Battle Through The Heavens : I Am The Thunder Emperor

Chapter 188: Kidnapping Hai Bodong?

"You're up, cousin! Today is the once-every-eight-years Alchemist Tournament. Since you're here in the capital, you can't miss out on the excitement," Xiao Yan said with a smile as he pointed out the window at the alchemists bustling on the streets.

Following Xiao Yan's gesture, Mo Yu nodded slightly and smiled, "Hehe, this kind of grand event is rare. I wouldn't miss it. And I heard from Ya Fei that you're also participating in the competition, Xiao Yan. As your cousin, I have to come and cheer you on. Who knows, maybe the champion of this Alchemist Tournament will come from our Xiao family."

Hearing Mo Yu's confidence in him, Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned, then smiled bitterly and shook his head. The championship of the Alchemist Tournament was the dream and highest honor of many alchemists. How could he, who had only been learning alchemy for a few years, hope to win it? Even with Yao Lao's careful guidance, Xiao Yan didn't dare to be too confident about defeating so many formidable opponents.

Xiao Yan had never fully understood why his cousin had such unwavering faith in him. This trust wasn't just empty flattery; it seemed to come from a deep-seated belief.

Not paying attention to Xiao Yan's thoughts, Mo Yu turned his gaze to the old man standing nearby and smiled. "So, this is the Dou Huang expert that Ya Fei mentioned?"

As Mo Yu spoke, the white-haired old man by the window turned around, his sharp eyes locking onto the young man. A subtle yet formidable pressure began to emanate from him, a pressure that could make even a Dou Ling warrior tremble. However, this aura, which would terrify most, seemed to have no effect on Mo Yu, who remained completely calm.

"Oh?" The calmness of the young man made a flash of admiration appear in the old man's eyes.

Of all the young people Hai Bodong had encountered, Xiao Yan was the most unfathomable. Yet today, he had met another one. Remembering Xiao Yan's mention of his talented and powerful cousin, Hai Bodong had initially been skeptical. But now, he was starting to believe it.

"So, you're Mo Yu, the one who wiped out the Mo family?" Hai Bodong said as he withdrew his aura. His old eyes, filled with wisdom, observed Mo Yu with a hint of surprise. "I'm Hai Bodong. Even while in seclusion, I heard about that event, which shook the entire empire. I never imagined that you and Xiao Yan would come from the same family. It's astonishing that such a small family produced two geniuses like you."

"Junior Mo Yu greets Hai Lao. I've heard of your great reputation, and it's an honor to meet you," Mo Yu said respectfully, bowing slightly.

On the Dou Qi Continent, there wasn't a strict distinction between good and bad, but Mo Yu genuinely respected the old man before him. Anyone who would stand up for Xiao Yan against the Yun Lan Sect deserved Mo Yu's respect.

"Haha, you're Xiao Yan's cousin, and he's done a lot for me, so there's no need to be so formal," Hai Bodong said, his tone noticeably more amiable.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan couldn't help but marvel at the situation. He knew how proud and difficult Hai Bodong could be, even with Yao Lao's influence. Yet here he was, being so friendly to Mo Yu, someone he had just met. It confirmed once again that his cousin was indeed full of hidden depths.

The two continued chatting for a while, and though Mo Yu was much younger, his knowledge and demeanor were far beyond his years. The conversation flowed so smoothly that it felt like they had known each other for a long time.

"Haha, Brother Mo, I never thought you'd have such a deep understanding of geography and ice-based techniques. I can't imagine what kind of family could raise such a learned individual," Hai Bodong laughed heartily.

Mo Yu simply smiled in response. He had long mastered the art of engaging people in conversation, a skill he had learned in his previous life. Hai Bodong, though eccentric, had his own interests, and once Mo Yu found the right topic, it wasn't hard to keep him engaged. One of Hai Bodong's greatest passions was creating maps, which was why Xiao Yan had run into him in a map shop. Having traveled extensively in his previous life, Mo Yu had seen countless landscapes and could speak about them with great ease. As for ice techniques, although he didn't possess any himself, he had seen many experts use them in his previous life. His explanations even led Hai Bodong to have several moments of realization. If the room weren't so small, Hai Bodong would likely have wanted to try out the techniques on the spot.

