113: Stone Desert City

Fire Elder impatiently waved his hand, then his expression turned serious as he swiftly took out several jade bottles and scrolls from his Storage Ring and handed them to Mo Yuhan.

“You little rascal, I’ll give you something different… You’ve probably refined plenty of Ice Heart Pills already. This is Sand Scorpion Detoxification Powder, which has miraculous effects against desert venomous creatures.”

“And this Breath Concealment Art scroll, which can conceal your aura at critical moments to avoid detection.”

He then pulled out a crimson jade talisman, on which a complex flame mark was carved, and solemnly pressed it into Mo Yuhan’s palm, “This is my Lifebound Fire Talisman, containing the full power of my strike. Even a Dou Huang would suffer greatly if hit by it. Remember, come back alive! As long as you’re safe, the pills… I will continue to find a way!”

“Your disciple will remember!”

Mo Yuhan tightly gripped the jade talisman and pills, which still carried the warmth of Fire Elder’s body, his eyes slightly warm, and he bowed deeply.

The farewell was hasty and filled with sorrow.

In front of the elegant pavilion courtyard, the atmosphere was oppressive.

“What?! You’re going to the Tagor Desert?!”

Lin Fei, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly jumped up, her fiery red skirt flaring, her small face full of alarm and reluctance, as she grabbed Mo Yuhan’s arm.

“No, it’s too dangerous. Those Snake-People Tribe are very ferocious. Even if Instructor Ruo Lin accompanies you, it’s still very dangerous. Little Han Han, please don’t go, okay? Let’s think of other ways…”

Although Xue Mei did not speak, her pearly teeth bit tightly on her lower lip, and her slender fingers unconsciously twisted the corner of her clothes, revealing her inner worry.

Xiao Yu’s reaction was the most direct. Her willow-like eyebrows shot up, her honey-colored skin tensed, and she strode in front of Mo Yuhan, a battlefield-like pressure assailing him: “Yu Han, are you crazy?! Is that the kind of hellhole you can go to? What kind of hero are you trying to be?!”

Xiao Mei was also pacing anxiously, pulling Xiao Xuner’s hand: “Xun’er, quickly persuade Young Master, the Tagor Desert is too terrifying.”

Everyone’s gaze instinctively focused on Xiao Xuner, who had been silent.

She was still in a light green dress, her posture like an orchid, standing under the magnolia tree in the corner of the courtyard. The golden glow of the setting sun filtered through the gaps in the branches, casting mottled light and shadow on her beautiful profile.

She quietly looked at Mo Yuhan, and in the depths of her ancient, unmoving eyes, extremely subtle ripples seemed to spread, too fast for anyone to catch.

Facing everyone’s anxiety, a warm current and sourness intertwined in Mo Yuhan’s heart.

He gently broke free from Lin Fei’s hand, revealing a comforting smile to everyone, his eyes clear and firm: “Sister Mei’er, Senior Sister Lin Fei, Xue Mei Senior Apprentice, Senior Sister Xiao Yu, Senior Sister Xue Ni, and… Senior Sister Xun’er.”

His gaze briefly lingered on Xiao Xuner’s face, “I know everyone is worried, but this trip is a must. Aunt treats me like her own child, and I cannot wait another day for her injuries to heal. With Instructor Ruo Lin there, I will be fine. Wait for me to return.”

Lin Fei’s eyes were red-rimmed, and she bit her lip tightly, trying hard not to let tears fall.

“You must be careful, come back soon…” Her voice was thick with a nasal tone.

Xiao Xuner stood a little further away, her light green dress gently fluttering in the breeze. Her gaze seemed to linger on Mo Yuhan’s face for a moment, or perhaps it was just a casual glance, before moving away, returning to its ancient tranquility.

When Mo Yuhan’s gaze met hers, she nodded slightly, her vermilion lips parted lightly, her voice clear and melodious, distinctly reaching Mo Yuhan’s ears: “Take care on your journey.”

Only four words, yet they seemed to contain a thousand unspoken words, carrying a strange power of stability.

Mo Yuhan took a deep breath and, facing everyone, especially those gazes filled with worry, showed a comforting smile: “Everyone, don’t worry, with Instructor Ruo Lin here, I will definitely return safely.”

