bo Dong's demeanor, Gu He slightly furrowed his brow and said in a faint tone.
"Heh, well, you see…" With a hint of embarrassment on his face, Hai Bo Dong raised the jade bottle in his hand toward Gu He. He smiled awkwardly and said, "Gu He, please don't blame me. It's not that I don't trust you, but I've never seen what a Zong Breakthrough Pill actually looks like. I only know from the recipe that it should be purple. So... I wonder if you could let me take it to confirm whether it truly helps me break the seal? If it indeed works, I'll offer you the fragment and offer my apologies."
In truth, Hai Bo Dong had his own concerns. While he had been residing in the Desert City, he had heard about Gu He's exploits.
He knew that Gu He had recently advanced to a sixth-grade alchemist, and considering his current alchemical skill level, the Zong Breakthrough Pill's crafting difficulty was substantial. Yet, within just half a day, Gu He had successfully crafted it. This amazed Hai Bo Dong but also led him to harbor some doubts about the pill.
Unfortunately, given the importance of theZong Breakthrough Pill to him, he had to be cautious. If he gave Gu He the fragment and the pill had problems, he would be at a significant disadvantage. He was aware of Gu He's character to some extent, but he couldn't help but be cautious.
"Old Hai, if you keep finding excuses and delays like this, it doesn't match the demeanor of one of the top ten powerhouses of the Jia Ma Empire," Gu He responded.
"I remember that you, old Hai, were not so calculating back then."
Gu He's slender fingers lightly brushed off a speck of dust on his sleeve, his expression growing somewhat indifferent. He continued, "I've done so much for you, and in return, I've received just a fragment and a verbal promise. Tell me, did I lose or gain anything?"
Hai Bo Dong's face revealed a tinge of embarrassment. After a while, he dryly chuckled and said, "I know I've been a bit demanding, but rest assured, I would never do something ungrateful. How about this, instead of immediately removing the seal, if the Zong Breakthrough Pill shows even the slightest effect, I won't break my promise. This is, after all, the Zong Breakthrough Pill personally crafted by the esteemed Alchemist Gu He. Don't you have confidence in it? Heh heh."
"Phew..." Hearing this, Gu He looked at the somewhat awkward Hai Bo Dong, his brow slightly furrowed. After some time, he waved his hand, and in a disapproving tone, he said, "Fine, I'll go along with your request, but remember, Old Hai, this is my last concession."
Gu He understood Hai Bo Dong's concerns but couldn't help feeling a bit dissatisfied with the suspicion he was receiving.
"Heh heh, thanks for understanding my predicament," Hai Bo Dong replied.
Hearing Gu He's agreement, a delighted smile appeared on Hai Bo Dong's face. He carefully stored the jade bottle in his storage ring and then said to Gu He, "Gu He, please accompany me to the underground chamber. If the seal is truly broken later, this underground chamber will prevent the leakage of energy and help avoid unnecessary trouble."
Gu He nodded in response but said, "Wait a moment."
He then went outside the small shop and saw a young girl meditating on a cyan lotus platform. He nodded in approval without disturbing her and returned to the room.
"Let's go."
At this moment, Gu He didn't feel like saying much to Hai Bo Dong. He wore a cold expression on his face and motioned for Hai Bo Dong to lead the way.
"Alright..."
Seeing Gu He's current demeanor, Hai Bo Dong understood his dissatisfaction. He could only chuckle and walk ahead obediently.
Following behind Hai Bo Dong, Gu He gazed at the elderly figure with brisk steps in front of him. After a moment of silence, he sighed inwardly.
It seemed that the many years of being sealed had eroded Hai Bo Dong's spirit. He was no longer the Ice Emperor who was once full of determination and unburdened by trivial matters.
However, it was only natural. Anyone who had suffered such a setback during the peak of their power would likely become disheartened.
Suddenly, Gu He thought of Xiao Yan. In the original work, Xiao Yan had experienced the peak of his glory, only to have his cultivation regress and become labeled as a waste by others, enduring three years of contempt.
Compared to Hai Bo Dong, Xiao Yan's character was much stronger. At the very least, he didn't succumb to three years of humiliation, eventually picking himself up.
If it weren't for their unresolved issues from the original story, Gu He might have considered taking Xiao Yan as his disciple.
But...
Shaking his head and dispelling these thoughts, Gu He kept up with Hai Bo Dong.
He bit his lip and looked at Hai Bo Dong's back. His eyes narrowed slightly as he muttered to himself, "Old Hai, I hope you won't disappoint me. If you do, don't blame me for not remembering our past friendship!"
...
Although the corridor wasn't very long, its winding path was somewhat unexpected. As they closely followed Hai Bo Dong through several turns, the monotonous surroundings began to create a slightly fatiguing sensation. However, Gu He's strong mental composure kept him from feeling unbearable. He only felt a bit stifled.
The corridor had dim lighting, with a dimly glowing lantern placed every dozen meters. In this subdued environment, both of them maintained silence. The only sound was the faint echo of their footsteps as they walked down the long corridor. After a while, it started to give off an eerie feeling.
Although the corridor appeared straight, Gu He could sense that they were descending. After walking for nearly twenty minutes in this stifling atmosphere, Hai Bo Dong suddenly stopped and turned to Gu He, smiling as he said, "We're here."
Looking past Hai Bo Dong, Gu He swept his gaze ahead. Under the faint glow of the lanterns, he saw a thick iron door at the end of his line of sight. The door was dark and foreboding, giving off a sense of heaviness.
