First Arrival in Stone Desert City

Stone Desert City was not much different from Desert City: the same rugged, bold architectural style, the same daring, open manner of dress.

After the group dismounted from the Flying Magical Beast, I looked around and said, "Seniors, Third Brother, how about we first visit the Nalan Family's shop in this city?"

Yun Yun and Hai Bodong had come at my invitation, so naturally they had no objections. Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment, likely still harboring designs on the Exotic Flame, but he nodded in agreement as well.

With a soft chuckle, I asked for directions and took the lead. Only then did I finally get a clear look at what Stone Desert City was like now.

It was much like Green Mountain Town, only enlarged many times over. Countless mercenaries filled the streets and alleys, either in groups of three or five or in larger bands, laughing and loudly talking about anything and everything.

Crude obscenities drifted over without end, making Xiao Meier and the other two girls frown repeatedly, their cheeks flushing red.

I could not help frowning as well. These mercenaries... did they really look like mercenaries?

It seemed these people had been hired by the Mo Family. That Mo Family truly had no class!

I shook my head and watched those mercenaries coldly. With such a disorderly rabble, it seemed Old Man intended to use them as cannon fodder...

We arrived safely at the Nalan Family's shop in the city. After the Shop Manager verified my identity, he immediately let out a long breath and grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the rear courtyard.

As he walked, he anxiously said, "Young Master Ye, you've finally arrived! The old masters have been waiting for you for a long time. They specifically instructed us that once you arrived, there was no need to announce you. You could go straight in."

Because the Amethyst Winged Lion King had pursued us out of the Monster Mountain Range, I had been delayed in Wu Si City for a while. It seemed I really had kept those Old Guys waiting too long.

I turned back and gave everyone a light smile before leading them onward. We passed through the main hall and two more gateways before the Shop Manager finally stopped before a courtyard.

Upon closer inspection, I found that it hardly looked like a courtyard at all. It resembled a fortress instead. Its walls were built from blue-gray stone bricks, tightly fitted together and over twice a man's height. The four watchtowers at the corners stood more than twenty feet high, enough to overlook the entirety of Stone Desert City.

What was even more frightening, without a doubt, were the people living inside...

I walked up to the heavy, sturdy courtyard gates and pushed them open. They slowly swung apart, revealing an ordinary courtyard.

A stone table stood in the courtyard, with a chessboard laid upon it. Three old men sat around it—two playing chess and one watching—while a young girl stood waiting nearby.

The man watching clearly did not understand the saying, "A true gentleman watches chess in silence." He kept gesturing and giving advice from the side.

The two old men playing were so furious that their goatees nearly stood on end. Surging Dou Qi rippled around them as they glared fiercely at the old man who kept talking, barely restraining themselves from punching him.

One Dou Wang and two Dou Spirits.

I gave a dry cough, cupped my hands in salute, and said, "Your grandson, Nalan Ye, greets Old Man, Grandfather, and Alchemy Elder."

The three old men looked over. The one gesturing wildly was naturally Nalan Jie. A kindly smile appeared on his somewhat pale face as he said, "Little Yezi, you've finally arrived."

Nalan Tie nodded as well. "Ye Er is here."

The Alchemy Elder was undoubtedly the most excited. If this expedition succeeded, the Azure Lotus Core Flame would be his share. How could he not be excited?

He immediately waved a hand. "Ye Er, after traveling all this way, you must be thirsty. Yiling, hurry and serve tea to your Ye Gege."

The young girl standing nearby was the Alchemy Elder's granddaughter—Nalan Yiling. She smiled lightly at me, then turned to fetch the tea.

I gave a bitter smile and quickly waved my hands. "Old Man, Grandfather, Alchemy Elder, I have brought distinguished guests. Let us forgo the tea for now."

I stepped out of the courtyard and invited Yun Yun, Hai Bodong, and the others inside. Though these three Old Guys were advanced in years, they not only knew Yun Yun, but also knew Hai Bodong, the old monster who had lived in seclusion for over twenty years.

