"Fat Sheep" or Tiger?

Desert City, a city standing amid the yellow sands, was one of the few cities in the eastern region of the Jia Ma Empire. Of course, Desert City was merely an ordinary city and could not compare to a developed city like Black Rock City.

Beyond Desert City lay the Tagor Desert, where yellow sands filled the sky. The climate here was extremely hot and dry, and the lack of water made the environment exceptionally harsh. It often took dozens or even hundreds of li to find a human settlement.

Few people from the empire's interior would come to this scorching desert region to suffer in such a terrible environment.

Parched yellow earth, scorching sand beneath one's feet, an endless sea of dunes, and the occasional swirling dust that became sandstorms blotting out the sky.

That was the magnificent scenery unique to the Tagor Desert. Even living in such an environment was a form of tempering.

Even a Dou Wang expert could not accurately survey the Tagor Desert's total area. In terms of size alone, however, it was at least no smaller than the entire Jia Ma Empire.

What was there in the desert? Some said there was yellow sand everywhere, countless dunes, and sand-dwelling magical beasts that could survive for a long time with very little water.

Others said there were dreamlike mirages, desert oases encountered in moments of despair, and sweet water that made people cheer with joy.

But those were the most ordinary things. Only mercenaries struggling to survive here understood.

The desert also held the vicious Snake People lurking everywhere. They hated humans and were irreconcilable mortal enemies with the Jia Ma Empire. Every year, enough people from the empire died at the hands of the Snake People to pile into mountains.

The scorching gale carried irritating sand and dust straight into his face. Mu Chen had no choice but to make a simple mask to block the grit from entering his mouth, nose, and eyes.

From afar, the outline of the yellow-earth city ahead looked quite magnificent. This was the famed Desert City.

"Finally, the gateway city to the Tagor Desert."

Standing where he was, Mu Chen saw that the passersby around him, men and women alike, all had healthy bronze or dark complexions. Their clothing was bold, simple, and practical.

The women in particular covered only those parts that stirred the imagination with scant scraps of cloth. As they walked, their seductive waists swayed with wild allure, carrying a strong exotic charm.

Yet regardless of gender, they carried sharp weapons, and there was nothing simple or honest in their eyes. Years of living in such a place had long taught them the proper way to survive.

Like everyone else, Mu Chen paid a considerable sum in gold coins to enter the city. The gate guards had just been about to bark at him impatiently when Mu Chen swept them with a cold glance. They immediately put on attentive smiles. Mu Chen ignored the minor incident and entered the city without issue.

Once inside, the desert-style houses and buildings made Mu Chen click his tongue in wonder. Such sights could not be found elsewhere.

Mu Chen wore a white robe. Although he did not reveal any aura of cultivation, the cleansing effects of the Jade Bone Body-Tempering Pill had given him a peculiar temperament that made passersby repeatedly cast astonished glances his way.

Naturally, those frequent looks also had something to do with his clothing, which differed from that of the desert region, as well as his fair skin. These traits all made it clear that this was his first time in the desert.

And in the eyes of certain people, he was a fat sheep!

Desert City was also a place where all sorts of people gathered. There was no shortage of people from every walk of life.

For some, Mu Chen's unguarded, brazen stroll through the streets was practically a naked provocation. His youthful appearance in particular was a natural disguise, making it difficult for anyone to believe he possessed great strength.

Sure enough, a group of pickpockets set their sights on Mu Chen.

"Say, brothers, this is obviously some foolish young master from the empire's interior who came to the desert to broaden his horizons."

"Well? Shall we make a move? Before anyone else notices him, let's pull a job! Fat sheep like this are hard to come by."

"Are you stupid? Didn't you see that he doesn't have a Storage Ring on his hand? Where are you planning to start?"

"You're the stupid one. Fat sheep always think they're clever. Based on my vast experience, that Storage Ring must be hidden in his clothes."

"Look at those two swords crossed on his back. Doesn't this guy seem like trouble?"

"Hah, what a coward. They're just for show. He's definitely a soft-legged wimp with no guts."

Mu Chen secretly shook his head. Those people behind him were clearly amateurs. They were planning to steal from him while shouting so loudly—did they take him for deaf?

Although he looked down on them, these local snakes had far sharper information networks than others. They were a good source for gathering news.

"Huh! Where did he go?"

The three dark-skinned men with shifty eyes froze. In the blink of an eye, the fat sheep in their sights had vanished.

"Are you looking for me?"

Mu Chen patted the three men on the shoulders and emerged from behind them. A chilling smile hung on his handsome face. Using soul power, he restrained the aura he released within a three-meter radius, instantly stiffening the bodies of the three men, who were merely Dou Zhes. The daggers they had drawn were sheepishly pressed back down.

Swallowing with difficulty, one dark-skinned man who seemed to be their leader wore a miserable expression. What fat sheep? This was clearly a fierce tiger wearing sheep's clothing.

"S-Sir, have you misunderstood something? We're all good people."

Although even he found those words embarrassing, his face was dark enough that he did not have to worry about blushing.

The other two hurriedly nodded like pecking chicks. Judging from the aura Mu Chen had revealed, he was at least a high-ranking Dou Master. Killing the three of them would probably be no harder than crushing ants.

Seeing the strange looks and whispered conversations from the passersby on both sides of the street, Mu Chen patted the leader on the shoulder and slowly walked into a secluded alley.

The three men behind him exchanged looks, all wearing bitter expressions, yet none dared refuse to follow.

Run away? That would be gambling with their lives. They could not determine whether Mu Chen was the ruthless sort. Their lives mattered more.

Mu Chen turned back to look at the three men, who feared him, and chuckled. "You wanted to steal my Storage Ring?"

The three men's expressions instantly changed. Even their dark faces turned pale as their bodies began trembling uncontrollably, cold sweat streaming down their faces.

"S-Sir, that never happened. We're all good people. How could we engage in such lowly acts? The reputation of us three brothers is famous throughout Desert City."

The three hurriedly waved their hands, shaking their heads like rattles.

Who would admit to something like that?

Mu Chen's smile gradually turned cold, and a wisp of deep yellow Dou Qi flickered in his hand.

"So, you think I've wronged you? Or do you think I'm hard of hearing and couldn't hear what you were saying earlier?"

"How about it? Does this fat sheep still look appealing to you?" Mu Chen asked playfully.

The three nearly collapsed onto the ground, secretly hating themselves for talking so much. However, the leader seemed to have some sense. Seeing that Mu Chen had not attacked directly, he tentatively said, "Does Sir have something you need us to do? Please give your orders. The three of us will certainly do our utmost."

"You're their leader, aren't you? You've got some sense," Mu Chen said after pondering for a moment. "I'll ask you three questions. If your answers satisfy me, I won't pursue the matter of you trying to steal my Storage Ring."