As he gazed at the iron door, Hai Bo Dong's footsteps quickened noticeably. After a moment, he reached the door and manipulated a black iron lion head in front of it. With a creaking sound, the door slowly opened, and a bright light shone through.
In the cold underground chamber, as Hai Bo Dong gradually entered a state of cultivation, the atmosphere became increasingly silent.
The quiet atmosphere persisted for nearly half an hour, only to be shattered by a fierce energy ripple.
On the icy platform, Hai Bo Dong, who had been silent, suddenly began to shake violently. Ferocious energy ripples rapidly spread from his body, causing the surrounding tables and ice pillars to shatter.
Observing the swiftly approaching energy ripples, Gu He's thoughts shifted. He summoned a purple-flamed Qi energy shield, which quickly appeared on the surface of his body. The scorching purple flames incinerated the spreading energy ripples, turning them into nothingness.
Hai Bo Dong, on the ice platform, seemed unaware of the destruction he caused. His body trembled violently for a moment, and then, on his aged face, an eerie dark energy rapidly gathered on his forehead.
After a moment, a faintly glowing serpent pattern of dark energy formed on his forehead. This pattern coiled above Hai Bo Dong's forehead, sealing the surging Qi energy within him.
At the instant when the serpent pattern appeared, the faint purple energy around Hai Bo Dong's neck began to coil slowly, and within the blink of an eye, it made contact with the eerie dark energy serpent.
The collision of these two intense energy sources had caused the previous waves of energy ripples.
The purple energy and the dark green serpent pattern on Hai Bo Dong's forehead continued to confront each other, with the dim light emanating from both creating a strange appearance on his face. The intense pain generated by the struggle of these two energy sources in such a vital part of his brain made Hai Bo Dong's face slightly contorted. It gave him a somewhat sinister and grotesque appearance.
Gu He raised his head, his gaze firmly fixed on Hai Bo Dong's face, which was radiating two colors of light. He couldn't help but feel a sense of amazement. Queen Medusa's sealing technique was indeed bizarre. Without a fortunate encounter with the Zong Breakthrough Pill, Hai Bo Dong might never have had a chance to turn his life around.
As the time of the confrontation between the purple and dark green energies stretched to nearly half an hour, the eerie dark serpent pattern began to slightly fade. It seemed that this so-called Zong Breakthrough Pill did have a remarkable effect in countering such a seal.
"The effect of this Zong Breakthrough Pill is quite impressive. If I get a chance in the future, I should prepare some for the little fellows. After all, it's good to have a backup in case someone decides to seal them someday."
Watching the serpent pattern slowly dim in the purple light, Gu He's eyes brightened, and he chuckled.
Taking advantage of the counteractive effect of the purple energy, it gradually displaced the serpent pattern's hold on Hai Bo Dong's forehead. As it slowly pushed the latter out, the purple energy suddenly surged, and a powerful aura, like a roused lion, erupted from Hai Bo Dong's body.
Under the impact of this intense aura, the ice crystals in the underground chamber began to crack.
"Haha, that damn seal is finally gone! I've become a Dou Huang again!"
With his feet on the icy platform, Hai Bo Dong's body levitated in mid-air. His face was filled with wild joy, and he threw his head back, laughing heartily.
(End of this chapter)
"Please." Hai Bo Dong waved his hand invitingly, prompting Gu He to enter first.
Standing at the entrance, Gu He took a moment to observe the surroundings. Then he, too, entered the underground chamber.
Upon entering, the temperature dropped significantly, and a faint chill permeated the air. Gu He looked around and noticed that this underground chamber was like an ice cave. The ceiling and the thick walls were covered with white ice, and above them, sharp icicles hung like sharp swords, suspended from the ceiling.
A faint frosty mist filled the chamber, lingering for years. Hai Bo Dong must have invested a significant amount of time and effort to create this rather large underground chamber.
"Hehe, my Dou Qi technique leans towards cold attributes, so practicing in a place like this is more effective. Additionally, this location is at some distance from the surface. The ice and soil here conceal our presence, preventing detection by other strong individuals." As if understanding Gu He's doubts, Hai Bo Dong explained with a smile.
"I see."
Gu He nodded slightly and took a seat on a chair in the center of the underground chamber. He glanced up at Hai Bo Dong and calmly said, "Hurry up; I don't particularly like the environment here."
"Sure."
Hai Bo Dong smiled and nodded, then retrieved the Zong Breakthrough Pill from his storage ring. He touched the ground with his foot, flicked up to a seat entirely made of ice, and sat cross-legged. He then placed the Pill into his mouth, swallowed it, and let it slide down his throat.
Sitting in the chair, Gu He glanced at Hai Bo Dong and then, with a thought, took out a scroll from his spatial ring.
Serpent Spirit Formula!
Flipping through the scroll, Gu He read the name of the technique inscribed there. The Serpent Spirit Formula was the cultivation method used by Queen Medusa.
Serpent Clan cultivation methods were different from those of humans and did not have clear ranks. However, according to Queen Medusa's description, the Serpent Spirit Formula should be no less than a low-tier Earth-grade cultivation technique.
"Let's wait for the young girl to become a Dou Practitioner first."
With a slight shift in his thoughts, Gu He placed the scroll back in his spatial ring.
Only a Dou Practitioner had the qualifications to practice a cultivation technique.
However, with the assistance of the cyan lotus platform and Gu He providing various spiritual liquids, it shouldn't take much time for the young girl to break through to the Dou Practitioner level.
...
