At the junction between the desert and the land, occasionally a few sprigs of green grass dot the scene, scattered and sparse, yet clearly more pleasing than the monotonous golden sands found deep within the desert. As this area nears the desert's edge, one can sometimes spot travelers passing by or small bands of mercenaries returning from hunts in the desert. At this transitional zone, figures dressed in black move steadily and unhurriedly, each carrying a long black measuring rod balanced at their height. This unusual combination draws consistent, curious glances from the passing pedestrians. Yet the astonished glances cast by those around him went unnoticed by the young boy in black. He walked steadily along the solid pavement, though his pace seemed neither swift nor hurried. Careful observers, however, would notice that each step he took was measured with precision, the distance between steps consistently uniform. The blazing sun high in the sky failed to cause a single bead of sweat to appear on his forehead. His relaxed, unhurried gait suggested he was not in a hurry, but rather enjoying the journey—savoring the scenery along the way. This measured pace continued nearly all day. Only when the intense sunlight began to sink below the horizon of the desert did he finally pause, lifting his gaze to the vast city emerging at the horizon, a gentle smile playing upon his delicate features. With a lazy stretch, Xiao Yan listened to the crisp sounds within his bones, smiled lightly, and then extended his palms into the sleeves of his robe, smiling, "Mo City—finally here we are." "Master, are we really going to prepare pills for that man?" Standing atop a dune, Xiao Yan looked at the bustling city gate in the distance, slightly furrowed in thought, speaking softly. The man he referred to was the hermit he had met by chance in Mo City—the former Ice Emperor of the Gamma Empire, one of the Ten Most Powerful, Hai Bo Dong. "Hmm," came the warm, elderly laughter from within his ring, "Why not? Since we've come this far, why not take a convenient opportunity to secure a favor from a Duke-level cultivator? Besides, don't you want the remaining fragments of the map as well?" Though now you have acquired a unique type of fire that can support your cultivation, upgrading your techniques will become increasingly difficult. Moreover, the Pure Lotus Immortal Fire is no ordinary thing—should you obtain it, few on this Continent would dare to underestimate you. "Yet, I still feel that person isn't particularly content or settled." Xiao Yan spread his hands, saying. "Hehe, what can one do if he's restless? Even if he regains his strength, he'll only reach the level of a Battle Emperor—how could he possibly pose a serious threat to us?" Yao Lao smiled calmly. "Still, one must always remain vigilant. We're not delicate or easy to handle. For safety's sake, we should certainly implement some protective measures. I've mentioned this before—when preparing pills, I'll incorporate certain auxiliary ingredients. If he has no ill intentions, everything will proceed smoothly. But should he truly harbor any hidden schemes, we won't hesitate to take action." "Heard that, Xiao Yan smiled slightly and nodded gently, speaking softly, 'That sounds good. Then I'll follow the teacher's advice. If we can indeed secure the favor of a Cultivator at the level of Sovereign, that would be quite beneficial—especially for our journey to Yunlan Sect two months from now. Though I'm not overly concerned about the final battle against Na Lan Yanran, should I ultimately prevail, the elder members of Yunlan Sect might grow furious and seek to strike against me. In that case, the Ice Sovereign would serve as a most reliable guardian.' 'Haha,' the old pharmacist chuckled, 'The master of alchemy is particularly skilled at building networks of relationships. Didn't you notice the fierce competition for the rare flames this time? With the strength of the Dan King, Guo He, it was simply impossible for him to reach the heart of the desert. Yet he managed to invite so many powerful allies, and ended up causing the Serpent People to be in a state of chaos.' Nodding in agreement, Xiao Yan lightly tapped his back against the Xuan Zhong Chi, then began walking steadily toward the large city situated at the edge of the desert." … Smoothly entering the city, Xiao Yan stood on the street, surveying the surroundings, and followed the route etched in his memory toward the end of the street. After a while, he stopped at the door of an ancient, modest map shop situated at the very end. The shop, perhaps due to the evening light, had its main door slightly ajar, with a soft glow filtering through the crevice and illuminating Xiao Yan. Standing at the entrance, Xiao Yan gazed at the gently open door, feeling a quiet sense of admiration—unfortunately, he had only stumbled haphazardly through the city, yet here he now found himself encountering a hermit of Supreme Realm strength. Such a turn of events had truly surprised him. Turning his head slightly, he scanned the quieter street, then quietly pushed open the door, stepped inside, and closed it firmly behind him. Inside the shop, a moonstone emitted a gentle, soft light—warm yet not glaring—casting a bright, inviting atmosphere throughout the space. The arrangement remained exactly as before. The damage