Amidst the desert, a sharp sonic boom resonated through the void. At the very instant it erupted, a silhouette materialized, paused briefly, and reappeared hundreds of meters away. As this first shadow vanished, a second black figure swiftly followed. This second figure glided through the air with the grace of a floating willow leaf, its flowing movements blending speed and elegance in perfect harmony—extremely pleasing to the eye. This second figure surpassed the first in speed; each time it surged forward, a faint afterimage remained in place, gradually fading under the sunlight. Along its swift journey, at one point, up to eight such afterimages hovered simultaneously in the sky—testifying to the astonishing velocity of this black figure. As one fled and one pursued, Xiao Yan's form gradually diminished into a small black dot within the black-robed figure's sight. A gentle lift of her gaze, she watched the black-robed figure riding a swiftly moving jade lotus platform ahead. The black-robed figure furrowed her brows slightly, murmuring with mild curiosity from beneath her robe: "This person's speed is truly unusual. During flight, there is no outward surge of ki at all—such flawless control is exceptionally rare. Why have I never heard of such a master emerging near the Tago尔 Desert? This level of speed surpasses even many High King-level warriors. If it weren't for my own 'Wind-Whisked Residual Shadow' technique, a technique that enhances speed, I would have found it impossible to close the distance. Even with that, I still find myself consistently falling short." Her slender, elegant brows beneath the robe grew increasingly furrowed, reflecting the depth of her bewilderment. "We can't keep dragging any longer—what if a sandstorm sweeps through the desert and we lose our target?..." With a slow exhalation, releasing a fragrance like orchids, the cloaked figure drew out two snow-white jade hands from his black robe and gently formed hand seals, murmuring softly, "At five hundred meters, we can strike. Now, just a little more—let's accelerate." As the words settled, the cloaked figure lightly tapped the void with his foot, gracefully rotating in midair, leaving a faint afterimage behind. His physical form then vanished, reappearing several dozen meters away. The old physician sighed lightly, then teased, "I think that black-robed man has a certain fondness for you. Otherwise, why not try whether she'll show mercy again?" "Certainly not," coughed Xiāo Yīn. "Last time, perhaps she merely felt pity for this pitiful creature of mine. This time, however, it's different. The strange fire—its allure is simply overwhelming. I've never met her before, and unless her mind has been crushed by the door, I believe she'll be quite decisive in eliminating me—without a single hesitation." Hearing this, Xiao Yin managed a dry laugh, just as he was about to urge the old physician to speed up, when suddenly his heart tightened, and all the hairs on his body stood on end. "Watch out!" "Wind spiraling the wall!" A faint, cool voice and the elderly physician's urgent exclamation suddenly rang out sharply, then as the voices faded, the space some fifty meters ahead of Xiao Yan abruptly warped, taking shape into a solid wall formed entirely of swirling wind. Upon the wall, countless wind blades spun wildly—anyone who collided head-on would likely be sliced into thin strips of flesh instantly. The shock in his heart left Xiao Yan's face pale. As his body was only a few meters away from the wind blade wall, a dense, silvery flame suddenly surged forth from within him, and his form seemed instantly pinned to the spot—rigid and motionless. Suspended in midair, Xiao Yan's lips trembled slightly. Before him, just a few centimeters away, the massive wind blade wall was grinding against itself like a blender, producing a continuous, sharp clashing sound—frighteningly intense. Droplets of cold sweat rolled down his forehead. His voice, still trembling, came out in a strained whisper: "He... damn it... this is too ruthless." "Hand over the unique flame. I don't know who you are, but to have offended a sixth-rank alchemist is no wise move at all." A calm, clear voice slowly echoed from behind, slightly breathless, as though the sudden move had taken her by surprise. "Ah, Master, get ready to fight your hardest," Xiang Yan sighed, realizing that their escape plan had failed—now, they would have to face the most intense head-on battle. "Ah, I'll do my best," the Ye-Lao sighed, with a touch of resignation. "As always, when fighting a Duke-level warrior, I can guarantee your life, but I can't promise the unique flames." Xiang Yan chuckled softly, saying, "If I'm gone, what good will more flames do? Let's focus first on staying alive." "Holding the Qinglian seat in his palms, Xiao Yan gazed at the flames at the heart of the lotus, and with a light exhalation—his voice slightly hoarse from the prolonged flight—he said, 'Alright, you've won. Take the items.' As he spoke, he casually tossed the Qinglian seat behind him. At the very moment it left his hands, Xiao Yan suddenly planted his foot into the void, his back wings flapping wildly, and his body surged forward, crashing down to the ground. "Land with a thud. Xiao Yan waved his hand, and the Qinglian seat settled back into his grasp. He chuckled, didn't turn around, and with a powerful flap of his wings, a surge of yellow sand erupted from the ground, swiftly spreading to fill the entire sky and land. Floating in midair, the black-robed figure stared coldly at the rising sand that obscured his view, emitting a low, dismissive hum. He paid no attention to the swirling dust, swiftly scanning the area beneath it with his eyes. With a swift motion, he formed hand seals and murmured, 'Four Wind Walls!' As soon as he finished speaking, four massive wind walls materialized suddenly, completely enclosing a radius of nearly a hundred meters around him." At the very moment the wind barrier materialized, Xiao Yan, who had been trying to escape by hiding behind the yellow sand, instantly halted, gazing呆ly at the massive wind barrier several meters away. After a long pause, he chuckled weakly, "This truly means we're going to have to fight hard. This person is too calm—how could he have so quickly chosen the most effective interception strategy?" "Sir, my patience is limited. You're already approaching my limits." A slightly cold, calm voice resonated once more from above. The cloaked figure coldly glanced at