111: A city that commands respect in the desolate wilderness, a city of shifting sands.

In the night sky, the Two-Star Dou Huang of the Sand Lizard Tribe, Lizard Emperor, was full of imposing Aura and murderous intent. The more than ten Dou Wangs behind him also released their Auras, like a pack of wolves surrounding them, enveloping the entire Blackrock City in terrifying pressure.

City Lord Mo Ba Si's Face was pale. He rushed out of his mansion with his clansmen, looking up at the terrifying figure in the sky, his heart filled with despair. A Two-Star Dou Huang! For Blackrock City, which only had a Five-Star Dou Wang at its highest, this was an insurmountable power!

"Senior Lizard Emperor! There must be a misunderstanding! When did my Blackrock City ever harm anyone from the Sand Lizard Tribe?" Mo Ba Si forced himself to shout, but his voice trembled slightly.

"Misunderstanding?" Lizard Emperor sneered, pointing downwards, "Three days ago, a hunting team from my tribe disappeared in your Blackrock City's territory, and traces of Dou Qi from the Stone Python Tribe were left at the scene! Who else could it be besides you? If you don't hand over the murderer today and compensate with 100,000 gold coins and 100 slaves, this Emperor will slaughter your Blackrock City!"

He didn't give them a chance to explain, or rather, he was using this as an excuse to annex Blackrock City, a territory that, though barren, possessed a small water source.

Mo Ba Si was both shocked and angry, about to argue, when a calm voice leisurely emanated from within the City Lord's Mansion:

"Noisy."

The voice wasn't loud, but it clearly suppressed all the clamor in the night sky, reaching everyone's ears.

Immediately after, under the astonished gazes of Mo Ba Si and all the snake people of Blackrock City, a figure in a green robe slowly walked out of the mansion. It was Li Ao. He looked up at Lizard Emperor in the sky, his eyes like an ancient well, without the slightest ripple.

Medusa's Soul body had not appeared; she was still in the quiet room. Opponents of this level did not require her intervention.

"Where did this pretty boy come from, daring to meddle in this Emperor's affairs? You're courting death!" Lizard Emperor saw that the one who appeared was a young man whose Aura was not evident (Li Ao deliberately restrained it), and immediately dismissed him with disdain. With a casual wave, a condensed, earthy-yellow Dou Qi streak, like a giant lizard flicking its tail, carrying a sharp howl that tore through the air, fiercely struck towards Li Ao!

This strike was enough to blast any Dou Wang into dust!

Mo Ba Si and the others exclaimed, unable to bear watching.

However, facing this fierce attack, Li Ao didn't even move his feet. He merely slowly raised his right hand and gently clenched it towards the incoming Dou Qi streak.

"Buzz!"

The Dou Qi streak, powerful enough to split mountains and rocks, seemed to hit an invisible wall when it was still ten zhang away from Li Ao, suddenly solidifying in mid-air! Immediately after, as if gripped tightly by an invisible large hand, it violently collapsed and squeezed inwards!

Under the incredulous gazes of Lizard Emperor and everyone present, that Dou Qi streak was actually forcibly crushed and annihilated, transforming into the most primitive energy particles, dissipating into nothingness!

Effortlessly, with a wave of his hand, he annihilated a Two-Star Dou Huang's attack!

Silence!

A deathly silence!

Under the night sky, only the mournful sound of wind and sand blowing could be heard.

Lizard Emperor's sneer instantly froze on his Face, his pupils constricting, as if he had seen a ghost! The Dou Wangs behind him were even more terrified, their Faces turning pale as they retreated repeatedly.

Mo Ba Si and the other snake people of Blackrock City, however, all had their mouths agape, their eyes filled with unparalleled shock and... ecstasy!

This Senior who came with the Senior of the upper clan, his strength was actually this terrifying?!

"You... who exactly are you?!" Lizard Emperor's voice was dry, tinged with fear. He could feel that the opponent's move just now was definitely not something an ordinary Dou Huang could achieve! It was a manifestation of absolute control over energy!

Li Ao did not answer his question, merely glancing at him indifferently. His gaze was calm, yet it made Lizard Emperor feel as if he was being stared at by a primeval Vicious Beast, his Soul trembling.

"Scram."

Only one word, but it was like a thunderclap, exploding deep within Lizard Emperor's Soul!

Lizard Emperor trembled all over, his expression constantly changing. He couldn't fathom Li Ao's background, but the strength he displayed was unfathomable, definitely not someone he could provoke. Continuing to stay here, he might really die!

"Se-Senior, please forgive me! This Junior was blind and offended Senior! This Junior will scram now, will scram now!" Lizard Emperor no longer cared about Face or his mission. He bowed deeply to Li Ao, his voice filled with panic, then unhesitatingly turned around and, like a stray dog, fled desperately into the distance with his terrified subordinates, fearing that a moment's delay would result in him being left behind.

