Setting Out for the Tagor Desert, the Refreshed Hai Bodong

Gu He's plea for help was accepted by Yun Yun.

They agreed to head to the Tagor Desert three days later.

Besides Yun Yun, a Dou Huang, Gu He had also invited two Dou Wangs and five Dou Lings.

It could be said that Gu He was determined to obtain the Heavenly Flames this time.

Yun Yun indifferently refused Gu He's request to enter the courtyard.

She turned around and looked at Ji Changqing, who was refining medicine. A trace of determination flashed through her clear eyes.

Ji Changqing appeared to be wholly focused on refining medicine.

But in truth, he had been watching Yun Yun's expression all along.

Sighing inwardly, Ji Changqing naturally knew what Yun Yun was thinking. Though moved, he could not help feeling somewhat hesitant.

There shouldn't be any danger on this Desert Journey.

But because of me, quite a few parts of the original plot have already gone off track.

Should I follow her in secret? Sigh, but I really don't want to leave home.

This trip to the desert will bring me across Xiao Yan, Yao Chen, oh, and Queen Medusa. They're all troublesome people.

But honestly, the Tagor Desert is definitely a great place to check in. If I go, my strength will improve considerably.

Sigh, should I go or not? This is really giving me a headache.

Ji Changqing's hesitation was dispelled that evening.

What forced him to make his choice was the Soul Hall Token chat group.

[Venerable Qin Tian: You two pieces of trash, more than half of the month-long deadline has passed, yet you still haven't completed the mission. Protector Yuan, prepare to head to the Jia Ma Empire!]

[Protector Yuan (Heaven Tier): Yes.]

[Protector Liu (Human Tier): Venerable, may I follow along to broaden my horizons?]

[Protector Liu (Human Tier): Protector Wu, Protector Tie, hurry up and say something! The Venerable is angry!]

[Protector Wu (Earth Tier): This subordinate will certainly do his utmost to complete the mission!]

[Protector Tie (Earth Tier): So will I!]

After putting away the two tokens, Ji Changqing frowned.

A Heaven Tier Protector was second only to a Venerable. His strength should have reached the level of a Nine-star Dou Zong.

Judging by raw strength alone, even against Protector Yuan, Ji Changqing still had a very, very high chance of winning.

But...

Simply having a high chance was nowhere near enough.

As long as he did not have absolute certainty, there was always a chance things could go wrong.

His fear of insufficient firepower filled Ji Changqing with a trace of anxiety.

There are less than half a month left before Protector Yuan arrives in the Jia Ma Empire. During this time, I must raise my strength as much as possible.

It seems I have no choice but to go to the Tagor Desert.

In the blink of an eye, three days had passed.

The plaza on the Back Mountain of the Misty Cloud Sect.

A massive emerald-green roc lay quietly on the ground.

Eight powerful experts led by Gu He stood upon the roc's back, each radiating a surging aura.

Yet at that moment, they all obediently waited for Yun Yun to bid farewell to her two disciples, not daring to show the slightest impatience.

"Changqing, Yanran, while your master is away, cultivate diligently. You must not slack off."

Ji Changqing/Nalan Yanran:

"Yes, Master."

"Especially you, Yanran. You are not allowed to disturb your senior brother. Let Changqing focus on refining pills!"

Nalan Yanran:

"Oh."

"Changqing, I hope that by the time I return, you'll already be able to proficiently refine Third-grade Pills. Then... Master will give you a gift."

Ji Changqing:

"Thank you, Master. Please stay safe. Changqing will wait for you to come home."

Nalan Yanran shot Ji Changqing a glare.

My senior brother is so good with words. It just makes me look stupid.

Smiling warmly, Yun Yun reached out and rubbed Ji Changqing's head.

Gu He, standing atop the roc, turned his head away expressionlessly.

He now somewhat understood why he and his disciple Liu Ling were so unwelcome.

"Let's go."

Watching the roc gradually vanish beyond the horizon.

Ji Changqing and Nalan Yanran returned to the courtyard.

"Senior Brother, let's go play... ah, train in the Monster Beast Mountain Range!"

Ji Changqing glanced at the excited Nalan Yanran.

You really didn't take a single word Master said to heart.

"Forget it. I'm going into seclusion for a while to thoroughly review the pills I've refined before. Junior Sister Yanran, don't come disturb me."

"Otherwise, I'll definitely suffer a cultivation deviation and bleed from all seven orifices."

"Ah, it's that serious?!"

Nalan Yanran clenched her little fists, her pretty face turning slightly pale.

"Don't worry, Senior Brother Changqing. Go into seclusion with peace of mind!"

"I need to cultivate hard too. Heh, I still have the Three-Year Agreement!"

After seeing Nalan Yanran off and informing Elder Danxia that he would be entering seclusion to refine pills.

Ji Changqing set up layer upon layer of formations around the courtyard, then condensed a fake body in the alchemy room before setting off.

The Tagor Desert lay along the eastern border of the Jia Ma Empire, inhabited by the Snake People Race, who were mutually hostile with humans.

Ji Changqing patted the dust from his clothes and looked up at the majestic yellow city at the edge of his vision, unable to stop himself from letting out a breath of relief.

The distance from the Misty Cloud Sect to the Tagor Desert was nearly ten thousand li.

Even he had felt a trace of fatigue after traveling nonstop all this way.

But the results were obvious as well.

He had arrived at the Tagor Desert before Yun Yun's group.

Moreover, Ji Changqing estimated that Yun Yun and the others would need at least another two days to arrive.

With these two days, he could make preparations in advance, greatly increasing his margin for error.

As he gradually approached the city, the number of pedestrians around him increased.

Most of the men were bare-chested, their skin carrying a dark gleam.

The women had a sexy wheat-colored complexion. They generally wore tight leather outfits that barely covered their full breasts and firm buttocks, leaving their slender waists and toned thighs boldly exposed.

As they walked, their snake-like waists swayed, giving them a uniquely alluring charm and sensuality.

This was Ji Changqing's first time seeing women this open in the Dou Qi Continent.

His personality was still rather conservative.

Ji Changqing did not understand why these women dared to dress so boldly, so he kept staring at them, trying to understand.

Of course, to avoid attracting trouble.

Ji Changqing had donned a roomy black robe as soon as he entered the city.

He strolled through the streets at an unhurried pace for quite some time, clearly searching for something.

"What was that shop called again..."

He turned a corner, and a shop named "Gu Tu" came into view.

Looking at the shop that faintly exuded an ancient aura, Ji Changqing tightened his black robe around himself and stepped inside.

There were only a few customers scattered throughout the shop.

Several Moonlight Stones gave off a soft glow, illuminating the not-so-spacious interior.

Ji Changqing's gaze swept across the maps displayed in the counter.

Yet from the corner of his eye, he was observing the old man in the corner, bent over a table as he carefully made maps.

Ji Changqing sensed an icy aura from the old man.

This man was...

The Ice Emperor, Refreshing Bro, angel investor, stronger when facing the strong, surrendering when facing snakes—Hai Bodong!