"These three locations are where the probability of hidden strange fires in the Tagor Desert is greatest."
Pointing to the three flames, Hai Bodong smiled. "Of course, these are just my deductions based on my research. My accuracy isn't 100%, but it's undoubtedly much better than letting you grope around blindly."
"Remember, it's best to go to the eastern and northern flames first. Avoid the western ones if possible." His finger paused over the western flames and Hai Bodong warned in a deep voice.
"Why?"
"Because it's close to the depths of the Tagor Desert. Queen Medusa can sense the presence of any human within her range. Although you're not formidable, if you were to face that terrifying Queen Medusa, I doubt you'd have much chance of escaping." Hai Bodong sighed with lingering fear.
He traced the ring with his fingers, and a small piece of yellowed parchment, seemingly extremely ancient, appeared in his palm. He caressed the fragment of the ancient map with reluctance.
Hai Bodong sighed, "I've been making maps for decades, but I've never seen one this complex. Shortly after I obtained it, I tried to replicate it based on this fragment, but the resulting map was strangely different from the original. After several attempts, I gave up. I think it might have something to do with the map's incompleteness."
After retrieving the first fragment of the map in the Monster Mountain Range, Xiao Jue had already determined that these fragments harbored immense spiritual power.
This power was extremely subtle, and unless one was a pharmacist, whose mental powers far surpassed those of ordinary people, it would be extremely difficult to detect.
These spiritual powers wouldn't directly harm anyone, but if anyone attempted to replicate the map's routes and patterns, they would subtly erode their sanity, rendering the resulting map completely different from the original.
He fondled the fragmented map for a long, reluctant moment. Hai Bodong then shook his head in frustration and handed it to Xiao Jue, saying with a wry smile, "Hey, take it. In my experience, these fragments of the map should have been split into several parts. Holding only this one wouldn't be of much use. Furthermore, finding the remaining fragments on such a vast continent would undoubtedly be harder than finding a needle in a haystack."
Xiao Jue reached out and took the silky-touch fragment, examining it from head to toe. A faint sense of age and ancient charm washed over him.
Holding this small fragment, Xiao Jue took out another small fragment from Hai Bodong's possession and pieced them together, finding a seamless connection.
Xiao Jue couldn't help but ask, "How did you manage to split them in two?"
The map left behind by the Pure Lotus Demon Saint possessed a wisp of his soul. How could Hai Bodong, a former Dou Huang, now a mere Dou Ling, actually achieve this? Xiao Jue was skeptical.
Hai Bodong smiled awkwardly and said, "When I found this map, it was actually two pieces. I just put them together and they look like a single piece."
Xiao Jue's mouth twitched slightly, and he nodded. "In that case, our deal is done. There's a woman named Yafei in the Mitel family who has a good relationship with me. If you can support her and let her take control of the Mitel family's true power, I will refine an Imperial Pill for you after I leave for the imperial capital."
"It's a deal!" Hai Bodong was immediately overjoyed. With the Fu Zi Ling Pill that could restore his former strength and the Imperial Pill that could increase his Dou Huang strength by one star, his strength could surpass his previous level.
...
Xiao Jue left Mocheng. As the night slowly faded, the blazing sun once again enveloped the desert in a fiery heat.
Xiao Jue flapped his dragon wings and headed for Stone Desert City. At this time, Xiao Yan was likely still studying alchemy with Yao Lao in the Warcraft Mountains. Xiao Jue planned to first find the lotus platform of the Azure Lotus Earth Core Fire and then await Xiao Yan's arrival at the Desert Iron Mercenary Group in Stone Desert City.
Xiao Yan's mission would then be to train with the Desert Iron Mercenary Group for a while, awaiting Xiao Jue and Yao Lao's return with the Azure Lotus Earth Core Fire.
Compared to cities within the empire, the desert city possessed a more austere and solemn air. Perhaps due to its proximity to the Tagor Desert, its defenses were far more fortified than those within the empire. Heavily armed soldiers patrolled the city.
After entering the city, Xiao Jue headed directly south. After turning a few streets, a courtyard nearly as large as the Xiao family compound in Wutan City came into view.
Above the courtyard, a banner fluttered in the wind, the words "Motie Mercenary Group" painted across it in large letters, exuding a faint aura of iron-blooded toughness.
Outside the compound, several burly men stood upright, weapons in hand, their sharp gazes scanning the passersby.
The faint scent of blood emanating from their bodies revealed them to be true, iron-blooded men who had walked the fine line of a knife, far from the rookies who, with a weapon strapped to their waist, considered themselves mercenaries.
One of them gazed at Xiao Jue as he approached and said, "If you want to post a mission, go to the Mercenary Guild. The Motie Mercenary Group forbids outsiders."
"I'm from the Xiao family of Wutan City, and a member of your leader's clan." Xiao Jue, wielding the Grand Master's Dou Qi armor, said, "Take me to see them."
"You're a member of the leader's clan?" The man was slightly surprised, but his attitude became more respectful as he observed Xiao Jue's Dou Qi armor.
"Please follow me."
They didn't dare to stop a powerful Dou Shi. Xiao Jue didn't display his Dou Ling strength and followed him into the Motie Mercenary Group.
After following the large man into the Motie Mercenary Group, he turned down a small path and a spacious hall appeared before him. He walked over and knocked on the door, saying, "Two captains, there's a Dou Shi named Xiao Jue who claims to be from your clan."
The door opened, revealing a young man's face. He was dressed in mercenary uniform, his figure tall and straight, his dark eyes gleaming with laziness and sinister fierceness. A smile graced his face, but beneath this smile, a hint of wolfish ferocity lurked.
"Huh?" Xiao Li asked in surprise. "Xiao Jue? Why are you in Shimo City? And there's a Dou Shi... What's going on?"
"Cousin Xiao Li, long time no see. I've broken through to become a Dou Shi." Xiao Jue chuckled and walked into the hall.
(End of Chapter)