Due to its proximity to the desert, the weather here was extremely dry and scorching. The blazing sun poured down from the sky, baking the ground until it exhaled waves of heat that distorted the view, making the air shimmer and blur.
But at this moment, Xiao Yan didn't feel hot at all. In fact, he felt a chill down his spine.
No wonder, after sensing that man's presence, his teacher had immediately dragged him away from the Magic Beast Mountain Range, not even allowing a short detour to Qingshan Town.
That kind of terrifying strength, that kind of terrifying background and potential hostility—who could possibly withstand it?
"There's this suffocating sense of despair..."
Xiao Yan muttered.
"Hahaha, not quite suffocating despair. Don't forget, you're my disciple."
Yao Chen's soul form laughed heartily and patted Xiao Yan's shoulder.
"Don't let yourself get shaken up by that guy. The Cloud Rain Sect's cultivation method is completely different from normal. They rely on absorbing Dou Qi from flesh cauldrons to skyrocket in power. If we're talking pure talent, he's not necessarily better than you."
"Besides, don't overthink it. Although I've had conflicts with the Cloud Rain Sect, that was decades ago."
"I've already fallen and become a soul body. There's no way that kid came for me. And even if I did have a grudge with the Cloud Rain Sect, you have never had any contact with them. So there's nothing to worry about."
"I know, Teacher. I just got overwhelmed by their sheer strength."
Xiao Yan gave a bitter smile and shook his head. Dou Ancestors, Dou Venerables—those were realms of unimaginable power.
"Don't worry. Under my guidance, your achievements will surpass theirs one day!"
Yao Chen stroked his beard and added, "Now, the Tagger Desert is the best place to train for people cultivating fire and earth attributes. The conditions are harsh, much better for tempering yourself than the Magic Beast Mountain Range."
"Plus, your two brothers are here in this city. So stay here for now and train well."
"Yes, Teacher!"
Xiao Yan nodded solemnly and retrieved a large, heavy black ruler from his storage ring.
The Heavy Xuan Ruler was forged from Xuan Iron of Falling Flame. Incredibly durable and immensely heavy, it had the unique ability to suppress Dou Qi.
He'd kept it stored away to travel faster, but now that training was back on the agenda, it was time to wield it again.
Feeling the familiar weight in his hand, Xiao Yan exhaled deeply and looked toward the city with the name "Desert City" carved above its gates.
"Dou Ancestor? So what. Dou Venerable? So what."
"I won't let you down, Teacher!"
...
Qingshan Town was the settlement closest to the Magic Beast Mountain Range.
Because of its location, it was also known as the "Magic Beast Town." Unsurprisingly, the streets were filled with mercenaries—men who lived on the edge, licking blood off blades for a living.
They gathered in rowdy groups, shouting at one another as they strolled down the streets, loudly debating which tavern had the best women, where the strongest liquor could be found, and which beasts were the fiercest to hunt...
Yet amidst this chaos, one place stood out like a sore thumb.
It was the Myriad Medicine Hall, located on the edge of town. Normally bustling, it was now eerily silent. The courtyard was heavily guarded, with over a dozen fully armored guards stationed around the perimeter.
Inside the manor, in a quiet room, a young woman in white robes carefully prepared a batch of medicinal powder. From time to time, she'd use a tiny crystal stick to pick up a pinch and gently sniff it beneath her delicate nose.
The woman wasn't a stunning beauty, but her features were refined and graceful, with a quiet smile that radiated a serene and ethereal aura—one that amplified her charm tenfold.
Most alluring of all was her slim waist, tied with a green ribbon—so slender it could be grasped with one hand. Its delicacy invited the eye and tempted the heart.
But then, a sudden knock at the door broke the tranquil moment.
"Heh, is the Little Fairy Doctor in?"
Though the voice sounded like a question, before the sentence had even finished, the man had already pushed the door open himself. His eyes swept across the room and landed with a smile on the woman.
"Little Fairy Doctor, have you thought about it?"
"Mr. Yao, I didn't obtain anything from that cave. The rumors spread by the Wolfhead Mercenary Group are nothing but lies."
The Little Fairy Doctor calmly placed a jade bottle into the inner pocket of her sleeve and said coolly, "Why must you continue pressuring me like this?"
Hearing her calm refusal, Mr. Yao's smile grew even more forced.
"Little Fairy Doctor, you and I both know the truth. I'm just here to remind you—your three-day deadline is almost up."
"...Then wait until the deadline."
Still facing away, her voice was cold and unyielding. Mr. Yao's face twitched slightly, but he still forced a smile.
"Little Fairy Doctor, you're one of the core physicians of Myriad Medicine Hall. If you hand over the Poison Scripture to me, it'll improve the medical conditions in Qingshan Town for everyone."
"You should think about the greater good—for the sake of the people."
...
The room fell into silence.
The Little Fairy Doctor continued to organize her bottles and jars, completely ignoring him.
Mr. Yao's face grew darker by the second, but he restrained himself.
"Fine, fine. Think it over. I hope you'll give me a satisfying answer tomorrow."
"..."
Still no response.
Face twitching, Mr. Yao finally turned and left with a wave of his hand, the guards trailing behind him.
Silence returned to the room.
The Little Fairy Doctor quietly continued arranging her materials, not at all shaken by the threat.
After a while—perhaps after ensuring they'd left—she leaned close to the table and gently sniffed the black-violet powder.
As the powder entered her system, her once-rosy face took on a strange black-violet hue—like someone afflicted with a deadly poison.
But there was no pain on her face. Instead, a faint, almost indulgent expression appeared.
No one knew how long passed, but eventually the pleasure faded, and she opened her eyes—eyes that now looked slightly hollow.
After a moment, her gaze drifted to the remaining black-violet powder on the table, and a bitter smile formed on her lips.
The smile slowly twisted, and she suddenly raised both hands to cover her face. Choked sobs escaped through her fingers.
"I couldn't hold back again... I-I really am damned..."
"You're simply following your instincts. Why blame yourself so harshly?"
A sudden voice echoed through the room.
The sobbing girl froze.
The next second, she spun around and flung the contents of her hand—vials and all—toward the voice behind her.
Instantly, the entire room was filled with poisonous powder!
(End of Chapter)