Chapter 96: Chapter 96: I Want It

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    Xiao Yan''s next destination was Rock Desert City. His two older brothers had established their own mercenary company there.

    A warm smile slowly appeared on his face as he recalled the joyful times of his childhood.

    ''I wonder why Big Brother and Second Brother sent a message home telling me to visit Rock Desert City. I hope it''s not because of some ignorant fool.'' A dangerous glint flashed through Xiao Yan''s eyes.

    A blood-red light streaked across the sky, leaving a long trail of fire in its wake.

    Originally, Xiao Yan had planned to take a flying magical beast from Black Rock City, the closest major city to Qingshan Town, to Rock Desert City. He would also get his alchemist badge while there.

    However, after considering it further, he decided to rely on his own strength to fly to Rock Desert City. As for the alchemist badge, forget it. He was afraid there wouldn''t be anyone in Black Rock City capable of assessing him.

    With the wisdom gained from living two lifetimes, Xiao Yan had not only thoroughly studied the vast amount of alchemy techniques, pill recipes, and ancient books within his storage ring, but he had also secretly learned some of Hun Huzi''s alchemy methods. Additionally, he had harnessed the power of Heavenly Flames and possessed the Spiritual Strength of a 5th- tier alchemist.

    He was certainly not an ordinary 4th-tier alchemist.

    The strongest alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire, Pill King Gu He, was only at the 6th tier. Even the best alchemist in Black Rock City might not be Xiao Yan''s match.

    Taking the test there would feel more like showing off.

    Originally, only Dou Spirits could glide for short distances. However, not only could Xiao Yan fly with his Eagle Wings, but after his Qi Method evolved to the High Xuan Class, both the quality and quantity of his Dou Qi took a tremendous leap.

    High Xuan Class Qi Methods were not something an average advanced Dou Spirit would possess, let alone the fact that Xiao Yan''s Flame Mantra was no ordinary Xuan Class Qi Method. Possessing the power of Heavenly Flames, the purity of his fire-attribute Dou Qi was simply astonishing.

    Throughout the entire flight, every time his Dou Qi was depleted, he would cultivate and replenish it through the circulation of the Flame Mantra.

    Even though the Hidden Spirit Pill had solidified his Dou Qi, he still felt uneasy. Therefore, by repeatedly consuming his Dou Qi to the limit before circulating his Qi Method, he aimed to eliminate any unstable Dou Qi.

    ''So this is Desert City, quite prosperous.'' Xiao Yan saw a massive city built upon a stretch of yellow sand while he was still several thousand meters away.

    Desert City was the only large city in the Tager Desert. All mercenary companies heading into the Tager Desert to search for treasure would trade for supplies here. Those in need of precious materials produced in the desert would come here to purchase them.

    However, the most famous commodity in Desert City was not medicinal ingredients, but Snake-Woman slaves. The Dou Qi Continent was a world where the strong were respected, and the weak had no human rights to speak of.

    Although the Jia Ma Empire did not support human trafficking, enough money could buy anything.

    Perhaps it was due to the desert, but the weather here was quite dry and hot. The scorching sun shone down from the sky, baking the earth below and causing it to constantly emit a suffocating heat. That heat slowly rose, causing people''s vision to become somewhat distorted and blurry.

    Xiao Yan didn''t linger for long. He spread his wings with a whooshing sound and planned to fly over Desert City, traversing the desert to reach Rock Desert City, where Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were located.

    Although called a city, Rock Desert City was actually much smaller than Desert City, more like a town built on a desert oasis that served as a temporary gathering place for mercenary

    companies.

    "Oh? What organization are you from?"

    "That''s not something you need to concern yourself with, old sir."

    After a moment of silence, the old man said indifferently, "This map fragment is not for sale. Don''t even think about snatching my map. It will not end well for you."

    The old man slowly lowered his head and once again immersed himself in the unfinished map as soon as he finished speaking. Although his tone was calm, it left no room for argument. The map fragment of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame lay quietly in Xiao Yan''s palm. After

    a moment of silence, Xiao Yan smiled faintly, his five fingers slowly closing, grasping the map fragment in his hand.

    He wanted this map fragment! And not even a god could stop him!

    The door slammed shut with a ''bang'' just as Xiao Yan''s five fingers closed around the map

    fragment. The old man suddenly erupted with an extremely strong force of icy energy as his ice attribute Dou Qi burst forth from his body.

    An extremely cold aura instantly engulfed Xiao Yan, turning him into an ice sculpture in a

    matter of seconds.

    Xiao Yan''s name should imply a feud with ice, as he often found himself turned into an ice

    sculpture.

    The old man''s eyes remained indifferent, showing no change of emotion from killing

    someone. "I told you, it will not end well for you."

    Sizzle sizzle!

    Suddenly! A sound came from within the ice sculpture. Terrifying fire-attribute energy

    seemed to be awakening. The ice, which should have been impossible to melt with ordinary flames, was rapidly melting, wisps of white vapor rising!

    Countless ice shards splattered with a thunderous explosion, and the white vapor dissipated.

    The blood-red Ten Thousand Beast Flame enveloped Xiao Yan''s entire body, his black pupils

    transforming into a pair of blood-red beast eyes.

    Beast Transformation State!

    "I apologize, old sir. But if you only have the strength of a Dou Spirit, I''m afraid I''ll be taking

    this map fragment with me."

    The people from the Hall of Souls just love to snatch things!