11: Tavern

The wooden door of the stone house closed behind him with a dull thud, sealing off all the noise and schemes of Wutan City.

Li Ao stood outside, the morning mist not yet dispersed, the cool wind stirring the hem of his blue cloth robe. He did not look back, his gaze fixed on the distant, hazy, and vast horizon. The Tagor Desert, that scorching land nurturing the Green Lotus Core Flame and the Snake-People Clan, was the true destination of his journey.

"Ding! Mission 'Rise to Fame in the Desert' has been accepted. Target: Green Lotus Core Flame (initial contact). Rewards are generous, punishments are severe. Please, host, proceed with caution."

The system's prompt was cold and objective. The punishment of sensory deprivation was enough to make anyone tremble, but Li Ao's eyes held only a profound calmness. Risk and reward coexisted; this was the norm on the path of the strong.

He started walking, choosing no means of transport, relying purely on his own feet. Thunder Sound Steps was not fully unleashed, but he maintained a constant speed far exceeding that of ordinary people. Each step was steady and powerful, his figure drawing a straight line on the official road, and soon Wutan City was left far behind.

The official road gradually became desolate, with sparse human habitation. Days later, the ground beneath his feet began to harden, vegetation grew scarce, and a dry, sandy scent permeated the air. The distant horizon took on a different, yellowish hue compared to the inland.

The edge of the Tagor Desert had arrived.

Waves of heat assaulted him, carrying grains of sand that stung his face slightly. As far as the eye could see, there was an endless golden sea of sand, the undulating dunes like solidified waves, stretching to the very limit of his vision. The sky was high and distant, the scorching sun oppressive, and the air shimmered with heat, creating mirage-like illusions.

Extreme environments often harbored extreme opportunities and dangers.

Li Ao stopped, narrowing his eyes slightly, adapting to the harsh climate. His Black Iron Hegemon Body subtly circulated within him, a flash of dark iron luster beneath his skin, shielding him from the scorching heat and sand. This slight environmental change posed no significant problem for his current physique.

He did not rush deeper but instead walked along the edge of the desert, choosing a direction and proceeding at a leisurely pace. The system's mission required him to "acquire Green Lotus Core Flame (initial contact)," which meant he needed to first find its exact location, or, find the Snake-People Clan queen, Medusa, who intended to evolve with the help of the Green Lotus Core Flame.

Information was the prerequisite for action.

Half a day later, a crude small town, built around several massive wind-eroded rocks, appeared in his sight. This was the last human gathering point and supply stop before entering the desert, a place where dragons and snakes mingled, and news was most current.

A crooked wooden sign hung at the town's entrance, with the words "Sand Scorpion Town" written in red, resembling dried blood. The air was a mix of sweat, alcohol, and the burnt smell of roasted meat. Several mercenaries, dressed in tattered leather armor with fierce eyes, squatted in the shadows, eyeing every stranger entering the town with ill intent.

Li Ao's appearance immediately attracted several gazes. He was too young, dressed ordinarily, and showed no obvious Dou Qi fluctuations (which he deliberately suppressed). In this perilous desert outpost, he seemed like a lamb straying into a wolf pack.

A burly man with a scar on his face and a missing ear, revealing a mouth of yellow teeth, swayed to his feet and blocked Li Ao's path. He was followed by two companions with equally menacing grins.

"Kid, you look new, huh? First time in Sand Scorpion Town?" The scar-faced man's voice was hoarse, his gaze sweeping over the black iron knife at Li Ao's waist, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes. "There's a rule in this place: newcomers have to pay a 'peace tax.'"

He extended a rough palm, his meaning unmistakable.

A few malicious jeers erupted around them, and other mercenaries gathered, looking as if they were watching a good show. In such a place, the law of the jungle was the only rule.

Li Ao stopped, his gaze calmly fixed on the scar-faced man in front of him, saying nothing.

The scar-faced man felt somewhat uneasy under his stare; his eyes were too calm, a calmness that sent shivers down one's spine. He became enraged and raised his voice: "Damn it, I'm talking to you! Be smart, leave all your valuables and that broken knife, then kowtow, and if I'm in a good mood, maybe I'll let you scram!"

A lanky mercenary behind him chuckled obscenely, adding, "Big Brother, I think this kid has smooth skin; maybe he could be sold to the Snake-People Clan as a plaything, hehe..."

Vile words entered his ears, but Li Ao's eyes remained unmoving. Only in the depths of that calmness did a cold killing intent quietly spread.

He slowly raised his hand and gripped the hilt of his knife.

This simple action inexplicably made the scar-faced man's heart tighten. He instinctively took half a step back, then blustered, "What do you want to do? Are you looking for death?!"

"Your words," Li Ao finally spoke, his voice not loud, but clear to everyone, carrying a cold, hard quality like metal grinding, "are too many."

Before his words finished, a flash of blade light appeared!

It wasn't a draw of the knife, but merely gripping the hilt, along with the scabbard, and thrusting it forward like lightning!

"Pfft!"

A muffled sound.

The menacing grin on the scar-faced man's face instantly froze, turning into extreme terror. He looked down, seeing the unassuming wooden scabbard, which had accurately pierced his throat! He hadn't even seen how the other party had attacked!

He tried to scream but could only produce gurgling sounds of bloody foam. His large body swayed, then crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Silence!

Deathly silence!

The mercenaries who had been jeering moments ago were like ducks with their necks squeezed, their smiles frozen, their eyes filled with horror and disbelief.

Instant kill! Without even drawing his knife, he instantly killed Scar-faced Liu, who was considered a formidable figure even in Sand Scorpion Town!

The lanky mercenary and his other accomplice were scared out of their wits. They let out a strange cry and turned to run.

Li Ao didn't even look at them. He casually swung the hand holding the scabbard to both sides.

"Clang! Clang!"

Two crisp sounds, accompanied by the crunch of breaking bones.

The two fleeing mercenaries were sent flying back with even greater speed, as if hit by a charging rhinoceros, crashing heavily against the nearby mud wall, their bones shattered. It was clear they wouldn't survive.

From the strike to the end, it was but a breath.

Li Ao released the knife hilt, letting the sheathed long knife fall back to his waist, as if he had merely swatted a few flies. His gaze swept over the other mercenaries, who were pale-faced and trembling like sieves.

"Now, who else wants to collect a tax?"

No one dared to answer. All the mercenaries who met his calm gaze felt as if doused with ice water, hurriedly lowering their heads, wishing they could bury their heads in the sand.

Li Ao ignored them, stepping past the still-warm corpse of the scar-faced man, entering the dirty streets of Sand Scorpion Town.

Wherever he walked, the crowd parted like a tide, leaving a wide path and countless gazes mixed with fear, awe, and scrutiny.

The information he needed sometimes didn't require him to ask. By demonstrating sufficient strength, people would naturally bring the information to him.

Li Ao walked directly to what appeared to be the largest and most chaotic tavern in town. Pushing open the creaking, greasy wooden door, a stronger, mingled stench of sweat, cheap alcohol, and blood assaulted him.

The tavern instantly fell silent, all eyes focusing on the young man in blue who had just caused a killing at the town entrance.