The journey crossing the Death Desert became increasingly difficult after experiencing quicksand, poison scorpions, sandstorms, and the most treacherous mirages. Clean water and medicinal pill consumption far exceeded expectations. Even Zhao Tiezhu, an iron-made man, had several blood-cracks on his lips from prolonged water shortage, his eyes showing exhaustion. Though Xiao Qi's condition was slightly better, his continuous use of divine consciousness for pathfinding and resisting illusions had greatly drained his mental energy.
Just as their carried clean water was about to run out and even the rabbit spirit appeared somewhat listless, at the far edge of their vision, an extremely faint green, different from the yellow sand's deathly stillness, vaguely emerged.
This time, without Zhao Tiezhu reminding, Xiao Qi and the rabbit spirit both immediately detected that real, undeniable vitality and water vapor fluctuation contained in that patch of green! The rabbit spirit even excitedly "squeak squeak" called out, its small paw pointing in that direction—completely different from its agitated repulsion when facing the mirage earlier.
"It's a real oasis!" Xiao Qi's spirit lifted, his fatigue dissipating somewhat. He carefully perceived, confirming that vitality and water vapor weren't illusions but genuinely existing.
The three quickened their pace, rushing toward the oasis direction. About half an hour later, a not-large-scale yet emerald-like precious oasis finally appeared clearly before their eyes.
Several drought-resistant poplar trees tenaciously stretched their branches. Below the trees was a patch of low shrubbery, and in the center was a crescent-shaped pool about several mu in size, crystal clear to the bottom. By the pool, there were even several clusters of tender green water plants swaying in the wind. Though not as grand and magnificent as the earlier mirage, this real patch of green and water light, in their eyes at this moment, surpassed all the world's beautiful sights.
"Water! Real water!" Zhao Tiezhu cheered, rushing toward the pool like an unleashed wild horse, paying no heed to anything else, directly burying his entire head in the cool pool water, gulping down thirstily.
Xiao Qi also walked to the poolside, first using divine consciousness to probe the water quality. After confirming no poison, he used his hands to scoop up clean water, slowly drinking. A cool, sweet sensation slid down his throat, instantly moisturizing his parched body, even soothing his exhausted mind. The rabbit spirit even jumped directly into the shallow area, happily splashing around, cleaning the sand and dust from its fur.
However, this rare tranquility and vitality in the desert didn't last long.
Just as Xiao Qi and Zhao Tiezhu finished replenishing water and were about to meditate and rest under the trees to recover their state, a burst of rapid, chaotic hoofbeats accompanied by arrogant shouting came from the oasis's other side.
"Surround them! Don't let a single one escape!"
"Hand over all valuables and women!"
About twenty-plus cultivators riding tall camels, wearing motley clothing and with fierce faces, rushed into the oasis like a whirlwind, instantly surrounding the pool area. They held various weapons, their bodies carrying intense murderous aura and bloody smell—clearly a group of sand bandits who killed and robbed in the desert year-round.
These sand bandits' target wasn't Xiao Qi and his group, but a small merchant caravan that had arrived at the oasis earlier and was resting on the other side of the pool. That caravan had only seven or eight people, with the highest-cultivation guard being merely Foundation Establishment early stage. Facing sand bandits who held absolute advantage in numbers and strength, everyone's face turned earth-colored, trembling with fear. Several female relatives even screamed and cried in terror.
The sand bandit leader was a one-eyed burly man with a hideous knife scar on his face, his cultivation around Foundation Establishment middle stage. He sat on his camel, his single eye greedily sweeping over the cargo-laden pack beasts, then lingering for a moment on those several relatively attractive female relatives, letting out strange cackling laughter: "Lucky day, caught some fat sheep! Brothers, the usual rule—kill all the men, take the goods and women!"
The caravan's Foundation Establishment early stage elderly guard tried to negotiate, his voice trembling: "G... good heroes, we're willing to hand over all our possessions, just please spare our lives..."
"Bullshit!" The one-eyed leader spat, "After killing you, the goods are still ours! Attack!"
The sand bandits grinned viciously, urging their camels forward, raising their weapons to charge. The caravan members despairingly closed their eyes.
Just then, a calm yet cold voice rang out:
"Scram."
The voice wasn't loud but clearly transmitted to every sand bandit's ears, seeming to carry some strange penetrating power that involuntarily halted their movements.
