"This item is extremely valuable, far surpassing the Ice Spirit Cold Spring." Xiao Jue nodded and said, "Just take it and trade it with Gut."
"Okay," Otto nodded.
Soon after, the others finished refining their medicines. Lin Fei and Xue Mei both became first-grade alchemists. However, unless Xiao Jue used force, it would take a long time to capture them. Xiao Jue planned to attack them after arriving in the imperial capital.
In another six months, the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Conference would be held, and Xiao Jue would encounter them again in the imperial capital.
Xiao Jue had other things to do and no time to waste here. He had to go to Mocheng to retrieve the remaining map of the Pure Lotus Demon Fire and the map of the Strange Fire from Hai Bodong. After that, he would rush to Shimocheng to find Qinglin and retrieve the lotus platform and lotus seeds of the Qinglian Earth Core Fire.
Finally, there's the all-important Queen Medusa. With the Heavenly Soul Melting Blood Pill and Yao Lao's protection, Xiao Jue can directly negotiate with the Serpent People, guaranteeing the Blue Lotus Earth Core Fire.
Xiao Jue even possesses a secret technique, similar to the one Medusa used to evolve, using Strange Fire. However, the dual Yin and Yang flames imbued with both life and death enhance the chances of success.
Originally, the Yin and Yang Sage developed this technique to evolve the Phantom Fire Scorpion Dragon into the Grand Void Ancient Dragon. However, after a few experiments, he didn't dare use it on himself. This
is because evolving with this technique weakens the soul for a long time, while new souls are born within the body. The Yin and Yang Sage, facing too many enemies, couldn't afford to leave himself vulnerable.
Ultimately, Xiao Xuan killed him before he could make up his mind. Xiao Jue hadn't considered using this technique, as the consequences were too great. With better luck, he might have a chance to obtain the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit in the future. There was no need to gamble with this technique.
Lin Fei and Xue Mei were sent home to share the good news. President Frank stayed behind to entertain Xiao Jue, while Master Otto went to find Gut to help Xiao Jue exchange the Ice Spirit Cold Spring.
Not long after, an elderly man in extremely shabby gray clothes followed Master Otto to the Alchemist Guild. Upon seeing Xiao Jue, he excitedly approached.
"Is this Master Hunxuzi?" He rubbed his hands and asked, "Do you have any other Companion Amethyst Sources or other treasures? I have something else to exchange with you."
Xiao Jue ignored him and looked at Otto, asking, "Did you get the Ice Spirit Cold Spring?"
Master Otto took out a white jade box the size of a washbasin and placed it on the table. The jade box was sealed perfectly, with no gaps except for the opening at the top.
Despite the layer of white jade, he could still sense the faint chill seeping from within. He carefully lifted the sealed lid of the jade box. As the lid left its mark, a puff of icy mist swirled upward, instantly sending the temperature plummeting.
Ignoring the drop in temperature, Xiao Jue peered inside the jade box. Inside, a thick layer of ice lay neatly stacked. In the center of this ice, a small jade bottle of rouge sat.
A chill swirled around the bottle, a chill that chilled the heart.
Xiao Jue closed the jade box with a wave of his hand and stored it in his ring. He looked at Otto and said, "This is what I need. Goodbye."
"I don't need anything else." Glancing at Gut, Xiao Jue leaped up and out the window, his dragon wings spread wide and he flew away, leaving the others staring at each other in bewilderment.
...
In the distant sky, golden light flashed across the sky like chasing the stars and the moon, soaring towards the loess city standing in the golden desert.
As they drew closer to the city, waves of heat rushed towards them. Squinting slightly at the seemingly endless golden expanse, Xiao Jue breathed a sigh of relief. "The Great Tagor Desert, Qinglin, and Queen Medusa, here I come."
With a few hundred meters to the city, Xiao Jue's flight gradually slowed. His body trembled slightly, and the dragon wings behind him slowly retracted, finally disappearing.
He flipped in mid-air, his feet firmly planted on the ground. After brushing off some dust from his clothes, he looked up at the huge yellow city that appeared at the end of his sight.
Perhaps due to its proximity to the desert, the weather here was quite dry and scorching. The blazing sun streamed down from the sky, baking the ground beneath his feet until it emitted a suffocating heat. The heat slowly rose, distorting and blurring his vision.
Normally, in such a decidedly less-than-perfect environment, few would experience a sense of well-being. However, Xiao Jue was somewhat surprised to discover that the Dou Qi coursing through his body had actually become much more vigorous since he set foot on this land.
As they approached the city, more and more people appeared around them. Most of these men were shirtless, their skin tanned and lean.
At first glance, they appeared quite bold. The occasional passing woman, though similarly tanned, had a rather sensual, bronzed hue. The women here were not as reserved and coy as those in the empire, clad in tight leather jackets.
It barely covered her breasts and the area below, while her slender waist was boldly exposed. Her long, taut thighs were also only concealed by a short skirt or shorts.
As she walked, her serpentine waist swayed, creating a uniquely captivating charm and style.
Looking up at the yellow city, whose dimensions were already visible, she saw two large, pale red characters carved into the wall above the city gate. From afar, they had a faint, bloody feel.
"Mocheng..." Xiao Jue muttered softly, smiled, and slowly walked towards the city gate.
At the gate, a dozen armored soldiers, wielding spears, shouted at passersby to pay the entrance tax.
Perhaps due to the scorching heat, the guards were also a little irritated by the irritating weather, and their harsh shouts and scolding continued to urge passersby at the gate.
"Hey, kid, don't you see the sign 'surrender' here..." A soldier glared at Xiao Jue, who was walking straight into the city as if no one was around. Before he could finish his words, he was sent flying backwards.
"What a hassle." Xiao Jue glanced at him coldly and walked towards the city.
Slowly walking out of the dimly lit passageway, his vision brightened slightly. The city buildings with unique desert characteristics came into view. The strange-looking buildings opened Xiao Jue's eyes.
(End of this chapter)