Shen Luo was caught completely off guard by what happened. Before he could muster his magic power to block it, a sudden, searing pain shot through both eyes, as though they were burning in flames.
"Aah!" Unable to hold back a cry of agony, he toppled onto the flying boat, covered his eyes with both hands, and curled into a ball.
The scorching energy darted about inside his eyes. The meridians surrounding them turned dark red and bulged beneath his skin, standing out in a hideous, frightening pattern.
This is bad! Could the records in Fangcun Mountain's ancient texts be wrong? Shen Luo cursed inwardly.
But it was already too late. All he could do was grit his teeth and endure while channeling magic power into his eyes, trying to counteract the scorching energy.
Bai Xiaotian and Chan'er, who were beside him, were both startled by the sight.
Bai Xiaotian hurriedly stopped the flying boat and landed in a stretch of desert below, just about to examine Shen Luo.
The nearby sand suddenly burst apart. An ocher-colored monster emerged from the ground-a centipede-like sand worm demon. It opened its gaping, blood-red maw and lunged at the three of them.
Columns of sand rose from the desert and swept toward the white flying boat.
The sand worm was quite powerful, having reached the Soul Condensation Stage.
Bai Xiaotian had landed in haste, never expecting a monster to be lurking below. He hurriedly formed a hand seal and pointed at the flying boat.
The runes on its hull flared. Skimming close to the ground, the boat shot forward with a whoosh, covering more than a dozen zhang and barely evading the sand worm's attack.
Meanwhile, Buddhist Bead, in Chan'er's hand, shone with golden light that enveloped the flying boat, shielding it from