When they saw Hai Bodong, all three revealed looks of surprise. They were even more astonished than when they saw Yun Yun.

Nalan Jie glanced at me, then clasped his hands toward Hai Bodong and said in a deep voice, "Ice Emperor... it has been a long time. More than twenty years, I believe? Has the Ice Emperor been well these past years?"

"Not well. Of course not well. If I had been well, I would have stayed in Gama City. Why would I have come to this miserable place to live in seclusion?"

Hai Bodong waved his hand and looked Nalan Jie over. Seeing that his complexion was poor, he gave a wicked chuckle and said with glee, "As for you, Empire Lionheart Marshal, you do not seem to be doing too well either."

"You have seen through me, Ice Emperor. Two years ago, I entered the Monster Mountain Range and killed a Branding Iron Poison Seal Python, but I was poisoned by that beast's Branding Iron Poison. Sigh, I'm old now. I can't endure it anymore..."

Before the Ice Emperor, Nalan Jie finally set aside his pride and admitted somewhat dejectedly that he had grown old.

Hearing that, my nose stung slightly. Thinking carefully, had it not all been because Old Man supported me from behind that I had been able to cultivate to the One-Star Dou Shi level so quickly and swagger about outside?

After a pause, Nalan Jie burst into laughter again. Turning to Yun Yun, he clasped his hands and said, "Sect Leader Yun has come as well. With the help of you two, this trip should be a sure success."

"As for me, I will get to drink strong liquor and eat meat for a few more years."

Yun Yun nodded in return and said softly, "Lionheart Marshal."

Hai Bodong chuckled, then turned toward the Alchemy Elder, Nalan Dong. After hesitating briefly, he asked, "Nalan Jie, what exactly is the plan for this trip? Where is the Azure Lotus Core Flame, and how are we supposed to obtain it?"

"On my way here, I saw quite a few people gathered in the city. What can I do to help?"

Nalan Jie laughed heartily. "The Ice Emperor is a Dou Emperor. How could there be nothing you can help with?"

Hai Bodong froze slightly. He then briefly explained his situation before asking in confusion, "You did not know?"

Nalan Jie was somewhat surprised. No wonder this old fellow had vanished for over twenty years. There had actually been so many twists and turns behind it?

Then he rolled his eyes and shook his head bluntly. "I truly did not know."

He turned toward me and barked, "Nalan Ye, now that two Dou Emperors have come, along with us Old Guys, should you not tell us your plan?"

"Old Man, I guarantee that the Azure Lotus Core Flame is definitely there!"

I stepped forward and said firmly. Then I looked around, hesitated, and said, "Old Man, not everyone has arrived yet. How about you gather all the people in charge within Stone Desert City over the next two days? Then I can explain everything at once. What do you think?"

Nalan Jie immediately snorted and cursed, "You brat have too many schemes. Let me tell you, if anything goes wrong with this operation, you need not return to Gama City. Stay here for the rest of your life!"

I shrugged helplessly. Hai Bodong smacked his lips and stared at me in surprise. "This operation was actually planned single-handedly by this little brat?"

Hai Bodong looked at me with deep eyes. After a moment, he suddenly burst out laughing. "Little brat, if the Nalan Family does not want you, come to our Mitre Family. Later, I will pick a pretty girl and marry her to you!"

"This junior already has a fiancée, so there is no need for Senior to worry."

I rolled my eyes irritably, then pulled Xiao Meier and the other three members of the Xiao Family over and introduced them to the three Old Guys.

My biological grandfather, Nalan Tie, naturally paid the most attention to Xiao Meier. He smiled as he appraised his future granddaughter-in-law. Xiao Meier, meanwhile, was at a loss, her entire face flushed red.

Nalan Jie's gaze, however, fell upon Xiao Yan. Facing the grandson of his old friend, who had nearly become his own grandson-in-law, his expression was somewhat complicated.

Finally, he looked at Xiao Xun'er, shook his head, then nodded and sighed. "Little one, keep walking your path well."