the black-robed figure, then slowly descended to the ground. In his slender left hand, a tangible, small whirlwind spun playfully, releasing powerful gusts of energy. With a gentle flick of his right hand, a long sword of an unusual appearance, glowing faintly with a soft blue light, materialized before him. "Oh…" Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yan gently knelt down and carefully placed Qinglian upon the dune. With a slow inhalation, the weary, defeated expression on his refined face gradually faded, replaced by a stern, resolute determination—fierce, almost desperate, as if he had finally been pushed to the brink. Rising to his feet, he slowly turned to face the enigmatic Du Phong warrior directly for the first time. With a light gesture, he brushed his fingers over his storage ring, revealing the massive, dark, heavy jade ruler that now glimmered in his palm. Holding the ruler tightly, he drove it firmly into the sand dune, then gave a slight shrug to the black-robed figure, smiling, "Looking at my appearance, you should be surprised, right? The young man you casually rescued from the desert—now he's the one who's been giving you the most trouble." "Surprised... truly astonishing, to the point of shock. At the very moment Xiao Yan turned around, the figure in the black robe suddenly stiffened. The pair of beautiful eyes beneath the robe were filled with astonishment, gazing at the serene, elegant face smiling gently. She hadn't expected that someone who had nearly caused their entire mission to fail—someone who had almost brought their entire party to ruin—would be this young girl. This wasn't just surprise—it was as if struck by a thunderbolt. 'Ah...' beneath the robe, the figure's chest heaved noticeably, and she exhaled a long, steady breath. Her voice still carried a touch of disbelief as she murmured softly, 'How could it be you? How could it be you?' Hearing the repeated words from the figure in black, Xiao Yan tilted his head slightly, glanced at the strange fire beside him, and sighed, 'I'm sorry. I really need it, so...' 'Didn't I tell you to return? What are you doing still wandering around in the desert?' "Below the dark robe, the woman's voice suddenly carried a touch of irritation. 'Er...' Stunned by the black-robed man's demeanor, Xiao Yan found himself both amused and exasperated. He shook his head and said, 'Madam, I came to the desert specifically in search of heterofires. Moreover, I've long known that Queen Medusa holds the very things I need. So, why should I be leaving?' 'The heterofires are currently in my possession. If you wish me to hand them over, then go ahead and take them yourself—though I assure you, I won't relinquish them easily!' With a sudden flourish, Xiao Yan raised his heavy staff, pointing directly at the dark-robed figure, and smiled with a bold air. 'You...' Seeing Xiao Yan's boldness, the dark-robed man was genuinely taken aback. It had only been half a year since they last saw each other, and yet here he was, daring to challenge him directly? Beneath the black robe, a pair of eyes sparkling with both irritation and delight watched Xiao Yan, who was solemnly challenging him. After a long pause, she shook her head with a sigh, gradually drawing back the qi from her delicate fingers. She simply couldn't bring herself to act against him. "Ah, what a pity..." she thought internally, her youthful, beautiful face now tinged with a soft blush. With a helpless shake of her head and a restless hand, she hesitated for a long time, growing increasingly agitated, until, despite her usual composure and grace, she finally snapped, "Get out! Get out! Take the Heterogeneous Flame and go—just treat today as if I hadn't caught up with you!" "Huh?" Xiao Yan's reaction was even more unexpected, leaving him momentarily stunned. Only after a while did he dare to voice, still in disbelief, "You... you're not going to keep the Heterogeneous Flame anymore?" "I don't have a great obligation to assist Guo He with much more than this. This journey of escorting them into the desert has already been the extent of my duty." "The cloaked figure spoke calmly, then suddenly turned her head toward the sky behind her, before turning and walking away. "Still staring at the cloaked figure who had just walked off, Xiao Yan suddenly asked, 'Where are you going?' The cloaked figure paused slightly, remained silent for a moment, then spoke softly, 'There are pursuers coming. You go first—I'll hold them off.' 'Wait a minute... Sister, are you sure your head isn't crushed by the door? Are you related to me by blood? Like, my aunt?' Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel exasperated by the woman's odd behavior and shouted out loud. 'Get out of my way!' As Xiao Yan spoke, a sharp tone of embarrassment and anger erupted from beneath the cloak. With a sweeping motion of her sleeve, a jet of yellow sand shot directly toward Xiao Yan, bursting with a loud crash just before it reached his head, showering him with fine sand." Immediately brushing away the yellow sand, Xiao Yan's gaze swept toward the graceful, alluring silhouette, even though it was partially concealed by the large black robe. He sighed in confusion, then bent down, supporting the Qinglian seat with the palms of his hands. Suddenly, as though remembering something, his body stiffened abruptly, and he lifted his head, his eyes fixed intently on the strange long sword glowing with a jade-like light in the black-robed figure's hands. Gradually, the black-robed figure began to merge in his mind with the elegant, majestic form that had once dared to challenge the Purple Crystal Wing Lion King—two forms now perfectly unified, indistinguishable from one another. Within his mind, as if a thunderbolt had cleared away thick layers of mist, a refined name, one that had remained vivid and unforgettable in his memory, slowly emerged from the depths. Finally, it settled firmly, like an imprint, deeply engraved upon his consciousness. With this name emerging, the previously rather foolish and endearing gestures of the black-robed figure now caused a slight blush to rise on Xiao Yan's nose. "Yunzhi! Is that you? Haha, I love you to pieces! Haha!" The boy's vibrant, triumphant laughter, suddenly carried by the gusting wind, reached the black-robed figure as he turned to walk away. At that moment, the figure's delicate frame instantly stiffened, her slender body swaying gracefully in the wind, like a beautiful peony—elegant and noble.