Stone Desert City, Searching for the Green Lotus Core Flame

The sky was cloudless for thousands of miles, the blazing sun scorched the golden desert until it was searing hot, and not a single living creature or person could be seen.

At this moment, a black shadow swept across the sand. Looking closely, it was the shadow cast by a winged man flying through the sky beneath the sun.

"Stone Desert City..." Gazing at the city in the distance, Hun Cang slowed his flight. "According to the timeline, Queen Medusa came here and took the Green Lotus Core Flame half a year after Xiao Yan entered the Monster Beast Mountain Range for training..."

Stone Desert City was a city located within the Tagor Desert. It was similar to Mo City, only in a different direction.

There were many mercenary groups of varying sizes within Stone Desert City. Aside from the City Lord's Manor, the Sand Mercenary Group, Desert Iron Mercenary Group, and Storm Mercenary Group were the most powerful.

Among them, the Sand Mercenary Group firmly held the position of top mercenary group because its leader was a Da Dou Shi, an unshakable position.

"Come to think of it, the Desert Iron Mercenary Group seems to have been founded by Xiao Yan's two older brothers..." Hun Cang pondered, with no intention of getting acquainted with them.

Simply put, they were not worthy.

They were merely two Dou Shi. They barely had any role in the later stages, nor could they provide him with help like Xiao Yan could.

There was no need to know them at all.

As Hun Cang slowed down, some people in Stone Desert City's City Lord's Manor and the residences of the major mercenary groups sensed something. Their expressions turned grave as they hurried outside and stared up at the sky.

"Dou Qi Wings! At least a Dou Wang expert!"

"Why would such a great figure suddenly come to Stone Desert City?"

"Pass the word! Tell the brothers to behave themselves lately and keep their eyes open. If you offend that lord and get yourselves killed, don't blame me for not warning you!"

Descending into midair.

Hun Cang looked down at the figures rushing toward him and slowly said, "Who is in charge here?"

"Greetings, my lord. I am Xu Guang, the City Lord of Stone Desert City. May I ask what brings you here from so far away?" A middle-aged man stepped forward, respectfully saluted, and cautiously asked.

With a flick of his finger against his Storage Ring, Hun Cang took out the map he had obtained from Hai Bodong and tossed it toward Xu Guang. He said indifferently, "Find the location marked on the map. I don't care what method you use. Before dawn tomorrow, I hope to hear the news I want."

Xu Guang caught the map drifting down from above with both hands. After one glance, he first sighed inwardly in admiration.

What a detailed map!

Then, hearing Hun Cang's instructions, he collected his thoughts and looked at the three locations marked with flames. One of them was located slightly south of the eastern part of Stone Desert City.

Could there be treasure there? Xu Guang frowned slightly. There were many mercenaries in Stone Desert City, and they often carried out all kinds of missions. Many areas around the city had already been explored by them.

If there really were anything good there, someone should have discovered it long ago.

Xu Guang raised his head and glanced upward. Dou Qi wings slowly beat behind the stern young man's back, while the other party showed no intention of explaining.

Suddenly, the young man lowered his head and met Xu Guang's gaze. "Is there a problem?" he asked.

Xu Guang's entire body tensed. He hurriedly bowed and said, "No!"

Who knew how much time passed? Xu Guang heard no further sound, only faintly sensing a gust of wind sweep past.

"City Lord Xu, what did that lord give you?" someone beside him asked. Xu Guang straightened up and looked around, but he could not find the young man. Finally, he turned his gaze toward the middle-aged man beside him.

Xu Guang casually handed it over. "Rob, once you finish looking at it, immediately organize your mercenary group and begin digging!"

As he spoke, he turned to the leaders of the mercenary groups behind him and loudly declared, "Listen up, all of you! Gather your men, bring excavation tools, and assemble in the southeastern part of Stone Desert City!"

A pair of similar-looking young men stepped forward. One wore white robes and carried a scholarly air. He asked, "City Lord Xu, was that lord here to look for something?"

"Xiao Ding, Xiao Li." Seeing the two, Xu Guang nodded slightly, then showed some hesitation. "That lord gave me a map. It should be related to something, but I don't know the specifics. You were all here just now; I don't know much more than you do."

Rob had just finished examining the map and returned it to Xu Guang. After taking it, Xu Guang handed it to Xiao Ding, telling them to pass it around for the others to see after they were done.

Hun Cang had just said that he hoped to see results by tomorrow.

If they relied only on the City Lord's Manor, their efficiency might not be fast enough.

Therefore, Xu Guang hoped that all the mercenaries in Stone Desert City could join in. The more people, the greater the strength.

With so many people working together, even if they only had one night, it would be enough to dig three feet into the ground.

However, just after Xu Guang explained his idea to everyone.

Rob coughed twice. Facing Xu Guang's gaze, he said with a playful grin, "City Lord Xu, sorry, but our group recently accepted a commission, so I'm afraid we don't have the time. But with so many of you here, one less mercenary group shouldn't matter much, right?"

"Rob, I advise you not to court death!" Xu Guang said slowly, suppressing his anger.

Anyone with eyes could understand what Rob meant. He was trying to refuse because he did not want to work.

A large part of the reason was likely that Rob saw no benefit in it.

Rob spread his hands, his smile unchanged. "City Lord Xu, I really have something to do."

With Rob taking the lead, the heads of other mercenary groups soon voiced their positions as well, repeatedly making excuses and refusing to join the work.

There was nothing they could do. They had heard it just now too. That lord had not clearly said what he wanted. He had simply thrown out a map and told everyone to search.

How were they supposed to search? They could not possibly turn such a large area upside down, could they?

First of all, the workload was enormous, and they also had to pursue efficiency. They might even need to consume medicine to sustain their physical exertion.

They would only be giving without receiving anything in return. Who would want to do that?

"Rob, are you sure you want to offend that lord?" If looks could kill, Xu Guang would have killed Rob hundreds of times already.

Offend him? Only a Dou Emperor was worth fearing. A Dou Wang still had to follow the rules of the Jia Ma Empire.

Rob thought to himself, judging by that person's appearance, he had to be very young. Reaching Dou Wang at such an age was already an exceptionally rare talent. Surely he couldn't be a Dou Emperor too, could he?

"Lord City Lord, our Desert Iron Mercenary Group is willing to help," Xiao Ding said with a smile.

Rob sneered. "There really are idiots willing to shamelessly throw themselves at this."

"Rob, watch your mouth. Don't think that just because you're a Da Dou Shi, our Desert Iron Mercenary Group will fear you!" Xiao Li's expression darkened, vicious light flaring in his eyes.

Rob chuckled. "Come at me, then. I'll be waiting!"

Afterward, Rob truly left with his men. Some of the mercenaries present hesitated briefly before leaving one after another, leaving only a portion behind.

No one rose early without profit. That was simply reality.

Xu Guang cast a grateful glance at the Xiao brothers, then called the others back to the City Lord's Manor to discuss what came next.