Battle Through the Heavens: A Dragon at the Start

Chapter 15: The Seven-Star Dou King Leaves the Jia Ma Empire

After leaving the Mittel family, Qi Lie went to the Mittel Auction House again, where he received two pieces of good news.

First, the Ice Spirit Cold Spring, for which a bounty had been offered for nearly half a year, has been found. Second, there is news about the Spirit Absorption!

These two pieces of news filled Qi Lie with joy, and he could now put the refining of the strange fire on the agenda!

He has made up his mind that once he finds Naling, he will go find the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame!

Overjoyed, Qi Lie spent three million gold coins to buy back the Ice Spirit Cold Spring, while the news of Na Ling was given to him for free by the Mittel Auction House.

Someone has heard news of Naling in the Heming Empire!

Qi Lie didn't say much, but he asked the Mitel Auction House to continue offering a reward for Na Ling, and he also used three fifth-order magic cores to exchange for a batch of high-level medicinal herbs containing enormous energy, which he planned to refine into pills for Zi Yan to eat when he got back.

Back at their lodgings, as soon as they entered the courtyard, Zi Yan greeted them with a grin.

"Brother Qi, we've finished the pills, are there any more?"

"What?! You think you can eat this?!"

Qi Lie's face darkened. He had given Zi Yan more than a dozen bottles of pills, which she had finished in just one day! Who could afford to feed her like that!

Zi Yan looked up at Qi Lie, blinked her big eyes, and said pitifully, "I don't know either, I just feel really hungry and want to eat~"

Qi Lie's eyes flickered slightly. Could this guy be about to advance in rank?

"Okay, wait a moment, I'll go refine it for you."

Luckily I bought the medicinal herbs, otherwise I would have had to go out again.

Just as Qi Lie was about to go and refine the pills, Qing Lin also came out of the room.

"Brother Qi Lie, you're back~"

After more than half a year of feeding, Qinglin's physique has returned to that of a normal child. Unlike before, when it was skin and bones, its little face is round and delicate, making it very cute. Its voice is also a bit childish, which melts people's hearts.

"Hehe, Little Green Scale, come here!"

Qi Lie beckoned to Qing Lin, who then trotted over to him, looking at him obediently. Qi Lie squatted down, pinched Qing Lin's delicate little face, and smiled, "Little one, have you been cultivating diligently?"

Qinglin's little face was full of seriousness as she replied in her childish voice, "Brother, Qinglin has been cultivating diligently~"

"Good boy! When you advance to the rank of Fighter, I'll give you a present!"

"Okay, thank you, brother!"

"Alright, go play with Sister Ziyan for a while, brother has to go make medicine."

"Okay, brother!"

Qinglin turned to Ziyan and walked towards her with her short legs.

"Sister Ziyan~"

Zi Yan chuckled, picked up Qing Lin, rubbed her little head, and carried her to the backyard to play.

Qi Lie ignored them and got up to go back to his room to refine medicine.

An hour later, Qi Lie finally came out of the room again, and there he met Hai Bodong, who had returned from the Mittel family.

"Ebi, what was the result?"

Qi Lie asked with a light laugh, seemingly oblivious to Hai Bodong's unpleasant expression.

Hai Bodong sighed softly, cupped his hands in greeting to Qi Lie, and said, "I'm sorry, the Mittel family did not heed my advice... Strength determines everything. I've been living in seclusion for many years and have actually forgotten this principle. I'm truly senile and have made a fool of myself in front of Young Master Qi."

Qi Lie put away his smile, slowly walked up to Hai Bodong, and calmly said, "Didn't Elder Hai already have a premonition? From the moment Elder Tengshan uttered those words."

Hai Bodong said in a deep voice, "It was my wishful thinking that even though my strength was sealed, I still had some say, and that the Mittel family would not be so short-sighted... If the bet is not fulfilled, Young Master Qi can propose some other conditions, and I am willing to make compensation."

Qi Lie's tone became more polite to his senior. He said softly, "Elder Hai, you are too kind. The bet was just something I made on a whim. I didn't really expect anyone to help me. The bet didn't say anything about what would happen if the Mittel family disagreed. So, let's stick to the previous agreement and keep the five-year term."

