On the day of his departure, Liu Xi looked at Liu Ming, Li Yue, and little Liu Cheng in her arms, all with reluctant expressions. He smiled reassuringly and said,
"Don't worry. This ti I'm only traveling within the empire, then heading to the Imperial Capital to visit Teacher. I won't be away for long."
As the head of the household, Liu Ming quickly collected himself, though his tone still carried so forced restraint.
"You've grown up, and you have your own path to walk. But rember—this will always be your ho. Co back often to see your mother and your younger brother."
Liu Xi first looked at Li Yue, whose eyes shimred with tears. Then he smiled gently and replied,
"Mm. I'll be sure to return often to visit Mother, my brother… and of course, Father."
He deliberately dragged the last word, which imdiately earned him a sharp glare from Liu Ming. Liu Xi couldn't help but laugh, hastily adding,
"Ahem. Then I'll be off!"
That morning, dressed in a moon-white robe, Liu Xi unfurled a pair of blazing crimson wings from his back. With a single beat, his figure shot into the sky like a streak of red lightning.
Not far away, many onlookers who had co to watch gasped aloud in awe. A Dou Wang—a true powerhouse—was soaring right above their heads. In the Jia Ma Empire, such figures could call the wind and summon the rain. Once, he had rely been Lin City's number one genius. Now, he was Lin City's number one powerhouse.
Watching his son's departing silhouette, Li Yue spoke softly, voice tinged with worry.
"This child… who knows how long he'll be gone again."
Liu Ming, however, only felt pride.
"With Xi'er's talent, he will never be confined to Lin City. One day, the entire Jia Ma Empire will be his stage. As for the future of the Liu family, that will rest on the shoulders of both Xi'er and Cheng'er."
He pinched the nose of the baby in Li Yue's arms, who gurgled with innocent laughter.
---
Wrapped in crimson Dou Qi, Liu Xi streaked through the sky like a burning cot, heading east toward the Tager Desert.
His thoughts flickered.
'According to the original tiline, Queen dusa took the Heavenly Fla about half a year before Xiao Yan arrived. That ans I still have at least two years before she cos. Ti isn't a problem.'
'The Green Lotus Core Fla should be hidden sowhere east of Stone Desert City. I'll have to search inch by inch when I arrive. Also, Ice Emperor Hai Bodong seed to have collected clues about Heavenly Flas—if I can find him first, I might gain sothing unexpected.'
Liu Xi had already prepared well for this endeavor.
'First, the Blood Lotus Pill—a 5th Tier pill. Without it, even a peak Dou Huang like Queen dusa would be gravely injured by the Heavenly Fla. With my current cultivation as a re Dou Wang, I'd be instantly reduced to ashes without it.'
'Second, the Ice Spirit Cold Spring—a protection for the inside, guarding my body when refining the fla. Without it, the Heavenly Fla's destructive heat would burn to nothing.'
'Third, Acceptance Soul—it creates a tiny space within the body to temporarily contain the Heavenly Fla. Without such a vessel, no living body could withstand its power before fully refining it.'
He had obtained the Blood Lotus Pill recipe back at the Inner Academy and refined it only after reaching the peak of 5th Tier Alchemist. As for the Ice Spirit Cold Spring and the Acceptance Soul, though extrely rare, the Inner Academy had small reserves. Liu Xi had paid dearly, but he acquired both.
With these three items in hand, he finally dared to chase after the Heavenly Fla.
After ten days of continuous flight, even with the speed of a Dou Wang, he finally reached the endless golden expanse of the Tager Desert.
The sun was rciless, baking the sands until they shimred like molten tal. Yet Liu Xi's fire-attribute Dou Qi surged more vigorously here.
'The fire and earth energy here… over 80%. If I fight in this desert, my strength will increase by at least thirty percent!'
But as he looked around, his smile stiffened.
'Everything looks the sa… am I lost already?'
He spread his Spiritual Power outward, searching for signs of human presence. Soon, his eyes lit up.
'There. A few li ahead—a group of rcenaries surrounded by… snake-n?'
His wings flared, and in ten minutes he saw them clearly.
Below, about a dozen rcenaries stood back to back, surrounded by eight strange beings—upper bodies human, but from the waist down coiled in thick serpent tails. Their sibilant hissing filled the air.
'So these are the infamous Snake-People of the Tager Desert…' Liu Xi mused, intrigued.
Among the rcenaries were nine n and three won. The n were bronze-skinned, muscular, their torsos bare and glistening with sweat. The won were just as striking—skin tanned a healthy wheat color, clad in tight leather garnts that covered little beyond modesty, revealing toned midriffs and long, supple legs.
From above, Liu Xi even noticed the hungry gazes of the snake-n fixed upon them.
"Kill the n. Leave the won alive!" hissed the leader, his triangular pupils flashing with malice.
Before his order could fully echo, a sharp whistle split the air.
Whoosh!
A crimson figure descended from the sky, wings outstretched. An oppressive Dou Wang aura crashed down like a mountain.
Both rcenaries and snake-n froze in terror.
"Who can tell the way to Stone Desert City?" Liu Xi asked flatly, his body still wreathed in fire.
The rcenaries' leader—a female warrior—stared up at him in disbelief. When she noticed his fiery wings, her fear turned to elation.
"Senior! I know the way! We can guide you there!"
Relieved, Liu Xi gave a single nod. "Good. Lead the way."
But the snake-man leader snarled, unwilling to yield.
"Human, you dare interfere with the Snake-People? Do you know our Queen—"
His words cut off in a scream. Liu Xi's fingers flicked, sending streams of fire that pierced through their bodies. In an instant, the eight snake-n were reduced to nothing but drifting blood mist.
"Courting death," Liu Xi muttered coldly.
The rcenaries stared in stunned silence, trembling as if before a god of slaughter.
Finally, the female warrior gathered her courage.
"I—I am Mali, squad captain of the Sand rcenary Group in Stone Desert City. We will take you there."
Liu Xi waved for her to lead the way. Mali hastily obeyed, though along the journey she began to sway her hips ever so enticingly.
Liu Xi rely chuckled to himself.
'Delicate face, fiery figure, daring attire, and that wild desert aura… not bad. Seven out of ten.'
Soon, towering stone walls ca into view. Unlike the ornate cities of the inner empire, this one radiated a rugged, unyielding strength—Stone Desert City.
Liu Xi entered without another word. Under Mali's faintly wistful gaze, his crimson wings flickered, and he disappeared into the bustling streets.
(End of Chapter)
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