The group went to an inn, and after a few drinks, everyone began to open up. Shen Haoran found that Ling Feng and his two companions were all hearty, straightforward men. This was especially true for Shi Dahuo, who had long forgotten their earlier unpleasantness and was now endlessly toasting Shen Haoran!

Although they were all having a good time, they didn’t forget they had to enter the Desert Land the next day and knew when to call it a night. After a bit more pleasant conversation, they all went their separate ways.

...

Early the next morning, Shen Haoran and his two companions arrived at the Mercenary Guild. At the entrance, Ling Feng and his group were waiting for them.

Once everyone was present, Elder Xue turned around. His murky eyes swept over the group as he said in a solemn voice, "Let me make one thing clear. The Desert Land is fraught with danger. Once we’re inside, I can’t guarantee your safety. You must follow all of my commands. If something goes wrong and you lose your life, don’t blame this old man!"

"Of course, Elder Xue. You just need to lead us into the Desert Land," Ling Feng said, cupping his fist in respect.

"In that case, let’s set out!" Elder Xue nodded. Then, leaning on his cane, he began to limp forward. Seeing this, Shen Haoran and the others hurried to follow.

The Desert City was not far from the Desert Land; the desert began just across a main road. Although Elder Xue was blind and limped, his walking speed was not slow in the slightest. Within half a day, the group reached the edge of the Desert Land.

"So this is the Desert Land?" Shen Haoran murmured, gazing at the scene before him.

Before him, a boundless expanse of yellow sand filled his vision. Farther in the distance were rolling hills, also uniformly piled high with yellow sand. This was a world of sand, an ocean of sand. The continuous dunes stretched to meet the horizon, making it impossible to imagine where the desert ended.

A gust of wind brought a searing wave of heat that rushed to meet him, stinging his face with a burning pain. The scorching air seemed to burn and twist the very space between heaven and earth. Shen Haoran reached out and clenched his fist; rampant Fire Attribute Spiritual Power and Earth Attribute Spiritual Power raged in his palm. Even with his Chaos Divine Body, he didn’t dare to recklessly absorb this violent Spiritual Power. ’No wonder they say the Desert Land is a forbidden zone for humans. Just this rampant Spiritual Power alone is more than anyone can handle.’

"This is the Desert Land. It’s not too late to turn back now. But once we venture deeper, you won’t be able to get out without a guide. It will be too late for regrets then!" Elder Xue said, turning to address the group once more.

His words were obviously unnecessary, however. Ling Feng, Shi Dahuo, and their companion had reasons they absolutely had to enter, as did Shen Haoran and his companions. So, naturally, no one retreated.

"Very well, let’s go!" Seeing that no one had any intention of retreating, Elder Xue immediately strode into the Desert Land. At this, Shen Haoran and the others also stepped onto the boundless yellow sand.

Stepping onto the soft yellow sand, a scorching heat immediately traveled up from under their feet. The rampant Fire Attribute and Earth Attribute Spiritual Power desperately tried to bore into their bodies.

Elder Xue seemed long accustomed to this, not breaking his stride in the slightest as he forged ahead. Ling Feng and his companions were no weaklings either; a faint Spiritual Qi flowed out to envelop their feet, warding off the rampant Spiritual Power.

Shen Haoran and Elder Bai, of course, had no need for such measures. Elder Bai’s power was plain to see. He was a Spirit Emperor Level expert, and although his cultivation was currently suppressed to the Spirit Marquis Tier, this level of rampant Spiritual Power couldn’t harm him. As for Shen Haoran... he was simply a monster. With a terrifying constitution comparable to a Spirit Beast’s, this rampant Spiritual Power was merely tickling him.

Watching Shen Haoran stride forward unbothered, Ling Feng and his companions couldn’t help but see him in a new light. They quickened their pace to catch up.

Above the vast desert, a scorching sun hung high in the sky, mercilessly baking the sea of sand. Searing heat waves rolled out one after another. Shen Haoran and his companions had now truly set foot in the Desert Land.

The group followed behind Elder Xue, continuously climbing over one sand dune after another. The path he took was exceedingly strange, weaving in S-shapes and Z-shapes. In short, they never walked in a straight line.

All of a sudden, Elder Xue, who was walking at the front, stopped. Shen Haoran and the others halted as well, looking at Elder Xue in confusion.

"Elder Xue—" Ling Feng had just started to ask something when Elder Xue cut him off.

"Shhh..." Elder Xue made a hushing gesture and raised his cane, looking as if he was facing a formidable enemy.

Seeing this, Shen Haoran’s brow furrowed slightly. A powerful Spiritual Thought surged from him like a tide, enveloping the entire area.

When Shen Haoran’s Spiritual Thought probed beneath the yellow sand, his expression changed dramatically. He quickly shouted a warning, "Watch out!"

However, the words had barely left his mouth when the calm yellow sand around them suddenly churned. One after another, earth-yellow venomous snakes shot out, striking at the group like lightning.

The small, earth-yellow snakes were astonishingly fast. Combined with the surprise attack, the others couldn’t react in time. Elder Xue, however, seemed to have been prepared. The instant the snakes lunged, he swung his cane. A sharp gust of wind kicked up, slicing all of the small, earth-yellow snakes in two.

"Quick, run!" After instantly clearing away the surrounding earth-yellow snakes, Elder Xue shouted, rousing the others from their shock. He then bolted forward.

Just as the group left that spot, the sand where they had been standing began to roil. Countless tiny venomous snakes leaped out, instantly devouring the bodies of their own kind on the ground. The sight made Shen Haoran and the others’ scalps crawl.

"Those are Lightning Snakes," Elder Xue explained. "They excel at hiding in the yellow sand and launching surprise attacks when you’re completely defenseless. They’re incredibly fast. Almost everyone who enters the Desert Land for the first time falls for their trick!"

"But for this young brother here to have noticed them... that certainly surprised this old man!" Elder Xue said, turning toward Shen Haoran. He had heard Shen Haoran shout his warning earlier.

"To be honest, I am an Alchemist, so my Spiritual Thought is naturally a bit strong," Shen Haoran said with a dry laugh.

"Oh!" Hearing this, Elder Xue nodded and then continued on his way.

"Let’s go, we still have a long road ahead. This was just a little surprise from the Desert Land!" Elder Xue raised his cane and once again started forward.

This time, everyone learned their lesson and kept a constant watch on the sand below. With Elder Xue’s guidance, the group avoided one wave of attacks after another, finally reaching the heart of the Desert Land shaken but unharmed.

"Right ahead is the heart of the Desert Land. One more step forward, and we’ll be in a true land of life and death. I can’t predict what dangers we’ll encounter. From here on, all we can do is pray for ourselves!" Elder Xue stared blankly ahead, his aged face filled with gravity.

The group took a deep breath, and then stepped inside...