BTTH: Starting With Auctioning Green Lotus Core Flame

Just as Hai Bodong thought he had succeeded, all the ice spears he had released suddenly halted in mid-air.

The Ice Emperor's expression froze. He turned sharply to the stunning woman beside Li Xiao, his voice tinged with shock and vigilance, "You can control my Dou Qi? Who the hell are you people?"

As a Dou Emperor, Hai Bodong could feel his Dou Qi being absorbed. He had never encountered anyone of this caliber before, clearly indicating the high status of these two individuals.

Lian Xue coldly declared, "Dare to harm the master, and you shall die!"

At her shout, all the ice spears that Hai Bodong had released reversed their trajectory, attacking with multiplied speed and force.

"Xue, show mercy," Li Xiao reminded her. Without his intervention, Lian Xue would likely have killed Hai Bodong.

Feeling an unprecedented sense of oppression, Hai Bodong knew that the woman's power was extraordinarily terrifying. If he didn't defend himself, his life could be at stake.

With this realization, Hai Bodong's eyes turned icy cold. He quickly gathered all his Dou Qi into his hands and summoned a shield made of condensed ice.

However, Hai Bodong had underestimated Lian Xue's strength. The moment the ice spears collided with the shield, his body was pushed back several steps, and the shield began to shatter at a visible speed. With a resounding crack, the ice shield shattered completely.

Blown by the powerful energy, the shattered fragments cut Hai Bodong's aged face, and red blood began to drip from the tear wounds.

Hai Bodong, wide-eyed, touched the blood on his face and roared, "Who exactly are you?!"

Li Xiao calmly said, "I told you, sir, we're here to negotiate."

Hai Bodong's mouth twitched with anger. "Whether you're a disciple of the Misty Cloud Sect's Sect Master or a young master of one of the big families, you will not leave here with this fragment today!"

Lian Xue sneered, "Even now, you still have a big mouth." As she gently stepped on the desert sand, it instantly turned to ice, freezing any living creature in the area into statues.

Hai Bodong was startled, instinctively swallowing hard.

His pupils contracted in shock. "This overwhelming power... how is this possible? In the entire Jia Ma Empire, besides my ice attribute Dou Qi, no one else..."

"No, this kind of terrifying ice attribute Dou Qi doesn't resemble the style of those force at all!"

Hai Bodong's face grew grave. He hadn't expected to encounter such formidable individuals today. Lian Xue's Dou Qi completely overwhelmed his own, even giving off a devouring sensation.

Realizing he could no longer hide his true strength, Hai Bodong knew he had to go all out to try and hold his ground against these two.

With his eyes narrowing, Hai Bodong, without any hesitation, raised his withered hands. As he circulated his Dou Qi, he clenched his hands slightly, causing the surrounding icy mist to rapidly condense, finally forming a completely blue ice spear in his palms.

Still feeling insecure even with the ice spear, he quickly formed a seal with one hand and then shouted, "Ice Spirit Armor!"

With his shout, the surrounding icy mist rapidly constructed a solid, shimmering ice armor around his body.

"Girl, you've really angered me. It's been a long time since anyone has forced me to go all out. Today, none of you will leave here!" Hai Bodong roared.

"Annoying," Lian Xue said, moving her fingers slightly. The once scorching desert suddenly turned dark, and heavy snow began to fall.

"How is this possible?!" Hai Bodong finally realized something was wrong. This woman had changed the weather itself. Could she be a Dou Venerate? But he was unwilling to believe it. The girl looked barely in her twenties; how could she possess the strength of a Dou Venerate?

"Frozen Ice Spin!" Hai Bodong's bones crackled loudly as he released a powerful burst of Dou Qi.

"I have never felt so invigorated before. Lass, come on, let this old man see what you're capable of!" Hai Bodong shouted.

Li Xiao stood with his hands behind his back, watching several ice dragons in mid-air. He couldn't help but be amazed by Hai Bodong's strength. Even after his power had declined to the Dou Spirit level, he could still unleash such terrifying Dou Techniques.

Hai Bodong pushed his hands forward forcefully, sending all the ice dragons charging madly towards Lian Xue.

Lian Xue watched the charging ice dragons with disdain. 

"How futile." 

With a slow, deliberate motion, she raised a finger and gently pressed down. What Hai Bodong had assumed was her surrender turned out to be a devastating counter. His most powerful Dou Technique was destroyed instantly, disintegrating into countless fragments that scattered across the ground.

With his Dou Technique broken, Hai Bodong was thrown to the ground like a cannonball, yet he was not mortally wounded. Facing such an overwhelming power, he knew that the enemy had shown him mercy; otherwise, the woman's first attack would have ended his life already.

Lian Xue said, "As per Master's order, I'll spare your life."

Hai Bodong struggled to stand, his face pale. "Who... who are you... to possess such terrifying power?"

"I am Venerable Ice and Snow, Lian Xue, and this great man is my master."

"To have a venerable title… could she really be a Dou Venerate?" Hai Bodong's eyes widened in shock.

Li Xiao walked up, smiling at the disheveled old man. As one of the top ten powerhouses in the Jia Ma Empire, Hai Bodong was known for his loyalty and integrity. He had assisted Xiao Yan against the Misty Cloud Sect and helped him in many other ways. That was why Li Xiao had ordered Lian Xue not to kill him.

Hai Bodong managed to stand and said, "I never thought that after hiding in the desert for so many years, I would still be found."

"Years ago, I encountered an elite fighter from the Snake-People Tribe, Queen Medusa," Hai Bodong's eyes flashed with a complex emotion. "Queen Medusa is one of the top-ranked Dou Emperors. In that battle, I was utterly defeated and cursed with her Snake Seal, which sealed my power at the Dou Spirit level."

Li Xiao spoke softly, "And so, this is where our transaction begins. Old Hai, you should also know the location of the other Heavenly Flame, right?"

Hai Bodong narrowed his eyes. How could this guy know he had another piece of the fragment? Could he read minds? He began to suspect that these two were from the Central Plains, given how young they seemed to be yet possessing Dou Venerate level strength.

"Alright," Hai Bodong stroked his beard. "If you can provide the pill I need, I will give you this fragment. Moreover, I will do three things for you, as long as they don't go against my principles."

"This is the most valuable thing I can offer."