Appearing to Intercept

When Yan Qingshan had read Battle Through the Heavens in his previous life, he had found this part of the Mo Clan's storyline rather strange.

The Mo Clan of Yancheng was quite far from the Tagore Desert. Mo Cheng, the Mo Clan's Grand Elder, generally would not venture too far from Yancheng, much less travel all the way to the Tagore Desert and just happen to encounter Qingling before abducting her.

Moreover, the later appearance of Lv Man from the Heavenly Serpent Mansion and the Eight-winged Black Serpent Emperor had also been rather abrupt. It was as though they had specifically been able to pinpoint Qingling's location. Yet what was even stranger was this: why had they been unable to find Qingling during the previous ten-odd years?

Thinking about it now, the moment Qingling subdued and contracted the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake should have been when her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils fully awakened. When they fully awakened, there should have been some sort of unusual phenomenon or other signal that could be detected by certain means within a particular range. That was likely how Mo Cheng and Lv Man had found Qingling.

However, Yan Qingshan had no time to dwell on such matters now. Whether the ones searching for the Mixed-blood Snake-person were from the Mo Clan or not, since they had set their sights on Qingling, there was no chance of settling this peacefully.

East of Stone Desert City, elite mercenaries mounted on ready-to-depart camel beasts escorted a group of apparent outsiders. Robb, captain of the Sand Mercenary Group, had personally come out, while Moxing, his second-in-command, had practically become their lapdog.

The Sand Mercenary Group had been making considerable moves over the past few days. First, they had searched the entire city for traces of a Mixed-blood Snake-person, even clashing with several mercenary groups and brazenly resorting to violence. Then, they had prepared to leave the city in pursuit of a snake woman who had long since departed with outsiders, even going so far as to send most of their men into the Tagore Desert. Many people could not understand such madness.

"Captain, the Mo Clan's Grand Elder is already running out of patience. He has repeatedly asked when we will depart."

Moxing jogged over to Robb's side. Having climbed to the position of second-in-command through flattery, he had been assigned by Robb to stay by the Mo Clan Grand Elder's side and placate those people. But why would the Mo Clan's Grand Elder lack flatterers? If he did not need a local guide, he would not have even looked twice at the Sand Mercenary Group from this backwater region.

"Tell them to wait a little longer, understand? If we don't make sufficient preparations in this desert, how many brothers do you think will make it back?"

Robb angrily seized Moxing by the collar, thoroughly displeased by his subordinate's urging.

"Captain Robb, please make your preparations quickly. The Grand Elder's temper is not particularly good."

A middle-aged man in yellow robes entered the scene. He glanced at Moxing without saying anything. This man was indeed fairly capable at handling affairs, but he was still someone else's man. Offending a three-star Da Dou Shi for his sake was not worthwhile.

"Understood, Elder Mo Ran."

Robb glanced at the man and released Moxing. He did not care much about the other man's attitude, but neither did he deny him too much face. Although Mo Ran, at the peak of the nine-star Dou Zhe level, had not yet become a Da Dou Shi, he was quite close to that realm. Furthermore, he was a trusted confidant of the Mo Clan's Grand Elder, so it was not wise to offend him.

Robb watched Mo Ran walk away and sighed. To be honest, the previous matters had been manageable, but he truly did not want to get involved in today's affair.

Although the desert outside Stone Desert City was quite far from the true Sea of Death, searching the vast Desert Region for two people who had long since left was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Finding them was almost impossible.

Not to mention that if so many of them ventured deep into the desert and provoked powerful members of the Snake-person tribes, they would be in serious trouble.

If his men had not reported that the two were likely still near Stone Desert City and had not gone far, and if the Mo Clan Grand Elder of Yancheng had not been so difficult to offend, he truly would not have wanted to lead this expedition.

As one of Stone Desert City's notable experts and a three-star Da Dou Shi, Robb's own strength would not have been considered weak even in the inland regions. Whether he joined a faction or founded his own clan, he could attain a respectable status. He merely lacked some foundation.

The Mo Clan's demands this time were high, but they had also promised to help him unify Stone Desert City. Though Stone Desert City could not compare to a small inland city, the benefits of controlling the entire city would not be small. Naturally, he was tempted.

"Grand Elder!"

Mo Ran brought Moxing over to the dozen or so unfamiliar outsiders. The weakest among this group were all Dou Zhe-level experts, while the strongest among them, the one they respectfully called Grand Elder, was as unfathomable as an abyss or sea.

The Mo Clan of Yancheng was one of the three great clans of the eastern province of the Jia Ma Empire and had close ties with the Misty Cloud Sect. The strongest member of the clan was this Mo Clan Grand Elder, Mo Cheng.

Mo Cheng, the Mo Clan Grand Elder, was a Dou Ling expert and an outer sect deacon of the Misty Cloud Sect. He had close relations with Yun Leng, the Misty Cloud Sect's Grand Elder, and was a renowned expert in the empire's east. In the past, he had single-handedly slaughtered every last member of the Black Whirlwind Bandit Group, the most rampant and vicious bandit force in the eastern region.

Back then, the Black Whirlwind Bandit Group had been a force with three Da Dou Shi and more than ten Dou Zhe. Their strength was not to be underestimated. The empire had dispatched troops to encircle and suppress them several times, yet achieved little while suffering many losses. Still, Mo Cheng had exterminated them all by himself.

Blood had flowed like a river at the site of that bloody battle, and Mo Cheng rose to fame in a single fight, earning himself the nickname "Executioner Mo."