He took one last deep look at the elegant pavilion where he had lived for over a year, as if to engrave everything here into his heart, then resolutely turned and, following Instructor Ruo Lin, set off towards the academy’s flying beast plaza.

The giant griffon spread its wings, covering the sky, and the powerful airflow stirred up dust everywhere.

Mo Yuhan stood beside Instructor Ruo Lin, taking a final look at the increasingly small outline of Canaan Academy below, and the few figures that were gradually blurring in his vision but were still waving vigorously.

He took a deep breath, turned, and cast his gaze forward—it was a boundless, golden World, shimmering with distorted heat waves under the scorching sun.

The giant griffon spread its wings, covering the sky, and soared into the sky with a deafening roar, carrying Mo Yuhan and Ruo Lin, turning into a black dot, disappearing above Canaan Academy, and streaking through the air towards the eastern border of the Empire.

Tagor Desert, here I come.

Stone Desert City.

As the giant shadow of the griffon swept over this majestic city, standing on the edge of the Tagor Desert, a strong wind, mixed with dryness, scorching heat, and a faint scent of yellow sand, assailed them.

Looking down, the city’s color scheme was a heavy earthy yellow, its walls tall and mottled, covered with traces of wind and sand erosion, like a giant beast crouching on the edge of the sand sea.

The city walls were built from huge yellowish-brown rocks, covered with signs of weathering and old scars from blades and axes, exuding a sense of heaviness and iron-bloodedness.

On the city walls, armored and armed soldiers stood like nails, their gazes vigilantly sweeping across the boundless sand sea outside the city, the atmosphere grim and tense.

Compared to the prosperous and exquisite cities within the Empire, Stone Desert City lacked ostentation and possessed more ruggedness, vicissitude, and a solemn, murderous aura.

In the sky above the city, patrolling flying cavalry had noticeably increased, dressed in Imperial standard leather armor, vigilantly scanning the desert below and in the distance.

The griffon circled above the wind-eroded city walls of Stone Desert City, finally landing at the city’s only flying station.

The moment his feet touched the ground, a scorching heat wave rose from the stone slabs beneath his feet. Even through thick-soled boots, he could feel the burning temperature.

The heat wave that assailed him was dry and coarse, carrying a strong scent of sand and dust, completely different from the moist freshness of Canaan Academy.

The air was so dry it felt as if it could suck the last bit of moisture from one’s lungs.

“So hot…”

Mo Yuhan frowned slightly, his Dou Qi instinctively circulating, forming a faint Dou Qi veil on his body’s surface, isolating the omnipresent intense heat.

He looked around. The streets were wide, but there were few pedestrians, and most walked in a hurry, their expressions carrying a hint of the vigilance and resilience unique to desert inhabitants.

Fully armed soldier squads were visible everywhere, their leather armor stained with sand and dust, holding long spears or curved sabers, their sharp gazes sweeping every corner. The heavy sound of their footsteps echoed on the empty streets, adding to the grimness.

“This place is close to the Snake-People Tribe territory, and conflicts occur frequently, so the defenses are naturally strict.”

Instructor Ruo Lin’s voice sounded beside him, carrying a hint of solemnity. A visible layer of light blue water vapor enveloped her, like a mobile cool barrier, isolating the intense heat and dust, showcasing the advantage of her water-attribute Dou Qi.

She looked at Mo Yuhan, her gentle brows also showing a trace of worry, “Little Yuhan, this place is a mixed bag. We need to find a place to stay and gather information as soon as possible.”

Just then, a hurried sound of hooves, accompanied by faint clashes of metal and angry roars, came from a nearby direction.

“It’s the Snake-People Tribe! Quick! Over by the West Gate! The Desert Iron Mercenary Group is surrounded by the Snake-People Tribe!”

Someone on the street exclaimed.

Desert Iron Mercenary Group?

Mo Yuhan’s heart stirred. Could it be the mercenary group of Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, Xiao Yan’s two brothers?

When he was in Wutan City, Xiao Zhan had also mentioned his two sons who were adventuring in the desert many times.

“Teacher, let’s go see!”

Mo Yuhan did not hesitate. His figure moved like a wisp of green smoke, darting towards the direction from which the sound came.

Ruo Lin’s eyes narrowed, her light blue Dou Qi subtly fluctuating, and she followed closely behind.

Near the West Gate of Stone Desert City, a relatively open sandy area had now become a bloody battlefield.