BTTH: From Genius to Invincible

Xiao Yan's next destination was Rock Desert City. His two older brothers had established their own mercenary company there.

A warm smile slowly appeared on his face as he recalled the joyful times of his childhood.

'I wonder why Big Brother and Second Brother sent a message home telling me to visit Rock Desert City. I hope it's not because of some ignorant fool.' A dangerous glint flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes.

A blood-red light streaked across the sky, leaving a long trail of fire in its wake.

Originally, Xiao Yan had planned to take a flying magical beast from Black Rock City, the closest major city to Qingshan Town, to Rock Desert City. He would also get his alchemist badge while there.

However, after considering it further, he decided to rely on his own strength to fly to Rock Desert City. As for the alchemist badge, forget it. He was afraid there wouldn't be anyone in Black Rock City capable of assessing him.

With the wisdom gained from living two lifetimes, Xiao Yan had not only thoroughly studied the vast amount of alchemy techniques, pill recipes, and ancient books within his storage ring, but he had also secretly learned some of Hun Huzi's alchemy methods. Additionally, he had harnessed the power of Heavenly Flames and possessed the Spiritual Strength of a 5th-tier alchemist.

He was certainly not an ordinary 4th-tier alchemist.

The strongest alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire, Pill King Gu He, was only at the 6th tier. Even the best alchemist in Black Rock City might not be Xiao Yan's match.

Taking the test there would feel more like showing off.

Originally, only Dou Spirits could glide for short distances. However, not only could Xiao Yan fly with his Eagle Wings, but after his Qi Method evolved to the High Xuan Class, both the quality and quantity of his Dou Qi took a tremendous leap.

High Xuan Class Qi Methods were not something an average advanced Dou Spirit would possess, let alone the fact that Xiao Yan's Flame Mantra was no ordinary Xuan Class Qi Method. Possessing the power of Heavenly Flames, the purity of his fire-attribute Dou Qi was simply astonishing.

Throughout the entire flight, every time his Dou Qi was depleted, he would cultivate and replenish it through the circulation of the Flame Mantra.

Even though the Hidden Spirit Pill had solidified his Dou Qi, he still felt uneasy. Therefore, by repeatedly consuming his Dou Qi to the limit before circulating his Qi Method, he aimed to eliminate any unstable Dou Qi.

'So this is Desert City, quite prosperous.' Xiao Yan saw a massive city built upon a stretch of yellow sand while he was still several thousand meters away.

Desert City was the only large city in the Tager Desert. All mercenary companies heading into the Tager Desert to search for treasure would trade for supplies here. Those in need of precious materials produced in the desert would come here to purchase them.

However, the most famous commodity in Desert City was not medicinal ingredients, but Snake-Woman slaves. The Dou Qi Continent was a world where the strong were respected, and the weak had no human rights to speak of.

Although the Jia Ma Empire did not support human trafficking, enough money could buy anything.

Perhaps it was due to the desert, but the weather here was quite dry and hot. The scorching sun shone down from the sky, baking the earth below and causing it to constantly emit a suffocating heat. That heat slowly rose, causing people's vision to become somewhat distorted and blurry.

Xiao Yan didn't linger for long. He spread his wings with a whooshing sound and planned to fly over Desert City, traversing the desert to reach Rock Desert City, where Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were located.

Although called a city, Rock Desert City was actually much smaller than Desert City, more like a town built on a desert oasis that served as a temporary gathering place for mercenary companies.

Just as Xiao Yan transformed into a streak of fire and flew over Desert City, the empty space in front of him suddenly distorted and Mao Wu emerged from his Acceptance Soul.

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Although Mao Wu would occasionally come out to play, Xiao Yan noticed that its expression was very unusual this time.

Its cat eyes were fixed intently on a building below, filled with vigilance and hostility.

Xiao Yan had only seen such an expression on Mao Wu once before, back in the stone cave when they discovered the map fragment of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame. This was because the map fragment contained the aura of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame.

The Nihility Devouring Flame and the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame seemed to be natural enemies, possessing a strong innate hostility toward each other.

