A Thousand Miles a Day, Buying a Map

After being certified as a third-tier alchemist at the Alchemy Masters' Guild, Xiao Yan did not linger in Black Rock City.

Lin Fei and Xue Mei had simply been far too enthusiastic. Xiao Yan was afraid he would not be able to restrain himself.

The next day, he boarded a Flying Beast bound for Desert City.

The Flying Beast was enormous. A wooden house built from Lightwood stood on its back, divided into six rooms.

The first two rooms belonged to the transport company's staff. In other words, only four rooms were available, each designed to accommodate no more than two people.

Wearing the purple robes of an alchemist, Xiao Yan was able to ride the Flying Beast for free.

Black Rock City was extremely far from Desert City. The staff said the journey would take three days.

Cultivation was forbidden aboard the Flying Beast, much like making phone calls on an airplane. Otherwise, it would interfere with the beast's flight.

Xiao Yan could not enter the Portable Space either. Once he entered it, its coordinates would become fixed and stop moving with the Flying Beast.

However, Xiao Yan could summon Little Fairy out of the space to keep him company, so the journey would not be boring.

Little Fairy was very curious about the Flying Beast.

In the past, whenever she rode her own Blue Eagle through the skies, she had to grip its feathers tightly. One careless moment, and the fierce winds could blow her off.

But there was a house built on this Flying Beast's back. It sheltered them from wind and sun, and they could even drink tea and sleep inside.

The house even had windows fitted with transparent glass, allowing them to enjoy the scenery from high above.

Little Fairy leaned against the window, watching the pure white clouds streak past, and said:

"Brother Xiao Yan, I want to build a house like this on Xiao Lan's back too. What do you think?"

Xiao Lan was the name of Little Fairy's flying magical beast, that enormous blue eagle.

Xiao Yan embraced Little Fairy from behind and said with a smile:

"Of course."

Sensing something unusual behind her, Little Fairy's face flushed red. She pouted and said:

"Brother Xiao Yan, how are your carpentry skills?"

"Very good. Didn't I build Teacher's courtyard beautifully?"

Little Fairy nodded with a blush. In the space, she had witnessed just how capable Brother Xiao Yan was. He was like a creator god.

"I wonder whether the wood used for this house is expensive."

Little Fairy pressed both hands against the wooden frame by the window. The entire house on the Flying Beast's back had been built from the same kind of wood.

This Lightwood was twice as light as ordinary timber, yet twice as sturdy. It was also resistant to wind, sun, and rain, making it an excellent construction material.

"Don't worry. Your big brother has money. I'm a distinguished alchemist—making money is easy."

Xiao Yan said with a smile.

Over those three days, the two of them experienced what it meant to travel a thousand miles in a day. It was quite interesting.

The Flying Beast truly traveled a thousand miles a day.

Still, it was nowhere near as fast as airplanes from Xiao Yan's previous life.

Three days later, Little Fairy descended from the Flying Beast with Xiao Yan, her face rosy.

The transport company's staff did not dare ask why there was suddenly an extra young woman in Xiao Yan's room.

"Sir, would you like us to arrange lodging for you?" a staff member asked respectfully.

"No need. I have my own arrangements."

Xiao Yan replied with a smile. He was not here for sightseeing.

Holding Little Fairy's soft little hand, he left the transport company's grounds. The two walked through the streets of Desert City.

"So hot."

Little Fairy wiped away the fine beads of sweat on her forehead and said softly.

"This place is close to the Tagor Desert, so the temperature is a little high."

Xiao Yan took a fan from his ring and fanned Little Fairy. But the air itself was dry, and even the breeze was hot.

He was naturally fire-attributed, and with Purple Flame within his body, he not only felt no discomfort in the desert but found it quite pleasant.

"Xian'er, why don't you stay in the Portable Space?"

Seeing that fine sweat kept gathering on Little Fairy's fair forehead after she wiped it away and walked only a short distance, Xiao Yan suggested it.

The pedestrians on Desert City's streets were all dressed lightly, draped in loose white robes, unlike Xiao Yan and Little Fairy in their close-fitting clothes.

