304: Chapter 304 Snake Scale Flower, Xiao Xiao's Escape

“Mo City...”

Murmuring softly, Hun Tiandi chuckled and walked toward the city gate.

At the city gate, over a dozen soldiers clad in armor, holding long spears and sharp blades, were shouting at the pedestrians entering the city to pay the entry tax.

Despite the sweltering heat, these soldiers were fully armed, appearing more strictly disciplined than those in some major cities.

Combined with the intense heat, the soldiers were irritable, shouting rudely and constantly rushing the passing travelers.

Walking to the city gate and listening to the noisy soldiers, Liu Ling, dressed in an exquisite Alchemist robe, walked straight toward the entrance.

The profession of Alchemist was highly respected, enjoying noble-like treatment; in the Jia Ma Empire, they were exempt from city entry taxes.

“Liu Ling, I didn't expect your status as an Alchemist to be quite useful. The Jia Ma Empire's imperial family has done well in this regard!”

Yan Xing teased.

Liu Ling ignored the fawning soldiers completely, nodded slightly, and walked into the city.

“My Lord, you must be careful. The Snake-people Tribe of the Tagor Desert has been quite aggressive lately!”

The soldier hurriedly warned.

Liu Ling nodded slightly, taking it as an unexpected piece of information, and his figure disappeared into the city gateway.

“Sigh, I almost offended a big shot. If the higher-ups knew I nearly offended a Seventh-Rank Alchemist, they would surely have me executed by a thousand cuts.”

Watching Liu Ling's departing figure, the soldier let out a breath and wiped the fine sweat from his forehead.

Returning to his post after this encounter, his temper had subsided significantly.

Stepping past the city gate, light poured down, and a city with desert characteristics appeared in view. The strange architecture gave a sense of novelty.

“Your Majesty, where shall we go next?” Liu Ling asked slowly.

“First, we'll buy an accurate map of the Tagor Desert, then prepare enough water and snake-repelling medicine!”

Hun Tiandi spoke indifferently, needing to familiarize himself with this strange city.

At this moment, he noticed Qing Yue's expression beside him was off, as if she were lost in a memory.

“Qing Yue, what's wrong?” Yan Xing and Liu Ling also noticed and asked.

“Back to this nightmare of a place again!” Qing Yue said with a mix of resentment, longing, fear, and trepidation.

“You were taken from the Tagor Desert back then and sent to the Black-Corner Region to be auctioned...”

Hun Tiandi said softly, as if recalling something.

“Yes, since I can remember, I lived in the Tagor Desert, wandering everywhere. One day, I was forcibly taken by a group of mercenaries...”

Tears welled in Qing Yue's eyes, her voice trembling as if returning to that desperate day.

“What was the name of the mercenary group that captured you?” Hun Tiandi asked coldly. Those who knew him would know that his killing intent was at its peak.

“Mo Tie Mercenary Group!” Qing Yue spat out the words one by one.

Yan Xing and Liu Ling glanced at each other, both seeing the killing intent in the other's eyes.

“Let's go!” Hun Tiandi said indifferently, walking further into the city.

Liu Ling stopped a passerby to ask for a shop selling desert maps in Mo City, but the person was initially arrogant and impatient.

Upon seeing the Alchemist badge on Liu Ling's chest, his expression changed instantly, and he pointed the way clearly.

Thanks to the influence of an Alchemist, the group soon headed toward the shop.

A shop named Shan He appeared before them, and they walked inside.

The shop was not small, containing maps and medicinal herbs, but there weren't many customers, making it somewhat quiet.

Their gaze fell on an old man at the counter making maps. He had gray hair and old hands, holding a magic pen that he was turning.

Hun Tiandi casually picked up a map from the counter.

“Is this... a snake scale flower?”

Hun Tiandi said in surprise. He hadn't expected to encounter such a rare flower in the Shan He shop. It was an emerald-green herb with petals like overlapping snake scales.

It was indeed a fifth-rank medicinal herb, effective for purifying the bloodline of those with snake-like bloodlines.

Of course, it was only helpful to those with such bloodlines; for a normal human to consume it, it would be less valuable than a spiritual fruit.

The price of a single snake scale flower was over fifty thousand gold coins, and it was often unavailable even if one had the money.

In the Tagor Desert, there were too many people with snake bloodlines, so demand exceeded supply.

In the alchemy canon, there was a fifth-tier pill called the Hundred-Scale Snake Pill. One of its main ingredients was the snake scale flower. If a Hundred-Scale Snake Pill could be refined, it would be of immense help to Qing Yue's strength.

“You're here to buy a map of the Tagor Desert, right?”

An old voice sounded. Hun Tiandi turned around and nodded slightly.

He said calmly, “Sir, I need an accurate map of the desert.”

“They're all on the counter, choose for yourself!” The old man said indifferently, without any intention of standing up.

Hun Tiandi selected a relatively detailed map and spoke again, “Sir, how much for this snake scale flower?”

Hearing Hun Tiandi's question, the old man looked up, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

“Not for sale!” the old man said coldly, lowering his head to continue making maps.

“Oh? Since you've placed it on the counter, you must have some intention of selling it. I haven't even offered a price yet; do you think I can't afford it?”

Hun Tiandi's expression remained unchanged as he spoke to the old man.

“Kid, don't eye my snake scale flower. I don't care about money. Take the map and go!”

The old man refused again.

“Sir, that strange injury of yours... it must be quite uncomfortable,” Hun Tiandi said calmly.

Just now, Liu Ling had whispered in Hun Tiandi's ear that the injury inside the old man's body was extremely bizarre.

It was entwined around his internal organs and meridians.

It restricted his power, preventing him from fully utilizing his strength.

Boom!

A massive aura rose from the old man, cold as the dead of winter. He stared at Hun Tiandi with eyes as sharp as an eagle's.

“Who are you? Who sent you?” The old man's gaze was piercing, and his surging aura pressed down toward him.

Liu Ling took a step forward, his own aura erupting and clashing with the old man's.

Inside the shop, crackling sounds erupted in mid-air, and the counter began to crumble and creak.

“You...” The old man's eyes were filled with shock. For a mere subordinate to be this powerful, who exactly were these people?

“Sir, you misunderstand. My innate soul perception is quite strong. Earlier, I sensed that your internal energy was obstructed, as if you had a hidden ailment...”

Hun Tiandi smiled slightly. “I will be staying in Mo City for a while.”

“If you change your mind, come find me with the snake scale flower! I believe with your abilities, finding me won't be difficult.”

With those words, he walked out. Liu Ling casually tossed a bag of gold coins onto the counter.

As the group left, the old man murmured, “Who on earth are you?”

Rumble!

“Miss Xiao, hand over that ancient expert's inheritance, and I promise not to harm you...”

“The ancient expert's inheritance? You want it all for yourself?”

“Do you not know I am from the Xiao Family? If you offend me, there will be no place for you on the Fighting Qi Continent...”

At this time, tens of thousands of miles away from the Tagor Desert, powerful booms erupted in the sky.

Numerous powerful figures were besieging The Lady in White. Brilliant Fighting Qi whistled through the air, the weather changing as they continuously attacked.

Hovering beside her was a seven-colored snake-like magical beast, flicking its tongue and guarding its surroundings.

“Bastards, I don't have any ancient expert's inheritance at all!” Xiao Xiao roared in anger, her voice infused with Fighting Qi, spreading out like thunder.

Opposite her stood hundreds of experts, some walking on air, others using Fighting Qi wings...

Each of them had a cold expression, holding weapons and staring coldly at The Lady in White.