Xiao Yan frowned and pondered for a moment before finding a secluded spot to land. He quickly changed into his Soul Robe.

Hood on, anonymity secured.

Then he slowly walked to the front of a shop. 'Gu Tu (Ancient Map)? A shop specializing in making maps?'

Xiao Yan immediately thought of the map fragment of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame he had obtained before. However, that map had been divided into several pieces, and he only possessed one of them.

He entered the map shop at a leisurely pace and swept his gaze around. He was slightly surprised. Unlike other shops that were luxurious and eye-catching, this shop actually exuded a modest and antique atmosphere.

His gaze shifted and finally landed on an old man behind the counter who was meticulously drawing a map. The old man's advanced age was evident in his full white hair, yet the withered hand holding the black drawing pen was still steady and powerful.

Without disturbing the old man, Xiao Yan glanced at Mao Wu on his shoulder and followed its line of sight to an old wooden shelf in the corner of the shop.

This shelf was clearly ancient, covered in holes from decaying wood. On top of it, some yellowed maps were casually stacked, and judging from the tattered traces on their surfaces, they seemed to be failed products from the map-making process.

As he approached the ancient wooden shelf, Mao Wu stood up, baring its teeth and bristling its fur as if it had encountered a threat.

The Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame could purify everything. It seemed that it indeed posed a natural threat to the Nihility Devouring Flame.

After a while, when Xiao Yan saw a yellowed map, he slowly narrowed his eyes and took a deep breath, muttering in a trembling voice, "It really is... the map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame!"

His eyes were filled with undisguised joy. He never expected that under such an extremely coincidental circumstance, he would actually encounter another map fragment of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame!

"Old sir, do you have any more map fragments like this?" Xiao Yan took the map fragment and walked to the old man.

The hand of the old man, who had been fully focused on drawing the map, trembled imperceptibly upon hearing this question. The old man finally raised his head slowly, his gaze sweeping over the tattered map in Xiao Yan's hand. A hint of inexplicable meaning flashed through his turbid old eyes.

"You... have you seen fragments of this kind of map before?" The old man's brows furrowed tightly because he discovered that his probing was actually unable to penetrate the black robe to sense Xiao Yan's true strength.

Hiding under the black robe, Xiao Yan calmly said, "No, but there are orders within the organization. If we encounter map fragments with this kind of symbol, we are to bring them back."

"Oh? What organization are you from?"

"That's not something you need to concern yourself with, old sir."

After a moment of silence, the old man said indifferently, "This map fragment is not for sale. Don't even think about snatching my map. It will not end well for you."

The old man slowly lowered his head and once again immersed himself in the unfinished map as soon as he finished speaking. Although his tone was calm, it left no room for argument.

The map fragment of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame lay quietly in Xiao Yan's palm. After a moment of silence, Xiao Yan smiled faintly, his five fingers slowly closing, grasping the map fragment in his hand.

He wanted this map fragment! And not even a god could stop him!

The door slammed shut with a 'bang' just as Xiao Yan's five fingers closed around the map fragment. The old man suddenly erupted with an extremely strong force of icy energy as his ice attribute Dou Qi burst forth from his body.

An extremely cold aura instantly engulfed Xiao Yan, turning him into an ice sculpture in a matter of seconds.

Xiao Yan's name should imply a feud with ice, as he often found himself turned into an ice sculpture.

The old man's eyes remained indifferent, showing no change of emotion from killing someone. "I told you, it will not end well for you."

Sizzle sizzle! 

Suddenly! A sound came from within the ice sculpture. Terrifying fire-attribute energy seemed to be awakening. The ice, which should have been impossible to melt with ordinary flames, was rapidly melting, wisps of white vapor rising!

Countless ice shards splattered with a thunderous explosion, and the white vapor dissipated. The blood-red Ten Thousand Beast Flame enveloped Xiao Yan's entire body, his black pupils transforming into a pair of blood-red beast eyes.

Beast Transformation State!

"I apologize, old sir. But if you only have the strength of a Dou Spirit, I'm afraid I'll be taking this map fragment with me."

The people from the Hall of Souls just love to snatch things!