Chapter 44: Seal Lifted, Hai Bodong Subdued 

"Long time no see."

Su Hongyu thought he was speaking to her and quickly responded with a hint of resentment, "You rascal, every time I came looking for you over the past month, Sha Luo always said you were in seclusion. How come you're here now?"

Su Hongyu assumed he had come specifically to see her.

However, Chen Mo didn't even glance at her. He walked straight to the counter and smiled, "I wonder if our previous agreement still stands?"

Bang!

The map Hai Bodong was working on was instantly covered in a layer of frost, turning into ice before shattering. His gaze swept over Chen Mo, and when he confirmed that the aura was emanating from Chen Mo, his expression turned peculiar.

"How does this kid have the aura of Queen Medusa?"

The thought flashed through his mind.

Hearing this, Hai Bodong recalled the incident from a month ago and immediately spoke with excitement, "Did you succeed in refining the elixir?"

"Why so excited?" Seeing Hai Bodong suddenly so animated, Chen Mo quickly took two steps back and said, "No."

Hai Bodong frowned, his tone turning cold, "Then why have you come to see me?"

"Although I didn't succeed in refining the Calamity Breaking Pill, I have a way to lift the seal within you."

"Another method?" Hai Bodong's eyes flickered, and he instinctively glanced at the Black Robed Man behind Chen Mo. His expression changed instantly. Although the figure didn't reveal their cultivation level, the faintly emanating powerful aura was clearly above his own.

"Dou Emperor..."

Hai Bodong's tone suddenly became amiable, "Whatever the method, as long as it can lift the seal within me, I'll keep my word."

Chen Mo nodded, "Can I take a look at that remnant map now?"

"Of course, please follow me inside."

Just as the group was heading toward the secret chamber, Su Hongyu suddenly stepped forward, "Chen Mo, I'm talking to you. Why are you ignoring me?"

"Girl, don't be rude. This is my esteemed guest." Blocked, Hai Bodong frowned, feeling irritated by the red-dressed woman who came every day.

"Oh, it's you. What are you doing here?" Only then did Chen Mo notice the woman in the shop was Su Hongyu.

"What's this?" Feeling utterly invisible and scolded by Hai Bodong, Su Hongyu grew timid, her eyes reddening.

"You know each other?"

"Sort of."

Seeing that they were acquainted, Hai Bodong's expression softened slightly, "You can go back now, and there's no need to come again in the future. I'm naturally fond of freedom and won't take you as a disciple. Here's a Low-Level Profound Fighting Skill. Take it back and study it well."

With that, the three of them entered the secret chamber.

Shortly after they entered, the tears in Su Hongyu's eyes vanished, and her look of grievance disappeared completely, replaced by an expression of sheer delight.

"As expected of a Yunlan Sect disciple, your face carries weight."

"Miss, what should we do now?"

"Let's go. No need to come back anymore. Acting every day is exhausting."

...

"Ding, discovered the Purification Lotus Demonic Flame Remnant Map. Spend 1 Luck Point to Plunder it."

After confirming that the map in his hand was indeed the Purification Lotus Demonic Flame Remnant Map, Chen Mo stored it in his Storage Ring.

Hai Bodong noticed Chen Mo's movements and said, "Back then, I split this incomplete map into two parts, and there's also—"

"Old man," Chen Mo cursed inwardly, pulling out a green talisman from his system and tossing it to him.

"Follow my lead," Chen Mo instructed.

"..."

Although Hai Bodong didn't understand what Chen Mo was saying, he still held the talisman and began to recite the incantation.

As soon as the words were spoken, the talisman shattered, and a green light enveloped Hai Bodong from head to toe.

In the next moment, a faint, serpentine energy mark appeared on Hai Bodong's forehead, only to shatter and vanish immediately.

Yun Yun, clad in a black robe, witnessed this scene with a look of astonishment, followed by a hint of guilt on her delicate face.

She recalled the time in the Magical Beast Mountain Range when Chen Mo had offered her a similar talisman.

But she had doubted him and refused to use it, which led to the seal troubling her for several days.

As the seal was lifted, a sharp, almost tangible gleam shot out from Hai Bodong's previously cloudy eyes. A vast, dormant energy within him seemed to awaken all at once.

"This damned seal is finally gone. I've regained my Dou Emperor strength," Hai Bodong exclaimed.

His body levitated, and a pair of icy wings formed behind him. He laughed maniacally, the echoes of his laughter filling the chamber.

The talisman not only removed his seal but also, with sufficient energy, could instantly restore his strength to its peak condition.

Hai Bodong narrowed his eyes, and in the next moment, ice mist began to form on the ground and walls, quickly solidifying into icicles.

Chen Mo and Yun Yun both spread their wings and took to the air.

Behind Chen Mo, a pair of wings, half-black and half-purple, entwined with Thunder Fire, was particularly striking.

The three of them hovered at the same height, and Hai Bodong's gaze met Chen Mo's, a subtle chill emanating between them.

Hai Bodong looked at the strange wings of the young man, recalling the recent battle outside Desert City. The overwhelming aura had naturally drawn him to observe from a corner.

He had witnessed the pressure that only a Dou Ancestor could emit, emanating from Chen Mo.

Moreover, hearing the mercenaries talk about the five Dou Kings who had appeared at the Lofty Cloud Pavilion's tavern, and the Dou Emperor accompanying him today.

All these signs told Hai Bodong that behind Chen Mo lay a powerful and unfathomable force.

"Better to befriend him than to make an enemy," Hai Bodong thought to himself.

With this in mind, a friendly smile appeared on his aged face, and the ice mist in the chamber dissipated.

Hai Bodong slowly descended, the cold aura around him receding. He clasped his fists in apology, "Due to the sudden restoration of my strength, my Dou Qi became difficult to control. I apologize for startling you, young friend."

"Is that so..." Chen Mo said playfully, "Old Hai, if you hadn't explained, I would have thought you wanted to fight me."

"Not at all," Hai Bodong replied, seeing Chen Mo's confident demeanor, which further confirmed his belief in Chen Mo's powerful background. He was relieved he hadn't turned hostile.

Hai Bodong took out another piece of the incomplete map from his robe and handed it to Chen Mo, smiling, "Here's the other half of the map."

After confirming the system's prompt, Chen Mo smiled and stored it in his Storage Ring, then said, "Old Hai, since your seal has been lifted, does our agreement still stand?"

"Of course it counts. From now on, I will follow the Pavilion Master's lead."

"You're being too serious. As I mentioned before, our relationship is one of cooperation." Though he said this, Chen Mo was quite satisfied with Hai Bodong's attitude.

Chen Mo continued, "I plan to establish an intelligence department for the Lofty Cloud Pavilion in the Black-Corner Region, and I intend to have

Elder Hai take charge of it."

"What does Elder Hai think?"

Thanks to the generous rewards from Blue-White Dawn and tenber.

So...