The one-eyed leader's single eye glared, looking toward the source. He saw a green-robed youth slowly stand up from under a tree by the opposite side of the pool, his face calm as he looked at them. Beside the youth stood a tower-like burly man, clenching his fists with unfriendly eyes. There was also a seemingly harmless white rabbit crouching on the youth's shoulder.
"Where did this blind kid come from, daring to meddle in grandfathers' business? Tired of living?" Seeing there were only two of them and their cultivation didn't seem high (Xiao Qi habitually restrained his aura), the one-eyed leader relaxed and grinned viciously, "Since you're seeking death, we'll send you on your way together! Brothers, slaughter these two who don't know their place first!"
Several sand bandits immediately changed direction, urging their camels, raising their curved swords, shrieking as they charged toward Xiao Qi and Zhao Tiezhu. The camels' running kicked up sand filling the sky, their momentum fierce.
Zhao Tiezhu had been holding back a belly full of anger. Seeing this, he roared: "Come on then!" Not retreating but advancing, his fists exploded with golden light. The Diamond Subduing Demon Divine Ability circulated as he directly charged toward the two sand bandits at the front like a wild elephant collision!
Those two sand bandits were only Qi Condensation late stage cultivation. Seeing Zhao Tiezhu neither dodge nor evade but dare to charge actively, cruel smiles appeared on their faces as their curved swords hacked down fiercely with fierce wind!
"Clang! Clang!"
Two sounds like striking great bells! Zhao Tiezhu didn't dodge or evade, letting the curved swords hack onto his fists, sparks flying! The two sand bandits only felt an irresistible giant force transmit from the blade. Their tiger mouths instantly burst, curved swords flying from their hands. Their entire bodies were like being hit by a charging rhinoceros, screaming as they flew backward from their camels, heavily smashing into the sand, bones broken—clearly not surviving.
The other charging sand bandits, seeing this, paled in horror, their charge involuntarily slowing.
And just as they were stunned, Xiao Qi moved. He didn't even draw his Red Flame Sword, just extending two fingers like a sword, his form like a phantom shuttling between several sand bandits.
"Swish swish swish!"
Several threads of extremely condensed crimson sword intent flashed past.
Those sand bandits maintained their forward postures, freezing on their camels' backs. Then, fine blood lines simultaneously appeared on their necks, blood gushing like fountains as their bodies thudded down from the camels.
The entire process was as fast as lightning! From Zhao Tiezhu's strike to Xiao Qi dealing with the others, only two or three breaths! Seven or eight ferocious sand bandits were all slain!
The one-eyed leader and the remaining sand bandits behind him were all dumbfounded, frozen in place like under a body-freezing spell, their faces filled with incredulous terror. They hadn't even seen clearly how the other side struck!
Xiao Qi, having dealt with the sand bandits before him, calmly turned his gaze toward that one-eyed leader, speaking again, only one word:
"Scram."
This time, that word fell on the one-eyed leader's ears like the Reaper's whisper. His whole body shuddered, his single eye filled with terror. No longer daring to hesitate in the slightest, he shrieked: "Kicked an iron plate! Wind's tight, scatter!" He turned his camel's reins, fleeing toward outside the oasis without looking back. The other sand bandits were even more soul-scattered, scrambling to follow their leader in panicked flight, only wishing their parents had given them two more legs. In the blink of an eye, they disappeared into the vast sand sea.
Inside the oasis, peace instantly returned, leaving only a few sand bandit corpses and startled camels.
That caravan's people had long been dumbfounded watching. The wild joy of surviving disaster intertwined with awe for that green-robed youth's unfathomable strength. That Foundation Establishment early stage elderly guard hurriedly led everyone forward, bowing deeply to Xiao Qi and Zhao Tiezhu, his voice trembling with emotion: "Th... thank you, two benefactors, for your righteous rescue! If not for the benefactors' intervention, we would certainly have died today!"
Xiao Qi waved his hand, saying indifferently: "A small effort, no need for excessive courtesy. This place isn't suitable for staying long. Those sand bandits may not return. After replenishing your water, leave quickly as well."
He didn't demand any reward. With Zhao Tiezhu and the rabbit spirit that had jumped back onto his shoulder, he walked to the other side of the pool to continue their rest. For them, this was just a small interlude in their desert journey. Defeating the sand bandits was no different from crushing some noisy ants. The real target remained that hidden, erratically moving Golden Sand City in the desert depths.