"Thank you, Young Master Qi."

Qi Lie smiled and stopped dwelling on the matter, instead bringing up another topic.

"Elder Hai, may I hear some news about the strange fire?"

Hai Bodong nodded and slowly said, "After I was sealed away back then, I went into seclusion in Mo City. Over the years, there have been frequent reports about the Strange Flame, but they are all hard to tell whether they are true or false..."

Hai Bodong slowly recounted his judgments on all the information about the strange fire, and even took out a marked map to show Qi Lie, which was very professional.

"...Therefore, I think the most likely places to have strange fire are these three locations on the map."

After a while, Hai Bodong made a summary. He raised his hand and pointed to the sheepskin map floating in the air opposite Qi Lie. On the map, there was a conspicuous flame symbol in each of the three directions: east, west, and north.

Qi Lie stared at the sheepskin map, his gaze following Hai Bodong's direction to the three flame markers. Finally, his eyes settled on the flame marker in the eastern part of Stone Desert City.

"Okay, thank you for informing me, Elder Hai."

Qi Lie memorized the location on the map, nodded, and then said, "After leaving the Mittel family, I went to the Mittel Auction House. I've already obtained the Ice Spirit Spring, and I also have some news about the Naling... Elder Hai, do you know anything about the Haiming Empire?"

Hai Bodong put away the map and slowly said, "I've heard that to the northeast of the Jia Ma Empire is the Luo Yan Empire, east of the Luo Yan Empire is the Chi Huo Empire, and further east is the Hai Ming Empire."

"Most people in the Haiming Empire cultivate water-attribute techniques. I once wanted to go there to train, but ultimately I didn't make it due to other matters."

Qi Lie nodded slightly and said, "According to information provided by the Mittel Auction House, someone in the Haiming Empire has heard of the existence of Naling."

Hai Bodong asked in surprise, "Does Young Master Qi perhaps intend to go and search for it himself?"

Qi Lie chuckled and said, "Spirit Absorption is an essential item for refining strange flames."

Qi Lie originally wanted to improve his alchemy skills first, but since the Mittel family was unwilling to support him, and coincidentally he found the Ice Spirit Cold Spring, he decided to put the Strange Fire on the agenda directly.

If one can refine a different kind of fire, not only will one's strength increase greatly, but one will also be more adept at alchemy.

"When are we leaving?" Hai Bodong asked.

"It will take some time, and I plan to go by myself. Ziyan and Qinglin will stay here, so please take care of them." Qi Lie glanced at the backyard and said indifferently.

"Okay!" Hai Bodong replied in a deep voice.

Qi Lie turned and walked towards the backyard; he hadn't given the pills he had just made to Zi Yan yet.

Half an hour later, Qi Lie went out again to the Mittel Auction House and traded the remaining five fifth-tier magic cores for high-tier medicinal herbs.

Qi Lie returned to his residence and spent half a day refining the medicinal herbs into pills, which he then handed to Zi Yan, telling her to do what she could manage. However, Zi Yan said that she could take them all, so Qi Lie let her go.

Afterwards, Qi Lie returned to his room and began cultivating.

Ten days later, Qi Lie broke through his strength and advanced to a six-star Dou Wang.

After spending a day stabilizing his cultivation, Qi Lie took out a pill from his storage ring—a Battle Spirit Pill that he had stolen from the Black Emperor Sect in the Black Corner Region!

He nearly lost his life for this pill, and now, as he prepares to depart for the Haiming Empire, he is determined to consume it to enhance his strength and prepare for any potential crises.

After swallowing the Douling Pill, Qi Lie entered a state of cultivation again. Five days later, he broke through again, reaching the level of a seven-star Dou Wang!

During his half-month seclusion, Zi Yan consumed a large number of pills, advancing in strength and becoming a true fifth-order magical beast!

Even if Hai Bodong has ulterior motives, Zi Yan's current strength is enough to protect herself and Qing Lin, and the time is ripe to set off.

After settling Qinglin and Ziyan in, Qi Lie gave Hai Bodong some instructions and then left Jia Ma Holy City, embarking on his journey to the Haiming Empire to find Naling.