Outside the Stone Desert City, the sun blazed high in the sky, yet the members of the Mo Tie Mercenary Corps continued to meticulously search every inch of the area. “Brother, have you noticed? There isn’t a single member of the Sand Mercenary Corps around here today,” Xiao Li observed, scanning the surroundings from atop a sand dune. After a moment, he furrowed his brows and turned to Xiao Ding.
“Haha, not only are they absent here, but even within the Stone Desert City, the usual loitering members of the Sand Mercenary Corps have mysteriously dwindled in number. And according to my information… last night, that Mo Xing guy seems to have met his end. However, Shala hasn’t shown any signs of anger; instead, he’s as quiet as if he had no idea what happened.” A smile flickered in Xiao Ding’s eyes as he said, “Little Yan is becoming more and more enigmatic. His actions towards the Sand Mercenary Corps have left Shala silent, without a word. Tsk, tsk, what kind of power does it take to achieve this? I wonder how he managed it.”
“Indeed, it’s quite speechless. Sigh, in just a few short years, this kid has become more and more mysterious.” Xiao Li nodded, a bitter smile on his face.
Xiao Ding chuckled lightly and turned his gaze to a nearby sand dune, where the youth, instead of retreating into a tent to avoid the scorching sun, was sitting cross-legged on the hot sand, basking under the intense sunlight. He was slowly absorbing the dense fire energy from the surrounding world, allowing sweat to flow freely from his forehead, soaking his clothes.
“In the past, although he was gifted, he lacked resilience and determination. I believe those three years as a ‘waste’ may have made him suffer, but in the long run, it might have fixed the last flaw needed to become a true powerhouse… At least, the little Yan of old would never have had the resolve to come alone to the vast Tagor Desert for such harsh training.”
Xiao Ding sighed, gazing at the youth who seemed unwilling to waste a single second.
“True,” Xiao Li nodded in agreement. To become a true master, talent was important, but without unyielding resilience, one could only achieve mediocre results. The Dou Qi Continent was vast, and there were many geniuses, but only a few could reach the peak.
Therefore, those years as a ‘waste’ would have a profound impact on Xiao Yan’s future path. He might realize that those years were not a setback but a crucible that forged his spirit.
“Captain! The third squad seems to have found some traces of a passage!” Just as Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were discussing, a figure suddenly ran over from the distance, excitedly shouting.
“Found something?” Hearing this, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li both froze, then their faces lit up with joy. They exchanged a look before turning their gaze to the sand dune. Xiao Yan, too, had opened his eyes, his face filled with surprise and delight.
Hearing the news, Xiao Yan blinked, quickly exiting his meditation state. He dusted off the sand and hurriedly greeted the approaching figure, eagerly asking, “Did you find the passage?”
“Hehe, we found some traces. Based on our experience, there’s a high chance it leads underground,” the mercenary replied with a wide grin.
“Great!” Xiao Yan clapped his hands in excitement. “Let’s go, show me!”
“Sure thing,” the mercenary nodded, glancing at Xiao Ding and Xiao Li who were quickly approaching. He then led the way northward. After a few minutes, they arrived at a slightly depressed area in the sand where a large crowd was gathered, whispering to each other.
“Make way, make way!” The mercenary shouted, clearing a path.
Xiao Yan followed, spotting a half-meter-wide hole dug by the mercenaries. Peering inside, he saw a dark, steamy space.
“Is this it?” Xiao Yan asked, pointing at the dark hole.
“Haha, yes. The entrance was blocked by sand, but Qingshi detected some unusual energy here, which helped us find it,” a mercenary replied with a smile.
Hearing this, Xiao Yan looked at Qingshi, who was covered in sand but had a happy smile on her face. She blushed slightly as she met his gaze, then playfully winked at him.
“Haha, well done, little one!” Xiao Yan gave her a thumbs-up, smiling warmly as he approached the dark entrance. He produced a moonstone and tossed it into the hole. The faint light dimmed after a few rolls, disappearing completely.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan frowned, “It seems the passage isn’t straight.”
“Right. We’ve already probed it. There are at least a dozen passages, all winding like giant snake tunnels,” the mercenary explained with a grimace.
“Such is the case…” Xiao Yan frowned, feeling a bit troubled.
“How about we send people to explore each passage?” Xiao Ding suggested from behind.
Turning to Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, Xiao Yan shook his head, “I don’t want to risk the safety of the Mo Tie Mercenary Corps. If something happens, I wouldn’t be able to bear it.”
“Haha, don’t worry, Little Brother. The Mo Tie Mercenary Corps is not afraid of danger,” the mercenary members laughed.
“I’ll pick a few strong members to go with you. We can’t let you go alone, or if something goes wrong, Father might get angry,” Xiao Ding suggested after a pause.
Hesitating, Xiao Yan finally nodded, “If anything dangerous happens, I hope you will lead everyone to safety. Don’t worry about me.”
Seeing Xiao Yan’s serious expression, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged a glance and nodded. After last night’s incident, they no longer doubted his strength.
Just as Xiao Yan was about to move, Qingshi’s voice sounded, “Young Master, I can sense some residual energy from the person who was here six months ago. I think I can lead you to the correct passage.”
“Really?” Xiao Yan turned to her, smiling. “Okay, lead the way.”
“Good girl,” Xiao Yan patted her head, looking at Xiao Ding and Xiao Li. “Shall we go?”
“Of course,” Xiao Ding nodded, giving instructions to the others. “Once we enter, strengthen the defenses. This sand is unstable, and any mistake could collapse it, burying us alive.”
“Don’t worry, Captain. No one will dare disturb us while we’re down there,” the mercenary members growled.
“Xiao Li, you’ll be in charge up here. I need someone to coordinate,” Xiao Ding instructed.
Nodding, Xiao Li watched as Xiao Ding retrieved ropes and tested their strength before tying them to a secure stake and dropping the other end into the hole.
“The passage isn’t too steep, but these ropes are for safety. If we call, pull us up quickly,” Xiao Ding explained.
Xiao Yan smiled and walked to the dark entrance, gesturing for Qingshi to follow. She hurried over, her emerald eyes twinkling. Xiao Yan pulled her close, saying, “Guide us.”
Blushing, Qingshi nodded, and they descended into the darkness.
“Ancestral Flame… I hope you won’t disappoint me,” Xiao Yan murmured, holding Qingshi tightly as they slid into the depths.
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