They came quickly, and left even faster.

In an instant, the crisis was resolved.

Inside and outside Blackrock City, there was a deathly silence. All the snake people looked at the figure standing with his hands behind his back, his green robe fluttering, with incomparable reverence, as if looking at a deity.

Mo Ba Si trembled with excitement, quickly stepped forward, and bowed deeply to Li Ao: "Thank you, Senior, for taking action and saving my Blackrock City from dire straits! Mo Ba Si will never forget this kindness and virtue!"

Li Ao waved his hand: "It was a trivial matter. The two of us still need to stay here for a few days; we don't wish to be disturbed."

"Yes! Yes! Senior, please rest assured! No one will ever dare to disturb Senior's cultivation again!" Mo Ba Si quickly promised, his attitude even more respectful than before.

After this incident, Li Ao and Medusa's status in Blackrock City became extraordinarily transcendent. Mo Ba Si almost worshipped the two as gods, prioritizing all resources to them, not daring to show the slightest neglect.

Li Ao was also happy for the peace and used these few days to set up a furnace for Alchemy. He took out some Medicinal Herbs obtained from the Soul Hall Protector and the Void Realm bandits, combined with some provided by Blackrock City, and successfully refined several batches of high-quality "Soul Stabilization Pills" and "Blood Essence Pills." The former was used to stabilize Medusa's rapidly increasing Soul Power, while the latter could nourish her Soul Origin, preparing for the future Fusion with her Physical Body.

After Medusa took the Medicinal Pills, her Soul body became even more condensed, the dark seven-colored glow becoming deeper and more restrained, and her Aura completely stabilized at the Five-Star Dou Zong level.

A few days later, feeling sufficiently prepared, the two bid farewell to Mo Ba Si, intending to head to Quicksand City in the center of the desolate region to participate in the once-a-decade Great Desolate Gathering, their target being the "blood soul branch."

Although Mo Ba Si was reluctant, he dared not stop them. He not only offered a detailed map of the desolate region but also gifted Li Ao the only few "Void Gazer Stones" in the tribe that contained spatial power, hoping they would be of some help to Senior.

Leaving Blackrock City, Li Ao and Medusa flew towards Quicksand City according to the map's guidance.

The desolate region was vast and sparsely populated, with mostly Gobi and desert along the way, occasionally seeing some small oases and tribal settlements. The closer they got to Quicksand City, the more cultivators they encountered, most of whom had fierce Auras, carrying the unique wild Qi of the desolate region.

A few days later, a majestic and grand city, built entirely of huge yellow stones, appeared on the horizon. The city's scale was far larger than Blackrock City, with towering city walls, and powerful energy fluctuations were faintly visible, clearly indicating the presence of a protective Formation. This was the core city jointly controlled by the three major tribes of the desolate region—Quicksand City!

The city gate was bustling with people, various strangely dressed cultivators from the desolate region going in and out, among them not a few with Dou Wang and even Dou Huang level Auras. The air was filled with a restless and expectant atmosphere, clearly all for the upcoming Great Desolate Gathering.

Li Ao and Medusa restrained their Auras, entering the city like ordinary cultivators. Under the effect of the thousand illusions breath hiding talisman, they looked like a young Dou Wang with a steady Aura, accompanied by a companion whose depth was unclear (Medusa's Soul body was special), not particularly conspicuous.

The streets inside the city were wide, with shops lining both sides, mostly selling Medicinal Herbs, Ore, animal skins, and various rough weapons and armor unique to the desolate region. The sounds of hawking and discussion were incessant, making it extremely lively.

"I heard that at this Great Gathering, the Flame Scorpion Tribe is really going to bring out that 'blood soul branch'!"

"That's a treasure for nourishing the Soul! I wonder which major force will exchange for it."

"Hehe, there are quite a few people eyeing it, I'm afraid it won't be that easy to get..."

"I also heard that the Sand Lizard Tribe suffered a great loss a few days ago, even Lizard Emperor returned in a sorry state, I wonder which immortal they provoked..."

The surrounding discussions reached their ears, and Li Ao and Medusa exchanged glances, remaining expressionless.

They found a seemingly clean inn to stay in, planning to first inquire about the specific situation of the Great Gathering, especially the ownership and exchange conditions of the blood soul branch.

However, not long after they checked into the inn, a subtle yet powerful Soul perception, like a breeze, swept across the entire inn, pausing for a brief moment outside the room where Li Ao and Medusa were staying.

Although extremely brief and without malice, Li Ao and Medusa sensed it almost simultaneously.

"A strong individual has noticed us." Medusa's purple eyes slightly chilled.

Li Ao nodded, his expression unchanged: "It's fine, let's wait and see. Our goal is the blood soul branch."

The situation in Quicksand City seemed more complicated than they had anticipated.