Shen Haoran slowly descended, then called Shui Ruolan, Long Mo, Zi Mo, and the others into a Cultivation Room.

"Boss, what is it? Do you have any orders for us? Just say the word, and I guarantee I’ll get it done!" Zi Mo said, patting his chest. He could tell from Shen Haoran’s expression that he had something to say.

"I do have orders, so listen carefully. Today, I’ll be leaving the Five Elements Sect to go to the Northern Desert Land," Shen Haoran said with a smile, his gaze sweeping over everyone.

"The Northern Desert Land? Boss, who are you taking with you? Take me! I’m strong, I can clear the way for you!" Zi Mo laughed heartily.

"Take you? All you know how to do on the road is eat. What else are you good for? You’d be better off taking me. I’m clever and can do anything!" Long Zhen said, rolling his eyes at Zi Mo.

"Hey, you little brat! Feeling bold now, are you? You dare to badmouth your Grandmaster Zi?" Zi Mo said to Long Zhen, rolling up his sleeves.

"You think I’m scared of you, you damned Fatty?" Long Zhen’s eyes widened as he retorted defiantly.

"Alright, you two. Let Brother Shen finish speaking!" Shui Ruolan said, helplessly rubbing her smooth forehead as she watched the two jokers.

Upon hearing this, Zi Mo and Long Zhen snorted coldly at each other and turned back to face Shen Haoran.

Shen Haoran chuckled lightly and then said, "This time, I don’t plan on taking any of you."

"Huh?" Hearing this, everyone was stunned and confused.

"Brother Shen, I’ve heard of that Desert Land. It’s incredibly dangerous. Are you really planning to go in alone?" Shui Ruolan asked, her brows knitting together as she looked at Shen Haoran.

"It’s precisely because the Desert Land is fraught with danger that I’ve decided to go alone. It’s easier for me to get away by myself. If I encounter a danger I can’t defeat, I can still escape. I’m not taking you because you all have a more important mission!" Shen Haoran said gravely.

"After this last great battle, the Yao Sect’s numbers have been sharply reduced, and those who remain are the elite of the elite. In the future, we will have to leave the Five Elements Sect and strike out on our own. Therefore, your most important task right now is to improve your strength! I’m going to need you all to help me with some major things down the line!" Shen Haoran said in a solemn tone, looking at everyone present.

"So, I’m giving you all a strict order: by the time I return, every single one of you must have a Cultivation of at least a Tier Five Spirit Marquis! Well? Do you have the confidence to do it?" Shen Haoran asked.

"Don’t worry, Boss! We guarantee we’ll complete the mission!" Zi Mo was the first to answer.

"We will too!" the others shouted in unison.

"Good!" Shen Haoran nodded. His gaze then shifted to Shui Ruolan and Long Mo as he said softly, "While I’m gone, I’m leaving the Yao Sect in your hands."

"Don’t worry. When you return, you’ll see a completely different Yao Sect!" Shui Ruolan said with a light laugh. Beside her, Long Mo also nodded, showing he understood.

Seeing everyone brimming with confidence, Shen Haoran’s worries were put to rest. He let out a hearty laugh and said, "Alright then, until we meet again! I look forward to seeing you all once more!"

With that, Shen Haoran didn’t linger. His Vermilion Bird Wings unfurled behind him, and he shot straight into the sky, heading toward Luotian City.

The members of the Yao Sect stared at Shen Haoran’s disappearing figure, lost in thought for a long while.

"What do you guys think? How much will the Boss have grown by the next time we see him?" Zi Mo murmured, staring at the empty sky where Shen Haoran had vanished.

"He’ll be someone we can only look up to in awe," Long Zhen said softly.

"Mm-hmm." For once, Long Zhen and Zi Mo, who had just been at each other’s throats, were in complete agreement.

"Come on, let’s go cultivate. We can’t fall behind, or the Boss will laugh at us!" Zi Mo clenched his fists, a surge of fighting spirit welling up inside him.

The other members of the Yao Sect all nodded, then went their separate ways...

...

「Two days later.」

Shen Haoran’s figure appeared before a massive city. Gently flapping his Vermilion Bird Wings, he descended from the sky. ’I should probably walk the rest of the way,’ he thought. ’Otherwise, these Vermilion Bird Wings are too flashy and will attract unnecessary trouble.’

ROAR...

The moment he stepped through the city gates, a tidal wave of noise washed over him, making Shen Haoran’s head throb. After spending so much time within the Sect, he found it difficult to adjust to the sudden clamor.

He gently rubbed his head, taking a moment to adjust, before striding forward. His first order of business in the city was to head straight for the Celestial Martial Auction House. The auction house’s network of informants spanned the entire continent, making it the best place to gather information.

After wandering aimlessly through the city for a while, Shen Haoran found the Celestial Martial Auction House and walked straight inside.

"Welcome, handsome. Is there anything I can help you with?" A female attendant greeted Shen Haoran as he entered the Celestial Martial Auction House.

"Take me to your manager," Shen Haoran said.

"See our manager?" The attendant chuckled. "You’ve got a lot of nerve, handsome. Our manager doesn’t meet with just anyone! Unless you..." She trailed off, her eyes scanning Shen Haoran’s coarse clothing with disdain.

However, before she could finish, she saw Shen Haoran pull a violet-gold token from his Storage Ring. Strikingly carved on its surface was a single, flamboyantly written character: "Luo"!

"An Identity Token! He’s from the Luo Family?" Seeing the token, the attendant’s face instantly turned deathly pale. ’That’s an Identity Token that only disciples of the Luo Family possess,’ she thought in a panic. ’I just looked down on a Luo Family disciple... If the manager finds out, I’m as good as dead!’

"So, can you take me to him now?" Shen Haoran asked calmly, watching the attendant’s expression drain of color.

"Y-Yes! This way, my lord, please..." the attendant stammered, hurriedly walking ahead to lead Shen Haoran.

The two of them reached the top floor of the Celestial Martial Auction House. The attendant stood outside Manager Luo’s door and said softly, "Manager, a distinguished guest is here to see you."

A moment later, a powerful, resonant voice came from inside the room: "Didn’t I already give instructions? I’m not seeing any guests today!"

"But, this distinguished guest..." The attendant glanced at Shen Haoran, her expression uneasy.

"I’m not seeing anyone! Tell them to leave!" the voice boomed again, now tinged with irritation.

The attendant heard this and shot Shen Haoran a helpless look, as if to say there was nothing she could do. Shen Haoran just smiled. Then, to the attendant’s utter shock, he kicked the door clean off its hinges. Half of the grand door crashed into the room.

"Who is it?! Such insolence! Do you not know that this is the Celestial Martial Auction House?" A furious roar erupted from within the room, followed by a terrifying aura that instantly drained the attendant’s face of all color.

Shen Haoran, however, was completely unaffected. With his hands clasped behind his back, he calmly walked into the room.

"Manager Luo, why get so angry? I simply wished to request a meeting. There’s no need to make such a fuss, is there?" Shen Haoran said with a smile, looking at the middle-aged man sitting at the desk.

"And who are you to dare cause a scene in the Celestial Martial Auction House?" the middle-aged man’s aura surged, pressing down directly on Shen Haoran.

Feeling the oppressive aura bearing down on him, Shen Haoran let out a soft chuckle. He flicked his wrist, and the violet-gold token flew out, landing on the desk.

Seeing the violet-gold token, the middle-aged man’s expression changed drastically. The powerful aura around him vanished in an instant. He shot to his feet, cupped his fists, and bowed. "Disciple Luo Zhengtian pays his respects to the Elder!"