Departure

Mu She stared at the wind-attributed Dou Qi surrounding Xiao Yu in disbelief. It had clearly changed from fire to wind—such a thing was simply unheard of. A cultivator's attribute was determined from birth; how could it possibly be changed halfway through cultivation?

However, Xiao Yu clearly did not notice the horror in Mu She's eyes. At extreme speed, Xiao Yu closed in on Mu She, his calm voice sounding beside Mu She's ear. "Commander Mu, it's over!"

Mu She felt an intense killing intent. Icy sword Qi sliced across his throat in an instant, and warm, crimson blood sprayed from his body. The once-vibrant world began to turn gray and white as scenes from his life flashed continuously through his mind!

And his final thought was: If it hadn't been for the treasure in that cave, perhaps this disaster would never have happened!

But reality had no "if." Even if there had been, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group would not have lasted much longer. They had long since become hated by Qingshan Town. Their destruction was both their inevitable end and the course of events!

Holding Black Scale, Xiao Yu flashed away from Mu She's side. He had long grown accustomed to such bloody scenes, though the pungent stench of blood still made him frown. He put away Black Scale and lightly snapped his fingers. All the corpses in the courtyard were enveloped by Heavenly Flames, turning to ash within a few breaths!

"Let's go!" Xiao Yu said as he looked at Xiao Yi Xian.

Xiao Yi Xian nodded. Xiao Lan, perched on her shoulder, trembled slightly before suddenly expanding in size. Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Yu leaped onto Xiao Lan's back with Xiao Bai and Little Purple.

Xiao Yi Xian softly said, "Xiao Lan, let's go. We're heading for Mo City!"

Screech!

An eagle cry rang out. With a slight flap of its wings, Xiao Lan carried everyone into the sky!

"Look, that's Xiao Yi Xian on the Blue Eagle's back!"

"It really is Xiao Yi Xian! It looks like the Myriad Medicine Pavilion and the Wolf Head Mercenary Group joined forces to harm her!"

The people of Qingshan Town had all sensed the violent fluctuations of Dou Master aura coming from the Myriad Medicine Pavilion earlier, but they had only dared to watch from afar. After all, they had seen Mu She lead a group of higher-ups inside, and they did not dare approach a battle between Dou Masters.

Only after Xiao Yi Xian and the others had flown away did someone finally gather the courage to head toward the Myriad Medicine Pavilion. Yet upon entering, they found nothing but white powder scattered all over the ground—not a single person in sight!

The leaders of the other two major mercenary groups soon arrived with their higher-ups as well. When they saw the white powder, they seemed to realize something. Their expressions changed drastically, and they hurriedly left with their men!

Xiao Yu, who had already departed, naturally paid no attention to the panic that arose in Qingshan Town afterward. At this time, they were already flying toward Mo City.

Mo City stood amid a vast golden desert. It was the closest city to the Tagor Desert, located on the eastern border of the Jia Ma Empire, and it was also where humans gathered within the Tagor Desert!

Although Xiao Lan was a flying magical beast, it was only a first-tier magical beast and not a specialized means of transport. Thus, Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Yu traveled in fits and starts, only barely reaching Mo City after half a month!

High in the sky, a streak of blue light shot toward Mo City like a meteor chasing the moon. The closer they came to the city, the more waves of heat assaulted them head-on.

Xiao Yu narrowed his eyes as he looked toward the endless golden desert. Even though he had lived two lives, this was still the first time he had truly set foot in a desert. The dry air left him somewhat unaccustomed to it!

Xiao Yi Xian directed Xiao Lan to slowly descend several hundred meters from Mo City. Flying straight in would probably be too conspicuous and attract too much attention.

Xiao Yu was the first to jump from Xiao Lan's back. His feet settled lightly on the soft sand, and a scorching heat rose from beneath his soles, making him frown slightly. Xiao Yi Xian jumped down after him.

"It's so hot here!" Xiao Yi Xian muttered after the sand beneath her feet burned her. Her pretty face had turned red from the heat wave.

Xiao Bai was even worse off. It clung to Xiao Yi Xian and refused to come down. Only Little Purple behaved relatively normally; there was even a hint of satisfaction in its eyes. If Xiao Yu had not known that the air here contained mostly earth- and fire-attributed energy, and that Little Purple possessed Purple Flame within its body, he might have thought Little Purple had masochistic tendencies!

As Xiao Yu took out a Shape-Shifting Pill and fed it to Xiao Lan, he said to Xiao Yi Xian, "That's normal. This trip won't be easy. Once we enter the city, remember to buy more medicinal ingredients to protect your skin!"

Xiao Yi Xian gave a soft huff. "I know. Don't worry!"

Xiao Yu nodded lightly. "Then let's enter the city first. My eldest brother and second brother happen to be around here. After we get settled, shall I take you to see them?"

Xiao Yi Xian let out a startled sound upon hearing Xiao Yu's words. "Your eldest brother and second brother?"

"That's right. My eldest brother and second brother established a group called the Mo Tie Mercenary Group in Shi Mo City, within this desert. Since we're entering the desert this time, we can go visit them," Xiao Yu said.

Xiao Yi Xian's face flushed faintly as she secretly thought, Isn't meeting his eldest brother and second brother this soon a little too fast?

She immediately shook her head again. Xiao Yu definitely doesn't mean it that way. Ah!

Blushing, Xiao Yi Xian asked, "Am I going with you too?"

Xiao Yu did not notice Xiao Yi Xian's strange reaction. Instead, he turned to her in surprise. "Of course. Otherwise, how am I supposed to help you refine the poison pill?"

Xiao Yi Xian froze slightly at his words. A trace of disappointment was impossible to hide in her heart as she softly said, "Oh!"

"Let's enter the city and prepare some things first. Then we can find an inn and rest for the night," Xiao Yu said, lifting his foot and heading toward Mo City.

Xiao Yi Xian silently followed behind Xiao Yu. By the time they reached the city gate, there were far more pedestrians around them. Many of the men were bare-chested, displaying lean, dark bodies that gave off a bold and rugged air!

The women were not as soft and delicate as those in the cities within the Jia Ma Empire. Instead, they appeared healthier and more forthright. Their daring attire—short skirts and shorts in particular—was truly a feast for Xiao Yu's eyes!

As they drew closer, they saw two large characters engraved above the city gate, glowing with a faint red light: Mo City!

More than a dozen armored soldiers stood on both sides of the gate, holding spears as they shouted for pedestrians to pay the entry tax. Xiao Yu and Xiao Yi Xian lined up and slowly made their way into the city. Just as it was about to be Xiao Yu's turn, an arrogant voice suddenly rang out behind them.

"Move aside, all of you!"

Xiao Yu turned around and saw a fat man in an alchemist's robe swaggering toward the entrance passage.

The soldiers, who had been extremely impatient with the pedestrians moments ago, immediately walked over to the man with flattering smiles. One of them fawned, "My lord, are you entering the city?"

The fat alchemist glanced at the soldier. "What else would I be doing? Hurry up and make these lowly commoners move aside. Why are they blocking the way?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" The soldier hurriedly agreed, then turned toward Xiao Yu's group and angrily cursed, "You blind fools! My lord is entering the city. Why aren't you getting out of the way?"