"No. I want to spend more time with Brother Xiao Yan."

Little Fairy shook her head with a smile.

Although the Portable Space was very comfortable, she preferred staying by Brother Xiao Yan's side.

Xiao Yan affectionately rubbed Little Fairy's head. With a thought, he took a cup of ice water from the space.

"Xian'er, have some ice water. It'll cool you down."

Little Fairy held the jade cup and took small sips. In such scorching weather, a cup of ice water felt wonderfully refreshing.

"Brother Xiao Yan, you should drink some too."

"Then feed me, Xian'er."

Little Fairy immediately blushed in embarrassment. Brother Xiao Yan was excellent in every respect, except he had far too many tricks in that regard, always leaving her too flustered to cope.

She glanced at the pedestrians, who all had white gauze wrapped around themselves and hurried along.

Little Fairy took a mouthful of ice water, raised her head, leaned toward Xiao Yan, and passed the water into his mouth.

"Mmm~"

The sweet ice water entered his mouth, but Xiao Yan wanted more.

"Xiao Yan, you came to the Tagor Desert to train and search for a Heavenly Flame, not to have fun."

"Little Fairy, return to the space. Without my permission, you are not allowed to come out again."

Inside the Portable Space, Medicine Elder finally could not bear to watch any longer and interrupted.

Little Fairy shot Xiao Yan an aggrieved glare. Her chest heaved as she panted heavily through her little mouth.

Xiao Yan found a place where no one was around and sent Little Fairy back into the Portable Space.

Then, he stopped a passerby and asked where he could find a shop that sold desert maps in the city.

The passerby he stopped was extremely impatient, but when he saw Xiao Yan's purple alchemist robes, his expression changed. He politely pointed out the shop's location.

As for food and water, Xiao Yan did not need to buy any. His Portable Space was a storehouse of resources, and he usually kept supplies stocked inside it.

After turning through several streets, Xiao Yan arrived at the finest map shop the passerby had mentioned—Ancient Map.

Xiao Yan stepped inside. The interior was not spacious, but two Moonlight Stones emitted a faint glow, brightly illuminating the shop.

At that moment, there was not a single customer buying maps inside.

Behind the counter, a white-haired old man was making a map. He was presumably the owner.

Xiao Yan's arrival did not seem to draw the old man's attention. He remained absorbed in drawing his map.

"Be careful. This old fellow isn't ordinary."

At that moment, Medicine Elder's voice came from within the Portable Space.

Xiao Yan casually picked up a map from the wooden rack and flipped through it as he transmitted his voice, "Teacher, what's going on?"

"From my probing, this old fellow's true strength should be at the Dou Emperor level. But he seems to be suppressed by some strange power, and currently possesses only Dou Spirit-level strength."

A Dou Spirit?

Then there was nothing to fear.

Xiao Yan relaxed. With his fourth-stage physical body, he might not be able to defeat a Dou Spirit expert, but he could certainly fight or flee.

If worse came to worst, he could drag the old man into the space. Then, would the man's life and death not be entirely in his hands?

Originally, Xiao Yan had not known the old man's identity. But after hearing Medicine Elder's words, he remembered.

Could this old man be the Ice Emperor, Hai Bodong?

Xiao Yan's heart stirred as he carefully examined the maps on the wooden rack.

More than ten minutes later, when he picked up and unfolded a map, a palm-sized, tattered fragment suddenly fell out.

Xiao Yan picked up the fragment. Sure enough, it was the same style as the fragmentary map clue to the Pure Lotus Demonic Flame that he had obtained in the Magic Beast Mountain Range.

However, the fragment in his hand seemed to have had half of it cut away.

That confirmed it. This old man was the Ice Emperor, Hai Bodong.

Xiao Yan casually placed the map fragment into his storage ring.

"Little fellow, stealing is not a good habit."

At that moment, the old man's cold voice rang out from behind the counter.

At the same time, Xiao Yan sensed an icy aura rising from the old man's body and locking firmly onto him.