Two sets of eyes intertwined in the air, each conveying an inexplicable meaning. A faint chill hovered between them, and the atmosphere suddenly grew noticeably tense. The black-eyed figure calmly gazed upon the waves of sea-like energy above, which now seemed sharper and more dominant as his strength returned. Xiao Yan slightly leaned back, resting against the chair's back, his fingers crossed before him, maintaining a serene, still demeanor—unaffected in the slightest by the fierce, battle-ready aura emanating from the underground chamber. Above, Hai Bo Dong's gaze was sharp and intense, fixed firmly on the black-robed youth below. A delicate layer of cold energy circled his palms, gradually easing as his strength returned. After decades of suppression, the emotions that had long been restrained finally began to flow once more. Once, the Ice Emperor had been cold and commanding—no one had ever dared to take anything from his hands. Yet Xiao Yan had broken that very boundary. Previously, due to the seals and his inability to fully grasp Xiao Yan's true strength, Hai Bo Dong had shown no signs of hostility. However, now that the seals have been lifted and the once-dominant Ice Emperor has finally returned in full force, the sudden surge in Xiao Yan's power has unexpectedly stirred within Hai Bo Dong a quiet determination to reclaim the complete map. Though Hai Bo Dong did not know exactly what role the fragments played, he was certain that the secrets they concealed were of immense significance—after all, even the Queen of Medusa, a power of that caliber, had been drawn from afar to pursue them. With his body suspended in the air, cold aura swirling around him, Hai Bo Dong fixed his gaze upon Xiao Yan, who stood calm and composed. The quiet, almost enigmatic demeanor of the young man finally brought a measure of clarity back to the increasingly confident Hai Bo Dong. With his eyes slightly narrowed into a thin slit, Hai Bo Dong recalled the battle he had fought against Xiao Yan several months prior, his facial expression growing steadily more serious. As the image of the strange, pale, and ethereal flame that the young man had wielded that day flashed through his mind, a sudden, unanticipated chill surged through his chest—deeply rooted in his memory of the first encounter with that flame, which he had long since come to recognize as terrifying. As the chill intensified within him, his body subtly shivered, and the cold that had settled on his face began to fade. A gentle, seemingly soft smile gradually appeared on the slightly stiff, weathered features of his face. After repeated contemplation, the confidence that had surged in Hai Bo Dong due to his remarkable growth finally began to subside under the pressure of reason. With a vague calculation, he found himself slightly perturbed—though his strength had gradually returned to his former level, he still could not fully grasp the true capabilities of the young man. Sensing Xiao Yan's presence, despite the fact that Xiao Yan's strength was merely that of a Battle Seer, Hai Bo Dong, who had previously fought against him, knew that anyone who treated the youth as merely a Battle Seer would surely suffer a severe defeat. "It would be premature to declare war upon him," he thought. A gentle smile spread across his weathered face, and he nodded kindly toward Xiao Yan. The cold aura surrounding him gradually settled and receded into his body. Xiao Yan glanced at Haibo Dong, a hint of amusement in his eyes, watching the man who, after a moment of deep contemplation, had suddenly softened his sharp demeanor and begun to express goodwill. Holding his nari ring between his fingers, Xiao Yan smiled with quiet amusement. "Master Haibo, I thought you had regained your strength and were now going to step forward and confront me directly. Your expression just now was quite intimidating, truly." Xiao Yan smiled, sitting on the chair and lightly patting his sleeve with his long, slender hands, speaking with a gentle, slightly regretful tone. "It's truly a pity. I had originally planned to witness the true strength of the Ice Emperor, who once ruled the Gamma Empire. Now it seems that opportunity has slipped away. What a shame..." Hearing this, Hai Bo Dong's eye corner subtly lifted, his sharp gaze fixed firmly on Xiao Yan's serious expression. After a moment, he chuckled softly, quickly shifting his gaze, silently relieved. From the way Xiao Yan was acting, it appeared he didn't harbor much apprehension toward himself after his recovery. Good thing he hadn't completely broken relations earlier—otherwise, the outcome of a clash between them would have been far from certain. Moreover, alienating a pharmacist capable of crafting sixth-rank pills was clearly a rather unwise move. If Xiao Yan could have effortlessly defeated him on the spot, that would have been manageable. But should he manage to escape, the trouble ahead would surely mount continuously. As someone with extensive experience, Hai Bo Dong was far more aware than Xiao Yan of the formidable influence and impact such a high-level pharmacist could wield. "Heh, what's wrong, Xiao Yan, young sir? I'm not young anymore—my bones aren't as lively as yours." Hai Bo Dong chuckled, waving his hands. With a sigh of resignation, Hai Bode touched his naga ring, and then a small, remarkably ancient, yellowed piece of parchment appeared in his palm. Gently caressing the fragile, aged fragment with evident reluctance, he murmured, "I've created maps for over forty years, yet