"Alright, it's almost time. We should get going..." Xiao Yan said softly, shaking his head in mild exasperation as he saw how well the two were getting along. He knew just how strange Hai Bodong's temper could be, yet here his cousin was, chatting away with the old man as if they were long-lost friends. The insights Mo Yu had shared were things Xiao Yan had never heard before, not even from Yao Lao. In just a short time, Xiao Yan felt like he was seeing his mysterious cousin in a whole new light.

"Haha, today's the day of Xiao Yan's big competition. Hai Lao, let's chat more at the Royal Plaza," Mo Yu said with a chuckle, patting his forehead lightly.

"Alright, sounds good. Once we get to the Royal Plaza, we can find a spot and continue our conversation. The first round of the Alchemist Tournament isn't much to watch anyway. Besides, with Xiao Yan's abilities, he should have no problem taking the top spot," Hai Bodong said dismissively, his eyes lighting up as he looked at Mo Yu, almost as if he had discovered a treasure trove. He had spent decades mastering his ice abilities and had thought he was at the forefront of the field. But Mo Yu's words had made him feel as though he was only just beginning to understand. This sparked a strong desire for knowledge within Hai Bodong, and he wanted nothing more than to talk to Mo Yu for days on end.

Seeing Hai Bodong's eager expression, Mo Yu could only smile wryly. He had simply intended to make a friend out of the old man, but it seemed he had gone a bit too far, and now Hai Bodong saw him as a confidant.

"Let's head to the Royal Plaza first. We don't want to miss Xiao Yan's assessment," Mo Yu said with a sigh.

As they left the room and exited the inn, the bustling streets were filled with people. Alchemists, once rare and mysterious, were everywhere today. What surprised Mo Yu was how quiet and reserved Hai Bodong was outside.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, they finally arrived at the Royal Plaza, where the Alchemist Tournament was being held. Mo Yu gazed out, but from where he stood, he could only see a small portion of the enormous square.

Outside the plaza, fully armed troops were stationed to maintain order. This event had gathered powerful individuals from all over, and any disturbance could have devastating consequences for the capital. The Jia Ma royal family was taking no chances.

At the entrance of the plaza, alchemists from the Alchemist Association were stationed to check credentials. Only association members and participants could enter through this gate, while the audience had a separate entrance.

With Xiao Yan's entry documents, Mo Yu and the others had no trouble entering the plaza. After walking up a long slope, the vast plaza finally came into full view, causing Mo Yu to shake his head in wonder. The size was simply astonishing.

As they stood at the top of the slope, Mo Yu looked out at the vast stone square and couldn't help but think how grand it would be if blacksmiths could hold such a magnificent competition. He'd love to participate just to show off a little.

The square was circular, with numerous seats set up on one side for the general audience. On the opposite side were more luxurious seats reserved for high-ranking members of the association and the heads of the capital's major powers.

Just as Mo Yu and the others were settling in, an old voice called out from behind them.

"Xiao Yan, you're here."

Hearing the call, Mo Yu and the others turned to see an elderly man in a purple robe sitting comfortably, calling out to Xiao Yan by name.

"Oh? So it's the Vice President of the Alchemist Association, Qie Mi Er. I didn't know the old guy was still around..." Hai Bodong muttered to Mo Yu as he observed the elderly man.

Mo Yu raised an eyebrow in surprise. He hadn't expected that due to his "butterfly effect," Xiao Yan would end up meeting such an important figure from the Alchemist Association.

And not just any figure, but the current Vice President, Qie Mi Er.

Mo Yu could only think to himself: As expected of the protagonist of destiny.

(End of Chapter)

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