As he still had several hundred meters to go before reaching the city, Xiao Yan gradually slowed his flight speed. His body slightly trembled, and the purple cloud wings behind him emitted阵阵 faint purple light, gradually contracting until they settled as tattoos on his back. After a graceful flip in midair, Xiao Yan firmly planted his feet on the ground. He lightly brushed off some dust from his clothes and then looked up at the vast yellow city appearing at the horizon, smiling gently and exhaling a deep breath of relief. Due to the proximity to the desert, the weather here was notably dry and hot; the intense sunlight poured down from the sky, baking the ground beneath so that a steady wave of warm, oppressive heat rose upward, slightly distorting and blurring the clarity of the view. By common sense, in such an absolutely unfavorable environment, one should hardly feel any sense of ease. Yet Xiao Yan was somewhat astonished to discover that since he stepped onto this land, his flowing purple flame qi had grown notably more vibrant and lively. Gently surprised, Xiao Yan extended his hands and plucked at the space before him several times, then bit his lips before finally speaking with a clear realization: "It makes sense—the air here is nearly eighty percent composed of earth and fire energy..." "Indeed, due to the terrain, the Tago尔 Desert is especially suited for practitioners of earth and fire-based techniques. And your purple flame, being particularly linked to the sun's radiance, naturally becomes more sensitive than ordinary people." A soft, gentle laugh emanated from within the ring. "That is precisely why I sent you to meditate and train in the desert. The conditions here are harsh, and no setting is more naturally suited to refine a person." Nodding slightly, Xiao Yan exhaled softly, smoothed the exquisite, art-like robe of a master alchemist on his body, and then stepped forward, slowly making his way toward the already near yellow-hued city. As the city drew near, the number of pedestrians grew steadily. Most of the men wore only their bare chests, their skin dark and well-conditioned, giving off an air of boldness and vigor. Occasionally, women passed by—though their skin was also slightly darker, it carried a more sensual, bronze tone. Unlike women within the empire, who tended to be reserved and delicate, these women were more confident and expressive. A fitted leather dress merely covered their chests and a little below, leaving their slender waists fully exposed. Their long, toned legs were only partially draped in short skirts or shorts. As they walked, their fluid, sinuous waists swayed gracefully, exuding a captivating charm and allure. On the journey thus far, Xiao Yan had been treated to a wealth of sights. Sipping his thoughts, he looked up at the yellow city now clearly visible in scale. Above the city gates, two large, pale red characters were carved into the city walls—so vividly rendered that from a distance, they seemed to carry a faint sense of bloodiness. "Mo City..." he murmured softly, smiled, and slowly made his way toward the city gate. At the gate, several soldiers in armor were holding long spears and urging pedestrians entering the city to pay their entry taxes. Observing their unwavering dedication despite the heat, Xiao Yan was slightly astonished—the defense here seemed even more rigorous than that of Black Rock City, a major urban center. Perhaps due to the sweltering weather, the guards themselves were growing restless. They issued sharp, unyielding commands, constantly urging the pedestrians at the gate to move. Heading toward the city gate, listening to the shouts and complaints from the soldiers, Xiao Yan slightly furrowed his brows, shook his head, and then walked straight into the city. In the Kamah Empire, pharmacists were nearly treated as nobility—entry fees at city gates were routinely waived by the empire. Although a pharmacist wouldn't mind such a small sum, the prestige and dignity it afforded them were genuinely appreciated. "Hey, kid! Didn't see that it said to pay—" One soldier stared at Xiao Yan, who was walking in with complete disregard, his eyes widening as he watched him pass. But before he could finish his complaint, his gaze caught the refined pharmacist's robe Xiao Yan wore. Instantly, the words that had formed in his mouth were swallowed, and his scowling expression transformed into a smooth, deferential smile. "Sir, are you entering the city?" "Yes." "His steps didn't cease. Xiao Yan slowly walked toward the soldier, gave him a quiet glance, and then passed by him—his foot slightly trembling—without a word, continuing on his way toward the city center. 'Gurrr...' Seeing that Xiao Yan had ignored his earlier offense, the soldier felt a wave of relief, swallowed hard, and promptly turned to bow respectfully, saying, 'Sir, the serpent people in the Tagoor Great Desert have recently been restless. If you plan to leave the city, you'd better take care.' Xiao Yan's pace slowed slightly upon receiving this unexpected news, nodded gently, and then gradually disappeared into the darkness of the city wall passage. 