Chapter Thirty-Two: Entering the Desert

As Chen Xiao stepped into the map shop, five pairs of eyes fixed directly upon him. Some gazes held undisguised admiration, others were complex, and some were friendly, accompanied by smiling nods. Yet, without exception, every one of these five individuals possessed a strength so vast that Chen Xiao could not fathom its depths; the disparity in their power was strikingly apparent.

In particular, the only woman among them sat with a regal air, her impressive figure barely concealed by a loose black robe. Her face was beautiful, her bearing noble, and her aura unfathomable. As the names of the various powerhouses of the Jia Ma Empire flashed through Chen Xiao’s mind, he quickly arrived at an educated guess.

"Chen Xiao, let me introduce you so you may broaden your horizons. These individuals are all renowned powerhouses within the Empire; it is truly not easy to meet them under normal circumstances," Hai Bodong said with a hearty laugh, beginning his introductions from the strongest to the weakest.

"The Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Yun!"
"The Lion King, Yan Shi!"
"The Wind Walker, Feng Li!"
"The Lion-Hearted Marshal of the Empire, the old patriarch of the Nalan family, Nalan Jie!"
"And this one at the end of the list, the patriarch of the Miter family, Tengshan!"

Listening to Hai Bodong’s introductions, Chen Xiao maintained a respectful demeanor and greeted each one in turn. Though he knew much about Nalan Jie and Yun Yun, there was no need to reveal it now. It was, however, truly beyond his expectations that the Miter family could summon so many experts. He had initially thought that if Tengshan could bring one more powerhouse, it would be sufficient. Nevertheless, for Chen Xiao, this was a positive development that undoubtedly bolstered his confidence for entering the desert.

"This time, Chen Xiao’s safety shall rely on you, seniors."

"Little friend, there is no need for such formalities. Since we have accepted the commission, we will certainly spare no effort."

"We take the money to help avert the disaster."

The group nodded in a friendly manner, and even Nalan Jie, whose old face still burned with lingering embarrassment, gave a slight nod. The man might be somewhat of a fence-sitter, but he was no fool.

"Now, I have done more than I promised. The rest is up to your performance. I do not wish to rush you, but we must set off as soon as possible. After all, everyone present is a very busy person, and time is precious." Hai Bodong leaned back in his chair, his smile filled with anticipation. Whether or not Chen Xiao’s plan succeeded, it was a win-win situation for him. Either the seal within his body would be broken, or he would gain this promising disciple he favored—either way, he stood to lose nothing. As for the risks… they were truly not that high.

Many were influenced by Queen Medusa’s fearsome reputation, believing her to be a temperamental and ruthless woman, and that interacting with her was akin to gambling with one's life. Even Hai Bodong, who harbored his own prejudices against her, wanted to laugh at such notions. He could not understand why anyone would think that Queen Medusa, as the ruler of a race, would be a reckless fool. In his experience, that woman was indeed ruthless, but only toward her enemies and those who harbored ill intent toward her and the Snake-people. For all these years, Hai Bodong had never heard of her attacking anyone without reason. It was precisely because of this that the Snake-people were able to dwell in a corner of the Tager Desert. Furthermore, with five powerhouses protecting Chen Xiao this time, their safety was even more assured.

"I understand. Since you seniors have traveled far, please rest in Mo City for the day. Tomorrow morning, we shall enter the desert!" Chen Xiao nodded slightly. He had perfected his various plans long ago, including how to greet Queen Medusa and how to respond to her questioning. With the five experts having arrived, there was no need for further delay.

"Very well, tomorrow then. Sect Leader Yun, and the rest of you, please take good care of this lad. Tengshan, you are to follow his arrangements completely tomorrow." Hai Bodong cupped his hands toward the group, not forgetting to instruct Tengshan before they finished. The hierarchy of his loyalties was clear. Yun Yun and the others returned the gesture politely; although Hai Bodong was currently sealed and his strength greatly diminished, his status remained. Moreover, he had the entire Miter family behind him.

"Will the Ice Emperor not be accompanying us tomorrow? After so many years, surely the grievances between you and Queen Medusa have long since been put aside," Nalan Jie remarked.

Meet Queen Medusa? Hai Bodong felt a tremor in his heart, but he feigned calmness and shook his head. "Until this matter is laid to rest, I would rather not see her."

...

The next day. Hearing Qing Lin’s knock on the door, Chen Xiao woke from his cultivation.

"Young Master, time to wash up." The little girl smiled, her voice sweet. Through the past few days, she had undoubtedly grown much closer to Chen Xiao. He never scolded her, never looked down on her, and ensured she ate the same meals as him, keeping her well-fed and cared for. Furthermore, he had personally begun teaching her how to channel energy, allowing her to officially start her own cultivation.

Often, Qing Lin felt that the little bit of labor she provided did not warrant such treatment. "Young Master, I felt a very distinct sense of energy last night. Does that mean I am at the first stage of Dou Force now?" While Chen Xiao washed, Qing Lin walked to the bed and carefully smoothed out the wrinkled sheets, asking with anticipation.

"Yes, keep up the effort." In truth, simply stepping into the path of cultivation meant one was at the first stage of Dou Force; it was merely the starting point. Moreover, cultivation before the third stage was the simplest and held little significance. However, knowing Qing Lin’s talent, Chen Xiao held high expectations for her future, so he had raised the bar slightly.

"Hehe, then can Qing Lin see you off to the city gates to wait for that old gentleman? I promise not to dawdle; as soon as he arrives, I will return to cultivate." From an outsider's perspective, this was unnecessary, but she simply wanted to be of service.

Chen Xiao set down his towel and shook his head slightly. "Not today. I am heading deep into the desert, and I may return quite late. Go ahead and eat dinner without me; don't wait up."

Hearing this, Qing Lin nodded obediently, not asking why he was going into the depths of the desert.

Leaving the inn, Chen Xiao headed to Hai Bodong’s map shop. Yun Yun and the others were already gathered.

"Seniors, let us set off."

The five nodded. The gorgeously robed Tengshan stepped forward and smiled, "The Tager Desert is vast. You are only a Great Dou Master and cannot fly yet. To save time, I shall carry you."

"I trouble you, Patriarch Tengshan."

Chen Xiao did not refuse. His Purple Cloud Wings were one of his few remaining trump cards, one he had not even revealed during his spar with Hai Bodong a few days prior. It was never a bad thing to keep an ace up one's sleeve.

Without further ado, Tengshan gripped Chen Xiao’s shoulder, unfurled his Dou Qi wings, and soared into the sky. Behind them, Yun Yun and the others followed closely.

Watching the six figures gradually disappear from sight, Hai Bodong withdrew his gaze and glanced toward the corner where the fragmented map used for fishing was kept.

"Forget it. It is a useless item; if nothing else, I will just return it to her when the time comes."