Departure, Tagor Desert!

Before long, Xiao Yan was walking through the crowded streets of the small town.

Listening to the clamor around him, Xiao Yan, who had been cut off from the world for several months, could not help but sigh. Humans truly were creatures that liked to live in groups. If he were left alone in the wilderness for decades, would he even still know how to speak?

With a smile, he shook his head and tossed the absurd question from his mind. He lightly patted the Heavy Black Ruler wrapped in black cloth on his back, then stood at a street corner and looked around. After pondering for a moment, he stopped a passerby, intending to ask where the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's base was located in Qingshan Town.

"Sir, may I ask if you know where the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's base is?" Xiao Yan asked calmly.

"The Wolf Head Mercenary Group?"

Hearing Xiao Yan's question, the passerby was visibly stunned. Then he smiled. "Little brother, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group used to be stationed in the south of town, but they disbanded a few days ago."

"They disbanded?"

Xiao Yan was suddenly puzzled by the passerby's answer.

"Sir, do you know why the Wolf Head Mercenary Group disbanded? And where did their leader, Mu She, go?" Xiao Yan asked eagerly.

"Looks like you haven't been to Qingshan Town in a long time, little brother. Practically every resident of Qingshan Town knows what happened to the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. Their leader, Mu She, had his head cut off by a woman in white with a single strike at their own base a few days ago. Afterward, the woman in white said that she never wanted to hear the name Wolf Head Mercenary Group in Qingshan Town again." The passerby described everything in detail.

"What!"

"Mu She is dead!"

Upon hearing that Mu She was dead, Xiao Yan did not know how to feel. His purpose in coming to Qingshan Town had been to take revenge on Mu She, yet someone had beaten him to it.

After a long while, Xiao Yan shook his head with a bitter smile and sighed. "To kill Mu She in one move... it seems Mu She kicked an iron plate this time and offended some powerful senior."

Subconsciously, Xiao Yan believed that any woman capable of killing Mu She could not possibly be young.

"Hehe!"

Apparently hearing Xiao Yan's sigh, the passerby suddenly laughed. "Little brother, you've guessed wrong. The woman in white who killed Mu She wasn't some senior expert. She looked to be only sixteen or seventeen."

"Sixteen or seventeen?"

Xiao Yan could no longer remain calm upon hearing this.

That woman in white was actually around the same age as him.

Yet she had stormed the Wolf Head Mercenary Group alone and killed Mu She head-on in a single move. At the very least, she had to possess the cultivation of a five- or six-star Dou Master.

"Teacher, that woman in white's talent is far too good!" After thinking for a while, Xiao Yan suddenly sighed to Elder Yao in the ring.

Inside the ring, Elder Yao's eyes revealed a thoughtful look upon hearing Xiao Yan's words.

Elder Yao had also heard the passerby's description just now. It all reminded him of that figure in the Monster Beast Mountain Range.

If it was her, instantly killing Mu She would indeed not be a problem.

With an inward sigh, Elder Yao felt that he should not undermine Xiao Yan's confidence at this time. Thus, he encouraged him, "Little Yan, although her cultivation realm may be higher than yours right now, you must understand that only steady, solid cultivation will allow one to reach a farther destination in the end. So don't envy another person's temporary achievements."

Hearing Elder Yao's words, Xiao Yan pondered for a moment before replying very seriously, "Teacher, Xiao Yan understands what you mean. I won't envy what others have now. Only by advancing steadily can I earn the right to go farther."

"Mhm. Little Yan, I originally had you train in the Monster Beast Mountain Range until you broke through to the Dou Master realm. Now that you have met this requirement, it is time to prepare to cultivate in the Tagor Desert." Seeing Xiao Yan's attitude, Elder Yao nodded in great satisfaction before revealing the next step of the plan.

"The Tagor Desert."

Hearing that place, Xiao Yan could not help recalling how his father, Xiao Zhan, had once said that his eldest and second brothers had formed a mercenary group there. Once he went there, he would be able to have a proper reunion with them.

The next moment, Xiao Yan grinned. "Teacher, as long as it doesn't leave any lasting damage, bring on any harsh cultivation you want. I can take it."

"You brat, don't back down once we get there." Elder Yao's eyes were full of gratification as he heard Xiao Yan's words.

"Don't worry!" Xiao Yan vowed, then asked one more question.

"Teacher, why did you insist on choosing the Tagor Desert for my training?"

Hearing Xiao Yan's question, Elder Yao in the ring pondered for a moment before explaining, "I once went to the Tagor Desert myself. I heard that somewhere within that great desert, there seemed to be a Heavenly Flame hidden there!"

"Unfortunately, I didn't find it back then. If you're lucky enough this time, you might have a chance."

When Elder Yao mentioned a Heavenly Flame, Xiao Yan's eyes lit up sharply. Clenching his fists tightly, he muttered in a low voice, "A Heavenly Flame... if I can find one, my Burning Art may be able to evolve!"

Eastern Monster Beast Mountain Range.

After traveling for some time, Xiao Yan finally arrived at the eastern edge of the Monster Beast Mountain Range.

The closest city to Xiao Yan was a large city located in the eastern province of the Jia Ma Empire. It was even more magnificent in scale than Wutan City. In terms of overall strength, this city, named Blackrock City, ranked among the best of all the large cities in the Jia Ma Empire.

Xiao Yan's first objective on this journey was to reach Blackrock City. Only such large cities were equipped by the empire with civilian aerial transport teams. After all, the Monster Beast Mountain Range was far too distant from the eastern border. If Xiao Yan had to walk to the Tagor Desert himself, it would likely take at least four or five months. But Xiao Yan did not have that much time to waste, so he had to go to Blackrock City and take an aerial transport team to the imperial border.

"Little Yan, I wonder whether Blackrock City has an Alchemist Guild. If it does, it'd be best to go take a test and see whether you can reach the second-tier rank." As Xiao Yan headed down the mountain, Elder Yao suddenly spoke from within his ring.

"Go to the Alchemist Guild?" Xiao Yan was startled and said in astonishment, "Wouldn't that expose my identity as an alchemist?"

At that, Elder Yao was momentarily speechless. After a long while, he said with a helpless laugh, "I don't recall ever telling you to hide your identity as an alchemist!"

"No matter where they go, alchemists are respected. Alchemists enjoy many privileges in many places, and I trust your Jia Ma Empire is no exception!"

"Alright, I'll listen to everything you say, Teacher!" Hearing Elder Yao's explanation, Xiao Yan nodded heavily.

(End of chapter)