Arrival at Stone Desert City

In the narrow alley, Mu Chen stood with his arms crossed, leisurely watching the three dark-skinned men before him.

The three men looked sickly. The leader gritted his teeth and said bitterly, "Please ask, sir. I've been getting by in Desert City for many years, and I'd say I know quite a lot about matters large and small in the city."

He had still kept his guard up and had not made any absolute claims, only saying that he was familiar with affairs within Desert City.

"First question: has a young man wearing an alchemist's robe and carrying a black ruler on his back come to Desert City recently?"

"Right, that young man should have been wearing the badge of a Second-Grade Alchemist. Think carefully."

Naturally, Mu Chen was asking about Xiao Yan. Xiao Yi Xian had already been intercepted by him, so according to the plot, Xiao Yan should have come to the desert under Yao Lao's guidance to search for Heavenly Flames.

The dark-skinned leader's face turned pale. He exchanged glances with the other two and saw the same confusion and despair in their eyes.

Gritting his teeth, the leader said firmly, "Sir, we haven't seen the young man you described. But we can guarantee that the young man you mentioned definitely hasn't come to Desert City in the past half year."

"Hmm..." Mu Chen gave a noncommittal hum. Judging from the changes in their expressions, they did not seem to be lying. Xiao Yan probably had not arrived yet—or perhaps had not come at all.

"Second question: is there an old man in Desert City who runs a map shop but has a particularly strange temper?"

This time, all three men looked delighted and answered in unison, "Sir, are you talking about Old Hai's Map Shop, the largest and most well-stocked map shop in Desert City? That old man's origins are unknown. He suddenly came here over ten years ago. His temper is very strange, but his strength is terrifying."

"A year ago, a Dou Master-level expert relied on his little bit of strength to cause trouble in his shop. In the end, he was frozen into a pile of ice shards on the spot. The story spread everywhere back then; everyone in Desert City had heard of it."

Mu Chen's eyes lit up. The Old Hai in that map shop was the number one "angel investor" in Battle Through the Heavens, the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong. However, Hai Bodong now only possessed the strength of a Dou Ling.

I definitely have to get the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Map Fragment from Hai Bodong. In the plot, the complete map had a major use.

Rob him by force? He was once a Dou Emperor and had countless methods. He was far more difficult to deal with than an ordinary Dou Ling. As a mere Five-Star Dou Master, I probably can't take him down.

As for refining the Pò'è Pill? Don't joke around. That's a sixth-grade pill, and the minimum threshold for refining it is at least a Dou Ling.

Forget it. I'll leave that map fragment until after the Green Lotus Core Flame. Once I absorb the Green Lotus Core Flame, I might be able to fight a Dou Ling-level Hai Bodong.

After sorting out his thoughts, Mu Chen glanced at the three anxious men and smiled. "Last question: where is the best inn in Desert City?"

Uh... the three men were stunned. They had already racked their brains, trying to recall every incident in their lives, even those as trivial as sesame seeds, so that Mu Chen would not ask about something they could not answer and take their lives as a result. Yet this young expert did not seem to play by the rules.

"What, is this question difficult?" Mu Chen asked with a smile.

The best inn in Desert City? Was that difficult? Not at all. It was ridiculously simple.

At once, the three men hurriedly moved their stiff bodies and said in unison, "Sir, go out from here, turn right, and walk straight until you reach the corner. That's the largest and best inn in Desert City."

"The price is also very cheap, and... for just a little gold, there are also some very pleasant... services."

The three men wore knowing smiles that every man understood. Mu Chen did not know whether to laugh or cry. Anyone could guess what those pleasant services meant.

But when Mu Chen's hesitant gaze swept over them, the three men's faces turned pale again. They feared that he would change his mind and kill all three of them.

Such was the sorrow of the weak. When they encountered an expert they had no power to resist, they could only rack their brains and use every means possible to survive.

Looking at the three men, whose faces were growing paler and paler, Mu Chen saw that they were merely ordinary Dou Zhes. They did not even have a Storage Ring. They were truly too poor.

Mu Chen shook his head, walked past them, and gradually disappeared into the distance. Only his somewhat sighing voice remained.

"Don't worry. I'm a man of principles. I'm satisfied with your answers, so naturally I'll keep my word."

"But next time, keep your eyes open. Don't provoke me again."

Following their directions, Mu Chen found the inn. Its environment was indeed much better than elsewhere. He casually rented a room, refused all pleasant services, and began refining pills to replenish his daily consumption.

The next morning, Mu Chen walked along the sandy road, repeatedly studying a desert map he had bought from Hai Bodong's shop.

That old man was indeed just as indifferent as in the original work. Mu Chen did not speak much with Hai Bodong. After merely confirming that the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Map Fragment was indeed there, he left.

Mu Chen could have taken the map fragment directly. With the Purple Cloud Wings, even if he faced an enraged Hai Bodong, he was absolutely confident that he could escape unscathed.

After thinking for a long time, however, Mu Chen still gave up on the idea of taking it by force. That old man had decent character, after all. If he found an opportunity to remove the seal Queen Medusa had placed on him, gaining the friendship of a Dou Emperor would bring him nothing but benefits.

After leaving Desert City for a while and seeing that no one was around, Mu Chen spread his Purple Cloud Wings and flew toward Stone Desert City.

Traveling with the Purple Cloud Wings consumed a huge amount of Dou Qi. Even though Mu Chen possessed more Dou Qi than most people, he could only maintain continuous flight for around ten minutes at most.

But Mu Chen did not care. There were so many Qi-Replenishing Pills in his backpack now that he could eat them like beans.

Two words: I'm rich!

Stone Desert City!

Looking at the large characters above the city gate, as though they had been inscribed in blood, Mu Chen brushed the sand from his clothes and approached a grumbling soldier. He tossed down a heavy bag of gold coins, and the crisp clinking immediately drew a wave of greedy gazes.

Mu Chen raised a finger and gave a cold snort. His Dou Qi pressure condensed into a straight line, blasting the greedy-looking soldier before him onto the ground.

"Where is the Desert Iron Mercenary Group?"

Mu Chen's words were concise, but he believed the soldier would understand what he meant.

Although Mu Chen had made him lose face before his comrades, the soldier was no fool after living here for so long. He did not dare to openly retaliate against this young man, who was clearly a Dou Master, simply because of his official imperial status.

"Enter the city and head south. Cross two streets, and the large courtyard there is the Desert Iron Mercenary Group's base. As for this gold..."

"The entry fee and your reward." Mu Chen answered casually, stepped past him, and entered through the city gate.

After entering the city, the shops along both sides of the streets and the flow of people within were somewhat more prosperous than those in Desert City.

It did not take long for Mu Chen to follow the information he had gotten from the soldier and find a large courtyard in a good location, with the Desert Iron Mercenary Group's flag planted outside.

Just as Mu Chen was about to enter, a noisy commotion of people shouting and fighting came from the alley behind him.

Mu Chen had not intended to pay attention, but when he heard a certain name, he immediately stopped. He turned around and walked into the alley with an expressionless face.