I've never seen anything as intricate as this. Shortly after acquiring it, I attempted to reproduce this partial map, only to find that the final version I produced was strangely unlike the original—so different in fact that after repeating this experiment several times, I had to abandon the effort. I suspect this may simply be due to the map's incomplete nature." Xiao Yan's gaze remained firmly fixed on the fragment of the map, briefly glancing at Hai Bo Dong's expression. Though he had a vague understanding of the reasons, he said nothing to clarify them. When the first fragment was obtained from the Wild Beast Mountain, Yao Lao had noticed that these fragments concealed an immense, yet subtle spiritual energy. This energy was particularly hard to detect—only those with exceptional mental faculties, such as alchemists, could perceive it. While this energy did not directly harm individuals, it would gradually erode one's mental clarity if someone attempted to replicate the map's route and patterns. Over time, the resulting map would become vastly different from the original. After hesitating and gently stroking the fragment for a while, Hai Bo Dong finally sighed, shook his head with a sense of frustration, and passed it to Xiao Yan, offering a weary smile. "Well, here you go," he said. "Based on my experience, these fragments were likely divided into several parts. Holding just this one doesn't seem particularly useful. And finding other fragments across such a vast continent? That would be no easier than searching for needles in a haystack." Smiling, Xiao Yan reached out and took the rather smooth, fragmented map in his hands, studying it carefully. A faint sense of time-worn elegance and ancient grace immediately washed over him, suggesting that this piece had endured a long and storied journey. Holding this small fragment, Xiao Yan then retrieved another fragment he had previously taken from Hai Bo Dong from his storage ring, and gently aligned them. Only after confirming that the two pieces seamlessly connected with no gaps did he feel a sense of relief. "Hey, Xiao Yan, it seems you've got a real interest in these fragments?" Hai Bo Dong observed him, his eyes twinkling as he asked with a warm chuckle. "I've always been curious about all sorts of unusual things," Xiao Yan smiled, his response somewhat vague. "Xiao Yan, all the fragments I've got have now made their way into your pocket. Hehe... I'd like to know, if you don't mind, what exactly this thing does—what benefits or rewards come from gathering these fragments?" Wiping his hands, Hai Bode still couldn't fully suppress his curiosity, and smiled awkwardly as he asked, "Mr. Hai, I've already told you before that, aside from once seeing this fragment at an auction, this is the first time I've managed to obtain one. So, I'm not exactly sure what secrets it holds." Xiao Yan spread his hands and said with a warm smile. Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Hai Bo Dong also understood that Xiao Yan did not intend to share the secret of the fragmented map with him. Thus, he could only shake his head helplessly—now that the map was already in Xiao Yan's hands, it would be impossible to forcibly seize it again. He had to suppress his curiosity and silence it. With care, Xiao Yan placed the fragmented map into a delicate box and then sealed it inside his storage amulet. A sense of relief settled in his heart—he had finally secured this item after so many twists and turns. "Hehe, indeed, there are a few things I'd like to ask Sea Master to assist with." Xiao Yan gently tapped his fingers inside his sleeve, smiling softly. "Hehe, you're already making use of a Dao Emperor's favor so quickly?" Hai Bo Dong chuckled, saying, "I mentioned before that since you helped me once, I owe you one favor. But if you'd like my assistance now, then that favor—well, it'll have to be settled." "I believe Sea Master will likely owe me more favors in the future, not for any other reason than the fact that I am a pharmacist, and one who can craft sixth-rank pills." Xiao Yan said with a calm smile. "Well, though it may sound a bit ambitious, it's true. A pharmacist capable of producing sixth-rank pills is highly valued even among Dao Emperor-level强者, and I certainly share that sentiment." "Exhaling softly, Hai Bo Dong nodded in agreement, deeply resonating with the sentiment. Regardless of how one might put it, on this continent, alchemists—especially senior alchemists—have always been the most cherished friends and companions among the strong." "Now, tell me what you need from me," Hai Bo Dong said, smiling as he stroked the short beard on his chin. "As long as it's within my capabilities, I won't hesitate." "The Yunlan Sect has strong influence, and there are quite a few powerful figures among them. I'd say this favor you're asking me to do won't be easy." Hai Bo Dong stroked his chin, speaking with some hesitation. "Heard this, Hai Bo Dong was slightly taken aback, paused thoughtfully, and then nodded gently with a sigh, saying, 'Very well. After all, I owe you a personal favor. I'll accompany you to Yunlan Sect this time. Though I can't claim to have turned it into a complete chaos yet, I'm confident that, as long as I'm there to protect your safety, there won't be any real difficulty.' Seeing Hai Bo Dong agree, Xiao Yan smiled lightly. With a Diviner Emperor-level strength guardian at his side, he was certain that Yunlan Sect's more rigid and obstinate elders would surely learn to tone down their stiffness."