caused during the last battle had been perfectly restored. Behind the counter, piled high with maps, an elderly man was intently crafting maps in his hands, so absorbed was he that he failed to notice Xiao Yan's quiet approach. Inside the shop, four others were browsing maps—three men and one woman, all dressed in elegant attire. Behind them stood several sturdy, well-built men, respectfully standing at attention. When Xiao Yan entered, they had glanced over briefly, but upon seeing his dusty, weathered appearance, they turned back and resumed their leisurely selection of maps before them. As the four turned around, Xiao Yan's gaze skipped over their faces. The three men were quite well-looking, though a subtle air of arrogance lingered in their eyes, somewhat diminishing their overall impression. The other woman wore a tight, red long dress, appearing particularly graceful and elegant; her figure, accentuated by the red fabric, was also slender and refined. Occasionally, the three men would glance at her alluring back, their eyes flickering with admiration and longing. Yet beneath that admiration, there seemed to be a quiet sense of reserve and even caution toward her. Xiao Yan paid no attention to this slightly unusual group, instead sweeping his gaze over the elder and then slowly making his way to the counter, where he casually picked up a scroll of maps and flipped through it with a relaxed demeanor. Hearing the sound of the map being turned, the elder's ink brush, flowing smoothly across the map, paused slightly. Yet, as always, he did not lift his gaze, merely saying, "Sorry, our shop has closed today. If you'd like to purchase a map, please come back tomorrow." Hearing this consistent coldness from the elder, Xiao Yan shook his head in mild frustration—what a stiff old man this was. Just as he was about to speak, two sturdy men suddenly stepped in front of him, their hands firmly gripping their weapons, their faces glowing with determination. "Huh?" The sudden development left Xiao Yan momentarily stunned. He hadn't said a word—had he perhaps offended someone? With a puzzled shake of his head, he turned his gaze toward the red-clad woman, who seemed to hold a position of some importance in the city. "Master Bing prefers to work undisturbed when creating maps, so could you kindly step out for a moment?" The gracefully beautiful woman in red approached slowly, speaking softly. Though her voice was gentle, there was a clear undercurrent of authority and stubbornness. "Could it be that these people also know his identity?" Seeing the woman so genuinely concerned for Hai Bo Dong, Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned, his mind filled with surprise. In contrast to Xiao Yan's astonishment, the woman in red felt somewhat frustrated. Her father had always told her that the elderly man at the map shop was an exceptionally powerful figure. Therefore, whenever she had time, he would often send his beloved daughter to visit him, making sure to show her utmost care and attention, doing everything in her power to provide the best possible service. Yet, the old man seemed entirely ungrateful—each time she came, it was as if she were warming a cold back. This constant sense of being ignored was particularly difficult for the proud woman to bear. Though often overlooked, the red-dress woman deeply trusted her father. On one occasion, she had faintly sensed the terrifying aura that the elder unintentionally radiated—under that presence, she realized she could only tremble. Thus, despite the elder's consistently cold demeanor, she had always treated him with the utmost respect. Her ever-submissive, meek demeanor often left her companions in awe—how could this once-impetuous, unruly magic woman, who used to make Mò City a scene of chaos, now appear so humble and obedient? Today, as always, she came to the shop to assist her father. As expected, the elder remained as indifferent as ever—having glanced at her upon arrival, he promptly focused his attention on the map and showed no further interest in them. Given the impetuous nature of the red-dress woman, being treated thus inevitably stirred a quiet resentment within her. Yet, she could not direct this frustration toward the elder, and just then, Xiao Yan, who had entered unexpectedly, seemed perfectly suited to become her outlet for complaints. Ignoring the sharp, impatient cries of the woman, Xiao Yan glanced at her casually, set his map down on the counter, and with a slight tilt of his body, slipped past the protective stance of the two large men. Observing that Xiao Yan not only failed to heed her instructions to leave but instead advanced further, the red-dress woman raised her brows with a touch of warning, lifted her snowy chin, and immediately, several of the surrounding men stepped forward with menacing expressions, encircling Xiao Yan. With her arms crossed over her chest, she watched Xiao Yan with a hint of amusement, but as she prepared to see him flinch or beg for mercy, Xiao Yan executed a move that left her utterly astonished. To everyone's sight, Xiao Yan reached out and pulled a map, then slammed it hard toward the elder, who held a position of great reverence in the woman's heart. As he slammed it, he muttered, "Old man, you're still acting cold—do you really want to keep making me wait for your herbal medicine?"