Flapping the thunder-forged wings, he descended slowly toward the earth.
When he was still several hundred meters from the city, he slowed his pace, allowing the wings to retract into two shimmering runes that vanished on his back.
With a graceful flip midair, Ye Chen landed lightly on the scorching ground.
The desert heat was suffocating — dry, sweltering, and relentless.
The sun blazed overhead, baking the sand until heat waves shimmered in the air, warping everything in sight.
Ye Chen looked up at the distant horizon, then began walking toward the city of yellow earth.
As he approached, the number of travelers increased.
Most men were bare-chested, their bronzed muscles gleaming with sweat and strength.
The women, though tanned, had a healthy, seductive bronze glow.
Unlike the modest and shy women of the empire's heartland, these desert women were bold.
Their tight leather garments barely covered their chests and hips, leaving slender waists and long, toned legs exposed.
Each step they took made their snake-like hips sway with intoxicating rhythm .... exotic, daring, and mesmerizing.
As Ye Chen walked through the streets, he couldn't help but feast his eyes on the unique beauty of the desert's women — truly an enchanting sight.
At the gates of Mo City, a dozen armored soldiers stood watch, barking orders as they collected entry taxes from travelers.
Perhaps because this city lay near the border ..... close to the Serpent Tribe's territory ..... its defenses were far tighter than those of most major cities.
The scorching desert heat didn't help either. The guards were irritable and impatient, their loud shouts echoing as they urged the crowd forward.
Ye Chen's arrival immediately drew attention. His elegant, high-class attire stood out amid the dusty travelers, and the faint aura of power radiating from him made several guards tense up.
When he neared the gate, none of the soldiers dared demand a tax.
Instead, they straightened their posture and greeted him with obsequious smiles.
"This young master, are you entering the city?" one of them asked respectfully.
"Yes."
Ye Chen didn't stop. He merely gave them a faint glance before walking calmly through the gate.
Passing through the dim stone passage beneath the walls, his vision brightened ....the sight of a city built in true desert style stretched before him.
The strange yet beautiful architecture filled Ye Chen with mild curiosity.
"If I remember correctly, the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong should have opened a map shop here… called Gu Tu."
Standing on the bustling street, Ye Chen scanned the crowd, then stopped a passerby to ask for directions.
"You're looking for Gu Tu? Ah, that's an old man's map shop. Go straight that way, then turn right…"
The man, seeing Ye Chen's fine robes and refined demeanor, didn't hesitate to help, his tone full of respect.
Ye Chen smiled faintly and tossed him a small pouch. "For your trouble."
The man caught it, and when he opened the bag to find a handful of glittering gold coins, his eyes went wide.
"All gold…! Thank you, young master!" he shouted gratefully as Ye Chen disappeared into the crowd.
Inside the city, Ye Chen didn't bother concealing his aura.
The powerful presence of an eight-star Dou Spirit occasionally leaked out, enough to make nearby pedestrians instinctively avoid him.
Before long, the humble Gu Tu Map Shop appeared in sight.
Unlike the grand and flashy stores nearby, this one had a quiet, timeworn simplicity that gave it an ancient charm.
"This should be the place."
Ye Chen murmured and stepped inside.
The shop wasn't very large.
The soft white glow of two Moonlight Stones illuminated the modest interior.
There weren't many customers ..... only a few scattered figures browsing maps in silence.
Ye Chen's eyes soon landed on the old man behind the counter, who was carefully sketching a map.
Though his hair was entirely white, his bony hand held the quill steady and firm, showing no tremor of age.
"Master," came Yao Chen's voice from within the Soul Banner, "this old man isn't as ordinary as he appears.
My senses tell me he's a Dou Emperor, though some strange power has sealed most of his strength. Right now, he's only at the Dou Spirit level."
"I know," Ye Chen replied calmly.
He already recognized the man's true identity ... the once-mighty Ice Emperor Hai Bodong.
Ye Chen strolled to the counter, pretending to browse the maps laid out before him.
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