"I understand," Ye Chen nodded. Then he added, "Grand Elder, please give me the pill recipe.
Once I find the Mandala of Sand, I'll bring the materials to the alchemist immediately."
"Alright."
Without hesitation, Hai Bodong retrieved several alchemical ingredients from his storage ring, along with an old, yellowed parchment scroll.
Glancing through the recipe, Ye Chen quickly grasped its properties.
"Grade Six Pill.....capable of dissolving most seals.
After consumption, it grants resistance against similar sealing energies, giving a chance to nullify them in the future."
"Grand Elder, I'll be setting off now," Ye Chen said as he put away the items.
"Little one, be sure to return safely!"
Watching Ye Chen's departing figure, Hai Bodong silently prayed.
The youth's appearance had changed something within him.
After decades of isolation, he had grown weary of solitude.
Powerless and sealed, he lacked the courage to face his old friends again.
But now, because of Ye Chen, hope had once again been reignited within his heart.
After parting ways with Hai Bodong, Ye Chen didn't linger long in the desert city.
Following the markings on the map, he flew straight toward his next destination.....Stone Desert City.
The boundless expanse of the desert stretched endlessly beneath him.
Winds howled, and the scorching heat would have been unbearable to ordinary travelers. But Ye Chen had no such concern.
At that moment, he reclined leisurely upon the back of his Purple Demon Condor.
A small table before him held an assortment of fruits, while beside him sat Xiao Xun'er...her attire light and alluring, attending to him with gentle grace. It was a scene of pure indulgence.
"Master," a calm, aged voice suddenly sounded from within the soul banner, "many years ago, I too ventured into the Tagore Desert in search of a Heavenly Flame.
Though I failed to find one, I did....
"Enough, Yao Chen." Ye Chen waved his hand impatiently, his gaze sweeping across the golden dunes below.
"When I haven't asked for your input, don't go lecturing me."
"Yes, Master."
The old man's voice fell silent, subdued by Ye Chen's tone.
"Master, have a grape," Xiao Xun'er said softly.
Her delicate jade fingers peeled a plump, translucent grape and held it gently to Ye Chen's lips.
He opened his mouth slightly, allowing her to feed him.
"Where are we going next, Master?" she asked sweetly, her voice tinged with a playful tone.
Chewing slowly, Ye Chen spat a few seeds into her outstretched palm and replied casually, "Stone Desert City. We're heading to the Mo Iron Mercenary Group."
"The Mo Iron Mercenary Group…"
For a moment, surprise flickered across Xiao Xun'er's beautiful face.
She had heard of that group before.....founded by Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, the two brothers of the Xiao Clan. To hear that Ye Chen intended to go there naturally startled her.
Noticing the fleeting change in her expression, Ye Chen chuckled. "You're worried I'll cause trouble for Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, aren't you?"
"N-no, of course not!" she stammered, shaking her head. "Why would I be worried about them?"
Ye Chen smiled faintly, his hand brushing across her smooth, delicate cheek. "Don't worry. They haven't offended me. I have no reason to harm them."
"Master, I'll peel you another fruit," she murmured, lowering her gaze.
As she bent gracefully to reach for the grapes, the silk of her thin dress clung to her curves.
The faint glimpse of her fair, soft skin made Ye Chen's eyes darken with desire.
"What fruit?" he whispered with a smirk. "The only thing I want to taste right now… is you."
With a sudden motion, his hand slipped around her slender waist from behind, drawing her close...
As they ventured deeper into the desert, human figures became rarer. Occasionally, snake-people appeared slithering across the dunes, and sometimes, violent clashes between humans and serpents erupted amidst the sands.
Ye Chen ignored such matters entirely.
However, the massive shadow cast by his Purple Demon Condor often startled those below.
On more than one occasion, battles halted mid-fight as both sides fled in terror at the beast's passing.
"Wh-what in the world was that just now!?"
On a tall dune, a woman holding a gleaming sword panted heavily, her heart still racing.
Her outfit was striking...short and bold, barely covering her chest and lower torso.
Her bronze-toned midriff was bare to the sun, and beneath her short leather skirt, long, toned legs gleamed with sweat.
Fear still lingered in her eyes, her chest heaving violently from the shock.
Several mercenaries stood nearby, equally shaken as they stared toward the distant sky.
"Let's head back," the woman finally ordered after regaining her composure. "Report this to the two captains immediately."
After several days of travel, Ye Chen finally caught sight of his destination.....the massive city of Stone Desert, sitting like a fortress at the eastern edge of the Tagore Desert.
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