'Damn it! I was on the verge of being done in. If the higher-ups find out I've offended a Second-Rank Alchemist, they'll surely send me out to be fed to the dogs!' Watching Xiang Yan's retreating figure, the soldier finally exhaled deeply, wiped away a sheaf of sweat, and returned to his post. Perhaps due to the earlier shock, he now remained calmer, no longer hurling sharp complaints at pedestrians entering the city. ... Stepping slowly out of the dimly lit city gate passage, the view brightened, revealing a cityscape distinctly characteristic of the desert. The odd-looking buildings, one after another, left Xiang Yan genuinely impressed. Standing on the street, he scanned the bustling crowd, then, after a moment, asked himself in surprise, "Master, where should we go now? Should we simply head straight into the Tago尔 Desert?" "If you keep wandering around aimlessly like this, even if you avoid sandstorms, you'll eventually perish from lack of water," came the weary voice of Yao Lao from within his ring. Smiling slightly awkwardly, Xiao Yan cleared his throat and said, "I've never been to the desert before... So, what should we do next?" "First, purchase the most accurate map of the Togor Great Desert. There should be a shop in this city specializing in maps—this is crucial. Also, make sure to stock up on ample water supplies. And, while you're at it, visit the herb shop here and buy some antivenom medications. The snake people in the Togor Great Desert are particularly skilled at summoning venomous snakes to attack. Better to be safe than sorry," the elderly herbalist said, pondering. "Have everything ready—today we won't be able to head straight into the Tagor Great Desert immediately. So we'll spend the night in the city. Oh, by the way, the Huagai Dan in your hands has been used up. It's an essential item during cultivation, but fortunately, I gathered sufficient medicinal herbs during my last trip to the small valley in the Wuguo Mountain range. I'll take the time tonight to prepare a batch for you. Once that's done, we'll set off into the Tagor Great Desert early tomorrow morning." Listening to the one after another items being mentioned by the elderly pharmacist, Xiao Yan nodded helplessly, sighed, and then casually pulled over a passerby to inquire about a shop selling desert maps. Initially, the passerby had shown a slight degree of impatience, but upon seeing the pharmacist's insignia on Xiao Yan's chest, that impatience quickly faded, and he became extremely courteous, clearly guiding Xiao Yan to the shop's location. Even as Xiao Yan thanked him and prepared to leave, the man warmly provided an estimate of the map's price. After thanking the passerby, Xiao Yan gently touched the Pharmacist's Badge on his chest and slightly shook his head, murmuring a quiet appreciation—indeed, this identity proved to be incredibly useful. With a thought, he swiftly turned the corner and headed toward the renowned map shop the passerby had mentioned—the one known as "Gu Tu." After walking steadily for a while, the map shop named "Gu Tu" came into view. As he glanced around the exterior, Xiao Yan was slightly surprised: unlike other establishments that were grand and showy, this one seemed to carry a subtle, ancient charm. With a touch of wonder, he stepped inside. The interior was not particularly spacious, and the soft glow from two moonstone lamps illuminated the space warmly. As he surveyed the shop, he noticed that few people were browsing or purchasing maps—its quiet, sparse atmosphere made him momentarily question whether he had gone to the wrong place. Stepping slowly into the shop, Xiao Yan glanced around, finally settling his gaze on an elderly man who was intently working at the counter, carefully drawing maps. The man clearly was quite old, though his hair was completely white; yet the dry, weathered hands gripping his black drawing pen remained steady and strong. Without disturbing him, Xiao Yan scanned the numerous maps displayed on the counter, picked one up, and turned it over several times with growing interest. The clear, well-defined routes on the maps earned him a satisfied nod. Observing the man still working without any sign of finishing, Xiao Yan pursed his lips and then slowly moved toward a corner of the shop, where an ancient wooden shelf stood. The shelf appeared old and worn, with numerous holes in the wood, and on top of it, a few yellowed maps were casually stacked. Examining the maps, one could see signs of wear and tear—seeming to be earlier drafts or failed attempts during the map-making process. He casually flipped through these yellowed maps, a faint musty odor brushing against his face. With a slightly furrowed brow, Xiao Yan picked up a stack of unsuccessful works, his hands trembling slightly. Suddenly, from among them, a fragmented image—only palm-sized—fell out. He didn't pay much attention to it at first. After briefly reviewing the works in his hands, he idly placed the stack back. As he did so, his gaze lazily swept over the small, weathered image. His eyes blinked once—then, as his hand paused mid-motion, suddenly froze. "This..." With careful, slightly trembling fingers, he gently picked up the fragile image. For the first time, he could clearly feel the rapid thudding of his heartbeat. He swallowed hard, holding the ancient, slightly worn image in his hands, his eyes glowing with a mix of excitement and wonder, scanning the mysterious route etched upon it with careful attention.