When Mo Cheng was young, he had once entered the Misty Cloud Sect as a disciple. Later, because he needed to manage clan affairs, he left the Misty Cloud Sect.

Although he had departed from the Misty Cloud Sect, he submitted an enormous tribute to it every year. Whenever the upper ranks of the Misty Cloud Sect had joyous occasions or the like, he would personally go to offer congratulations. He was exceedingly smooth in his dealings and had an excellent relationship with Yun Leng, the Misty Cloud Sect's Grand Elder.

The eastern province of the Jia Ma Empire was not without Dou Ling experts, but the most famous and strongest was the Mo Clan of Yancheng. All of this was because the Mo Clan had the Misty Cloud Sect as its backer.

In the boundless sea of sand southeast of Stone Desert City, over a hundred elite riders urged their camel beasts onward, frequently scattering in all directions to search for possible traces.

"Grand Elder Mo Cheng, are you sure it's this direction? I've been around here before. It's all nothing but yellow sand!"

Robb urged his camel beast to Mo Cheng's side. The other man was entirely wrapped in a cloak. His long, thick sleeves and tightly wrapped gloves left not even a trace of his arms exposed. To dress like this in such scorching weather—who knew whether it was some strange quirk of his?

"You are questioning me?"

Mo Cheng turned and answered coldly. Sand Mercenary Group captain Robb was merely a three-star Da Dou Shi. In his eyes, he was a minor figure who could be crushed to death at will. Allowing this local guide to help him search for something was already an honor for the man, yet he still dared to prattle on.

If he had not feared that news of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils would leak out, the moment he sensed the birth of those extraordinary pupils, he would have sent a large force from the Mo Clan here. Why would he need to use a mere Sand Mercenary Group?

He had even made up his mind that once he achieved his purpose, he would purge the entirety of Stone Desert City, including the Sand Mercenary Group, to prevent news of his search for the Mixed-blood Snake-person from leaking to anyone with ulterior motives.

"I wouldn't dare!"

Robb hurriedly replied. He dared to lose his temper with Moxing and could brush off Mo Ran, but when facing Mo Cheng, a Dou Ling expert, he did not dare defy him in the slightest. The other man was far stronger than he was. If Mo Cheng harbored killing intent, he could take Robb's life in only a few moves.

"Stop!!!"

This group was moving quickly. Though they were only riding camel beasts while slowly searching and giving chase, by noon they had already neared the Desert Region where Yan Qingshan and the others were. Just as they prepared to continue searching, a warning suddenly rang out from afar, and a figure rapidly approached from the horizon.

"Dou Qi Wings!"

"A Dou King! That's a Dou King!"

"A Dou King expert!"

The figure from the distant horizon arrived in an instant. Clad in black robes, his features could not be seen, and his aura was as ordinary and unremarkable as that of a common person. Yet the pair of purple wings behind his back made it impossible for anyone to ignore his presence.

Dou Qi Wings, a Dou King expert—this was the understanding held by the vast majority of people on the continent.

"This area is my place of seclusion. You had best turn around and leave!"

The Purple-winged Dou King in the sky spoke indifferently, yet his words carried an authority that could not be defied. Most of the riders who had come to search were terrified to the extreme, wishing they could immediately turn around and flee.

"Grand Elder Mo Cheng, this is a Dou King expert. We should take a detour!"

Robb quietly tried to persuade Mo Cheng, but from the Purple-winged Dou King's appearance until now, Mo Cheng had kept his head raised, staring intently at the sky as though confirming something.

"A Dou King? I don't think so!"

Mo Cheng gave a cold smile, then suddenly leaped into the air and shot toward the Purple-winged Dou King.

"Grand Elder!"

"Grand Elder Mo Cheng!"

"We're doomed, we're doomed! He actually attacked a Dou King!"

Everyone, including Robb, was exceedingly terrified. A few people at the rear even turned around and fled for their lives.

Yet in an unexpected turn of events, this Purple-winged Dou King chose to evade Mo Cheng's swift aerial charge. With a spread of his wings, he twisted aside and retreated, then threw a Porcelain Bottle at Mo Cheng. At the same time, even more Porcelain Bottles flew like meteors toward the many riders on the ground.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang...

A succession of Porcelain Bottles burst open, and medicinal powder carrying a strange fragrance, along with peculiar white mist, instantly spread through the area. The riders had mostly been panic-stricken moments ago. Aside from Mo Cheng, who had already been on guard, no one else, including Robb, managed to activate their Dou Qi defenses in time. Powder and mist with an unusual scent stained their bodies.

"A mere Dou Zhe, yet you dared to deceive me with a Flying Dou Skill."

After missing his airborne attack, Mo Cheng swiftly landed. A Dou Ling was unlike a Dou King or Dou Emperor and could only glide through the air for a brief period. "Your cultivation method and Dou Skill are both quite remarkable. I am Mo Cheng. Whose disciple are you? Perhaps your elders and I share some friendship!"

"Executioner Mo, I already warned you. If you still insist on going your own way and are not afraid of death, then continue forward!"

This Purple-winged Dou King was naturally Yan Qingshan. After leaving those words behind, he did not linger. With a flash of his wings, he flew directly toward the depths of the Desert Region.

Since he had failed to fool Mo Cheng, then all that remained was a battle. Since he knew someone was coming, he had naturally made preparations. Now that he had confirmed it was Mo Cheng, a Dou Ling, it made little difference. With the contingencies he had prepared, he had no reason to fear this man.