Stone Desert City's City Lord, Kano

Tagor Desert, Stone Desert City.

As one of the few towns in the desert, it did not have many powerful cultivators. Even its city lord was merely a Dou Wang realm expert.

The location of the Green Lotus Core Flame lay at the border of Stone Desert City. It was deserted year-round, with extremely high temperatures. Every desert creature avoided it at all costs, and few humans ventured there in search of treasure.

The main reason was the vast, boundless world of magma there, which left the place utterly devoid of life.

After flying for roughly two hours, the outline of a massive city gradually appeared in Lin Che's sight.

Because it was close to the Tagor Desert, its defenses were far stricter than those within the Jia Ma Empire. Fully armed soldiers could be seen patrolling throughout the city.

At the gates of Stone Desert City, two armored soldiers vigilantly watched the surroundings. At the slightest disturbance, they would immediately report it to the city lord.

The leading soldier turned his gaze toward Lin Che, then stepped forward and gave a slight bow. "Honored senior, may I ask what brings you to Stone Desert City?"

Lin Che put away his weapon and returned the gesture slightly. "Is the city lord currently in Stone Desert City?"

"Lord City Lord is currently at the City Lord's Mansion. Do you have business with him?"

"Pass on a message for me. Tell him that Lin Che, the Drunken Sword Immortal of the Jia Ma Empire, has arrived."

The soldier looked Lin Che over. He had come straight to see the city lord—could he be someone sent from the imperial capital to investigate the situation in Stone Desert City?

Still, he had Lin Che wait there while he hurried toward the City Lord's Mansion.

About ten minutes later, an elderly man in an earthy yellow robe ran out anxiously. His weathered face changed when he saw Lin Che, and he immediately knelt on the ground. "This junior, Kano, pays respects to Senior Drunken Sword Immortal."

"Oh?" Lin Che raised a brow. "You know me?"

Kano answered respectfully, "Not long ago, Old Jia held his birthday banquet. I went to the imperial capital to attend and happened to witness Senior battle four Dou Huang experts from the Chu Yun Empire."

The respect on his face made it clear that the previous battle had left an indelible impression on him. To shake several Dou Huang experts of the Chu Yun Empire with his strength alone—such boldness was rare even across the entire Northwest Continent.

Kano made an inviting gesture. "Senior's visit to Stone Desert City has caught this junior unprepared. I failed to welcome you properly and have not prepared the necessary courtesies. I hope Senior will forgive me."

"It is nothing. I came here because I have a matter to attend to, and I do not wish to disrupt the normal operations here."

Following Kano to the City Lord's Mansion, Lin Che was personally served a cup of hot tea. Kano then asked, "Senior, may I ask what business brings you to Stone Desert City?"

"There is a naturally formed cavern beneath Stone Desert City. I need you to help me find its entrance."

Hearing this, Kano smiled. "That will not be a problem. Stone Desert City has several major mercenary groups. They are well suited for such a search."

There were three major mercenary groups in Stone Desert City: the Iron Mercenary Group, the Sand Mercenary Group, and the Storm Mercenary Group.

The Sand Mercenary Group was naturally the strongest, followed by the Iron and Storm Mercenary Groups.

"What kind of mercenary group does Senior require?" Kano asked curiously. "At present, the Sand Mercenary Group and the Storm Mercenary Group are relatively strong in Stone Desert City. They should be able to help you locate the exact place."

"Send them all out. I need it found quickly."

Kano was briefly stunned, then nodded. It seemed Senior Drunken Sword Immortal was in a hurry. In that case, he had to set an example. If he offended Senior Drunken Sword Immortal, even ten lives would not be enough to save him.

Under his arrangements, all three major mercenary groups in Stone Desert City mobilized, searching the desert within a radius of ten li. Whoever found it would receive over a thousand Gold Coins.

Naturally, no one wanted to miss such a good opportunity.

Lin Che decided to take a stroll around Stone Desert City and purchase some medicinal herbs and other things he needed.

Because it was close to the Snake People Clan, most of the goods sold in Stone Desert City were related to the desert. The most common were Poison Avoidance Pills and Snake Repellent Powder.

A crowd gathered in the distance caught Lin Che's attention. From far away, he could hear curses and crying.

"You damned girl, do you know this was fine porcelain? Now that you've broken it, what are you going to do? Tell me, what can you do?!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I really didn't mean to." The girl's voice was choked with sobs, and all the food she had been carrying had fallen to the ground.

The girl wore an elegant pale green outfit. Though petite, she was strangely rather well-developed, though her appearance still carried a trace of youthful immaturity.

Her adorable, delicate oval face was like that of a beautiful porcelain doll. Her timid demeanor, like a frightened little rabbit, stirred an involuntary sense of pity in people's hearts.

Now, however, she looked utterly pitiful as crystal-clear tears slid from the corners of her eyes.

"If saying sorry worked, what would we need guards for? Everyone could just learn to say sorry!"

The merchant angrily rolled up his sleeves and pointed at the girl's nose as he cursed. Several times, he even seemed ready to slap her.

"But... you dropped it yourself just now... I was only passing by." The girl choked back a sob and sniffled.

"Oh, so now you've learned to deny it, you damned girl? If you hadn't startled me, how could I have dropped the porcelain? It's all because of you, you jinx!"

Lin Che walked over at that moment. "That is enough. There is no need to insult her like this. Be merciful when you can."

The shop owner cursed, "Who are you to tell me what to do? This girl broke my porcelain. It was worth ten Gold Coins. If you have the money, then pay me!"

Kano rebuked him, "Insolent! Do you know who this is?"

The merchant's expression changed drastically the moment he saw Kano. He hurriedly dropped to his knees. "Greetings, Lord City Lord."

The other onlookers also knelt and saluted. They had not expected this matter to alarm the city lord. That damned girl!

Kano immediately moved to slap him to death, but Lin Che stopped him. It was only a civil dispute; there was no need to kill the man.

Lin Che casually took out ten Gold Coins and tossed them before the merchant. "I will buy this porcelain. Is that satisfactory now?"

The merchant hurriedly kowtowed until his forehead struck the ground. "It is, it is! Thank you, Senior, for sparing my life. Thank you, Lord City Lord, for sparing my life."